Ima Noodles
4870 Cass Ave., Detroit
Jan. 29, 2026
The only thing keeping me alive this brutally cold winter in Detroit is Ima Noodles and their spicy tori ramen.
I wake up thinking about it. I spend the afternoon daydreaming about it. By the time it comes around to happy hour, I’m bundling up and barreling down the street to belly up at the bar and attempt to drown my winter blues in its hot broth.
I’ve been waxing poetic about the delights of happy hour lately, and Ima Noodles is no exception. This is a buzzy spot right off of Wayne State campus, loaded with college kids at all times of the day, so of course the happy hour menu is going to be a hit.
Everything is going for $5, like the miso sesame cucumbers and Tokyo street fries (loaded with crispy garlic, umami sauce, nori and served with sambal ketchup). The steamed pork belly bao with kimchi is an all-time favorite.
Even though I can save at happy hour at Ima, it’s the spicy tori ramen I’ve come for.
Out of all the restaurants and dishes in Detroit, I’ve eaten this one the most. That’s major points for Ima’s consistency over the years.
Built on the depth of a spicy chicken bone broth, the spicy tori ramen comes with a soft egg (let it soak in the broth for a while and eat it last) and the usual suspects – wakame, scallion, nori, crispy garlic and chili threads.
The move here is to add ginger beef – the best protein on the menu at Ima. It adds a whole other level of complexity to this dish.
And this winter in Detroit, it’s the only thing keeping me alive.
