Have we reached peak ramen time in NYC? As long as places keep turning out delicious steaming bowls of milky tonkotsu, soy-based shoyu, spicy miso and whatever else, we’ll keep lining up. Try it here: Ivan Ramen (pictured), Ippudo, Ganso 

You’ll find this Eastern European beet-red fave thick with cabbage, clear with dumplings or—in white or green varieties—a touch sour, with nary a beet to be found. Try it here: Veselka (pictured), B&H Dairy , Karczma  

A buttery, silky, sherry-laced base—studded with chunks of New England lobster—makes for a deceptively filling dish (grilled lobster-and-gruyère sandwich optional). Try it here: Luke’s Lobster (pictured), Randazzo’s Clam Bar, Ed’s Lobster Bar  

Red or green, this piquant Mexican hominy stew is a frequent star for holidays and special occasions. But we see no reason to stand on ceremony before digging in. Try it here: El Centro (pictured), Tortilleria Nixtamal, Casa Enrique 

A bone-broth base, springy noodles and fresh elements—basil, jalapeños, bean sprouts and a squirt of lime—make this Vietnamese staple a spicy, tangy soup for any time of year. Try it here: Bunker  (pictured), Hanoi House, Nha Trang  

Why not Manhattan style? For one, the use of tomato in seafood chowder likely came from Rhode Island, not New York (at nycgo.com, we’re in the myth-busting business). Also, cream just makes a superior pool for tender clams, potatoes and bacon to swim in. Try it here: Cull & Pistol (pictured), Grand Central Oyster Bar 

It’s a cold-weather classic guaranteed to cure what ails you: a fluffy matzo ball lolling around in dill-flecked, honey-colored chicken broth. Try it here: 2nd Avenue Deli (pictured), Russ & Daughters Café, Liebman’s 

There are some righteous Louisiana-style spots in NYC these days. A common thread: rich, spicy gumbo, built from the roux up, employing the “holy trinity” of Cajun cooking (onions, bell peppers, celery) and brimming with chicken and sausage. Try it here: Sugar Freak (pictured), The Gumbo Bros, Great Jones Cafe

“Wait,” you protest, “that’s not actually soup!” What broth these do have resides, in an ingenious inversion, within the dumpling wrappers; in any event, we couldn’t bear to leave these flavor packets out. Try them here: Joe’s Shanghai (pictured), 456 Shanghai Cuisine, Kung Fu Little Steamed Buns Ramen