Menkoi Sao is a Hokkaido style ramen shop that focuses on serving hearty, comforting bowls without…read moreovercomplicating the experience. We walked into a casual space with the kind of atmosphere where you come in for a satisfying bowl of noodles rather than a long dining experience. The smell of the broth coming from the kitchen adds to the warmth, creating that cozy feeling you expect from a good ramen spot. The space is straightforward and functional, letting the food speak for itself. The ramen is the main reason to visit, and the bowls are built with a lot of care. The noodles have a nice firm texture and hold up well in the broth, giving each bite a good balance between the noodles and soup. The broths lean richer and more flavorful, especially for those who enjoy a deeper, heavier ramen style. The toppings are generous, with slices of pork, soft boiled egg, seaweed, bamboo shoots, and green onions adding different textures and flavors throughout the bowl. The pork is tender and well seasoned, and the egg is cooked to that perfect jammy consistency that ties the whole bowl together. The Spicy Miso Ramen stands out as one of the more popular choices, bringing heat while still keeping the savory depth of the miso base. The curry ramen is also worth considering if you want something different from the usual ramen options, offering a thicker, more aromatic broth that still feels comforting. Beyond ramen, the fried chicken, known locally as zangi, and fried rice make good additions to round out the meal, especially if you are looking for something more filling. The zangi is crisp on the outside and juicy inside, a solid complement to the heavier noodle bowls. Service is quick and friendly, and the food comes out efficiently even when the restaurant is busy. The staff handle the steady flow without losing the casual neighborhood feel, making it an easy place to stop by whether you are dining alone or with a group. The menu has enough variety without feeling overwhelming, and the focus stays clearly on the ramen. Menkoi Sao is a solid option for anyone looking for authentic feeling Hokkaido style ramen in New York. The portions are generous, the flavors are bold, and the bowls are the type of meal that feels especially satisfying on a colder day. While the richer broths may be heavier than what some people prefer, it works well for anyone who enjoys a more traditional, full-bodied ramen experience that delivers on warmth, depth, and comfort.

Genuinely... no offense meant. But I miss the old ramen spot that used to be here a few years ago…read more I've been back twice since this new crew took over and it's decent, but it's not like the old spot. I always used to come here for chicken tantanmen ramen, especially in the winter months. I've tried their version... it's not bad but it's exceptionally spicer than the last owners. I personally love heat, but it's like overpowering, you lose the flavor of everything else. Which I understand is some people's thing, I just wish it was spicy, not SUPER spicy. Last time I came here I got the miso chicken, it was good, but lacked that punch I want in my ramen experience. I will say, however, that the fried chicken is to die for! Worth the $20. Also, the service is impeccable on. The people are very kind. Last time I came they gave me a bib because I was wearing a dress and she was so sweet about it. She even accommodated me at the window because I'm a larger person and sitting on those little stools is like sitting on a nail when you have a butt as big as mine. The environment is just like it was before and gives me fond memories of the years I spent in West Village working. Cozy, off the beaten path, and always busy. I guess I just miss my old Ramen and the memories attached to it. I'll be back again to try something new!

The service was phenomenal and the vibe was chill. Definitely recommend for a quick quiet dinner…read morespot for good ramen.

Clean and neat, open viewing of the ramen and sushi area. Staff was efficient…read more There's a lunch special of ramen + a half appetizer for an extra $4. The gyoza are deep-fried.. I should've asked as I prefer pan fried, so the mayo and toppings on top were just ok. The miso ramen, not bad (though I didn't like the corn), but the pork was cold and chewy on that and the Jack Black (spicy black garlic oil). Bao was good, though - crisp and reminded me of the old Ippudo bun before they went cheap.

Came here with a friend to try it out. Unfortunately we were both disappointed. Service was quick,…read moreno complaints there. The restaurant is a small cozy place. Unfortunately the food is a bit lacking, especially for the price and options in the area. I paid $15 for what is essentially pork on bone. It was good but not fulfilling or worth the price at all. We got sushi roll and I thought it was fine. Again it was a bit underwhelming to be honest. Finally she got her ramen and she didn't enjoy it. It was a small portion and she needed to add more seasoning to it. It was also lacking in fillings. After we left here we went to McDonald's to get more food. I understand the concept of Izakayas are small bites but at these prices, no thank you. I probably should've just got curry or something else instead. Unfortunately I doubt we'll be back. I'll give this place 3 stars because I thought service and the food was good. Although my friend said it was a 2/5.

Unassuming bar that has good food! You know a Japanese spot will be authentic when the customers…read moreare mostly Japanese and everyone who works there is from Japan. The Hakata Cheese Steak was interesting, but in a good way. The Grilled Yuzu Chicken was also really good. Good spot to come for drinks and light bites!

Kazumi is a lovely pop up restaurant with an intimate space and attentive service. The menu is…read moresmall but every dish is wonderfully designed with unique flavor pairings. Half of their menu is vegan-friendly. Spoiler alert: they will open a permanent location in June/July! ＊Chicken Karaage*** This chicken karaage was TO DIE FOR -- the caramelized sugar lemon on the side took it to a whole new level. The boneless chicken was so tender and juicy with a thin deep-fried batter. The meat was extremely refreshing after squeezing the lemon and dipping in honey mustard sauce. ＊ Handrolls - Salmon Yuzu, Tuna, Yellowtail** Y'all need to order their handrolls! The sashimi piece was thick and long enough to cover the vinegar rice. It would be a pain to pick which handroll I like more. They layered up the flavors of each piece with house sauces, shiso leaf, fried leek, avocado etc. Wish they would add a handroll set in the future. ＊Pork Cutlet Curry The curry was a blend of shredded meat, mashed potatoes, tomatoes and grapes (yes grapes!). The pork loin cutlets were crispy and not heavily breaded. The meat was a bit dry, yet it was cut in thin slices so it didn't bother me much. I found the multigrain rice even more enjoyable than white rice with its crunchiness. ＊Matcha Crème Brûlée** WE LOVED THIS. Matcha flavor is strong. The caramelized top and creamy matcha custard complemented really well. Trust me, their crème brûlée is the best dessert to finish off your meal. ＊Vegan Matcha Cheesecake This cheesecake was homey and light. Matcha flavor was tasteable but not very strong. The raspberry compote added a nice touch to it. I liked the crunchy biscuit layer on the bottom. ＊Yuzu White Peach Sparkling ＊Virgin Green Tea Mojito Their Japanese-inspired mocktails were great and not too sweet (very rare for mocktails). Very refreshing to drink along with your meal.

A cute neighborhood spot for casual lunch. The restaurant is very small, 4-6 tables, but it's cozy…read more The menu is simple and no fuss which I liked not being overwhelmed with options. Starting off with the Agedashi Tofu: Three pieces of tofu in tsuyu sauce. Light and crispy, with a savory but not too salty broth. It came with fried enoki mushrooms. Some grated radish would've been a nice touch. Chicken Karaage: This was my personal favorite. The chicken pieces were tender and juicy, while crispy on the outside. The portion came with a decent amount of chicken which was shareable between three. Shoyu Ramen: Not a standout dish, but seeing as it's not specifically a ramen restaurant, it was standard! Not amazing but not bad. Pork Cutlet Curry: As someone who loves Japanese curry, this hit the spot! Warm flavorful curry with crispy tonkatsu. However, I think it would taste better served with fluffy white rice! Also I think it was served with a side of grapes which was seemed odd unless it's a new food trend I'm unaware of. Overall, would definitely come back! They seem to do fried foods well, hopefully they can introduce tempura or a katsu sando would be amazing.

This is the kind of place I'm torn about recommending because I don't want it to get discovered…read more We're rapidly losing all the little neighborhood places to TikTok fame and I don't wanna encourage that here. I've been here a bunch of times, and I would say 98% of them or after midnight. This is the perfect place to refuel on your way home after a night out with some friends. The various shoyu based ramen are excellent, the broth is just top-notch. I keep saying that I'm gonna try the curry Ramen, my son said it was really good, but I'm just stuck on that shoyu. They also do gyoza and buns and a bunch of other stuff, and everything I've tried so far is good. This is not to say there aren't some inconsistent on the menu, but not enough for me to do the many stars, for example, I went and had their menma twice about a week apart, and the first time was definitely a bit more complex in flavor than the next time but that was still delicious. The cook is very sweet, the food is very good, and it's a true New York hole in the wall.

The vibe is relaxed and perfect for unwinding after a night out. It's right in the heart of the…read moreEast Village, and the owner is incredibly kind and welcoming. Food: Where do I even begin with the ramen? It's phenomenal. One bowl in and you'll feel like you've been transported to the streets of Japan, craving something warm and comforting. Absolutely mouthwatering, I was ready for a nap afterward. The gyoza is just as impressive. I'm usually hesitant because it's often overfried at other spots nearby, but this was shockingly fresh and perfectly cooked. Highly recommend the pork shoyu ramen and the gyoza. Plus, the lunch specials are available on weekends too, such a steal!

Really solid for a quick no hassle meal. Food is good, it comes out fast, freshly stocked grab and…read morego, and solid prices. The sushi specifically was really well priced. The ramen was also really solid and a nice, not-too-filling portion size. If on the go or in between classes, this is a great place to grab some food with friends or alone. Plenty of comfortable seating. Not food id go out of my way for but the price point and location will have me back for sure.

I'm a big fan of this place for their lunch specials. They have differing specials depending on the…read moreday of the week, and they have noodle specials as well as sushi specials, so you can really get whatever you're craving. I got the shrimp tempura and shrimp avocado rolls + a miso soup for $15 which is a great deal especially in this area. The place itself has a good amount of seating for solo eaters as well as friends, and it's a great spot for students. My rolls hit my sushi craving exactly where it had to be hit and I have no complaints about either of my rolls! I did have to wait around 20mins for my food which is not terrible, but for how the place is set up I would have expected slightly quicker service.

I had the chicken teriyaki here, which came with a side of rice and miso soup. The miso soup had a…read moresolid taste, but seemed to be lacking something, either more tofu or more seaweed. The chicken teriyaki was okay, although nowhere near the most flavorful I've ever had. I did really like the broccoli and potatoes (these were so yummy!) that came with this dish, so much so that I ordered another side of them. My friends ordered the sushi and neither had any complaints. One of them spoke very highly of the fried chicken sushi roll, so I'd recommend that.

Solid 3 stars. It wasn't great but very average. Wine bottles were around 30 but quality was low…read more Fish was fresh but rolls weren't super flavorful. Service was decent and the place had good vibes. Not too crowded but we went on a Wednesday evening around 730.

The lines here can get long, but finally made it on a Friday evening and was luckily seated right…read moreaway. But I completely understand why this spot is usually so packed because it's goddamn good! The husband ordered the Tonkotsu Jiro Ramen ($18) and I got the Tonkotsu Tsukemen ($18). For $5 more, you get a soft-boiled egg plus extra chashu, but the basic bowl was more than enough food for us. Or if you really want a challenge, they have the largest tsukemen ever for $65. I really enjoyed both the tsukemen and ramen --depending on what you're feeling. The broth is super flavorful and the noodles are thick and chewy. They also give you plenty of noodles and beansprouts, which is so satisfying. One of my favorite ramen spots in NYC. I love their simplicity with just two signature items.

TabeTomo is a ramen spot in the East Village with ramen that lives up to the recommendations I had…read moreheard. The tonkotsu ramen is the anchor of the menu, and the broth is the main event. I found it deeply flavored, porky, and built for the kind of meal that actually keeps me full. The chashu was generous and the soft boiled egg was a worthy addition to my order. Portions run large across the board, which makes the value strong relative to what I paid. The tsukemen is another reason I would keep coming back. The noodles arrived separately from the broth, which was served as a concentrated dipping base, and the interaction between the two worked really well. The broth had great texture and the noodles held up through the whole bowl. I also added the karaage chicken as a starter, and it came out crispy with a light batter, pairing well with the heavier main. The space has bar seating and the room is tight, which gave it the kind of energy that a good ramen spot should have. Service was consistently attentive and the pace of the meal moved well. Arriving earlier in the evening or on a weekday helps avoid a wait, and the strip of paper sign in system out front keeps things organized when there is a line. TabeTomo is a solid addition to the East Village ramen landscape.