The Best Ramen in San Francisco

State Bird Provisions is an adventurous, inventive, delicious restaurant which started out as a recipe for serving quail, the California state bird. They specialize in fine dining dim-sum style, where plates pass between guests and the California cooking is seasonal, fresh and delicious. You might get confused about what you are ordering at first, but that’s why it is best to try everything! The highlights on the menu include pan-seared dumplings filled with pulled guinea hen, fried black cod tail and hot-pink rhubarb and passion fruit granita draped over an oat mousse. Ramen lovers should definitely try the hand-rolled udon noodles, served with umeboshi-yuzu vinaigrette and sesame.

PABU is a casual elegant Japanese restaurant located in San Francisco’s Financial District / Embarcadero neighborhood. Chef Ken Tominaga heads up the kitchen here and offers a modern take on the traditional izakaya menu. Located in the landmark 101 California space, dinner here combines rustic, old-world Japanese charm with modern sophistication. They have a long list of appetizers including a soy-braised lotus root and Hawaiian Kampachi, as well as hot entrees, sushi, and makimono. If you had a craving for ramen, try the Miso Tofu Soup, made with silken tofu, hom shimeji, and wakame.

ANZU is a vibrant dining spot serving contemporary Japanese cuisine in the Downtown / Union Square neighborhood of San Francisco. They are open for breakfast, lunch, brunch, happy hour and dinner and offer a full bar, sushi bar and entree favorites like Misoyaki Black Cod, 38 North Duck and steaks and seafood. Their food crosses all kinds of boundaries, starting with flavors of Japanese cuisine and then adding in global influences. Ramen lovers have to try the Spicy Miso Ramen, made with enoki mushroom, carrot, hard boiled egg, Chinese broccoli, and daikon radish.

Ozumo Santana Row is a Japanese restaurant located in the Financial District / Embarcadero neighborhood. It has a serene, elegant, Zen-garden feeling to it, inspired by traditional Japanese aesthetics. The central location right on the waterfront provides breathtaking bay views and diners can enjoy modern design at the 30-person sushi bar, open kitchen and robata grill. They have an especially impressive Sake list, too. Ozumo definitely has some of the best ramen in San Francisco, and you might find it hard to decide between the three different options available - but according to locals, they are all absolutely delicious.

Morimoto never fails to put together an elegant atmosphere, amazing service, and a fantastic menu. This Napa Valley restaurant is no exception. He infuses traditional dishes with Western ingredients and preparations techniques and focuses on using the freshest produce and proteins. You might recognize some of the ingredients or names of dishes, but the taste combinations are likely to all seem brand new. Ramen lovers should opt for something off the soups and noodles menu, such as the Tofu Miso, the Chilled Noodle soup with udon or green tea noodles or the Morimoto Chicken Noodle Soup.

Benihana is a casual Japanese restaurant that has been a beloved dining spot all over American for years. They offer a dining experience unlike any other where guests sit at communal tables with a personal chef who performs the art of Teppanyaki in front of them. This means you get to watch as they slice, dice and prepare every bit of your meal right in front of you. The atmosphere is calming and inviting with a blue tile roof and castle-like architecture. They have a full range of Japanese specialties here and every dish comes with the Benihana soup, which ramen lovers will appreciate.

Hana is an elegant Japanese restaurant located in Sonoma County, perfect for folks on the wine trail who want to stop for a delicious meal. The restaurant prides itself in offering a vast selection of Japanese delicacies prepared with fresh ingredients from all over the world. Chef-Owner Ken Tominaga supervises all of the preparations and whether you are eating Makimono, Sushi and Sashimi, appetizers or entrees, you will love the immaculate presentation. All of the entrees come with a delicious Miso Soup or ramen lovers can try the Sukiyaki, a hot bowl of steak, noodles, and vegetables in broth.

Mokutanya Yakitori Charcoal is in Burlingame, on the Peninsula and is an awesome place for foodies to stop for dinner. They have a cheerful staff, delicious menu and a welcoming environment. It is a super laid-back place to come with friends or stop into for lunch while you’re visiting the area. The menu focuses on high-quality Japanese food, like charcoal-grilled skewers, small plates, wine, and beer, and diners sit in individual glass-divided rooms with sunken Japanese tables. Try the Spicy Beef Ramen, the pork ramen or the original Miso flavor - regulars rave about all of them.

Bushido Izakaya is often called the best Japanese restaurant in Silicon Valley and also has some of the best ramen in San Francisco! The ambiance is lively and festive, modeled after the traditional Japanese izakaya style of dining. Guests can come together to drink and enjoy small plates and authentic Japanese offerings that are great as entrees or even better for sharing. They serve Yakitori Skewers, Sashimi, Katsu, and Sushi - but the shining star is their ramen. The Bushido Ramen is their signature tonkatsu ramen with chashu, green cabbage, spicy ground pork, and egg noodles.

Akemi is the latest incarnation of the restaurant Miyuki in North Berkeley and features a revamped interior and exterior. The new vibe is chic and modern feeling and it’s a lovely atmosphere with an unpretentious staff and menu. They focus on fusion cuisine here, but in a unique way by sticking with mostly Asian flavors instead of blending East and West. You’ll find dishes that blend Japanese and Korean influences, Japanese and Chinese, and more. And of course, they have awesome sushi. They have a number of ramen options but real connoisseurs should definitely try the lobster ramen, one of the most interesting and innovative versions that exist.

Ozumo Santana Row is a Japanese restaurant located in Silicon Valley, right in the heart of San Jose. It’s a more casual spot with a different menu than it’s sister restaurant in San Francisco proper but it is still known for offering the same high-quality food and awesome overall experience. The menu has lots of tapas style offerings that are great for sharing, like Edamame and Shishito Peppers. And ramen lovers have to try the Kyushu Yatai Ramen, served with pork belly, bamboo shoot, mushrooms, and garlic oil.

Gyu-Kaku is a Japanese BBQ restaurant concept brought to you from Japan. The literal translation of the work means grilled meat, and here they serve a variety of meats and vegetables including beef, chicken, pork, and seafood. Then you get to order whatever goodies you grilled at their own table along with an ice cold beer or authentic sake. Order some delicious plates to grill up and try some of the Japanese starters to go along with it, like the Miso soup or Beef Sukiyaki - they are both great alternatives to ramen.

Sushi Kosho, located in Sebastopol in wine country, is a modern Japanese and sushi restaurant with a progressive focus on food, local ingredients and sustainability. They use local purveyors for fresh produce and meats and order all their fish shipped in to ensure it is as fresh as possible. Kosho comes from the condiment that is spicy and acidic and appears in many dishes on the menu. If you’re craving ramen, try the delicious Country Miso Soup with Wild mushrooms, Tofu, Seaweed, and Manilla Clams.