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A Handy Guide to Maine's Best Ramen

This is not your college roommate's ramen.

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Ramen has taken the country by storm in the past few years, and while there's a smaller selection available in Maine, noodle lovers can still find some slurp-worthy bowls around the state. If you've never had traditional ramen, put down the flavor packet and head to one of these 8 restaurants that do it right.

Note: points are listed south to north.

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Anju Noodle Bar

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One of the main attractions to Kittery's growing food scene, Anju serves two kinds of ramen: shoyu and spicy miso. The latter gets its kick from spicy miso paste and kimchi from previous owner Gary Kim's line of fermented foods, Son-Mat.

Pai Men Miyake

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Of course the chefs at Masa Miyake's casual Japanese restaurant do ramen right. Choose from six kinds of ramen, all delivering rich flavor and housemade noodles. Beginners may want to start with the paitan ramen, which has a medium-light broth made from chicken and pork.

Crunchy Poké

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This poké shop in Portland’s Old Port is known for its build-your-own rice and fish bowls but has two types of ramen—a tonkotsu and a veggie-filled version.

Bubble Maineia

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Best known for its bubble tea, this Taiwanese and Chinese noodle shop nonetheless makes a fine spicy pan fried ramen. Foursquare user Joseph K. warns that the dish takes 15 minutes to make, but "is completely worth it."

The Honey Paw

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This Asian fusion restaurant from the owners of Eventide Oyster Co. and Hugo’s features one type of ramen. It often changes, but recently was duck tonkatsu in a spicy and rich opaque pork broth.

Ishi Ishi Ramen

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This shipping container restaurant on Portland’s Washington Ave. serves a rotating type of ramen at its small ramen bar. Other Japanese-inspired menu items like Toyko street corn and an octopus gyro are also available.

overhead view of ramen with green onions, red pickled ginger, half a hard-boiled eggs and a slice of a pink and white swirled fish cake Ishi Ishi Ramen

Long Grain

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Widely lauded for its Thai food, this diminutive Camden restaurant makes one kind of ramen: a spicy kimchi ramen topped with pork belly, tofu, and a local poached egg. Go early or make reservations, as this restaurant is one of Camden’s more popular.

Umami Noodle Bar

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For a quick noodle experience, head to Umami, the casual noodle bar where diners choose their own ingredients. Build ramen bowls with traditional broths, noodles, and proteins or other less so ones, like Andouille sausage and Thai tom yum broth.

Anju Noodle Bar

One of the main attractions to Kittery's growing food scene, Anju serves two kinds of ramen: shoyu and spicy miso. The latter gets its kick from spicy miso paste and kimchi from previous owner Gary Kim's line of fermented foods, Son-Mat.

Pai Men Miyake

Of course the chefs at Masa Miyake's casual Japanese restaurant do ramen right. Choose from six kinds of ramen, all delivering rich flavor and housemade noodles. Beginners may want to start with the paitan ramen, which has a medium-light broth made from chicken and pork.

Crunchy Poké

This poké shop in Portland’s Old Port is known for its build-your-own rice and fish bowls but has two types of ramen—a tonkotsu and a veggie-filled version.

Bubble Maineia

Best known for its bubble tea, this Taiwanese and Chinese noodle shop nonetheless makes a fine spicy pan fried ramen. Foursquare user Joseph K. warns that the dish takes 15 minutes to make, but "is completely worth it."

The Honey Paw

This Asian fusion restaurant from the owners of Eventide Oyster Co. and Hugo’s features one type of ramen. It often changes, but recently was duck tonkatsu in a spicy and rich opaque pork broth.

Ishi Ishi Ramen

This shipping container restaurant on Portland’s Washington Ave. serves a rotating type of ramen at its small ramen bar. Other Japanese-inspired menu items like Toyko street corn and an octopus gyro are also available.

overhead view of ramen with green onions, red pickled ginger, half a hard-boiled eggs and a slice of a pink and white swirled fish cake Ishi Ishi Ramen

Long Grain

Widely lauded for its Thai food, this diminutive Camden restaurant makes one kind of ramen: a spicy kimchi ramen topped with pork belly, tofu, and a local poached egg. Go early or make reservations, as this restaurant is one of Camden’s more popular.

Umami Noodle Bar

For a quick noodle experience, head to Umami, the casual noodle bar where diners choose their own ingredients. Build ramen bowls with traditional broths, noodles, and proteins or other less so ones, like Andouille sausage and Thai tom yum broth.