Reviewing Izakaya Ramen in north Phoenix

• Chef Jared Lupin, who trained at the U.S. Army Culinary Arts Program and South Korea's Woosong Culinary Academy, touts his cooking style as "world fusion."

What I ordered: I went with the Tan-Tan-Men My Man, which features a miso-paitan broth blend with shredded roasted pork and pork belly "crack."

• I also had the pork and chicken steamed bao buns.

The verdict: Wins, all around. The broth was savory and delicious, especially perfect during the (relatively) cool Phoenix winter.

• The crispy pork belly was great, adding both flavor and texture, and I loved the bao buns, too.
• I'd definitely recommend this place to anyone looking for a good bowl of ramen.

What's next: Izakaya Ramen plans to open a downtown Mesa location in April.

Editor's note: This story has been corrected to reflect Izakaya Ramen is on Thunderbird Road.