Tried the kara age and the niku udon. The kara age was great and super flavorful. As for the udon, I dont particularly think there was much special about the broth or the meat (which was cooked to be very tender) but the hype is over the hand made udon. I have never had hand made udon in the past and the texture is the right amount of chewy and soft that you can't really find anywhere else. I did have to sit outside in the heat which kind of sucked and I don't know how many seats they have inside but it seems like a small storefront. Definitely worth a try though. read more

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

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i got the curry udon and it was just okay. the noodles weren't chewy/springy as i expected and the flavor was a bit watery for my liking. the chicken and sauce was AMAZING - fried to perfection, juicy, and seasoned! the sauce made you want more. usually there is a wait but if you come at opening you can get seated immediately! overall a bit overhyped but still a good meal. read more

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

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Delicious Japanese restaurant in the city near Soho! It's a very small and cozy shop restaurant, I'm surprised you can fit so many people in this place. We came here right at opening around noon, and were able to get a seat indoors. However, they got pretty busy soon afterwards and there was a waitlist. But you can also sit in the heated outdoor seating area, which has a decent amount of seats. Of note, we have walked by here a couple to times and they always seem to be busy with a list of people waiting. What we got: 1. Agedashi Tofu 2. Chicken Tatsuga-age 3. Niku Hot Udon All of the dishes were very well flavored and had a distinct taste. I would highly recommend getting the above 3 dishes. The servers were very nice and gave great recommendations. The good came out pretty quickly. Price is a bit on the higher side, but still worth it. I would definitely come back to try more from their menu. I am also curious about trying their other location in the East Village. read more

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Raku is an udon lovers dream. This Raku location may seem small but don't let the size fool you as this restaurant serves some of the most delicious udon in the city. The noodles at Raku have the perfect chewy texture and the flavor of the broth is simply outstanding; both flavorful and well-seasoned. On my most recent visit to Raku, I ordered the ja ja cold udon, the ebiten hot udon and the chicken tatsuta-age. The jaja cold udon was the perfect refreshing and spicy dish for a hot day. If you've never tried cold udon before, you definitely need to give it a try. The ebiten udon was also really yummy and tempura that accompanied it was so good I had to order more The chicken tatsuta-age was also a delight as it was fried perfectly. Overall, I had a wonderful dining experience at Raku. I would highly recommend this restaurant to anyone who loves udon. Unfortunately this spot is cash only but that won't stop me from coming back again to try the other things on the menu! read more

Raku - Ja Ja Cold Udon - Japanese Near Me - New York, New York

As I say with most reviews. Raku has been on my list for months lol. They are very popular so I had been eyeing the resy looking for a perfect time to cop a reservation with my partner. I would recommend booking about a week in advance, especially for the friday/weekend spots. we went on a saturday at 7:30 and it was definitely busy. though we arrived at 7:35 we had to wait a few minutes to be seated. there were also walk-ins waiting (i overheard the wait was about an hour or so). cute vibe inside, cozy but not too tight and service was standardly fine. I will preface by saying I have frequented Ehime, Japan countless times as I have family there so I have grown up eating fresh udon regularly. I was also excited about their small plates/apps as they have a lot of traditional ones here. Did the fried oysters and sabazushi to start (would have also done the fried chicken but I knew I wouldnt be able to eat that much). sabazushi- PERFECT. High quality rice, lightly salted fish, I could have eaten all seven by myself. Kaki furai also solid. For my entree I ordered the yamakake because I will always prefer cold udon to hot (sorry not sorry). my partner got the curry udon with chicken. of course I thought mine was better lol but the curry udon broth was well done. not too spicy or salty. The yamakake udon was wonderful, the noodles themselves not as thick as i am accustomed to, but perfectly chewy and slippery and delicious. you can tell its made by hand. read more

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Best udon noodles I've had I rarely finish noodles at places. I like it but try to eat less carbs but OMG these were too good. It's like udon noodles and dduk combined like so good! The broth we ordered was a little smoky. I think if it was less smoky I would've enjoyed it a lot. I will def be back Veggie gyoza was okay. Thought it would be better cus it's not from the bag.. it wasn't bad but nothing to rave about When we got there and ordered our meal we also ordered the soba pudding. When we finished our meal and wanted the dessert our waiter told us they sold out. I was bummed cus we ordered everything so I assumed they would've saved one for us but nope :( right before we finished I saw a table get like 3 soba puddings and 3 choco mousse. So that was a bummer... but they do give everyone frozen grapes.. like one pp Space is tight. We sat in the corner and when we had to leave or go to the bathroom it was very inconvenient and we had to ask other people to move cus there was no other way out. Cash only read more

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WOW. This place is amazing. They have minimal seating inside the restaurant but they just opened the outdoor seating area so there's more seats available. The servers were very kind and attentive to our needs. The udon surprised me when it came out. It comes in a ginormous bowl and I thought that it was just the plating. But it was literally a never-ending bowl of udon. The broth was so clean and refreshing and the meat that came with it had soaked up all of the broth flavoring so it burst with flavor. I also am not sure but it looked like their noodles were hand pulled. The noodles were so chewy and bouncy. I would highly recommend this place for a good hearty bowl of udon. read more

The eggplant appetizer (yaki nasu) was yum and probably my favorite part of dinner! The pork was smoky and savory with a hint of spice, which meshed deliciously with the buttery eggplant. Highly recommend trying, especially if you love eggplant. Udon here was good but not something that I would rave about. I tried the ankake, and the noodles weren't as bouncy & chewy as I would have liked. My soup came out HOT though, so that may have cooked the noodles more. The soup temperature was satisfying though and would be great in the winter. The broth was nice & thick and mild in flavor. I also had a bite of the zaru udon which was also mildly flavored. Overall udon was decent but loved the yaki nasu the most. read more

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I went to Raku with my friend Caroline Y. and had an extraordinary lunch. There are apparently two locations in New York (and one in Toronto), but this is the original, and unlike Raku SoHo, it doesn't take reservations. We figured we'd show up and see what happened, and were pleasantly surprised when we were able to walk in without waiting at 12:45 on a Thursday. The space was small and attractive, a clean, artful, contemporary Japanese hole in the wall. There were only a handful of tables inside, but a sidewalk patio could have accommodated several more diners. We were happy to eat inside, though, as it was cute and cozy in there. Service was great, friendly and attentive. The food was incredible. We shared several dishes and every single one was outstanding. The agedashi tofu was superb, deep fried with a delicate, airy crisp and a creamy center, nestled in a bowl with scallion, bonito flakes, and a brothy tsuyu sauce. The ankimo was lovely, served cold with scallion and ponzu sauce. The yaki nasu was both delicious and completely different from any eggplant dish I'd ever had before, deep fried until it was hot and jiggly soft, then topped with spicy miso pork and a quail egg. I think Raku is primarily an udon shop, so we made sure to order a bowl of hot udon as well as one of the donburis. This was a winning strategy. We went for the matsutake udon, a seasonal item, and it was exactly what we wanted on a chilly November day. The broth was warming and fragrant with matsutake, the noodles slippery and supple. The udon also came with chicken and Tokyo negi. I'm sure we couldn't have gone wrong with two bowls of udon, but the unatama don was a special dish. This was a rice bowl topped with an alluring combination of BBQ eel, onion, and egg. It was saucy and flavorful, with sweet, tender eel and soft egg in every bite. The donburi also came with miso soup and pickled radish, which were both notably good. We were too full to order dessert, but I appreciated the frozen grapes that came with the check. We spent the rest of the afternoon walking around, our bellies satisfied, both stuffed and sloshing with broth. I live in L.A., which has great Japanese food, and have spent time both living and traveling in Japan. Raku would be a standout spot anywhere. If I lived in New York, I would eat here all the time. Even visiting once a year, I intend to go back as soon and as often as possible. read more

If I could give just one word for a review of this place, it is "chewy" My friend and I went here on a Saturday dinner around 7pm, and got really lucky there is 0 wait time (though we got the last table of the indoor seating). The inside is pretty small and tight, but cozy. We shared the chicken tatsuta-age (6pc) as well as the spicy niku udon and kamonan udon. The chicken tatsuta-age is nicely fried but also very juicy inside. The dipping sauce gave a nice spicy kick to the chicken. This seems to be the most popular appetizer dish, and it is for good reason. The spicy niku udon is just lightly spicy, but it does give an additional flavor profile to an already complex dish. This udon comes with beef short ribs, tripe, and tendon, along with a lot of chewy udon. The soup is not too salty and it is a very satisfying meal for cold weather. The kamonan udon has duck breast which is quite flavorful in itself, with a clearer broth. The udon was also very chewy as well! Service is also excellent as the plates are cleared in a timely manner - only small hiccup is that it took a little bit of time for them to bring the empty bowls to share the udon, but that was understandable as the restaurant consists of many tables across the indoor and outdoor dining. At the end, we got frozen grapes for dessert which is simple yet tasty. Overall, I would recommend this place to try, and ideally check it out during lunch hours when they are not as busy. Just keep in mind this place in particular is cash only!! read more

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The best udon I had in NYC! Started with Chicken which was perfectly fried to golden crispy and juicy inside. Pork Gyoza which reminded me of hometown one in Tokyo, crispy bottom and juicy fillings. Tempura Udon was authentic, right amount of chewiness and flavorful tasty soup. Wish they gave me a bit more tempura than 2 shrimps & one little eggplant... that is the only complaint. Overall thumbs up for this place! We enjoyed good food and attentive & friendly service! Definitely will come back! read more

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Got the chance to try this cozy, small restaurant in East Village. The overall restaurant space is small so we had to wait 20-30 minutes to seat two people on a Thursday evening, so try to come here during off-peak hours! Overall the food is pretty decent, but very expensive and overpriced. The agedashi tofu was interesting and different but felt a bit overpriced for what it was. I tried one of their more popular dishes in the Niku Udon and though I will always enjoy a belly filled with warm broth, I wasn't as satisfied as I thought I would be. I feel like the dish could've had a bit more Udon and that the broth could have been spicier and more flavorful. The dish itself you're nearly paying $30 and I still was a little hungry afterwards. Still a decent experience overall, however. read more

Raku - Agedashi Tofu - Japanese Near Me - New York, New York

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Yummy Japanese spot. Prices were pretty decent for New York. I got the curry udon with beef. The udon noodles are nice and chewy. The bowls are huge! The curry was more like a soup and a bit thinner than I was prefer, but still delicious. They have a nice outdoor seating area with heating lamps, so outdoor seating was enjoyable even in the cold. read more

We came here around 8:30PM with a reservation and got seated within 10 minutes. Our food came out pretty fast as well. The uni canapés was probably my favorite dish here. It's definitely worth the price. The black salt they put on top of the uni made it even better would definitely recommend getting it if you visit Raku. The udon noodles were really chewy and the broth was amazing. IG: tiffsfoodreview read more

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Very good udon noodles, but the meat itself is hit or miss. I got the duck udon, and the duck tasted bland and almost like chicken. I also tried the Niku and the beef was so tender and delicious. The Tantan udon was also good and the broth was flavorful. Reservations are always good to have, since Raku is very popular. read more

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Raku is hit or miss with their dishes. The chicken tatsuta-age was mediocre. For something deep-fried, and piping hot, the skin was not very crispy at all. The interior was decently juicy though. The agedashi tofu was average, verging on bland. Pretty forgettable. For my hot udon, I chose kani ankake, snow crab in thick, heritage egg soup. I did not like the flavor of the soup at all, which was like a blander version of Chinese egg drop soup. The noodles were indeed nice and bouncy, but there was nothing very flavorful or exciting about this dish. I did try a couple bites of my friend's tan tan udon, which I definitely would order if I came again. The base is spicy miso pork, peanuts, and egg. It was not very spicy at all. The broth was so incredibly deep and complex, but light at the same time. Incredibly addicting! Warning, the wait here can be very long as the place is tiny. Cash only. read more

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Came here on a last minute recommendation, and this place did not disappoint. Highly recommend getting reservations here, or lining up right at opening (like us) if you don't want to wait. I got the gyunan udon, with thinly sliced beef and green onions in a delicious, savory broth. My favorite part were the noodles. They were soooo good, chewy and springy and not soggy at all. Udon here comes in hot and cold versions, so perfect for all kinds of weather you might be experiencing in NYC. At $20 the price point is a littttttle high, but this is delicious, quality food and I would totally come back here again! read more

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

Delicious food, huge servings, friendly staff! We were seated immediately in one of the cute outdoor spots. The food came out hot and fresh shortly after we were seated. I'll be back! read more

Raku - Japanese Near Me - New York, New York

*I would give a 4.3/5 but thought it would be fair to give 5 on yelp Raku is one of the top udon places in New York and I have visited the Soho location before. I decided to try the East Village location because I thought it would be bigger (it is not) and I really enjoy the udon. I went as a walk in for 2 around 8 and was told there was a 45 minute wait. We put our names down and went across the street to get a drink while we waited. The host texts us 4 minutes after we put our name down and it said we had 10 minutes to confirm so I confirmed but we didn't get back until 15-20 after we had confirmed since we needed to close out at the bar. It said our table was released but I decided to go up to the host anyways and let her know we got texted so we could try to get the next available table. Immediately she looks down at the iPad and makes a smirking face and proceeds to tell us what we did isn't allowed and she decided to do us a favor and give us an open table but if we're going to go somewhere else while we wait we have to be back in time. I understand they didn't need to save our table but she was pretty rude in the way she communicated it and could've been nicer. This hostess definitely left a bad impression since we didn't expect them to save the table even though they were 40 minutes off on the wait estimate, and she acted weirdly annoyed at us. Despite this, the rest of our experience was positive. Our server was extremely friendly and we got the Yuzu mimosa and agedashi tofu appetizer. The mimosa is exactly like what it sounds and super bubbly and refreshing with strong yuzu flavor. Agedashi tofu was delicious and the bonito flakes honestly tasted like a smokey fish jerky on top. The sauce was also great. I got the Gyunan udon which I expected to be a bit more meaty and savory in flavor but it was a more light and clean broth (still very good). Udon is chewy and wonderful texture. The gyunan was a bit lackluster overall since the meat was not very soft and I think it could've used some more fatty slices of beef and more beef in general. I tried the spicy Niku broth and it was amazing so a better option for something more hearty. Matcha tiramisu is my favorite dessert and theirs wasn't my favorite version but still very good! I like how the matcha flavor was strong and it was not too sweet at all. The one thing I didn't love was the gelatin/pudding stuff at the bottom because the texture was a little weird but the flavor was great! I will also add it is super weird that the restaurant is separated into two halves. I was in the tiny half with the kitchen but the servers have to walk outside on the street for like 30 feet and go to the other side to bring food. The interior is nice but the setup is odd. Overall, I really like Raku but I prefer the Soho location since it is a bit bigger so less wait times. If it weren't for the host I would give this place a 9.3/10 but it honestly brought it down since service is an important factor for me. I enjoy the udon here despite the gyunan missing a little bit of flavor for me and being somewhat pricey but I will definitely return to try some more unique udons. read more

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Best udon I've ever had in my life! I was lucky to be seated immediately and got really fast service. The broth and perfectly chewy noodles will change your life. I was so impressed by how rich yet still light and refreshing the broth was. I will be coming back anytime I'm back in the city! read more

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The best udon ever. I used to go to Udon West but after it closed I was never able to find good udon. This is better!! The waitresses and hosts were very nice and tried their best to accommodate us. We didn't have a reservations but we went next door and drank some wine for two hours while waiting. Honestly the wait is worth it. It's very cozy and smells delicious when you walk in. Great vibes. But definitely make a reservation at least a day before because they are so busy. For good reasons. Will be back !!! read more

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

This is my friend's favorite udon place ever, and I can see why! The noodles feel like they're handmade, and are authentically cooked to perfection. The Gyunan (beef) udon is filling and hearty, and the beef is great as well. The Yasai Kakiage (vegetable tempura) is perfectly light and crunchy, and the broth was delicious as well. Definitely want to come again to try the other udon dishes as well, in addition to their cold udon! Make sure to bring enough cash since they are cash only. It's also extremely hard to get seated during dinner time, but we went for lunch on a weekend and didn't have to wait at all! read more

Raku - Yasai Kakiage Udon - Japanese Near Me - New York, New York

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Yup yup, I can see why a bunch of people rave about this place. Ja ja: it's like a dry, cold-noodle version of tan tan men. The minced pork is amazingly flavorful!! If there's something to improve about this dish, it's that the noodles could've been drained more as the bottom of the bowl became a bit too cold-soupy. Still, this would be a terrific dish to order on a hot day (or if you're generally not feeling for soup but are still craving for the tan tan men taste). Oyako don: next-level oyako don. The chicken is extraordinarily melt-in-your-mouth yet still fully cooked! No idea how I could prepare chicken like this at home. The soft scrambled eggs blend very well with the chicken. This dish is the epitome of Japanese comfort food for sure. Kimino yuzu sparkling juice: I didn't realize that this is the bottle of sparkling juice that I've seen at Japanese grocery stores until the server handed me the bottle lol. Still, glad that I actually tried it. Good amount of yuzu flavor and it's not too sweet. Refreshing! Yuzu ginger tea: non-bottled; tastes just like a drinkable form of ginger candy chews lol. A bit too much of a ginger taste for me, but my sis, who loves ginger, really enjoyed the drink. Gotta get real cozy with neighboring fellow customers as the tables are quite small and close together even in the outdoor seating area. Also, I recommend arriving early; on a Friday evening there was already a line for the next available table one hour into service. read more

Raku - Oyako don - Japanese Near Me - New York, New York

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There was already a short line before it opened on Sunday. As a solo diner, I was seated at their counter seats. There were small cloth baskets on the floor for you to store your belongings as it's a pretty tight space. The menu is accessed via the QR code on the table. I ordered the curry udon with washugyu. It was a short wait before I had a hot bowl of udon in front of me. This was the first time I had udon that was so chewy, it was akin to chewing on tapioca pearls which was an interesting experience. All in all, it was a very hearty bowl of curry udon. The spice was very mild despite the pepper sign next to this item on the menu. The soup was thick but thin enough to not become like sauce. They servee one frozen grape along with the receipt which I thought was a cute touch. I'll definitely be back to try some of their appetizers! The bathroom is a bit dim when there's not sunlight beaming through the small window but it was clean and well kept. It makes sense why there's a line for this place as the indoor dining space can probably fit at most 20-30 people. There's also outdoor seating as well. read more

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The texture of the noodles here are amazing. The chicken was my favorite out of the duck and beef one. The apps were just okay but the noodles really stood out. read more

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I really want to go back here... This was from a few months ago but I liked just about everything I ate. read more

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For some reason, I'm really sad about Raku. I LOVE udon noodles and was expecting so much more than what I was given at Raku. I'm writing this review a month after coming and am trying to remember the taste of the Niku udon but just can't, simply because it wasn't memorable. We ordered chicken tatsuta-age, yaki nasu, and niku udon. The chicken and yaki nasu were delic, but the star of my show was *supposed* to be the Niku udon and the udon noodles itself.... but failed. The broth wasn't slurp worthy and the udon noodles were FAR from my liking of udon. They were SO starchy and felt flat. They didn't have that udon chewiness/bounciness that make me love udon noodles as much as I do. Maybe I set my expectations too high for this place. But don't think I will be adding this into my agenda next NYC visit. read more

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The portions are generous and were perfect to eat during a cold rainy day in New York. I went here with two of my friends who mentioned how popular and good this place was, which I do agree with getting a reservation as the usual waiting times for a walk-in would be around 45 minutes. I got the curry udon and shared the chicken tatsua. Everything here that was served was so fresh, the chicken tatsua was so hot when it came here and the same with the udon. I liked the udon that I got, with how thick the curry broth and the noodles were chewy. I thought the ribeye beef was good, though as a protein it wasn't anything revolutionary. With the reservation, we got seated in the dining room which was cozy and intimate, with spacious tables. Our service was also great too, they ensured that we were well taken care of and liked everything to our taste. I would come again as it is a pretty affordable casual lunch / dinner spot that is honestly worth the price. I have no complaints with this place and I liked their finishing touch of giving frozen grapes after the meal, it was a really nice gesture. read more

Long overdue review! I've tried the raku over at macdougal st which is the bigger location and fell in love and now had the chance to try this spot. Its definitely a lot smaller so it is crowded so i prefer the outdoor heated area. Sometimes theres a wait but we were seated pretty quickly today. We ordered the dumplings, katsu don and ebi ten. I've got to say what makes raku's udon noodles so good is its texture. Even after it comes out in the super hot soup, and during eating it the texture stays amazing. Its chewy and tangy and makes the perfect bite with the soup. I like adding the chilli powder to my soup. The highlight of course is the shrimp tempura which is amazing with the soup and i like to order a side of poached egg. The katsu don was decent too but the udon is definitely the highlight! read more

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The sansai udon was just okay in my opinion. The mushroom tempura it comes with gets extremely soggy because of the broth and eating it is not enjoyable as a result because the tempura coating falls off the mushroom. I felt rushed as we were eating -- they have a waitlist so I'm assuming this is why. They do give you frozen grapes when they bring you the bill which is a nice touch but frozen grapes are not really for me. read more

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

This place is so good! I've come here twice now and it never disappoints. For appretizers, I got the agedashi tofu, eggplant and chicken karaage. All were delicious - my personal favorite was the agedashi tofu. I have tried the spicy niku and gyunan. The broth is rich and the noodles are a perfect balance between chewy and firm! The portion size is fairly generous and I never have left feeling not satisfied. A go to spot in east village! read more

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This place is so delicious! I think my favorite part was the noodles. I loved how chewy and soft the noodles were. The place is small, but they also have outdoor seating. I would recommend using the Yelp waitlist to help with the wait. Niki Udon - Delicious ! Loved the noodles ! The beef short-ribs were very soft. I thought the broth was okay, fresh but wasn't anything special. Chicken Tasuta-age - Crispy ! The chicken was so crispy on the outside, but soft and juicy on the inside. read more

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

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Raku has always been one of my favorite spots in NY. Nothing says comfort quite like a warm bowl of noodle soup and Raku does it perfectly. Unlike the SoHo branch, this location only does walk ins and the inside seating is limited, so if you're coming at a popular time, be prepared to sit outside. No matter what udon you choose, the umami broth is delicious with the chewiness of the noodles. Really some of my favorite noodles I've ever had. And the servings are quite generous so they should be enough to fill you up! Should you be looking for something more, the chicken karate appetizer is juicy with a nice fried crunch. The only thing I wouldn't get again was the gyoza, we weren't a big fan of the filling and found the flavors a bit off. The service was great and the food came out quickly. And I love the frozen grapes they give as a treat with your meal! read more

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I've come here twice before but those were in my pre-yelp era, so let's consider this a clean slate. In those previous two times, I was this place's biggest fan. I loved my food with no complaints and sang these noodles' praises to everyone who asked if I had any recommendations in NYC. This time, unfortunately there were just some hiccups that made it less than 100% for me. This time around, I ordered the ankake, which is the hot udon soup that's made with egg. This means that the broth is more of an egg drop soup type of deal (not exactly, but that's the basic idea), and it's thicker than normal broths. This soup seemed like it'd be right up my alley because I'm obsessed with egg drop soup as the base for udon. I'd say the best part about it was that it was without a doubt full of flavor. The first few bites I thought it had the full range of flavors that could prance across my taste buds, but unfortunately after awhile, all I could taste was GINGER. The broth was just a HIT of ginger every single time, and I was like WHAT HAPPENED. But! Those noodles are just as good as I remember. Literally perfect texture, perfect bounce. I've never been able to find better in the city. The fried chicken is also a favorite appetizer-- I always get it when I'm here. It comes out hot, juicy, crunchy, all that good stuff you expect. The second thing was just about ambience, and it was bad luck on our end. We were seated in the back corner right next to the bathroom, and the bathroom has this sliding door that closes toward us. This meant that every single time someone closed the sliding door, the wall next to us would literally rattle, and we'd hear an echoing boom. I looked toward the wall every single time it happened because I was so caught off guard. It's just not the best thing to be happening when you're trying to enjoy your meal. I was just sitting with my aunt so it wasn't a big deal, but I can't imagine how awkward it might make things if you were on a date or something. All these small things would not stop me from coming back, though, I guarantee that, and I'd definitely recommend this place still. read more

Raku - Ankake - Japanese Near Me - New York, New York

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When I think about the most perfect bowl of noodles, I think about Raku. The first time I visited was one of the most memorable meals I've ever had. The noodle texture is unlike any other udon I've ever tried, amazingly chewy and bouncy. The broth is balanced and works in harmony with the noodles. Definitely recommend the niku on your first visit. It's so good and highlights everything the restaurant does well I love the ambiance of the East Village location but the Soho location has more seating so there's less of a wait. read more

Raku - Curry Udon with washugyu beef - Japanese Near Me - New York, New York

I will just start off by saying that this is the BEST udon I've ever had in my life!!! Joined the yelp waitlist on a Thursday night while walking over and took about 15 minutes for our turn to be ready. The inside is super small and packed, but aesthetics were modern and chic. I ordered the highly recommended Niku Udon. Honestly didn't initially have high expectations because I thought, how much better or different could they actually make udon from the million of other places? Well, they absolutely nailed it. I was blown away by the udon's texture - cooked to perfection: soft, tender, & similar to that of hand-pulled/-cut noodles, but thicker and smooth. The broth was full of flavor and the portion was large and satiating. Their food and ambience are so special and unique. Great for casual dinners with a small party. I will definitely return... I'm already missing their udon sooo much. FYI, they only accept cash - they have an in-store atm with a $5 transaction fee. read more

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

Raku NY: Manhattan: East Village 2023 November Five Stars A delicious and busy Japanese lunch. We started with monk liver appetizer which was small creamy bite in vinegar sauce. Next up was house made pork dumplings. There could have had more crisp but was delicious. We finished with Niku "Nee Coo" udon. It was classic dish of chewy wheat noodles, flavorful broth, spinach, and green onions. read more

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Cute spot in the East Village! They're known for their udon noodle soup. The store is small, but they do have outdoor seating. It is also first come, first serve. There might be a wait, depending on the time you go. The service was great. They also take credit cards! read more

A few of my friends really hyped up Raku, so I was super excited to finally visit. This location is smaller than the Soho location and doesn't take reservations online -- to join the waitlist, you need to check in directly with the staff. The waitlist system can be a bit confusing as there is no one consistently staffed to manage the waitlist. I was told to not wait inside the restaurant as I'd be blocking the door, but the staff who added customers to the waitlist didn't come until 5-10 mins after I had been waiting idly outside. The experience was a lot smoother after we got on the waitlist, and the overall wait time wasn't too bad for a Wednesday night (only ~20 mins). The inside of the restaurant was quite loud and packed, but luckily we got a table outside. I decided to order the Ebiten Udon with Lunar Yuzu Sauce (a seasonal special collab with Lunar Hard Seltzer) and my friend ordered the classic Gyunan Udon. The udon texture was amazingly al dente and chewy, while the shrimp tempura had a good amount of batter and crisp. The yuzu sauce was tasty and I liked how the sweetness complemented the shrimp. The broth itself was a pretty standard udon broth, which was fine, as the udon texture and portion sizes were true highlights of the meal. This location is also cash only, so be prepared before you visit. I also loved how they ended the meal with frozen grapes that were brought out with the check - we love a refreshing finish to a warm and satisfying meal! read more

Raku - Japanese Near Me - New York, New York

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A small entrance to a small restaurant with big servings! I love how the moment I entered I could smell the different broths and got even more hungry instantly! The niku udon came in a huge bowl, and I added an egg to my order. The beef was extremely tender, and so was the tripe. Together with the broth everything just worked so well in combination! Although I could've finished my udon if we didn't order an appetizer, this chicken is a must. Also cooked extremely well, the boneless and chewy chicken can make for a perfect meal in itself! read more