Ramen Guide – Pt. 3 – Boston

As long as ramen places keep popping up around Boston we are going to keep trying them! Even though it still feels like fall, there is nothing better during the New England winter than a hot bowl of ramen. Not all ramen is created equal however, and most spots have their own specialties. We’ve had a lot of ramen around Boston and we think we might have found our new favorite noodles in the city (And for those who might have missed them, don’t forget to check out part 1 and part 2 of our Boston ramen/soup guide).

Ganko Ittetsu Ramen

We’ve tasted ramen far and wide, and Ganko’s spicy miso ramen is by far the number one bowl of noodles we’ve ever had. Ganko specializes in Sapporo style ramen which has a miso base. The Sapporo style also differs in the preparation of the ingredients. In Ganko’s kitchen you will see a pile of woks which are used to cook all of the ingredients together before adding them to the broth.

The Gankaro Miso ramen is nothing like we have had before. The broth is thick and rich with a fiery kick to it. What really sets this ramen apart is everything else that goes into the bowl: the veggies, the meat, and the noodles. The chasu pork is so tender it falls apart in your mouth, and there is also ground pork that has a slight sweetness to it. The combination of the two with the spiciness of the broth is a flavor fiesta. The pickled cabbage, sesame seeds, corn, and more all add to this complex dish. Finally, the noodles at Ganko are shipped from Sapporo. They are a bit thicker and chewier than most ramen noodles, which we thoroughly enjoyed. Ganko Ittetsu Ramen is highly recommended.

Tori-Jiro

Tori-Jiro is a popular Japanese ramen and yakitori chain that has recently opened their first U.S. location. Prior to going here we were not very familiar with yakitori and this style of Japanese cooking. After a quick crash course we learned that it’s essentially skewered meat over a coal fire (A.K.A. barbecue!). We tried their chicken yakitori which was covered in a thick soy glaze that was addictingly good.

The yakitori was a nice bonus, but we came here for the ramen– and we were served a solid bowl of soup. Their ramen is based off a chicken broth served with chicken char siu. The chicken was perfectly cooked, although it was served cold, which we were told was on purpose (we still weren’t huge fans of it). The broth itself was rich and creamy with just a hint of salt. Was it the best ramen we have had? Nope. But we are also spoiled in the Boston area with the variety of options we have.

San Soo Kap San Sushi

We have written about Asian food courts around Boston before, and if there’s one thing we know, it’s that they are not to be slept on. Again, the H-Mart in Burlington steps up to the plate with another hidden gem. San Soo is known for their sushi, which can go head-to-head with even your nicest sit down spots, but they are also slinging huge bowls of ramen. Not only are you getting bang for your buck here with these massive bowls, but they are also delicious. The spicy miso is everything you want in a ramen bowl, minimal saltiness, with a mild kick to it. The wood ear mushrooms are a nice addition and add a chewy texture that goes great with the noodles.