Noted as one of New York's most popular ramen/udon spots, Raku has three locations around the…read morecity--each with a different menu. This location in EV is cozy and intimate. They are fairly strict with their dining time period as it is busy. Be sure to book a reservation. Their menu is fairly large with plenty of appetizers as well as hot and cold udon options (note: this is a udon spot, not ramen). I got their kanimaze (cold) and their tantan (hot) and both were delicious. The kanimaze was refreshing and full of flavor. And the tantan was rich, comforting, and warm. Their shrimp tempura and agedashi were also great. Lightly fried and not too greasy. Would love to come back to try their other options.

Came here because I accidentally booked the wrong location and the other two options didn't have…read moreavailability. It was a pleasant surprise to see that they expanded into the adjacent storefront. Now there's 4-5 booths and a bar table. The annex matches the interior design of their Soho and Midtown location and feels clean and spacious. Service was a bit slow from the hostess to the server. We ordered: small chicken tatsuta-age, niku udon, kamonan udon, assorted mushroom udon, green tea tiramisu, souffle fruit roll, soba pudding. Appreciate how big the chunks of meat are used for fried chicken. The exterior was a bit overfried but the interior stayed Broth and udon aligns with their Soho location which makes me more willing to come to this location moving forward. The assorted mushroom is seasonal. It's a nice lighter cleaner option but at the same time the mushrooms don't add much flavor. Kamonan is the duck which I chose because duck is a less common meat option around. I felt that the duck was a bit tough and bland yet also added too much oil into the clean broth (relatively to me). Niku is an OG but I haven't had it in a while. This time I was surprised how the marinate is light resulting in stronger meat flavor. I wish it would be more tender but it's alright. Desserts were more disappointing to me. I used to go to Patisserie Fouet frequently before they shut down the Union Square location. Green tea tiramisu had strong matcha soaks but I found the overall dessert to be a bit bland. The soaked sponge was a bit too wet too. Souffle fruit roll was huge, better to share with others especially after already eating savory food beforehand. I think it's intentional for the cake to be so dense. It came out really smooth but way too dense to feel like a dessert. I think I would eat this as breakfast instead. The raspberry sauce's tartness and punchiness is much needed otherwise I don't know if I can finish it. Soba pudding is my usual favorite and it stands up to the test of time. Still super smooth and with wheaty depth.

my friend and i both ordered the kimchi cream udon and it was great!! service was amazing!…read more wish i got to try more dishes and i think i will come back :)

hour wait for walk-in party of 2 on Saturday night @7 so sat down at 8…read more its a bit loud inside so if youre more sensitive to noise youll want to bring ear plugs. - kimchi udon: texture is creamy. cheesy. if you dont like cheesy, you wont like this. some of asparagus was stringy but mushroom, udon and kimchi bits were good. - garlic fried rice: the favorite of the night. not too oily! we got sushi set and izakaya set too and preferred the sushi. were good/decent but nothing super special. service was prompt and came by often to refill waters which was nice!

Every dish was honestly very delicious!…read more Corn ribs -- good flavor and reminded me of elote Niku udon -- hand pulled noodles were indeed very good and the broth is very light, it also comes with a few chunks of beef that are very tender Mazemen -- also made with hand pulled noodles, not too saucy and mild spice, sweet and meaty flavors Pork loin katsu -- prob one of the best katsus ive had, it didnt taste greasy or heavy at all and the breading was light and crispy. The pork wasnt dry and was quite soft. I did wish it came with some rice or something bc it's only 5 pieces that goes by quickly. My mom and aunt also thought the food tasted good and they're generally pretty picky!

I'm always on the search for good katsu and was looking forward to trying this spot! This is a bit…read moreof a belated review, but I'm glad to see that the standout dishes from my winter visit are still featured on their summer menu. 3 of us shared a few orders of their tenderloin ($18) and pork loin ($20) katsu, eggplant agebitashi ($18), sabazushi ($22), truffle rice, and niku udon ($24). The katsu was very, very moist on the inside, with a crispy batter that was so light it was almost flavorless. I honestly couldn't really tell the difference between the tenderloin and pork loin. Overall the dish had a very light flavor and I added quite a bit of sauce and wasabi. Some of the less memorable dishes were the eggplant agebitashi and truffle rice. The eggplant agebitashi tasted like a cross between an eggplant parm and a bolognese. The truffle rice had a very strong truffle flavor that ended up overpowering everything else in the dish. I thought the slices of raw button mushrooms were a little strange. I really enjoyed the sabazushi. The pieces of mackerel were thick and carried a lot of that characteristic mackerel oily flavor, but the oiliness was cut by enough vinegar to balance everything out. The niku udon was also a surprise hit. The noodles were wide, flat, super slurpy, and the broth carried a deep umami flavor. Overall, I had a pretty solid experience here.

A neighborhood spot with great quality Japanese food. We tried the katsudon and the mazemen (from…read morethe summer menu). Katsudon was comforting and felt like a home cooked meal, and the cutlet was not dry. Mazemen noodles were a good chewy texture and very flavorful once mixed together. Service was friendly and relatively quick for a sit down. Will definitely be back to try other dishes here!

I loooooove Japanese curry and the curry omurice definitely hit the spot. The pieces of fried…read morechicken were super juicy and crispy and the rice was not soggy The curry ramen, was too heavy for me. The flavor was good but wouldn't recommend it as your first meal of the day

Great place all around!…read more The service was great, they recommended stuff and suggested a way to order for the amount of people/what we wanted. It had a real izakaya feel to it with the decors and the lighting. The restaurant goes deep!! It was bigger than I imagined. And the food of course was delicious. We had grilled squid, cabbage salad, nabe, and mackerel. Everything hit the spot. They also have different sauces that make the dining experience fun! I'm glad I went here with my friends.

TL;DR: you won't regret dining here. I'm already planning my next visit. 5/5…read more Came here on Saturday at 1.30pm (group of four), no reservation, were seated immediately. Promptly brought a wet towelette for our hands and water. Service overall was excellent, from start to finish. Ended up ordering the following: - Bottle of strawberry nigori sake (could have gotten one per person but we were already hitting a bar afterwards) - Yakitori combo appetizer (two skewers of each of the following: chicken+scallion, chicken meatball, and scallops): all of the skewers were delicious. I could have easily eaten three orders by myself. Succulent, juicy scallops, perfectly cooked chicken and scallions, and the chicken meatballs were perfectly moist and delicious. - Shrimp tempura appetizer: I love for shrimp so this one was all for me. Excellent tempura batter and nice-sized shrimp. - Trico roll: shared by the three others in my party and they all said they'd get it again. - Beef Yakiniku Don: probably my favorite. My GF got this and shared some with me. Amazing flavor and perfectly cooked. After a few bites I decided I would get this next time I come back for lunch. 7/5. - Pork Belly Nabe: my friend said it was delicious but I can't give it a rating myself. - Yakitori Don: my other friend got this and it looked as good as the chicken skewers we had as an appetizer. Again, can't give it a rating based on taste, but on looks a 5/5. - Yaki Udon: I got this. I was originally going to get sukiyaki but since two people had to order and no one else did, I ended up ordering this (my alternate was the Beef Yakiniku Don but my GF had already ordered so I got a different dish). Only complaint was that it could have had a little bit more beef but overall, perfectly sheet udon noodles, sauce, and beef. Would still get it again. 4.5/5. $180 for all (pre-tip). Well worth the price. Next time I return it'll be for sukiyaki, though, and I'll make sure whoever I go with is going to get it, too. 5/5, will be back.

10,000 years of evolution and we've finally reached peak udon noodle form. The height of human…read morecraft. Literally the silkiest, smoothest, chewy yet soft noodles I have ever eaten. Niku and gyunan were divine. In the niku, they somehow managed to make the tripe and beef tendon immensely flavorful and tender without being heavy-handed. The fatty beef in the gyunan was crack with the sesame chili oil. The bonito base soup was somehow savory and full-bodied while also being sweet and light, so even though I was about to burst it didn't feel icky. Nothing to note in appetizer land besides the fact that I finally tried monkfish liver and it literally tasted like a salmon-flavored paté. Both surprised and relieved it tasted so normal. Despite the long wait time, it still felt relatively spacious inside, and even with just two people, we got our own booth!

I was recommended to come check this out and I love me some Japanese food…read more There was a bit of a wait on Friday about 45 mins but we had a bigger party than usual. Ordering was quick and I got the eggplant (fyi one of my favorite veggies) appetizer to try. It was an American eggplant and it seems like it was baked first. Then they had a ground pork sauce and quail egg on the top. The server suggested to mix it in and then eat it. It kind of like an Asian baba ghanoush where got pretty creamy. I enjoyed it! I was pretty excited to try the udon and it tasted chewy and wasn't overcooked. I think they could crank up the AC a little bit towards the back of the restaurant because felt a bit toasty. Bathroom was downstairs and floor was a bit wet so be careful down there. I come again :)

I was craving carbonara and it was after midnight. I almost gave up hope thinking nothing would be…read moreopen and my cravings wouldn't go unfulfilled. But at last, as I searched on DoorDash I stumbled upon this glorious restaurant they call Izakaya Fuku. I was drawn to the adorable names for their sushi roll dishes like "Strawberry Fields" and their Italian Japanese fusion pasta dishes, "Creamy Mentaiko Bacon Pasta" with creamy mayonnaise, spicy cod roe and bacon like are you kidding me? It's a bummer I wasn't more hunger or that I didn't have more bucks in my wallet because I wanted all these dishes. And the Chirashi Don, god it looks so beautiful the way that it's arranged in the photos online. I finally decided on the carbonara. And I was drawn to the fact that it was udon based. Now, I've just been living in hawaii these past years so that Japanese twist on an Italian dish that I just love oh so much really brought me back to missing the islands and the Asian spins they had on cuisines. Now my food may have not come in a jiffy but for after midnight cravings I'd say it was well worth the wait. And my oh my the portion was huge!!!! I slurped that big boy up. It was SOOO delicious and savory. I love comfort food and this had me in carbonara heaven. I loved indulging into every single last bite. By the looks of the picture the restaurant looks lovely, I'd love to stop there and try it in person. Thank you. Thank you! My belly and my heart are very much satisfied.

So this place is small and charming, dark and well I hate to say it (cus it sounds cliche now) but…read moreit's a vibe. For real. From the decor to the music to its surroundings. She's a gem. The service was attentive yet not pushy. Knowledgeable and hospitable without being extra. Just chill and on point overall. They definitely read the room and that's my favorite kind of service. The food: Chicken curry katsu! Perfection! Carbonara udon! Delightful! Black garlic ramen! Delicious! Whatever you choose I'm sure you will not be disappointed! Honestly. And tbh, literally because of that, we're headed back today! lol. Like for real no joke haha

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

Is it Japan? No, you're in NYC. But is it good enough? Absolutely. Just expect to pay NYC prices…read more My biggest recommendation: stick to the classic ramen. I usually order spicy ramen at most ramen spots, so that's what I went with my first time here. Big mistake. The spicy ramen really takes away from the depth of flavor. If you actually want to appreciate the broth, the classic ramen is the way to go. You can always add spicy oil yourself. A few things could definitely be improved. For an upscale ramen spot in the heart of NYC, I was surprised the tap water was straight-up lukewarm. Nobody wants lukewarm water after eating a piping-hot bowl of ramen. I'd also avoid the bar seating if you can. The seats aren't very comfortable, especially if your back tends to get tight from sitting hunched over. Another small but surprisingly annoying issue is the front door, it doesn't have a slow-close mechanism, so it's constantly slamming shut. Depending on where you're sitting, it can get pretty loud and distracting while you're trying to eat. On the positive side, the service was great. The staff was attentive, and the food came out incredibly quickly after ordering, which I really appreciated. The ambiance definitely fits the upscale NYC ramen vibe without feeling overly fancy. You don't need to dress up, casual clothes are completely fine. I'll definitely be back, classic ramen next time, no question.

My husband and I shared: - Berkshire Pork Loin Katsu Curry…read more- Surprise Katsu Donburi Both were delicious! If I had to pick between the two, I'd probably go with the curry. I love Japanese curry and this one is done very well. It's also a ton of food. Two people could probably share one dish. We came in on Friday a bit after 7 and only had to wait a few minutes for a table. The service was quick too.

Coming from southern California, I'm bummed that this didn't meet my expectations. Curry was good…read morebut everything else was mediocre or less than. Salad dressing has no flavor, kinda bland. Sashimi is low grade, don't order it. Karage is eh ok. I've had better, like furaibo. Shocking, there weren't any Japanese cooking... Like I normally see but that isn't always needed. Service was ok,

The skewers were extremely juicy and delicious. My favorites were the galbi (beef short rib) and…read morechicken thigh. The Japanese sausage and chicken skin were also good. The eel rice bowl was also very good. Walked in on a Friday (holiday) at 5 PM with no wait, despite no slots available on Resy at the time.

Still the best in New York. Unique, flavorful chicken skin skewers among many things (see my…read morephotos), though somehow grilled chicken soft bone is a bit tasteless? Fast service. You can order a little and keep adding depending on how big or small each dish is. We came right at 5 pm when they opened. We didn't have a reservation, and after some fumbling they got us four seats at the bar (looking over grilling chefs at work). Not bad, though we were hoping for a table. Great decor and ambiance as always. Wish the grilled shrimps come with shell on, and with salt only (no sauce).