Ippudo

Although ramen has been around for quite some time, a recent renewed interest has given rise to an explosion of new ramen spots popping up around the city. Many have been widely received, with one in particular that has consistently attracted long lines of ramen lovers craving some uber-rich pork broth. Though the buzz around Ippudo has held up fairly well, unfortunately, my experience can only be described at best, lackluster.

Restaurant: Ippudo
Rating: ♔


Although the open kitchen allowed the experience of observing the chefs work the noodle stations, it seemed to be obscured by the dim lighting that permeated the interior of the restaurant.

We started off with the Shishito, or Fried Green Peppers. Although the plate was a bit much to share for two, the peppers were crisp and surprisingly refreshing.

The Oden was quite honestly the best dish of the night. The soft fish cake, turnip, and pork skewer were cooked in a rich, flavorful broth that preserved the essence of the pork. Umami!

We ordered two ramen - the Akamaru and the special, which consisted of a broth made from pork and chicken. The red miso paste in the Akamaru was a bit salty, especially in combination with the fatty pork broth. Ramen is usually cooked in a rich broth, but the soup in the Akamaru was almost too overbearing, leaving a greasy aftertaste. The noodles were also overcooked, losing the trademark chewiness of great ramen.

The ramen special, in comparison, was much more balanced in flavor. Though the broth was also on the greasier side, the pork and chicken stock complemented the noodles well, and really was much more focused and less complicated than the Akamaru.

All in all, I found the Oden at Ippudo to be excellent, and there are certainly many Ippudo fans out there. Nevertheless, when it comes to whether the ramen alone is worth the sometimes incredibly long lines, I remain on the sidelines.

Ippudo
65 4th Ave
New York, NY 10003

(212) 388-0088