Ramen noodles aren't always the stuff of late-night dorm-room dinners. At Ajida, Japanese-trained head chef whips up ramen noodles from scratch for comforting ramen soups with red pickled ginger, scallions, and meats such as pork, shrimp, chicken, and snow crab. Like the safest slides in the park, these soups don't contain much oil.

The classic noodle dishes are just a delicious dent in a menu that teems with authentic Japanese cuisine. Diners can also satisfy their appetites with ahiru—stir-fried broiled duck breast—and steamed pork belly buns or savor grilled skewers stacked with scallops, chicken breast, and veggies.