Ramen (noun): A steamy, heart-warming hug that comes in a bowl. Filled with slurpable wavy noodles swimming in a savory, rich, soul-grasping broth – capable of making dreams come true, curing everything from hangovers to heartbreaks – and often consumed with enthusiastic slurp after slurp.
As Denver cycles through false Spring after false Spring it feels like ramen weather isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. If you are looking for a new favorite spot snag your tickets NOW because Ramen Fest is back on Saturday, April 5th 2025 – held at the Stockyard Events Center. This year’s event promises to provide more fun than ever before – more drinks, live entertainment and the unique Japanese Domestic Market (JDM) car show. But what we’re really excited about? Bottomless Ramen. Featuring over 30 local restaurants and food trucks, the options really will be endless – so we’re here to make it a little easier. Here is a rundown of the ramen makers we’re looking forward to sampling.
Highlights of 2024 – Photo Courtesy of Brent Andeck Highlights of 2024 – Photo Courtesy of Brent Andeck Highlights of 2024 – Photo Courtesy of Brent Andeck Highlights of 2024 – Photo Courtesy of Brent Andeck Highlights of 2024 – Photo Courtesy of Brent Andeck Highlights of 2024 – Photo Courtesy of Brent Andeck Highlights of 2024 – Photo Courtesy of Brent Andeck
City O’ City
Where: 206 E 13th Ave., Denver
The Lowdown: City O’City is one of Denver’s favorite women-owned spots for a veg-friendly menu that is as delicious as creative. You can enjoy its in-house ramen any time you want – get a steamy hot bowl full of housemade Shiitake-miso broth, lion’s mane katsu, bok choy, cabbage, radish, carrot, scallion, fresno and sesame seeds. You won’t miss the meat, as this ramen is loaded with protein, flavor and character. Expect to be surprised with a hot cup of sheer love and strong representation of sustainability.
Jinya Ramen Bar
Where: 1710 Wynkoop St., Denver
The Lowdown: 2024 Ramen Fest People’s Choice Winner Jinya Ramen Bar is back again and ready to impress. This Union Station staple is known for its authentic and delicately prepared ramens. Its house menu offers a wide array of toppings and proteins to choose from such as the Juzu Shio Delight with chicken and pork broth, pork chashu, green onion, spinach, seasoned egg and nori seaweed with yuzu flavor. The veggie lovers’ favorite – Spicy Creamy Vegan Ramen is packed with tofu, onion, green onion, spinach, crispy onion, garlic chips, garlic oil, chili oil and sesame seeds in a vegetable broth. This ramen power house is sure to impress again. Prepare your taste buds for its Tonkatsu Black Ramen with pork chashu, garlic chips, kikurage mushroom and a seasoned egg.
Heavenly Tacos
Where: Various locations across Colorado Springs and Denver
The Lowdown: Winning 2nd Place Judge’s Choice at last year’s fest, Heavenly Tacos returns with its eye on the prize and will no doubt be swinging for 1st! They will be doubling down with a spicy and inventive Birria Ramen, a unique and authentic White Pozole Ramen, even bringing along some delicious homemade booze-free horchata. This food truck is known for its hearty and flavorful birria tacos popping up all over Colorado Springs.
Ramen Star
Where: 4404 Tejon St., Denver
The Lowdown: Coming off the 2024 win for Most Creative Flavor there is no doubt Ramen Star will be bringing something inventive, tasty and oh so craveable to the 2025 Fest. Its noodles are made in-house using an imported Japanese noodle press. Its rich broth cooks over a 3-day period to ensure maximum flavor extraction. Its menu has a large selection of sharable items and poke style bowls to enjoy alongside the delicious hot broths. Its namesake bowl features an Umami tonkotsu broth and house-made noodles topped with chashu, green onion, beansprouts, and pickled ginger. Or go for something out of the norm with the Truffle Ramen – house-made truffle broth topped with WAGYU beef truffle ravioli, truffle caviar, glazed pork and menma. We suspect no chance of disappointment this year!
Menya
Where: 951 16th St., #104, Denver; 1590 Little Raven St., #170, Denver; 1645 Briargate Pkwy., #245, Colorado Springs
The Lowdown: With three locations to choose from across Colorado, there is no reason you can’t find yourself settling into Menya Noodle post-hike or on any given date night. With each location offering more options than you can think of yourself – it’s sure to satisfy even the pickiest noodler. Satisfy your seafood craving with the Tempura Udon – thick noodle in soy broth topped with seaweed, scallion and marinated egg with a side of tempura shrimp – or taste the flavor rainbow with the Creamy Yasai – Ramen noodles in a creamy veggie broth topped with bok choy, yasai veggie mix and choice of fresh or fried tofu. With so many creative pairings who knows what Menya has in store this year?
Ninja Ramen
Where: Mobile; various locations
The Lowdown: Taking the crown at 2024’s fest for Best Presentation, Ninja Ramen will be coming back again hungry and ready to throw down. There is a lot to be said about a food truck putting out not only incredibly tasty but beautiful to look at ramen from behind a literal hot box, yet that’s exactly what you can expect. With a menu that changes weekly due to available seasonal ingredients, you can always find a new combination or flavor to heat up your day. Tonkotsu, veggie and shoyu options are familiar faces – but anticipate total surprise at this years event and remember – phone eats first.
Peak’s Lounge
Where: 650 15th St., 27th Floor, Denver
The Lowdown: Located on the 27th floor of the Hyatt Regency Denver – Peak’s Lounge offers staple Asian small bites, alongside an eclectic selection of house-made ramens. Choose from staples such as the Chasu Misu – house-made Chashu, nori, soft egg, wild mushrooms, bamboo shoots, black garlic oil and scallions – or the Vegetable Miso – soft egg, nori, Baby bok choy, wild mushrooms, bean sprouts, bamboo shoots, baby peppers, radish and scallions. At this year’s festival, they are keeping it Colorado-themed and showcasing a delightful Peaks Front Range Ramen – bison bone broth, braised bison short rib, nori, pickled radish, beech mushrooms, scallion, and fried lotus root.
Bao Brewhouse
Where: 1317 14th St., Denver
The Lowdown: While Bao Brewhouse might first come to mind for its variety of dumplings and other dim sum offerings – it should come really as no surprise they are keeping it authentic and extra spicy for this year’s event. Straight from its street food style kitchen, Bao is heading out to showcase its Spicy Peking Duck Noodle Soup – rich duck broth, soba noodles, baby bok choy, chili crisp and smoked duck. Expect to sweat a little – but in the best way – and after all, you really had us at Peking.
Hiratori Hibachi Express
Where: 18671 Main St., #D, Parker
The Lowdown: When you are craving hibachi but you also want ramen, it’s certainly worth the drive to Parker to check out Hiratori Hibachi Express – after all, where else can you combine the two? While you can find traditional ramen setups here, composed of the classic toppings – noodles, egg, corn, bean sprouts, seaweed, scallions and protein – the real fun comes when you opt for a Hibachi Ramen. Its packed full of those caramelized Hibachi veggies we can’t get enough of accompanied by steak, chicken, shrimp, scallops or tofu. Pair this slurp with some sake and it’ll be a hibachi night to live for.
Kokoro
Where: 2390 S Colorado Blvd., Denver; 5535 Wadsworth Blvd., Arvada
The Lowdown: What goes with ramen other than the standard dim sum? Sushi, of course. Kokoro provides its diners an affordable opportunity to enjoy a plethora of sushi alongside rice bowls, chicken katsu and ginger tofu. The real star here – of course – are its ramen offerings. The Tempura Splash is not to be missed- a traditional Japanese style bowl served with two tempura battered, lightly fried jumbo shrimp and tempura vegetables, over thick udon noodles in a delicious heart-warming broth. While The Splash is an inventive take featuring fish cake, fried tofu, wakame, shiitake mushrooms, boiled egg, and green onions – served over thick udon noodles in a hearty broth made from soy sauce and sesame oil. Kokoro is quick, playful and sure to present something new at the 2025 throwdown.
At the end of the day, as the last drops of broth are enjoyed – the final noodle twirled – one thing is as clear as ramen broth – Denver is proving once again that once again that the talent is here. Don’t miss out on your chance to mingle, sip, try something new and no doubt crown your favorite Ramen champions. You might be team rich and creamy or craving that miso heat – either way if you plan your chopsticks map right and the real winner here – is YOU.
Ramen Fest is from 12 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on Saturday, April 5 at Stockyards Event Center. Visit denverramenfestival.com to purchase tickets.