Vegas Export Monta Ramen Is Worth the Drive to Richardson

DFW's ramen boom marches on with the arrival of Vegas export Monta Ramen, open since last Thursday near Coit and Arapaho in Richardson. Step inside the nondescript building that faces a Wingstop and you'll be greeted with an enthusiastic "Irasshaimase!" from the staff — meaning, simply, welcome.

Eater Vegas has previously touted Monta as the best ramen in town, and it's easy to see why: The broth here is rich and complex, the noodles perfectly al dente, and the chashu pork is tender to the point of falling apart when grabbed with chopsticks. But perhaps even more appealing are the prices: Bowls start at just $7.95, and while they can be doctored up with any number of garnishes — from nitamago, the traditional marinated eggs, to kimchi and even butter — they're pretty darn satisfying as is.

Ramen fiends will appreciate the variety of broth options: In addition to the usual rich, porky tonkotsu and lighter shoyu broths, there's also a tonkotsu-shoyu combo, a miso variety, and an unusual-looking "kuro" ramen splashed with black garlic oil.

Other menu options include chicken karaage, steamed buns stuffed with the same chashu pork that comes in every ramen bowl, and fried rice, an order of which seems to land on practically every table.

Monta Ramen is open Monday through Friday 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. to 10:30 p.m., and on Saturdays and Sundays the restaurant stays open straight through from 11:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Go during off-peak hours or expect a bit of a wait, because crowds are already packing the small dining room; solo diners may have luck grabbing a seat at the ramen bar.