One Slurp In… Yep, Instant Fav
Wednesday, December 17, 2025
I'm lucky to be able to visit NYC🍎 at least twice a year, and since these are business trips, most of the expenses are covered by my company — including meals. So of course I take this opportunity to go out and explore restaurants and try as much food as possible (as allowed by budget 😜). Thanks to this I've had the classic hot dogs in Central Park, burgers, burritos, NY-style pizza (ooooooobviously), sweet treats (might actually do a post about one of my favs 🤔), sandwiches, Chinese… and I'm waiting patiently for next trip to keep on trying more — and maybe repeat a couple favs.
But for now let's focus on the current trip, my forth in a little over a year and I still have places to discover, and this time a restaurant came highly recommended by one of my teammates.
I'm actually surprised that I've never heard of this place before because it's really popular and apparently a culinary experience brought all the way from Japan to the middle of Manhattan (or Brooklyn, depending the location you visit).
The place
This restaurant is often referred to as "every introvert's dream", and as an introvert myself, I can confirm this. The whole place is built around the concept of solo dining, but it's also perfectly okay to bring a date or a friend and sit in side-by-side booths. The host at the entrance makes sure to seat you together.
But in this case, I went alone.
Using the tablet, you choose the kind of ramen you want: the classic tonkotsu ramen, veggie ramen (vegetarian), or a kids ramen (a smaller bowl). It shows the suggested preparation: medium dashi flavoring, medium richness (basically the ab oil content), medium or level one "spicy sauce," and medium-textured noodles. But all of this can be customized right there to be lighter or richer .
You also choose the desired toppings—seaweed, mushrooms, scallions, chashu, and soft boiled egg — as well as noodle refills, sides like a bowl of rice, desserts and beverages.
After selecting everything, you pay and get a ticket. Then you wait a couple more minutes to be shown to your booth. I was seated in booth 24.
Specifically I ordered the classic tonkotsu ramen with the recommended toppings and preparation.
This is how it’s served.
From that moment the experience begins: you take in the smell and warmth, peel the egg, add the toppings… and the next and last step: bon appétit — or more accurately, どうぞお楽しみください！ (bon appétit in Japanese 😜, pronounced “dōzo o tanoshimi kudasai!”… if Google Translate isn’t lying).
But after my first spoonful of broth and noodles at Ichiran, I realized two things in that exact moment:
I went with the recommended preparation because, well, it's recommended for something, they know what they're doing and if the chef that's the best way to enjoy it, I have nothing to argue against that.
The verdict: it was perfect! If anything next time I'd add a bit more spiciness, but that's purely a personal preference — remember, I'm Mexican 🌶️. Other than that the broth was perfect, the noodles had a nice tenderness, and the toppings make the whole thing a party of flavors. And with the cold of the season it was perfect to warm me, it felt like a hug from the inside out.
I wish I had ordered a noddle refill for a couple reasons. First, because it was so delicious I didn't want it to end. Second, because for first-timers it's actually recommended "to sample different noodle textures in one sitting"; this because the noodles get more tender by the second absorbing the broth, changing both the flavor and texture. Good thing to know for the next time.
Next time I go back to New York, it’s a serious candidate for a repeat visit… or a must-go if I’m taking someone with me.
But in this case, I went alone.
Although it has a little over 40 booths, the restaurant is not very big; the booths are placed next to each other in a couple of rows, with the "kitchen" in the middle. That's why the queue — something I didn’t expect — forms outside on the curb. If you go, like me, in December when it's cold AF, or around May when it's rainy, you'd better bring a coat or umbrella because the lines can be long, and the wait anywhere from 5 to 35 minutes. But believe me… 👉 IT'S WORTH IT 👈.
I waited about 15 minutes, but once inside it's warm and the prize awaits.
If you come to this place, you come for one thing: Ramen.
The Menu
Once you enter, the first thing you do is order and pay using the tablets at the counter. Ichiran runs on a "order > pay > eat > go" system… and I kinda like it.If you come to this place, you come for one thing: Ramen.
Using the tablet, you choose the kind of ramen you want: the classic tonkotsu ramen, veggie ramen (vegetarian), or a kids ramen (a smaller bowl). It shows the suggested preparation: medium dashi flavoring, medium richness (basically the ab oil content), medium or level one "spicy sauce," and medium-textured noodles. But all of this can be customized right there to be lighter or richer .
You also choose the desired toppings—seaweed, mushrooms, scallions, chashu, and soft boiled egg — as well as noodle refills, sides like a bowl of rice, desserts and beverages.
After selecting everything, you pay and get a ticket. Then you wait a couple more minutes to be shown to your booth. I was seated in booth 24.
Once in your booth, there's a little "window" in the front that opens when a server takes your ticket and brings your order. You never see their face — just their hands. According to Ichiran, "this creates a sense of mystery that enhances the flavors of the food." After they serve your bowl and extras, the window closes and only opens again if you call for assistance or once you leave so they can clean. So you're left alone in your booth to enjoy your meal.
The Dish
Well, it's obvious I ordered ramen ¯\_(ツ)_/¯Specifically I ordered the classic tonkotsu ramen with the recommended toppings and preparation.
This is how it’s served.
From that moment the experience begins: you take in the smell and warmth, peel the egg, add the toppings… and the next and last step: bon appétit — or more accurately, どうぞお楽しみください！ (bon appétit in Japanese 😜, pronounced “dōzo o tanoshimi kudasai!”… if Google Translate isn’t lying).
I like ramen, but it's been hard to find a really good restaurant. I don’t know if ramen is difficult to prepare or if I’ve just had bad luck, but the places I’ve tried haven’t been great.
There's one I really like in Mexico City, but I have to be completely honest: while it's delicious and a personal favorite, it definitely has that latin touch — they offer at least six types of ramen, some with lime, some spicy, and the way they prepare the meats it's not 100% Japanese style. I love it, but it's not actually the real deal.
There's one I really like in Mexico City, but I have to be completely honest: while it's delicious and a personal favorite, it definitely has that latin touch — they offer at least six types of ramen, some with lime, some spicy, and the way they prepare the meats it's not 100% Japanese style. I love it, but it's not actually the real deal.
But after my first spoonful of broth and noodles at Ichiran, I realized two things in that exact moment:
- That's the real deal
- Instant fav
The verdict: it was perfect! If anything next time I'd add a bit more spiciness, but that's purely a personal preference — remember, I'm Mexican 🌶️. Other than that the broth was perfect, the noodles had a nice tenderness, and the toppings make the whole thing a party of flavors. And with the cold of the season it was perfect to warm me, it felt like a hug from the inside out.
I wish I had ordered a noddle refill for a couple reasons. First, because it was so delicious I didn't want it to end. Second, because for first-timers it's actually recommended "to sample different noodle textures in one sitting"; this because the noodles get more tender by the second absorbing the broth, changing both the flavor and texture. Good thing to know for the next time.
Closing
It's not a fancy restaurant, and the menu is not extensive. In fact if you go to Ichiran you absolutely know what you want and what you will order. But like I said a couple of lines above — and trust me — it's absolutely worth it!As for the price, it's not exactly cheap, but it's not super expensive either, and still worth it. For my ramen and a soda, I paid $37.02 including tax. Oh, and another curious thing: the restaurant doesn't accept tips, so you pay the marked price on the menu, tax, and that's it. I really hope the staff is well paid because it's a popular place.
Until the next dish 👋
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