Best ramen in Santa Barbara? Ramenfest let’s you be the judge

Ramenfest sounds like something college kids would think up. But next month, Santa Barbara area restaurants will take the quirky challenge more seriously as they square off at Kimpton’s Goodland hotel in Goleta, Calif., for the noodle soup battle.

Ramenfest, now in its second year, invites tasters to slurp and vote on which Japanese-style noodle-soup makers should be crowned Ramen King of Santa Barbara.

Teams of cooks from the Black Sheep, Finch & Fork, Outpost (the Goodland’s in-house restaurant where Ramenfest will be held), Zimzala, Empty Bowl Noodle Bar, the Hungry Cat and Wildwood Kitchen will cook up their best comfort-food recipes and compete to be crowned Ramen King of Santa Barbara.

(Sama Sama Kitchen in Santa Barbara won last year.)

Tasters who want to try them all can come from 2 to 4 p.m. Nov. 5. Tickets start at $30 per person and $60 for VIPs who want to take home a limited-edition ramen bowl. Proceeds are donated to No Kid Hungry, an organization that aims to end childhood hunger in America.

If you need more incentive, Outpost bartender Chris Burmeister will helm a pop-up sake bar.

Info: Ramenfest at the Goodland hotel

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