Frequently asked questions

Staff Picks vs Featured, submissions, judging criteria, late-night (after 10pm), vegetarian/vegan, cheap bowls, borough tips, and our city ramen hub.

General

What does the Staff Pick badge mean?+−
The Staff Pick badge is awarded to ramen shops personally selected by our editorial team for exceptional quality, consistency, and a unique experience.
What does the Featured badge mean?+−
Featured highlights partner placements with premium visibility; featured shops still meet our community quality standards.
How can I add an event or restaurant?+−
Submit details via our Contact Us page — include the shop or event name, neighborhood, links, and any photos. We’ll review and follow up.
What is the best ramen in NYC?+−
It depends on the style and origin. We judge bowls by how faithfully they represent their tradition (e.g., Hakata-style tonkotsu should be rich, creamy, and pork-forward) and by overall execution.

Where do I start if I’m just searching for ramen in New York?+−
Begin with our city hub: Ramen in New York. It links to neighborhood clusters, late-night and vegetarian guides, and our curated list of the Best Ramen in NYC.
Do you have a map or neighborhood coverage?+−
Yes—our hub and borough pages surface dense clusters like East Village, Midtown, Williamsburg, Astoria, and Flushing.

How do you define late-night?+−
We mark a shop as late-night if it posts a closing time after 10pm on at least one day of the week.
Do kitchens close earlier than posted hours?+−
Often, kitchens stop food orders 15–30 minutes before close. If it’s late, call ahead.
Where can I see late-night ramen spots?+−
Visit Late-Night Ramen NYC — staff picks first, then ratings.

What counts as veg-friendly here?+−
We tag a shop as veg-friendly if it offers either vegetarian or vegan options with true veggie broths. Vegan-only bowls are marked “Vegan” on the list.
Are the broths truly vegetarian?+−
If a shop labels a bowl as vegetarian/vegan, we expect a meat-free base. Some kitchens use shared equipment—ask your server if cross-contact matters.
Do you list gluten-free options?+−
Yes—look for the “GF” badge. Standard ramen noodles are wheat-based; GF options use alternative noodles when available.
Where can I find veg-friendly ramen?+−
See Vegetarian Ramen NYC.

How do you define cheap?+−
We mark a shop as cheap if its price level is “$” or it’s flagged as budget-friendly (value bowls, frequent deals, or lunch specials).
Any tips to keep costs down?+−
Look for lunch combos, skip extra chashu, share sides, and add kaedama only if you’re still hungry.
Where can I see budget picks?+−
Visit Cheap Ramen NYC.

Any good ramen near Midtown and Times Square?+−
Yes—use filters on our Manhattan page. Midtown, Hell’s Kitchen, and the East Village are popular pockets.
Late-night ramen in Manhattan?+−
See Late-Night Ramen NYC and filter to Manhattan.

Which Brooklyn neighborhoods have the most ramen?+−
Williamsburg, Downtown Brooklyn, and Park Slope have strong coverage—use filters on our Brooklyn page.
Late-night ramen in Brooklyn?+−
Check Late-Night Ramen NYC and filter to Brooklyn.

Where should I look first in Queens?+−
Astoria and Flushing are top ramen hubs—start there and use style/rating filters.
Late-night ramen in Queens?+−
Some spots run late—see Late-Night Ramen NYC and filter to Queens.

Explore the Queens guide.

Does the Bronx have ramen?+−
Fewer shops, but there are gems—watch our Bronx list for new openings. Know a spot? Tell us!

Explore the Bronx guide.

How’s the ramen scene in Staten Island?+−
Smaller but growing. Fans here are loyal—regulars often get seasonal perks or occasional off-menu treats.