Sakuramen Slurp up 18th

Adams Morgan isn't known for having the most inventive food, so if there's a ramen spot opening, you know ramen must now come in giant pizza form be a pretty big deal at this point. Bringing ADMO the delicious soupy goodness: Sakuramen.

Combining the Japanese words for "cherry blossoms" and …"ramen", Sakuramen's a subterranean noodle hideout complete with bamboo columns, a huge oak communal table, and an artistic rendering of Shoki, the Japanese guardian & "demon queller", so feel comfortable bringing that chick from The Exorcist here for a flirty nosh. Their seven-soup menu of family recipes is highlighted by:

Seoul: This Korean-inspired take loads miso broth with garlic, ginger-marinated bulgogi, and a roasted, homemade kimchi that's "not overpowering", so it must not be North Korean-inspired.

Western Style: They're considering renaming this bowl "DC ramen", so constantly pester your waitstaff about that while enjoying a soup with mild havarti cheese, green peppers, and a roasted pork that's cooked with apples/ ginger/ brown sugar before being finished with a blow torch.

DIY: That's not some strange Asian word you can't pronounce -- it just stands for "do it yourself". That's right: start with either miso or shoyu broth (pork, beef, or veggie base), pick basic toppings, then add extras like homemade garlic & pepper oils, a soft boiled egg soaked in a soy/ sake mixture, and a dangerous hot pepper paste called "fireball".

For your pre-ramen pleasure, they're also cooking up beef bulgogi & pork chashu buns and pan-searing handmade pork dumplings, all of which are more than capable of making you a pretty big deal by the time you walk out of there.