There are few things that get many out of the bubble of Hudson County, but if ramen has something to do with it, it’s fair game. And that’s exactly what Black Beard Ramen in Cliffside Park has done: Made us get in the car and drive to eat it. Intrigued to the point of obsession, the “trek” {dramatic, yes} was made to give this revered ramen spot a go. And it was quite the treat. Here’s all about Black Beard Ramen, located at 607 Cliffside Park:
About Black Beard
While Mitsuwa isn’t far and also offers a decent array of ramen specialties, Black Beard is a no-frills, hidden gem that has a chill vibe and a bangin’ Tonkotsu ramen, if that’s your thing. You’ll almost miss it as it’s a bit of a hole-in-the-wall, but they actually have parking {= clutch, if you’re a Hudson County resident}.
Once inside, there are about 7-10 small tables for seating small parties, and a casual bar with four chairs for more relaxed seating or if dining alone. {Trust that on busy nights — which is the reg — you may be sitting here if you want to ensure you get your ramen fix!}
^It’s BYOB, FYI!
What’s on the Menu
For apps, the Steamed Gyoza + Vegetarian Curry rice are go-tos. We actually ordered two baskets of the Gyoza for our party of four. Noms.
On the menu are several ramen options, not too extensive, just the essentials. The four options, all of which come in normal and large sizing, range from $10-$14 {and then you can add in extras}.
Tonkotsu {A silky-smooth pork and veggie broth topped with chashu [stewed pork], scallions, fried onions, marinated bamboo shoots, wild ear mushrooms, and dried seaweed}.
Tonkotsu Gyokai {A broth made by mixing the Tonkotsu broth with fish broth. This one is topped with chashu, scallions, fried onions, mushrooms, bamboo, fish cake, and dried seaweed}.
Miso {A pork, fish, and veggie broth combined with a house-blended miso — topped with chashu, scallions, fried onions, naruto, bamboo, mushrooms, and dried seaweed}.
Green Curry {A pork and fish broth that is topped with chashu, scallions, bamboo, and fried onions}.
The menu specifies that you can request the noodles to be cooked firmer or softer than normal, as well as less salt.
One drawback to the menu is that eggs aren’t included in the ramen dishes — each egg is an extra $1.5, but since the bowl of ramen isn’t insanely expensive, it’s not the end of the world {unless you want all the extras, then god speed}.
Want More to Do in Cliffside Park? Check Out Om Sweet Home’s Vegan Bakery
Hours of Black Beard:
Tuesday through Friday, 11:30AM – 3:00PM, 5:00-9:00PM
Saturday 11:00AM – 3:00PM; 5:00PM – 9:30PM
Sunday 11:00AM – 3:00PM, 5:00PM – 9:00PM.
Overall thoughts:
Huge portions, great flavor, authentic, and everything you could want in a ramen spot. Possibly one of the best in the area. BYOB makes it fun to dine-in, and it will be packed on weekends, so be prepared to wait.
Service is good, nothing fancy but the servers will explain anything needed to you, and the menu is in English and Japanese.
Word to the wise from personal experience: Don’t take your ramen leftovers home {seriously tho, on the rare chance} because it will definitely congeal in the fridge and you won’t feel like enjoying them, but in-house, it’s giving a lot of local ramen spots a run for their money.
See More: The Best Ramen Spots in Hoboken + Jersey City
Have you been to Black Beard Ramen? What did you think? Comment below.
Jersey City’s Milk Sugar Love Expanding to Asbury Park
Milk Sugar Love, the beloved Jersey City-based ice cream shop known for its handcrafted treats, is expanding to the Jersey Shore. In June 2025 the artisanal creamery will open a new location in Asbury Park, New Jersey, bringing its signature small-batch ice cream to the beach. The woman-owned ice cream parlor — founded by chef-owner Emma Taylor — is known for using high-quality, all-natural, and organic ingredients to create classic and seasonal flavors. The Asbury Park location promises to be a sweet addition to the seaside scene this summer. Read on to learn more about Milk Sugar Love’s new location opening in Asbury Park, New Jersey.
The Details
Milk Sugar Love is set to open at 1319 Memorial Drive in Asbury Park, New Jersey in June 2025. The new shop will feature an expanded production kitchen, walk-up window, and café-style seating for 12, including a few coveted counter seats where guests can watch their sundaes, affogatos, and ice cream specialties being expertly prepared.
Read More: The Cafe at Journal Squared: Jersey City’s Newest Coffee Shop
The Asbury Park location's expanded menu will showcase house-made ice cream available by the scoop, artisanal soft serve, specialty coffee drinks such as affogatos and cold brew floats, and a full take-home menu including ice cream sandwiches, celebration ice cream cakes, and fresh-baked treats. Milk Sugar Love’s ice cream flavor options span from standards like strawberry and vanilla to one-of-a-kind tastes such as lemon olive oil and guava cream cheese.
The Monmouth County expansion marks an exciting milestone for the brand, which has been delighting dessert lovers at its storefront in Jersey City since 2014. The announcement of the future Jersey Shore location was made in tandem with a reflection and celebration of its tenth year in business.
“It’s been 10 years of Milk Sugar Love and I still deeply believe in what we’re doing – making inventive and delicious ice cream from scratch using locally sourced, all-natural ingredients. You help me continue to live this ice cream dream of mine with every post you share, with every pint you bring home for the family, with every friend you bring to visit the shop. I am excited for another year of making ice cream for you in Jersey City and soon, in Asbury Park too!” founder Emma Taylor announced on the Milk Sugar Love Instagram.
The new location in Asbury Park is fitting because, like most Jersey girls, Emma spent her summers down the shore where her love of ice cream blossomed.
"I moved to Asbury Park a few years back and have been inspired by the city’s live music scene, its close-knit small business community and of course, all its delicious food," Emma shared in the official press release. "I'm thrilled for Milk Sugar Love to join this creative community.”
The flagship Milk Sugar Love location is at 19 McWilliams Place in the Hamilton Park neighborhood of Jersey City. Previously, Milk Sugar Love operated a second location in the Jersey City Heights neighborhood at 394 Palisade Avenue, however, this location closed in 2022. Fans can expect the same dedication to quality and creativity that has made Milk Sugar Love a local favorite in Jersey City down at the shore.
Emma and the Milk Sugar Love team will be popping by Berg’s Smoked Meat + Poutine in Belmar, New Jersey on Saturday, January 25th from 12PM-2PM to celebrate the two businesses’ collaboration. The team will be scooping up the limited edition flavor, Caraway Crunch, serving up free samples. Pints will be available for purchase to enjoy at home. Berg’s Smoked Meat is known for its Montreal-style smoked meat and poutine. The Berg’s team worked with Milk Sugar Love to create the flavor, which is sweetened with brown sugar and crunchy-, all-butter smoked meat toffee pieces mixed in.
Be sure to follow @milksugarlovejc on Instagram for updates on the new Asbury Park, New Jersey location.
See More: New Businesses Coming to Montclair + Essex County in 2025
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