Photos by Caitlin Abrams
iPho’s Saigon Special
iPho’s Saigon Special
PHO
The Vietnamese soup pho (pronounced FUH) has cultish loyalists. Traditionally, the broth is rich yet light, with long, thin rice noodles swimming with various meats or seafood. Toss in fresh herbs, hit it with some hot sauce, and squeeze lime over it for full effect. It can be either a light meal or a gut-buster depending on how you order.
Ngon Bistro (University Ave.)
Locally sourced ingredients are important to the quality of these bowls overflowing with freshness. Get the duck pho with thinly sliced Wild Acres duck, Thai basil, sprouts, and jalapeño for $16. ngonbistro.com
Pho Tau Bay (Eat Street)
As unassuming as it gets, PTB gets hopping with pho-i-philes of all nationalities. Tuck into its seafood version, No. 14, for $8.45, which adds crabmeat, fried fish balls, and shrimp to the mix. photaubay.us
Pho 79 (Eat Street)
An Eat Street standard, this place has serious loyalists. Order the No. 5 with a beautifully pink slice of rare lean beef balanced by fat and flavorful brisket. A veritable bowl of yin and yang for $7.59. pho79mpls.com
Jasmine 26 (Eat Street)
Going the lighter route is easy at this Eat Street charmer. The vegetarian pho sets the bar in town. You’ll be well-fed from this generous bowl of rice noodles, tofu, mock duck, and vegetables in an herbal broth for an easy $10. jasminempls.com
iPho by Saigon (University Ave.)
The Saigon Special is a meaty bonanza with flank, brisket, meatball, and more. The jumbo bowl is $9.50. Eat all 10 pounds of the $15 challenge bowl in 45 minutes and get a special shirt that says “I am the PHO-King.” iphomn.com
Pho Ca Dao (University Ave.)
Find this cash-only, hole-in-the-wall spot on University Avenue in the Little Mekong district, and find it now. It puts up substantial bowls of goodness that will feed you for two days for just $7. facebook.com/phocadaomn
RAMEN
This is not the square brick of dried noodles from your college days. The real Japanese noodle soup is a deep, steaming bowl full of dense wheat noodles in a rich bone broth, often bumped with miso or soy. They’re topped with various tasty bits such as pork belly, dried seaweed, fish cakes, soft eggs, and more. Chefs have their own take, just like every province in Japan has its own specialty. If you want to be really authentic, get down in that bowl and slurp it up loudly.
Zen Box Izakaya (Downtown Mpls.)
Chef John Ng is like the local guru of ramen, having eaten all over Japan and studied the components of the best bowls. Get his spot-on Tonkotsu pork ramen for $13 and you will know dedication. zenboxizakaya.com
Masu Sushi & Robata (Northeast & MOA)
Nordeast has become a popular late-night stop due to the healing properties of their pork belly ramen. Go a bit earlier for the $12 miso ramen with chicken, grilled corn, and a poached egg that provides that base you’re looking for. masusushiand robata.com
Moto-i (Lyn-Lake)
It doesn’t have to be about meat to win, ramen has room for creativity. Veg/vegans can enjoy a bowl of this creamy corn ramen made with corn broth and touched with cilantro and scallions for a non-traditional but satisfying meal at $12. moto-i.com
Kyatchi (Kingfield)
There’s a zen simplicity to this Japanese restaurant in Kingfield. Sit at the bar and order a bowl of house ramen for $12, and you’ll receive a warmed and balanced bowl with pork, egg, and bamboo shoots that skips the fancy frippery, but hits the spot. kyatchi.com
One Two Three Sushi (Mpls. & St. Paul)
This poppy local chain brings real ramen to the masses. A good beginners bowl, crispy chicken katsu pairs with dense noodles in a rich miso broth. Skyway walkers rely on these $12 bowls for sustenance. onetwothreesushi.com
UniDeli (Seward)
No one has more ramen than the UniDeli at United Noodles, one of our oldest Asian markets. Find the beauty of the kimchi ramen dressed with bulgogi beef, leeks, sprouts, and gochu sauce for a Korean hybrid that brings the spice at a mere $12. united noodles.com
