Mile-High Noodles: The Best Ramen Spots in Denver

For some reason, there has been a lot of chatter about Denver's food scene online - or rather, the perceived lack thereof. As a Colorado native, I will admit that there are pockets of Denver that lack in options and there are a lot of breweries clouding the restaurant scene, but you can find good food in Denver. I've traveled around the United States quite a bit and honestly I think Denver has some great options, especially when it comes to Asian cuisine. You just need to know where to look.

Not only am I a foodie, but I am a lover of Asian food. Whether it's Japanese, Korean, Chinese, Vietnamese, Filipino, or Thai, I will eat it all. The Denver metro area has a lot to offer when it comes to Asian cuisine, specifically with ramen shops. You might not think ramen when you think of the Mile High City, but there are some solid places around here that are worth recognizing. My advice when it comes to eating anywhere in Denver is to not pigeonhole yourself to Denver proper. Look at the entire metro area and don't be afraid to venture outside the tourist spots - especially to Aurora or "Little Saigon" off Federal Blvd.

Dragonfly Noodle

Location: Denver, LoDo / Boulder

Moving as part of the Zoe Ma Ma team, Dragonfly Noodle ran under the name Chimera in pre-covid days. After rebranding, they have shifted their focus to primarily ramen dishes including lobster, black tonkotsu, spicy miso, and miso veggie - all of which are available in gluten-free. Paired with other offerings like house-made bao buns, pho, and yaki udon, you can't go wrong with anything at Dragonfly. Oh, did I mention they make their ramen noodles in-house?

Ramen Star

Location: Denver, Sunnyside

Boasting about house-made noodles, chef-owner Takashi Tamai delivers springy noodles complete with chicken, pork, fish, or vegetable broths. Ramen Star offers full and kid sized bowls, which allow you to try more than one if you're feeling ambitious. You can even try a chocolate ramen filled with plenty of umami, as well as truffle, tomato, spicy miso, kimchi, and corn potage.

In addition to ramen, you can also find Mazemen (aka, mixed noodles) that blend ramen noodles with flavorful sauces and toppings such as roast beef, salmon, poke tuna, or glazed pork.

Mizu Izakaya

Location: Denver, LoHi

The LoHi neighborhood has a lot to offer, but this Japanese spot offers perhaps some of the best tonkotsu broth in the metro area. Boasting about modern Japanese dining mixed with traditional izakaya, Mizu Izakaya opened in 2016 and has been one of the most popular ramen spots ever since. Offering flavors such as pork kimchi, miso, shoyu, spicy mala, and A6 Waygu, you can find anything your heart desires.

If you're not in a ramen mood, you can still find something including bao buns, seafood, sushi, kara-age, and gyoza.

Uncle

Location: Denver, LoHi & Wash Park West

Uncle gives a bit of an edge that most ramen spots in the metro area don't possess. Chef Tommy Lee is serving a younger, more hip vibe complete with vibrant broth colors and bold flavors. Just beware, both locations are only open for dinner and are closed on Sunday's.

If you manage to get into either location, you can enjoy options from spicy chicken and sesame broth, veggie Khao Soi, duck, shoyu, and cold sesame noodles. Like other places on the list, Uncle is also a good spot if you are looking for bao buns, sushi, or katsu.

Mikaku Ramen & Temaki

Location: Aurora, City Center North

As someone who grew up in Aurora, most people who tank on Denver's food scene have never ventured far outside of the immediate downtown area. If you want the good food, especially Asian food, you need to come to Aurora.

Opening in 2025, Mikaku Ramen & Temaki has quickly risen to be one of the most popular spots in the city and is gaining some ground with local foodies. Featuring ramen flavors such as shoyu, tonkotsu, veggie, maze-men (brothless), beef rib, spicy miso, and beef rib, all bowls come with house-made noodles. You can even pick a live lobster from the tank and have lobster ramen. Don't let the fact that Mikaku is right next to a Panda Express turn you off, it's definitely worth the trip.

Jinya Ramen Bar

Location: Denver, Union Station

Perhaps one of the only ramen chains on the list, there is a reason why people are going to Jinya Ramen in over 70 spots nationwide. With options like birria, chicken yuzu, tan tan men, spicy creamy, spicy chicken, tonkotsu black (as well as red), shrimp wonton, and buta garlic, you can definitely find any kind of ramen you want at Jinya. Complete with rice bowls, curry, salads, desserts, gyoza, and sushi, it's pretty much a one stop shop.

Fun fact, if you're headed up to the mountains for Black Hawk casinos, there is also a Jinya Ramen Bar in the Ameristar Casino Hotel.

Menya Noodle Bar

Location: Denver, 16th Street Mall

Right in the heart of downtown on the famous 16th Street Mall, Menya Noodle Bar offers great ramen options alongside poke bowls, tempura, curry rice bowls, bibimbap, and bao buns. Ramen flavors include chashu, tantan, chicken curry, shoyu, yasai, spicy chicken, kimchi, and black garlic tonkotsu. While the hustle and bustle of the mall can be chaotic, especially with all of the construction that never seems to end, stopping in at Menya is always a nice way to unwind for just a little bit.

Neko Ramen and Rice

Location: Denver, Park Hill

If you want to be surrounded by cherry blossoms and fake cats, Neko Ramen and Rice is the perfect spot for you. Located on the infamous Colorado Boulevard, this spot opened in 2023 complete with over 150 red Maneki-neko (aka, beckoning cat) figurines scattered around. Unlike other spots on the list, Neko focuses primarily on ramen with choices such as black garlic, hot miso, tori, corn butter, creamy vegan, and regular miso, it's a great low profile spot that really delivers. And, as you'd assume, they also offer rice bowls such as pork and egg, curry chicken, and pork chashu.

Katsu Ramen

Location: Aurora, Dayton Triangle

Located in an assuming strip mall in Aurora, you'll find one of the best ramen shops in the entire Denver metro area. Katsu Ramen is a Japanese-owned small place, but it is always busy from open to close. They were also the winner of Best Ramen from Denver Westword in 2015 and are right next to Dae Gee Korean BBQ - which has been featured on Food Network.

At Katsu Ramen you can find flavors such as black garlic tonkotsu, miso, shoyu, chasyu, hiyashi chuka, and veggie. You also can't go wrong with their ramen & rice bowl combos, which come complete with a 3pc gyoza. In addition to ramen, you can choose from a selection of house-made onigiri, as well as poke bowls.

TOKIO

Location: Denver, Ballpark

One of the few Denver spots open until midnight, TOKIO fulfills your noodle cravings along with a selection of sushi, katsu, salads, kara-age, and a solid happy hour. House-made ramen comes in flavors such as lemon, tonkotsu, shoyu, shio, vegan, curry, miso, and cremoso. TOKIO has great reviews among locals and exists in the vibrant Ballpark neighborhood, close to Coors Field and Denver Union Station.

Sera's Ramen Enclave

Location: Denver, Highlands

Highly recommended when it's nice outside for the outdoor seating, Sera's is a hidden gem if you know where to find it. You have to go down a 32nd Avenue alleyway, but once you find the main entrance you're taken to a small piece of Asia without leaving the Mile High City.

Touted as "fusion meets comfort," Sera's offers Japenese-Vietnamese fusion includes dashi, tonkotsu, Saigon curry, sesame pork belly, and vegan broth. Along with house specials like garlic fried rice, black ramen, and rice bowls, you can't go wrong here.

OTOTO Den

Location: Denver, Platt Park

Located on South Pearl Street, OTOTO is a great spot for a romantic evening, or just a casual spot with friends. While we mention casual, this restaurant is part of the Sushi Den group, so it does have quite a reputation and it can get very busy. OTOTO was also named in Denver Westword's "Best of Denver 2018" list.

With that said, OTOTO offers ramen flavors such as tonkotsu, pork Kimchi, chicken chashu, and veggie. You can also get small plates, cold noodles, soups, salads, and kara-age. Most who rave about this place love their miso broth.

Honorable Mentions

• 303 Ramen - Arvada
• Ajinoya Ramen - Glendale
• Fuyu Ramen - Aurora
• Kokoro - Denver / Arvada
• Sushi Kazu - Centennial
• Sukiya Ramen - Denver
• Asuka Ramen & Poke - Aurora / Englewood
• Leezakaya - Aurora