The Best Ramen Shops in North America

Waitlists

Few of the North American shops take reservations, and the wait is usually managed by a list. Mensho in Oakland takes names for waits of 30 to 70 minutes, Marufuku Ramen in San Francisco and Terakawa Ramen in Philadelphia send a text when the table is ready, and at RamenYa in Glen Burnie people sign in on a tablet and wait in the car. Akedo Showten in Langley lets parties join online or by QR code.

Order sheets

The two Ramen Danbo shops, on Robson Street in Vancouver and in Capitol Hill in Seattle, use a paper sheet on which diners mark noodle firmness and thickness, broth strength and spice level. Both sell an extra serving of noodles for a dollar or two, a custom from Fukuoka called kaedama, and Akedo Showten offers it too.

Vegan bowls

Many of these menus have vegan bowls. Vegan Ramen Mei in Roma, Mexico City, is entirely vegan and tops its tonkotsu-style bowls with seitan and soy. A large share of the menu at Mensho in Oakland is vegan, Mensho Tokyo SF has a long list of vegan bowls, and Ramen Danbo Capitol Hill keeps a separate vegan menu. Mystic Ramen in Hamilton cooks gluten-free noodles separately and guides diners through allergy options.

Small rooms

Seating is tight in most of the shops. The Mensho shops in Oakland and Mesa put diners on tall stools, Terakawa Ramen has low stools at its tables, and both Vancouver shops seat a party only once everyone in it has arrived.