Ichiran

I visited ICHIRAN for the first time, and it was an amazing experience. The classic tonkotsu ramen was incredibly flavorful rich broth, perfect noodles, and a taste that makes you finish the entire bowl without even realizing it. I also loved the unique individual booth seating; it felt like a cozy hostel-style setup that made the meal even more enjoyable. I truly enjoyed it and would definitely come back.

Singular booths. For someone who cannot go to a restaurant and eat alone; this is probably the only restaurant I can eat alone.<br><br>I love Ramen and I try the Vegan ramen in most places in the city. This is by far the best vegan ramen I have had and their secret is their spicy sauce they add on top.<br>I took spice level 2 and it was good for me as an Indian. We eat a lot of spice.<br>Worth every bite!

Heard good things about Ichiran and it definitely lived up to the hype! It was just me and my friend and we were looking for a lunch spot on Saturday. We walked in and there was a small line, I think we ended up getting seated after waiting about 10 minutes. We both had the classic tonkatsu ramen, I did level 8 spice and my friend got level 10. The seating is nice because you can definitely come alone and have your own space. We were seated next to each other. If you need anything during your meal you can ring your bell which has someone come to your window and tend to you. The ramen itself was delicious. I loved the broth and the noodles and spice were great.

Ramen in separate seating spots where you don't have to worry about tipping - they do the order upfront and you print out, leave for your server and you don't really see anything other than hands delivering your food and you have hard fixed dividers between diners and hooks on the wall behind you - does remind me of a Tokyo Ramen shop with more people... US not ready for no staff upfront yet. The one in Times Square at least has the foldable wall so you can eat more shared with friends.<br><br>One style of ramen with varying levels of spice. 1/2 (0.5) spicy is already a bit for me and 3 is already too hot for many 10 - I can't imagine. The pork didn't really have much flavor and was too lean.<br><br>Water in the back wall you can get yourself. The matcha pudding was very heavy bitter on the matcha.<br><br>More expensive general set with the ramen and would probably pass next time here. Lines can grow quickly. The board will have green and red seats so you can tell which ones are busy and not, similar to the parking lights.

You can customize your ramen experience as you wish so you can make your "perfect" ramen bowl. No tips required. The booth is quaint, the system is fun and it is a nice little area where you can choose to be social with friends or just eat your ramen in peace. The matcha beer is a gimmick but it's fine to try once. This place is definitely worth a revisit one of these days after a long amtrak ride for instance.

Ichiran—A Peep Show for a Noodle Fiend<br><br>Getting ready for a massive New York blizzard, I thought it prudent to fill up on some spicy ramen before this mean Nor’easter touched down.<br><br>I’d actually never heard of Ichiran (don’t judge me), but as often is the case, my stomach found this gem. I went inside and was greeted by the host/technician/ramen ambassador who walked me through the process like I was about to defuse a bomb.<br><br>I went with the Classic Tonkotsu Ramen with all the fixings—a little heavy on the broth, a bit spicy.<br><br>Then I was escorted to what can only be described as a g-rated peep show window for frisky broth.<br><br>The setup goes down like this: you sit in a tiny cubicle about the width of a small go-kart, then a bamboo half-window opens, puppeteer hands reach through to grab your ticket (a bit odd), and about five minutes later those same creepy hands deliver what I imagine eating clouds would taste like if clouds were made of noodles—piping hot and ready to be devoured.<br><br>Let me tell you about this bad boy:<br>pork and fixings? Legit.<br>Noodles? Fantastic.<br>Broth? What devils probably eat on their lunch breaks.<br><br>The overall experience is almost like being a perverted noodle fiend hiding in a closet with a bowl of liquid sin.<br><br>If you can get past the vaguely dystopian solo dining setup, Ichiran delivers the goods.<br><br>Highly recommended.

Let me preface this by saying I'm not a huge ramen fan, but this was my first time at Ichiran and I've been to Japan a few times. Prior to this I've tried the Ichiran broth from the take home version and thought it tasted great. The ramen and broth were great too, but I didn't think it was worth it for the price. Check it out and let me know if you liked it more than I did.

This is a magical ramen place!! You can customize your ramen, from firmness of noodle to different topping. You sit at individual cubicle and the server go right to you. You will feel like you are in Japan!The soup is so flavorful with tiny spicy kick. You definitely need to try macha draft beer, very unique experience. They offers veggie ramen option too so my friend was happy.

I was never really a fan of ramen—maybe I just never had it at the right place. But the tonkotsu ramen here was very rich and full of flavor. I actually finished the entire bowl, which I’ve never done before. Usually, noodles make me feel too heavy, but these noodles were thin and served in just the right amount, so it felt easy to eat.<br><br>The menu itself is pretty limited, with not many options or much variety in ramen. It was also a bit on the pricier side for the portion, especially since it came with only two pieces of meat. I ended up ordering extra meat on the side, but honestly, it was worth it.<br><br>I went on a rainy day, and luckily there was no line—I was seated within five minutes. I really enjoyed the experience and would definitely go back.

Ichiran was a very structured and unique experience from the moment we arrived. The process starts with waiting in line to order at the counter, and if you are buying alcohol, you are asked to show ID before placing your order. After ordering, you are assigned a booth and asked to leave your receipt on the table, and the food is then brought directly to you. Everything felt organized and efficient, even though we waited about 45 minutes to get in. Ordering itself was easy and straightforward using the iPad, which made customization simple.<br><br>The seating setup is very distinctive, with single booths designed for one person per booth. It creates a quiet, focused environment where you can really enjoy the meal without distractions. We ordered the veg ramen along with soft boiled eggs, and the food was absolutely worth the wait. The veg ramen had a deep, comforting flavor, with a well balanced broth and perfectly cooked noodles. The soft boiled eggs were cooked just right, with creamy yolks that added richness to every bite.<br><br>Overall, the experience at Ichiran felt intentional and thoughtfully designed. From the clear ordering process to the calm, private booths and even the availability of clean toilets inside, everything was convenient and well planned. It is a great place if you enjoy structure, efficiency, and high quality ramen served exactly the way you ordered it.

Ichiran Ramen – A Must-Try Experience!<br><br>Ichiran serves the best ramen in town, hands down. The setup is super cool — everyone gets their own private cubicle, which makes the whole experience unique and fun. I’m not even a big noodle fan, but the ramen here was rich, flavorful, and incredibly satisfying. The noodles are made fresh every day. I would definitely recommend this spot to anyone craving amazing noodles or wanting a one-of-a-kind dining experience!

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟<br>Still One of the Best Ramen Experiences!<br>I went back to this ramen spot after a few years, and it’s just as amazing as I remembered! The ramen is rich, flavorful, and comforting — easily one of the best bowls you can find.<br><br>The setup here is really unique — there are 46 booths, and you get your own private space to fully enjoy your meal without distractions. It’s such a cool idea because you can focus on the taste and aroma, making it a true sensory experience. If you come with friends, you’ll be in the next booth, which still works out perfectly.<br><br>Be prepared though — this place is popular! There’s almost always a line, especially after 6 PM. I recommend getting there around 5 PM to avoid the wait. But honestly, even if you have to queue a bit, it’s 100% worth it.<br><br>Delicious food, great vibe, and a one-of-a-kind dining experience. I’ll definitely be back again! 🍜❤️

I had an amazing experience in Ichiran. We waited for a bit for our turn to order and be seated, we were a party or 4 and my friends want to seat together, the staff accommodated us which was really great. Now the food still haunts me to this day. I ordered the spicy tonkotsu, from the broth and the perfectly cooked noodles are so good, everything was so delicious. You can adjust your spice level even after you got your ramen already. The only thing that was off is that if you order boiled eggs you would have to peel yourself, and its kind of a job. Which i do not mind doing but some of my friend think its better if its peeled already. Also the matcha pudding is so delicious, not too heavy for after dinner treat. But overall its a great experience and definitely worth to try! Will definitely come back!!

The same delicious tonkatsu you’d come to expect from Ichiran. I had the set plus a side of pork and dessert. The extra pork was thicker than the ramen chashu but still very tender. The dessert was delicately creamy.<br><br>I was by myself and getting sat took about 25 mins on line. I’ve certainly waited longer in Tokyo (especially in the early hours when the boozing crowd looks for food). Unlike the BK (or Japanese locations), most people on line had to be taught the ordering/seating process… not a big deal but certainly slowed things down.<br><br>Still awesome ramen at a convenient location.

PSA: This is a very unique experience in the US that most won't be familiar with so read on to learn more about it.<br>Food: I got the classic Tonkatsu ramen on medium saltiness, medium spice (2/10), medium noodle cooked level, with green onions, and an egg on the side. They allow you to customize up to 7 different elements of the soup itself, which is already unique in itself and is a testament of its freshness. The noodles were cooked perfectly, they had a nice bounce to them, and the perfect texture. The broth was very clear, smooth, and had a deep savory taste to it that was complimented by a lifting aroma from simmering/being cooked in pork bones. The texture of the broth was not gritty or watery as some places but cooked just right. The broth also appeared very clear and didn't have any impurities as you'd normally see in most chain Ramen restaurants from being overly cooked or overly seasoned. It had a really good balance of seasonings and a surprisingly light body unlike most Tonkatsu's I've had. It's said that only 4 people know the actual recipe for creating the unique flavor of this broth. I would highly recommend trying this out if you're in the area!<br>Service: We were greeted the moment we walked in and asked to customize how we liked our ramen. The waiter was very helpful and polite with the questions I had. The server was also very quick and our order arrived within 2 min of sitting! One additional thing to note, this is a NO TIPPING establishment so that's a huge plus in my books due to the absurd level the food industry has taken it too.<br>Atmosphere: This is where the uniqueness comes into play. Each person is assigned a solo dining booth (if you come in a party, they still put you together), where they are able to focus and enjoy their meal without distractions. When the little food curtain closes, it's just you + ramen, nothing else. Great way to limit distractions and enjoy/appreciate a very tasty bowl of ramen. This was a new experience for me so it took some getting used to but I enjoyed it.<br>Overall, I would 100% come back again. I just wish they would expand and introduce additional meats and broths such as beef or chicken. This would add variety and a bigger incentive to come; otherwise, the ramen was very good!