Ichiran is a popular Japanese ramen restaurant chain, known for tonkotsu ramen. They’ve been present in New York City since 2016, and today they have branches in Brooklyn, Times Square and Midtown, but the first time I tried Ichiran was in Hong Kong, many years ago. Back then, the Causeway branch was open almost around the clock, which made it perfect when you woke up jet-lagged and hungry after midnight.
There’s always a line for Ichiran (both in New York and in Hong Kong:)), but it’s one of those places that I don’t mind lining up for, because the tonkotsu broth (pork bone-based) is really, really good, with few comparable alternatives available. What can I say? When you’re hooked, you’re hooked for life.
You order by filling out an order sheet with a range of customizations from saltiness to noodle firmness. Ichiran makes their own spicy sauce, so you also note down how spicy you’d like your ramen. At Ichiran, you dine in solo booths, facing a roll-down bamboo curtain that only opens when the kitchen needs to bring stuff to your table. While the solo booth setup means that Ichiran isn’t particularly suitable for a date night, it’s perfect for a quick dinner or a lunch on your own.
If you’re in Japan and go to a ramen place, the ramen serving usually include egg, seaweed and other classic ramen toppings, but in the US, I’ve noticed that you have to purchase most of the stuff that would have been included in Japan. That’s also the case at Ichiran (and Ippudo for that sake) in New York City. The Classic Tonkotsu Ramen at Ichiran only comes with chashu (sliced pork), garlic and scallion, so without any add-ons, you’ll get a rather underwhelming bowl that look more like a soup. I’d suggest that you order the Recommended Topping Set which bumps up the price, but which makes the bowl a lot nicer. Worth splurging on, if you’ve already waited for half an hour or more, and want the full experience.
I usually struggle to finish my bowl of ramen, but if you’re very hungry, you can add an additional serving of noodles, kae-dama, for a couple of dollars.
Service is included, so you don’t pay tips.
Ichiran, 132 W 31st St, New York, NY 10001
