It’s hard to imagine a time when Americans didn’t love ramen, but this iconic Japanese noodle dish only began gaining widespread popularity in the US in the early 2000s. In New York City, the ramen boom took off with Rai Rai Ken, a cozy spot in the East Village that helped turn ramen from a humble side dish into the star of the meal.
Throughout the 2000s and 2010s, ramen firmly established itself as a New York staple. Today, the city offers countless varieties, including plenty of delicious plant-based options. Check out some of our favorite vegan ramen picks below.
Can ramen be vegan?
Traditional Japanese ramen typically features wheat noodles served in a rich, animal-based broth, such as tonkotsu made from pork bones, or shio, a salty, clear broth often prepared with chicken or seafood. It’s commonly topped with braised pork and soft-boiled eggs.
Today, many restaurants offer plant-based versions of ramen that are just as rich in umami. These broths are made with ingredients like seaweed, miso, and dried shiitake mushrooms, and are topped with flavorful additions like tofu, bok choy, chili oil, and more mushrooms.
The best spots for vegan ramen in NYC
Craving ramen? We’ve got you covered. Here are some of the best spots in NYC serving up delicious vegan takes on the Japanese classic.
Vegan Shōyu Ramen | Ramen Ishida
1 Ramen Ishida
At Ramen Ishida, Chef Yohei Ishida offers Shōyu Ramen, also known as Tokyo-style ramen, which stands apart from the more common tonkotsu variety thanks to its clear, chicken-based broth. But don’t worry—there’s a vegan version, too. The umami-rich Vegan Shōyu Ramen features a flavorful broth made from vegetables, kombu, shiitake mushrooms, and truffles. It’s topped with a vibrant mix of bean sprouts, bok choy, corn, bell peppers, shiso, bamboo shoots, and tofu. The dish is built around thick flour noodles, carefully chosen by Ishida for their “flavor profile, form, length, thickness, and texture.”
Find it here
Truffle Miso Ramen | Nakamura
2 Nakamura
Want to try ramen made by a Ramen God? Head to Nakamura, founded by Chef Shigetoshi Nakamura, one of four legendary Japanese ramen chefs collectively known as the Ramen Gods. Here, you’ll find not one, but two vegan ramen options: Truffle Miso and XO Miso. The XO Miso features chewy noodles tossed with cabbage, scallions, and a kick of Szechuan pepper.
Find it here
Vegan Miso ‘Doenjang’ Ramen | Mokbar
3 Mokbar
With three locations across New York City—Chelsea Market, Brooklyn, and Midtown—Mokbar makes it easy to get your ramen fix. Don’t miss the Vegan Miso, served in a savory kombu-doenjang broth and topped with tofu, spinach, bean sprouts, shiitake mushrooms, crispy potatoes, scallions, and nori.
Find it here
Daichi No Miso Ramen | Ippudo V
4 Ippudo V
Ippudo opened its doors during the ramen boom of the late 2000s and hasn’t looked back since. With locations in New York, Los Angeles, and San Francisco, the brand has become a staple of Japanese ramen in the US. At Ippudo V in Brooklyn, you’ll find the same iconic flavors—but with a fully plant-based twist. The menu features a variety of vegan ramen options, including Pla-Ton (a plant-based take on tonkotsu), Shojin, Daichi No Miso, Hakuna Matata (made with carrot fettuccine), and Toma Tan Ton, which features vegan chicken broth.
Find it here
Truffled Vegan Shoyu | Ivan Ramen
5 Ivan Ramen
If you’ve seen the hit Netflix series Chef’s Table, you might recognize Ivan Orkin. The Jewish American chef was featured in 2017 for making waves in the ramen world. Though not Japanese, Orkin has deeply studied the craft of ramen, and his expertise shines through in every bowl. Try it for yourself with the Truffled Vegan Shoyu, made with a truffled vegetable and mushroom dashi, and topped with grilled oyster mushrooms, roasted tomatoes, yu choy, and scallions.
Find it here
Kame’s Spicy Vegan Miso | @flirtingwithvegan
6 Kame
Kame has earned a reputation as a go-to spot for Japanese food in New York City and for good reason: the ramen consistently delivers. One of the standout features of Kame is its dedicated vegan menu, offering everything from Impossible meat buns and spicy edamame to a bold Spicy Vegan Miso Ramen. This flavorful bowl features a rich miso vegetable broth, ground Impossible meat, shiitake mushrooms, bamboo shoots, and seaweed.
Find it here
Classic Ramen | Ramen Danbo
7 Ramen Danbo
Ramen Danbo, a popular ramen chain from Japan, has seven locations across Canada and the US, including two in New York City. Head to the West Village or Park Slope to explore their vegan menu, which features four flavorful ramen varieties: Classic, Shio, Miso, and Negi-Goma, made with roasted sesame seeds and sesame oil.
Find it here
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Charlotte is a VegNews editor and writer based in sunny Southsea on England’s southern coast.
