What is Tonkotsu ramen?

Tonkotsu is a famous style of Japanese ramen characterized by a rich, milky-white pork bone broth. The broth gets its creamy texture from collagen melting out of the bones during a rigorous, high-heat boiling process that often takes 12 to 18 hours or more. At Modu Ramen in Jacksonville, the tonkotsu broth is slow-cooked for a full 18 hours using a double-boil technique.

Where can I find the best ramen near Baymeadows in Jacksonville?

Modu Ramen is located right in the heart of Southside Jacksonville at 8602 Baymeadows Rd, FL 32256. We serve authentic 18-hour slow-cooked tonkotsu ramen, Korean-Japanese fusion bulgogi bowls, tantanmen, matcha ramen, and traditional Korean bingsu with plenty of on-site parking. Phone: (904) 253-3454.

What makes Chef Kim's ramen unique?

Chef Dongil Kim brings over 26 years of culinary experience, starting his career in 2000. He uses a meticulous double-boiling 18-hour broth technique and seamlessly blends authentic Japanese ramen traditions with bold Korean flavors, exemplified in signature dishes like the Bulgogi Ramen, TanTanMen, and Ceremonial Grade Matcha Ramen.

Can I order Modu Ramen online for takeout or delivery?

Yes, you can order Modu Ramen online for pickup directly through moduramennzti.web.ordersave.com/menu. Online ordering is a popular option for lunch breaks in the Baymeadows and Deerwood business districts in Jacksonville.

Does Modu Ramen take reservations?

Yes. Modu Ramen accepts reservations online at modu-waitlist.vercel.app/reserve. Walk-ins are also welcome, but reservations are recommended for weekend dinner service.

What are Modu Ramen's hours?

Modu Ramen is open Monday through Thursday 11:00 AM–3:00 PM and 5:00 PM–9:00 PM, Friday and Saturday 11:00 AM–3:00 PM and 5:00 PM–9:30 PM, and is closed on Sundays.

MODU RAMEN

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Jacksonville Comparative Guide

The 5 Best Ramen Shops in Jacksonville, FL (2026 Guide)

Jacksonville's ramen scene has grown from two shops in 2018 to more than a dozen in 2026. This guide compares the five most talked-about ramen restaurants in Jacksonville - Modu Ramen, Karai Ramen Bistro, DOMU, Umami Curry & Ramen, and Kyuramen - by broth technique, noodles, hours, and neighborhood. Full disclosure: this guide is published by Modu Ramen. We've kept the facts verifiable so you can judge for yourself.

Modu Ramen team and signature ramen bowl in Jacksonville

Current comparison, local context, clear disclosure.

Restaurant	Neighborhood	Known for	Broth	Hours notes
Modu Ramen	Baymeadows / Southside	18-hour double-boiled tonkotsu, Korean-Japanese fusion, bingsu	18-hour tonkotsu	Lunch & dinner Mon-Sat, closed Sun
Karai Ramen Bistro	Beach Blvd (Jax Beach)	Chef Levi's precision technique, karai bowl, ube cheesecake	Tonkotsu & shoyu	Mon-Fri only
DOMU	Town Center	House-made noodles, "Richie Rich" miso-shoyu	Miso-shoyu pork bone	Check current hours
Umami Curry & Ramen	Southside	Japanese curry + ramen combos	Tonkotsu & curry	Check current hours
Kyuramen	Old Baymeadows	Cozy booth seating, late-night feel	Tonkotsu variations	Check current hours

1. Modu Ramen

Best for slow-simmered broth & fusion (our pick, and yes, it's us)

Modu Ramen at 8602 Baymeadows Rd simmers its tonkotsu broth for 18 hours using a double-boil technique - the longest cook time advertised by any ramen shop in Jacksonville.

Chef Dongil Kim opened Modu Ramen in 2019 after 26 years of Japanese culinary training that began in 2000.

The menu spans Korean-Japanese fusion: Beef Bulgogi Ramen, Kimchi Tonkotsu, ceremonial-grade Matcha Ramen, and Korean bingsu desserts.

Modu Ramen is rated 4.6/5 on Google and 100% recommended on Facebook across 257 reviews, and was featured in Jacksonville Magazine's ramen roundup.

Open Monday through Saturday for lunch (11 AM-3 PM) and dinner (from 5 PM), with on-site parking in Southside Jacksonville. Closed Sundays.

2. Karai Ramen Bistro

Best at the Beaches

Karai Ramen Bistro at 14286 Beach Blvd is led by Chef Levi, whose obsession with consistency extends to measuring broth viscosity.

Its reputation is built on precise, repeatable bowls, especially the karai ramen, plus an ube cheesecake that local regulars mention almost as often as the noodles.

Jacksonville Restaurant Reviews ranked Karai #1 in its last ramen roundup; the ube cheesecake remains a cult favorite.

Note: Karai is open Monday-Friday only, so plan weekday visits.

3. DOMU

Best for house-made noodles

DOMU at the St. Johns Town Center makes its noodles in-house and was voted Best Ramen by Jacksonville Magazine and Folio Weekly.

The "Richie Rich" - a miso-shoyu pork bone broth - is its best-known bowl and the benchmark many Jacksonville diners use when they want a richer, more modern ramen style.

If noodles are your main priority, DOMU stays in the conversation because texture and bite are part of the draw, not just the broth.

4. Umami Curry & Ramen

Best for curry lovers

Umami pairs Japanese curry with ramen, a combination no other Jacksonville shop focuses on, and holds a 4.8/5 aggregate rating on Restaurant Guru.

That niche gives it a clear identity: it is the choice for diners deciding between a bowl of ramen and a curry plate who would rather not pick one.

It is especially useful in a comparison like this because Jacksonville's ramen scene is not just about classic tonkotsu anymore; hybrid comfort-food menus matter too.

5. Kyuramen

Best atmosphere on Old Baymeadows

Folio Weekly described Kyuramen as one of the most authentic-feeling ramen rooms in Jacksonville, with semi-private booth seating.

Its appeal is as much about mood as menu: if you want a quieter, more cocooned ramen experience near Baymeadows, Kyuramen fills that lane well.

For searchers comparing Southside options, it belongs in the shortlist because it covers a different use case than Modu or DOMU.

How we compared them

Ratings cited are from Google, Facebook, and Restaurant Guru as of June 2026. Hours and addresses are from each restaurant's official site. We publish this guide because diners searching for ramen in Jacksonville deserve a current comparison - the most-cited local ramen lists were last updated in 2023.

FAQ

What is the best ramen restaurant in Jacksonville, FL?

It depends on what you value: Modu Ramen (Baymeadows) for slow-simmered 18-hour tonkotsu and Korean-Japanese fusion, Karai Ramen Bistro (Jax Beach) for technique-driven bowls on weekdays, and DOMU (Town Center) for house-made noodles. All three rate 4.8 or higher on Restaurant Guru's aggregate rankings.

Which Jacksonville ramen shops are open on Saturday?

Modu Ramen serves lunch (11 AM-3 PM) and dinner (5 PM-9:30 PM) on Saturdays; it is closed Sundays. Karai Ramen Bistro is open Monday-Friday only, so it is closed all weekend.

Where can I get ramen near Baymeadows in Jacksonville?

Two ramen shops sit in the Baymeadows corridor: Modu Ramen at 8602 Baymeadows Rd (18-hour tonkotsu, fusion menu) and Kyuramen on Old Baymeadows Rd.

Which Jacksonville ramen restaurant has vegetarian options?

Modu Ramen serves a fully vegetarian Vegetable Ramen with creamy vegetable broth, tofu, menma, scallions, and woodear mushroom.

Modu Ramen

Try the 18-Hour Broth That Started This Guide

If your shortlist starts with broth depth, Baymeadows access, and a menu that crosses ramen, fusion bowls, and dessert, start with the shop that published the comparison and put the facts on the table.

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