Unlike any ramen you've ever had. Photo: Nadia Lopez/Axios
Nojo Ramen Tavern makes the case for paitan better than any other restaurant in the city. I'd happily choose this over a pork-based broth any day.
Since opening in 2016, the Hayes Valley restaurant has quietly built a reputation around doing one thing exceptionally well: deeply flavorful chicken soup that is unlike any other broth I have yet to try in San Francisco.
Dig in: I dine here quite often, so I've ordered nearly everything on the menu by now. But one standout that I choose regularly is the chicken paitan soy sauce ramen ($23) with a braised chicken leg, black garlic oil and slow-boiled egg, accompanied by satisfyingly springy noodles.
The slow-simmered broth is a deliberate departure from its more popular pork tonkotsu cousin.
I also recommend the rich tan-tan spicy miso ($20.50), a definitive must-have for anyone who appreciates spice but also likes a creamy and nutty broth thanks to the addition of toasted sesame paste.
If you go: Hours vary, open daily except Mondays at 231 Franklin St.
