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 personal list of the best ramen in NYC!
The Best Ramen in New York City
Table of Contents: Best Ramen in New York City
Visiting New York City? If you haven’t decided where to stay (yet) check out our helpful guide on Where to Stay in New York City (The 10 Best Neighborhoods & 3 to Avoid). Don’t have time? Here’s my favorite hotel in NYC, hands down.
Mr. Taka Ramen
Website: Mr. Taka Ramen
Neighborhood: Lower East Side
Address: 170 Allen St, New York, NY
Good to Know: First come, first-served
Mr. Taka Ramen opened in New York City in 2015, but the restaurant has had roots in Japan long before that. Chef Takatoshi Nagara earned a Michelin Star at his Tokyo outpost, Bigiya Ramen, before gracing us with some of the best ramen in NYC. In terms of favorites, it’s a toss up between the miso ramen (made with chicken and fish broth), and the spicy tonkotsu made with pork broth.
Ichiran
Website: Ichiran
Neighborhood: Midtown & Brooklyn
Good to Know: Reservations not accepted, expect long lines,
If you’re looking for a spot to enjoy a proper bowl of ramen solo, Ichiran gets my vote. Traditional tables are replaced with single-player booths that encircle the closed-ff kitchen. The reason? Your senses shouldn’t be distracted!
As soon as you’re seated you’ll get an order form with options. Once completed, you’ll be instructed to press the call button and the right people will take it from there. Within a matter of minutes your steaming bowl of ramen will be delivered through the sliding door that separates you from the kitchen.
I suggest digging in as soon as your bowl hits the table when the texture of the noodles is perfect. Don’t wait too long or else they’ll expand. The incredible flavors paired with such a unique experience earns Ichiran a spot on my list of the best ramen in New York City.
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 was founded in Japan in 1992 by two brothers, Katsuhiro and Motohiro Sugeno. Katsuhiro’s son opted to take the business international and New Yorkers are better for it. Every dish at Tonchin is bound to impress, but tonkotsu ramen is where this gem truly shines.
Both the broth and noodles are made from scratch! Many locals consider this the best ramen New York City has to offer and I don’t disagree. Heck, the Michelin Guide awarded Tonchin a Bib-Gourmand rating (good value restaurants).
Momofuku Noodle Bar
Website: Momofuku Noodle Bar
Neighborhood: East Village
Address: 171 1st Ave, New York, NY
A true powerhouse in NYC’s food scene, Momofuku’s ramen is considered some of the best in town. The open kitchen design gives the restaurant inviting vibes, making it easy to linger too long with a few craft cocktails in hand.
The spicy mushroom ramen is a clear standout (miso, toasted chili, yu choy) but the smoked pork ramen (served with the restaurant’s famed pork belly) is a close second. Regardless of what you order, don’t leave without trying the pork buns!
ROKC
Website: ROKC
Neighborhood: Harlem
Address: 3452 Broadway, New York, NY
Good to Know: Great for date night, incredible cocktails
ROKC (Ramen, Oysters, Kitchen, and Cocktails) is a Harlem hangout that dishes out some of the most unique ramen in New York City. Don’t just take my word for it! With options like bone marrow and wagyu (a soupless ramen) and sea urchin and salmon caviar, this is the place to go for a swanky date.
If your palate is feeling less adventurous, opt for the Kyoto ramen (soy sauce flavored chicken swimming in a creamy fish broth) or the soupless yokosuka curry made with coconut milk.
Ivan Ramen
Website: Ivan Ramen
Neighborhood: Lower East Side
Address: 25 Clinton St, New York, NY
Good to Know: Ivan Orkin was featured on Netflix’s Chefs Table
Ivan Orkin, the visionary behind Ivan Ramen, first moved to Japan in the 1980s, where he developed a deep appreciation for the country’s culture and cuisine. After graduating from culinary school in the United States, he returned to Japan, where his wife encouraged him to open a ramen shop. Against all odds, the restaurant thrived. Building on that success, Orkin expanded to New York by opening Ivan Ramen in the East Village in 2013.
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 New York City ramen joints focus on pork-based broth, Totto Ramen highlights chicken-based ramen instead. The signature paitan (white soup) ramen is made with a five-hour bone broth that results in a rich, creamy base. If you’re looking for a more unique bowl consider the fried chicken ramen, which tastes as good as it sounds.
Ippudo
Website: Ippudo
Locations: Five Locations in NYC
Good to Know: The largest ramen chain in the world
Ippudo continues to serve some of the most delicious pork-based ramen in New York City. With three locations to choose from, the East Village flagship remains the standout—if you can handle the wait. Want to beat the crowds? Go alone or find an excuse to leave work early. And don’t even think about skipping the pork buns!
Kohoku-Ku
Website: Kohoku-Ku
Neighborhood: Hell’s Kitchen
Address: 709 9th Ave, New York, NY
Good to Know: Cozy atmosphere, great selection of Japanese beer
Kohoku-Ku is known two things: great ramen and affordable prices. Tucked away in Hell’s Kitchen, this ramen is served in a cozy, lantern-lit spot with makeshift seating fashioned from repurposed Suntory crates. If you’re into thicky almost gravy-like ramen, this is the place for you.
The Kumamoto, with its intensely rich pork and black garlic broth, is a must-try, though the spicy miso and grilled mackerel options hold their own. Beyond ramen, the menu features izakaya staples like yakitori, curry rice, and crispy karaage. Just a short walk from Times Square but blissfully removed from the chaos, it’s a great low-key pre-theater pick.
E.A.K. Ramen
Website: E.A.K. Ramen
Neighborhood: Midtown & Greenwich Village
Locations: 3 locations in NYC
Good to Know: Famous for iekei ramen
For a unique take on ramen, check out E.A.K., with locations in the West Village, Hell’s Kitchen, and Moynihan Hall at Penn Station. Specializing in iekei-style ramen, their bowls feature a rich, milky broth made from chicken and pork bones, paired with thick, spaghetti-like noodles and spinach instead of scallions. The result? A deeply savory, almost creamy soup that stands out from the usual ramen offerings. The E.A.K. Shoyu bowl is a solid choice, but be warned—the chashu is so good you’ll wish there was more. Do yourself a favor and order extra.
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)
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!