Ippudo Westside (midtown)

One month ago... was perfect day for ramen lunch. First chilly day in NY after long weekend. Just across, I arrived at Ichiran where I found lines formed before noon opening. Thus, we were so relieved to see no line (although no more table, just bar seats) at Ippudo when rushed to get there in time. Hmm. Karaage was saltier. I ate this numerous times here. So I know the flavor. I asked my company to try. She agrees it is saltier. Degree of saltier-ness... not much saltier, nor slightly. But somewhat... feeling bit unhealthy to eat especially with sauce such as mentaiko mayo. On the other hand...Miso ramen... soup bland without depth, ingredient mix not right. Noodle curvy and bit al dente which is fine. Two strikes. I remember midtown location took awhile to open after downtown to ensure training on uniform cooking. Very rare for Kawahara-san's creation who is religious on consistency. Unfortunate this is happening when quality competitors sprout in numbers. I may be tempted to go to Menchan-ko... Or, maybe I should stick with reliable donkotsu ramen?... save me from writing scathing review. What a shame... last time food was great. Plus starstruck with Toronto Blue Jays Korean pitcher Hyunjin Ryu. Today... back to normal... good classic donkotsu. Pork bun oishi. Selection of nama biru. Stay safe. Stick with consistent menu.

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.

I frequently come here whenever I crave for ramen when I am in NYC. I ordered pork bun and Karaka spicy ramen and it’s sooo good! So far one of the best ramen I’ve tasted! They don’t accept reservation, so make sure you arrive early because usually, there’s a long wait to get in especially on a weekend. It’s worth the wait though because it’s really good. The service was good, so far I often got my order fast.

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.

It was a cold night after watching the Book of Mormon. Really felt a need for hot and soupy stuff. I searched for noodles which got hits for Ichiran and other places which close earlier. I just had Ichiran in Tokyo in October. Search for ramen in google to get this place. Walked in and sat at a big bar table with a few others. Satisfaction. Surprised service was fast!

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.