Ippudo

I haven’t been to the Ippudo in New York before, but if it’s anything like this one, then New Yorkers, you are very lucky people.
We got here at around 1 p.m. on a Friday afternoon without having to wait. Essentially, you have two main broths to choose from, and about five different combinations of ramen from these broths. I decided to get the Tonkotsu broth with nori (crispy seaweed), four chashu (pork) slices and an egg.
The noodles here are similar to those served at LA hot spots such as Shin-​Sen-​Gumi. But the broth… is definitely something else. It’s deep. Savory. Rich, but light at the same time. Add some freshly grounded garlic to the broth and it’s heavenly. The six-​minute eggs are executed perfectly and the chashu is made of good stuff — not the fatty, cheap kind you sometimes get at lower quality ramen places.
If you want a typical ramen experience in Japan, this is not the place to go to. The atmosphere is somewhat classier instead of a ramen place you might find at the station, where you’re rubbing elbows with businessmen as you all slurp down ramen.
If you want really, really good ramen though — you better come on by :)

Simply put, this is arguably some of the best ramen you’ll likely eat in your life! Just a short five minute walk from Kichijoji Station, this beloved ramen joint specializes in tonkotsu ramen (savory, rich, pork soup base). Anyone who knows anything about ramen knows Ippudo, and yes, they have a couple restaurants in New York, and no, I cannot comment on them since I haven’t there, but there are whispers that it’s just «okay.» Hmmmm.
Regardless of whether you’ve been to the NYC location or not, this is a must-​try for any ramen fan, self-​proclaimed or otherwise!
The ramen here is without a doubt, to die for! They have a great lunch combo (ramen+gyoza), but I usually come here for dinner. They have amazing spicy moyashi (bean sprouts) as an appetizer. It’s not something you order off the menu, look around your table/​counter, it should be among the various «toppings.»
Order the «Akamaru» Ramen which is their original tonkotsu topped with rich red miso.
If you find yourself in Japan and are craving ramen, yes, you could go to one of a thousand miscellaneous ramen joints, but you owe it to yourself to try Ippudo in Japan at least once! If not this location, then any one of a hundred others.
Enjoy!

Ippudo is a famous Ramen restaurant, expanding globally. It has two Ramen joints in New York.
Located near Yodobashi Camera building, Ippudo Kichijoji restaurant is always crowded at night. If you visit the restaurant in the Friday evening (like 11 p.m.) you will need to wait perhaps half an hour.
It offers authentic Hakata Ramen with Tonkotsu (pork bone broth) soup. Shiromaru is authentic white soup ramen, and Akamaru is spicy ramen with special oil.
Hitokuchi Gyoza (small pieces of Gyoza) is also good.
Kaedama (additional noodle) is available.
For ramen lovers, Ippudo is a good choice. You can make no mistake.