It's Officially Ramen Season at Mason's Creamery

Ramen at Mason’s Creamery Credit: Douglas Trattner

Ten years ago, Mason’s Creamery swung the doors open for its first pop-up ramen series at the Ohio City ice cream shop.

Winters were slower, after all, with demand for ice cream waning as the temps dipped, and both Jesse Mason and Helen Qin love cooking in general, not just delicious desserts. The chilly season afforded the duo the space and time to experiment.

The response was both immediate and positive. Dozens of diners filled Mason’s limited seats for hearty bowls of tonkotsu pork broth ramen, with bowls frequently selling out within hours.

“We just wanted to have a good time with it,” Qin told Scene in 2016. “We’re not trying to open up a ramen shop.”

Well, they sort of did.

The pair quickly decided to pivot to full-time ramen during winters, switching out the ice cream for bouncy noodles and warm broths that have become a mainstay of the cold months.

Starting last weekend, it’s that time again, as Mason’s is now offering its menu of ramens just when Clevelanders’ souls need the soulful sustenance. And they’re still slinging ice cream all winter long as a bonus.

Mason’s ramen season traditionally runs until April.

Subscribe to Cleveland Scene newsletters.