Guide To Asian Noodle Soups in Orlando – Ramen, Pho, & More

One of the most common things I get ask is: “Where is your favorite Ramen?” or “Where is your favorite place for Pho in Orlando?” I always have a long answer, explaining differences between broth, noodles types, etc. I finally decided to create the Droolius guide to Asian noodle soups in Orlando. Not only for Japanese Ramen or Vietnamese Pho, but also for Japanese Curry Udon, Korean Jjompbong (spicy seafood soup), and Taiwanese or Chinese beef noodle soup.

 

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Since it’s currently the “cold” winter months here in Florida, I’ve been eating lots of hot noodle soups at local Asian restaurants. It’s a form of comfort food and there are a few good ones to choose from in the area. So here’s a list of my favorites in Central Florida and are worth discovering for yourself.

Japanese Ramen

Ramen is somewhat of a passion of mine. I like to at least stop once for Ramen while traveling and so far the Ramen scene Orlando is small, but growing. There are many restaurants that say they serve Ramen but far from authentic or even spend the countless hours creating a broth that develops flavors and are made from scratch. My basis for all ramen used to be Shio Ramen (salt based broth), but then I fell in love with Tonkotsu Ramen (pork bone broth), which is now what I search for while traveling and compare to each other. Tonkotsu Ramen is more of a specialty soup, but luckily there’s a few places in Orlando that serve it.

These restaurants specialize in the Japanese tradition of making ramen soup broth and take the time to create a quality product:

Hanamizuki Japanese Restaurant


 

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Shoyu Tonkotsu Ramen – Ramen noodles in hot pork and soy sauce base soup with roast pork, fish cake, boiled egg, bamboo shoots, bean sprouts, seaweed, scallions and ginger

Hanamizuki is one of the restaurants in town that has been serving Ramen for years. It’s available during lunch only from Monday to Saturday. The Shoyu Tonkotsu Ramen is my favorite here and many people really like the Shio Butter Ramen. I’ve eaten most of the Ramen here and they all have their own taste and character.

Ramen list for Hanamizuki menu (lunch only): All Ramen noodle soup is served with with roast pork, fish cake, boiled egg, bamboo shoots, bean sprouts, seaweed, scallions

Shoyu Ramen (soy base hot soup)
Shio Butter Ramen (salt base hot soup)
Miso Ramen (miso base hot soup)
Shoyu Tonkotsu Ramen (hot pork and soy sauce base soup) + ginger
Miso Tonkotsu Ramen ( hot pork and miso base soup) + ginger

Hanamizuki Japanese Restaurant

8255 International Dr

Orlando, Florida 32819

www.hanamizuki.us

Sapporo Ramen

 

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Tonkotsu Ramen served with green onion, bamboo shoots, Pork Cha-shu (pork slice), Narutomaki (steamed fish cake), topped with pickled ginger.

Sapporo Ramen is fairly new to the Orlando restaurant market and opened May of 2013. They offer a variety of Ramen noodle soups with various toppings included, depending on the Ramen ordered. They also offer a few extras to top your Ramen as well.I’ve tried all of the Ramen and my favorite two are the Tonkotsu Ramen and Curry Ramen.

Ramen list for Sapporo: All Ramen noodle soup served with toppings of Pork Cha-Shu, Narutomaki (fish cake), scallions.

Shoyu Ramen with toppings
Miso Ramen with toppings + corn
Shio Ramen with toppings+ corn
Tonkotsu Ramen with toppings + ginger
Curry Ramen with toppings + Japanese curry sauce

Additional Toppings: Pork Cha-Shu, Bamboo Shoots, Egg, Kimchi

Sapporo Ramen
5080 West Colonial Drive,
Orlando, FL 32808
Facebook Page

Sushitomi

 

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Tonkotsu Ramen – Pork flavor egg noodle soup with pork, fishcake and seaweed

I started eating at Sushitomi years ago and recently tried their Tonkotsu Ramen. They have a total of three on the menu so I need to go back and try them all.

Ramen list for Sushitomi:

Syoyu Ramen Soy sauce flavor egg noodle soup with pork, fishcake and seaweed
Miso Ramen Soy bean paste flavor egg noodle soup with pork, fishcake and seaweed
Tonkotsu Ramen Pork flavor egg noodle soup with pork, fishcake and seaweed

Sushitomi
8463 S John Young Pkwy
Orlando, FL 32819
Facebook Page

Japan Food Aki Restaurant

 

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Ramen – soy based soup with roast pork, fish cake, bamboo shoots, scallions.

Aki, as many locals call this restaurant, offers one style of ramen on their menu. The Ramen has a soy based broth and is served with a thick slice or two of Yakibuta pork. They offer a Cold Ramen during the Summer season I have yet to try.

Ramen list for Aki:

Ramen – soy based soup with roast pork, fish cake, bamboo shoots, scallions
Yakibuta – soy based soup with more roast pork, fish cake, bamboo shoots, scallions
Cold Ramen (available Summer only)

Japan Food Aki Restaurant
7460 Universal Blvd.
Orlando, FL 32819
www.aki-japanfood.com

Udon

Practically every Japanese restaurant or Asian restaurant with “Japanese menu” serves Udon noodle soup. Many restaurants offer Udon, but I do not know which is real Udon or just a pre-made package served at a restaurant. Udon is a type of thick wheat flour noodle and served in a hot noodle soup with a mildly flavored broth made of dashi, soy sauce, and mirin. Since I am not an expert on the flavor profile of Udon, I’m sharing a short list for Udon from the authentic Japanese restaurants that I do go to and have tried some of their Udon.

• Hanamizuki Japanese Restaurant – has 9 types of Udon. See menu

• Japan Food Aki Restaurant – has a few Udon soups including Tempura Udon, Nabeyaki Udon, and Curry Udon. See Menu

• Sushitomi – Udon list: Regular Udon, Tempura Udon, and Nabeyaki Udon.

I tend to order the Curry Udon, which is not as available around Florida, but it’s here in Central Florida.

 

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Curry Udon – Udon noodles in broth topped with Japanese Curry at Japan Food Aki Restaurant

Curry Udon is hot Udon noodle soup topped with Japanese Curry. You mix the curry into the broth which makes it into a thicker soup, almost like a thick stew. The flavor of Japanese curry is very deep and savory with a blend of spices, and very mild on the heat level. It’s very unique and different from other Asian style curries. If you love deep flavor, this is definitely worth trying.

Curry Udon can be found at:

Japan Food Aki Restaurant 7460 Universal Blvd, Orlando, FL 32819

Hanamizuki Japanese Restaurant 8255 International Dr, 
Orlando, Florida 32819


Pho

There are so many Vietnamese restaurants in Orlando to choose from that it really depends on your taste buds on what you like. Most restaurants serve more authentic Pho, while a few may cater to the local palate. A good sign is when the majority of the customers are Asian people, then it’s most likely more authentic and tastes better (in my opinion).

 

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Pho Tai – Rice noodle with slices of medium rare steak at Pho Vinh

Pho Vinh is my favorite spot for Pho in Orlando. There’s a few new restaurants that have popped up recently, so more to try.

My favorites for Pho in Orlando:

Pho Vinh 657 N. Primrose Dr., Orlando, Fl 32803 www.phovinhorlando.com

Pho 88 730 N Mills Ave, Orlando, FL 32803www.pho88orlando.com

Saigon Noodle and Grill 710 S Goldenrod Rd, Orlando, FL 32822 www.facebook.com/saigonnoodleandgrill

Bo Kho

Bo Kho is a spicy Vietnamese beef stew that has so much flavor and there are two places in Orlando that I really enjoy that serves Bo Kho as a noodle soup.

 

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Banh Pho Bo Kho – Beef stew rice noodle soup at Pho Vinh

Bo Kho can be found in a noodle soup at:

Banh Pho Bo Kho at Pho Vinh 657 N. Primrose Dr., Orlando, Fl 32803 www.phovinhorlando.com

Bun Bo Kho at Saigon Noodle and Grill 710 S Goldenrod Rd, Orlando, FL 32822 www.facebook.com/saigonnoodleandgrill

Jjambbong

Jjambbong is a Korean-Chinese spicy seafood noodle soup. Not many Korean restaurants serve this in Central Florida, but it’s a specialty at Korea House in Longwood, FL. The noodles in this soup are thicker than ramen, but not as thick as udon. The noodles are “chewy” and very enjoyable. The broth is spicy and seafood is the main flavor with all of the seafood ingredients added. I’ve had this noodle soup at a few Korean restaurants in Atlanta, GA and I’m glad it’s served here locally. Korea House is supposed to be opening a second location in Orlando this year.

 

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Jjambbong – noodle with vegetables and seafood in spicy soup at Korea House

Korea House
1155 W State Road 434
Longwood, FL 32750
www.koreahouseorlando.com

Beef Noodle Soup

There are a few different styles of beef noodle soup you can find around Orlando. Some originate in Taiwan while other soups are from various regions of China. The noodles can vary, from fresh noodles in a dark savory broth to hand pulled noodles in a spicy broth. The two I enjoy locally are a Taiwanese style Braised Beef Noodle Soup at Teriyaki House and a Chinese Five Spice Beef Noodle Soup at Chinese Cuisine Restaurant. I’m still learning more about all of the various beef noodle soups, so if you have any suggestions, please leave the restaurant names and dishes in the comments below. There’s many more I need to try in the area.

 

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Braised Beef Noodle Soup at Teriyaki House

Teriyaki House is a misleading name, but this is an authentic restaurant serving its Taiwanese cuisine. It’s basically a small chinese take-out style restaurant with a couple of tables to dine-in, but they are putting out traditional Taiwanese classics.

Teriyaki House
5600 W Colonial Dr.
Ste 108
Orlando, FL 32808

 

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Five Spice Beef Noodle Soup at Chinese Cuisine

The Chinese Cuisine restaurant has a variety of Chinese dishes, a small dim sum menu, and this Five Spice Beef Noodle Soup. The soup has a savory broth with a blend of five spice flavoring it, flat noodles, and thick cuts of braised beef.

Chinese Cuisine (Mr Wangs Family Taste)
5080 W Colonial Dr
Orlando FL 32808

*Note: To find this restaurant, look for the sign that says “Chinese Cuisine” on the building. It’s next door to Sapporo Ramen.

 
The Asian noodle soups in this guide are traditional and served at authentic Asian restaurants. There are some Asian noodles soups available that are more of the “fusion” type served at Asian fusion style restaurants, but I will leave this list to the authentic bowls of soup. I know there are more out there so leave your suggestions in the comments below. I hope this guide helps you find that bowl of hot Asian noodle soup that you are craving on a cold day, or any day really.

 
Words and photos by Julius Mayo Jr.
Content and photos © Droolius.com 2014

 

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2 Responses

  • i love ramen. my favorite is the miso ramen at sapporo and the shio butter at hanamizuki. the tonkotsu at sushitomi is nice too. for udon id go to hanamizuki for nabeyaki udon or sapporo for their kitsune udon. very awesome and oishi. for pho, try Vietnam Cuisine for their oxtail pho!

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