CLICK HERE FOR THE 2018 RAMEN GUIDE

IT IS SO COLD. Which means it is perfect time for a BYT Ramen Round Up – now handily updated for 2016 needs. From pork belly and lobster to pickled vegetables and fresh seasoning, it doesn’t get more delicious than this, D.C., so embrace the cold and slurp it up. It’s time to eat…

Before we start the general guide a few important bullet points:

• VEGETARIAN AND A FAN OF RAMEN?: READ THIS.
• Can you make a ramen ice-cream sandwich? We tried. We certainly tried.

• Daikaya (bonus for Daikaya fans: 2 new restaurants from the team are coming in 2016)
  705 6th Street NW
  Washington, DC 20001
  Sapporo-style ramen by Chef Katsuya Fukushima of Think Food Group, Daisuke Utagawa–owner of Sushiko–and Yama Jewayni, one of the founders of 18th Street Lounge. It’s so good, in fact, that Bon Apetite named one of the country’s top 50 new restaurants in 2013. Check out our full ramen taste test here and our izakaya brunch taste test here.
  Yo’ Broths: Shio (salt), Shoyu (soy sauce), miso. Vegan stock available.
  Yo’ Stand-Bys: Nitamago (soy-marinated egg), bean sprouts, nori, sesame, scallions, butter, canned corn, wakame (sea weed), menma (bamboo shoots).
  Yo’ Meat: Chasu (roast pork), ground pork, braised pork belly.
  Yo’ Money: $11+
  DELIVERY: No

• Toki Underground
  1234 H Street NE (above The Pug)
  Washington, DC 20002
  (202) 388-3086
  A classic cold-weather standby for any day of the week, Toki’s broth is hearty and rich (and their potstickers with endorphin sauce are to die for). The best part? They now serve lunch. Get your noodle on, DC.
  Yo’ Broths: Tonkotsu triple stock, curry-infused Tonkotsu triple stock, roasted root vegetable soup, soybean-infused Tonkotsu triple stock.
  Yo’ Stand-Bys: soft egg, red pickled ginger, sesame, scallions and nori. (Vegetarians get  tofu, daikon, pickled cucumbers, shitake mushrooms, seasonal vegetables, sesame, scallions and nori.)
  Yo’ Meat: chasu pulled pork, five spice fried chicken; add-ons include Chashu pork cheek and revolving specials like lobster balls.
  Yo’ Money: $11-$12
  DELIVERY: YES!!!!
  *Chef’s note: these ramen dishes are inspired by Chef Yang’s experience at a Hakata Ramen shop in Taipei.

• Momofuku CCDC
  1090 I Street NW
  Washington, DC 20001
  (202) 602-1832
  Maybe you heard about this but David Chang has a DC noodle shop now.
  Yo’ Broths: Beef, Scallion and Black Winter Truffle Ramen
  Yo’ Stand-Bys: The menu offers 4 variations: Black Winter Truffle Ramen (Perigold truffles, egg yolk, hozon), Momofuku Ramen (pork belly, pork shoulder, poached egg), Momofuku Beef Noodle Soup (brisket, baby bok choy, black pepper), Hozon Ramen (scallion, kale, panisse).
  Also try: the Kimchi Stew
  Yo’ Money: $14-$48 FOR THAT BLACK TRUFFLE GOLD.
  DELIVERY: No, sorry.

• OKI Bowl DC & Sake
  1817 M Street NW
  Washington, DC 20036,
  202 750 6703
  Yo’ Broths: Tom yum, miso, kimchi, curry
  Yo’ Stand-Bys: Nippon tofu, Mushroom, kimchi, Seasonal Vegetable, soft/hard boiled egg, roasted sweet corn, bamboo shoot, nori, spicy ball, bean sprout, fried wonton.
  Yo’ Meat: Chicken cutlet, Fried prawn, Pork belly
  Yo’ Money: $10-13
  DELIVERY: No

• Chaplin’s
  1501 9th Street NW
  Washington, DC 20001, 202 664 8806
  Yo’ Broths: Veggie shio, tonkatsu, miso, stamina spicy
  Yo’ Stand-Bys: Bok choy, butter corn, scallion etc.
  Yo’ Meat: Pork, pork belly chasu, chicken, bacon, tonkatsu, stamina egg
  Yo’ Money: $12-14
  DELIVERY: No

• Hashi Sushi
  1073 Wisconsin Avenue NW
  Washington, DC 20007
  Yo’ Broths: Miso, spicy miso, pork, chicken, vegetable.
  Yo’ Stand-Bys: Misc. vegetables, scallions.
  Yo’ Meat: Pork, chicken, beef, tonkatsu, spicy baby pork rib.
  Yo’ Money: $14.90
  DELIVERY: NO (unless you order over $100, which could be a good reason for a ramen party)

• Rice & DC Noodles
  1608 14th Street NW
  Washington, dc 20009
  Yo’ Broths: Clear, Spicy or Soy.
  Yo’ Stand-Bys: Bean sprouts, carrots, string beans, cilantro, spring onion, bok choy, +/- ground peanuts, chili pepper, broccoli, mushroom and celery.
  Yo’ Meat: Chicken, pork, beef, shrimp, seafood, duck. (Vegetarian option of crispy or soft tofu.)
  Yo’ Money: $12-$16
  DELIVERY: Yes – via order ahead app.

• Yona 
  4000 Wilson Blvd (entrance on N. Quincy Street)
  Arlington, VA 22203,
  703.465. 1100
  Yo’ Broths: Pork, Tonkotsu or soy milk-veggie.
  Yo’ Stand-Bys: Pea sprouts, snap peas, mushrooms, kimchi, nori
  Yo’ Meat: Crispy pork belly, poached squid, soft egg
  Yo’ Money: $14-$15
  DELIVERY: No

• Sakuramen
  2441 18th Street NW
  Washington, DC 20009
  (202) 656-5285
  Yo’ Broths: Chicken, pork, vegetarian (shitake mushroom).
  Yo’ Stand-Bys: Corn, bamboo shoots, green onion, fresh bean sprouts, mushroom.
  Yo’ Meat: Pork belly, bulgogi. (Vegetarian option is marinated portabella mushroom.)
  Yo’ Money: $11-$15
  DELIVERY: Yes, via Postmates
  

• Zengo
  781 7th Street NW
  Washington, DC 20001
  (202) 393-2929
  Yo’ Broths: Pork.
  Yo’ Stand-Bys: Poached egg, mushroom, bok choy.
  Yo’ Meat: Pork belly.
  Yo’ Money: $11
  DELIVERY: YES – via Order Ahead app.
  *Zengo only has one ramen option but it is delicious, trust us.