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Wonderful tonkotsu ramen soup
We have eaten at Ichiran in Tokyo and of course every time we are in New York City, we have to eat their fabulous ramen soup. The broth is full of flavor and just delicious. This is a very popular place so I would advise going when they first open or be prepared to wait in line outside. The line does move rather fast and it is worth the wait. You will not find any more authentic Tonkotsu anywhere else.
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One of the most extraordinary restaurants that I have eaten
One of the most extraordinary restaurants that I have eaten at. I heard about this place through videos and was excited to give it a try. It's a ramen restaurant, where you get your own booth and there's no one to bother you. This is the perfect place for introverts! I came right as they open, but expect to wait if you go at a later time.The host will give you a number and piece of paper that explains how the process works. Once you are seated at your designated spot you will fill out the ramen preferences and a person from the other side will get your order. If you need further assistance you're welcome to ring the button on the table. They serve only one type of ramen - tonkotsu, which I customized to be spicy. The ramen tasted great, the noodles are fresh and the broth tasted amazing. Also, for an additional $5 you can add the other toppings they recommend. Overall, I had a great experience. My only complaint was that the workers were a bit loud and I had to peel my own egg. It took me a while to peel the soft boiled egg. I would definitely recommend everyone to try this restaurant at least once!
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Hi. I've been to Ichiran in Tokyo and Osaka locations.
Hi. I've been to Ichiran in Tokyo and Osaka locations. They are the original Ichiran. Their ramen were excellent so when NYC opened their site, it's a must try. NYC midtown site was great, service was good, hygiene was good at the table. Reason it's not 5-stars was poor hygiene in the bathroom. The kitchen and bathroom are my precautions for hygiene overall. Overall, glad they are here and grateful but there is still room for improvement. Ramen size was standard, less than Japan serving size. Texture is a personal preference, I went with recommended. The egg needed a little work. It was more well done than I would like it. Then again, eggs are handle differently in USA vs Japan. That's a different issue and another conversation. Cha su (pork meat) was well done and not over dried; it was good. This location did not have the water faucet at each booth, it was at a shared location for you to get your own water. (-)Overall, worth going again.
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Not my favorite ramen in NYC.
I prefer Ippudo. This place is kind of a novelty because they have the little individual booths that you sit at. Not the best atmosphere for socializing, but it's perfect if you're by yourself. The ramen itself is a little expensive. I was also slightly annoyed that I had to peel the soft boiled egg that I ordered. It made a bit of a mess. Still, the hot ramen hits the spot on a cold day.
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I have always wanted to try one of these ramen places but
I have always wanted to try one of these ramen places but I've only seen them in Tokyo. It's known for the private booths. We came around 10 mins before they opened and we were the 3rd people to get in. So definitely come early. The ambience and the place was very unique. There are hooks for you to hang your coats behind you and there are hoods under your booths. Very convenient. The only thing is that I expected the booths to be more private but you could definitely lean into the other side or hear the conversation of the people next door. I chose the recommended options on the menu, but you can chose to your liking. I also did the additional option which was $5 and it included seaweed, more pork, mushrooms and hard boiled egg. I didn't expect we had to break the egg our self, but it was quite the experience. The texture of the noodles were firm and delicious, the broth was very savory. I didn't add any spice but I would recommend you do to have a little kick. For one person it was $27. If you would like the extra items I recommend you add it, but however it was not needed, there was more than enough food to eat. Overall, I loved it. The ramen was delicious. I would definitely come back!
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I'm no expert but I haven't had ramen that good since Japan.
Glad I was able to get a taste! I love the individual style of the meal. For all of you shoppers, good news! They have loads of places to hook purses, coats, everything I ended up needing after a day of sightseeing! Y'all know what I mean! Anyway, it's a tighter space so if you're not a fan of New York sizes, I would search for somewhere else. Thank y'all for the experience.Love,Apple
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I was in NYC pre-Covid and I saw lines.
I'm here this week and I saw lines.I ordered takeout because, well, the lines. The veggie ramen is overpriced but it's really good. Would I order the overpriced ramen again? Oh, yeah.
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One of the best or maybe even the best ramen I've tried!
One of the best or maybe even the best ramen I've tried! rich tonkotsu broth, firm noodles & soft pork! highly recommend their matcha pudding!! it's a definite must!! silky green tea goodness
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Ichiran is still my favorite ramen in the city.
The seating is obviously not meant for groups, as everyone gets their own sectioned off booth. However, I think the flavor and textures are still fantastic. The price is not bad, especially for the city. I don't really think the "extras" are very worth it as the base ramen has a lot of the items already, and it's not like they really make a big difference. I was able to arrive just as it opened and there was still a wait time of a few minutes. Definitely will need to wait for a while if you're going at peak times.
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a genuine japanese dining experience right in NYC! solo
a genuine japanese dining experience right in NYC! solo dining has become the norm in japan and it was interesting to experience it. if you are a larger party however, the hosts will do what they can to sit you together. but if you're hungry - this place might not be for you as you should always expect a line right outside. for my experience of two people, we waited about 35min. There were maybe 30 people in front of us. The hosts/servers were kind & attentive. you can easily use the call button in your stall if you need someone or to order additional things. highly suggest the premium yakibuta! the marinade made the chashu even more flavorful. everything in this meal tasted amazing. the broth & the noodles were just DIVINE! i could have definitely gotten more spice though - i'll save it for next time! if you dont want to wait in line next time & just cook it for yourself at home, they actually have tonkotsu kits you can buy that includes three servings of ramen! and for you vegetarians, they have veggie options available as well. a must visit in NYC!
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I would take another trip to Manhattan just to eat here
I would take another trip to Manhattan just to eat here again. This location is near Midtown but there's another location around Times Square if that's closer to you. I deeply appreciated the traditional, individual booth settings. It limits all other distractions and you can really focus on enjoying your ramen this way. Ordering is easy - you just write down what you want on the card and they'll pick it up from you. It was also awesome to order a noodle refill! I could not get enough. They do not take reservations and sometimes there is a line, but I didn't wait very long whenever I visited. Can't wait to go again! Best Ramen in the States in my opinion!
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So I decided to go to the ramen shop that alot people was
So I decided to go to the ramen shop that alot people was hyping it up. So when I first enter the shop the the staff was super friendly he showed how to order because u have to do it in a certain way. When he finished showing me how to order he give me a card with a number so i can find my seat. Once I sat down I order two thing ramen and beer. The beer was good and the ramen was good. Overall if u want quick food and a privacy this is the place.
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Came with a friend for lunch on a weekday.
There was a long line outside to get in at around 12:30, but it moved pretty quickly and we got in within 20 mins. Ramen is fantastic - the pork is particularly good.I had a better experience at this location than the Times Square one - definitely would return!
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Came here because this place is super hyped up and
Came here because this place is super hyped up and considered one of the best ramen places. I also knew it was known for the private booths when you eat. Overall, I thought the experience was okay and the food was good, but definitely overhyped. I think it's definitely of interest because of the private booths, but the food wasn't anything TOO special to me.We came to the restaurant 20 min before opening and there was already a line to get in. We were part of the first 11 people to get in, so that was nice. When we left, we saw that the line was significantly longer, which was shocking to me.They have tonkatsu ramen and there's not much else they offer other than some additional toppings or change in spice and texture of noodles, etc. The ramen itself was good, but overpriced in my opinion. I feel like I can get the same tasting or even better tasting ramen at other places for cheaper, but I can't say I'm a huge ramen expert. As for the private booth, I'm not used to it. I can see why it's an introvert's dream but... I'm an extrovert. I'm used to talking to people in front of me while eating at a restaurant. I was basically talking to my friend next door to me the entire time while reading the same writing pasted above my booth while eating. I was probably annoying people who wanted to eat in peace and quiet so if you're a huge extrovert, you would not survive in this restaurant. LOL.The staff were nice though. The lady in the front was very kind explaining how the restaurant works to me since I've never been, while the rest of the people near me already seemed to be used to the place so they all just entered the place while she was only explaining it to me and my friends so I felt like a noob. LOL.
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Went here today with a friend from ohio and it did not
Went here today with a friend from ohio and it did not disappoint. We wait for about 45 mins at 2pm and then we were pretty much allowed to go in. You basically fill out some sheet about what you want on your ramen then click a button and someone will take your order. My food came out in like 5 mins and the broth and protein were very flavorful and filling. The total came out to be ike 20.58 but theres no tipping here so its not really pricey when you think about it, its more like average compared to what you would spend on a normal dinner in manhattan at a restaurant.
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I have been to Ichiran a few times - both this location and
I have been to Ichiran a few times - both this location and the Times Square location. My friend and I went to the midtown location on Sunday ~20 minutes before opening and were 15th and 16th in line. Once it hit noon, the line started moving and we were soon seated. We both got level three spicy and I think it is the perfect amount of spice without it being overwhelming. It helped warm me up on a very cold day. The Times Square location allows you to move the wooden separators between the booths but this location did not. Overall, Ichiran never fails in making high quality delicious noodles. It is pricey but worth the experience if you have never tried it before.
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Just ok!I waited about 30 min in line on a Saturday, which
Just ok!I waited about 30 min in line on a Saturday, which honestly isn't terrible for a hyped restaurant. It definitely suits introverts but the dividers aren't too tall. You still have your privacy.The toppings I think are worth getting, the ramen itself was a great soup to warm your body from the frigid air and the noodles cooked to however you desire (I recommend following their suggestions the first visit). I didn't think it was anything special, and it altogether was $26. You could pass honestly.
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Ichiran ramen is always good and this location is no
Ichiran ramen is always good and this location is no different. The wait last night was a bit tough but well-worth it. Everything was just as good as I remember in Japan. The pork broth was every bit as tasty - I love it with the side of vinegar as it helps to cut through the richness of the broth. The noodles were cooked to the perfect medium consistency. Will be back!
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THE BEST RAMEN EVER! It's worth the wait, it's worth the
THE BEST RAMEN EVER! It's worth the wait, it's worth the hype, it's worth the money. It's just so DAMN good & every time I go again, it's like having it for the first time. You can't beat the consistency!The only changes I make to the recommendation is whole garlic, level 6 spice, & extra firm noodles. I get a side of vinegar to use for every few bites (I pour into the spoon versus mixing into the entire bowl).The Matcha Pudding is tasty. The matcha flavor isn't overbearing or bitter. It has a nice cream consistency & perfect amount of sweetness.
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Ok so, I wouldve rated this place about 4 or 5 but there
Ok so, I wouldve rated this place about 4 or 5 but there were some things that I could not let slide about the food. We got there around 5:45-6:00pm so there was virtually no wait but i cant imagine if we went later. The line was down almost a whole block when we left.For your money, you get quite a modest bowl of ramen and although it was pretty good and you can get it exactly how you want, the price really killed it for me. I can understand the markup because of all the instagram hype, but its a lot more expensive than i thought and I couldnt justify the price. I live in VA and a full bowl of tonkatsu ramen with standard toppings costs about $15-16. A bowl here with no toppings costs $18.90 (thats just noodles, broth, scallions and a couple pieces of charsiu) and the "recommended topping set" is an additional $5. Thats $24 dollars for a bowl of standard ramen, just about double the price of a regular bowl. Not to mention the bowl it comes in is a really small and shallow dish so youre getting even less and we had to peel our own egg! What kind of $25 bowl of ramen makes you peel your own egg? That didnt sit well with me. The whole isolation thing was nice but i found it odd later on when i wanted to share my enjoyment with my gf. Its like eating food in a library. Overall this place was on my bucket list, but unless they fix their (quite frankly) ridiculous markup, I dont think i would come back. Will post photos later.
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I love Ichiran and would go every time I'm traveling to
I love Ichiran and would go every time I'm traveling to Japan, so I was obviously excited that they opened locations in NYC.In terms of differences vs Japan.. they don't have a vending machine where you can select your orders, and instead they have a checklist that you give to the employee behind the counter. The booths are also not as isolated as the ones in japan because the dividers are only a few feet high. The main thing I was turned off by is that the ramen here is triple the price you would pay in Japan. The taste is fairly comparable and I do really enjoy the broth, but I don't think I can justify the price since there's better ramen elsewhere. In Japan, the benefit of going to Ichiran was how low cost it was compared to other spots, but a bowl here is literally the same price as any other ramen joint.
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If you are an introvert like me, you woud love this place!
If you are an introvert like me, you woud love this place! Ichiran was on my list for so long, and I've finally tried it yesterday! It did not disappoint. We went there shortly after 3PM and there was a line outside. 30 minute wait.. thought it went by quickly. It was really casual inside, and we didn't need to speak to anyone besides the hostess who showed us what to do. The water was self serve and they had hooks behind us to hang up our jackets. Purse hooks were underneath the table. We filled out the form and pressed the button. The "people on the other side" grabbed the form and put down the little curtain. That was so cool! The little booth was small enough for me to feel like I was in my own little world and not have to be around people. The food came out shortly after and it was so good! Everything from all the toppings they had on the side, the noodle texture, the broth, the spicy sauce... so good! They emphasize that they only had one item on the menu so they could really perfect the flavours.. and they absolutely hit it right on the mark.It is relatively pricey, but I think it's worth it. 10/10 on experience and ramen.
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Almost as good as the example I had in Shinjuku, Tokyo
Almost as good as the example I had in Shinjuku, Tokyo Japan. The only thing obviously different was the checklist versus the vending machine.Stellar broth and noodles with nice bite. The whole experience was eerily similar. Happy to have a chance to revisit this ramen shrine while in New York City!I chose not to delay eating the food with photos. Ramen etiquette learned from Japan.
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Really enjoyed my bowl of ramen from this spot! I'm ashamed
Really enjoyed my bowl of ramen from this spot! I'm ashamed to say that I worked right around the corner from this gem for a year and a half but always walked past it! It's so unsupposing! Very easy commute from NJ, it's right off the 33rd street PATH station. It does get busy and the line gets long, but it's absolutely worth the wait. Enjoyed the setting: you get your little booth, you press the call button when you're ready to order. If you're with friends, you can still talk to them; if you're alone, you have enough of a partition to have some privacy.Planning on bringing people with me the next time! I'm also interested in their kits for home!
I have ate at multiple ichirans in Japan and really missed that experience and great flavor. When arriving at the restaurant service was great as expected for this japanese ramen chain. The bowl wasn't the same as Japan but you know it's ok. I just wanted to enjoy the ramen I had from Japan. I proceeded to eat the ramen and realized that the taste was quite the same but not bad and still pretty good. Started to chew the noodles and felt like something was not right but I thought it might be me so I continued. After 3 bites I was about half way done and couldn't continue. I had my wife try my noodles and she confirmed they were soggy. So, you have to make selections on doneness of the noodles and I selected firm which it wasnt because my wife selected the same and it wasn't soggy. Since I finished half already I wasn't going to return it. I just got and left. I also wrote on the comment card there about soggy noodles. Unacceptable the only reason not 1 star is because the service was great.
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I've been to Ichiran a few times before, but never got
I've been to Ichiran a few times before, but never got around to reviewing until my recent visit.The noodles, broth and red spice sauce make Ichiran one of the must-try ramen spots. They don't have any other flavors like shoyu or miso, etc. - it's just classic tonkotsu, no-frills amazing ramen.You must get the recommended toppings set for the egg, char siu pork, scallions, mushrooms, and seaweed. Otherwise you'll just receive noodles and broth, which is perfectly ok if you want it plain; it'll still be good honestly.When ordering, you circle the specifications you want for your ramen. I usually get richer broth, extra garlic and minimum level 5 spice. That's the perfect amount of kick, and for days I want more spice, I'll go for 7 or 8, but for people who can't tolerate spice, I think 2 or even 3 will work.Don't forget to get the matcha pudding. It's the best matcha pudding I've ever had, no lie. The green tea is legit and the pudding is so smooth. If they sold this in stores, my fridge would be stocked.
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Perfect place if you have anxiety and don't like to order
Perfect place if you have anxiety and don't like to order food! All you do is fill out sheets and use a call button. The matcha pudding is SOO soft and divine. The calming experience is really worth the price.
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One of the best ramen I've ever had.
Fast and quick. It's a traditional Japanese style ramen store. You don't tip here at this establishment, matter of fact they will decline your tip. This is my top places to go to when I come to NYC.
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Best authentic ramen you can find in Times Square
Since Ichiran is already a famous ramen chain restaurant worldwide, there is no doubt me and my family wanted to stop by for some ramen during windy nights in New York. The portion was fulfilling, had an amazing dinner.
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Tonkotsu Ramen was excellent!
One of the best bowl's of ramen I have had. The yakibuta melts in your mouth and the noodles are made fresh daily. And don't forget the matcha pudding!
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need to wait for one hour just to eat ramen
this Ichiran is the same as the famous Ichiran restaurant in Osaka, Japan.
I don't know if the one in Times Square is managed by a franchise system or it is their restaurant branch from Osaka.
The queue is as long as the one in osaka. customers can wait up to an hour just to just eat ramen. the taste itself is quite good and authentic
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Ichiran will never go wrong
Went to Times Square just for 一蘭. Knew that waiting is common for Ichiran so were not surprised. Ramen tasted even better after 45 minutes of standing, indeed a winter delicacy. Tried 10 times secret spice and it was good. I would probably give 15 times a try at my next time here. Servants did perfect job and the place is neat and cozy.