Picture this…
You’re cold and hungry. (What else is new in Minnesota?)
You want something that will thaw you out and warm you up from the inside out.
Ramen, to the rescue!
The Twin Cities is packed full of fantastic ramen options. (Maybe not surprisingly, given the number of days we need warming up.)
So, to help you get through those cold winter days, we put together a list of the 12 best ramen places in Minneapolis & St. Paul.
PS – Don’t miss our guide to the Twin Cities’ best Japanese restaurants or the best Chinese restaurants in Minneapolis & St. Paul.
Contents
Map of the Best Ramen around the Twin Cities
Ishita Ramen
Located just north of I-94 on Dale Avenue in St. Paul, Ishita offers a full menu of traditional and stir-fried ramen dishes. Well-known as some of the best ramen in St. Paul, the portions are perfectly sized and priced right. Their daily happy hour menu (3:30 PM to close) includes $5 sake and appetizers to add to your steaming bowl of noodles.
- Address: 712 University Ave W #103, St Paul, MN 55104
- Website: Ishita Ramen
Ichiddo Ramen
Ichiddo Ramen has become a household name around the Twin Cities, with locations in Minneapolis, St. Paul, and several suburbs. A good spot for getting an introduction to the world of house-made ramen, Ichiddo is both affordable and authentic.
- Address: Multiple Twin Cities locations, including Highland Park, Minneapolis, Roseville, and Maple Grove
- Website: Ichiddo Ramen
Kyatchi
Frequently voted among the best Sushi and best Japanese restaurants in the Twin Cities, Kyatchi also holds claim to People Magazine’s national award for Best Hot Dog in Every State. Their focus is on offering traditional Japanese meals with fresh and sustainable ingredients. On chilly Minnesota winter evenings, I definitely find myself craving the pork belly ramen and vegan mushroom.
- Address 1: 3758 Nicollet Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55409
- Address 1: 308 E Prince St STE 140, St Paul, MN 55101
- Website: Kyatchi
Masu Sushi & Robata
While sushi dominates the menu at Masu, this Twin Cities fan favorite has plenty of ramen love to go around. Masu perfectly prepares their traditional pork belly bowl every time, and you won’t find the flavors of the Tonkatsu curry bowl anywhere else on this list.
- Address: Twin Cities Locations in Northeast Minneapolis, Mall of America, and Apple Valley
- Website: Masu Sushi & Robata
Moto-i
Ramen on the rooftop? I can always get on board with that!
Minneapolis sake brewery Moto-i offers a good selection of traditional ramen and Japanese small plates in their Uptown location. The patio here is one of the most popular in the neighborhood for views of downtown. Don’t miss the craft sake cocktail menu and the weekend brunch menu, either.
- Address: 2940 Lyndale Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55408
- Website: Moto-i Ramen & Sake House
Ngon Vietnamese Bistro
Honestly, there aren’t many of my “Best of” lists that Ngon doesn’t appear. So, of course, this award-winning, farm-to-fork restaurant would have some of my favorite ramen in town. Their “My Kind of Ramen” on the lunch and dinner menu is an incredible melt-in-your-mouth experience. Great for date nights and milestone celebrations.
- Address: 799 University Ave W, St Paul, MN 55104
- Website: Ngon Vietnamese Bistro
Origami
Origami has been serving up traditional ramen, sushi, and Japanese fare since the 1990s, first in downtown and now in Uptown. Expect to spend a bit more here than some of the other options on the list, but the miso pork belly ramen is so worth it.
- Address: 1354 Lagoon Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55408
- Website: Origami Restaurant
Ramen Kazama
So much to love about Ramen Kazama. A simple but flavorful menu. A clean and cozy atmosphere. And a restaurant name that’s just fun to say. These “ramen specialists” serve up a bowl of spicy miso ramen you will want to write home about.
- Address 1: 3400 Nicollet Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN 55408
- Address 2: 1510 Como Avenue SE, Minneapolis, MN 55414
- Website: Ramen Kazama
Tenka Ramen
Pre-pandemic, Tenka Ramen’s signature was the “Midnight Take-Out Menu,” full of hot steaming ramen and all the appetizers you could want from midnight to 3 AM. It meant that when we transitioned to the world of take-out only, Tenka was ahead of the pack on getting everything you want from a warm bowl of ramen in a carry-out menu. The “best take-out ramen” on this list.
- Address: 1404 W Lake St, Minneapolis, MN 55408
- Website: Tenka Ramen
Tori 44
Ramen can be a tricky menu choice for anyone with food sensitivities and special diets. However, Tori 44 recognized the need to welcome more Minnesotans to ramen and created a menu unlike anything else you’ll find in the Metro. For starters, Tori offers poultry-only broths, skipping pork-based options all together on the menu. They also can customize many of their menu options to be vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free. The best part? None of these changes sacrifice any of the traditional hearty flavors you’d expect from house-made ramen.
- Address: 2203 N 44th Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55412
- Website: Tori 44
Uni Deli at United Noodles
You know the ramen is good when you can describe it with the words ‘cult following.’ A few years back, word got out that the small deli inside the market served some extra-special ramen. While they’ve put a pause on the deli during the pandemic, when the ramen returns, there will be a long line of us ready and waiting.
- Address: 2015 E 24th St, Minneapolis, MN 55404
- Website: United Noodles
Zen Box Izakaya
Chef John Ng from Zen Box Izakaya self-describes as “The Ramen Architect.” Believing that every handmade noodle should be crafted to perfection and paired with only the freshest ingredients, you’ll notice the difference when the bowl arrives in front of you at Zen Box. The ramen here is just as much a lunch menu item as it is an art form.
- Address: 602 S Washington Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55415
- Website: Zen Box Izakaya
