This location in particular is very small Niku udon - super chewy and flavorful noodles! Broth had a lot of flavor this time too! Meat had one good piece but rest was too dry and/or too fatty 4.5/5 Shrimp tempura - a bit oily but still good! Shrimp is soft and bouncy but wish it was bigger in comparison to the tempura 2.75/5 read more

Raku - Japanese Near Me - New York, New York

Raku is a Japanese udon restaurant in the East Village that focuses on handmade udon noodles and carefully prepared dishes built around simple, comforting flavors. We walked into a cozy, intimate space that felt more like a traditional Japanese noodle shop than a large restaurant, with a warm, understated energy that kept the attention on the food. The dining room was modest and inviting, with a layout that accommodated a steady flow of customers, and the focus was clearly on the quality of the noodles and the care that went into each bowl. The udon was the highlight of the meal. The noodles had a thick, chewy texture that showed the difference between freshly made udon and typical packaged noodles, and the broth was flavorful without feeling too heavy, with a savory depth that paired well with the noodles. We ordered a few different bowls and found the shrimp tempura udon standing out, with the tender shrimp, crispy tempura coating, and rich broth coming together in a way that felt complete. The restaurant also offers different styles of udon, including hot and cold options, which gave us good variety depending on what we were looking for. Beyond the udon, Raku has a selection of additional dishes that complement the meal. The menu keeps the focus on Japanese comfort food, and the smaller dishes made it easy to add something extra without taking away from the main bowl. We appreciated that the restaurant does not overcomplicate the food and instead focuses on getting the fundamentals right. The dining experience is more relaxed and intimate, though the space is limited and can get busy during peak hours. Reservations are helpful, especially during popular dining times, and seating can feel a little tight because of the smaller layout. Despite the size, the atmosphere works well for enjoying a slower meal centered around a warm bowl of udon. The staff moved through the room with a quiet efficiency, and the pacing of the meal kept the experience smooth and unhurried. Overall, Raku is a great spot for anyone looking for high-quality udon in NYC. The handmade noodles, flavorful broths, and simple approach to Japanese comfort food make it stand out. It is the type of restaurant we would return to when craving a satisfying bowl of noodles rather than a more casual ramen-style meal. read more

Raku - Japanese Near Me - New York, New York

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I was skeptical of this place because I didn't think the price of udon would be worth it. I was wrong. The actual udon noodles themselves are incredible. They're soft but not mushy, and have a nice spring to them. They are genuinely the best udon noodles I've had. Udon and mushroom are two of my favorite things, so it was a no brainer when ordering the seasonal mushroom udon. It comes with all types of mushrooms including maitake, woodear, king oyster, local oyster, and shiitake. It also comes with tororo kombu and tofu. The both is light and flavorful, perfect for a cold night. I wish they would keep this dish permanently because I want to order it again and again. I also liked the frozen grape at the end, it was a nice ending to a good meal. The servers were helpful and the space was on the smaller side. It has minimal decor with wood furniture. The place is tightly packed and busy so just make sure to have a resy booked. Overall, I would highly recommend trying Raku. read more

Raku - Seasonal Mushroom Udon - Japanese Near Me - New York, New York

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Traveling from SF to NYCFood and services are great! Got 2 seats almost right away (estimated less than 5 minutes). They opened at noon and we were there at 12:15. They have lunch specials only curry/rice (no udon options ): Ambiance not much small and cramped. It more like for eats and go restaurant. Time allowances to seat down is 90 minutes. Payment: card/cash/blackbird. Purchased $50 and used blackbird app for payment to get a FREE seaweed salad (5% seaweed and 95% salad):! Udon is super yummy and tasty. Chewy udon with a freshness delicious bites. Beef is soft and tender. Broth is clear and delicious and not greasy at all. Would recommend! read more

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Raku is a glowing gem in the competitive NYC food scene. First find the restaurant, then allow yourself a full body and mind reset with glorious, silky udon noodles, intentional decor and refreshingly effective service. The space is small! The coziness compliments the warmth of the bowls (though the cold udon looks lovely too). love the snow crab udon with egg drops. The broth is smooth and unctuous, the protein plentiful. My man got the curry noodles.. goodness they are a warm hug. A revival of what it means to be full but not stuffed, ready to step back onto the city streets at a reasonable price. Cheers! read more

Raku - Curry Chicken Udon - Japanese Near Me - New York, New York

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The udon here is beautiful. Perfectly bouncy with a clear, deep broth. Service is also good. The chicken karaage was also juicy and crispy. However, we tried the mackerel sushi and that fish to rice ratio was kind of outrageous. After the first piece, I felt like I was just eating overly vinegar-y sushi rice. read more

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My first Raku experience was a good one. We managed the last two seats at the bar yesterday, so I would suggest making a reservation. The food was hot and tasty and the service was fast. The udon was great, and the chicken tatsuta-age with its thick sauce was a standout appetizer. I ordered the nabeyaki with shrimp tempura, and the fish cakes and lemon slices in the broth made it even better. read more

Came back here after having gone a few times several years ago just to see if it still hits and yes it is still one of the better places to get really delicious flavorful udon noodles in the city! Please stay forever Raku. I've seen them grow from this small shop to now quite an institution with lots of seating. The drinks are solid, the kara-age was juicy, but where they really shine is their bacon/pork belly appetizer which comes on a sizzling plate and my favorite is their curry udon noodles which has a deeply savory, salty, rich and hearty broth with these wonderfully chewy noodles and it reminds me why I can always rely on Raku. If you haven't tried it yet and are a japanese food fan you must try to make it out to Raku- it's great for big groups too! read more

Great udon spot. Udon comes out piping hot and fresh. I got the seasonal mushroom. One of the mushrooms had strange skin texture that I didn't like at all. The service was very friendly. Would definitely recommend making a reservation even on a week day. read more

Raku - Japanese Near Me - New York, New York

There are a ton of ramen reviews so this review is for the dessert. I ordered the fruit roll cake and omg it was the best roll cake I've ever had! It's the roll cake I've always wanted but never had .. until now! The cake is more of a light pound cake texture versus spongey which is what I like. It also comes with a strawberry compote which was a nice touch. Service here is also amazing!! Smaller store than the other location but it was such a nice cozy atmosphere. Would recommend :) read more

Raku - Fruit roll cake - delicious like a light pound cake - Japanese Near Me - New York, New York

Hands Down the Best Udon in the U.S.! I've had my fair share of udon across the country but I can confidently say that Raku is in a league of its own. It is arguably the best udon spot in the United States. Broth & Noodles: There is absolutely nothing to complain about here. The broth is deep and flavorful and the texture of the noodles is perfect--great "chew" and consistency. It's clear they take their craft seriously. The Poached Egg: I loved that they serve the poached egg (onsen tamago) on the side. It gives you the flexibility to enjoy the pure broth first before adding that creamy richness to the meal. The One Regret: The only downside to my visit was that the Saba Sushi was already SOLD OUT. I've heard amazing things about it, so it was a bit disappointing to miss out this time. read more

Raku - Japanese Near Me - New York, New York

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Raku East Village was excellent! The starters were great; the chicken tatsuta-age was especially tasty and came with a tangy sauce. Pork gyoza were full of flavor and a nice texture that was somewhere between chewy and crispy. The udon was so impressive, I would have been happy just drinking the broth. The udon noodles were perfectly prepared, and the tempura that came with my dish added a nice element to the meal. Prices were super reasonable for fantastic food, definitely a great spot to check out! read more

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First time trying Raku. This spot was previously all over my feed. So I'm glad I finally got to try it. Get a resy before going. It's quite busy and the staff are constantly moving. We got really lucky. they had one table available, but it was reserved for a later time slot. If we wanted to be seated, we had to finish our food before the next resy, which we were fine with. We were glad to be seated right away. Known for their udon, so ofc we got some. We ordered: Appetizer: Ankimo (Monkfish Liver) (it's def an acquired taste) Gyoza (Pork) (you can never go wrong with gyozas) Yaki Nasu (deep fried eggplant, spicy miso pork, quail egg) (very different from what I imagined it to be.) Entree: Yasai Kakiage Udon (Vegetable Tempura Hot Udon) Buta Shabu (pork belly, cucumber, shiro goma, daikon sprout) Since this spot is known for their udon. The noodles were cooked perfectly and the broth was very flavorful. But don't forget to try out their appetizers too! They have a lot of great appetizers. Heard they had a lot of great desserts. Unfortunately, we were quite stuffed that day and couldn't squeeze it in. read more

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Comfort Japanese food. We stopped by for a quick bite while waiting for another dinner reservation actually (and to get out of the rain). But this place hit the spot! We were quite content, despite it being a quick stop. Service was superb. The handmade udon noodles were a bit hit! read more

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Came here for dinner on a rainy weeknight and it was quite busy. We were only able to get a seat for two by the high table as the inner sit down tables were full. The service and waiter were super attentive and always checked on us for questions and concerns about our seating and menu items. We ordered the Kamonan (Duck) udon and the Kani Ankake (snow crab in thick egg soup). Both were quite delicious. The egg soup was really tasty, it reminded me of an egg drop soup but the flavor and umami were top notch. Along with our udons, we also got the karage fried chicken and tofu. read more

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It was a cold and windy day during our New York trip, and I was looking for a hot soup to warm me up. After doing some research, I found Raku, which seemed to be well loved by many locals. I made a reservation the morning of for lunch and was seated right when I arrived. The restaurant is very small with only a few tables, which made it feel quiet and intimate. I ordered the kani ankake udon, and it was one of the most unique udons I've ever tried. The flavor was amazing, but what really stood out was the consistency of the broth. It was rich and thick, almost like the texture of egg drop soup. I've never had anything like it before, but it was delicious. I also tried some of my friend's broth from the gyunan udon, which was also very rich and flavorful. I definitely recommend coming here, but it's probably best to make a reservation because of how small the restaurant is. It was exactly what we needed to warm up on a cold day. read more

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My friend said this is her favorite place to eat in NYC, so I had to give it a try while visiting! The restaurant doesn't have many seats, so my friend made reservations in advance. I ordered the sansai bukkake, which came with vegetables, fried mushrooms, nameko mushrooms, daikon, umeboshi, and a poached egg. I loved all the different textures in this dish - crunchy, slimy, and the firm noodles. I'm a huge mushroom fan, so I loved the nameko mushrooms. Service was quick and friendly. I would definitely recommend coming here if you're craving ramen! read more

Raku - Sansai bukkake - Japanese Near Me - New York, New York

After hearing great things about this place, I decided to deal with the wait time and the crowd to try this place. Tried the niku hot udon, the ebiten hot udon and had a soba pudding for dessert. I found everything to be overpriced for what was offered. Although the noodle texture was very bouncy and chewy, the dish itself it was not worth the price paid. Service was attentive and as for the ambiance, I cannot say anything as we sat in the outdoor dining area. read more

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Came to Raku with a friend and we both went for the Niku Udon Spicy ($29 total with the $1 spicy option). The bowl comes loaded with beef short ribs, honeycomb tripe, and tendo -- a rich, hearty mix that makes it feel like more than just a noodle dish. The udon itself was perfectly chewy, and the broth had a deep, savory flavor with the spicy kick we were looking for. The beef short ribs were tender, the tripe added great texture, and the portion was generous enough to be filling without overdoing it. At $29 a bowl it's definitely on the pricier side, but the quality of the ingredients and the comfort of the dish make it worth it. Cozy, flavorful, and exactly the kind of spot you want on a cool NYC evening. read more

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I've heard amazing things about the udon here from multiple friends, and while the udon was good I felt like it didn't quite meet my expectations. I tried the agedashi tofu for my appetizer and I loved how soft it was. The other parts that I didn't like as much were the gingeriness, the slight fishiness of the soy sauce, and how the batter was kind of coarse. Not my favorite agedashi tofu but I can tell this was crafted really well in house. 3.65 stars. For my udon, I got the yasai kakiage with the vegetarian broth. I really enjoyed how lightly battered and crisp the tempura was and the way it brought out the natural flavors of the vegetables. The udon broth had a slight salt and sweetness and had a really clean and clear flavor palette, which is great when you don't want something heavy. However, the vegetarian broth was a $2 substitute which I think is absurd. 3.9 stars. Food was good but it was really hot the day I came here and hot udon wasn't the best idea, so I wish I tried the cold udon. I'd be willing to come back to try it. read more

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One of my favorite (only udon spot actually) in the city that I can get behind! We ordered: Yasai Kakiage Curry Beef Udon All locations for the most part are tight and bumper to bumper, however the food and quality itself speak volumes and are worthwhile the wait. Although, the times I've arrived to Raku I haven't had to wait that long, so anything too long ~1 hour, I would not be able to justify; recommend booking ahead via Resy. Whether it's a cold, icy winter or humid summer, Raku is my reliable source for a nice, cozy meal! read more

Raku - Japanese Near Me - New York, New York

Both tourists and locals recommended Raku as a must-try restaurant in NYC so I had high expectations and it did not disappoint. It was honestly probably my favorite meal I had during my time here, and the best udon I've ever had in the US. This location is very cozy and intimate, but has limited seating so be sure to make a reservation if you don't want to risk a long wait. I ordered the niku udon and my boyfriend ordered the gyunan udon. We also got a yaki nasu (fried eggplant) to share. The yaki nasu wasn't what I was expecting but it was so good and very unique! It was a great complement to the warm and filling udon soups we both had. The niku udon broth was so delicious and in my opinion not too heavy which is always a plus. I was pleasantly surprised to find that they add tendon and tripe, which I don't usually see at udon places. I personally love both so I was happy I could try it! My favorite part of the whole meal though was the udon noodles themselves. They had the perfect texture: bouncy and smooth. Although the portion sizes were large, it definitely left me wanting more noodles because they were that good. They give you frozen grapes at the end of the meal which is such a cute little touch and a nice palate cleanser after the soupy and savory meal. The only negative thing about this experience is that I was a bit disappointed because I wanted to try the kamonan udon and the sabazushi, but they were both out for the night. Oh well, that just means I have to come back again! read more

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[Food] - Kani Ankake ($27): I absolutely loved this dish! It's a pretty huge portion so I shared this with my friend and it was just enough for us. The thick egg broth was flavored so well with umami, yet not too salty. Decent amount of crab. Noodles were soft and bouncy! Also comes with seaweed, green onions, spinach, and a yummy plum. - Ankimo ($10): This was a good appetizer but just a tad small to share. Wish there was slightly more but all in all, still enjoyed it. I may skip this next time and try out another appetizer instead. [Service] - Friendly, helpful, attentive [Ambiance] - Small, modern restaurant, but they also have additional seat next door! [Overall] - Would definitely come back again! One of my fav restaurants when I visited for my NY trip recently! - I don't see many people ordering the Kani Ankake and surprised it's not more popular. People are definitely sleeping on this bowl of delicious noods! read more

Raku - Kani Ankake ($27) - Japanese Near Me - New York, New York

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Food: I always try to go here every time I'm in New York. This udon (hot) always feels like a warm hug. The udon itself is so chewy and the broth is so light. We sometimes get the chicken tatsuka for appetizer and it's pretty good as well. Need to go back to try the other udons!!!! Wait: You can't book a reservation here so if you go during peak hours, the wait time can be pretty long. Ambiance: Inside is pretty small and cozy. There's a mixture of small parties and people dining solo. I went here to eat solo once and I felt 100% comfortable doing so read more

Raku - Chikara Udon - Japanese Near Me - New York, New York

The food was great, but the appetizers were the star of the show. The fried chicken and tofu were complex and umami. Docking one star because we were seated by the door on stools, and it was very tight. There was definitely little room for our coats or bags. The real issue was the heating blasting in our faces. Not sure now the other tables felt, but it seems like they had the heat pointed in one area only and it was the seats near the door. It made the eating experience extremely uncomfortably! read more

Raku - Chicken Tatsuta-age and Agedashi Tofu - Japanese Near Me - New York, New York

This was my second time at Raku! I was impressed by the first visit, but unfortunately, the service the second time around was disappointing. I ordered the nameko udon and subbed for veggie broth, which was an additional $2. I like how the bowl of udon is comforting to eat. We didn't have a reservation so we had a 45 minute table limit and each person at the table has to order something on the menu to sit at the table. The restaurant is a bit squishy but there are two bathrooms below. read more

Raku - Nameko Udon - Japanese Near Me - New York, New York

I've never had a bad experience at this restaurant. The udon and soup is always made to perfection, and such a stable for the winter! Luckily for me, they offer takeout options from Brooklyn now, so I can get my fix without having to go into manhattan. The takeout option is pretty good also - the udon is always still chewy and they give you so much soup! read more

Extremely cosy place with the most flavorful, huge bowls of udon. Can expect a wait, and you may need to wait outside a bit in the cold for a spot, but once inside service is great and quick. The tantan was just a bit spicy and the pork was so well seasoned and cooked - loved it! read more

Raku - Tantan Udon - Japanese Near Me - New York, New York

The first time I had Raku, it was amazing as I never had any udon that was this freshly made before. Fast forward to a re-visit 8 years later, I think while this is a really solid udon spot, the meat can get cooked quickly in the hot broth. Good portion, noodles are no longer the chewiest I've had, but still delicious. Friendly service - gave us free hot tea while we were waiting outside. Can get a bit noisy though and it's a small spot so book reservations if possible. read more

Amazing. So good and I finally understand all the hype around it. Delicious meal in a cozy intimate spot at unbeatable prices. Would definitely visit again and again! Everyone is very friendly :) FOOD: Niku Udon (9/10): Loved how bouncy the noodles were, and how the soup was so rich without being overly so. Short rib pieces were also so tender. Couldn't really taste the difference between the spicy vs non-spicy version though. Chicken Tatsu-age (7/10): Very solid chicken karaage, but not as well flavored as some other ones I've had. Agedash Tofu (6/10): Solid but not mindblowing. Would skip this one next time read more

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Best to have a reservation as it does get busy. They do have some bar seating. Very popular in the winter. Fantastic drinks. We loved the yuzu mimosa and yuzu sake Must get food: - tofu excellent - the udon is the star of the show as it's handmade. Gyunan Udon: light but flavorful. Adding the chili oil and poached egg helped enhance the flavor. It was a ton of food. Easily could feed 2-3 people. Leftovers for days. The Gyoza and fried chicken were good, but not must order. Service was outstanding. They went above and beyond with food allergies, food came out quickly, and everything was refilled promptly. Highly recommend read more

I love their udons here so much! I find them to be the best in NYC so far. They have a wide selection of different types of udon but my most favorites are the yasai (veggie) udon & the spicy niku udon. The broth is so nice & the udon is always so al dente. Love their veggie tempura as well. Staff are always nice & attentive. read more

4.8 WHAT A FIND! It was a semi-cold night in NYC, and upon checking Yelp for a delicious dinner before our broadway show, Raku was the pick. When you arrive, there is no sign or anything outside. There's a small stand, and a host. It's pretty much a hole in the wall, but that only made it that much more appealing. We were seated immediately. The place isn't huge by any means, so be prepared for a wait during certain times. For starters, we went with the salada and wagyu kushiage. The salada was a frisee and sweet potato, with sesame dressing. I don't think I ever had frisee before, but I really enjoyed it. It had a good bite, little bitter, but with the dressing, it was very enjoyable. The wagyu kushiage were deep fried waygu skewers wrapped in shiso leaf. These were amazing. The waygu was tender and flavorful, and the wrapped leaf added a nice touch. Great way to start the meal! My wife went with the nabeyaki. It was a combination of chicken, shrimp, fish cake, sea eel, mushroom and egg. The broth was amazing, she really enjoyed every bite. I went with the niku, beef short ribs, triple and tendon udon. WOW, this dish was to die for. The broth came out hot, big plus for me. The beef flavor was wonderful, like it's been cooking for hours. The pieces of beef, tripe and tendon were all cooked perfectly. And the udon, amazing! It had good texture, a little chewy, just the way I liked it. Every bite was like the first, this dish is one of my favorite udon dishes of all time, hands down. I literally almost finished all the broth at the end.. Raku was one of the best meals we've had in NYC this trip. I could literally eat the Niku dish every day! Huge shoutout to the staff/cooks at Raku. We had a wonderful all around experience. HIGHLY recommended! read more

I finally took the dive with Raku on a cold winter's night and came away super satisfied. You can set a reservation for Raku, but I came in as a walk-in right as they opened Sunday for lunch and was about third in line. It was super cold that day, but one of the servers was super nice in bringing hot tea to everyone waiting. I was able to get a bar seat as a solo diner. After asking the server about the menu, I ended up ordering: *Green tea: Solid and straightforward *Zaru udon with shrimp tempura: I thought this might be too small for myself, but the server told me it would fill me up. She was right! Loved the udon quality. And it came with a bunch of tempura - shiso leaf tempuras, the shrimp tempuras, and a fish tempura. The udon dipping sauce was also fantastic. Loved the mix of quail egg and mushrooms/green onions. It was filling! The food came out pretty quickly and overall was solid. Service was great. Totally would come back. read more

Raku - Zaru udon - Japanese Near Me - New York, New York

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Their udon are still as delicious as ever! I ordered my usual spicy niku udon & my sister got the yasai (vegetable) udon + vegetable tempura. The spicy niku udon was still consistently delicious (every time I eat it). The vegetable udon broth was so light + savory and amazing! The vegetable tempura were excellent as well - crunchy and not oily, and well seasoned. Excellent staff + food! This is still my most favorite udon place in NYC. Love that they give you frozen grapes as a complimentary dessert - delish! read more

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My second time at @rakunyc and I enjoyed my cold zaru udon a lot more than the hot udon I've had last time! Got an add-on veggie tempura but sadly they were not hot anymore when they came to me. Had a bite of the buta shabu and I liked the grilled flavors of the sliced pork a lot! read more

Raku - Vegetable tempura - Japanese Near Me - New York, New York

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I love this place! Everything tastes so good. I took my picky Asian parents here and they were impressed. I would recommend getting a reservation if you can because the wait times could get really long. This is literally my favorite udon spot in the city. I love the texture of the noodle here. read more

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Best udon I've had to date - noodles were rounded, chewy (qq), and so smooth - perfect portions - soup broth was delicious and the bowl it came in insulated the heat - chili oil had a subtle mala kick but not overpowering - tender braised beef and surprised to see beef tendon and tripe as well - free soda w entree for their 10th anniversary read more

Ordered the ebiten hot udon which came with tempura and an umeboshi (Japanese fermented plum). This is a simple yet elegant dish. The noodles were very qq and well portioned. The two tempura were battered very evenly and clearly fried with care. Alongside the tempura was a slice of fried eggplant that was nice and the umeboshi. This plum was really nice to nibble on and finish the meal, salty but pleasant and not too sweet. Also had an appetizer of large Chicken Tatsuta-Age, these came out hot and fresh, the slice of lemon squeezed on top was refreshing and the sauce was like a mayo based mix that was very agreeable. Service was top notch and the general ambiance was quiet, muted, peaceful. The interior decor has a lot of Japanese design influence from the sectioned off seating areas to the small touches like the plating and the signage. May require reservations but worth the meal. read more

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Food: The udon is amazing here! My favorite part is the noodle texture. Noodles are perfectly silky and bouncy. It's much better than the udon you typically have in restaurants. My favorite udon here is the tantan which I highly recommend. The beef udon and curry udon are great also, but tantan is a must-get. The monk fish liver appetizer is also very good. I didn't find anything special about the eggplant appetizer though. The quality of food here reminds me of Japan. Service: Service is excellent here. Staff are friendly and attentive. Ambiance: I've been to both the West Village and East Village locations. The East Village location is very small and seating is tight whereas the seating is more comfortable at the other location. Overall ambiance is great at both locations though. Overall, I would highly recommend this restaurant! read more

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