The 11 Best Bowls of Ramen in Austin

San Francisco has a rep for cooking the best Asian cuisine in America, so imagine our delight when Marufuku popped up in not one but two Texas locations (one in Frisco and one in North Austin). The restaurant is best known for authentic Hakata-style Tonkotsu ramen which has a milky and umami-rich broth made from boiling pork bones for many hours, plus super thin noodles and cha-shu slices. Not digging the pig? Then try the chicken Paitan ramen or the veggie options instead. Izakaya-style appetizers, beer and sake are also available.
How to book: Stop by for first come, first served seating or get takeout on Toast.

If you’re going to go to a Japanese restaurant for ramen then you might as well have the full Japanese experience, right? Kura is the only revolving sushi bar in town and everything about it feels just like Tokyo. Now, the soups and noodles are not placed on the conveyor belt (that would be dangerous, not to mention the soup would go cold), so you’ll need to order it on the nifty touchscreen pads. There are four delicious ramen options—Miso, Shoyu, Tantanmen, and Tonkotsu—and for more slurping goodness there are three udon options available, too.
How to book: Download the app to book a table or get takeout or delivery online.

After years of pop-ups, Chef Vinh’s Ramen512 brick-and-mortar location finally opened in Cedar Park in late 2021 and has already amassed a loyal following. Our fave is the signature Shoyu ramen, which comes in a clear broth of chicken and dashi plus shoyu tare. It’s topped with pork chashu, spinach, scallion, nori, and ajitama (marinated egg). The menu also has Tonkotsu ramen and a vegan option made with a spicy almond milk broth.
How to book: Stop by for first come, first served seating.

Bump into any Austinite and chances are that they’ve been to Ramen Tatsu-ya, and whether they love it depends on their experience of Japanese food. Anyhow, the popular chain has locations in north, south, and east Austin (plus Houston), and come dinner-time, each one is packed with ramen junkies. The rich broth of the Tonkotsu original sets the foundation for extra toppings like a Spicy Bomb or extra garlic (or even more noodles, if you’re super hungry). Try the Sweet & Sour Yodas (AKA Brussels sprouts) for something out of the ordinary.
How to book: Order take-out via Toast or get delivery via Uber Eats.

For anyone who’s ever visited Japan, this is a throwback to big gatherings complete with copious amounts of barbecued meats and sauces. It’s no wonder a Gyu-Kaku opened in Austin. What’s more, the menu doesn’t stop at slabs of pork—on it, you’ll discover a section of traditional ramen, including Tonkotsu, Goma Negi Shio (oxtail-based broth, kakuni chashu, egg), and Spicy Beef (kalbi soup broth, beef, veggies). Bowls are a bit on the modest side (reflected in the pricing), but that means all the more space to join in on shared barbecue plates as well as individual delights straight outta Tokyo. Happy hour deals are also offered daily.
How to book: Order take-out via ChowNow or get delivery via Uber Eats.

At first glance, Lucky Robot may seem like a hyped-up SoCo restaurant decked out for the ‘Gram, but over a decade of celebrated culinary service means the food certainly lives up to the hashtag. There’s only one ramen on the menu, but it’s a real winner, laden with pork belly, bean sprouts, ajitama egg, pickled ginger, aji amarillo mayu, and a flavorful shoyu pork broth. Also on offer is a wide selection of Japanese fare, from Chicken Teriyaki and Steamed Pork Buns to Sushi and a funky Tokyo-style smorgasbord.
How to book: Order take-out and delivery via Toast.

Ichi-Umi Ramen (formerly Haru) breaks the mold for ramen shops in Austin, as it doubles as an izakaya rife with skewered grilled meats, seafood, and shareable appetizers. However, ramen is still the main attraction, thanks to a great selection of broths and styles including vegan and Tsukemen, a bowl of cold noodles served alongside hot dipping broth (remember that come summer). Craving something a little different? Build your own bowl starting with its extra-rich black broth—made with black garlic oil and black sesame and topped with garlic chips and nori—then load up on add-ins like ajitama, baby bok choy, bean sprouts, pork chashu, and a lemon yuzu bomb for spice and brightness.

Kanji Ramen may look like a small, nondescript storefront, but the moment you enter its cartoon-decorated walls, you understand why it’s become such a local gem for all things ramen. While many claim Kanji’s Signature Ramen, which features a creamy pork bone broth with ajitama, wood ear mushrooms, grilled corn, and fried garlic as the must-have, don’t sleep on the veggie offerings either. The key is the marinated tofu they serve with it—ask for it spicy for the perfect kick, one that will give your broth some bite without being overbearing.
How to book: Stop by for first come, first served seating.

This 2020 opening has seen a steady flow of devotees come to savor their thick and creamy paitan-style ramen, lovingly made from a mixture of chicken and pork broth. Start with the now-famous Indomitable Chicken Wings (twice-cooked and seasoned with house-made spice rub) or the Takoyaki (octopus balls that transport you to the streets of Osaka), then head for the Paitan Ramen (original, spicy, or vegan) or the Ma-Yu Black Ramen (savory broth with black garlic oil and lots of veggies), and finally, go hard with every flavor of Mochidoki Mochi on the menu (don’t worry, there are only five). The restaurant also has some brilliant Japanese-inspired craft cocktails, sake, and beer available if you want to make an occasion out of it.
How to book: Stop by for first come, first served seating or get delivery via Uber Eats.

If you’re a true noodle nerd, this is your place. Xian means “fresh” in Chinese, and it is all about freshness—which is why the crew hand-pulls all their noodles, not just for their ramen, but for their various other dishes on their menu, too. But never mind those, we’re here to talk ramen. The Shoyu comes with the standard clear beef broth, white radish, cilantro, and bean sprouts, the simplicity of which allows the delicate, chewy noodles to stand out even more.
How to book: Stop by for first come, first served seating, order take-out via Toast, or get delivery via Uber Eats.

The main draw of Michi Ramen is the large selection of ramen styles, add-ons, and the choice of broth richness—light, original, or stout (for ramen fans who like it thick). While we understand the traditionalist POV, the appeal of Michi’s Jungle ramen is undeniable. Your choice of lean pork, pork belly, spicy ground pork, or chicken, loaded with crunchy bean sprouts, earthy wood ear mushrooms, green onions, fresh chilis, a lime wedge, and cilantro, all swimming in a lemongrass tonkotsu broth. And as a happy little bonus, Michi serves a nicely curated selection of Japanese and local beer.
How to book: Stop by for first come, first served seating, order take-out via Toast, or get delivery via Uber Eats.