Menkui Tei
60 W 56th St
(between 5th Ave & Avenue Of The Americas)
New York, NY 10019 (212) 757-1642
- Nearest Transit:
57th St-6th Ave (F)
5th Ave-53rd St (E, V)
57th St-7th Ave (N, Q, R, W)
- Price Range: $
- Accepts Credit Cards: No
- Parking: Street
- Attire: Casual
- Good for Groups: No
- Good for Kids: Yes
- Takes Reservations: No
- Delivers: Yes
- Take-out: Yes
- Waiter Service: Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible: No
- Outdoor Seating: No
- Good for: Lunch
- Alcohol: Beer & Wine Only
44 reviews
Neighborhood: Manhattan/Upper West Side
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79 Reviews for Menkui Tei
Every so often I get that need for the perfect springy ramen noodles that you find consistently at Menkui Tei at their two outposts (56th St, Midtown and 3rd Ave, East Village). This little bit of heaven has been my favorite ramen temple for over 13 years. The broths are flavorful and varied as they should be and the noodles are dead on perfect. The Hayashi (cold noodles with a slightly sour broth and many toppings) remain my favorite while the Miso and Mabo are close 2nds. Great appetizers and small sides are available. The Mid-town location supplements their menu with items available from the restaurant next door (e.g. a very good Oden), while the village outpost has many more specials. Expect the typical noodle bar bare decor and cramped quarters (especially in mid-town) which I wouldn't want any other way.
Very good, affordable and convenient choice for ramen. The service here in my opinion is less slurp-n-go then most places although they are very busy. Besides the ramens..., one thing they do very well here is the chahan, nice use of the pork and good infused smoky taste! Great, japanese style. (Join us http://sushi.meetup.co...)
Before I found Ippudo, Menkui-Tei was my go-to Ramen joint, but surprisingly NOT for the ramen w/ soup! I actually ONLY get the soupless ramen...
AND just so you know, I LOVE SOUP, so something needs to be abso-friggin-tastic for me not to go w/ soup...FYI, as you might've guessed, the broth here isn't THAT great...
GET:
Jar-Jar Ramen (cold ramen w/ seasoned ground pork, shredded cucumber, bean sprouts, ginger): my excuse for eating lightning fast (don't like it when food gets cold) doesn't hold here as the noodles are already served cold. but does that slow me down? NO...I gobble it all up. Anyone who eats w/ me needs to be a speed eater, otherwise they will go home hungry.
Katsu Curry (Pork Katsu w/ Curry [few chunks of tender pork in the curry too] served over rice w/ the pink pickled radish): I can't resist this dish and I'd have to say it's probably the best Japanese curry I've had to date in the city...
Gyoza (thin skinned pan fried pork dumplings - Japanese style): light and crispy it would be a SIN not to start off w/ these.
SKIP:
Ramen w/ Soup...if you want soup...go to Ippudo!
Finally, I ventured to a ramen place in NYC that actually serves the curly ramen noodles (IMO, they're the real kind), and not that thin angel hair pasta-like stuff!
I like this stuff: http://en.wikipedia.or...
NOT this (although that bowl of ramen does look pretty damn good): http://epicurious.blog...
Menkui Tei was the perfect shelter from the two-hour rainstorm that hit the city for one day. I got here during the lunch rush (stupid me) and there was a line to be seated, but luckily, going to lunch solo allows you the opportunity to be immediately seated at the bar.
I usually like my ramen broths thick and flavorful, but I opted for the Menkui Ramen which is comprised of a seaweed broth. It had the most pieces of pork (3 pieces) and the most variety of toppings (bean sprouts, bamboo shoots and scallions) compared to all other ramens. So, at $7.75 for a bowl, I think I got a good bang for my buck.
The broth was light and simple, the noodles were great, and the pork was tasty. Everyone around me had different varieties of ramen and they all looked really good. I wish I had the stomach to order the highly praised gyoza, but portions at Menkui are very generous.
There are numerous ramen places in the Midtown area. What sets Menkui Tei apart from most is that it's not only a great deal, but it's good too.
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The gyoza at Men Kui Tei is hyped for good reason. Don't ask, just order!
I took a departure from the norm and chanced it on the Mabo Ramen. The spicy confluence of sautéed tofu, scallions, noodles and ground pork in a wonderful broth made me a believer!
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A very solid ramenya with excellent gyoza for the price. The Mabo Ramen was quite filling with a very flavorful broth. My house hot saké was a bit on the lukewarm side but my server warmed it up for me quickly on request without attitude.
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There are so many different ramen restaurants in the East Midtown area, so next in line to try was Men Kui Tei. I'm a big fan of ramen and I've been looking forward to try their ramen. A group of 5 of us made the trek around 11:50 am, and the place was only about half full. Luckily, they had 3 tables in the back that they were able to put together and seat us immediately. There were about 15 2-person tables in this establishment, so I would plan coming a little early to beat the crowds.
Service was great. There was only one menu on the table, but the waiter immediately brought another menu for us to look at. Right after, he brought over a round of waters and asked if we were ready to order. We asked for a couple more minutes which he gladly smiled and patiently came back in 2-3 minutes without rushing us. I found it very accommodating because just after we were seated, the place became completely full. I usually find other restaurants who have waiters trying to rush you with your order and dropping the bill midway through your meal, hoping to get you to rush so that the next customer can sit. I did not feel rushed at all. The waiter even waited until we were almost done eating before he dropped the bill over, and did not hover over us waiting for us to pay the bill.
For lunch, I ordered the Menkui Ramen (Seaweed Broth Flavored House, Special Noodle Soup, with 3 pcs. of Roast Pork, Bean Sprout, Bamboo Shoot, Scallion) for $8.00. We also ordered 2 dishes of the Gyoza (6 fried pork dumpings in each order) which are $2.50 before 12:15pm. Thereafter, it is $4.50. Our meals came out in about 5 minutes from ordering, ramen and broth steaming hot... The bowl was pretty large with a generous portion of ramen and broth, but I found it lacking in much of anything else, 3 small/medium slices of roast pork, some bean sprouts, and about 20 slices of bamboo shoot. The ramen was slightly firm to al dente, the roast pork was tender but more than half of each piece was fat. The broth was very ordinary in flavor, tasting similar to the typical instant ramen noodle broth. The gyoza was cooked perfectly, but I found it average-tasting with or without the small side of soy sauce. The saltiness of the soy sauce did not seem to bring out the flavors of the pork very much.
I was satisfied with my meal, and did not leave hungry, but I did not find anything too spectacular with the food. The only thing going is that this is a quick lunch and would probably be great in the winter. As we were leaving, there were about 15-20 people standing against the wall waiting for tables, so I'm guessing this place must be really popular. I possibly did not order the right dish of ramen, so I just might have to come back and see what else they have to offer. FYI, for those not in the mood for ramen, this restaurant is primarily a ramen/noodle house, but they also have different types of fried rice and rice with pork/chicken/etc.
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I'm always on the lookout for good ramen, and this place definitely had that. I had the Chashu ramen and it was quite good. The broth was rich and meaty, and the chashu tender and flavorful. If it was on food alone, this place would've gotten at least 4 stars. But what killed it was a massive cockroach that was crawling around my foot and started crawling over my messenger bag. We don't have roaches like that on the west coast. I shook it off my stuff and stepped on it. There came a very satifying crunch sound from beneath my feet, but when i lifted it up, it was still moving! Seriously, WTF? I ended up killing it again with the leg of my chair.
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My favorite Ramenya in NY. My go to is the Tonkotsu Ramen (add corn) and a mini curry.
In spite of the fact that it was hot as ass crack when I came here I still ordered a bowl of the char siu ramen. There were 7 pieces of char siu floating in a bowl of hot steamy broth and noodles. I was a sweaty mess before I even started in on the bowl but I pushed through and finished it all. Nice broth, good noodles, decent char siu and I did not regret ordering it even though the weather made this a very unwise lunch choice.
They have an extensive selection of ramens to choose from and their rice dishes seemed to be very popular as well.
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The gyoza @ Men Kui Tei is among the best I've had. Although I sat solo at lunch, I did not hesitate to order the gyoza along with the Tonkatsu Ramen (ah, gluttony!). I'm glad I did. Whereas the ramen left more to be desired (the pork was char siu, not the fatty cut of berkshire pork I'm used to; the noodles are better at Menchanko Tei, although I will admit that the broth was substantially better), I devoured my gyoza and still wanted more. They are very fresh-- not frozen like the majority of places-- and you can see them fill and press the gyoza by the bar. Prices were also very reasonable-- even cheaper than nearby Sapporo, although not as cheap as some East Village places (about $8-9)-- and my bill, with tax and tip, was about $15. Will probably return for gyoza and maybe a cold noodle dish (which looked very good at neighboring tables) before the summer ends. I say this even though I may or may not have seen a baby cockroach crawl over my napkin (I squished that sucker without mercy). But err, what eatery doesn't have a few pests..? Err.
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Dear Men Kui Tei - I heart you forever. You are always good to me after a rough night out, a long morning at work, or just as a random stop after an exhausting shopping trip on 5th. You are never wrong and will never do any wrong in my book. Try the Tan Tan Ramen, it's my personal favorite. And get the fried rice set while you are at it, you just won't regret it.
p.s. If you think you are going there for the decor or anything else other than the food, then you are seriously deranged.
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This place is such a great value for the quality. Add the wontons for $3.50 it's worth it. It's a really really small restaurant, a no frills kind of eatery. The service is quick, they close at 9PM and last call is @ 8:30ish. I saw many customers refused entrance at the door but were allowed to order take out and many did.
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This tiny hole in the wall Japanese noodle shop is a gem. Fast service, tasty noodles, large bowls, and low prices.
I tried the Tonkotsu Ramen (pork bone broth ramen soup) which was excellent, with rich meaty broth, colorful and finely sliced vegetables, thick slices of roast pork, nicely spicy - my favorite dish. The next day, some Wonton Ramen (shoyu ramen with pork wontons) was plainer fare but still good, especially after I added some hot sauce and red pepper. Also enjoyed sides of Char Su (roast pork), savory though not meltingly tender, and Nira Reba (fried leeks and chicken livers), very nice assuming you like liver. On a third visit, the Oyaku Don (chicken and egg on rice) was capably done. I've eaten here five times in total.
The one criticism I have is that the options for spicing up your dish are limited. There are bottles of sesame oil and vinegar on the tables, and the server can provide red pepper and hot sauce.
Everyone, on my evening visits, was Japanese - the chefs working hard in the cramped kitchen, the efficient servers, and all the customers. Well, everyone except the pot washer boy. Lunchtime sees a few white people.
Men Kui Tei reminds me of the neighborhood noodle shops I ate at in my one and only visit to Tokyo. Businessmen getting a quick bite at the shallow counter (which can get a bit warm, being right in front of the kitchen), two- and three-somes sharing a casual meal at the small tables, and the servers know most of the customers walking in the door. The line out the door at lunchtime moves quickly. Nice and cozy.
Not much decor. Cash only. Closes early. $7-9 for most main dishes. Now that's a nice price, for right in the heart of midtown.
I'm rating Men Kui Tei a "3", not a "4", because of the sparse decor and atmosphere, and because I like my food a little more spiced-up. But if I lived or worked in a 10 block radius, I'd be here at least a couple times a week.
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I really like ramen. I ordered the wonton ramen here tonight, and it was really disappointing. The soup had no taste (though the menu said it'd be shoyu ramen broth), but the noodles weren't bad. i tried to ask for a little bowl to put some vinegar in for my wontons but the waitress forgot it and so did another waiter i asked later in the meal. the place was very busy, and i'd say the quality was definitely compromised. the waitstaff was japanese but the cooks were a mixed bag. overall a disappointment; will be looking for a better place soon.
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Would like to give props to all the NYC yelpers and other yelpers who have reviewed and suggested this place.
Went on a trip to this place after my father and I tried to get into MoMA's free night a bit too late apparently during a family vacation. Maybe walked past this place twice due to the sign in Japanese and different English name on the store front (like LeMen or something?). Waited like 5 minutes to be seated in a filled restaurant (we were so totally the only "gaijin" there also).
Ordered the gyoza which was so highly suggested here, which I now understand why. Dad got a cold noodle dish while I got the Katsu-Don. Lots of food for cheap. If you're looking for good noodle and rice dishes, this is a great choice.
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I was soooo looking forward to some good ramen, but it was not to be.
I had the tonkatsu ramen with extra corn and was ready to send it back after the first sip of broth. It tasted like something had died in there (possibly the ginger, possibly the bean sprouts which had come out of can or jar, maybe a small animal).
I didn't send it back because the sour taste went away after I added a ton of shichimi (Japanese chili powder). But seriously! Adding pepper to hide the flavor of rotting whatever -- that's something out of the Middle Ages! (no joke)
i freaking cannot believe i havent reviewed this place before. ichi-ban number 1 ramenya in manhattan. BY FAR. 1 order char-shu ramen w/extra noodles and side order of curry rice and 1 order gyoza. and then go immediately to sleep and have nice dreams. puts momofuku to SHAME. completely craps on the stuff they serve to diners at ippudo. and it's now withing walking distance from both my apartment and office. life is good.
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Sadly I don't remember the name of the dish I ordered but whatever it was it was perfect. Its hot out so ramen doesn't sound all that great? So go here and get some delicious COLD noodles. So good, so perfect.
Ted W and I found ourselves here recently doing just that. One of the best meals I had in NY.
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Allow for me to extend my gratitude and appreciation to every Yelper for reviewing this restaurant. If it wasn't for your dedicated efforts and detailed reviews, I would've never discovered this incredible ramen noodle house. For that, you have my Thanks!
Here's a synopsis of my experience @ Men Kui Tei
- Lively, Fun Atmosphere that's non-pretentious
- Super, Reasonable Prices (Roast Pork Ramen = $9.00)
- Friendly and Attentive Wait Staff
- Portions! No Skimping on the Ramen or Additional Ingredients!
- Great Taste! A Ramen Place That Doesn't Use Salt Religiously!!!
My girlfriend and I were walking around 5th Avenue on a lazy Sunday and I had suggested Ramen as a dinner suggestion. After our great experience @ Menchanko Tei, I threw out the suggestion of Men Kui Tei after seeing their menu on MenuPages. At first, the location of the establishment had eluded me. Text messaging Google would've been an option but seriously... Can anyone memorize the spelling of MEN KUI TEI? Thus, we opted to stumble around the neighborhood until we found the restaurant.
After about 4 minutes of searching (since we stumbled into the place randomly), we were greeted by a friendly wait staff that allowed us to sit anywhere we wanted. It's Sunday, no one is usually in this neighborhood!
At first glance, the restaurant's décor is best described as modest. The furniture is good enough for what it is, a noodle house. Most of the patrons eating @ the restaurant are non-pretentious traditional Japanese customers that's looking for a decent meal at a reasonable price. The open kitchen is a nice feature of this restaurant. All patrons can star straight into the makings of their soon to be ramen consumption nirvana! Although the restaurant could be a tad cleaner, it's great for a simple noodle house.
The Food...
Roast Pork Ramen w. Added Wontons & Boiled Egg:
Needless to say... This is the best Ramen I've had thus far! The noodle was of perfect texture. Usually Ramen is overcooked due to the intense heat of the broth for which it's served, but not in this instant! The cook allowed for the noodle to cook within the broth served, thus created a modest balance between a delicate firmness during consumption. The broth was clean yet moderately salty, which was a welcoming sign since most ramen places think more salt means more flavor (which makes me want to slap whoever believes this). What made the noodle even more welcoming was the Roast Pork and Wontons, the Roast Pork had a proper balance between lean and fats. Each single cut piece was done such that the tenderness of the meat wasn't overbearing but rather produce a nice balance with the natural fats of the pork. The wontons, despite it's petite natural, had a light coating of wonton wrapping, which aided in the tasting of the minced pork meat. One note I should make with regards to the wontons, a fattier meat needed to be used. Otherwise, the entire bowl was not only satisfying, but worth coming back for seconds, thirds, and even fourths.
What's most surprising about Men Kui Tei is that their customer base is vastly larger than it's mighty neighbors (Benihana, Sushiya, & Uncle Jack's Steakhouse). This single feat speaks wonders about the food served @ this restaurant.
After all was said and done... The total damages for my portion of the dinner came out to the following...
Roast Pork Ramen: $9.00
Wontons (8 pcs): $3.50
Boiled Egg: $1.50
Total: $14.00
Not a bad price considering a certain LES Ramen House located on 4th Avenue near E 10th St. charges about $16.00 a bowl for half the quantity... You know who you are! I'll be paying you a visit shortly!
Needless to say... I shall be returning very shortly...
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Yum yum yum, this place is delic! To quote my boyfriend "this place really puts Top Ramen to shame." No but seriously, I have been here several times and tried many of the ramens and all of them are delightful. The place is cheap and service is always quick and friendly. And for the love of god do not ignore the fried rice. It is so good you will contemplate licking the bowl!
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For midtown, great deal. Considering the number of Japense ramen places in the City, I wouldn't say that this place is the best, but it is definitely in line with the others. Fast service & fast food... but then again, I usually go around 2pm.
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I gotta say, some of the other reviewers might be overhyping this place. Yes they serve ramen but the best? 5 stars? I'm not sure. It's good, I enjoyed it, but to jump into saying this place gets the A+, 5 stars, might be a little much. I actually preferred Menchanko tei more.
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you know, i was going to give this place three stars bc i didnt think the ramen was perfect... but then i was like, oh what the hell, it's the best ramen i've ever had, i enjoyed it, and i actually liked the atmosphere, so whatever im giving it four stars. it was sick
and its a subway stop away from my work, so i feel u justin c! midtown lunch alright! and i work in times square (horrible horrible) so this place is like a godsend. i've been settling for food carts, and now i found this place?? yes!
ok so the actual review: i got the tan tan ramen, based on some random reviewers' recs. also, i dont mind excess salt, so i have to say i really enjoyed the soy-based broth. i added a little extra hot sesame oil, and it was great! the pork was... eh it was ok, but yes yes yes the ground spicy pork was AMAZING! i loved it! the best part!
the noodles.. to tell u the truth, i wasnt overly fond of them... ? idk, they were so similar to instant ramen noodles it kinda turned me off.. other people seem to like them, so maybe im just not in the know about these things. personally ive had other bowls of ramen which i have found to be inferior to this one, but i liked the noodles more. eh well there's no accounting for taste. im going to have to get one of the bowls with more vegetable garnish i think, this really only came with pork, scallion and sprouts and bamboo shoots. i really like fish cake, and ramen w/raw egg, so im gonna go for one of the other kinds next time.
im psyched to try the extra spciy ramen!!
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I've been searching for a good ramen place since I went to Japan a couple of years back. And, I finally found it. The food was great, the atmosphere was busy, but not loud and the people were there to enjoy some good japanese ramen.
i went with the gyoza and tan tan ramen (spicy ground pork in a miso broth) and I thought it was excellent. The broth was not overdone with sodium as I've found with a lot of other ramen. I think I've found a place i'll be visiting everytime I'm in NY.
A couple of other things to note:
1. they only accept cash
2. the gyoza is excellent!
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You can tell Men Kui Tei is good from the line out the door during weekday lunches. Everyone from Japanese salarymen to in-the-know locals haunts this den of tasty noodles.
The name of the restaurant is a clever Japanese play on words. On one hand, it sounds like a Chinese-ish restaurant name in Japanese, something like "Golden Dragon Pavillion" would sound in English. In this way, it evokes the ramen noodles' origins in China. On the other hand, "Men Kui Tei" also sounds like Japanese slang for "I wanna eat noodles!"
Accordingly, the predominant dish ordered here is ramen noodles, served in many various broths -- all of which are delicious. My personal favorite is the "tonkotsu," or pork bone, broth, which is cream colored and very soothing. There is a questionably translated sign on the wall that asks you to inform the waitstaff of your preferences as to "the rigidity of your noodles"; I prefer my noodles particularly "rigid," so that they don't get mushy too quickly in the steaming hot broth.
So, the ramen is given, but other dishes on the menu are great, too. The gyoza (pan-fried pork dumplings) are fresh, crispy on the bottom, and perfectly seasoned. I'm also a fan of the stir-fried vegetables ("yasai itame"), the fried rice, and the mabo tofu (spicy tofu with bits of ground pork). Even the stir-fried chicken livers with leeks ain't bad, and I give it a go every 3 months or so when I get the craving.
Oh yeah, don't forget to slurp your noodles. It's perfectly polite. And you really don't need that spoon; you can just lift up the bowl. Tastes better that way, in my opinion.
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After coming to this spot for lunch regularly for the past 3 years, I've pretty much tried almost everything on their menu. One of the more authentic small hole-in-the-wall ramen noodle shop, just like the ones in Japan(my Japanese friends told me).
My favorite remains the tonkotsu ramen, the creamy and rich broth is to die for. The roast pork they serve with the ramen is sometimes hit-or-miss. It can be really tender and flavorful, or blend and taste like a regular piece of pork. I guess it depends on how long they've marinated them and which part they give you. Other than the ramen, they have some real good rice dishes too. You can never go wrong with the Katsu don or curry rice when you're not in the mood for ramen.
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Standard, working class ramen shop that has a distinctly Japanese feel to it. I enjoy a nice bowl of miso ramen here accompanied by a plate of gyoza and a cold Sapporo. My only complaint here is that the pork can be a bit tough. All of my favorite places have melt in the mouth pork including Ippudo, Setagaya, Santouka and Naruto. Overall, a good solid place to nosh down some noodles.
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How do you know a good noodle joint? 90% of the patronage is of asian descent (did I say that nice enough?) and you're not in a "little asia" part of town.
As soon as I stepped foot in Men Kui Tei I knew I was in good hands. This is hands down one of the most authentic bargains in town. The quality/authenticity of the food is top notch, you can take home leftovers for two and get out there at around $10, no joke.
I ordered the Sara Udon and did a double take when it came to the table (promptly, mind you). It was easily big enough for two, if not 3 (also not joking). And the taste, my god the taste. Looking around I saw dumplings and rice dishes that looked just as incredible.
I went on a Wednesday at peak lunch hour and was seated within a minute or two. The staff is friendly and efficient, the ingredients looked to be about as fresh as you can get in the center of Manhattan.
This place dances circles around the corpo-kitchens in the area and I would highly recommend it to anyone.
Now that I think about it, I shouldn't have written anything at all, place is too good.
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Great Ramen joint in midtown. More authentic and less trendy than Momofuku. I've been to this location and the other one near St. Mark's. We came here on a rainy Friday night and boy was that soup yummy in my tummy. You must order the gyoza!
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The more generous and favorable sibling of the East Village location, this is the perfect spot to fill up on a quick bowl of soup and noodles. Since I've only eaten solo here, I only know the ramen and never have room to try the side orders. The toppings definitely add a dimension of taste and texture, the noodles are perfectly chewy, and broth flavorful depending on what kind of ramen you get. I do have to come to terms with the paltry 2 or 3 slices of pork, but i guess if I was greedy for a more generous portion of meat I should stick to the chinese versions of noodles in soup!
Service is great: speedy, attentive, and polite. no whiff of pretentiousness at all.
Cash only.
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So far this is my favorite Nihonshoku joint in New York. The menu is good, the price is very reasonable and personally tastes a little different but better than the East Village branch. I've tried Momofuku and Ramen Setagaya through recommendation from friends and I think they taste too "American" - I grew up in Japan. If you want to get some good Japanese food, not sushi, in Midtown this is the place to be.
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Midtown ramen lovers, rejoice!
Men Kui Tei is a great place to recharge your batteries after long day at work....or shopping along 5th Ave for that matter. The place is easy to miss, so keep your eyes open on the south side of W56 as you walk between 5th and 6th Ave.
I have a penchant for good ramen as it's my comfort food when I want something warm and brothy. Ramen is deceptively simple in presentation but getting everything right is an art form as anyone who has seen the movie "Tampopo" can attest to. It all starts with the broth which is harder to make than one might expect. It takes time and care to get it flavorful. The noodles need to be nicely cooked al dente-esque. The pork is best when it is firm yet tender to the bite. And the other accoutrements in the bowl, such as pickled veggies or egg need similar attention.
Having said all that, Men Kui Tei doesn't disappoint. I ordered the cha shu shoyu ramen and enjoyed the generous portions of noodles and pork. The broth was nicely done, nice and hot and not too salty like some other places can be.
I will be coming back here for ramen when I crave it. While the menu is very ramen-focused, but they do have a few other side dishes that I am curious to try out the next time I'm in the area. As far as getting here is concerned, the closest subway stop is the F train at 57th/6th Ave or the NRW at 60th/5th Ave. They also have another location in the East Village over at 63 Cooper Square.
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I know lately there are tons of new ramen joints opening up, but I do believe Men Kui Tei is hands down the best. Place is very non-descript, but when you see even non-Japanese coming in to eat at the bar by themselves, you know this place is no joke! I agree with other Yelpers, don't just settle for the ramen (shoyu w/ extra corn is my favorite). I always get Gyoza, side of kimchi and also side of curry rice. I know, a bit excessive but no need to skimp b/c of the affordable prices. I love this place.
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Recently came in for dinner with a good friend of mine. It is wonderfully empty for early dinner so I had no problem getting a table and the staff had no problem with me holding it for 15 minutes until my friend arrived.
The space is teensy and if you blink you might miss it. I walked past it twice before I figured out it was behind the red curtain. When I came in I was immediately greeted with a huge smile and a welcoming hello. While I waited my server brought me water and deftly circled around the other tables, dealing with a demanding mother and a child who has clearly never missed a meal, and a couple of tourists who had five million questions about the menu.
The kitchen is in plain view as the chefs prep the ever filling ramen, made to order just the way you like it. I was sorta ramen'd out for the month considering that was dinner evey other night at the restaurant and I had recently made a trip to Wagamama, so I thought to venture outside of the menu standards and try the soba. Not my favorite thing in the world. I always order the wrong thing.
Ramen is fast becoming my nouveau comfort food. I will definitely be making this a regular stop in NYC. You can't beat these affordable prices amidst all the banks and high rises of midtown.
ENJOY!
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Went here for lunch today. First of all the awning outside doesn't even say the name of the restaurant. I initially thought that this place had changed mgmt, but fret not! Had the Katsu Don ($8.50). The rice was heavenly. Shitake Mushroom flavor all over it, texture was on point. The Tonkatsu ramen ($8) was above average and very authentic as well. Oyako don ($8.50) didn't disappoint either. I love sprinking spicy pepper flakes over my chicken & rice ($7.50). I have been there 2x to date.
Note: If you get there before 12:15pm, an order of 6 gyozas are $2.50 instead of $4.50 =). This special is by request only and is not on any menu. Alternatively you can tell them I sent you but they won't know who I am (yet!). You want to get there before noon anyway as there is a line out the door past then.
Lunch came out to $12/pp after everything
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Despite coming highly-recommended by several friends who mentioned this place to me, I didn't find the ramen to be spectacular or anything. However, it is reasonably satisfying and the taste is not bad. I like that the broth comes piping hot and there are several choices of extra toppings (char siew, boiled egg, butter, etc) available. The portion is huge and I think it's a really good bargain for the affordable price.
I must note that the gyozas are perfect! Crispy bottom but juicy and flavourful inside. One of the best I've had in a while.
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This is hands-down the best ramen place in Manhattan. While its sister location in Cooper Square is also good, the variety of ramen at this location beats out. I have traveled all the way up to midtown specifically to come for a bowl of ramen here (and that's saying a lot). Also, while this location has the extra spicy ramen, the other location inexplicably does not. The bottom line is, it's reminiscent of the 'authentic' ramen in the streets of Japan with great flavour and no pretension at being anything else.
I come here specifically for the extra spicy ramen. I have yet to find any ramen comparable in the city. On a freezing day, there's nothing better to warm up to than this. You can request it as extra spicy (but only if you really love super spicy food because it's not for the faint of heart), although it is already pretty spicy on its own. The blend of Japanese version of Korean red pepper paste, roast pork, mung beans, scallions and the broth is a little bit of heaven in your mouth. Sometimes, they accidentally put in more of the beans and pork, and then you know you're having a good day.
Their other ramens are good too. On the rare occasion that I seek less heat, the miso ramens are a very flavourful option, and there are a few variations. Avoid the soy ramens if you're not into really salty foods because they are very salty. For those hot summer days when the last thing you want is hot soup, the Jar Jar ramen is the way to go. I'm convinced they put crack in the spicy ground pork because it can get addictive. The cucumber/spicy ground pork is a delectable combination.
What I've had of their other food is not at all worth it. The oyako don is atrocious... they tend to drown it in soy sauce, and the chicken always has a slightly poultry scent to it that grosses me out. While I've never had the fried rice, it looked like it was a mash of all the ingredients that weren't fit to go into the ramens. Their shumai is just plain disgusting. What they call kimchi is just downright criminal!
Stick to the ramens, and you can't go wrong!
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