Ippudo Ramen
65 4th Ave
(between 2nd Ave & 8th St)
New York, NY 10003 (212) 388-0088
- Nearest Transit:
Astor Place (6)
8th St-Broadway (R, W)
3rd Ave-14th St (L)
- Hours:
Mon-Thu 11:00 a.m.-12:00 a.m.
Fri-Sat 11:00 a.m.-1:00 a.m. - Price Range: $$
- Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
- Parking: Street
- Attire: Casual
- Good for Groups: Yes
- Good for Kids: Yes
- Takes Reservations: No
- Delivers: No
- Take-out: No
- Waiter Service: Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
- Outdoor Seating: No
- Good for: Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol: Full Bar
118 Reviews for Ippudo Ramen
SOO GOOD! Decor is nice and the seatings are shared but you always get to meet interesting people if you're lucky. It's very unhealthy with it's pork broth but so right after a night of drinking!
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I had very high expectations for Ippudo. A friend and I decided to stop by for dinner. The wait for a table of 3 was quoted to be about an hour. We came back about 35 minutes into the wait and our seats were ready.
I had the Akamaru ramen and shared the tofu pot and pork bun appetizers with my friends. The tofu appetizer was really salty and a bit too sweet. There was not enough tofu in the pot. The buns were good and similar to the size of Momofuku's pork buns. The noodles were a lot thinner than I'd expected. It was cooked al dente so there was still a nice 'bite' to it, but personally, I still prefer the chewier noodles at Setagaya. But the main highlight of Ippudo is their broth. I'm not sure if there was MSG in it, but I ended up drinking most of it. It was very deep and flavorful.
I also liked their decor. In the ramen world, they definitely win the prize for trendiest ramen joint. And the free paper fans by the bar is definitely a great touch for warmer months!
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This place is really full of itself. I got there at 9pm, and even though there was only one other party waiting, the hostess told me that there was a 30 minute wait. This is what I hate about over-hyped restaurants, they always purposely make it seem more popular than it is. Well, only 10 minutes later we were seated.
I did not like the texture of the noodles, they seemed to be a lot thinner than normal ramen noodles and the soup base was too oily. Don't bother ordering the extra large version unless you like to eat dry ramen noodles, as it comes with a portion of noodles on the side without additional soup. I'm baffled, extra large at every ramen place I have been to means that the bowl is larger with more noodles and soup. How can you just eat ramen without soup?!@?!?@
I would not recommend this place and won't be going back.
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Tried another one of the Ramens - the Akamaru. Tasted pretty similar to the Shiomaru.
The steamed Bershire pork buns (2 for $9?) were very good. A little bigger than those at Momofuku but prefer the sauce at Momofuku. I think they sneak mayo into it here (they love mayo here).
The pickles appetizer was kind of interesting. I like the pickles and accompanying pickled radishes but the portion is really skimpy.
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1 Previous Review: Show all »
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04/03/2008
Ippudo is a ramen chain from Japan that just made its way over the states. If the thought of ramen… Read more »
It took me a while to try this place since it doesn't take reservation. Every time I call they have about an hour of wait time.
I finally went there on a weeknight around 9pm. When I got there, they told me the wait is about half an hour. However, we only wait for 10 minutes and when we were inside, we saw lots of empty tables.
The interior decor is very nice and the place is huge. I didn't like the idea of communal tables. I much rather sit in small tables of 2 to 4 than share table. The problem with their communal tables is they have long rectangular tables. You will be eating but you feel awkward facing the strangers across from you directly.
I ordered the Akamaru ramen after reading all the good reviews here. The soup was so flavorful and good. Ramen is fresh and yummy. Portion is a bit small - only a small bowl of ramen and one piece of pork for around $13. We ended up ordering another small bowl of ramen and extra pork.
We also ordered the Croquette which is delicious! I especially like the salad that came in the middle with it. The salad dressing has a bit of wasabi and the sauce was great.
Overall really good dining place and I would go back again.
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I had high expectations for this place. I love noodle soups but I don't think I even finished half of mine. I got their signature ramen that everyone gets, but I guess my tastebuds aren't catered to this type of soup. The broth is definitely flavorful but was a little too fatty and greasy for me. I like mine more clear and I just felt really heavy after several sips. The noodles were too thin and could have been cooked a little longer. They didn't taste homemade to me. For the price, I would have wanted a bigger bowl, filled with more meat and vegetables.
A noodle soup should leave you feeling pleasantly full without the guilt you get after a big meal. I felt like I got the nutritional value of a fatty steak without the filling substance and satisfaction. SIGH.
We had 3 different types of soups and chef's choice of 5 appetizers. My oh my. The broth in all 3 soups was fantastic. I'm not a Ramen specialist in the least, but my past experience led me to believe the flavours were meant to be understated and subtle. Not the case here at all. Very strong and gorgeous flavors - and all 3 soups were quite distinct, the spicy ground pork one really had a nice kick.
The apps were lovely particularly the pork belly which was like eating foie gras on top of chicharon - holy instant heart attack - but at least you died with a smile.
The only downside was the apparent lack of choice for vegetarians. No vegetarian broth, with what seemed like only 1 main that was vegetarian. The 2 veggies that I was with were frustrated by the lack of choice, but seemed to enjoy there meal.
Definitely going back there - at $13 bucks for the noodles its more than worth it.
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6.01.08: I have never been so intrigue and so eye wandering in my life. As I stepped into this place it looked very small a host stand with bar like thing to the right. The bowls on the walls and just the whole front layout was already making me excited.
The decor was unique, I couldn't wait till I headed inside for my surprised. As we slowly walked through to the next open area I was like a kid in vegas. Awe at the tree, at the tables, at the walls, at the ceilings, at the art and at the chopstick holders. Each table had its own design. It was different. There was a table that looked like a tree trunk. Another table that look like a bar, and booths that are so big they fit about 9 people. Unfortunately for me I had the plain boring table that looks like a wood bench at the park.
Besides the incredible decor of this place the food was good. I still like Shin Sen Gumi in San Gabriel better. But it was the service and the decor that got me saying WOoHoo, 5 stars please!
I heard usually this place is packed like crazy, being the lucky duck I am we only waited 5 minutes! Yeah ME! Come here you won't regret it!
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It was my goal to eat at the best Ramen house in New York City during my brief visit over the weekend. I'm from San Diego, which has a fairly decent Asian community, but I've never been blown away by any of the Ramen our fine city has to offer.
After reviewing multiple different noodle houses on Yelp, I selected Ippudo as my destination. I walked right in and was greeted robustly by the staff. I was immediately seated and my pork belly appetizer and draft Sapporo were out nearly instantly. I'm a big fan of pork belly, it's like the foi gras of the pork world. Two decent pieces, snickers fun size bar in size. The first piece was incredible, absolutely the most tender piece of meat I've ever eaten, the layer of fat just melted in my mouth, and the meat itself fell apart with the most minimal chewing. The second piece was much tougher, and not as enjoyable. I don't believe this was on purpose, most likely a bad cut of meat, or not prepared as well as the first one.
As far as noodles went, I decided to invest (as it was a $13 bowl) in the Akamuren Modern, which is the tonkotsu broth with miso, garlic oil, and a few other bells and whistles. It was simply breath taking. The noodles were perfect, I've always preferred mine with vigor and life, soft noodles are for amateurs and nissin. The broth was awe inspiring, savory, sweet, salty, and spicy, a veritable avalanche of flavors and nuances in a tug of war of taste in my mouth.
I only received a slim piece of pork, and a few vegetables in my bowl, but I could really care less. My goal was simply noodles and broth.
Before I knew it I had already completed the entirety of my entire bowl was empty.
Not to be daunted by a single bowl of ramen, and in the effort to give the menu a full exam, I asked my server if they were serving shoyu ramen. Sadly, my server informed me they only served shoyu ramen during dinner service. Bummer, it's the omelet of the ramen world in my view, and I would love to see how Ippudo does it.
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Who knew ramen could be $12 a bowl? (Lucky for me I didn't pay.) I like how they put us in the cozy, cozy couple seats though we were not a cozy, cozy couple. Way to make assumptions!
Mmm. Wait... where did the pork belly go?
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Should I to feel bad for spending $15-20 on ramen when there are starving kids in Africa, or should I feel bad because that's just lot of money to spend on noodles?
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After some thought, I don't feel any remorse at all, because their ramen is pretty damn good!
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visited Sat 10:30pm 5/31/08
Large restaurant with great atmosphere, beautiful decor, and sorta trendy crowd. The restrooms are cool, too. After the 20 minute wait, we ordered both the akamaru and shiromaru. The akamaru was good but the shiromaru was better. We tried to order extra noodles up front but the waiter told us to order just before we needed them. Good thing because we didn't need them. Pretty filling bowls, as they should be for the price. Overall a tasty experience.
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Delicious broth and nice, chewy noodles with good flavor. My only gripe is that you only get two pieces of pork belly with your noodles... unless you want to fork over extra on top of the $13 per bowl for more meat. I feel like ramen should be a quick cheap meal that you should be able to pop in for anytime... but the popularity of Japanese noodle places in NY makes it a pricey ordeal with a 1+ hour wait.
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After my friend raved about it and all the hype I had very high expectations for ippudo, especially to justify the prices. For example, a bowl of noodles here costs more than at Nobu (udon or soba, not ramen). I doubt anyone goes to Nobu for noodles but i just found that interesting
I had the Akamaru ramen with the special sauce, and split a bowl of extra noodles with my friend. We also each ordered the side of pork belly so basically I ate until my sides hurt. And it was the best tonkatsu ramen broth I've had. The broth is extra porky, the thin slices of pork are very tender, and the noodles are a perfect springy texture. Maybe it was an off night but the pork belly I found a little tough- extremely bummed about that after being told how good it was.
And so after my $20 ramen experience I was stuffed and satisfied. But also in retrospect a little disappointed. I mean its a decent price for dinner but its a lot for a bowl of ramen so who knows when I'll be back. But if you're ok with that its the best tonkatsu ramen in the east village...only a little pricier but much better than momofuku and ramen setagaya. Oh, and the wait was almost an hour so we grabbed drinks by st. marks. Small groups will most likely have to share..somehow we ended up sharing a table with my friend's boss...awkward.
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At the end of the day, it's ramen, and your paying $15-$20 for a bowl when there are starving kids in Africa. It's good - the pork fat in the broth is evenly broken up, the broth is thick, and I liked the noodles, but this place is way pricey for filler and they nickle and dime you for add-ons and appetizers that are not that great. I'd love to see their profit margins. Momofuku still much better - leave this one to the Japanese Tourists.
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Ippudo has finally been implanted into the heart of NYC and my fellow New Yorkers now have a chance to experience the true taste of Ramen. The broth is extremely flavorful and the noodles are perfect. For the heavy eaters... definitely order the extra noodles that are place on the side. The other items on the menu are average but did you really go to a place specializing in Ramen for Gyozas? The price is a bit steep but you're paying for a nice enviroment with a very attentive staff. For those who complain about the cost should stay home and make instant ramen noodles. It is also a great place to take your significant other.
The set up of this place is absolutely magnificent!
Though the setting is a bit dark, it still gives you a welcoming feel upon entering the main dining room.
We sat at the bar in order to skip the long wait.
I ordered the Akamaru Ramen - very aromatic and delicious. I prefer their ramen over Momofuku. Momofuku's broth is just way too salty. But their broth was perfect for my palate.
J ordered the Shoyu Ramen - I was jealous because her ramen came with a egg cake that had the word, "IPPUDO" embossed on it.
*sigh*
It's better that I didn't get the egg, I probably wouldn't eat it since I would think it was too cute!
G got the Shiomaru - the broth looked like it would be bland, since it was a milky colour broth but it was actually very yummy.
We also got the Shrimp in garlic sauce as appetizer - it came with good size shrimp and came with fried ramen noodles.
The service was great, we had the pint size waitress that speaks as though she was from a cartoon. She's hella sweet and cute! I totally trust her recommendations!
Bonus: They have cute waiters too!
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I was expecting a small hole in a wall for the famed Ippudo Ramen place. (idk why) Anyway is was alot nicer then i imgined. The place was clean and nice and I really like the wood wall on the outside of the building. So i sit down and I instantly say "This is my 1st time, suggest me your best ramen" She did so I got it. It didn't look impressive or really fancy but... when i ate it HOLY SHIT!! it was awesome! The soup was soo tasty and the noodles were so perfect. It was just an over all awesome experience. Kinda wished there were more veggies and stuff in my bowl but whatever it was still great.
The service, cleanliness, anything else was fine. I also appreciate how they appear to make their own noodles. (do they they look like they do)
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Here's a thought, just take it in for awhile. If I wanted to know where to find amazing ramen in New York City, I would
a) Listen to locals who talk about starving kids in Africa even though they are taking the time to write food reviews and then recommend going to a different but equally expensive and smaller ramen house...when there are starving kids in Africa
b) Read Zagat's
c) See where Japanese ex-pats eat in New York and follow their lead
I choose answers B and C because everytime I go, the service is amazing, the food is consistently great, and everything I've tried off the menu pleasantly suprised me. I suggest going for the ramen but the shrimp and croquettes are also wonderful and the sake selection is amazing, try kanzansui.
I will admit that now that the restaurant hired American waiters, the service has dropped a bit, but compared to other restaurants of its size, it does a great job of making everyone feel special and slow service is quickly corrected.
Like many other ramen fiends in NYC, I had been eagerly anticipating the opening of Ippudo for some time. After reading all the glowing reviews that quickly came in, the anticipation was reaching a crescendo, yet something was holding me back from making the special trip there. I suppose I feared that the reviews were overrated and Ippudo would be overhyped, like Ramen Setegaya and Momofuku were for me.
Alas, I can happily say that Ippudo lived up to its hype and deserves all the high praise it's been receiving from ramen aficionados. Going at lunchtime is a great way to avoid waiting on the 45min. - 1.5 hr lines that I've been hearing about. I came in after 3pm and was quickly seated at a nearly empty communal round table, which gave me a front row glimpse into the kitchen. The bamboo "tree" that "shaded" me was a nice touch and reminded me of a bamboo sculpture I had seen at the NY Botanical Garden last fall. The raised hiragana on the walls was also really cool, although I'm incredibly rusty with my Japanese and couldn't make any sense of it.
But you're not really coming to Ippudo for the decor or ambiance, are you? Honestly, if Ippudo was another hole-in-the-wall ramen joint like many others in the city, you'd still be happy to slurp up every last drop of your soup. Because, damn is that broth fantastic. It's so rich and thick with flavor - I believe it when they say that they simmer their pork bones for 14+ hours.
I had the Akamaru ramen, which came with extra special sauce. The pork slices melted in my mouth, and there were bits of ground pork canoodling with my noodles. There was only one drop of soup left in my bowl by the time I was done, and that's only because I was too embarrassed to lift the bowl to my mouth. I usually don't bother finishing the soup when I eat ramen because I'm too full, but there is such a nice balance of pork, noodle and broth that you don't feel like a glutton lapping it all up. Best of all, I didn't even feel bloated afterwards, just satisfied.
Aside from the amazing ramen, the overall experience at Ippudo is very pleasant. The service is typically Japanese - prompt, courteous and efficient. They also serve complimentary tea at the end of your meal. When I was finishing my first cup and they thought that I was lingering, they brought me another one, which was unexpected but appreciated. Ippudo definitely tops my ramen list and the wait was well worth it. And when you think about it, $13 is a small price to pay for a genuinely delicious taste of Japan.
P.S. Add the braised pork belly to your ramen for $3 - it's melt in your mouth yummy!
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Don't remember what i had, but it was excellent with extra pork. It was overpriced, but worth it. Cute date spot.
Ippudo attracts those of us in search of a better ramen option in the EV. Though many opinions I've read so far have addressed a serious concern for being overpriced, I think the Akamaru Modern is well worth it's price.
On my first two visits I skipped out on the extra noodles (another $3), strictly on principle. A $16 bowl of ramen? No thanks. I felt as if it wasn't as fulfilling as I had hoped a $13 bowl would, but satisfied nonetheless. On my third visit, I splurged and it made all the difference. If you're a price conscious foodie go with a friend and split the extra noodles. It's worth every cent.
I've also tried the Kara-age with fried Taro chips and found it very tasty. The plating all around was minimal, but elegant enough to fetch the asking prices.
If you're a budget foodie that isn't big on ramen, I would skip Ippudo and maybe try Kenka's/Taisho/Menku ti. If you're a ramen worshipper, a pho fiend (Ippudo is a good substitute - seriously), or Japanese cuisine fanatic then Ippudo is a great place to go.
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It is really tasty but expensive (as far as ramen goes). I guess you pay for the decor though, because it's a very cute spot.
I got also got a cocktail of shochu with grapefruit juice, which was delicious. They squeeze the grapefruit juice fresh at the table.
I wish I could give 3.5 stars. I'm being nice and rounding up :)
Yes, it's pricey for ramen. Yes, there's usually a wait. YES, it's delicious!
The decor is cool. Sitting at the bar is fun, watching the guys plate appetizers. I usually order the Akamaru (plus egg), which is a bit rich but so tasty. The serving size is perfect for me, a girl with a healthy appetite. Are the portions the largest? No. But do you really need that much food? Probably not. I'm not the ramen expert but I love coming here. If you don't mind eating alone, waiting is never a problem.
Yummy yummy, Ippudo in my tummy.
I FINALLY tried this place after hearing so much hype and reading the great review in the Times.
This place is great. Cool atmosphere and vibe and friendly service. The service might have been one of the best aspects of this place.
Luckily, we did not wait the horrendous wait times that most people wait. We got seated pretty quickly.
We had some apps. My girlfriends weren't as impressed but I loved the spicy tofu special. So flavorful and spicy.
I had the original Shiomaru ramen. It was good. Anything in pork fat is good. But, it was a bit bland for me and I got order-envy and wished I ordered the Akamaru one (the one in the red bowl) which was spicier and more flavorful.
The pork belly was so tender and yummy and the portion wasn't great, but I didn't mind so much which is unusual since I am all about portion size.
The prices aren't bad (not great, not too expensive).
No 5 stars here. It didn't live up to the hype. But to be fair, I am not a fan of Japanese food in general... however, I would go back and definitely would recommend to others.
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First time I tried to go here, there was a 1 hour wait. I'm a lover of all things noodle, but I wasn't about to wait an hour for a bowl of ramen.
Next time I tried, it was only 40 minutes. I took the bait and am glad I did. Waiting at the bar area, you'd think there were only a handfull of tables. Once you get inside, you see the place actually wraps around and has plenty of seating.
We started out w/some pork belly which was very tender and juicy. For ramen, I had the shiomaru. The broth tasted so good. It wasn't bland or salty... just right. The pork slices were also just as tasty. For a couple dollars more, you can get double the ramen. I may have to do that next time.
And the bar has a great selection of sake.
Only thing that seemed weird was the non-Japanese waiters with Japanese-like nuisances.
I loved the design inside with the ramen bowls mounted on the wall, the design in the dining room is cozy, busy, exciting, but....
I didn't like the ramen noodles. Too thin and al dente. I'm from the Kitikata school of ramen, I like my noodles thicker, a little more cooked but...
The broth of this ramen was HEAVEN.
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The Ramen: Pretty awesome. It's clean, light but full of flavor. I'd recommend getting the egg instead of the pork belly as an add-on. The pork belly seemed to overpower delicious broth.
The appetizers: Very well presented, but very mediocre.
The ambiance: The nicest group of human beings I've ever encountered. If I was having a bad day, I would go here to eat just to see the happy wait staff.
The Decor: Absolutely amazing. It's inspired me to do certain things with my own house.
The Price: About right. 2 bowls of ramen and 2 appetizers will run you about $25 a head.
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The Good: Shiomaru broth is to die for; lighter-than-usual ramen with proper bite; and the super nice staff with a very non-New Yorkery lack of attitude is flown in from Japan
The Bad: The pickled veggie appetizer is humorously small but ragingly overpriced
The Ugly: Loooooong waits...for a ramen shop! And a pricey one at that
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I'm a fairly recent ramen convert, you know, the one that used to eat ramen solely for the purpose of survival and because a meal can cost 25 cents or less.
Lately, I've started eating more "authentic" ramen available here in NYC. It's not what you can get in Japan but this is as close to as possible stateside. I'll also caveat that I haven't tried many ramen places, just four from what I can remember: Santouka, Momofuku Noodle Bar, Menchanko-Tai and now Ippudo. I've been to Ippudo twice and have absolutely loved it.
My first suggestion, skip the other dishes. While decent (the tofu in a stone bowl is quite good), there's a reason why it's called Ippudo Ramen.
Second suggestion, get either the Shiromaru or Akamaru ramen. The essence of Hakata style ramen (from what I've been told) is the pork broth.
Third suggestion, get the pork belly and extra ramen. The pork belly, which is on a placard on the table and not part of the regular menu which I didn't see the first time is absolutely delicious. Talk about melt in your mouth fatty goodness. If you're hungry, get an extra bowl of ramen for yourself, otherwise, two can share one extra bowl and it works just fine. They do skimp on the toppings and to me, two pieces of pork char-su is just not enough.
I like eating noodle soups, be it Chinatown Wonton soup, Vietnamese Pho or Korean Kalbi Tang but you'll never see me drink the broth. However, the broth here is absolutely to die for. Seriously, if I wanted to ever break into this restaurant, I'd take the broth before I'd take the money mostly because you need to go in debt to eat here on a regular basis.
I like how the sake isn't too overpriced when you order a bottle, which I've done both times I've gone.
Overall, expect your meal to come to around $90 for 2 with a bottle of sake with tax and tip.
I give this place 4 stars since the price is a bit high and the first time I had the appetizers, I wasn't too terribly thrilled. However, service is fine and the food is prompt. Go early or go late, but don't go anywhere near peak dinner time or you'll be having Ippudo as a midnight snack.
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There are probably many better options in NYC, but this place is still pretty alright. They are fancy schmancy looking. They sure need to turn up the A/C though when you're eating your boiling hot ramen and it's 80F outside...
The soup is pretty good, it's almost the traditional fatty pork broth, plus a little sweetness, maybe from the addition of a soy sauce or other seasoning. The noodles are a nice chewiness.
Biggest gripe is the portion size. You get two pieces of paper-thin pork. A couple of green onions. BUT, I like that they added 'cloud ear' fungus. I love that stuff. But I want moooore of that in my ramen. At least you can add an unlimited amount of sesame yourself with the grater on the table. Muahaha!
The overall bowl portion was just right for me. But I'm smaller than most people--maybe my tummy is average size.
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Tasty tasty tasty! I liked this place it was very cool. The atmosphere was fun and hip. You feel like you are in Japan. I had the shrimp appetizer it was a special that night. It was almost like grand menier shrimp. I also had the ramen with the pork scallions absoultley delicious. I would go back for sure.
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Vincent Vega: Did you just order a $13 ramen?
Mia Wallace: Yeah
Vincent Vega: That's broth and noodles, right?
Mia Wallace: Last I heard
Vincent Vega: You don't put Sake in it or nothin?
Vincent Vega: I gotta know what a $13 dollar ramen tastes like.
Vincent Vega: Goddamn, that's pretty fuckin good ramen.
Just got back from Ippudo for lunch. I figure I try it for the first time since I just got a haircut nearby at Astor Place from Hines Ward aka Morales.
Japanese Host: How many?
Me: 1
Japanese Host: We got a loner here! No! Clear off the other place settings, we got a loner!
Ordered the Lunch Special, #1 Shiromaru Classic ramen (white bowl) w/ pork over rice. Pretty good, especially the side pork dish. I have to try the Akamaru (red bowl) next time I go.
As I walked out of Ippudo and back to the nice and warm 80deg weather we're having today, I felt kinda light headed walking towards the 6 station, but in a nice relaxing way.
Hot Ramen + Hot Weather = Not too smart. No wonder I didn't have to wait for a seat at the loner table because everyone was probably eating lunch outside. It's gorgeous.
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Recommended for: Ramen!
Food 5, Service 4, Ambiance 5.
Now I know what you're thinking, Sean, how could you give Ippudo 5 stars? And you should start to say to yourself, why, not how... and here is why: It is liquid Crack! Ok, its not really crack, but this stuff is beyond addictive. Pair that with polite and good service and cool atmosphere and you've got yourself a 5-star review.
I came with many yelp and non yelpers one night (have since gone several times thereafter) and had a fun time. Yes, if you go at night, especially on a weekend, the wait will be long... about... 1/5 - 2 hours. Yes folks, and they do not take reservations. So nominate your most patient friend to come first (big thanks to Dennis) and then everyone trickle in. I went inside from time to time to check on the list, speaking in japanese some of the time, english others, and they quoted varying wait times - yes they were being polite, but my group and I would've appreciated more stern honest answer.
Nevertheless when we entered we were seated at a long table (multiple tables combined) and quickly surveyed the menu. I went with the original Shiromaru and I was transported back a few weeks ago to when I was in Shimbashi (Tokyo) having my infamous 'welcome back to japan meal' which consists of me hoping on the train, going to my favorite ramen joint, walking in and having two heaping bowls of fantastic ramen (each costing $5). Ippudo's was higher, by 2x as much, but it did its poetic justice by transporting me to a happy time and place.
We also ordered the Kara Agi, which was devoured quickly, and the Crab Crochetes, which were also devoured quickly. Portion size is standard in Japan, but small in american standards (think Sakagura portion sizes). Everything was indeed delicious and in true Sean fashion, ordered sake to go with our meal. Our waiter Ken-san was cool, and speaking with both him and the Sommliere in Japanese got me a reward towards the end of the meal. We ordered 2 bottles of sake (yes, I know, nothing amazing about that), but then, the Sommliere comes out, thanks me for trying his most favorite sake twice, and brings me FREE sake!!! He has since become my new best friend at Ippudo and each time I've gone, I do indeed get free sake on the house!!!
So yes, 5-stars is slightly biased, but hea, we all yelp from our own experiences. I can say though, that I wasn't completely a fan of the green-tea creme brulee, it wasn't crunchy enough and more like a flan. The icecream was good though, not too sweet.... but their newest dessert which I got to sample before being on the menu is SUPERB - fried ramen on marscapone sitting atop honey and a light raspberry purree and a ginko nut on top - perfect!....
So, if you are looking for a truly mind-blowing, addictive experience by way of the path of Ramen... you must try Ippudo, regardless of the wait.
Sean Approved: Zettaini ita houga ii yo!!!
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The pork fat in Ippudo's tonkotsu broth is pretty in-your-face. It's a matter of taste and some obviously love this much richness in their soup, but I dove into the Akamaru Modern with much pent-up anticipation this weekend and it was just too much for me. The pork-fat punch plus skimpy toppings and high prices leads me to a three-star rating for Ippudo.
Nice service and atmosphere though (huge space for a ramen joint - maybe their prices are jacked up to pay their probably enormous rent). Ramen noodles themselves were great.
UPDATE: a upgrade from 3 to 4 stars for the excellent MISO ramen I had on a subsequent visit! Maybe it's my slow progression towards pseudo-vegetarianism (burgers being a notable exception), but I loved being able to enjoy Ippudo's thick, flavorful, slightly sweet miso broth with the knowledge that my arteries were not clogging with cholesterol quite so rapidly. I'm not normally a huge miso fan, but I think that faint touch of soy sweetness is what did it for me. With a dash of red pepper, heavenly.
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Noodle soups are my weakness. And Tonkatsu broth ramens are my special weakness. So, Ippudo opening in NYC shortly before my trip was serendipitous. It was like the Food Gods calling out to me: "WE BROUGHT YOU IPPUDO, EAT IT NOW!"
Obviously, I was willing to brave 2 hour wait times (as warned by my advance scout, Mr. Tomita). I even planned for it: leave my name, wander around the Village, and come back just in time for a bowl of tasty ramen. And well, I left Ippudo thoroughly annoyed.
There was actually only a 40 minute wait, and when we wandered back 45 minutes later, our table was ready. I think the gave away our original seats, but sat us immediately anyhow. The waitress pulled out the seats for us too, how nice.
Sleek, modern decor in black, red, and white. Wide open view of the kitchen. Port holes into the rooms downstairs where you can see them prepping ingredients and making fresh noodles. Seats at the bar, on long communal tables, or in booths.
The menu is pretty simple, not a lot of options, but everything looks interesting. We each ordered the #1 Shiromaru ramen, and I got the Braised Pork Belly for a starter too.
The Braised Pork Belly is solid. Tasty with layers of fat (it's pork belly, what do you expect?), served pretty. Looks like the Chicken Karaage is the more popular choice, but it didn't look as appetizing to me from across the table.
And the Shiromaru?
Yes, their special broth is the porkiest pork broth ever. Delicious, I loved it, I could drink it forever. No arguments. But shit, at $13 a bowl, I expected thicker and more plentiful slices of pork belly. I expected bamboo sticks, more toppings*, anything, just MORE. But not so much. The ramen itself was unmemorable. Not bad, but not great either.
Ok, the food was pretty damn good, just way too expensive for what it is. I'm pretty happy from the yummy goodness. So why did I leave so annoyed?
After we finished our food, the waitress cleared away our bowls and NEVER CAME BACK!! After spending 20 minutes waiting, chatting, and trying to make eye contact with any server, we flagged down a runner to ask for the check. After that, it took another 10 minutes for somebody to pick it up, even though I stood the damn thing on the table in front of me with my credit card sticking out the top. I believe they'd closed for the afternoon, but there were plenty of other diners, some just ordering when we finished. At the prices Ippudo charges, I expect better service. Fuck, I expect better in general.
I'm sure I'll be back. I just can't help myself. The broth is that good. Besides, I think the waitress figured out her goof at the end, since she kinda apologized.
In sum, Ippudo is hugely over priced, slightly over hyped, and quite possibly not worth the trouble. Feeling generous here with four stars. Does the Mitsuwa in NJ have a Santouka? Because I'd much rather save myself $5-6 and eat there instead.
* Apparently toppings are extra like at some ramen shops, but seriously, $13 and you want me to pay extra for toppings? Shit.
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Hmm... I have to be honest, I'm not really sure what all the hype over Ippudo is about.
Nicely decorated with cute, white, armless chairs that make it easy for cuddling with your honey or to scooch in closer with your dinner companion~ but dark in lighting and decor. (seated next to the gigantic bamboo pole in the center of the foyer, whiffs of eucalyptus surrounded us... confusing our palates)
And the ramen, although tasty with thin chewy noodles, was a bit sparce. I ordered the Shiromaru ramen which included 2 thin pieces of salty pork and a few veggies sprinkled in. and no egg.
Eggs must be ordered separately for $2.00 each. as well as pork, for $3.00 per piece.
needless to say, I was left hungry and very sad about the egg... or lack of.
I know there are people out there who are not huge fans of Setagaya, but I still love it and would go there before coming to Ippudo to satisfy my ramen cravings~
sigh...
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Amazing and affordable lunch special. It comes with a tasty rice dish and Japanese pickles. Tried their karraken-ramen (sp?) topped with roast pork. It was really very good and I think the whole lunch special came out to something like $13. Definitely recommended.
Tried to go for dinner once, though and was told that the wait would be 1.5 hours. I waited it out for awhile, but left after 20mins and no service from the bartender.
People thou