"Taishoken’s tsukemen (dipping ramen) with thick housemade noodles should be in the dictionary under “chewy” and “flawless.” At this sleek Mission spot, it’s the centerpiece of every table since the wheaty noodles are the ideal pair to the rich, near-opaque chicken-and-pork-based soup. After gobbling down a bowl, someone on staff will pour dashi into any leftover broth so you can polish off the last of it. While this place specializes in tsukemen, there are five other types of ramen, and they’re worth getting jazzed about, too—particularly the spicy paitan with razor-thin noodles, chunky slices of chashu, and chili oil. Even on weeknights, this place is packed with coworkers and dates slurping back bowls, so book a table in advance or prepare to hop in line. photo credit: Taishoken Food Rundown photo credit: Taishoken Tokusei Tsukemen When you come to Taishoken, you order the dipping ramen. The broth nails a salty-sweet balance, and adheres to the noodles like a blanket of savory goodness. Flag someone down when you’re done (they’ll add dashi to your bowl), then lick it clean. photo credit: Taishoken Spicy Ramen The super slim noodles are just as fantastic as the tsukemen noodles. This broth isn’t break-a-sweat spicy, but more of a pleasant burn. Cucumber Jalapeño Miso This plate of cucumbers is zhuzhed up with jalapeño miso dollops and a generous heap of fried garlic. It’s a nice refresher to have in between spoonfuls of decadent meat, noodles, and soup. Karaage A classic, perfectly done." - Julia Chen
