Hide-Chan Ramen

Hideto Kawahara, a ramen chef based in the Hakata region of Fukuoka, Japan, oversees the steaming bowls at this midtown noodle shop. At Hide-Chan, Kawahara focuses on tonkotsu (pork) broth—a luscious, meaty soup, more cloudy than creamy. The best way to taste it is in the ma-yu ramen, with earthy, crunchy kikurage mushrooms, a sheet of briny nori, raw scallions and bean sprouts, plus bits of carbonized garlic that lend a deep, charred flavor to the soup. There’s also a less sweat-inducing option—chewy chilled noodles, served with a side of spicy, sesame-oil-flavored soba broth for dipping—and worthy add-ons like mini pork gyoza, bound in translucent wrappers and crisped on one side.