Great ramen, wine list is an afterthought
Downtown · Ann Arbor · Asian noodle bar featuring Korean, Japanese, and other East Asian dishes · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed July 4, 2026
Wingman Metrics
The wine list at Tomukun Noodle Bar is exactly five bottles long — which is either admirably honest or quietly embarrassing, depending on your mood. This is a ramen and bibimbap spot at heart, and the wine program makes absolutely no effort to pretend otherwise. If you came here for the tonkotsu, you're in the right place; if you came for the wine list, you took a wrong turn somewhere around Detroit.
Five wines, five by-the-glass options — the entire list is poured by the glass, which means there's no bottle program to speak of. You've got a French Cab, an Oregon Pinot Noir, an Italian Pinot Grigio, a California Sauvignon Blanc, and a plum wine. That's it. No depth, no surprises, no regional coherence beyond 'wines that exist.' The Takara Plum Wine is the only nod to the restaurant's East Asian identity, and it's the most interesting thing here by default.
Every wine on the list is a by-the-glass option, priced between $12 and $13 — which is at least consistent. There's no rotation, no seasonal picks, and no sense that anyone is tending to this program between menu cycles. It's a static list doing the bare minimum.
Oregon Trails Pinot Noir — $12
At $12 a glass, Oregon Pinot is usually a tough sell without knowing the producer's retail price — but it's the most food-friendly option on the list and the most logical call alongside something rich and savory.
Takara Plum Wine
Most people skip plum wine because they think it's sweet and forgettable — and sometimes it is. But with kimchi fries or a spicy broth, the fruit-forward sweetness actually earns its keep. It's the one wine here that makes sense in context.
Comtesse Marion Cabernet
A French Cab at a Korean-Japanese noodle bar is a strange pairing at the best of times, and nothing about a $12 mystery Cabernet is going to change that. It has no natural home on this menu.
Fruili Venezia Pinot Grigio + Tonkotsu Ramen
A crisp, light-bodied Pinot Grigio cuts through the richness of a pork-bone broth without competing with the dish. It's not a profound pairing, but it's the most sensible one on the menu.
❌ The Bottom Line
Come to Tomukun for the ramen — come for the bibimbap — just don't come for the wine list. Order a beer, or lean into the plum wine and have some fun with it.
Downtown · Ann Arbor · Korean BBQ
Tomukun is a great place to eat Korean BBQ and drink soju with friends — the wine list is just not the reason to come here. Order the Riesling if you must, or do yourself a favor and let the soju do the work.
Grocery Store
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown · Ann Arbor · French-Inspired Café / Bistro
Cafe Zola won't be your next wine destination, but it's a dependable neighborhood bistro where you can drink something decent and French without much risk. Stick to the Rhône or the Jadot Chardonnay, avoid the Cloudy Bay markup, and let the crêpes do the heavy lifting.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown · Ann Arbor · North Indian, Tandoori, and Mughlai
Shalimar isn't a wine destination, but it's playing a smarter game than most Indian restaurants in its bracket — fair prices, a Rhône red, and a Michigan Riesling that was practically designed for the menu. Order the Chateau Grand Traverse, get the Tandoori Chicken, and stop being surprised that it works.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Depot Town / Near North Campus · Ann Arbor · American Seafood and Steak
Gandy Dancer delivers exactly what it promises — a handsome, safe, California-anchored wine list that holds up fine against the prime rib and seafood platters without ever exciting you. Send a friend here for the room and the food; just set expectations accordingly on the wine.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
West Ann Arbor · Ann Arbor · Italian, Wood-Fired Pizza
Bigalora isn't trying to be a wine destination and doesn't need to be — but its tight, Italy-leaning list with generous by-the-glass coverage earns it a reliable spot in the Ann Arbor rotation. Markups could be friendlier, but the bones are good.
Small but Thoughtful
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown · Ann Arbor · Spanish Tapas
Aventura isn't trying to be a wine destination, but its all-Spain list is focused and fairly priced in a way that makes the wine program feel like an asset rather than an afterthought. Take a date, order the Albariño, and work through the tapas menu.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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