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The Ten Best Places to Warm Up With Ramen This Winter
Tuesday, December 4, 2018 at 9:30 a.m.

Danielle Lirette
Spicy miso ramen at Osaka Ramen.
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Danielle Lirette
Osaka Ramen opened in May 2015.
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Danielle Lirette
Chef/owner Jeff Osaka also owns the upscale 12@Madison and three Sushi-Rama locations.
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Danielle Lirette
Osaka Ramen is located belowground, but the neon sign can be seen from Walnut Street.
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Danielle Lirette
Tonkotsu ramen (left) and tan tan men at Misaki@Superior.
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Danielle Lirette
This is the second Misaki from owners Charlene Thai and Robert Thai and chef Jesus Silva. The original is at Stanley Marketplace.
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Danielle Lirette
Misaki@Superior opened in spring 2018.
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Danielle Lirette
Misaki@Superior also serves sushi.
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Danielle Lirette
Spicy pork shoyu ramen at Udon Kaisha.
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Danielle Lirette
Udon Kaisha has served noodle bowls and sushi in Lafayette since 2012.
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Danielle Lirette
As the restaurant's name suggests, the udon bowls here are as good as the ramen.
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Danielle Lirette
Udon Kaisha is simple and straightforward, as a noodle house should be.
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Danielle Lirette
Green chile ramen is a seasonal specialty at Bones.
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Danielle Lirette
Bones was opened in 2009 by restaurateur Frank Bonanno, who also owns Mizuna, Luca and Vesper Lounge on the same block.
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Danielle Lirette
Bones marries ramen tradition with modern techniques and Colorado ingredients.
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Danielle Lirette
Bones has been a Governor's Park neighborhood staple for nearly a decade.
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Danielle Lirette
Rich, pork-based tonkotsu at Katsu Ramen.
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Danielle Lirette
Aurora was so starved for good ramen that there were lines out the door for months when Katsu first opened.
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Danielle Lirette
Katsu has sinced settled into the diverse Aurora dining scene but remains a popular favorite.
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Danielle Lirette
Katsu Ramen displays plastic replicas of the food served inside, much like some restaurants in Japan.
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Danielle Lirette
Tonkotsu ramen at Ototo.
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Danielle Lirette
Ototo is the third restaurant from the Kizaki brothers, who also run Sushi Den and Izakaya Den across the street.
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Danielle Lirette
Ototo opened in 2015 as a reboot of a previous version of the restaurant.
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Danielle Lirette
Ototo serves robatayaki (skewers grilled over oak charcoal) and other Japanese bar food.
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Danielle Lirette
Seafood tonyu ramen (front) with chicken curry tsukumen (cold dipping) ramen noodles and side dishes from Domo's lunch set.
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Danielle Lirette
Domo is one of Denver's most stunningly appointed restaurants, with a Japanese country house motif.
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Danielle Lirette
Domo is located at 1365 Osage Street and has a Japanese garden, martial arts training center and small museum on the property.
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Danielle Lirette
A replica of a Japanese country home gives visitors a glimpse into family life 100 years ago.
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Danielle Lirette
Domo's entrance is set off the street, making it a pleasant surprise in a semi-industrial setting.
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Danielle Lirette
Spicy dashi ramen with sesame pork belly at Sera's Ramen Enclave.
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Danielle Lirette
Sera's Ramen Enclave was opened by Sera Nguyen in 2015.
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Danielle Lirette
Sera's took over the space occupied by Bang! for twenty years.
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Danielle Lirette
The kitchen at Sera's is visible through the front windows, but the dining room entrance is located in the back.
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Danielle Lirette
Spicy chicken ramen at Uncle.
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Danielle Lirette
Uncle's tiny kitchen serves a dining room that's packed to the windows nightly.
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Danielle Lirette
Uncle is owned by Tommy Lee, who also runs Hop Alley in RiNo.
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Danielle Lirette
There's almost always a line at Uncle.
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Danielle Lirette
Shio ramen at Tokio.
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Danielle Lirette
Owner Miki Hashimoto opened Tokio in 2014.
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Danielle Lirette
Hashimoto can often be seen behind the counter at Tokio.
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Danielle Lirette
Tokio is a hidden treasure trove of Japanese cuisine.
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The Ten Best Places to Warm Up With Ramen This Winter
Hearty meats, a mound of springy noodles and a steaming basin of broth make ramen the perfect dish for the winter months. Often, a slick of oil traps in the heat to keep your ramen piping hot down to the last spoonful, and added ingredients — from soft-cooked eggs to piles of fresh veggies — make ramen a filling one-bowl meal. Here are ten of the best noodle houses in metro Denver serving a variety of ramen styles. All photos by Danielle Lirette.
Hearty meats, a mound of springy noodles and a steaming basin of broth make ramen the perfect dish for the winter months. Often, a slick of oil traps in the heat to keep your ramen piping hot down to the last spoonful, and added ingredients — from soft-cooked eggs to piles of fresh veggies — make ramen a filling one-bowl meal. Here are ten of the best noodle houses in metro Denver serving a variety of ramen styles. All photos by Danielle Lirette.
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