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Ramen Restaurant · Strawberry Park · 136 tips and reviews
Tom McGhan: The noodles are premade, which is why they aren't the star of this fare. It's the broth, and since broth makes ramen more than the ramen makes ramen... this is one of the best ramen places around.
Ramen Restaurant · West Valley · 21 tips and reviews
Tom McGhan: The broth is thinner compared to other places in the bay, indicating less fat is added to the broth. The shoyu flavor is mild, and the noodles are nom! It's one of my top ramen places in the bay!
2240 Irving St (btwn 24th and 23rd Ave), San Francisco, CA
Ramen Restaurant · Outer Sunset · 79 tips and reviews
Tom McGhan: I prefer the standard tonkotsu to the spicy garlic version; no reason to mess up the deep rich flavor. Make sure to add an egg (perfectly cooked!) and of course, those braised pork belly chunks.
Noodle Restaurant · North Beach · 11 tips and reviews
Tom McGhan: Housed in a spot that looks like a pop-up restaurant, the ramen here is creamy, with an INCREDIBLY well-cooked egg (best in the bay?!) and passable pork. This is one of the few good bowls in SF.
3541 Homestead Rd (at Lawrence Expy), Santa Clara, CA
Noodle Restaurant · 35 tips and reviews
Tom McGhan: They ONLY do miso ramen here, but it's yummy! Get the shiro, the lightest of the miso ramens they serve, with a smoother and cleaner flavor. Bonus: pork is roasted to order, adding tremendous flavor.
Japanese Restaurant · Inner Sunset · 186 tips and reviews
Tom McGhan: The tonkotsu ramen is a little bland for how much fat is added to the broth, but is a great combination to the ginger-y pork belly (you added some, RIGHT?) and the noodles are incredible (>Orenchi!)
3540 Homestead Rd (at Lawrence Expy), Santa Clara, CA
Ramen Restaurant · 190 tips and reviews
Tom McGhan: House made-noodles, and maybe the best soft-boiled egg around makes this one of my top ramen places in the bay! Just come at an off-peak time or be prepared to wait...
Tom McGhan: Avoid the Kuro ramen; the roasted garlic overpowers everything good about their ramen. Stick with the Tonkotsu Ramen. House-made noodles & a well cooked egg makes this one of my fav joints in the bay!
375 Saratoga Ave (btw Stevens Creek Blvd & Kiely Blvd), San Jose, CA
Ramen Restaurant · West Valley · 33 tips and reviews
Tom McGhan: This place is all about customization: from saltiness of broth to doneness of noodles. Def. go for the noodles a little under. They'll cook more as you nom! It's one of my fav ramen joints in the bay!
5293 Prospect Rd (Lawrence expressway), San Jose, CA
Noodle Restaurant · 9 tips and reviews
Tom McGhan: A (relative) newcomer to the San Jose ramen scene, but has decent broth and noodles on par with its competitors at a (marginally) cheaper rate. I got the corn & pork ramen and it was pretty good!
4330 Moorpark Ave (btw Greenmeadow Way & Saratoga Ave), San Jose, CA
Ramen Restaurant · Strawberry Park · 63 tips and reviews
Tom McGhan: I'm not sure why you'd go here when Santouka is in the same shopping center, Halu ramen & tenma ramen are down the street, and the teeny-tiny space means long lines despite mediocre ramen.
Tom McGhan: This place sucked bad when I went here. You want Maru Ichi down the street instead for a better broth, noodle, and egg. Here you just get a mass of overcooked, slimy noodles in a watery broth. Blegh.