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Ramen Setagaya - CLOSED
Category: Restaurants Japanese Japanese [Edit]
141 1st Ave(between St Marks Pl & 9th St)
New York, NY 10009
(212) 529-2740
- Nearest Transit:
-
1 Av (L)
3 Av (L)
14 St - Union Sq (4, 5, 6, 6X)
- Attire:
- Casual
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- No
- Parking:
- Street
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Groups:
- No
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- No
337 reviews for Ramen Setagaya
Review Highlights
"The shio ramen here is always PERFECTION."
(in 100 reviews)
"The broth was so rich and so flavorful."
(in 166 reviews)
"...wood mushrooms and extra bamboo shoots are always my picks."
(in 20 reviews)
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337 reviews in English
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Review from Brandon S.
New York, NY
1/8/2012
Good? Yes.
Great? Not exactly....
I had the Shio Chasyumen Ramen.
The broth was tastey, and not too thick.
The pork was grilled and you could see the grill marks on them.
The egg was good. (They only give you one, so you might want to order another)
I'd say...for the price, it's about right. You get what you pay for.
You pay a little more than average, and you get a little more than average.
It's not an Ippudo or Minca, but for St. Marks, it'll satisfy those cravings for ramen.
Perhaps worthy of 4 stars. Wish Yelp would allow me half stars though...cus it's really a 3 1/2. -
Review from Gregory K.
Northridge, CA
1/22/2012
This is the Ramen Equivalent to a Diner.
Okay ramen for a pretty high price (understandably because it is in East Village) for when you are hungry.
I ordered the SPICY MISO RAMEN. Although they did not ask how you want your noodles cooked, they brought mine out stiff. I thought it would be a good start to the Ramen Setagaya relationship.
But then after trying the broth, TOO MUCH SALT! Kind of makes you wanna think if you could ask the waiter not for more water in your drinking glass but rather poured into your soup bowl.
Chashu was nice and tender tho. Just right. Wish they could have added more meat tho. Menma was also good (bamboo shoots).
Overall, a so-so place with a good location, friendly service, and a cool window into how they make the Ramen. Pretty comforting. -
Review from Sara P.
San Francisco, CA
1/4/2012
After trekking to the East Village, trying to go to Ippudo and running into a friend and her brother there, we all decided to find another ramen place nearby instead of waiting 2 hours.
I think we ordered one of everything on the menu. I wish the seaweed salad was larger but our gyoza order came with 6 pieces and the ramen was filling.
I had the spicy miso. I've had better and spicier miso before but this was alright, the pork was too fatty for me.
Best part about it -- quick and friendly service + no wait!!Listed in: The Big Apple
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Review from jae z.
12/26/2011
Pedestrian? Is ramen not a pedestrian food? How skewed is NYC that the quintessential pedestrian food gets filtered through a David Chang or whatever and now has some stylized threshold?
My favorite ramen in the city, but I should note here that I'm not an Ippudo gal as I find it way too porky tasting.
The Setagaya broth has an intense mushroom flavor which I like and the actual ramen has the perfect texture. I'm here once every two weeks.
Plus tako for 3.50? bangin' -
Review from Michael C.
Manhattan, NY
1/24/2012
Very good Ramen. The portion is on the small side.
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Review from Anna C.
12/9/2011
Had a quick dinner with some ramen-craving friends a couple years ago, and I had some crappy noodles in some sauce because it was the only vegetarian option available. None of the ramen options were made with a vegetarian broth.
I wouldn't choose to come here again, but another ramen-craving friend wanted to have lunch here today, and I saw that they now do have a vegetarian ramen, so I was game.
I like that it's a small, straightforward place to get ramen without all the hoopla and fanfare (and ridiculous lines) of a place like Ippudo. The staff is of course nice, in standard Japanese fashion.
We were seated on barstools at the main communal table, and our noodles came with the quickness. Good, quick lunch spot.
My veggie ramen was ok: there were a few pieces of broccoli, chopped tomatoes, half an egg, some little curls of spicy thingies, no clue what those were--but the broth was almost offensively too oily. As for the taste--I just ate it about a half hour ago and I already forgot what it tasted like, but obviously it was not anything memorable.
Sorry, Setagaya--maybe you do meat ramen well, but the vegetarian one, well, maybe there was a reason why you never had a vegetarian option to begin with.
PS: my friend likes the thicker noodles, which he had to specifically ask for. I went for the regular noodles, which were fine, but maybe the thicker noodles are the way to go. -
Review from Danny C.
Jersey City, NJ
1/7/2012
I love their onigiri. (Seaweed Rice Ball). It's the best in the city. I never thought i can get good Onigiri in NYC, but i finally found it. I almost cry when i taste the Onigiri in Ramen Setagaya. Their Ramen is just "ok". I am a fan of their Onigiri, and will sure visit them again soon. (I already done that many times :p )
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Review from Apple J.
New York, NY
11/13/2011
This is one of the few Japanese restaurants on St. Marks where you don't have to stand outside and wait by the sidewalk for hours before you get seated, especially on Friday nights. The place is very small and everyone shares just about the same table, more or less. Definitely reminds me of a fast food joint in Japan. The seating setup with the bright light overhead makes me want to eat up and get on to my next thing. It's perfect for those who have very little time.
I come here quite often because service is fast and ramen is pretty decent. I usually get a Shio Chasyumen or Spicy Miso Ramen with a side tuna mayo onigiri (rice ball). Just ramen alone is not enough to fill me up. -
Review from Lee U.
Redondo Beach, CA
10/31/2011
I had high expectations for the food in New York and slightly lower standards for the Japanese food. I shouldn't have worried! The ramen here is traditional in the best ways (the noodles are proper ramen noodles) and innovative in ways that I appreciated (the shio broth had more seafood stock and it was less oily than the standard broth, and each chashu slice was individually grilled on both sides).
Stool seating with a beautiful center table.
I would've eaten here twice if I had had the time.
The boy waiter is cute, which improved the experience. -
Review from Judy L.
12/4/2011
I LOVED the fish broth ramen. I've never had fish broth before, so I didn't know what to expect. It was amazing. The broth was so rich and so flavorful. Though I have to caution you that it looks quite greasy and fatty. But all that adds to the flavor of the broth. The noodles were the thicker and chewier type, which fitted perfectly with the broth. The BBQ pork was further grilled with grill marks. Hmmm. So delicious. It was about $11.
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Review from Rich G.
Manhattan, NY
12/12/2011
This place is OK. I've stopped here a few times when I was craving ramen but I really wouldn't eat here unless I was desperately craving ramen. The price of a standard ramen bowl is equal or more expensive that most other ramen spots and it's not nearly as good. The Ramen here is OK. It has all your basic components, pork, chewy noodles, egg, etc. However the flavor is just OK and the portions are really small. This place probably gets a lot of traffic because of it's location but there are many other places the do the same thing better and cheaper. I would reccomend walking a few blocks up and eating at Kambi instead.
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Review from Kelly L.
9/5/2011
I came here once on a first and last date.
We ordered edamame and my date decided to eat the entire soybean (inside beans and the outside pod) despite me trying to explain to him that you just eat the beans inside and not the pod. And then when our ramen came, he used his fingers to wrap the noodles around his chopsticks.
The date ended up being memorable in some way and the ramen, not so much. It definitely wouldn't be my first choice for ramen especially with all the other ramen places nearby. Not sure if I would come back. -
Review from Melissa K.
Fishkill, NY
12/1/2011
Delicious ramen! Definitely reminded me of a traditional ramen place like you would find in Japan. The counter top seating and friendly service made me feel like I was back in Tokyo. The Japanese beers are a good price as well. I plan on coming back to try the cold ramen next time.
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Review from Harris M.
Los Angeles, CA
11/18/2011
This place was pretty good. The noodles were great! The broth left something to be desired. I had higher hopes and was let down a bit. I was hoping this place was as good as what I eat in LA! Hopefully there are some other places I can try like Ippudo when I go back to NYC. Everything was fair all around. It's a good place to go if you're in the area and are just hungry. (but two bros is there, go there)
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Review from Samuel L.
New York, NY
11/23/2011
Used to love this place but has gone downhill. Just had my usual spicy miso ramen but the noodles were hard and the egg looked like it had been sitting out for half hour. This may be ok at $6 but at $12? No thanks.
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Review from Nho H.
7/23/2011
This is one of my favorite ramen places in NYC. If you don't feel like waiting for Ippudo, I would come here.
Prices are right and you walk away your tummy feeling warm! I always opt out for the Shio Ramen here and haven't really tried the other two types. -
Review from Gui N.
Borough Park, Brooklyn, NY
8/17/2011
The reason I went here was because my favorite Japanese artist from LA craved some good ramen, and thru the recommendation from a friend, we got here. I never stopped going back and bringing new people to try out.
The ramen is needless to say much, because you gotta try it out. Great taste, fulfilling amount of food too. I usually snack on their new tako washabi and go for the rice cake lunch special.
I always have a high expectation when it comes to serious ramen, and the ramen at this place is good enough for me. -
Review from Yvonne K.
Manhattan, NY
7/31/2011
I have been here twice and I love it. I had the seaweed rice triangle with tuna mayo, ramen and fried oysters. The specials are great and the noodles are firm enough to be chewy.
The restaurant is small with stool style seating. The staff is friendly and the food is fast. No complaints! -
Review from Brent A.
Updated - 5/28/2011
I unfortunately need to take away a star in comparing ramen-yas. Nothing has changed overall, but since my review here I've had the pleasure of eating at Orenchi back in Santa Clara. Orenchi is the only ramen-ya worth my 5-star vote at this time.
While in NYC, I'll definitely come back here for a bowl of noodles. I think this place shines when compared to Ippudo. Although small, the food here is good as is the service.Listed in: Ramen-Ya
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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3/22/2009
This is by far the best ramen I have had. I haven't been to a few of the other places mentioned in… Read more »
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Review from Jennifer L.
Brooklyn, NY
7/29/2011
The noodles here has a little too much bite for my taste. And the chashu is also only okay.
The really good dish, which I cannot remember the name no matter how much I try, is this soy marinated pork with rice. I only happened to try it when the BF ordered it as his appetizer with the lunch special ($13 for the noodles and an appetizer). I would come back here for food just to eat this one dish. -
Review from Quan N.
Brooklyn, NY
7/15/2011 1 Check-in Here
I've passed this place many times before and finally decided to take the dive and try it out. It's been rather hot out these days so I wanted to get my ramen fix on without sweating like Jim Carrey in the rhino scene of Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls. So, the obvious solution was tsukemen!
A brief glance at the menu showed a ton of options for tsukemen and I was sold. However, don't be fooled, it's only three distinct types: Shio, Shoyu, and Miso. I ran with the Shoyu Tsukemen with extra charsu and noodles. It was early and I was the only patron (others came in shortly afterwards) so food came at a reasonable time.
The noodles were alright, nothing exceptional. The charsu wasn't very good. I suppose I'm used to the really fatty, succulent pork that you normally get at places like Ippudo or Minca. These were rather dry and well--not fatty. It's an ok place, I guess. Pricing really saved it here. -
Review from Vivian H.
2/12/2011
Walking past Ippudo and seeing the long line snaking to the next block, I knew that Ippudo and I were never meant to be. But I didn't fret, I found a replacement quickly. Not the same as Ippudo, but it would do.
I don't like ramen. But today I was in the mood for noodles and soup. Having walked from the Flatiron area, my fingers were of a cyanotic colour. That can't be a good sign.
The place has a nice cozy feel. The waitstaff were Japanese and greeted me with a shout. I really don't get that, but I nodded my head in assent.
The spicy miso ramen ($11) was decent with BBQ pork, half an egg and lots of cabbage. A nice hearty meal that warmed my soul and now my fingers were flesh-like again.
Thanks Setagaya for a nice piping hot bowl of soup and noodles. Sometimes even hatred can turn into friendship. -
Review from Ken T.
San Francisco, CA
5/22/2011
Wanna know what real japanese food from the streets of Tokyo really taste like? Come check out this place - when I stumbled across it, I was walking down St. Marks, and the glowing sign stood out in the middle of the street. Maybe it was that, or the $2 Happy Hour 10-11p sandwich board out front.
I walked in, wasn't even hungry, but was lured by the notion that I could get osme quality Japanese food... and $2 beers! The ramen was definitely something you find at your local eatery in Tokyo - if you're wanting some good ramen, or missing it since you've been living over here recently... try this place. It'll bring back nostalgic memories... that or you'll just be i on the prowl for the next pony-tailed, knee high sock dressed Asian girl -
Review from Elizabeth P.
Manhattan, NY
4/13/2011
Nice casual spot for a quick meal. At first I thought it was just a take out and counter place, but you can sit down for waiter service. The pork buns were delicious and the miso ramen was great to warm me up on a chilly day, though not the best I've had.
The place was empty when we first got there around 7pm on a Tuesday, but it filled up by the time we left. The waitress was very sweet. I'll definitely be back for the pork buns! -
Review from HL H.
Brooklyn, NY
3/31/2011
I tried the tan tan men. It was alright. I wish it was boiling hot though, I thought mine was kind of luke warm which I don't like in ramen or any type of soup. I wish there was more meat.
But all in all its a good go-to ramen in this area. -
Review from James H.
New York, NY
3/22/2011
This place was pretty good. I cant say I was blown away by it, but it certainly was not bad. Seems like this place is rather hyped up a bit by local students, so it probably wont be as good from what you hear from friends or that one guy (or girl) in your group who thinks they are the world in worldly, but coming it with an open mindset its pretty good. I could have rated this 2 stars based on the hype, but felt like I should review it unbiased.
I got the Syo-Yu ramen with gyoza. Ive had better gyoza, but the syo-yu was pretty tasty. They also serve a heaping large side of edamame (which I dont think was stated) as a side to your meal. I was most definitely full when I left Setagaya. I actually couldnt finish the edamame, and felt kinda disrespectful. If i knew i was getting the edamame I wouldnt have gotten the gyoza. But none the less, I was overall happy with everything I got.
The staff were all very nice and attentive so if I could id bump this up to 3.5 but I cant. I wish I could have gotten a window seat though, kinda boring looking at the wall the whole meal. -
Review from Kevin L.
Quincy, MA
5/3/2011
I've had ramen in Boston and it was awful. This ramen was actually edible. The soup was average. The pork had a nice flavor to it. HOWEVER they only gave one small piece... $10 for ramen and only one small piece.
Needless to say, I got hungry after an hour of eating. This place deserve my a-ok experience. -
Review from Penelope P.
New York, NY
9/6/2011
Oh yes. I miss this ramen joint.
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Review from Lowie T.
Manhattan, NY
2/15/2011 1 Check-in Here
I was a bit upset, i'll admit when i finally tried ramen setagaya I've heard so many good things about it, and i am always on that search for the underdog, hole-in-the-wall place that can beat out ippudo. but i was sadly disappointed. not that it was terrible. it was just "eh". yes, the egg is probably the best ramen egg i've had....but it's safe to say ramen is so much more that that.
they had 2 choices, shio (salty flavored) or Syo-Yu (soy sauce flavored) of ramen for you. my friend and i got one of each. got the shio but i recommend to get the soy sauce one. the shio is just too bland. there was no depth of flavor or flavor period. and the pork was mediocre. we also got the shrimp gyoza which wasn't anything to write home about. if i had a choice, i'd go to minca instead.Listed in: Ramen Escapades...
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Review from Hanh T.
Houston, TX
8/8/2011
I was able to visit this place after checking out Coney Island. My friend and I decided to try a cold noodle dish, and it tasted pretty good!! I've been a fan of this joint ever since! =) I liked that the noodles were thicker than Ippudo, and that they tasted just as fresh. Prices were reasonable too. Will visit again!!
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Review from Erica S.
Manhattan, NY
9/16/2011
Might be some of the worst ramyun I've ever had. My friend and I were originally going to go to Kenka but it was closed so we came across the street this place. She got the ramyun + curry don and I got the ramyun + beef don. The food was not good and definitely overpriced. Would not recommend this place at all.
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Review from Dave H.
9/23/2010 11 photos
Setagaya is no Ippudo, but it doesn't try to be.
Their Shio ramen (R1 on the menu; $8.50; credit cards accepted) makes a good lunch, BBQ pork, egg, seaweed, bambooshoot, and scallions all mixed in a plain but homey broth. Modest serving, but good value. FYI, their spicy ramen has a little kick (it costs a little more).
The venue is can handle small groups, and it's fun to sit and people watch. Quick, friendly service - thanks Stephanie!Listed in: NYC Ramen
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Review from Geoffrey N.
Briarwood, NY
3/4/2011 2 Check-ins Here
God I love ramen. It's come to the point where I need to have it at LEAST once a week. It's got that "hey, i'm a small japanese ramen shop charm!". Also, during their happy hour, they give free edamame with a purchase of beer or sake.
Fyi, don't sit by the door during winter...it sucks! Took off a star only because they didn't have my favorite type of ramen broth (tonkotsu). But their Shoyu broth is pretty good. Setagaya, I shall be back for more awesome ramen! -
Review from Renee K.
Brooklyn, NY
11/28/2011
CHEAP RAMEN FIX is what you're looking for when you're eating at Ramen Setagaya. Don't expect mind blowingly life changing delicious ramen here. The broth is umamilicious enough to satisfy your ramen fix. Price is decent and the service is quick. I'm a happy customer. Resist your urge and skip the dumplings! they are not worth it.
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Review from Ron B.
Columbia, MD
7/30/2011
This is probably my favorite ramen place in NYC. The chashu ramen is great! I love the broth. It tops Ippudo in my opinion because the prices are better. However, Ramen Setagaya doesn't offer a trendy atmosphere like Ippudo. This is probably the only reason why I'm giving this place 4 stars. Regardless, the atmosphere is very pleasant as it is much quieter here than it is in Ippudo. The staff is also friendly and quick. I've been here a couple of times and I've had great experiences so far.
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Review from N. C.
Bayside, Queens, NY
9/12/2011
I usually don't drink the broth when it comes to my ramen but this place sure knows how to make em! I practically licked the bowl clean!
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Review from Tyler L.
1/31/2011 1 photo
Nice ramen on one of my favorite streets for food (St. Mark's Place). I was told that this place is actually a small ramen chain in Japan.
It is a very simple place inside. For seating, there are lots of stools with counters that line the walls of the place. I would get a seat next to the window, so you can people watch during your meal.
This place has waiter service with a staff that appears to be young Japanese college students. They are very polite and friendly.
I had the shoyu chashumen (it is their shoyu ramen, but with more roast pork) and it was delicious. Their ramen is similar to other ramen places I've tried, though they put a little piece of nori (seaweed) in there.
The nearby and fancier looking Ippudo is the popular choice for ramen, but for me, this place tastes just as good as them at lower prices. -
Review from Pat P.
1/5/2011
I can see why the local college students love this place. Heck, if I had this near my old campus out in California, I'd be a pretty frequent patron.
However, knowing the options for Japanese ramen in NYC, this place doesn't hold a candle to the powerhouses like Totto or Ippudo. Ramen Setagaya is an easy meal at best; there's nothing special about it. In fact, it was quite disappointing after having heard so much about it from the NYU kids.
It might be worth a quick bite once in your life, but I wouldn't revisit this place. -
Review from Julie H.
12/31/2010
I've never tried Ippudo, but I heard that Ramen Setagaya was cheaper and just as good, so my friends and I decided to drop by here on a Friday night. The place was bustling, but we were seated almost immediately, even though we were still waiting for one person to arrive. Bonus points already for not making us stand!
The food was delicious and was the perfect way to warm up on a cold winter night. We had the Shio ramen and the Spicy Miso ramen and both dishes were thoroughly enjoyed. The Shio ramen broth was well seasoned, although it was a tad too salty at the end when there were no noodles or meat to help balance out the taste. The portions were reasonable and left most of us perfectly full and content, but if you're a big eater like our one companion (who can eat an entire roast chicken or medium pizza by himself), you'll probably want to eat a little beforehand to make sure your satisfied by the end of the day. -
Review from Bonnie T.
Manhattan, NY
8/21/2011
Good ramen but can't compare to Ippudo :\
