Pittsburgh has always been known for its unique food dishes, like fries on everything and pierogis, but the city has gradually become a great place to get all kinds of international foods too. Ramen, a Japanese noodle dish, has become a favorite in local Pittsburgh neighborhoods.
With plenty of ways to prepare the dish, there’s something for everyone in a bowl of ramen. Here are a few of the great places to get ramen in Pittsburgh!
Fujiya Ramen
Located on South Aiken Avenue in Shadyside, Fujiya Ramen is the result of a passionate dream by a man who made ramen for 40 years in Tokyo and other areas of Japan. Their authentic ramen and other Japanese options make this a great place to grab a bite. This place is a true Pittsburgh favorite for ramen!
Fujiya serves a variety of ramen bowls with something for everyone – pork, beef, chicken, shrimp, scallops, mushrooms, and narutomaki (fish cakes). You can add-on a lot too! Make your bowl unique to you with half boiled eggs, tofu, bamboo shoots, extra noodles, and more.
Even if you’re not in a ramen mood, Fujiya has more to offer! Grab some donburi (rice bowl) for dinner, yakitori (grilled skewers) for a snack, or desserts like mochi and cheesecake. Fujiya is open every day except Tuesdays, with a short break mid-day on weekdays. Check out their full menu online!
Yuzu Kitchen
Find more great Asian cuisine in the streets of Downtown Pittsburgh at Yuzu Kitchen. This bar restaurant offers delicious cocktails, mocktails, Japanese whisky, Sake flights, and Asian beers. They’ll be happy to offer a great pairing with your meal!
For ramen, they have unique options varying from spicy seafood to savory vegetables. Their ingredients are high-end and definitely something to experience. Try their Karaage Curry Ramen, which features a coconut curry broth, karaage chicken, and Korean chili powder. You can add on plenty too, like kimchi or wontons.
Yuzu Kitchen also has stir fry (a city favorite!), rice bowls, and plenty of small bites to try. Finish the night with bold, after dinner drinks and a sweet dessert. Check out Yuzu Kitchen’s full menu and reserve a table online!
Everyday Noodles
At Everyday Noodles in Squirrel Hill, they’re not just serving up delicious bowls of noodles. They also serve up a show! At this cozy, authentic restaurant, you can see the hand-pulled noodle-making process while you eat. Cooks knead, twist, and flip the dough for their dishes.
This Chinese restaurant’s noodle soups are very similar to Japanese ramen, featuring a wide variety of meat options including lamb and oxtail. You can even choose your noodle type, both of which are delicious!
Everyday Noodles is widely known for their incredible soup dumplings, which are exactly how they sound – dumplings filled with soup and pork, shrimp, crabmeat, and/or veggies. These little explosions of flavor are to die for (clearly a personal favorite of mine!).
They have plenty of options to pair with your meal – potstickers, tofu nuggets, dry noodles, bubble tea, and more. This gem is perfect for a delicious date night in Squirrel Hill. Check out their menu and videos of them making noodles and dumplings on their Facebook!
Umami
Umami is a local Izakaya (Japanese pub) located in Lawrenceville. They serve everything from sushi and takoyaki to Japanese street food. Their ramen is definitely a favorite among Pittsburghers!
Their miso ramen is perfect for vegetarians, made with tempura kabocha and bamboo shoots. Pork lovers will enjoy their shoyu ramen, and they also have other noodle dishes like yaki udon and gyudon.
Plus, their drink menu is 3x as long as the food menu! Try cocktails, wine, Japanese whisky, and all the Sake you can imagine. They even have a taste scale for the Sake so you can try something you’re sure to love.
Book a reservation for a moody meal experience that’s reminiscent of Tokyo. Or order takeout online for delicious dishes at home! UmamiPGH is open starting at 5pm Tuesday – Saturday.
Zen’s Noodle House
A favorite amongst college students in Oakland, Zen’s Noodle House is a fast and affordable option for ramen. Stop in for lunch or dinner and get an order of delicious noodles in just a few minutes!
Zen’s offers a great variety of ramen flavors and toppings, like pan-fried chicken curry, shabu beef, and a self-titled zen ramen! If you ever need a break from regular ramen, they have plenty of appetizers, Japanese rice dishes, Yakisoba (stir-fried ramen noodles), and Yaki Udon (stir-fried udon noodles).
Whether you’re visiting Oakland for a short afternoon or live in the neighborhood as a student, Zen’s Noodle House is a great option for ramen dishes and much more. They’re open every afternoon and evening except on Tuesdays. Just a short walk away from shopping (and dessert) options on Forbes Ave!
What’s your favorite place to get ramen in Pittsburgh? Let us know in the comments!
This content was provided by a local, independent contributor to Made in PGH, a lifestyle blog.