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    Koku Ramen

    4.0 (610 reviews)
    ModerateRamen, Korean
    Closed 11:00 am - 9:30 pm

    Order Koku Ramen Takeout or Delivery

    Koku Ramen Photos

    Business Info

    KOKU RAMEN ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Hipster
    Trendy
    Casual

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    Recommended Reviews - Koku Ramen

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    Koku Ramen
    Vivian N.

    Delicious food, cleaned it to where there wasn't a drop of broth left, and I typically don't do that! Came right at opening but although they were expecting us yet we were welcomed. Staff was kind and quick ok their feet. Good song choices, caught a good vibe the entire meal! Even asked for their playlist and staff was kind enough to share!

    Drinks all around
    Jeannie T.

    4.5 stars - it's been a while my friends. This place has a fast paced energy and service is really attentive. The menu offers really good ramen options and lots of appetizers. My party of four was eager to order the ramen dinner special where you can choose a house ramen (Koku signature, miso, is) and beer pairing. I opted for the creamy mentai ramen instead since it was a warm evening and I didn't want any broth. It was creamy yet light and not heavy at all. All of the ramen options were good, we had non-spicy and spicy Koku. You can choose your heat tolerance, literally a pepper scale. Just let them know. Note, no reservations allowed and your full party must be present to be seated. The drinks available are great for pairing with your food, just to hang out or to chill. Both alcohol and non-alcoholic available. You'll like the scene here!

    Yeaahhh buddy
    Quandra T.

    Popped in because somehow, at 11 pm on a Saturday night in Chelsea, I could find no open izakayas or ramen joints (really, post-9/11 NYC?), and so we walked up to Koreatown knowing there would be SOME PLACE open to get my fix. Randomly decided on this spot because it had ramen in the title, and I decided I REALLY wanted noodles. There was a surprisingly empty row of single bar seating right at the front of the restaurant, then there are ample tables in the back. As soon as I saw the picture of the Mentaiko Cream Ramen on the menu, I knew I had to have it because it looked like just the noodly comfort dish I was looking for. Warm, hearty, flavorful, wonderful ramen texture. More like a pasta dish with sauce than a soup. Like a Japanese-Italian crossover. I was supremely satisfied. Waiters weren't over-personable, but helpful with any questions. Good to know this place is a "late-night" option and seems like a great choice for solo-dining.

    Ramen
    William S.

    What a great little place to sit down and get really good ramen! The server was super friendly and helped make sure we were both happy with our orders! The ramen was super rich and perfect! Really needed this! Would come back again!

    koku ramen w extra egg, chicken instead of pork
    Janel S.

    I absolutely adore this place. I come often with co-workers and friends. The team is always friendly and the soup is always good! It's a great space for groups. I think for couples, it's cool. Not exactly romantic unless the place is empty. Anyway, ya'll need to come out and grab a bowl of ramen! It will warm the soul.

    Mentaiko Cream Ramen
    Brian L.

    Overall: I'm a big fan of mentaiko pasta so this review will be rather skewed, but I thought this place was amazing. Seating is a bit cramped, but the wait is worth it and the food is great. Food: The mentaiko pasta was simply superb. Very strong flavors and the noodles were good perfectly, I like a chewier noodle and they were able to deliver! Service: The wait is a bit on the longer side, but we came during a late dinner hour so that was to be expected. Ambiance: This is a casual sit down place. Not a ton of seating inside, but they also have a bar option if you're coming by yourself or with one other.

    Coconut Curry
    Carin R.

    This cute Korean eatery offers a relaxed atmosphere with both a sushi bar area and table seating. I tried the coconut curry with chicken, which was flavorful and satisfying. The chicken was an add-on for $4.00. It was well worth it for the portion and quality. I didn't even finish half of it. The spot caters to a laid-back crowd and accepts cash with a discount, which is a nice perk. Service was straightforward and efficient--nothing fancy, but it matched the easygoing vibe of the place. Perfect for cold weather.

    Pork Koku Ramen
    Kyle W.

    We started with the katsu sando, which ended up being my favorite item of the meal. The edamame was also really good and a nice way to kick things off. For my main dish, I ordered the pork ramen at a low spice level, and it was absolutely perfect. The flavors were well balanced and amazing. The service was good, and the space itself felt clean, modern and relaxed.

    Spicy miso and 2 spicy tonkatsu
    Manny F.

    Plus sides; open late, good spot in k-town, quant little spot. The ramen is average but they definitely have a decent variety. We went in on a late night after visiting a great bar around the corner. The service is as expected for a small location that gets plenty of to-go orders. The ramen was very basic but options are limited this late. I would gladly go again if I was in a pinch but there are a lot of options that are open well before 9pm.

    Miso Ramen.   Unfortunately, I wasn't able to finish it all. Sadness.
    Felyn B.

    My sister and I were looking for a sit-down restaurant after watching a show on Broadway, and found this via a yelp search. Located in Korean town, it's a small, an almost hole-in-a-wall restaurant. But, you would never know with some of the crowd there. The ambiance was casual, and with a soundtrack of Kpop, and other Asian artists playing in the background, although a bit too loud for me, but that's what earplugs are for. Lol. Service was quick, and efficient. Water was served right away when we sat at our table. And, the server assigned to our table was patient, and gave us time to look at the menu. As for food, I ordered the Miso Ramen. It very good. Unfortunately, I left a quarter of the bowl unfinished. Yes, I got full so quickly. The restaurant accepts both credit cards and cash. Customers get a 10% discount when paying in cash.

    Shoyu Ramen
    Phyoe T.

    At first, I didn't like the texture of the ramen noodles here but I keep coming back here as this place is easily accessible and always have a table for us whenever we are in K town. Kimchi Tan Tan & Koku ramen are my favorites and takoyaki here is amazing. I think I gradually felt in love with this place as I keep coming. Service was mostly quick and place is clean as well.

    The Dandan Noodle is flavorful and fun.
    Michael F.

    We went here on our date night and deeply enjoyed the food. The main waiter was not speedy but the water was refilled by the other very often. It is a quaint spot with many interesting options.

    Tako Yaki
    Michelle L.

    We walked in and got a table for two for dinner on a Monday night. There are little coat hooks. We got the takoyaki, Koku ramen, Jeju wheat beers, and merona mojito. All were good. The noodles were cooked well and the level 3 spice was strong. The server was nice and attentive.

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    Page 1 of 16

    Koku Ramen Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Koku Ramen

    What specific hours do they have the lunch special prices?

    11am-2:30pm, dine in only

    Isn't this where Akibo Curry is? Akibo isn't listed as closed anywhere online.

    Abiko is still there. This is to the left of Abiko and to the Right of Mandoo Bar.

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

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    Tonchin

    Tonchin

    4.4
    (2.5k reviews)
    0.2 mi
    $$

    Loved it! The chicken wings are incredible with the perfect crisp on the outside and juicy…read moreunderneath. I loved the classic ramen broth but the spicy tantan is also good. Save room for dessert for the huge shaved ice in all sorts of flavors. We had to wait for our whole party to arrive before we were seated. After that, the service was really fast and helpful. It's not a huge place, they have a mix of small tables, one or two larger tables, some booths and counter seating.

    I made a reservation and arrived 4 minutes early, only to be told to leave because the staff was…read morehaving a meeting. They should have kept the door locked instead of having customers wait outside in 90 degree heat and humidity. I came back to a line but was seated right away. I ordered the Classic Tonkotsu with the chashu rice ball lunch set. The presentation was beautiful, and I liked the fortune card. The bartender/server was friendly, attentive, and provided great service. Unfortunately, the ramen wasn't for me. The broth, ramen, and egg was extremely salty and oily to the point where all I could taste was salt. The chashu was extremely salty. I should have picked some off. The tonkotsu...I couldn't finish it, and it didn't sit well with my stomach. I didn't say anything at the time because I thought maybe it was just me, but after reading more reviews, I realized others had a similar experience. I do want to come back and try a different dish, like the cold noodles or a bun I saw another customer enjoying. For now, it's 2 stars. I'll come back one more time and give a new update.

    Photos
    Interior
    Interior
    Chicken Tsukune Bun
    Chicken Tsukune Bun
    Kimchi mushrooms

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    Kimchi mushrooms
    Kin Ramen

    Kin Ramen

    4.5
    (728 reviews)
    1.2 mi
    $$$

    ****DISCLAIMER WAIT OUTSIDE to be seated****…read more Ding ding took the number one spot for ramen! I can't wait to go back to this place to try something new! Every meal I had from the chicken baos to my ramen was jaw dropping. I wish I could just snap my fingers and have their ramen right in front of me. You know a soul is delicious when you don't have to add extra sauces or spices. It's a tight place so not the best for large parties. However the decorations and overall feel of the place is welcoming. I will say, the drinks too a bit long to come out and they were super expensive. One drink was $20 I believe. Which is more than the ramen itself haha I wouldn't go here for drinks cause you'll end up spending a ton of money. Save your thirst for somewhere else but bring the eats cause you'll love all the food !

    AI summary for all those that need it. Its amazing,…read moreatmosphere is great. Staff great. Details for everyone else. Appetizer: Tori Karaage. We get this Appetizer everywhere we see it. This is hands done the best we have ever had. Sauces that come with it need to be saved for the main dish Ramen. You can thank me later! Ramen Kara Kin. Top 5 Ramen bowls Ive had to date. It says spicy, its pretty a medium spice level. Our daughter could enjoy it, broth was what really shined . Wife got the Curry Ramen. Different, but not in a bad way at all, the base was amazing flavor. The Crispy pork was perfect, I stole lots of that with just the curry as a drizzle over the top. Daughter had the Miso Ramen . Miso, you are thinking meh, plain. This is not that Miso, this miso base broth was extremely good. For the first time ever, our daughter drank all the miso before the noodles. Wish we could go there again as its our favorite Ramen place.

    Photos
    Second floor dining
    Second floor dining
    Shishito Peppers
    Shishito Peppers
    AGEDASHI TOFU

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    AGEDASHI TOFU
    EAK Ramen

    EAK Ramen

    4.2
    (373 reviews)
    0.9 mi
    $$
    Kitchen open late
    Vegan friendly

    I was in the city, and wanted a quick bite to eat, so I dropped by EAK Ramen. It was not crowded,…read moreand I was able to get served within 10 minutes. The tables, floors, and bathrooms were all very clean. This will be short and sweet. I ordered the Shrimp Bao. It was very good. The shrimp was crispy and tasty, but I think there should be 2 per order. One was not enough. 5/5 for taste 1/5 for quantity. I also ordered the Oh So Hot ! Miso. This consisted of pork and chicken broth, spicy ground chicken, spinach, bean sprouts, cabbage, and nori. I ordered it spicy, but I should have gotten it hot instead. I like spicy food, and the spicy needed more kick to me. But it was delicious. 5/5 Til we eat again...

    I came here for a quick preshow meal but unfortunately it wasn't quite as good as I hoped it would…read morebe. We started with the pork belly appetizer which was recommended and stated on the menu indicating it's their featured dish. It was the biggest disappointment as it was extremely fatty with large chunks of fat, while the lean portions were dry. It didn't look very appetizing. The dumplings were just okay--they had decent flavor but I was hoping for a crispier texture. I ordered the Zebra Ramen. The noodles were cooked perfectly al dente, but the broth was much saltier than I would have preferred. The pat of butter felt unnecessary and made the broth overly rich without adding much depth. The chashu was on the small side and also quite fatty and I assume it's the same as the appetizer but was sliced instead of in large chunks. The marinated egg had good flavor, although the yolk was a little more cooked than I typically like. Another thing is the pork belly appetizer came with an egg. I wish the server would tell us so we didn't have to add it to our ramen with an extra charge. The nori was also completely soggy by the time it reached our table. Overall, the noodles were the only highlight of the meal and the rest were very underwhelming. It's definitely not a place I would recommend.

    Photos
    EAK Ramen
    Oh So Hot Ramen
    Oh So Hot Ramen
    Tofu Impossible Karaage

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    Tofu Impossible Karaage
    Toribro Ramen

    Toribro Ramen

    4.4
    (187 reviews)
    1.2 mi
    $$

    Cozy no-frills ramen bar near the theater district. I enjoyed a delicious, balanced bowl of Paitan…read moreramen ($19). No complaints, except that I guess I prefer Tonkostu (pork bone) over Paitan (chicken bone). I appreciated sitting at the bar to watch the lone ramen monger stir around the next batches of broth, hand-torching some chashu; boiling, whip-drying, and gently nestling my noodles, then manually laying out the toppings. The dish feels real, personal.

    If you've ever missed the original Totto Ramen days in NYC, Toribro feels like a true throwback to…read morethat era but elevated. This spot delivers the kind of authentic paitan that reminds you why people used to line up on cold sidewalks just for a bowl. I ordered the Paitan Ramen Deluxe, and it genuinely lives up to the name. The broth is silky, rich, and comforting without being overly salty which is exactly what a proper paitan should be. The bowl comes loaded: tender shredded chicken, seared chashu, marinated soft-boiled eggs, fresh scallions, bamboo shoots, and a sheet of nori that ties everything together. Every topping tastes intentional, not just filler. The texture balance is what really stands out fatty chashu that melts, shredded chicken with real flavor, and noodles that hold up beautifully in the broth. You can taste the care in the soup base; it has depth, not just heat or salt. If you loved Totto Ramen back in the day, this feels like its modern successor same spirit, new precision. Toribro isn't trying to reinvent ramen which they're just doing it right. And in NYC, that alone makes it worth a visit.

    Photos
    Takoyaki
    Takoyaki
    Special ramen
    Special ramen
    Special ramen (photographed by Dave Liao)

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    Special ramen (photographed by Dave Liao)

    Koku Ramen - ramen - Updated August 2026

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