It doesn’t really matter if it’s cold or hot outside. A great bowl of ramen is always something that hits the spot. This hearty and delicious Japanese noodle soup is a solid piece of comfort that fills your belly no matter the season. Luckily, we are spoiled for choice here in Copenhagen when it comes to amazing ramen spots.
I have narrowed it down to three places that do amazing ramen.
Men-O Ramen
Vestergade 6, Center City
A stone’s throw from the busy “Strøget” shopping street sits Men-O-Ramen – one of Copenhagen’s best Ramen places. The unassuming storefront takes you into a very lit room due to the white paint and huge window letting a ton of light in. This is what Gen Z would call Instagram friendly.
It’s not a huge room but you don’t need a lot of space to enjoy ramen and be on your way. Ramen is not a sit down and conversate kind of meal. It’s hot soup, that should be eaten hot. Maybe with a beer and that’s it.
The Tonkotsu or pork broth ramen either in the original sea salt or Japanese soy (Shoyu) version is what you want. Delicious salty pork flavored soup, chewy noodles, pork slices, seasonal greens and seaweed. And, of course that fantastic ramen egg. Not too much stuff in the soup – which I like. But full-on flavor assault. How a Tonkotsu ramen should be.
With a price of 128 DKK for a bowl – it’s the cheapest Ramen of the three.
ramen to biiru
Locations in Vesterbro, Nørrebro, Østerbro, Frederiksberg and the Airport.
This is a personal favorite of mine, and the place of the three I have been the most times. By far. The decor and atmosphere are authentic. Simple seating arrangements so it’s not necessarily a place for a large group but it definitely caters to the solo eater. I wouldn’t say the booths are big or the chairs are very comfortable – but I guess that’s the charm of a traditional ramen place.
I always get the Spicy Miso Ramen. I’ve tried once to venture out into unknown territory with an Angry Yuzu Ramen. Not that there was anything wrong with that – I just instantly missed my Spicy Miso.
There are 4 levels of spice. I go for level 2. I have tried level 3, but the spiciness becomes overpowering. Level 2 is just right. The ingredients, the pork, the greens, the egg have a lot in common with Men-O Ramen’s Tonkotsu bowl, but the spice and the miso is where the two bowl differentiate. Maybe it’s just my personal taste, but I do enjoy some spice to my ramen.
Ramen To Biiru is one of Copenhagen craft beer juggernaut Mikkeller’s food ventures – so naturally you get a great beer with your ramen. And ramen is excellent with beer. I usually look for a beer with a little citrus as I think it fits well with the ramen.
I will continue to come back to Ramen To Biiru as it’s probably my favorite ramen spot in the city. But at 150 DKK for a bowl – it’s also pricey.
Slurp ramen joint
Two locations: Nansensgade 90 – or Borgergade 16, both Center City
Slurp Ramen is by far the most hyped of the three. A few years back and before opening their second location lines at Slurp Ramen could be excruciatingly long. I have been blessed with good fortune and also bad weather as I recollect, so I have avoided the very long lines.
The simple menu at Slurp is perhaps closer to an authentic ramen bowl from the streets of Tokyo. Shoyu the soy based, or Shio the salt based. They also do a veggie ramen and a seasonal one – plus a little selection of snacks. That’s it. You sit either at the “bar” or at small tables, so expect to sit close. Also the slurping is perfectly allowed when eating a bowl of ramen and with a name like Slurp Ramen you are implied to think it’s almost encouraged.
The Shio one comes with double broth, both chicken and fish which makes it authentically Japanese. I have only had the Shoyu one though – because I am a hound for Soy.
The chicken soy broth is a little “cleaner” and dare I say a little less fatty than the other two places. The Charsu pork also has less fat and is more thinly sliced. It still is a very filling bowl of ramen – don’t get me wrong. But it’s just not as grease heavy as the other bowls.
It’s by far the priciest at 175 DKK for a bowl. But if there is hype – you run with it!
Conclusion
I wouldn’t mind re-visiting any of the three places again – as all three make really delicious bowls of Ramen. I would still say – and just because I am wholly in love with the Spicy Miso Ramen – that Ramen To Biiru is my favorite.. and they also have great beer.
