It was a World War II-induced rice shortage that led to more wheat consumption, and in turn, to ramen carts popping up all over Japan. The late 1950s saw the advent of instant ramen, the early 2000s saw a ramen boom in the States, and today, the whole world is in love with those wavy “alkaline” noodles in hot savory broth.
The Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex is home to many ramen shops, as well as high-quality Japanese restaurants that have ramen on the menu. Part of the dish’s appeal is its versatility: In addition to a number of regional varieties, it comes in many flavors, including shoyu (soy sauce) and miso, with endless options for toppings.
If you’re in North Dallas and craving ramen that’s a whole lot better than the microwavable kind, this list of 10 spots has you covered.
TEN Ramen
Head to the order kiosk at this hip, narrow corridor of a ramen shop. Surrounded by exposed-pipe ceilings, a wooden counter framing an open kitchen, and a chalkboard menu, you can customize every detail of your ramen, subbing proteins, adding an egg, and so on. If you try the spicy miso lobster ramen with crab and XO sauce, you will spend your life day-dreaming about it until you can order it again. 1888 Sylvan Ave. #F100, Dallas, ten-ramen.foodjoyy.com
K-Pop Ramen
With its “In The Mood for Noods” art on the wall and K-Pop music videos playing on a TV screen, this Korean-style ramen joint offers a wide selection of soupy and dry ramen dishes. The Korean twist means you’ll find a number of fusion recipes on the menu, too, including japchae (Korean glass noodles). K-Pop also has an outpost in Frisco. Multiple locations
Wabi House
Grab a booth at this Japanese restaurant with locations on Greenville, in Fort Worth, and in Frisco. The hearty Tsukemen ramen mixes chashu (pork belly) with bacon and pork broth. Shared plates and appetizers, including crispy pork ears and chicken meatball yakatori, pair nicely with a big selection of sakes and junmais. Multiple locations, wabihousetx.com
Ramen Belly
Head to Downtown Plano to check out this new fast-casual ramen shop that offers a couple of sweet deals: $10 happy-hour ramen bowls from 5 to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday; and Twofer Tuesday: Buy one bowl, get a second half off. Don’t miss the made-from-scratch pork-belly-and-shitake potstickers or the ramen in a blanket, which features saucy noodles sandwiched between two pork cutlets. 1001 14th St. #100, Plano
Little Katana Las Colinas
This Japanese restaurant with an inviting bar and exposed-brick wall offers a few delicious ramen dishes, including the tonkotsu ramen simmered in pork-bone broth. Known primarily for sushi, Little Katana does everything right, from the ahi tuna taco with mango salsa to the bulgogi (thinly sliced beef ribeye) bento box that includes miso soup, a California roll, a house salad, tempura, and wasabi mashed potatoes. 6420 N. MacArthur Blvd. #140, Irving, lklascolinas.com
Itadaki Ramen
In Mansfield, this attractive restaurant with pale wood and gold accents specializes in ramen, while its original location in Arlington takes a broader approach: ramen, yakatori (skewers), and izakaya. Ramen dishes are Hokkaido-style, meaning some are rich, buttery, and delightfully salty. Try the seafood ramen, and enjoy a bowl filled with delicacies from the ocean, including mussels, shrimp, and Japanese fish cakes called narutomaki. Multiple locations, itadakiramen.com
Higuma Ramen & Izakaya
This Addison-based restaurant and bar with cherry-blossom trees, intricate hand-held fans decorating the wall, and ramen made with noodles imported from Japan is an oasis for solo diners. Seating includes single-diner cubicles—each equipped with an electrical outlet for phone charging. A rich shoyu broth complements the roast-duck cutlets in the umami duck ramen. 4135 Belt Line Rd. #100, Addison, higumaramen.com
Mr. Max
In Tokyo, izakayas are popular gathering places for meetups over drinks and snacks after work. This izakaya in Irving enjoys icon status among lovers of ramen, Japanese small plates, and sashimi, who want to feel transported straight to Japan. Grab one of the low tables set on a sunken floor, and enjoy a bowl of steaming miso ramen with pork belly. Mr. Max has a Richardson outpost, too, but the original in Irving is worth traveling for. 3028 N Belt Line Rd., Irving, mrmaxtx.com
Nishiki Ramen
With three California locations, Nishiki arrived in East Plano in 2024 and became an instant neighborhood favorite. Enjoy the sleek, contemporary space with the pale wooden furniture and the metal partition walls etched with noodle-bowl cut-outs. The Notorious GGG is a garlic-lover’s dream: pork belly ramen prepared with homemade noodles in pork broth, teeming with pieces of both roasted and marinated garlic. 109 Legacy Dr. Ste. 140, Plano, nishikiramen.com
HINODEYA Ramen & Bar
This Lower Greenville-based ramen shop with the Japanese lanterns hanging from the ceiling and the kimono as wall art has an all-day happy hour on Thursdays, when a number of drinks, including a carafe of sake, cost only $5. The sake pairs beautifully with the spicy miso special ramen, built with wheat noodles in dashi, miso, and pork broth topped with pork belly and all the fixings. 2023 Greenville Ave. Ste. 130, Dallas, hinodeyaramen.com
Ichigoh Ramen Lounge
Come for the ramen, stay for the tasty Japanese cocktails, including the super-refreshing shiso sour made with gin, lime, shiso, and elderflower liqueur. The menu includes a rotating monthly ramen alongside popular standbys like the yuzu shio, a chicken broth flavored with yuzu and topped with tender strips of pork belly. 2724 Commerce St., Dallas, ichigohramen.com
Ichiro Sapporo Ramen
With sweeping, dramatic wall murals and clusters of drop lights hanging from the ceiling, the ambiance at Ichiro Sapporo is stylish and cozy. For something unique, try the Thai-inspired seafood tom yum ramen in a tangy, spicy, sour broth. Cool the heat afterward with green tea mochi ice cream. 2555 Inwood Rd. #139, Dallas, ichiro-sapporo-ramen.foodjoyy.com
JINYA Ramen Bar
With more than 70 locations in the country and even more in the works, JINYA is among North America’s most popular ramen chains, and Dallasites are lucky to have them sprinkled around the Metroplex. JINYA is just as serious about cocktails, like the smokey wokashi old-fashioned smoked with cinnamon chips, as they are about their ramen. The shrimp wonton ramen in shrimp and pork broth comes topped with chicken and shrimp wontons. Multiple locations, jinyaramenbar.com
Yoichi Ramen and Donburi
Robots introduce themselves by name, serve your food, and thank you in Japanese before zipping away at this unassuming, off-the-beaten-path ramen shop located 10 miles northeast of Fort Worth. Slide into one of the bright red booths and choose from a selection of ramens and donburis (rice bowls). The richness of the red miso and chicken bone broth in the tori miso ramen makes for a hearty meal. 4613 Denton Hwy. Ste. 35, Haltom City, yoichitx.com
