Location: 152 West 49th Street, New York, NY 10019
Cuisine: Japanese (Ramen)
Cost: $$$
Overall: A minimalist dining experience, they only serve one dish executed expertly. The ideal restaurant for introverts seeking a night out or anyone in need of some solitude and delicious ramen.
In our youth, we enjoyed ramen as a quick snack or cheap meal, with little regard to its origins. For us, ramen has evolved from plastic-wrapped noodles and foil packets of flavor into a true culinary experience. As adults, with more sophisticated palates, we’ve come to appreciate this humble dish in its many forms. Though we still enjoy the occasional instant ramen, these days, we’ve made it more authentic by adding veggies, meats, and soft boiled egg. While we thoroughly enjoy our homemade concoctions, nothing beats a meal prepared by a trained chef. We visited ICHIRAN NYC, one of the most talked about ramen restaurant, for a taste of Tonkotsu Ramen, a style celebrated for its richness and depth of flavor.
Fall 2016, ICHIRAN opened its first restaurant in Brooklyn, NY. Since then, the brand has expanded to include two additional Manhattan locations. Delicious ramen is only part of this chain’s appeal. Their unique service model is what attracts locals and tourists alike. ICHIRAN is one of the few restaurants in the city that offer semi-private dining. Partitions and separators allow ramen lovers to slurp and chomp peacefully away from prying eyes. The restaurant is laid out with rows of communal tables with wooden partitions separating each seat. Guests may dine alone or slide the partition to the side and enjoy the person next to them. In front of each seat are a bamboo screen and a call button. The wait staff works behind the screen taking orders directly from each customer. Orders are placed by filling out a menu of options; placing check marks on your choices, then pressing the call button to have the menu retrieved. The menu is simple, ICHIRAN only serves Tonkotsu, which is a pork bone broth ramen. The purpose of the menu is to allow diners to customize their ramen. Customization options include: removing ingredients, adding extra portions of ingredients and personalized levels of noodle firmness, saltiness, and spice. There two ways to approach building your bowl. You can start with the classic Tonkotsu adding each ingredient or have the “Recommended Set” which includes everything they offer. Since this was our first visit we went with the Recommended Set, for the most authentic experience.
A few moments after placing our order the bamboo curtain lifted and we were presented with a plate of dried seaweed, pork slices, scallions, and a soft boiled egg. Shortly after the additional ingredients were presented we finally got steaming bowls of ramen. The broth is dotted with a bright red dollop of spicy red sauce which we incorporated into the soup adds an abundance of fiery flavor. The broth is delicious and rich with a soothing mouthfeel. The fresh house-made noodles were just short of al dente and perfect for slurping.
We ended our meal with a bowl of matcha pudding. Matcha is finely ground green tea leaves that are often mixed with hot water for a stimulating tea. The pudding has a delicious green tea flavor with a slight sweetness. The texture is a combination of gelatinous and creamy, similar to a basic flan. A tasty treat to end our dinner. All in all, it was an enjoyable meal from start to finish.
Dining at ICHIRAN is a welcome departure from the usual loud and often frantic restaurant scene, especially in Time Square. The entire process is remarkably fast, from seating to eating it was about 15 minutes total. Dining here is an alluring opportunity to enjoy a solo meal, prepared for your unique specifications. Though there are cheaper ramen bowls to be had, ICHIRAN offers a unique atmosphere and fast service. Best of all, they are a cashless establishment that doesn’t allow tipping! Indulge your introvert tendencies and treat yourself to a good meal, without the threat of forced human contact.
Head over to ichiranusa.com for more information.