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MJ Morning Show

MJ Morning Show

MJ Morning Show

New Spot For Ramen In Westchase Area

Author Roxanne Wilder
Raman at Minano in westchase

Is the Tampa Bay area known for Ramen? Not necessarily, but we found a new spot for Ramen near Westchase that is exceptional.

Minano Ramen just opened. It’s located at 11909 Sheldon Road in Tampa. They’ve been open for about three months.

As soon as I walked in the door to Minano, I was immediately impressed with the atmosphere. I noticed the cozy wooden booths, classic Japanese décor, cherry blossoms, and Japanese lanterns decorating the ceilings. The server was friendly and knowledgeable, and our food came out quickly.

Ramen In Westchase Minano Menu Items

We ordered two types of Ramen. We tried the Spicy Tonkotsu. It included egg noodles, pork chashu, soy egg, fish cake, seaweed, spicy broth, bamboo shoots, shiitake mushrooms, scallion, and wood ear mushrooms. That was my first time trying wood ear mushrooms. The fish cakes had cute little happy faces on them. The presentation was beautiful, and the taste lived up to the aesthetics. And boy, was it spicy. So, if you like spicy food, go for it. My daughter tried the Minano. It must be good Ramen if it has the same name as the restaurant. The signature ramen dish included egg noodles, chicken and pork chashu, bean sprouts, corn, scallions, soy, egg, fish cake, wood ear mushrooms and seaweed. The corn really gave it a unique taste. I haven’t had corn in my ramen prior to trying Minano, but I give it a big thumbs up.

The server encouraged us to try both the buns and the bao. I’ve tried pork bun in the past, but I’d never tried bao. The sticky buns are just as you’d expect. They offer chicken, pork, or beef, though the beef wasn’t available the day we were there. We tried pork. It came with cabbage and pickles, and it was delicious. The bao was my favorite. I tried pork bao and it contained minced pork and cabbage.

Minano in Westchase should be on your list if you love ramen.                                                                                                                                       

Roxanne is a co-host on the MJ Morning Show and host of Middays on Q105 in Tampa Bay. She also hosts segments on The Current, which features local feel-good stories and health and wellness segments, and airs on five of the six Tampa-based Beasley Media Group stations. Roxanne has conducted hundreds of interviews, from athletes to Oscar winners, including Matt Damon, Christian Bale, and Chadwick Boseman. She also specializes in media training, having worked with clients in the NFL, NBA and WWE for television, in print, and online. Roxanne is a published author and will be releasing a thriller novel in 2024. Her favorite thing in the world is being with her two daughters and husband. As a content creator for Q105, Roxanne writes about family activities in the Tampa Bay area, as well as reviews for local restaurants and travel.

6 Sushi Spots In Tampa You Need To Try

Updated Feb. 2024

Who doesn’t love a good roll? We’ve made a list of the 7 amazing sushi spots in Tampa you need to try. Have you ever gone to an Asian or sushi restaurant and was totally disappointed? We’re always looking for the trendiest places to eat in Tampa and fresh sushi is some of the tastiest meals you can have.

We’re not talking your average California roll either. Although that’s what you’ll find on every sushi happy-hour menu. We expanded our search to include places with an extra flair to their menu. First, we looked at the highest rated sushi restaurants on Yelp, and then added a few of our own favorites as well as a few from Tampa Magazines Best Sushi Restaurants of 2024.  One honorary mention that didn’t make our list is Saki Endless Sushi and Hibachi restaurant. They have two locations, one in Clearwater and one in Carrollwood/Tampa area. They have an all you can eat lunch special for $20 that is just too good to pass up on.

What makes a good sushi roll?

Cooking is always a little subjective and completely depends on your taste buds. YOu might just think sushi is rolled-up fish and rice, but that’s not all. The art of rolling sushi is difficult to master but easy to mess up. Learning the art of sushi making can take decades and often comes down to technique as well as the temperature of the ingredients.

According to RB Sushi, the perfect roll depends on a few key factors. The rice should always be room temperature and should never fall apart as you eat it. Next up, the fish. The fish should always be firm with a shiny look and should never be wet or greasy. Some restaurants don’t use the highest quality fish, but that is essential in making each roll so that it can be eaten raw.

These places are great if you’re going with a group of friends, a hot date, or just want to treat yourself to a nice lunch. Bring on the spicy mayo and eel sauce!

Here are 6 amazing sushi spots in Tampa you need to try

  • Ebisu Sushi Shack

    The reviews for this place on Yelp are great and people love the vintage vibe the restaurant gives. One of the most popular rolls on their menu is called the “Orange Sunrise” made with Spicy Yellow Tail & Cucumber Roll, Topped with Salmon, Lemon & Roe, Finished with Ponzu Sauce.

    Sushi is served during Lifetime's New Docuseries "Growing Up Supermodel's" Exclusive LIVE Viewing Party Hosted By Andrea Schroder

    (Photo by Jesse Grant/Getty Images for Lifetime)

  • Jackson's Bistro

    Enjoy some amazing sushi rolls with gorgeous waterfront views of Downtown Tampa. Everything at Jackson’s Bistro is made with the finest quality ingredients so you know the sushi here is amazing! We recommend trying the Sexy Ben roll.

  • Izakaya Tori

    We’ve actually ever been here but the reviews on Yelp really make us want to try it out! We looked at their menu and think the Passionate Salmon Roll sounds so good! Izakaya Tori is a runner up in Tampa Magazine’s Best Sushi Restaurants in 2024.

    Multiple sushi rolls on a platter

    (Photo by Dondi Tawatao/Getty Images)

  • Kelp Sushi

    Kelp Sushi is a hidden gem located in Town n’ Country. It used to be called Origami Sushi but it looks like it has taken new ownership with Kelp. We went there the other day for Happy Hour and they have an awesome deal. They were the #1 winner in Tampa Magazine’s best Sushi Restaurants for 2024.

    Overview of 4 sushi rolls on a plate

    BBGI

  • BluWave Sushi

    This place is a small, hole in the wall restaurant but the quality will blow you away. The service here is awesome and their specialty rolls are top notch. We recommend trying the Tsunami Roll or the Scallop Bomb Roll.

    LOS ANGELES, CA - JUNE 15: View of sushi on display at Katsuya Brentwood Celebrates A Decade on June 15, 2016 in Los Angeles, California. (

    Photo by Michael Kovac/Getty Images for Katsuya)

  • SoHo Sushi

    SoHo Sushi is another winner for Tampa Magazine’s Best Sushi Restaurants of 2024. They are located in South Tampa and are known best for their creative, fresh and award-winning rolls.

  • Honorary Mention - Pisces Sushi And Global Bistro In Dunedin

    So we left this off our “official” list because it’s quite the drive from Tampa (but totally worth it).

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Author Roxanne Wilder
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