There’s a big ramen boom in the area, with the best being the newest: Hokkaido Ramen Santouka. This was a known entity, as Santouka, based in Japan, has expanded to a number of other Asian countries and now the U.S. and Canada—though Bellevue is the first stand-alone location in America. Santouka is known for its tonkotsu broth, full of creamy, porky flavor due to its extended cooking time. My top pick here is the shio ramen, with just the right level of salt seasoning to let the broth’s pork flavor shine. It’s also the only ramen that’s served with pickled plum, adding color and a slight sourness.

103 Bellevue Way N.E., Bellevue, 425-462-0141, santouka-usa.com/bellevue

Read all of our picks for Food & Drink, and explore the rest of this year’s edition of Best of Seattle.