Where can one eat the best ramen in New York?

I found a place I really liked last summer, but I can’t, for the life of me, remember what it was called. Hopefully somebody will know what I’m talking about… it was in the East Village, on the west side of the block, next to a major street, and was just south of the small street with all the izakaya on it. There’s a big church a block or so northwest of it.

I had whatever their specialty is. IMO, it was as good as anything I’ve had in LA, short of Santouka, and it was responsible for turning a few of my east-coast friends on to real ramen.

-Edit-

Pretty sure Google gave me the answer. Description and location seem to be right. The place is Ramen Setagaya, on 1st ave, between 8th and 9th.

setagaya! i’ve been wanting to make it out there to try that one… it’s actually a satellite of a shop from tokyo. with ippudo and ichiran on your horizon, you new yorkers are lucky!

Any word when Ippudo is finally going to open?  It has been some time now.

hmmm looks like it’s march now, according to this:

http://www.ippudo.com/news/event31.html

>_<

I’d be interested in hearing your opinion of Sapporo (152 W 49th St
New York, NY 10019), in walking distance of Times Square.

Not that great in my opinion.

Sapporo Ramen! That’s a classic place, definitely not all that good, but it was featured in the movie “Sleepyheads”, about Japanese ex-pat slackers in the NYC.

http://www.amazon.com/Sleepy-Heads-Adam-Vignola/dp/B00006ADEU/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1201030485&sr=1-1

Why do I even know that? Cuz I’m a dork.

I ate at Sapporo about a year ago and was extremely disappointed. Broth
lacked depth. Noodles were ok. Overall really bland. Now this was
just one visit and it was soon after a couple of food orgies at Santa
Ramen in San Mateo so my view may have been distorted. Guess it’s time
for a repeat visit.

Anyone know the status of Ichiran in Brooklyn?  I’m dying to try some new places.  In the meantime I’ve been making weekly visits to Naruto Ramen on the UES.  Decent place for noodle noshing.

I walked by Ippudo this Saturday and the windows are covered up but there are signs of life.  The exterior of the restaurant is together and the sign over the entrance is up but covered.  I can’t wait for this place to open.

I’m going to NY later this year, and I’m trying to figure out which ramen places to try (other than Ippudo, which is #1 on my list).  I’ve read a few people praising Momofuku, but the overwhelming majority of the reviews I’ve read suggest to me it’s a place to avoid like the Plague.

Since rameniac specifically named Ippudo, Setagaya, and Ichiran, I think I’ll try those.  His reviews of the places I’ve been seem to be similar to my own findings (other than Kinryu, heh).  Any other good Hakata-type places?

That is a good list.  Momofuku is great for small plates but horrible for ramen. Ippudo and Ichiran are not open yet.  I can’t find any information on Ichiran but Ippudo should be open in the short-term.  Setagaya is always a nice treat for me.

Ippudo just openned a branch in NYC,

http://www.gadling.com/2008/04/02/big-in-japan-japans-top-ramen-shop-opens-up-nyc-branch/

Pete