12 Best Restaurants in USA

Acclaimed Japanese ramen chain Afuri decided to open an outpost in the United States in 2016, choosing this modern, high-ceilinged dining room in food-obsessed Portland in part because the exacting culinary team appreciated the city's pristine, glacially fed water supply, which plays a significant part in the steaming, savory portions of yuzu shio (with chicken broth, yuzu citrus, shimeji mushrooms, seasoned egg, chashu, endive, and nori), one of a half dozen deeply satisfying ramen bowls. The kitchen also turns out flavorful skewers of shishito peppers and chicken thighs, pork dumplings, sushi, and other izakaya-style fare, all of it consistently exceptional.

From the owners of Daikaya, Bantam King is another fun option for ramen in the Penn Quarter neighborhood. Chicken broth serves as the base of their flavorful ramen with noodles sourced from Sapporo, Japan. There's also a vegetarian option on the menu. In addition to ramen, Bantam King offers crispy Nashville hot fried chicken, a favorite among regulars. 

After a day of skiing, windsurfing, or hiking, head to this inviting, family-run restaurant in downtown Hood River for a hearty, soul-warming bowl of ramen along with some shareable plates of izakaya-style appetizers, like fried oysters, tempura shrimp, and seasoned edamame. These richly complex ramens burst with flavor, from the duck chintan with scallions, corn, and stir-fried wood ear mushrooms to the miso clam with corn and cabbage (and optional Carlton Farms chashu pork as an add-in). The chicken katsu curry is delicious, too. 

Although ramen has always been hiding in Nashville's under-the-radar Japanese spots, Sarah Gavigan returned from 20 years in L.A. and made it her mission to get more Nashvillians interested in slurping it up. Start with either a salty clear shio broth or a richer shoyu, then choose one of three protein options plus additional toppings like burnt miso butter. There's another location in East Nashville. 

Just a short walk from the 7 train is an easy-to-miss, unsuspecting izakaya, Takumen. Serving up giant bowls of slurpy noodles in salty, umami-packed broths, Takumen does ramen near perfectly, but they offer plenty more delectable dishes, too. Go for a variety of obanzai (izakaya samplers), like the sesame tofu edamame salad and the kombu cauliflower-and-broccoli pop. While their ramen dishes are naturally more desirable in the wintertime, they also have a year-round ice-cream window, where they serve soft-serve in flavors like matcha and vanilla, along with anmitsu, a traditional Japanese dessert made with red bean paste and agar jelly.

An artificial cherry tree in full bloom rises over the brick-walled dining room of this superb ramen and cocktail bar on a historic block of downtown Everett. Warm your soul with a steaming bowl of vegetarian shoyu, pork tonkatsu, spicy miso, or seafood ramen. Tack on a couple of the tasty sides, like squid salad or pork belly buns.

This often crowded and convivial ramen shop, at the entrance of the Union Alley shopping arcade across from the Ace Hotel, is tiny in size and menu, but popular for its quick-service soups, including spicy red miso with pork belly and egg, and shiitake mushroom shoyu. Seating is at a few small wooden tables and a short bar, so prepare for a wait at lunchtime or on weekend evenings. Boxer Ramen has four additional locations in the Alberta Arts District, Sellwood, Nob Hill, on East Burnside.

This intimate, no-reservations, Sapporo-style ramen shop is one of the city's best bets for the tasty Japanese noodle soup. It offers five excellent types of ramen, with the vegan version a welcome option. The bustling atmosphere is underscored by the loud music. Upstairs is the izakaya, which takes reservations and specializes in Japanese-inspired comfort food like tuna poke, Maryland blue catfish with ginger tartar sauce, and stuffed shishito peppers.

Hakata-style tonkotsu (pork) and extra-intense chicken paitan ramen are the specialties of this modern-looking Japan Center restaurant that serves what many consider the city's finest bowl of ramen and has expanded into a 10-location chain. Long lines here can be daunting, but tables move pretty quickly inside the bustling yet relaxed space decorated with wood design elements and dangling Edison bulbs. A few izakaya small bites, rice bowls, beer, and both Japanese and locally made sake round out the menu.

Some of the most showstopping cocktails can unsuspectingly be found at a Japanese restaurant in Harlem. ROKC is serving up a modern take on ramen, with dishes like the Kyoto, a soy sauce--flavored chicken and fish broth with pork belly and spicy bamboo shoots. They also offer a selection of "soupless" varieties, like yokosuka curry with shrimp paste and cauliflower, and sea urchin and salmon caviar bowls. While their ramen is arguably the best in upper Manhattan, their cocktails take ROKC over the top. Try the clarified Cumin & Yogurt with Japanese vodka, or the Pineapple and Passion Fruit with rum and burnt cinnamon. Just plan accordingly, because it's rare that there's not a line here.

This cozy gem strikes the perfect balance between keep-it-simple affordability and adventurous flair. Beyond the ramen bowls, other memorable fuel for a night on the town or a long winter's walk includes juicy marinated bulgogi beef buns and gyoza, crispy fresh Japanese dumplings.