Ippudo Westside (midtown)

All the dishes we tried were absolutely delicious. The staff was prompt and cordial, contributing to an overall good dining experience. However, my rating for service is a 4 because of a small oversight: one of the items I initially ordered was unavailable. I opted for an alternative, only to discover that both last ordets contained the same predominant ingredient of chickpea paste. Although both dishes were tasty, knowing they had a common base would have allowed me to make a more varied selection. It would be helpful if the staff could alert customers to such similarities when changes to the original order are needed.

Ippudo is one of my favorite ramen noodle chains. And I love this particular one by Hell's Kitchen. Wonderful cocktail selections. The broth for the ramen noodle soup is flavorful. The bao is amazing as well. Definitely make a reservation — else you'd be waiting for a little while!

Service was good, minor issues. I received mayo instead of honey mustard and received pork loin instead of chicken. The waiter noticed the errors quickly and resolved them. :) The oishii karaage was nicely made! The ramen was good too and the portions are decent!! I would definitely recommend to give this spot a try.

Venturing into Ippudo for a unique ramen and dining experience in New York, I found myself in one of the city's coziest and most comfortable spots. Although reservations are not accepted, we opted for seats at the bar, which turned out to be a delightful choice. The staff at Ippudo was truly exceptional. While waiting for our seats, they suggested spending some time at the outdoor bar, seamlessly transitioning to our actual seating when the time came. Now, let's talk about the star of the show—the ramen. Ippudo unquestionably serves one of the best ramen dishes in New York. The flavors were extraordinary, making this visit a memorable culinary journey. If you're in search of a welcoming and enjoyable dining experience, paired with remarkable ramen, Ippudo in NYC is undoubtedly a must-visit.

Ippudo dates back to 2008 in NYC. A few friends and I were there for the first week and I remember the loud いらしゃいませs yelled at us fondly after we walked into the restaurant all those years ago. Life and your experiences are not without irony though. Anyone who visited Japan and its cities know how different the Ippudo experience is there. It hits differently and not in a good way. Consider this - McDonald's is better in Japan. You cannot convince me otherwise. Like the comparison above, Ippudo is better in NY than in Japan. 🤯 Shocking. I know. I was at odds when I had experienced Ippudo in Tokyo 2011 and even more recently in Osaka during my 2022 visit. Ramen is in fact considered fast food in Japan (I know, crazy right) and there are some amazing ramen ya's in Japan that make Ippudo NY seem like an afterthought. For an apples to apples comparison though Ippudo NY wons on decor, presentation, food, and service and that's probably because it's treated like a fancy restaurant here. Everyone I have taken here (even friends from Japan) are always surprised. For my friends from the rising sun, I think the only thing that continues to shock them is how much New Yorkers are paying for ramen. In short we all agree that it is "way too much." Like the St Marks place, you can't go wrong if you need a bowl. So why not 5 stars? Well, its the heat. After living in Japan and now having visited there several times, I've come to appreciate a really hot bowl of ramen and expect it to be served this way. I think NY in general does not serve it's ramen hot as we tend to take legal action on things that slight us. I'm sure if I asked though, they might actually heat it up even more for me. Heat aside, the taste, consistency, and options all make it worth my continued visits.