"Where To Wait: The Social Study There’s always a line at Marufuku, the cult-favorite ramen spot in the Japan Center Mall. And if you’ve already made the requisite laps through the Kinokuniya bookstore considering new phone charms or finally getting into manga, go get a drink at The Social Study. The cocktail bar across Geary has great drinks, wine, and even milk and cookies baked to order for some dessert before dinner." - julia chen 1
"Why wait for a table at Marufuku Ramen’s Japantown outpost when you could also have a bowl of rich tonkotsu ramen delivered to your front door? Place an order on the restaurant website and rest easy knowing that they’ll separate the decadent pork broth from the toppings and noodles so you can assemble everything at your own leisure." - Dianne de Guzman
"The distractions at the Japan Center Malls are endless, even for full-grown adults. And you’ll need to make use of them while you wait in line for Marufuku’s fantastic ramen, because there will be a wait. Browse the bookshop for kid-friendly, non-iPad activities, or swing by Daiso to pick up novelty trinkets—by the time you’ve caved and bought your child another Smiski, your table will be ready. The tonkotsu ramen is intensely creamy, and even better with their extra tender chashu. Feel free to join the chorus of loud slurpers here, if not to drown out of the noise of any potential tantrums." - julia chen 1, patrick wong
"The SF-based chain (with eight more locations across the country) nails their Hakata-style ramen. So it’s not hard to see why this casual spot attracts hordes of noodle soup enthusiasts nightly. The rich, creamy broth hits you like the intensely porky flavor bomb it is. The thin noodles are bouncy perfection every time, and the chashu pork belly almost dissolves in your mouth, it's so tender. We’ll come up with any excuse to get here with friends who don’t mind waiting an hour in line to get this flawless ramen." - julia chen 1, lani conway
"Marufuku is the only Austin-area outpost of the San Francisco-based ramen mini-chain, now with eight locations across three states. The specialty here, like many other ramen spots in town, is tonkotsu broth, but there’s also a creamy chicken paitan and a plant-based option available for those in search of something a bit lighter. And if you get there early (they only make 15 each day), you can even get your chicken paitan ramen with a sweet and sticky grilled chicken leg on the side, served hot on a sizzling platter. It's located in Mueller near Alamo Drafthouse." - nicolai mccrary, raphael brion