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Where To Find The Best Vegan Ramen In New York City
It's hard to imagine a time when Americans didn't love ramen, but this iconic Japanese noodle dish only began gaining widespread popularity in the US in the early 2000s. In New York City, the ramen boom took off with Rai Rai Ken, a cozy spot in the East Village that helped turn ramen from a humble side dish into the star of the meal.
Throughout the 2000s and 2010s, ramen firmly established itself as a New York staple. Today, the city offers countless varieties, including plenty of delicious plant-based options. Check out some of our favorite vegan ramen picks below.
Can ramen be vegan?Traditional Japanese ramen typically features wheat noodles served in a rich, animal-based broth, such as tonkotsu made from pork bones, or shio, a salty, clear broth often prepared with chicken or seafood. It's commonly topped with braised pork and soft-boiled eggs.
Today, many restaurants offer plant-based versions of ramen that are just as rich in umami. These broths are made with ingredients like seaweed, miso, and dried shiitake mushrooms, and are topped with flavorful additions like tofu, bok choy, chili oil, and more mushrooms.
The best spots for vegan ramen in NYCCraving ramen? We've got you covered. Here are some of the best spots in NYC serving up delicious vegan takes on the Japanese classic.
Vegan Shōyu RamenRamen Ishida
1 Ramen IshidaAt Ramen Ishida, Chef Yohei Ishida offers Shōyu Ramen, also known as Tokyo-style ramen, which stands apart from the more common tonkotsu variety thanks to its clear, chicken-based broth. But don't worry—there's a vegan version, too. The umami-rich Vegan Shōyu Ramen features a flavorful broth made from vegetables, kombu, shiitake mushrooms, and truffles. It's topped with a vibrant mix of bean sprouts, bok choy, corn, bell peppers, shiso, bamboo shoots, and tofu. The dish is built around thick flour noodles, carefully chosen by Ishida for their "flavor profile, form, length, thickness, and texture."Find it here
Truffle Miso RamenNakamura
2 NakamuraWant to try ramen made by a Ramen God? Head to Nakamura, founded by Chef Shigetoshi Nakamura, one of four legendary Japanese ramen chefs collectively known as the Ramen Gods. Here, you'll find not one, but two vegan ramen options: Truffle Miso and XO Miso. The XO Miso features chewy noodles tossed with cabbage, scallions, and a kick of Szechuan pepper.Find it here
Vegan Miso 'Doenjang' RamenMokbar
3 MokbarWith three locations across New York City—Chelsea Market, Brooklyn, and Midtown—Mokbar makes it easy to get your ramen fix. Don't miss the Vegan Miso, served in a savory kombu-doenjang broth and topped with tofu, spinach, bean sprouts, shiitake mushrooms, crispy potatoes, scallions, and nori.Find it here
Daichi No Miso RamenIppudo V
4 Ippudo VIppudo opened its doors during the ramen boom of the late 2000s and hasn't looked back since. With locations in New York, Los Angeles, and San Francisco, the brand has become a staple of Japanese ramen in the US. At Ippudo V in Brooklyn, you'll find the same iconic flavors—but with a fully plant-based twist. The menu features a variety of vegan ramen options, including Pla-Ton (a plant-based take on tonkotsu), Shojin, Daichi No Miso, Hakuna Matata (made with carrot fettuccine), and Toma Tan Ton, which features vegan chicken broth.Find it here
Truffled Vegan ShoyuIvan Ramen
5 Ivan RamenIf you've seen the hit Netflix series Chef's Table, you might recognize Ivan Orkin. The Jewish American chef was featured in 2017 for making waves in the ramen world. Though not Japanese, Orkin has deeply studied the craft of ramen, and his expertise shines through in every bowl. Try it for yourself with the Truffled Vegan Shoyu, made with a truffled vegetable and mushroom dashi, and topped with grilled oyster mushrooms, roasted tomatoes, yu choy, and scallions.Find it here
Kame's Spicy Vegan Miso@flirtingwithvegan
6 KameKame has earned a reputation as a go-to spot for Japanese food in New York City and for good reason: the ramen consistently delivers. One of the standout features of Kame is its dedicated vegan menu, offering everything from Impossible meat buns and spicy edamame to a bold Spicy Vegan Miso Ramen. This flavorful bowl features a rich miso vegetable broth, ground Impossible meat, shiitake mushrooms, bamboo shoots, and seaweed.Find it here
Classic RamenRamen Danbo
7 Ramen DanboRamen Danbo, a popular ramen chain from Japan, has seven locations across Canada and the US, including two in New York City. Head to the West Village or Park Slope to explore their vegan menu, which features four flavorful ramen varieties: Classic, Shio, Miso, and Negi-Goma, made with roasted sesame seeds and sesame oil.Find it here
For more plant-based stories like this, read:Charlotte is a VegNews editor and writer based in sunny Southsea on England's southern coast.
Almost-Instant Miso Ramen With Kimchi
Unlike traditional Japanese recipes for tonkotsu or shoyu ramen, which can take hours or days to prepare, this spicy miso ramen recipe can be made on the fly at home, at a vacation rental, or even deskside with just a few ingredients from the local grocery store. You won't even need a large pot since we've included microwave instructions. The trick is to infuse the broth with as much flavor as possible—miso paste, the liquid from a jar of kimchi, and spicy black bean paste all deliver.
You can use red or white miso paste here or a combination. White miso will create a sweeter broth, while red miso will make for a heartier, bolder bowl of ramen. You can also use the juice from any jar of kimchi, which will bring a surge of brightness to the miso broth. No kimchi in the fridge? Grate in some fresh ginger and add a sprinkle of crushed red pepper flakes for a different, but still delicious, vibe.
You will need instant noodles for this easy recipe, and while you could use any packet of instant ramen and just toss the flavoring sachet aside, you could also stock up on plain noodles. As for other mix-ins, grab that leftover roast chicken, soy-sauce-glazed shiitake mushrooms, garlicky steamed bok choy, or whatever else you find lingering in your fridge. A host of garnishes will give the noodle soup even more heft. Add a soft-boiled egg or a soy-marinated egg and some bamboo shoots, bean sprouts, or green onions; toast some nori and crumble it over top; pile on some crispy shallots; or drizzle in some sesame oil, chili oil, and/or sriracha.
For a vegetarian soup with a totally homemade ramen broth, check out our I-Can't-Believe-It's-Vegetarian Ramen—or for another use for those instant noodles, check out this crunchy, refreshing ramen noodle salad.
New Jersey's 23 Best Bowls Of Ramen, Ranked, For 2024
Ramen was once nothing more than Japanese street food. Now, the bowls typically filled with Chinese-style wheat noodles, served in a broth and topped with meat, veggies and other accoutrements are one of the world's most popular comfort foods — especially when the weather gets chilly.
Ramen means different things to different people: It runs the gamut from instant ramen sustaining broke college kids to as fancy bowls served as Michelin Star restaurants in New York City, with hours-long table waits.
But Jersey eaters know you don't have to go across the Hudson and for fantastic ramen. The Garden State offers incredible food from every region of the world, and with a large Asian population spread across the state (but more clustered in North Jersey), there's loads of great noodles to be discovered.
We spent the last couple months visiting ramen restaurants across New Jersey to find the most delectable bowls Garden State. Here's our new ranked list, happy slurping!
23. Vegan kimchi miso ramen, Menya Ramen House, Metuchen and RidgewoodIf you're strolling around downtown Metuchen, you may come across this humble ramen restaurant offering a low-key vibe. They feature ramen bowls for everyone with vegetarian and vegan options. I tried their vegan kimchi miso ramen ($17) and it was so flavorful you'd never know there was no meat. The bowl holds a vegetable broth with miso paste with noodles laid under a layer of homemade tofu, mushrooms, sesame seeds, bamboo, scallions, onions and corn. (LM)
Ippin Ramen at Ippin Ramen in Oakhurst, NJ. (Lauren MusniNJ Advance Media)
22. Ippin ramen, Ippin Ramen, OakhurstIppin Ramen is a terrific option for those who live near the Jersey Shore, located right on Route 35, 10 minutes from the water. According to their website, their special tonkotsu (pork) broth is "perfected by blending soups in three states of preparation" and you can definitely tell in their ramen. The Ippin ramen ($14) highlights braised pork, egg and black garlic oil; a fundamental ramen dish filled with extraordinary flavors. My favorite was the braised pork – juicy and fatty with a little charcoal on the palate. (LM)
Birria ramen from AXO Restaurant (Christopher BurchNJ Advance Media)Christopher Burch
21. Birria ramen, AXO Restaurant, LindenwoldSimilar to ramen, birria-style Mexican eats have risen to great heights of popularity in the past few years. AXO Restaurant's birria rendition of the popular Asian dish is rich, flavorful and packs a punch of spice I never knew I needed in my soup. The Mexican-Asian fusion dish ($15) features chunks of slow-cooked beef that are so tender they fell off your fork. Seasoned shrimp, cilantro and onions provide a bit of refreshment to the spicy soup. (CB)
Black Garlic Shoyu Ramen at Yaraku Ramen in Edison, NJ. (Lauren MusniNJ Advance Media)
20. Black garlic shoyu ramen, Yaraku Ramen, EdisonEven as a frequent visitor to Edison, I have no idea this hidden gem existed until recently. I love how you get to choose what type of ramen noodles you want, from wavy, thin, gluten-free and even keto-friendly no matter what bowl you get. Their black garlic shoyu ramen ($13.95) starts with a soy base and pork broth noodles with special soy dashi (Japanese soup stock). It is then garnished with pork belly chashu, kikurage (wood ear) mushrooms, menma (Japanese condiment made from lacto-fermented bamboo shoots), a half soft boiled egg, scallions and black garlic oil. The ramen has an incredible depth of flavor, especially from the black garlic oil, which injected a sweet and earthy taste. (LM)
Trinity Ramen at Pinwheel Garden Dumpling and Noodle Bar in Jersey City, NJ. (Lauren MusniNJ Advance Media)
This small ramen shop is hole-in-the-wall spot nestled on downtown Communipaw Avenue. For the trinity ramen ($28), eaters can pick between spiced 36-hour beef, chicken or pork bone broth with either ramen noodles, udon or rice. Then it's topped with pieces of lemongrass chicken, char-siu pork and stewed beef neck – finished with garlic snow pea leaves, bean sprouts, crispy shallots, scallions and a jasmine tea egg. This bowl bursts with smoky, meaty flavors and fresh vegetables. Not to mention, the trinity ramen is gluten free! Although I enjoyed this dish, I do wish there was more of that tasty broth. (LM)
18. Tonkotsu ramen, Vibe N Slurp, Toms RiverYou've got to love the name, first of all. Former New York policeman Wayne Carrington opened Roc N Ramen in the Bronx in 2014, then Vibe N Slurp in 2021. The tonkotsu ramen sounds wonderful (pork belly, pork bone broth, bamboo shoots, scallions, boiled egg, edible orchid flower) and it is. I also love the pork dumplings here — crispy, crunchy delights. (PG)
Black garlic ramen from Ramen Azuma (Lauren MusniNJ Advance Media)Lauren Musni
17. Black garlic ramen, Ramen Azuma, Englewood and HackensackThe sister restaurant to Soba Noodle Azuma, this restaurant offers a whole variety of different bowls from fried chicken curry ramen to spicy seafood ramen. Guests can even get a combo of a small bowl of ramen with sides like gyoza, curry, chashu bowl (braised pork belly over rice) or smoked salmon over rice for $16 to $18.50. The black garlic ramen was filling, even in the smaller size with the strong, aromatic flavor of black garlic. (LM)
Spicy Miso Ramen from Batten Ramen. (Jeremy SchneiderNJ Advance Media for NJ.Com)
16. Spicy miso ramen, Batten Ramen, Fort LeeBatten Ramen is a tiny shop in Fort Lee, but their soup packs huge flavor. The broth for the spicy miso ramen was a nice level of spice without being overpowering, and the pork belly was firmer than most on this list — helping it stand up to the broth. My favorite addition to the bowl, though? It's corn! (JS)
Tonkatsu Curry Ramen at Kyuramen in Cherry Hill, NJ. (Lauren MusniNJ Advance Media)
15. Tonkatsu curry ramen, Kyuramen, Cherry HillThe beloved New York ramen chain opened its first location in New Jersey in 2021. Kyuramen offers ramen, rice and ramen burgers, the classic omurice (fluffy egg on top of rice) and other various desserts, drinks and appetizers. The tonkatsu curry ramen ($18) features tonkatsu (breaded, deep-fried pork cutlet), bamboo shoots, corn, wakame (species of kelp), scallions and nori (seaweed) – all drenched in a thick pork curry broth. The flavorsome sauce was abundant with spices and the tonkatsu was crunchy on the outside and super juicy on the inside. (LM)
Thai tom yum style ramen from Sum Ramen (Lauren MusniNJ Advance Media)Lauren Musni
14. Thai tom yum style ramen, Sum Ramen, Millburn and WestfieldTom yum is a type of hot and sour soup from Thailand. Sum Ramen took the classic dish and spinned it with ramen for $17. The spicy broth had notes of lemongrass, lime chili and coconut that warmed me up during a chilly night. Guests have a choice between rice or thin noodles with seafood or chicken. I prefer the the latter but the seafood is just as delicious.(LM)
Sinigang Ramen from Tenmomi in Nutley, NJ (photo provided by Tenmomi)Tenmomi
13. Sinigang ramen, Tenmomi, NutleyThis ramen is the lovechild between two cuisines – Japan and the Philippines. Sinigang is a tamarind-based soup known for its distinct tanginess and various toppings like meat and vegetables. I grew up eating sinigang and having it transformed into a ramen brought a lot of nostalgia in a very tasty way. It has that same sour taste that I love as it's made from similar broth with tamarind, tomatoes, onions and fish sauce. Toppings may vary – just like the traditional sinigang – but Tenmomi usually garnishes the bowl with pork confit, string beans, taro and scallions. (LM)
Tsukemen Ramen from Menya Sandaime. (Jeremy SchneiderNJ Advance Media for NJ.Com)
12. Tsukemen ramen, Menya Sandaime, Jersey City, Paramus and Fort LeeTsukemen is an interesting style of ramen split into two bowls. One features the broth, the other includes all the other fillings for the soup. You dunk the noodles, veggies and protein into the broth, almost like a dipping sauce. The Tsukemen broth at Menya Sandaime is made with fish and has a smokey earthiness to it. One of the most unique ramens I had on this noodle journey, for sure. (JS)
Black Queen Ramen at Sumi Ramen in Plainsboro, NJ. (Lauren MusniNJ Advance Media)
11. Black queen ramen, Sumi Ramen, PlainsboroThis restaurant is an endearing little spot located stashed in Plainsboro Plaza. Sumi Ramen didn't just offer ramen but sushi, rice bowls, curry platters, plus soba and udon noodle bowls as well. The black queen ramen ($13.75) is one of their signature bowls with a pork broth, mayu oil (dark roasted leek with crushed garlic oil), soy sauce, bamboo shoots, scallion, wood ear mushroom and a boiled egg. It was satisfying and hit the spot for the first chilly day of the season. (LM)
Tan tan ramen from Tenichi in Piscataway (Lauren MusniNJ Advance Media)Lauren Musni
10. Tan tan ramen, Tenichi, PiscatawayTenichi is a popular ramen shop in Brooklyn, but they recently opened in the suburban town of Piscataway in October. The tan tan ramen ($17.67) is a chicken broth with spicy ground pork and topped with fish cake, bean sprouts, corn, egg and cilantro. I thought this would've been an extremely spicy bowl, but it was more of a subtle heat packed with flavor – which made it instantly my favorite. (LM)
Signature Tonkotsu Ramen from Itshow Tendon and Ramen. (Jeremy SchneiderNJ Advance Media for NJ.Com)
One of the coolest parts of Itshow (Japanese for "together") is how customizable your ramen bowl is, no matter which one you order. Not only can you pick your spice level on a scale of 1 to 4, you can also pick noodle texture — firm, medium or soft. The pork bone broth for the Tonkotsu Ramen was incredibly flavorful, and the pork baby back rib came right off the bone. (JS)
Ribeye Steak Ramen at Rai Rai Ramen in East Brunswick, NJ. (Lauren MusniNJ Advance Media)
8. Ribeye Steak Ramen, Rai Rai Ramen, East Brunswick, Mount Laurel and North BrunswickCalling all meat lovers! This popular New Jersey ramen shop, now with three locations in the state, is serving up some great ramen for y'all. Behold the ribeye steak ramen ($21.95): seven ounces of marbleized meat atop of fresh greens, noodles, egg and bamboo. I was not expecting to love this ramen so much, but the meat was cooked to a perfect medium rare and was so delicate. It's a must-grab bowl if you're in for a hearty meal. (LM)
Black Jack ramen from RamenYa (Lauren MusniNJ Advance Media)Lauren Musni
7. Black Jack ramen, RamenYa, Branchburg and EdisonThis is another ramen shop that just opened this year but has already made quite an impression on us. The glorious "Black Jack" ramen ($15.95) highlights two pieces of pork chashu, green onions, bean sprouts, seasoned egg and wood ear mushrooms atop a bed of ramen noodles stewed in a broth dressed with garlic, black garlic and spicy oils. The rich, umami-packed bowl is one of their best sellers and it's not hard to see why. (LM)
The deluxe tsukemen at Tsujita in Fort Lee, NJ (Lauren MusniNJ Advance Media)Lauren Musni
6. Deluxe Tsukemen, Tsujita, Fort LeeThis is yet another tsukemen ramen that the team loved, but this time from Tsujita in Fort Lee. This ramen chain was first founded in 2005 in Tokyo before opening their first United States location in 2011 in Los Angeles. The Fort Lee location opened in 2022, marking its first East Coast location. My first time having this dipping ramen was here and I've had no regrets since. The deluxe tsukemen ($22.95) is different from the traditional ramen with a broth that's much richer, resembling a hearty sauce. (LM)
Chef's Special Ramen from Ani Ramen. (Jeremy SchneiderNJ Advance Media for NJ.Com)
5. Chef's special ramen, Ani Ramen, various locationsThere are so many Ani Ramen locations now that it is honestly hard to keep up. After starting in Montclair, Luck Sarabhayavanija's restaurant is now also in Jersey City, Summit, Maplewood, Cranford, and Westchester. Ani Ramen's sizable menu includes plenty of great non-soupy options. But the chef's special ramen, a splendidly rich and flavorful broth which is brightened up by the addition of chili paste, chives, garlic, ginger, onion, shallot and most importantly lemongrass. The kakuni (pork belly) is so tender it might fall apart as you pick it up with your chopsticks. (JS)
Toroniku Spicy Miso Ramen from Hokkaido Ramen Santouka. (Jeremy SchneiderNJ Advance Media for NJ.Com)
One of the countless incredible dining options at Mitsuwa Marketplace, a trip to the Japanese food emporium can be overwhelming. The ramen offerings at Hokkaido Ramen Santouka, the ramen kiosk in the emporium, is one of the few exception — there are only six bowls of ramen to chose from. The toroniku ramen comes with simmered pork cheek, and one bite will have you understanding why the English name for the dish is "melty pork ramen." The pork is outrageously tender, almost melting when you put it in the broth and then again when you finally take a bite. (JS)
Beef ramen from Ramen Azuma in Wood-Ridge. (Jeremy SchneiderNJ Advance Media for NJ.Com)
3. Beef ramen, Ramen Azuma, Hackensack and Wood-RidgeWhen you hear that soup is going to contain beef, it's not an unfair assumption to think it's going to be a heavy and hearty dish. But while this bowl from Ramen Azuma was loaded with rich and flavorful thinly sliced beef, the broth itself was lighter — almost citrusy — and those notes came out even more as I squeezed the lemon that came with it. The egg was cooked with nuance, making it nice and yolky. (JS)
2. Mochi ramen carbonara tsukemen, Pasta Ramen, MontclairThe hottest ramen restaurant in New Jersey isn't your typical noodle house. Pasta Ramen is a collaboration between Robbie Felice of Italian eateries Viaggio and Osteria Crescendo and Luck Sarabhayavanija, owner of Ani Ramen. The result is Wafu Italian food — a fusion of Italian and Japanese food. No dish on the menu encapsulates the cuisine like their mochi ramen carbonara tsukemen. The creaminess of the carbonara paired with the starchy chewiness, almost bounciness, of the noodles made this dish one of the best things I ate all of last year. The staff whisks yolk into a sauce consisting of lemon and a spice blend called togarashi table-side before the concoction is poured atop the parmesan and sesame-covered noodles. (JS)
Truffle Butter Ramen at Ramen Nagomi in New Brunswick, NJ. (Lauren MusniNJ Advance Media)
1. Truffle Butter Ramen, Ramen Nagomi, Freehold and New BrunswickI have loved Ramen Nagomi since my days Rutgers University and their truffle butter ramen is a seasonal treat offered only during the fall and winter months, with pork bone stock, pork belly, sweet corn, scallions, truffle compound butter, egg, nori (seaweed) and kikurage (wood ear mushroom). When the dish gets to the table, you must mix the truffle compound butter into the broth, watch it melt and revel in the rich, nutty goodness.
The dish is not overly salty and the flavors of the sweet corn, tender pork belly, chewy kikurage, aromatic scallions and crisp nori are simple, yet oh so tasty and work wonders with the thin noodles. It's my go-to bowl every season. (LM)
NJ Advance Media staff writers Christopher Burch and Pete Genovese contributed to this story.
Editor's note: This story has been updated to remove one restaurant that is now closed
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Lauren Musni may be reached at lmusni@njadvancemedia.Com. Follow her on Twitter @Laurengmusni. Find NJ.Com on Facebook.
Jeremy Schneider may be reached at jschneider@njadvancemedia.Com and followed on Twitter at @J_Schneider and on Instagram at @JeremyIsHungryAgain.
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