Best places for ramen | Metromix Honolulu
Best places for ramen
The "Kotteri Ramen" at Tenkaippin Ramen is a local favorite (Credit: Metromix)

Here in Honolulu, we LOVE our ramen, but we don't want just any kine ramen. We want the noodles to be chewy, fresh and perfectly cooked, with a rich, succulent broth that we'd gladly savor even after the noodles are gone. The char siu has to be tender and any add-in vegetables have to be flavorful, yet not overpowering. There's definitely an art to preparing a delectable bowl of ramen, and these places, in our opinion, do it best.

Yotteko-ya

pick Yotteko-ya

1960 Kaplolani Blvd. - Honolulu
808-946-2900

Specializing in Kyoto-style ramen, Yotteko-ya is the sole Hawaii representative of a large, Japan-based chain. Their secret is house-made soup stock, prepared from pork, chicken and vegetables simmered more than 10 hours. The long cooking process makes the broth extra rich and tasty. Order Japanese or local-style noodles. Be sure to try the extra rich, extra delicious kakuni-style broth. Other popular dishes include garlic fried rice and chashu gohan (chashu pork on rice).

Tenkaippin Ramen

pick Tenkaippin Ramen

617 Kapahulu Ave. - Honolulu
808-732-1211

A popular Japanese franchise, Tenkaippin has definitely found its groove in its new Kapahulu digs. (It used to be in Waikiki.) Granted, it's tiny, but the line for a table often goes out the door. What's everyone waiting for? The extra-rich Kotteri Ramen, a healthy chicken base soup with the consistency of gravy. The broth is made with chicken collagen, gleaned from boiling down the bones and feet for hours. Sounds strange, but accompanied by huge slabs of tender charsiu, chewy ramen and the restaurant's signature condiment - minced garlic and chili pepper - it's an incredible meal.

Goma Tei Ramen

pick Goma Tei Ramen

1200 Ala Moana Blvd. - Honolulu
808-591-9188

Yellow stone tiles, wood tables and a polished stone bar make Goma Tei's sleek interior the perfect set for a K-drama. Goma Tei specializes in two types of ramen - shoyu and tan-tan. The kitchen always made sure the noodles come out nicely chewy, and the broth is soothing and flavorful. Good bets are chicken tan-tan ramen, vegetable cold noodle and gyoza.

Goma Ichi Ramen

pick Goma Ichi Ramen

631 Keeaumoku St. - Honolulu
808-926-5050

Ramen fans must absolutely try this place. The slightly spicy tan-tan ramen broth and the peanut buttery ban-ban-ji sauce for cold noodle dishes are unique and unbelievably tasty. The clean, stylish decor also makes for an aesthetically pleasing interior, rare for a Hawaii noodle shop. The location on busy Keeaumoku Street makes parking a bit of a problem, and they also keep stringent hours, so make sure you go when they're open.

Rai Rai Ramen

Rai Rai Ramen

760 Kapahulu Ave. - Honolulu
808-737-3877

This tiny ramen shop can be hard to find, parking is bad, and there are only 20 or so places to sit down. But if you can get past this, it's a good choice for noodles. Rai Rai offers a variety of add-ins - kim chee, shrimp katsu, miso and curry. They also serve curry dishes, fried noodles and a mabo tofu yakisoba. The shoyu ramen coomes loaded with sliced pork, fish cake, bean sprouts and other veggies, and the soup has a little kick to it. It's really not like your typical ramen dashi.

pick Mr. Ojisan Restaurant

1016 Kapahulu Ave. - Honolulu
808-735-4455

This izakaya/ramen spot has a menu similar to dozens of restaurants in town serving everything from donburi to hamburger katsu, but their versions are just so much better. Dishes are crisply presented and ingredients are bright and fresh. Get there after 6 p.m. and expect to crowd into the tiny vestibule and wait (it's worth it). We love the pork ginger, wafu steak, gobo tempura and miso charsiu ramen.

Nihon Noodles

2065 S. King St. - Honolulu
808-944-6622

This isn't your typical Honolulu ramen joint. It's more what you'd find in Tokyo, where noodle preparation has transcended into an art. The Japanese-owned Nihon Noodles serves three different types of ramen, each varying in thickness and appointed with its own broth - soy, miso or pork. The noodles are served separately from the soup so they won't get mushy. And the broth is savory, but not overly rich. Servers here are welcoming and will gladly explain the menu. If you're not set on having ramen just the way you've always had it, give Nihon Noodles a try.

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