Ramen has exploded around the country thanks to noodle superstars such as Momofuku and Ivan Ramen, but this Canton eatery has been doing ramen long before it was a trend. There are several options, including miso, shoyu, curry and hot and spicy; diners love the corn butter and duck soups. If ramen's not in the cards, there are other noodle dishes, including yakisoba (stir-fried noodles) udon and cold noodles.

This Novi Japanese restaurant is usually packed and for good reason: the noodle dishes are the real deal. The udon features a fish and seaweed broth, and choices include ohhara (mountain plants), fushimi (tofu) and the most popular option ajishin (shrimp and vegetable tempura, tofu and egg). There's also cold soba noodles; the nishijin boasts egg, tempura, sprouts and burdock.

Now with several metro Detroit locations (and surprisingly none in Madison Heights), Pho Lucky built a loyal following upon opening in 2012 with its delicious warming bowls of pho. The broth here is savory, well-balanced, and full of flavor.

It's no secret that Madison Heights is at epicenter when it comes to pho in metro Detroit. One solid choice (among many) is Thang Long, which not only has pho but also a plethora of noodle soups and dishes. The Hanoi soup with rice noodle, beef, bean sprouts, green onions, and cilantro is a favorite as is the hue soup with vermicelli and spicy beef. There are also several stir-fried noodle platters such as the pad sa lu jumbo noodle with dark soy sauce.

Specializing in “Nu Asian” fare, this Madison Heights restaurant features different Asian cuisines such as Japanese sushi and Thai noodle dishes. What sets it apart though is that it also serves Filipino food such as pancit canton — thick noodles stir-fried with meat and vegetables.

This Sterling Heights Szechuan staple has a lengthy menu with classic dishes such as mapo tofu and squirrel fish. But a closer examination of the extensive offerings will reveal noodles aplenty. Served cold, the Yibin flame noodle is full of flavor and texture. And even though the menu is predominantly Chinese, there's also Korean black bean noodles.

How serious is Johnny Noodle King about noodles? So much that it has its own Slurp Song (warning: this song will get stuck in your head). Noodles are well represented, with the menu categorized by broths (both traditional and nontraditional ramen offerings) and sauces (smoked butter noodles, pad si u, and udon).

There's a dearth of noodle shops in metro Detroit, so when Ima opened its doors late last year, noodle lovers rejoiced. Chef Mike Ransom dishes up delicious Japanese-inspired comfort food, with a menu that highlights local and seasonal ingredients. Vegans love the umami-packed forest udon, with bold flavors coming from smoked trumpets and porcini broth, while meat lovers tuck into the spicy pork udon.

This unassuming, chill Korean restaurant attached to an Asian market serves classic dishes such as bulgogi, bibimbap, and tofu soup. But it’s the chap chae — clear noodles with beef and vegetables — that stands out.