escaping to new york

by rameniac | 20 Mar 2008

Gridskipper scoops rameniac! Just kidding, those guys are alright by me. But alas, I couldn't make it out to New York City this past Tuesday, so you'll just have to take their word for it: Ippudo's sneak preview opening party was a star-studded affair featuring founder Shigemi "the Ramen King" Kawahara and appearances by the trademark akamaru and shiromaru tonkotsu ramen that we've all come to know and lust after. I bet these bowls simply rolled right out of limos trailed by paparazzi, kind of like the M&M dudes. Oh wait, you mean they're not real? Ah, but Ippudo is, and the restaurant will be soft-opening over the next week and a half. Chopsticks at the ready. On your mark, get set... go!

tagged: news • random •

Comments

I just had my lunch there- a delicious shiromaru ramen, fragrant and fine, sided by a lovely bowl of rice with cod roe. The broth was as good as its hype, delicate yet deeply flavored; seriously high-end freshly made noodles; and nearly-perfect pork.

The service was friendly and professional. The interior of the place tries a little too hard- dark and dramatic, all black and red with wonky white-upholstered chairs—impressive at the expense of comfort. I actually prefer more humble surroundings with my noodles. I don’t think all that sleekness is the right note to strike with ramen, though I can’t really say why. Maybe because it seems like an excuse to push a ramen lunch over the $20 line.

Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 04/04 at 01:53 PM

Just got back from NY, where I had dinner at Ippudo Saturday night. Shiromaru ramen was very good, although I think perhaps the broth could have been just a bit better. Also, even when ordered katamen the noodles had a bit of a strange pasty consistency to them, though they tasted really good (if not for that slight pastiness I perceived, I’d like them more than Asa’s). Chashu is good, but not as good as Asa’s IMHO. $3 to add buta kakuni (not quite as good as Kyusyu Jangara’s, but very delicious still), $2 to add a shoyu egg, and $2 kaedama. Sesame seed mill at the table. Mentaiko is not an option. I don’t think takana is an option either, although I didn’t ask. Shiromaru and akamaru are $13, miso and shoyu $12, tsukemen $16.

Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 05/12 at 01:42 AM

I ate there last Thursday, the Akamaru was good but the broth was not equal to what I had at Ippudo in Japan. The egg was also overcooked. The place is very nice but it just seems to upscale for a ramenya, it just didn’t feel right. Also paying $15 for a bowl of ramen doesn’t feel right either.

Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 05/12 at 01:37 PM

Yeah I agree. The swanky interior is nice, which I guess is partly why it’s so expensive (with kaedama $18 for me, $20 if I had ordered the egg), but I like my ramenya a little more humble. Still, if I lived in NY, I’d eat there pretty often, just because they offer buta kakuni.

rameniac, you need to convince the fine folks at Asa to add that to their list of toppings.