Inside Look: Ramen Takagi in Oviedo

by Ricky Ly

Ramen Takagi at 3635 Aloma Ave., Suite 1017, Oviedo, FL 32765 is a small, cozy ramen shop that has become one of Central Florida’s most best spots for Japanese-style ramen.

It opened in 2021 and is run by Yoko Takagi and her chef husband, Gabriel Leal. Takagi was born and raised in Venezuela in a Japanese family, then later went to Japan to study ramen before opening the restaurant in Florida.

The menu highlights include tonkotsu ramen, spicy miso, black garlic tonkotsu, shoyu, shio, karaage and onigiri. The tonkotsu has long been a signature, with the original recipe built from pork bones and trotters simmered for around 20 hours.

Ramen Takagi has also earned wider recognition, including a win at Orlando’s Ramen Rumble and a spot among Orlando Magazine’s top ramen restaurants.

Try the Tantan Mazesoba, a brothless ramen built with noodles, sesame paste, hot oil, seasoned ground pork and scallions. It takes the nutty, spicy flavors of tantanmen and concentrates them around the noodles instead of a bowl of broth. Mix everything together before eating so the sesame, chili oil and pork coat every strand. It’s delicious!