The Three Best Spots to Get That Ramen Fix in Nashville

Over the past decade, ramen has quickly gained in popularity in the U.S., particularly in larger coastal cities. In the South, the idea that not all ramen is the instant kind has been much slower to take hold, but luckily the prevalence of the Japanese noodle soup dish has seen a modest push into Nashville, with a handful of restaurants opening in recent years to help provide that ramen fix. So here's your guide to the best places to eat ramen in Music City.

Image: Facebook/Otaku Ramen

OTAKU RAMEN

Location: 1104 Division St.

Otaku Ramen, the city's first dedicated ramen shop, opened late last year to consistent crowds looking to get their hands on the Japanese noodle soup. The end result of owner/chef Sarah Gavigan's original pop-up restaurant Otaku South, this Gulch restaurant and bar serves four different styles of ramen, with a slew of add-ons. They also follow traditional ramen house rules by encouraging diners to order and eat quickly, then head to the Inryo whiskey bar in back for a drink.

Image: Facebook/ Treehouse

TREEHOUSE

Location: 1011 Clearview Ave

Found only on the late night menu, Jason Zygmont's tonkotsu ramen includes house-made noodles, shaved turnip and kale kimchi to help set it apart from other versions of the pork broth-based noodle dish.

Image: Facebook/Two Ten Jack

TWO TEN JACK

Location: 1900 Eastland Avenue, Suite 105

Izakaya and ramen house Two Ten Jack serves up three different ramen variations with a number of add-ons, so you can make your bowl exactly as you'd like it. The tonkotsu ramen is perhaps the most popular of the three, with pork broth, stewed pork (chashu), bamboo shoots, mushrooms, garlic and a soft egg. And come hungry, as the restaurant does not allow leftovers to be taken home, which ensures that diners enjoy their ramen the way it was intended to be eaten - hot and fresh.