Though it seems simple, noodles and broth, good ramen is complex, great ramen is hard, and the quality is the secret of a chef’s technique. The 2023 readers’ choice Best of the County winner is Uchiwa Ramen (pictured above). For the rest of the Marin Magazine‘s Best of Marin County ramen picks see below.
Our 2023 Dining category sponsor is Rodney Strong.
Because there are so many great ones, we’ve broken it down by region: Central and Northern Marin.
Central | Northern
Central Marin
Chonmage
San Rafael
Yuthana (Oy San) Sitiprawet runs Chonmage with his wife, Manee Jenkins, turning out Japanese-style ramen with local flair. Housemade, walnut-based miso amplifies the spicy miso ramen and a recently added garlic ramen turned heads, but the curry ramen continues to inspire a vocal following. The blended tonkatsu and chicken broths are infused with curry and topped with karaage (fried chicken) and french fries, making it the ultimate multi-culti mashup.
1020 Court St, San Rafael; 415.419.5919
Menya Shono
San Rafael
Noodles from ramen master Tomoharu Shono, who has multiple restaurants in Tokyo and San Francisco, are made in-house, the custom flour blend ground on an imported Japanese stone mill for a slightly chewy texture designed to the master’s specifications for flavor and impeccable freshness. Crafted exclusively for the San Rafael location, toripaitan is the new trend. The broth is chicken instead of the traditional pork and its lighter style is meant for every day eating, but traditionalists can still get Shono’s Marin-influenced version of shoyu and matcha ramen, too.
908 Fourth St, San Rafael, 415.295.7112
Uchiwa Ramen
San Rafael
Marin’s OG ramen house has been slinging tonkatsu and shoyu, tantan and shio for seven years. Owner Kevin Fong says the tonkatsu, a cloudy, slow-simmered pork bone broth, remains his most popular menu item, but the vegetarian broth, the base for the hearty miso, is nearly as popular. Though he won’t divulge the secret behind the animal-free broth’s umami thunder, he will admit to using as many vegetables as he grew up eating both in the base and as toppers for the vegan and vegetarian bowls. He recently added pan-fried ramen with just as many vegetables to the menu, and gluten-free noodles are available.
821 B St, San Rafael; 415.524.2727
Northern Marin
Masa’s Sushi
Novato
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Widely recognized for their work in sushi, the chefs turned their attention to another popular culinary export from Japan, dropping ramen onto the menu earlier this year. The singular ramen on offer is named for a coastal town on the northern island of Hokkaido. Tonkatsu broth is thickened with miso and topped with braised pork belly, corn and a golden-yolked egg. It’s a carnivorous bowl a fisherman would be proud to eat.
813 Grant Ave, Novato; 415.892.0081
Sponsor
Rodney Strong: 2023 Best of the County Dining
Rodney Strong was an acknowledged visionary who understood the potential that Sonoma County’s soil and climate held for producing world-class wines and was one of the first to plant Pinot Noir in Russian River Valley and the first to produce a Chalk Hill appellation Chardonnay.
How do you cater to both oenophiles and newbies?
At our winery, we pride ourselves on creating an exceptional experience that caters to both connoisseurs and newbies alike. We offer a diverse range of offerings and services that accommodate the varied preferences and knowledge levels of our guests and are committed to providing a custom experience.
What sets you apart from other wineries?
Our winery has achieved national recognition for its exceptional craftsmanship, with our wines consistently earning high scores and accolades from esteemed critics and competitions.
How do you cater to both oenophiles and newbies?
At our winery, we pride ourselves on creating an exceptional experience that caters to both connoisseurs and newbies alike. We offer a diverse range of offerings and services that accommodate the varied preferences and knowledge levels of our guests and are committed to providing a custom experience.
More from Marin:
- Local Caterers Share Their Go-To Weeknight Meals: Easy Recipes Perfect for Feeding the Whole Family
- 5 Unique Marin Pizzas To Try That Use Unconventional Ingredients
- Where to Eat: East Bay and San Francisco
Christina Mueller is a long-time Bay Area food writer. She hails from the East Coast and has spent way too much time in South America and Europe. She discovered her talent as a wordsmith in college and her love of all things epicurean in grad school. She has written for Condé Nast Contract Publishing, Sunset, and the Marin Independent Journal, among others. She volunteers with California State Parks and at her childrens’ schools, and supports the Marin Audubon Society, PEN America, and Planned Parenthood. When she is not drinking wine by a fire, she is known to spend time with her extended family.
