A Traverse City brewpub embraces an iconic Japanese noodle dish. Get yourself over to Rare Bird each and every Thursday.
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There’s something about a warm bowl of ramen on a brisk winter night that transcends the ordinary. The steam rising from the rich, umami broth is enough to thaw even the coldest souls.
Every Thursday, the folks at Rare Bird Brewpub offer their take on Japanese shio (salt) ramen, and it’s a soup season delight.
“It starts with simmering local chicken backs, garlic, onion, ginger, kombu (kelp) and green onions for hours and hours,” says co-owner and brewmaster Tina Schuett. “Usually around six hours, but the longer the better. This creates a super-rich bone broth, which is the base for the ramen.”
From there, the broth is added to their traditional ramen noodles (or gluten-free noodles), and topped with sweet shiitake mushrooms, a soft-boiled egg, fresh bean sprouts, radish slices and green onions. Add seared Michigan pork belly, gyoza (Japanese dumplings) and crispy chili oil for an extra touch of indulgence.
Schuett recommends balancing the ramen’s salt and delicate flavors with a lighter beer, like their Mexican lager El Guante. Or, if you prefer something darker, the Toasted Frenchie Stout will be making a comeback this season, lovingly brewed with Cinnamon Toast Crunch.
Our advice: Head over early, grab a window booth and put your order in. This ramen is truly delicious (oishii desu!) and sells out fast.
Don’t Miss: Other seasonal specials (September–May) include Meatless Mondays, Trivia Tuesdays, Wing Wednesdays + Kick the Keg (select beers are half off ), and the week finishes strong with Stir FRYdays. Plus, catch happy hour small plates ($7) all day Monday and 3–6 p.m. Tuesday–Friday.