We don’t just eat shallot, we practically breathe noodles (sorry for that somewhat disturbing mental image), and we’ve collected our Brissie faves into one list for you to explore at your leisure.
If you froth good broth, read on…
RAMEN DANBO | SOUTH BRISBANE & CBD
Are you ready to Danbo? Entering the ring and vying to be your next favourite is Ramen Danbo! Specialising in Fukuoka-style noodles, we suggest tackling their miso tonkotsu, or nitamago for the egg lovers who can’t grab a ramen without at least two soft-boiled eggs!
MOTTO MOTTO | VARIOUS LOCATIONS
Motto Motto is a go-to for a reason: try their Miso Ramen and you’ll never look back. The holy combo of miso and vegetable broth, tofu, black fungi, bamboo shoots, nori, corn,fresh shallots and bean sprouts is one that will remedy any ailment in a heartbeat.
RAMEN CHAMPION | SUNNYBANK
Champion at making a variety of slurp-worthy bowls, including their Smokey Champion served with flame-grilled pork slices. Although, if you’re up for a challenge, take your eating skills to a new level when you attempt to finish the giant bowl, but let it be known: only the strong make it to the wall of fame.
RAMEN WORKS | WEST END
As a relatively new addition to the Brissie ramen scene, their karaage chilled noodle is already a long-time fave with a soy-based sweet and sour soup, leek, flavoured egg, bean sprouts, fresh tomato, cucumber and bean sprouts. Your soul will be well fed after a visit to this West End local!
TATSU RAMEN | FORTITUDE VALLEY
Tatsu is straight fire, and we’re not putting that mildly. Feast on homemade broth with flavoursome pork char siu, seasoned soft eggs, slow-cooked chicken and more – plus, vegans and vegetarians can get behind a sweet onion and soy sauce base with spinach and tofu.
GENKOTSU RAMEN | TOOWONG
Get around a bowl of Genkotsu’s best! Authentic and packed with flavour, you’ll be taken straight to the streets of Tokyo when you’re slurping one of their ten ramen flavours – and, with 12-hour brewed broth, you won’t have to reach for an excuse to go back for more.
IKKAIRO RAMEN | UNDERWOOD
Make a day of it and head over to this ramen joint on the outskirts of town (and well worth the visit)! Besides house-made noodles and yummy gyoza, these guys have also made a name for themselves thanks to their dedicated prawn ramen menu! Devour everything from tiger prawn ramen to spicy prawn ramen topped with pork chashu.
TARO’S | VARIOUS LOCATIONS
Top-running candidate in the noodle campaign is none other than Taro’s Ramen. It’d be hard to find a ramen lover in the city who doesn’t stan the souper tasty dishes that come from the kitchen of foodie extraordinaire Taro, and for good reason. Spice up your life with their most popular dish, the Fire Tonkotsu, and feel those tears of joy run down your face (yes… joy).
HAKATAYA RAMEN | VARIOUS LOCATIONS
Hakataya is keeping Brisbane ramen lovers well fed with plenty of stores strewn around Brissie, meaning their melt-in-your-mouth Charsiu is never far away! Visit one of their eight stores on your next outing!
MEN YA GO | CBD & FORTITUDE VALLEY
Who needs men when you can have ramen! With two stores in and around Albert Street and one on Brunswick Street, you can indulge in all the ramen you desire! The garlic shoyu tonkotsu and the spicy shoyu tonkotsu are what you should order first, but heed our warning, ‘spicy’ definitely means spicy here.
HAI HAI | PADDINGTON
Paddington’s ramen-wielding local is a must-try, and their tonkotsu ramen with nori and black garlic oil is as pretty as it is delicious. You can even indulge in what we like to call Hai Hai’s ramen happy hour every Monday and Tuesday when you can score your fave ramen for ten bucks from 5-6pm – oodles of noodles incoming!
OKUMAN KARAAGE & RAMEN BAR | SOUTH BRISBANE
Warm your soul with ramen made fresh before your eyes at Izakana-Ya Okuman. Prepared in an open kitchen and served in handmade bowls, you can’t go wrong with the spicy tonkotsu ramen with spring onions, egg and seaweed. Yum!
SAGO RESTAURANT | KELVIN GROVE
If you can’t get enough of the noods, located in the hub that is Kelvin Grove village, is a gem on the corner of Musk Avenue. Taking top spot for study breaks and work catch-ups, grab a crispy wonton laksa for a truly warming experience and have a gab with your bestie. Open between 11am-8:30pm on weekdays and 5pm-8:30pm on Saturdays, it’s well worth a visit with your ramen gang!
It’s ra-meant to be.
