Greater Cleveland’s best ramen and, arguably, sushi lives in a strip mall 20 minutes east of Downtown. Inside, you’ll find a bar manned by sushi chefs ready to guide you through rare offerings and over-the-top rolls, while servers hustle out ramen with a range of complex flavors that range from sweet and savory to knock-your-pants-off spicy. 34302 Euclid Ave., Unit 1-2, Willoughby, isshoniramen.com
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No stone unturned. Executive chef Ryan Endrian and his staff are students of sashimi, maki and nigiri. Fanatical about every detail, the team flies in fish from Tokyo and even tests the water quality to make sure it’s optimal for the sushi rice. “There are only a few ingredients in nigiri, so there’s nowhere to hide,” says Endrian.
A new home. When COVID-19 restrictions tightened in Los Angeles, owner Johanes Jonathan, originally from Indonesia, chose Cleveland to open his Japanese joint, as well as a poke spot in Mentor. “We fell in love with Cleveland,” he says.
Heating up. Perfect for Cleveland weather is the spicy tonkotsu ramen ($16.99) with a soft-boiled egg, pork belly, kikurage mushrooms and a house blend of nine chilies (plus ghost pepper if you dare to surpass spice level 3). “I never go higher than two,” Jonathan says.
Coming soon. The Issho Ni team is finalizing the location and concept of a two-story restaurant. On the first floor will be an Indonesian Izakaya bar, while the second floor is slated for a reservation-only omakase tasting menu with more than 20 courses in a trendy neighborhood on the West Side of Cleveland. “We want to change the sushi scene in Cleveland,” Jonathan says.
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