Cuisine Scene: Ramen

Warm, nourishing and bursting with flavor, ramen is the slurp that keeps on giving. Long Beach offers a wide range of ramen experiences, from intimate dining to late night fix, from creamy tonkotsu to savory plant-based options, all of them bringing a distinct and delicious touch to this beloved and traditional dish. Here are a few of Long Beach’s best ramen spots for you to noodle on.

HIRONORI CRAFT RAMEN

HiroNori Craft Ramen (610 E Carson St) in Bixby Knolls has a cozy dining area with a view of the chefs working their magic in an open kitchen. They boil their tonkotsu broth for 24 hours and only use soy sauce that has been barrel-aged for two years. This Michelin Guide “Bib Gourmand” restaurant offers both meat and vegan options with house-made noodles. Braised pork is a popular choice as is a heavenly black garlic sauce that’s poured into bowls.

JOUNETSU RAMEN

Jounetsu Ramen (1035 E 4th St) is housed in a narrow storefront with a few tables indoors and a few more on the front patio along the sidewalk, giving it a decidedly Tokyo feel. As does the food. Choose from tonkotsu, miso, shoyu, or vegetable broth–simmered for 18 hours for richness and depth of flavor–and pork belly, chicken, tofu, or veggies for your ramen bowl. Jounetsu also offers rice bowls, appetizers like takoyaki and gyoza, sushi rolls, and a selection of Japanese beer and sake.

JINYA RAMEN BAR

JINYA Ramen Bar (6480 E Pacific Coast Hwy Ste 130), located in the 2ND & PCH shopping center, offers a menu that includes several variations of ramen, small plates like tempura brussels sprouts and steamed buns, plus salad, mini tacos, and rice bowls. The restaurant’s stylishly sleek interior makes it a great date night spot and a fun option for social gatherings of all kinds. You can sit at the bar and enjoy your ramen with craft beer on tap, or on the front patio at the large table with a fire pit.

GU RAMEN

Gu Ramen (108 W 3rd St), which prides itself on bringing the rich flavors of Japan to their bowls, specializes in tonkotsu ramen, crafted from a slow-simmered pork bone broth that’s rich, creamy and packed with umami. Located in Downtown Long Beach, Gu also has delicious, vegetarian shoyu broth made with a deep, savory, satisfying soy sauce base. You can pair your ramen with a selection of Asian tapas and flavorful rice bowls as well as a curated menu of great beer, wine and, of course, sake.

RAKKAN RAMEN

Rakkan Ramen (5242 Second St) serves authentic Japanese ramen utilizing a traditional plant-based broth rich in umami flavor. The broth perfectly accentuates its silky noodles and whatever is paired with them. The Garnet is a popular choice, with grilled pork, green onion, bamboo shoots, seasoned egg and sesame paste. Rakkan, open until midnight Sunday-Wednesday and 12:30 AM Thursday-Saturday, is a popular choice for a healthy late night eating.

About the Author

Steve Lowery

Steve Lowery is a longtime local. Over the years he has written for the Los Angeles Times, ESPN, and others. If you're looking for the hidden gems of Long Beach, Steve is your go-to.