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The food here was amazing! I came here with my friend on a Saturday night and even though it was super busy, the service was excellent. Gui, Lily, and Rafeena were all so accommodating and refilled our water often. Gui gave some recommendations from the menu and explained what the toppings were which was super helpful! The Miso Ramen broth had so much flavor and the thin noodles were the perfect texture. It's a narrow space inside but they do have a bathroom which is super clean! I definitely will come back to try their other ramens.
Delicious and simple! The wait can be super long, but they're efficient with moving people in and out. I love that you can choose your noodle thickness. I was disappointed at first that some toppings like egg came at a premium, but it's so flavorful and filling on its own you really don't need the extras. Since eating here I've been putting scallions and sesame on all my ramen at home!
1 star for Gui: the hostess 5 stars for everyone else and food The restaurant doesn't take reservations in advance which is fine. We had a party of 13 and were waiting outside due to the limited waiting space inside. The line wasn't too bad so we expected to be seated fairly quickly however Gui for some reason didn't understand how to sit large parties. Whenever tables of 2 or 4 would open up, she would skip us and seat everyone else behind us instead of waiting for another 4 to open up so eventually a full party can sit. After over an hour and half of waiting in the single digit weather, half our group left to go to another restaurant and our party of 6 split up into 2 and 4 and eventually asked another seated group to move so we could be together since the host herself wasn't able to figure out how to seat a group larger than 4. If this place didn't have amazing food reviews we would have left after the first hour. Food itself was amazing and perfect for any chilly day. Props to chef but wish the front of house wasn't so terrible at her only job.
Perfectly sized ramen bowls with lots of variety. Love that I can build the bowl as I like. From noodle firmness, to spiciness, I can make it my way. Recommend getting the egg extra. They've perfected the soft boil. They have a deal, buy 5 bowls, get free goyza. Buy 5 more, get a free soup.
I love ramen, and NYC arguably has some of the best in the country! With the temperatures in the low 40s, hot soup is perfect for this time of year. Found this place randomly while heading to the West Village. I knew it was good when there's only bar seats along the wall and a few small tables. We waiting about 15 mins before a bar seat came available. They handed us a paper menu to check off our order. I got the classic ramen with a gummy egg and side of gyoza. Hubby got the seasonal curry ramen. Oh my gosh, everything was divine!!! The broth, the noodles, the simplicity of the toppings. Just amazing. I can also tell that the noodles were homemade, which makes a world of difference. A side note- Their ramens are all in a pork broth with two pork slices inside. They do have a vegan menu as well for those that don't eat pork. I didn't leave feeling heavy or overly stuffed. Plus, the service was very good. I may have to come for another bowl before heading back to ATL.
The ramen here is very good! The ramen bar is very similar to some Japanese ramen bars where you they give you a slip of paper with recommendations and then you choose ur ramen. They only really serve that one thing and do it well. I got a classic ramen with all my options as the "recommended version". It was super yummy and heartwarming. It had a nice zing of spice without overpowering the ramen and a creamy broth. The store itself is quite small. The chairs are little ottomans where you can store everything.
This ramen blew my mind. Ramen Danbo is a small shop that has a completely vegan and regular menu. 4 of us came around 5pm and had no wait but shortly after there was a line out the door. I got the vegan classic ramen and my friend got the seasonal one which was a curry one. Both broths were incredible! You're able to customize a lot of the ramen whether it's toppings or the firmness of the noodles. I got the standard selection for a lot and the firmness was perfect. The portion size was also amazing where I felt everything was balanced. Definitely going to come here again.
Ramen Danbo is one of those places that consistently proves why it has such a strong reputation. From the moment you walk in, the atmosphere feels warm, inviting, and always buzzing with energy usually a good sign that people know the food is worth the wait. And honestly, it absolutely is. One thing I really love about Danbo is the amount of customization they offer. You can choose your broth richness, noodle firmness, spice level, and even the amount of fattiness in your ramen. It makes every bowl feel personal, and they always get it exactly right. Their signature Tonkotsu broth is incredibly rich and flavorful without being overwhelming. It has that perfect balance of creaminess and depth that you only get from a broth that's been slow-cooked properly. The noodles are another highlight springy, fresh, and cooked exactly the way you request. The chashu pork practically melts in your mouth, and the seasoned egg is always soft-boiled to perfection with that creamy golden center. Every topping feels thought-out and prepared with care. If you're a spice lover, the Rekka style gives you the perfect kick without killing the flavor of the broth. And if you're not into heavy spice, the original Tonkotsu is just as satisfying. Their vegan ramen is also surprisingly delicious and full of flavor, which makes Danbo a great spot even for people who don't eat meat. Service is quick, friendly, and efficient even when the line is long. The staff knows how to keep things moving without making you feel rushed. Despite being busy, the bowls always come out hot, fresh, and beautifully put together. Ramen Danbo delivers every single time. Whether you want a comforting bowl on a cold day, a bold spicy broth, or a customizable ramen experience, this place never disappoints. It's easily one of the best ramen spots around, and definitely worth the visit whether it's your first time or your fiftieth.
The tonkotsu broth here is the real deal. It's incredibly rich and creamy without feeling overly heavy or greasy. I loved that you can customize the thickness and the "lard level" I went for the standard, and it was perfectly savory. The noodles had that ideal firm snap, and the chashu pork practically melted in my mouth. The staff really makes the experience. From the moment I walked in, I was greeted with a loud, energetic welcome. If you're close by, give this place a try
Food: 4.4/5 Service: 3.7/5 Ambiance: 4/5 Value: 3.8/5 I decided to check this place out after someone on Reddit r/FoodNYC asked where the best ramen was and I responded that I like Tonkotsu style and that I haven't found a place that does it better than Ippudo. Many responded saying Ramen Danbo is the best, so I had to see. It is a small restaurant in the West Village, with seating available for maybe 1/3 as many people as Ippudo. It feels a little smaller than Ivan Ramen or the old Ramen Setagaya as well, though with a similar setup to both. I was sat at a long table against the wall, facing the wall and perpendicular to the street. I ordered the Classic Ramen ($15) with zero spiciness with Extra Chashu (two slices, $3), Egg ($3), and Nori (Seaweed, $2). I set the broth settings at thickness: "strong" and richness: "rich," with no Karadare (umami spicy sauce). I opted for the standard thin noodles. I also ordered the gyoza appetizer (five pieces, $8). So $31 total for my meal. I like the flavor of the broth, it is very rich. It's pork bone broth, but reminded me of the chicken soup richness of Totto Ramen as well. But I think it didn't have the same flavor complexity as Ippudo's Akamaru Modern (it goes by a different name now), maybe because I didn't order the Karadare for fear of the spice level. Had I known the flavor would be on the bland side without it, I would have ordered it. That's one thing I didn't like about this restaurant - things that are in reality necessities are presented as options with additional cost. The other thing I didn't like is the service is very transactional and not informative. They should make it clear to customers what to expect about spice levels and such. It almost felt like going to Ichiran without the partitions, in that the customer is left to fend for themselves. On multiple instances I wanted to ask my server for more napkins, more water, or to see if it were possible to get Kardare on the side. However she just briskly attended to other customers without looking around to see if anyone needs help. Very crowded at 5pm on a Sunday in December on a cold, icy day. By the time I left there was a line of five people outside. In the end, Ramen Danbo is a nice ramen shop that is a welcome addition to the scene, particularly with the recent closure of Minca. It is good to have another Tonkotsu challenger to Ippudo. However, the latter still holds the championship belt in my opinion.
Ambiance (4/5): The establishment is quite small and therefore very tight. No place to really hang coats or be comfy. The line queue outside went pretty quickly for us--approx. 10 minutes being the 3rd party of 2 with a 6:45p weeknight arrival. By the time we finished, the line was about 8-10 people in queue who already had an order slip in hand. Service (5/5): There was 2 servers on the floor and we were serviced very quickly. Our food came out within 5 min. Although we didn't feel rushed leaving, expect a quick meal and clear out for the rest of the guests waiting in line. Tonkatsu Ramen (5/5): I love the ability to customize my bowl of ramen to my liking--from the thickness/firmness of my noodle, richness of broth, spice level, toppings! The ramen excels in its broth which has so much umami that it's hard to beat. The charsiu pork pieces would typically dock a star for me, due to its thinness, portion size, and aired on a little dry. The extra soft boiled seasoned egg was a nice plus (+$3) to an otherwise bare bowl (only has green onions) Recommended: thick noodle, standard firmness, spicy, thickness/richness strong, karadare yes
Solid ramen place in west village and perfect for the winter! The food comes fast and the broth is flavorful. The meat is tender and overall a solid place. Happy they are in NYC!
Located in the west village, this ramen shop is super straight-forward and offers a vegan menu in addition to their regular menu! You can choose from a variety of broths, ramen noodles, and toppings as well as some appetizers. Service is fairly quick. Their ramen broth is rich and flavorful and their ramen noodles are the perfect texture. Absolutely love how they have a vegan menu (which also includes vegan appetizers!) and I thought that it was delicious. Great casual ramen spot!
1 month ago
This broth is amazing!! The ONLY meat option is pork...which I don't really like--so I asked if they could do tofu ramen but keep the broth and it was delicious *I also added egg read more
2 months ago
Solid option for vegetarian ramen, with a surprisingly wide selection of broths. The atsu-age tofu topping added nice texture, but could have used a bit more seasoning. They operate on a fully walk-in basis. At 6:30pm on a Friday there was no wait, but by the time we were done a substantial crowd had accumulated. read more
The food here was amazing! I came here with my friend on a Saturday night and even though it was super busy, the service was excellent. Gui, Lily, and Rafeena were all so accommodating and refilled our water often. Gui gave some recommendations from the menu and explained what the toppings were which was super helpful! The Miso Ramen broth had so much flavor and the thin noodles were the perfect texture. It's a narrow space inside but they do have a bathroom which is super clean! I definitely will come back to try their other ramens. read more
4 months ago
Delicious and simple! The wait can be super long, but they're efficient with moving people in and out. I love that you can choose your noodle thickness. I was disappointed at first that some toppings like egg came at a premium, but it's so flavorful and filling on its own you really don't need the extras. Since eating here I've been putting scallions and sesame on all my ramen at home! read more
1 star for Gui: the hostess 5 stars for everyone else and food The restaurant doesn't take reservations in advance which is fine. We had a party of 13 and were waiting outside due to the limited waiting space inside. The line wasn't too bad so we expected to be seated fairly quickly however Gui for some reason didn't understand how to sit large parties. Whenever tables of 2 or 4 would open up, she would skip us and seat everyone else behind us instead of waiting for another 4 to open up so eventually a full party can sit. After over an hour and half of waiting in the single digit weather, half our group left to go to another restaurant and our party of 6 split up into 2 and 4 and eventually asked another seated group to move so we could be together since the host herself wasn't able to figure out how to seat a group larger than 4. If this place didn't have amazing food reviews we would have left after the first hour. Food itself was amazing and perfect for any chilly day. Props to chef but wish the front of house wasn't so terrible at her only job. read more
8 months ago
Perfectly sized ramen bowls with lots of variety. Love that I can build the bowl as I like. From noodle firmness, to spiciness, I can make it my way. Recommend getting the egg extra. They've perfected the soft boil. They have a deal, buy 5 bowls, get free goyza. Buy 5 more, get a free soup. read more
10 months ago
I love ramen, and NYC arguably has some of the best in the country! With the temperatures in the low 40s, hot soup is perfect for this time of year. Found this place randomly while heading to the West Village. I knew it was good when there's only bar seats along the wall and a few small tables. We waiting about 15 mins before a bar seat came available. They handed us a paper menu to check off our order. I got the classic ramen with a gummy egg and side of gyoza. Hubby got the seasonal curry ramen. Oh my gosh, everything was divine!!! The broth, the noodles, the simplicity of the toppings. Just amazing. I can also tell that the noodles were homemade, which makes a world of difference. A side note- Their ramens are all in a pork broth with two pork slices inside. They do have a vegan menu as well for those that don't eat pork. I didn't leave feeling heavy or overly stuffed. Plus, the service was very good. I may have to come for another bowl before heading back to ATL. read more
1 year ago
The ramen here is very good! The ramen bar is very similar to some Japanese ramen bars where you they give you a slip of paper with recommendations and then you choose ur ramen. They only really serve that one thing and do it well. I got a classic ramen with all my options as the "recommended version". It was super yummy and heartwarming. It had a nice zing of spice without overpowering the ramen and a creamy broth. The store itself is quite small. The chairs are little ottomans where you can store everything. read more
15 days ago
This ramen blew my mind. Ramen Danbo is a small shop that has a completely vegan and regular menu. 4 of us came around 5pm and had no wait but shortly after there was a line out the door. I got the vegan classic ramen and my friend got the seasonal one which was a curry one. Both broths were incredible! You're able to customize a lot of the ramen whether it's toppings or the firmness of the noodles. I got the standard selection for a lot and the firmness was perfect. The portion size was also amazing where I felt everything was balanced. Definitely going to come here again. read more
Ramen Danbo is one of those places that consistently proves why it has such a strong reputation. From the moment you walk in, the atmosphere feels warm, inviting, and always buzzing with energy usually a good sign that people know the food is worth the wait. And honestly, it absolutely is. One thing I really love about Danbo is the amount of customization they offer. You can choose your broth richness, noodle firmness, spice level, and even the amount of fattiness in your ramen. It makes every bowl feel personal, and they always get it exactly right. Their signature Tonkotsu broth is incredibly rich and flavorful without being overwhelming. It has that perfect balance of creaminess and depth that you only get from a broth that's been slow-cooked properly. The noodles are another highlight springy, fresh, and cooked exactly the way you request. The chashu pork practically melts in your mouth, and the seasoned egg is always soft-boiled to perfection with that creamy golden center. Every topping feels thought-out and prepared with care. If you're a spice lover, the Rekka style gives you the perfect kick without killing the flavor of the broth. And if you're not into heavy spice, the original Tonkotsu is just as satisfying. Their vegan ramen is also surprisingly delicious and full of flavor, which makes Danbo a great spot even for people who don't eat meat. Service is quick, friendly, and efficient even when the line is long. The staff knows how to keep things moving without making you feel rushed. Despite being busy, the bowls always come out hot, fresh, and beautifully put together. Ramen Danbo delivers every single time. Whether you want a comforting bowl on a cold day, a bold spicy broth, or a customizable ramen experience, this place never disappoints. It's easily one of the best ramen spots around, and definitely worth the visit whether it's your first time or your fiftieth. read more
The tonkotsu broth here is the real deal. It's incredibly rich and creamy without feeling overly heavy or greasy. I loved that you can customize the thickness and the "lard level" I went for the standard, and it was perfectly savory. The noodles had that ideal firm snap, and the chashu pork practically melted in my mouth. The staff really makes the experience. From the moment I walked in, I was greeted with a loud, energetic welcome. If you're close by, give this place a try read more
Food: 4.4/5 Service: 3.7/5 Ambiance: 4/5 Value: 3.8/5 I decided to check this place out after someone on Reddit r/FoodNYC asked where the best ramen was and I responded that I like Tonkotsu style and that I haven't found a place that does it better than Ippudo. Many responded saying Ramen Danbo is the best, so I had to see. It is a small restaurant in the West Village, with seating available for maybe 1/3 as many people as Ippudo. It feels a little smaller than Ivan Ramen or the old Ramen Setagaya as well, though with a similar setup to both. I was sat at a long table against the wall, facing the wall and perpendicular to the street. I ordered the Classic Ramen ($15) with zero spiciness with Extra Chashu (two slices, $3), Egg ($3), and Nori (Seaweed, $2). I set the broth settings at thickness: "strong" and richness: "rich," with no Karadare (umami spicy sauce). I opted for the standard thin noodles. I also ordered the gyoza appetizer (five pieces, $8). So $31 total for my meal. I like the flavor of the broth, it is very rich. It's pork bone broth, but reminded me of the chicken soup richness of Totto Ramen as well. But I think it didn't have the same flavor complexity as Ippudo's Akamaru Modern (it goes by a different name now), maybe because I didn't order the Karadare for fear of the spice level. Had I known the flavor would be on the bland side without it, I would have ordered it. That's one thing I didn't like about this restaurant - things that are in reality necessities are presented as options with additional cost. The other thing I didn't like is the service is very transactional and not informative. They should make it clear to customers what to expect about spice levels and such. It almost felt like going to Ichiran without the partitions, in that the customer is left to fend for themselves. On multiple instances I wanted to ask my server for more napkins, more water, or to see if it were possible to get Kardare on the side. However she just briskly attended to other customers without looking around to see if anyone needs help. Very crowded at 5pm on a Sunday in December on a cold, icy day. By the time I left there was a line of five people outside. In the end, Ramen Danbo is a nice ramen shop that is a welcome addition to the scene, particularly with the recent closure of Minca. It is good to have another Tonkotsu challenger to Ippudo. However, the latter still holds the championship belt in my opinion. read more
Ambiance (4/5): The establishment is quite small and therefore very tight. No place to really hang coats or be comfy. The line queue outside went pretty quickly for us--approx. 10 minutes being the 3rd party of 2 with a 6:45p weeknight arrival. By the time we finished, the line was about 8-10 people in queue who already had an order slip in hand. Service (5/5): There was 2 servers on the floor and we were serviced very quickly. Our food came out within 5 min. Although we didn't feel rushed leaving, expect a quick meal and clear out for the rest of the guests waiting in line. Tonkatsu Ramen (5/5): I love the ability to customize my bowl of ramen to my liking--from the thickness/firmness of my noodle, richness of broth, spice level, toppings! The ramen excels in its broth which has so much umami that it's hard to beat. The charsiu pork pieces would typically dock a star for me, due to its thinness, portion size, and aired on a little dry. The extra soft boiled seasoned egg was a nice plus (+$3) to an otherwise bare bowl (only has green onions) Recommended: thick noodle, standard firmness, spicy, thickness/richness strong, karadare yes read more
Located in the west village, this ramen shop is super straight-forward and offers a vegan menu in addition to their regular menu! You can choose from a variety of broths, ramen noodles, and toppings as well as some appetizers. Service is fairly quick. Their ramen broth is rich and flavorful and their ramen noodles are the perfect texture. Absolutely love how they have a vegan menu (which also includes vegan appetizers!) and I thought that it was delicious. Great casual ramen spot! read more
i really enjoyed this ramen. the service was great. original estimated wait time was 30-40 minutes but only ended up waiting maybe 10 ish minutes. the ramen itself was very tasty. the only reason i give it only 4 stars is it was a bit pricey since you have to pay extra for toppings. i will say though, you get to customize your noodles which is cool they did have a vegan option though too :) read more
Love this ramen spot because you can customize almost every aspect of your food. The cha-su pork is so good! The place is always crowded but the service is super fast and the waiters are very attentive. They also have vegan options for all ramens in case you have dietary restrictions. read more
6 months ago
Got the sesame flavored ramen and is so good and flavorful!!! Even my daughter loves it!! Will come back try other ramen! read more
Pretty solid ramen spot. They had paper forms to order while waiting, and we got lucky where we only had to wait 10 mins or so on a sat night. Service was as expected and noodles were solid, nothing standing out but also nothing I didn't like about it! read more
Cute small ramen joint in the west village open late till 11Pm. For the first time i enjoyed the classic ramen more than the miso ramen .The entire menu is fully customisable which I thoroughly enjoyed. You can coose right from the thinkness to the firmness of the noodle to the richness & saltiness of the broth. The veggie ramen was outstanding.Big tip the ramen already comes with 2 pieces protien and if you circle protien then they give you additional 4 pcs which is a total of 6 and then upcharge you for it. I feel like this should be mentioned more clearly. Our server was very friendly, quick and explained us the difference between all 4 ramens . We were served within a few minutes of placing our order. Towards the end of our meal a very wierd thing happened , they said they ran out of takeaway bowls which was shocking and funny at the same time. All in all the ramen fed our soul and we left as happy people. read more
3 months ago
This was one of the best ramen I've had in nyc! I would definitely recommend it, they had amazing service. read more
Really solid choice for ramen in the area. I came with a friend for dinner and there was no wait for the two of us at around 6 PM on a weeknight. Miso ramen with classic thin noodles and soft-boiled egg (medium spicy) was great, and the gyoza was fantastic. 4.5 stars. read more
I like the idea of being able to customize the ramen. There aren't toppings outside of the two slices of chashu and the pinch of green onions. There wasn't a lot of noodles, but there was an option to add extra noodles for a dollar or two -- not bad of an option. The broth's spice level was perfect, exactly what I had been hoping for when I placed my order. The flavor was good but didn't stand out against other ramen broths I've tried. Walking in alone on a weekday night, there were plenty of seats and I was seated immediately. The seating wasn't too tight, even as I sat shoulder to shoulder with other customers. There was plenty of elbow room. I noticed that the customer next to me didn't get their order right, and I was also given a tea I hadn't ordered on my sheet (and charged for it even after I had sent it back). read more
Simply just a fantastic spot, here you can discover what kind of ramen you like and don't like. A super customizable experience and amazing food. Definitely worth a try if you've never been before. Personally, I'm a big fan of the thicker noodles cooked chewier. read more
2 years ago
1 year ago
My new go-to for ramen downtown. Efficient service. Electronic menu and paper order sheets. Food came fast. They were not busy at the time I was there, but it's a small place and I saw velvet ropes outside so it might get busy at rush hour. Last but not least my ramen was excellent. read more
Stopped by 2 months ago on a cold Saturday night. There was a small wait for bar stool seating in the back. I've been to all the Danbo's in the city and the west coast location as well, so I'm obviously a fan. The layout here is not my favorite, found it very narrow and tight, and most seating was along the wall. Food was consistent with other locations. I have a loyalty card which I scanned but did not credit for my purchase, there seemed to be lack of familiarity with it. Hoping this issue if fixed now. read more
8 months ago
Finally found a vegan ramen that doesn't compromise on creaminess! I had the Negi-goma Ramen and it was incredible - the sesame broth was rich, nutty, and perfectly balanced with the spicy Rekkarise kick. The spring onion flavor really popped. It's rare to find a plant-based broth with this much depth. Definitely my new go-to spot in the West Village!" read more
AMAZING!!! Small place, about 30 seats. Pros: - sizable portions - customizable! You are given a paper menu and you circle your order preferences and add whatever toppings you want - little human interaction which is great for the introverts - flavorful gyoza - fair price (about $50 for two ramens & gyoza) areas of improvement - none, very yummy and will be going back read more
This is one of the relatively more affordable ramen places in the West village! It's a cute place, but wish they were more staffed as it takes a while to flag a waitress down and we waited 15 minutes for them to take my card. They have vegan and meat options - and I always get the shio ramen with an extra egg, and a draft beer on the side! Broth is pretty good and they let you customize everything - including the firmness and type of ramen noodle as well as the spices for the broth. Their apps including the gyoza are all pretty good too. read more
Came here for a quick bite with my son. Got the tonkatsu ramen. Everything is pretty customizable. I got the thin noodles - I should have stuck to medium. Thin was ok but just not enough chew. Broth was rich and tasty. Place was clean and tidy. Definitely worth a try especially if you want a hot bowl of noodles on a cold day. read more
8 months ago
Absolutely love this ramen - the broth is fantastic, noodles have just the right amount of chew and texture, they really hold onto the broth. Very simple and classic with the toppings which I appreciate! A good bowl of ramen doesn't need to go overboard with toppings. I've only gotten this for takeout, so I can't even imagine how good it is in person! Delivery has always been great though, packaged well and no issues. read more
3 months ago
1 year ago
Very solid ramen in Manhattan - 9/10. I love how customizable the ramen is from the choice of broth to the thickness and texture of the noodles. Ordering is very easy here as you fill out a piece of paper with your choices and customizations. Also, draft beer for less than $5! I went with the classic miso broth with added spice, egg, seaweed, and have to go with the extra chashu pork. Overall very pleased. I also got to try out the negi-goma broth which I will order next time. Fun note - This restaurant that originated in Japan also has a location in Brooklyn, as well as locations in Australia and Toronto. read more
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More info about Ramen Danbo - West Vilage
48 Carmine St
New York, NY 10014
West Village
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(917) 261-7355
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http://ramendanbo.com
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Ask the Community - Ramen Danbo - West Vilage
Does anyone know when this location might be open again? Thanks!
The location is currently opened as I went yesterday on 12/11/2022.
