Good ramen is no longer scarce to come by. It seems as if downtown Manhattan has started a new trend of noodles. The latest opening is Ippudo, which opened when I left to study abroad in the beginning of the year. Though I went for lunch, I’ve heard that it’s not uncommon for there to be huge lines on Friday nights.
Ippudo is fairly priced, with most of their ramens around $12-$16. I love how they have an open kitchen, so you can see the chefs at work. The ambiance is dark but hip and when you walk in, the dining floor wraps around into another room. They have long and big round tables, so you’ll have to share with other diners.
I ordered the Akamaru Shin, which comes with ramen noodles, thick pork broth, berkshire pork chashu, cabbage, and scallions. I have no idea what half of that stuff was, but it doesn’t matter, because it was good. When they ask you if you want your dish to be spicy, they really mean it. It’s not over the top spicy, but it’s spicier than what most restaurants would consider.
One thing I’d like to mention about Ippudo is how authentic their broth tastes. I don’t like drinking broth or soup, it’s still important that the broth is good to flavor the noodles. Most places salt down their broths to give it flavor, but the flavor from the broths here come from the ingredients.
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65 Fourth Ave.
New York, NY 10003
Near 10th St.
See Map | Subway Directions 
212-388-0088
