Best Ramen in Brooklyn (2025)

Went to Karazishi Botan for our ramen meetup, this is definitely a spot you have to go to multiple times. First thing that stood out was the staff, super friendly, playful, and just made the whole experience feel easy. The space is also set up well and not cramped, there's not too many people that go there on Sunday afternoon apparently. The appetizers were a highlight. We got the shishito peppers and the black dumplings, both were solid, but the red dumplings easily stole the show. They’ve got a nice kick but are not too hot, really balanced and worth getting. They also have a really good lineup at the bar, the homemade ginger ale was really good. Menu wise, this place goes deep. There are a lot of ramen options and they are all pretty different from each other, which makes it feel like you need a few visits to really get a sense of what they do. I had the Paint It Black, a garlicky seasonal ramen, and it really stood out. The broth leans more on the sweet side than smoky, with a rich, almost caramelized garlic flavor that gives it depth without feeling too heavy. It still has that strong umami base, but the slight sweetness makes it really easy to keep going back for more. It is one of those bowls that grows on you the more you eat it. I have heard great things about their tsukemen too, so that is next on my list. Overall, this is a spot you come back to, not just try once. @thursdaybabyy @ashleyd.

Karazishi Botan has one of the most creative ramen menus in NYC. I tried the oxtail ramen (Iron Men IV) and it was rich and flavorful, definitely not something you see everywhere. The tsukemen was excellent too, with chewy noodles and a deep dipping broth. They even have a ramen where you can add a splash of yuzu at the end, which is such a cool touch. On top of the ramen, the sushi options are amazing — super fresh and worth ordering. The staff are really kind, and Greg, the owner, is awesome. You can tell he cares about the food and the vibe. Highly recommend!

Community review

Community review

Community review

Community review

I ordered the Miso Pork Chashu Ramen to-go. It had “grilled miso-glazed pork hashu, spicy ground pork, kimchi, kikurage mushroom, menma, and scallions.” The broth was pork bone with spicy miso. The broth was savory and the toppings were delicious. I really enjoyed the flavor the ground pork and kimchi added to the experience. The pork slices weren’t especially flavorful, but the broth was strong enough that I wasn’t too disappointed. I wasn’t expecting the restaurant to only accept cash, Venmo, Zelle or CashApp, but they had an ATM where I was able to extract funds since I don’t use those apps. Just something to be aware of.

This is the Classic Ramen with “signature tonkotsu pork broth topped with 2 slices of Chashu pork and Green Onions.” This is an example of classic thin noodles, standard noodle firmness, and standard thickness and richness of the broth. I like to add karadare and rekkarise (medium) for some spice.

Community review

Community review