Cambridge's Best Ramen

Winter in New England means hot cocoa, mulled wine and most definitely long meals over bowls of steaming ramen. Here are 4 places to get your noodle fix this season.

PAGU

Chef Tracy Chang's ramen was known from one side of the Charles River to the other when she opened PAGU between Kendall and Central Squares in late 2016. The neighborhood spot (think a mix of family friendly communal tables, high tops for date night and cozy bar stools) serves up soft bao buns and Chang's famous ramen. The Guchi's Midnight ramen, named after her former pop-up, is the classic with pork and a six minute egg, but we also love the Uni Ikura Mazement with uni and miso.

SAPPORO RAMEN

Warm up over a bowl of the signature spicy miso ramen or the hot and sour ramen at one of Sapporo two locations (either at the H Mart in Central Square or The Sears Building in Porter Square). The noodle gurus at Sapporo create a ramen base so good you'll slurping up the last sips. HOKKAIDO RAMEN SANTOUKA Ramen is the sole focus of this restaurant, where its signature items are the white tonkotsu soup (perfect for sipping at the end) with a red pickled plum and the shoyu ramen with roasted pork. If you're looking for something to really kick the winter out of your bones, try the spicy miso ramen with three kinds of chili.

SHABU & MEIN

This East Cambridge restaurant's ramen menu is bolstered by its extensive list of add-ons. Start with the vegetarian ramen with tofu and then add items like stir-fried butter corn, kimchi and menma (bamboo shoots). If you're looking for something heartier, add the stir-fried rib eye or wagyu or the braised pork belly to your bowl of ramen.