This roundup of the best ramen in New York City was written by Alejandro Beltran, a NYC local and co-founder of New York Simply (an official partner of Apple Maps).
If you’re looking for the best ramen in New York City then you’re in the right place. Since visiting Japan in 2018, I’ve found it challenging to satisfy my cravings for ramen. In an effort to change that, I embarked on a mission to eat as much ramen as I could stomach over the course of a year. Here’s my expert list of the best bowls of ramen in NYC, hope you enjoy!
The Best Ramen in New York City
Table of Contents: Best Ramen in New York City
Mr. Taka Ramen
Website: Mr. Taka Ramen
Neighborhood: Lower East Side
Address: 170 Allen St, New York, NY 10002
Good to Know: Mr. Taka works on a first come, first-served basis
Mr. Taka Ramen opened in New York City in 2015, but the restaurant has roots in Japan. The chef, Takatoshi Nagara, earned a Michelin Star at his Tokyo restaurant, Bigiya Ramen, before going international. Mr. Taka has boasted a Bib Gourmand rating in the past, but didn’t crack the list in 2023.
That’s not say the restaurant has lost any quality or flavor, it’s still some of the best ramen in NYC (and they have the lines to prove it). Mr. Taka is famous for its miso ramen that’s made with chicken and fish broth, but if you ask me the spicy tonkotsu ramen made with pork broth is the way to go.
Ichiran
Website: Ichiran
Neighborhood: Midtown & Brooklyn
Good to Know: No Reservations, Ichiran sells at-home ramen kits, they have a loyalty program
If you’re looking for a spot to enjoy a solo, quiet meal then you need to make haste for Ichiran. The restaurant’s seating is made up of single-person booths that encircle the kitchen, designed so customers can focus on the flavor, without the stimulation of a bustling restaurant. It’s actually quite cozy, but you can fold the walls in, opening the spot next to you for a friend if you bring a plus-one.
When you’re seated you’ll get an order-form, and once you fill it out you press the call button. Next, the cook takes your order once your ramen is done they serve it to you within 15 seconds, ensuring you enjoy your meal at the right texture. If they wait too long the noodles expand too much, and with that type of quality it’s no surprise Ichiran makes some of the best ramen in NYC.
Tonchin
Website: Tonchin
Neighborhood: Midtown & Williamsburg
Addresses: 13 W 36th St., New York & 109 N 3rd St, Brooklyn
Good to Know: Famous for tonkotsu ramen, reservations are easier to get at Williamsburg location
Tonchin is a family business, founded in Japan in 1992 by brothers Katsuhiro and Motohiro Sugeno. When Katsuhiro’s son opted to take the business international heaven rejoiced, because ramen this good shouldn’t be gate-kept.
Every dish at Tonchin is prepared fresh daily, but the specialty is the tonkotsu ramen. The broth is made from scratch and the noodles are made in house too, so it’s no surprise this is the best ramen New York City has to offer. Don’t just take my word for it, the Michelin Guide gave Tonchin a Bib-Gourmand rating, which is given to good value restaurants.
Momofuku Noodle Bar
Website: Momofuku Noodle Bar
Neighborhood: East Village
Address: 171 1st Ave, New York, NY 10003
Good to Know: There’s a lot of Momofuku restaurants in NYC, make sure you look up the Noodle Bar
A true powerhouse in NYC’s food scene, Momofuku is culinary brand that has variety of different restaurants under its umbrella. If you’re looking for the best ramen in New York City, Momofuku Noodle Bar (the restaurant that kicked off the Momofuku brand) has you covered.
The open kitchen design gives the East Village restaurant a living room feel, so it’s easy to stay for a few rounds of drinks. The mushroom ramen is a clear standout, it might be the best vegetarian ramen in NYC. And do yourself a favor, don’t leave without trying the pork buns!
ROKC
Website: ROKC
Neighborhood: Harlem
Address: 3452 Broadway, New York, NY 10031
Good to Know: Great for date night, incredible cocktails
ROKC is an acronym for ramen, oysters, kitchen and cocktails and I’ll be the first to say the restaurant does not disappoint. The Harlem hangout holds its own among the best New York City ramen joints, and so it should come as no surprise that there is often a line out the door (no reservations, unfortunately).
Made with all natural ingredients and offering a rotating seasonal menu, this New York City ramen restaurant has options. Expect to find flavor-filled bowls including my favorite, the Kyoto ramen made with a soy sauce flavored chicken and fish broth that’s the perfect companion on a chilly day.
Ivan Ramen
Website: Ivan Ramen
Neighborhood: Lower East Side
Address: 25 Clinton St, New York, NY 10002
Good to Know: Ivan Orkin was featured on Season Three of Netflix’s Chefs Table
Ivan Ramen is a unique ramen joint in New York City because it was founded by an American restaurateur. The owner of Ivan Ramen, Ivan Orkin, moved to Japan in the 1980’s where he fell in love with the culture and cuisine.
After graduating from culinary school in the United States he opted to move back to Japan for a second time, and his wife encouraged him to open a ramen restaurant. Unbeknownst to him, his restaurant would boom in Japan. He next decided to open Ivan Ramen in the Lower East Side in 2013 and the restaurant has had lines out the door basically ever since.
Totto Ramen
Website: Totto Ramen
Neighborhood: Hell’s Kitchen & Midtown East
Addresses: 464 W 51st St, New York & 248 E 52nd St, New York
Good to Know: Totto Ramen focuses on chicken-based broth
While most other New York City ramen joints focus on pork-based broth, Totto Ramen spotlights chicken-based ramen and has grown a loyal following because of it. The signature paitan ramen is loaded with flavor thanks to the bone broth that takes more than five hours to make. However, if you’re looking for a more unique bowl consider the fried chicken ramen, which tastes just as good as it sounds.
Suram
Website: Suram
Neighborhood: Upper West Side & Hudson Yards
Addresses: 21 West End Ave, New York & 483 10th Ave, New York
Good to Know: Easy to get a table, also sells great sushi
Suram is a named after the two specialty dishes offered: sushi and ramen. The restaurants are also still new enough to not incur the long wait times found at other popular ramen restaurants in New York City. I’ve never had to wait to be seated (but maybe I will once word gets out), but I’d be happy to wait in line for some of the best ramen in NYC. My go-to is the shoyu ramen, which is made with a soy-sauce based broth – it has the perfect tang. And although you may come here for the best ramen, you can’t leave without trying the mouthwatering crispy rice.
Ippudo
Website: Ippudo
Locations: Five Locations in NYC
Good to Know: One of the largest ramen restaurants in the world
Ippudo was founded in Japan in 1985 and has grown to nearly 200 restaurants since then, serving more than 70,000 customers a day. Founder Shigemi Kawahara has been dubbed the ramen king, a title which is well deserved. It’s not hard to see what propelled the success of Ippudo either, it’s some of the best ramen in New York City.
The ambience is modern and inviting and the wait-staff is welcoming. All in all, Ippudo has played a big role in the dish’s worldwide popularity. And with five ramen restaurants in New York City you won’t have to travel far to try a famed bowl of the tonkotsu ramen yourself.
Kohoku-Ku
Website: Kohoku-Ku
Neighborhood: Hell’s Kitchen
Address: 709 9th Ave, New York, NY 10019
Good to Know: Cozy atmosphere, there’s amazing Japanese beer
If you’re looking for the best ramen in New York City but want something that won’t break the bank, make your way over to Kohoku-Ku in Hell’s Kitchen. There are appetizers for as little as $5 and the ramen is less than $20, with portions generous enough to share. It’s impressive how such a tiny restaurant is so big on flavor!
The pork-broth takes 48 hours to make, so expect to be wowed. The New York City ramen joint has a way of transporting you to Japan without boarding an airplane. There’s Japanese juice, beer, and candy all begging you to try them. Plus – the decor is made to resemble the KÅhoku-ku ward in Yokohama, Japan so no need to cash out those skymiles, yet.
Hide-Chan
Website: Hide-Chan
Neighborhood: Midtown
Addresses: 314 W 53rd St, New York & 248 E 52nd St #2Fl, New York
Good to Know: Try the giant ramen challenge
Hide-Chan’s claim to fame is the spicy-garlic ramen, which is perfect for clearing out stuffy sinuses. Be sure to have a full glass of water too, because the ramen is salty, but in the best way possible. The restaurant doesn’t have the mob-sized lines associated with other New York City ramen joints either.
If you’re particularly hungry consider taking part in the giant ramen challenge, where you get 30 minutes to finish 4 servings of ramen, broth and all. If you finish it in the allotted time it’s free and you get immortalized in the Hide-Chan wall of fame, if you fail it’s $48 (and a full belly, so who’s really losing?).
E.A.K. Ramen
Website: E.A.K. Ramen
Neighborhood: Midtown & Greenwich Village
Locations: 3 locations in NYC
Good to Know: Famous for their lekei ramen
E.A.K. Ramen serves a unique and specialty dish known as lekei ramen, made from bone marrow and soy sauce. The thick bone marrow broth has a way of knocking you out, because after a bowl you’ll be full and ripe for a nap! There are also animal-free options available, making some of the best ramen in New York City for vegans and vegetarians.
Best Ramen in New York City (Post Summary)
- Mr. Taka
- Tonchin
- Ichiran
- ROKC
- Totto
- Suram
- Ippudo
- Kohoku-Ku
- Hide-Chan
- Ivan Ramen
- E.A.K. Ramen
- Momofuku Noodle Bar
Helpful Related Links
Cheap Eats NYC: 20 Satisfying Cheap Eats in New York City
Where to Get the Best Pizza NYC: 20 ICONIC Pizza Joints in New York City
The Best Bagels NYC: 25 Best Bagels in New York City
Best Ramen NYC: 15 Best Bowls of Ramen in NYC
Best New York City Ramen (Map)
And there you have it, folks! Where to find the best ramen New York City has to offer.
Cheers!
I’ve been meaning to visit Momofuku Noodle Bar, glad to see it has your stamp of approval, I’ll give it a try!