Every day across the US, people meet to catch up, enjoy each other’s company, and slurp bowls of umami-packed broth and chewy wheat noodles, topped with ingredients like salty nori and crunchy bamboo shoots. Ramen has quickly become one of America’s favorite dishes, and there are around 1,500 restaurants across the country specializing in the iconic Japanese noodle soup.
While many serve up plant-based options, relatively few are 100-percent vegan. After all, traditional ramen is often made with meat or fish broth and topped with ingredients like soft-boiled eggs and sliced pork. But in Boston and Los Angeles, RedWhite Boneless Ramen has been proving to diners that you can enjoy all of the rich flavors of ramen without any animal ingredients. And fortunately for New Yorkers, it’s about to open a new location there, too.
“New York, we’re coming,” the restaurant shared on Instagram. “The next chapter begins soon. See you this summer.”
One reason for RedWhite Boneless Ramen’s popularity is its commitment to authentic Japanese flavors. The executive chef, Chef Kei, spent 15 years honing his vegan recipes in Japan before opening the restaurant’s first location. The reviews speak for themselves. “This is what I call next-level vegan cuisine,” reads one review on HappyCow. Another raves: “Incredible doesn’t even come close to what my taste buds experienced.”
RedWhite Boneless Ramen
Much of the flavor comes from the restaurant’s signature version of soboro, a classic Japanese ramen ingredient usually made with crumbled meat or fish. Instead of animal products, Chef Kei uses plant-based meat and tofu to recreate the same taste and texture.
Standout menu items include the Garlic Miso, Truffle Salt, and, for those who like heat, the Red Hot Miso. Beyond ramen, the menu also features vegan mac and cheese—in classic, truffle, and spicy varieties—as well as a selection of sushi rolls.
New York’s thriving vegan scene
RedWhite Boneless Ramen isn’t alone in New York. There are plenty of ramen restaurants serving plant-based dishes across the city, and fully vegan spots like Ippudo V and Beyond Sushi offer ample options for diners.
RedWhite Boneless Ramen
Ramen aside, New York’s vegan scene is continuing to grow. Earlier this year, the city welcomed Nacha Focaccia, a plant-based focaccia café in Brooklyn, while nearby Oceanside on Long Island saw vegan deli Secret Vegan Kitchen hold its soft opening.
An opening date for RedWhite Boneless Ramen’s New York location has yet to be announced, but if its Boston and Los Angeles locations are anything to go by, New Yorkers have plenty to look forward to. In the meantime, keep an eye on the restaurant’s social media channels for updates.
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Charlotte is a VegNews editor and writer based in sunny Southsea on England's southern coast.
