Best ramen
The spicy tonkotsu ramen at Umaido in Suwanee, chosen by readers and our critic as the best place in the Atlanta area to get ramen. Photo: Becky Stein, Special
YOUR PICKS
1. Umaido, Suwanee
You say, “Umaido in suwanee is awesome” and “My mouth is watering just by thinking about it.”
2. Yakitori Jinbei, Smyrna
3. Miso Izakaya, Atlanta
4. Shoya Japanese Restaurant, Doraville
5. Raku, Duluth
OUR PICKS
1. Umaido, Suwanee
The AJC dining team’s specialist in International Cuisine Gene Lee says, “People who have been to Umaido either love or hate this Korean ramen-ya. I’ve been multiple times and have never found anything to dislike about it. Although I prefer aged curly noodles that develop resilience to Umaido’s house-made straight Kyūshū style, the deep broth, aesthetic presentation of toppings, oil slick of black garlic oil, and that gorgeous whole soft-boiled egg stained with soy sauce ultimately are the reasons Umaido receives my top vote.”
2. Yakitori Jinbei, Smyrna
3. Sushi Huku, Sandy Springs
4. Bishoku, Atlanta
5. Haru Ichiban, Duluth
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93 comments Add your comment
mitra
May 23rd, 2011
2:57 pm
umaido in suwanee is the best.
Bud
May 23rd, 2011
3:48 pm
Looks gross who would eat that?
ChillyMutt
May 23rd, 2011
3:53 pm
Ramen is one of my favs.
Pickings are slim in Atlanta but Yakitori Jinbei is pretty good.
Adam
May 23rd, 2011
3:53 pm
Blue Fin on PIB in Duluth.
michael
May 23rd, 2011
3:58 pm
mitra is right, Umaido in suwanee is awesome!
Joe
May 23rd, 2011
4:05 pm
Third vote for Umaido!
LWells2000
May 23rd, 2011
4:09 pm
Could we try something civil [and edible] such as, “Best Black Beans and Rice” ~? C’mon~!
Father Murphy
May 23rd, 2011
4:17 pm
Lwells..how bout’ some possum stew?
Yeesh
May 23rd, 2011
4:19 pm
Yeah, Japanese food isn’t “civil” or edibile. Right….
Hashiguchi Jr. at Around Lenox. Great atmosphere, friendly staff, fair prices and awesome ramen!
Soupy Sales
May 23rd, 2011
4:27 pm
Yakitori Jinbei and Umaido are terrific also, but my vote for current fave goes to the late-night, off-the-menu ramen offered at Miso Izakaya. Yum.
(Though, honestly, it’s hard to imagine eating ramen in the heat of summer in the ATL. How about a “Favorite Cold Summer Soup” vote?)
Susie
May 23rd, 2011
4:28 pm
Yakitori Jinbei (I’m don’t know why I’m amazed about the derogatory comments here – you would think with the expansion Atlanta’s quality global food offerings people would be less narrow minded – but then again this is the internet, where the lowest common denominator tends to rule)
Didi
May 23rd, 2011
4:36 pm
@ Susie: LOL! I know right? GA hicks just have no appreciation for anything other than BBQ and grits. Seriously?! I am an AA female who just came back from Bangkok and I found the local foods absolutely delicious!!
rogeriter
May 23rd, 2011
4:40 pm
Susie and Didi–if Ga has too many hicks, Delta is ready when you are. Go back to Bangkok.
honest_abe
May 23rd, 2011
4:41 pm
only one redneck decided to chime in? amazing.
shocked
May 23rd, 2011
4:43 pm
I am surprised at the ignorance in some of the previous comments submitted. Well, maybe not… for the same reason Susie mentioned. I am going to assume that the posters of said close-minded comments are from sadly under-informed people…Oh, and Bud, since you ask, millions of Asians eat ramen – not many people at all. And, LWells, well, I don’t even know where to start with you…
Hester
May 23rd, 2011
5:02 pm
Ramens with chipped Sweet Vidaiias!!!!!!!!!!
Matt from MN
May 23rd, 2011
5:04 pm
Trolls… trolls…trolls…you are as reliable with your “oh, so witty” comments as the morning sun. How you actually learned to access the internet and use a computer with your feeble brain power is just astounding.
Melinda
May 23rd, 2011
5:10 pm
I have to admit that I haven’t tried “real” ramen yet (I’m more of a Vietnamese Pho girl myself), but that pic looks delicious!
Robin
May 23rd, 2011
5:15 pm
Having lived in Japan for two years, I was able to experience some fantastic ramen. And Bud, it’s probably two pieces of lovely pork tenderloin that you’re looking at in the picture. Go on, go out on that culinary limb, Bud and LWells, and try it. You actually might like the noodles and pork and veggies and tasty broth.Yakitori Jinbei in Marietta on Cobb Pkwy is very good and authentic and the yakitori (on the dinner menu) is fantastic. BTW, Bud and LWells, “yakitori” is skewered, bite-size pieces of chicken meat grilled over charcoal. What’s not to like….
Steve
May 23rd, 2011
5:15 pm
Yakitori Jinbei
Big Dave
May 23rd, 2011
5:16 pm
Maruchan ramen, with a pouch of chicken and cheese topping. Prepared on my camp stove while camping and playing at Jack’s River Falls. BEST lunch ever after enjoying the hike and playing in the falls!
Johnny
May 23rd, 2011
5:22 pm
the “Delta is ready when you are” bit is tiresome. Every great chef has already left ATL because this city is a dead end, as evident by the redneck comments for all yankees to leave. Well, you got your wish and the culinary scene is much better for it. As well as all the money and jobs that left too. And now the sports teams are leaving as well starting with the Thrashers, then the Hawks… Isn’t ATL much better without foreigners?
As for ramen, none are worth mentioning since most of them are Korean owned (Umaido, Raku, etc). Yakitori Jinbei uses powder soup base and pre-package noodles in plastic bags, if you haven’t been back within the last month then you should not be talking about YJ as the best. Miso Izakaya is getting there with their homemade broth and sourcing better noodles. But as for who has the best, there is none in ATL.
Angela
May 23rd, 2011
5:32 pm
LOL! Are people really arguing on an article about Ramen? I’ve had real ramen too. But i’m not gonna come on here defending why it’s so much better and how everyone here is ignorant.
Veronica
May 23rd, 2011
5:42 pm
Umaido in Suwanee! My mouth is watering just by thinking about it…
Indra Moedjio
May 23rd, 2011
6:49 pm
Bud, you are so narrow minded ! Veronica, I agree with you, Umaido in Suwanee is the best.
Proud Redneck
May 23rd, 2011
8:08 pm
Johnny – So I guess it’s all right that a Chinese outfit (Miso Izakaya) can make a decent bowl of ramen but not a Korean one?
Incidentally, what is your nationality?
dagnabit
May 24th, 2011
4:53 am
Ramen, like fried puppy dog, is not for everyone.
harpras
May 24th, 2011
5:19 am
Why’s GA so full of rednecks? Go back in your caves already??
Destin Dawg
May 24th, 2011
6:00 am
What’s wrong with BBQ and girts ??? what a dumba$$ !!!! Rednecks don’t live in caves !!! everbody knows where CAVE men live !!!!
southern yankee
May 24th, 2011
6:33 am
my wife’s kitchen
David
May 24th, 2011
6:58 am
Umaido in Suwanee, hands down
Otokonoko Wa
May 24th, 2011
7:06 am
So there’s one in Around Lenox, any others IN Atlanta ? Suwanee and Marietta are quite a bit of a drive for someone looking for in-town food. And I love me some Ramen. YUM.
To all the smug elitists out there...
May 24th, 2011
7:07 am
I’m struck at the smug tone so many people have taken on this blog. You can agree or disagree with a previous post, but to portray the entire state as a bunch of uncouth rednecks is wrong. I encourage you to get off you high horse and keep your opinions to yourself.
Highly Amused
May 24th, 2011
7:16 am
Well, I have eaten noodles in several countries, as well as several cities inj the US. I happen to like GOOD Ramen, but am not in love with it. I AM, however, glad I read this listing because now I can begin my workday laughing my butt off over the racism an xenophobia of a bunch of people who 1. probably could not pass an entrance exam to defend “their” country. 2. Probably would not have the fortitude to do so if the COULD pass the exam. and #. Probably have to go to Dictionary.com to look up xenophobia. By the way, for the record, UMAIDO is very good.
Bornin ATL
May 24th, 2011
7:27 am
Otokonoko wa…fyi…Around Lenox is IN Atlanta. Get out and drive around.
ComputerBlue
May 24th, 2011
7:49 am
I recently tried the ramen at Thai Peppers in Kennesaw. It wasn’t too bad, but it didn’t reheat well the next day… seems like something you need to eat the first day. It’s definitely not the same thing you get from a bag.
and all you Atlantans need to get over yourselves. I was born in AL, grew up in SC and lived in TX before moving here… My heart is heavy to tell you that the food here is pretty dreadful. TX has some of the best Asian food I’ve ever had and despite the fact that Dallas is further from the ocean than Atlanta, the seafood was better and fresher too. Ok, so the BBQ was not great but it’s almost worse here. In “podunk” SC, at least you could get decent German food and I would put Wade’s in Spartanburg up against any meat +3 in Georgia. Lexington NC has the greatest pulled pork BBQ hands down.
I have lived in this area for about 8 years. I know people want to be proud of where they live, but some of these comments just show how little some of y’all know about what food really should taste like. Venture out of your comfort zone… There’s more to life than McDonald’s or even the Varsity.
Edward
May 24th, 2011
8:06 am
Miso Izakaya is amazing, so fresh and delicious and I don’t have to drive to Suwanee or Duluth for it.
Duluth
May 24th, 2011
8:10 am
There are always comments that you can expect to see on any of these “Best..” nominations:
1) Delta is ready when you are.
2) My mama’s kitchen (or my kitchen).
3) Insert comment here
4) Any variation of the comments that Atlanta’s food is horrible
5) Any variations of the comments about OTP vs ITP
Did I miss any? Really people. This is getting old. It’s taking longer and longer to sort through serious nominations and the ever-present stupidity that many of you proudly display. Can’t you find other more productive ways to spend your time?
SusanG
May 24th, 2011
8:14 am
I’m a born southerner and have lived in SC or GA my whole life. Last weekend I had amazing lengua tacos at El Potro. Yep, tongue. I also have northern based friends who wouldn’t touch them so don’t assume that people are close minded about food just based on where they live or where they’re from.
While I do love the Varsity, good barbecue and grits I also love many restaurants along the Buford Hwy corridor (and am now craving C’om, thanks). If you’d like to experiment, that’s a great place to start broadening your horizons, be you southerner or “Yankee!” Thanks for the tip about ramen joints!
jc_atl
May 24th, 2011
8:14 am
Yakitori Jenbei – only place I’ve had it and their Tonkatsu is fantastic. If you rednecks dismiss this you are missing out – you like pork, right?
Mmmmm
May 24th, 2011
8:32 am
FYI to those know-nothing snobs who think only the Japanese should make the best ramen. The best ramen shops in Japan are owned by the Chinese. It’s been that way for ages.
You Buncha Dummies
May 24th, 2011
8:39 am
Bangkok isn’t in Japan. Sheesh…you people need to go back to Geograpy class. And Panda Express (GROSS) is CHINESE food, not Japanese.
glee
May 24th, 2011
8:51 am
Sigion Cafe near Gwinnett place mall next to Marshalls great meal small bill. Pho soup p14 chicken noddle soup on menu grand size soup bowl, fresh herbs, and bean sprouts. Oh so good clears your sinus if you add enough hot sauce. My family loves it. Great for take out too everyone dig in and eat up yummy.
Glitterstick
May 24th, 2011
9:04 am
Wow! this looks like another forum of Craigslist Rant’s and Raves
Newt Greengooch
May 24th, 2011
9:04 am
Panda Express is hardly Chinese food. In China they don’t much care for white meat chicken or corn syrup.
Now Ming’s BBQ on Pleasant Hill… thats some real Chinese food. I’m craving a plate of stir-fried ducks tongues (yes, actual duck’s tongues) now.
Glenn
May 24th, 2011
9:11 am
Good grief . I have never seen ramen noodles on a menu . You are just reaching now . Its time to face the music . There is nothing left to judge . Revisit pizza & barbeque annually and be done with this .
Tod Watkins
May 24th, 2011
9:12 am
FIRST!!!!on the second page.
Joe
May 24th, 2011
9:12 am
What a AA?
Statistics Major
May 24th, 2011
9:13 am
what about fried chicken?
Tod Watkins
May 24th, 2011
9:17 am
I still like Bennihana. Best Chinese around.
Laura
May 24th, 2011
9:25 am
Tin Drum Asia Cafe on Piedmont@Lindbergh is yummy!
ej
May 24th, 2011
9:33 am
I loved Mamma Fu’s…but they are closed!!!
Ramen Girl
May 24th, 2011
9:43 am
Wow. Never seen so many people complaining over such a common dish in another country. Try to get a little cultured, folks.
Matt
May 24th, 2011
9:48 am
Blue Fin Sushi in Duluth serve THE BEST RAMEN!!!!!!
You got try it Sushi is also the BEST there.
Noda
May 24th, 2011
9:53 am
You are not eating REAL RAMEN if you haven’t tried at BLUE FIN in Duluth
Tod Watkins
May 24th, 2011
9:57 am
Where’s Duluth?
Rich
May 24th, 2011
9:59 am
Simply the Best Ramen in ATL is at Blue Fin in Duluth.
Everything they serve is fantastic!
Mak
May 24th, 2011
10:10 am
Shoyu ramen at Taka.
Tod Watkins
May 24th, 2011
10:11 am
Seriously, where’s Duluth?
Rich
May 24th, 2011
10:41 am
First of all, RAMEN is not a Chinese food.
It’s a very populer noodle soup in JAPAN. There are so many flavers and styles of Ramen through out in Japan.
The most famous one is called Sapporo Ramen. Sapporo is the bigget city in Hokkaido, seems bigger than Atlanta. It hosted the Winter Olimpics in 1970 and Snow Festivals in Feb. every year.
I hve been there many times.
In Sapporo, there is a street called “Ramen Yokocho” and every single store, the menue is just Ramen. Hokkaido is the northern most Island in Japan and the second biggest to Honshu,so you understand why this hot comforting noodle soup is so populer there. Try at BLUE FIN in DULUTH!
Mb
May 24th, 2011
10:44 am
Any suggestions for OTP East side? I’d love to try some, but most of these are just too far.
Ga overseas
May 24th, 2011
10:52 am
I love the Redneck bashing – sure, some people aren’t going to be happy regardless of who lives around them, but that’s life – if you are truly broadminded you can accept it and move on.
Anywho… I have lived overseas for more than 3 years and NOTHING in the area is even close and therefore I vote for none of them. Also, if you think being narrow-minded is a “hick” thing then you have a very RUDE awakening on the way. Next time you are overseas get off the beaten path and out where the real people live; you will find that there are “hicks” everywhere ready for you to “go home”. Sure, they are polite and want you to spend money but they are also ready for you to leave.
Nuff said.
gritzblitz
May 24th, 2011
10:55 am
Waikikie Hawaiian BBQ at intersection of Briarcliff and LaVista not far from Emory.
Squidly
May 24th, 2011
11:00 am
What about Ru Sans? There’s one in Alpharetta that’s pretty good.
Ted Striker
May 24th, 2011
11:01 am
Thanks to all who have offered good suggestions and stayed on topic.
@ArthanteLafleur
May 24th, 2011
11:24 am
Another vote for Yakatori Jinbei. Sensational stuff!
Chauncy
May 24th, 2011
11:55 am
One of the best in Atlanta!
Shoya Japanese Restaurant
6035 Peachtree Rd. Suite A-101 Doraville, Georgia 30360
770-457-5555
…….and btw you can keep your beans and rice….Ill take ramen over that any day.
Zama!
May 24th, 2011
12:24 pm
BlueFin in Duluth!
Sam Bruni
May 24th, 2011
1:13 pm
Hey JOHNNY (oops, I mean Kit): Are you familiar with things called IP addresses? We all know who you are, troll. Also, using your bullbear email account to sign upon these sites, but using a different names is pretty cowardly. Flush.
cheepfoodie
May 24th, 2011
3:25 pm
Sorry Bud.Maybe the old cheepfoodie woke up in the wrong side of the bed today…peace.
Keeball
May 24th, 2011
3:35 pm
Wallace’s BBQ
TRUE SOUTH!
May 24th, 2011
4:46 pm
Birmingham is ready when you are. You don’t even have to look at a restaurant that isn’t a Waffle House. It’s a dream!
Olivia
May 24th, 2011
4:52 pm
Ramen is victim of its own success. Most people in the west were introduced to ramen through the cheap pre-packed-add-hot-water-only version which became very popular in college dorms and among poor families. So, they never experienced the freshly prepared and seasoned soup with the artisanal noodles. Hummmm The tastes of both of these versions are far uncomparable. It is like trying to compare Pavaroti with a second class bar opera-wanabe singer. Thus, we should make an effor to undestand those narrow-minded (for lack of proper taste exposure). It is also true that there are those for whom the following say fits “Never try to teach a pig to sing. You waste your time and you annoy the pig.” NUFF SAID ….Thanks to all those who provide suggestions.
cultural diffusion
May 24th, 2011
5:13 pm
Apparently, some don’t have anything better to do with their lives than type vulgar comments on the internet.
gjs624
May 24th, 2011
5:15 pm
Has anyone been bothered to look at the salt content of these products? Almost half the daily level of salt. Most are 900 mlg plus per serving. Heart patients beware. How would they without the salt???
Tokyo Tom
May 24th, 2011
9:52 pm
Actually…in Japan Ramen is also called “Chinese Soba” and the term “Ra Men” is the Japanized version of “Lo Mein”. So, Panda Express and Mama Fu’s can count if you want.
Back to the topic: I have had it at Yakitori Jimbei, Tomo, and Umezono, all on Cobb Parkway between the river and Windy Hill (and all owned by authentic Japanese folks). My pick is Yakitori Jimbei but I would have all three. Unfortunately none compare to what you can get in Japan. I guess I’ll have to trek out to Gwinnett to try Umaido. As for Miso Izakaya- I was too busy drinking sake to remember anything about the food…
Otokonoko Wa
May 25th, 2011
8:55 am
Laura, thank you for another ITP place to try. Bornin: I did recognize that “Around Lenox” is in Atl, I asked were there any others besides that one that weren’t a longer drive for us city folk.
I too like RuSans, 2 of them to choose from in the city. Just looking for other good Japanese/Chinese restaurants.
Thanks for all the input.
Lynn
May 25th, 2011
9:28 am
Blue Fin in Duluth …. worth the drive !!
The Brantley Man
May 25th, 2011
10:37 am
Maruchan: Great for broke college kids.
alex
May 25th, 2011
7:34 pm
umaido in suwanee is the best
Becky
May 26th, 2011
3:13 pm
Well I would love to try some real ramen noodles, so will have to trek up to Kennesaw..I know that I will get slammed for this, but does anyone know any good places to try them anywhere near Douglasville? yeah, I live out there where there aren’t that many great places to eat..Thanks for any suggestions..
ATLfoodsnob
May 28th, 2011
10:49 am
Yakitori Jinbei by far, order double pork! http://www.atlfoodsnob.com/?p=1362
Simi
May 28th, 2011
11:29 am
I like ramen… but Pho is even better! Pho Mimi or What the Pho (both on pleasant hill) are awesome!
HMW
May 28th, 2011
12:00 pm
Raku is a ramen place that just opened. Pretty good. They are located in the Super H Mart plaza on Pleasant Hill in Duluth.
kmedel
May 28th, 2011
12:37 pm
The dish, above looks wonderful! I have looked at the suggestion for getting this dish…and I will try them.
Bud’s idea of a great dish, compared to this, would be ham hocks and cattle hooves…right Bud?
Priscilla
May 28th, 2011
1:10 pm
OMG i love this soup i eat it everymornin!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
koji
May 28th, 2011
3:44 pm
UMAIDO
Jeff
May 28th, 2011
9:05 pm
HAHAHAHAHAHAHA
Never expect anything from georgia hicks. F U Crackers!!!!!
I will be trying UMAIDO out next time I’m over there
Baltisraul
May 29th, 2011
9:55 am
Bud……it is not how it looks. It is how it tastes! If you have ever had good Asian food, you would know how wonderful these varied flavors meld together. Get some courage and try it sometime. You won’t be dissapointed. I have spent my time in Nam. To me it is the best combination of tasty foods in the world!
ann
May 29th, 2011
12:00 pm
Bud, you need to have an open mind…I bet you would love ramen.
Andrea
May 29th, 2011
12:49 pm
Yall are crazy!!! Loved all the comments even the azz backward ones! We don’t have too many local “Feed & Seed” or corner stores anymore so this is the new way to shoot the breeze and well…okay…vent and gossip! LOL…it’s all good.
I dare to all the naysayers to try something different…you may end up loving ramen and learning a little more about yourself and perhaps a thing or two about people you think are so different (from you).
There is more to life than Ga BBQ…there’s also Korean BBQ!!! Mmmmm The best!
aly
May 30th, 2011
12:56 am
The tonkotsu ramen at Haru Ichiban in Duluth is pretty much the most amazing ramen I’ve ever had in the metro ATL area.
And for the love of all that is good about food, PLEASE do not mistake Panda Express as Chinese food. It’s American food, plain and simple.
Ben Gunby
May 30th, 2011
3:15 am
I’m very curious to try Ramen at any number of these places. I myself live off the packaged stuff, but I rarely, VERY rarely will eat it without adding some sort of meat and/or vegetable to it. I also add my own seasonings to it, and often will add some basil, or garlic, or combination. The packaged stuff is just a starting point for me.
And yes, the Panda Express is as Chinese as Taco Bell is Mexican and Pizza Hut is Italian.