Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Vert Frais

    4.2 (309 reviews)
    ModerateCocktail Bars, Ramen
    Open 11:00 am - 10:00 pm

    Order Vert Frais Takeout or Delivery

    Vert Frais Photos

    Business Info

    VERT FRAIS ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Trendy
    Classy
    Moderate noise

    You might also consider

    Recommended Reviews - Vert Frais

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Omurice.
    Cindy Z.

    Such a cute brunch Japanese brunch spot in LIC, especially for the popular jiggle soufflé pancakes. A friend and I caught up here on a late afternoon Saturday walk-in with no wait, so that was nice. We started off with a Blue Moon Latte ($6) and Rose Latte ($6). Do note that they charge an extra 50cents for ice and $1 for oat milk though. The blue moon latte was also half the size of the rose, which seems unfair. Anyways, onto the food we ordered the Matcha Soufflé Pancake ($16) to share. The pancakes are not too big and very soft and airy, so it's easy to eat. This was perfect for sharing with a good matcha cream. For my main dish, I got the Omurice ($23) and I gobbled this up. I loved how flavorful the rice under the bed of egg and demi-glaze. Probably one of my favorite spots for omurice actually. Overall, such a great spot for Japanese brunch. Although I had to flag the servers a few times to help clear our plates, they were rushing from table to table. I like this spot and would be back again when in the area.

    Minna C.

    After hearing about this place for so long, my friend and I stopped by on a Saturday and only waited about 10 mins before a seat opened up for brunch. The staff were quick and knowledgeable, food was served at a timely manner. We tried their chicken karaage, ramen and pork chashyu bowl lunch special, wagyu teriyaki burger, and matcha soufflé pancake. Their karaage was fried to perfection and had really good flavor as did their burger. The ramen and bowl were pretty standard but definitely hit the spot when you're craving it. The matcha soufflé pancake was soft and pillowy but a bit too sweet for my liking. Overall this is a great place to grab brunch and catch up with friends in a very instagram friendly, well decorated environment!

    Omurice
    Mindy L.

    I would go here every day if I could! This place is so cute and all the vibes were there! For drinks and starters we got the chicken karaage and the lavender lemonade and the matcha rose latte! The chicken was so tender and the dipping sauce it came with was sooo good! The soufflé pancakes were super soft and the HIGHLIGHT dish for me was the omurice! Honestly one of the best omurice I've had in nyc.

    Mont blanc souffle pancake
    Holly E.

    Cute brunch and lunch spot with a very floral high tea decor vibe. Famous for their souffle pancakes which I thought were fine, don't sleep on their entrees. I had their summer lunch special: pork katsu burger, French fries, and lemonade for $21. Given the area and ambience of the place, it's a good deal. The katsu was crispy and light and very filling. The fries surprisingly tasted a lot like McDonald's fries but I don't mean it in a bad way, just a very familiar taste. Lemonade was a tad sweet but overall, I really enjoyed the meal. For dessert, our table shared the Mont blanc souffle pancake as well as the matcha souffle pancake. We liked the matcha one better. Liked that the pancakes came with fresh fruit to balance out the flavors.

    Interior
    Kseniya K.

    Were the first ones in the door, with a reservation, on a random Tuesday morning. We were ignored for half an hour by all the waitstaff. The place filled up by 12:30pm. Everyone's order was taken but ours. Once we finally got to place our order, we watched everyone finish their meal, while getting morning. Not a drink, not a coffee, not an appetizer. The service was horrendous. We waited for almost an hour to get our meal. Felt bad for the only two sweet women working the entire restaurant--serving, bussing, cleaning, doing everything. Is management out of their mind? Only two people working the entire space, that's packed to the gills? Unacceptable. The two ladies did best they could. Felt bad. The vibes are pretty and are the only reason people flock to this place. AC was out of control--everyone was shivering and there was nothing that could be done. I don't remember ever being so uncomfortable at a restaurant and wishing for to leave after traveling over an hour one way to dine here. $6 Hot Matcha latte & $6.50 hot rose matcha lattes were probably the highlights of our experience, which is sad. Drinks are ludicrously expensive, at $20 a small pop. Hipster prices, hipster experience. $20 chocolate old fashioned was good, but I wouldn't return for it. We got the $19 salty (classic) ramen and the $19 soy (sho-yu) ramen and both were the worst we've ever had. Who wrote all these good reviews for ramen here?? Instant packaged ramen tastes better. The broth was off--tasted of old meat, especially the classic ramen. Noodles were instant pre packed kind. The three time sad pieces of pork tasted of nothing. This was super disappointing. The salmon ikura bowls were nothing to write home about. $16 matcha soufflé pancakes were undercooked inside. Had no taste, but the matcha sauce was sweet and added some light flavor. Overall, would not return. Parking around is nonexistent. Trains are tough. This spot is in the middle of nowhere and so not worth the track.

    Alisa J.

    Really good brunch place. Waited about 10 minutes on Sunday afternoon. Soufflé pancakes were absolutely delicious. The matcha vert frais pancake was fluffy and so delicious. The omurice was yummy as well. Overall food is a bit expensive. Great ambiance and wonderful people. Very authentic Japanese cafe.

    Tate A.

    Solid brunch spot in LIC. I walked in on Saturday around 1:45 and was told I needed to have a complete party before being seated. 2/3 of us had arrived, and I informed the server that we would place the order, but he reiterated that the complete party would need to present. Just something to keep in mind when you walk in. My friends and I did family style and ordered the Omurice, Vert Frais Matcha Soufflé Pancake, Matcha French Toast, and Large Fries. The French fries came out first and were basically McDonald's fries with a little Parmesan sprinkled on it. Everything looked pretty and instagrammable but at most tasted just okay. I wasn't in love with the Omurice sauce which tasted more tomato-based than I prefer. The soufflé was nice and fluffy but the pancake itself didn't really have flavor. The matcha French toast took the cake for me. It was soft and crunchy on the crust. My group ordered drink as well and the total ended up being $120+ with tip. Way more expensive than I was expecting, but I was happy to treat my friends to a nice birthday brunch. Come for the photos and aesthetic, but don't expect much when it comes to the food.

    Anna N.

    Wow everything here is so good! Be prepared to wait a while for a table walking in. The inside is decorated nicely, and the servers are nice. We got the omurice, Hamburg steak, ramen, salmon bowl, and matcha soufflé pancake. All of the sauces and flavors were amazing! I would love to try one of their lattes next time.

    Kathy X.

    Dined here for brunch with a friend. The interior was cute, bright, and aesthetically pleasing. There were colorful flowers and greenery all around, nice bar area, pretty chandeliers, smooth marble table tops, and adorable settings. The place had a charming ambiance. For my drink, I tried the Blue Moon Latte, consisting of butterfly pea flower tea, milk, French vanilla syrup, topped with dried flowers. This was a lovely pale blue color and I could truly discern the butterfly pea tea, which is sometimes difficult to showcase. The Latte was delicate and oh so smooth, as well as creamy, with all the ingredients mingling well together. We shared the Monc Blanc Soufflé Pancake and Omurice Omelet. The Soufflé Pancakes was beautifully presented with a mountain of stringy chestnut puree and white bean paste. The Pancakes were lightly fluffy and perfectly cooked, surrounded by strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, and grapes. The topping was slightly sweet, rich, and had the distinct nutty flavor of chestnut. I also enjoyed the Omurice Omelet, which was filled with bacon fried rice, along with onion, mushroom, and peas. The sauce covering the Omelet was a Demi-glacé, a well seasoned, deeply savory brown sauce. The rice was tasty and wonderfully fluffy with plenty of bold flavor. While there was a decent amount of bacon, it could have been crispier. The veggies added a fresh element and could have been more evenly distributed. Service was good. Our waiter was welcoming and everything came out in a timely manner. Prices were reasonable especially considering the Long Island City location.

    Vert frais matcha soufflé pancake
    Becky L.

    Came on a weekend to have brunch with friends and this place did not disappoint. Since we heard that the wait starts even before it opens so since we were a party of 5 coming on a Saturday, we lined up around 30 min before they opened. Seated immediately after they opened. My friends all enjoyed their drinks and food. I got the charcoal latte--which when I asked the staff if there was any difference in taste, they were transparent and said no. It truly just tasted like a latte. Probably wouldn't recommend unless you appreciate for aesthetics. I shared the omelette and the vert frais soufflé pancakes. The omelette was fantastic, perfectly cooked, and also came with toast and a side salad--definitely a decent amount. The demi glace wasn't too thick or salty. This was my favorite. I can definitely see why people get the vert frais pancakes--super aesthetically pleasing. Good if you like light soufflé pancakes. Though this dish took a while--around 40 min, and we did have to remind the server about it when he asked if we were waiting for anything else. Service was good and answered all of our questions. Overall this place was nice in food presentation/quality with comfortable modern ambience. Definitely recommend if you want an asian inspired brunch. You just have to be willing to wait for it.

    Souffle pancakes with matcha sauce on the side
    Erica A.

    I had been wanting to go to Vert Frais for a long time and was pleased to find that the hype was so worth it! The matcha souffle pancakes were the stand out winner of this meal with the perfect pillowy texture of the pancakes and the delightful, not-too-sweet matcha cream. Service was friendly and quick. Bathroom was nice and clean. I'm not in LIC often but will have to stop by again next time I'm in the area!

    matcha souffle pancake

    1. food came out extremely late. Took 30 min + they forgot the french fries until we reminded 2. everything they served was bland and undercooked. Trust me, I've been to Japan many times, its not just because its Japanese style. The matcha souffle pancake was pretty, but tasted like nothing and the inside was mushy and soggy. It did not have an airy bounce like souffle pancake should. The french fries were worse, they were seasoned ok but the texture was just soggy and soft. It tasted like a mashed potato more than a fry. Very disappointing experience. The cafe drinks were the redeeming factor here but brunch was not good

    Citrus blossom drink
    Anne F.

    My experience at Vert Frais was très magnifique! My husband and I came on a Saturday afternoon, eager to try two items from the menu: the crème anglaise pancake and the omurice, a sweet and a savory dish for a well balanced brunch. The pancake was incredibly fluffy, almost as airy as poached meringue. The cream added a light sweetness, and when paired with the side of fruit, made for a heavenly bite. Although the pancake alone started us off on a high note, the omurice was the pièce de résistance. Silky scrambled eggs rested on a bed of pork belly fried rice and topped with cascading gravy, of which tasted like a sweet umami tomato sauce. We scarfed that down quickly, leaving that as our last - and most memorable - bite. If I ever find myself in Long Island City again, I would certainly return to Vert Frais for its delicious omurice.

    Rose matcha latte

    See all

    2 months ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 1
    Love this 4
    Oh no 0

    9 days ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    11 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    13 days ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 2
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    4 days ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    19 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    27 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 2
    Photo of Alisa J.
    242
    2080
    7208

    2 months ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    5 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 1

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 months ago

    Helpful 6
    Thanks 2
    Love this 5
    Oh no 0

    7 months ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Albert Z.
    235
    40
    41

    20 days ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 months ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    6 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    We stood in line right before it opened and got a rose latte and creme soufflé pancake which was fluffy and delicious!

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    10 months ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    9 months ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    10 months ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    5 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Big fan of the omurice, although I wish there were more protein options to add on top! Excited to come back to try the pancakes.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 2
    Love this 1
    Oh no 1

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    11 months ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 2
    Love this 1
    Oh no 1

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 8
    Thanks 1
    Love this 7
    Oh no 0

    7 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 1

    Page 1 of 8

    Vert Frais Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Vert Frais

    Is there a patio or outdoor seating?

    No there is only indoor seating.

    Do they take reservations? Reviews seem mixed and there's no option on their website (leads to a dead page) and when calling no one seems to ever pick up

    They take reservations, for big parties at least. Just call them (and yeah when they are busy they might miss your call but...just keep calling...)

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

    You might also consider

    Verify this business for free

    People searched for Cocktail Bars 19,353 times last month within 10 miles of this business.

    Verify this business

    Takumen - Karaage Chicken Appetizer

    Takumen

    4.0(347 reviews)
    0.8 miHunters Point, Long Island City
    $$

    Was okay but nothing great. It was pretty dimly lit to the point where I felt like I needed…read moreflashlights. I got the kaarage, shoot potatoes, spicy goma miso, ban ban chicken, taku sando, and a yuzu drink. It was okay but I don't think I'd go back. It didn't have anything that I felt set it apart/did better than any other place Kaa rage Chicken a tiny bit on the dry side. Flavor is good Sauce is great flavor with the micro greens and chicken. Wish there was a bit more of it. Shoot potato Potato texture could be done a bit longer seeing how it was called fried on the menu when it's more like tater sized cut potatoes. Could be a bit softer on the inside. But with the mayo, the texture is actually good the way it is. The potato is pretty bland and the mayo makes up a bit for it but not by much. The mayo isnt my favorite type of flavor so it's kinda just okayish With the nori flavor/furikake and the mayo, it ends up almost tasting and feeling like a fish and chips with white fish Taku sando Yuzu ginger ale. The drink is pretty good ginger ale and yuzu flavor works so good together. But as it sits it doesn't taste as good Spicy goma miso tastes very peanut buttery and creamy Banban chicken ramen also tasty very but buttery. But after that first sip, it loses a lot of flavor.

    Vibe/ambiance: local ramen spot Service: standard…read moreReservation: walked in Items ordered: spicy goma miso ramen: 7.3/10 a standard bowl of good ramen

    Photos
    Takumen - Seating area inside the restaurant

    Seating area inside the restaurant

    Takumen - Hojicha Anmitsu

    Hojicha Anmitsu

    Takumen - Wantan Men

    See all

    Wantan Men

    Ramen Spot - Spicy Miso Ramen

    Ramen Spot

    4.5(102 reviews)
    0.2 miLong Island City, Hunters Point
    $$

    UPDATED (for 2 additional visits) - It is our fav ramen spot in LIC/Astoria!…read moreAmbiance (5/5): The establishment has a very sleek interior with an open, welcoming layout. Although close to other tables, when I dined there was no one nearby. There is also bar seating in the front. Service (5/5): I came on a weekend night at 7:30p and there was no wait. Tonkotsu ramen (5/5): Pro move: ask for the thicker noodles (pic is original dish of thin noodles) This was a superb bowl of ramen! The broth is very umami with tons of depth, flavors, and creaminess. Noodles are the straight kind which has a little less bounce than I usually like but still plenty portioned to enjoy. The bowl comes with a lovely half soft boiled egg. The two large pieces of pork char sui were great--tender and flavorful. Reasonably priced bowl at $18 with some additional toppings like wood ear mushrooms, bamboo, green onions, and narutomaki. Definitely coming back here again to try their other bowls!! Pork belly buns (5/5): If you are already getting the pork belly in the ramen, this can be skipped since it's the same meat. However, the sauce was good and the meat is tender. Crab croquette (4/5): It tasted fresh and consistency of a normal croquette-- crunchy on the outside with a softness from potato on the inside. The light panko seasoning was a nice touch. It also comes with a small side of salad. Wagyu (5/5) - thin pieces of wagyu were very fresh and flavorful. The broth feels very soothing and lighter as it was but not as rich as the tonkotsu. I loved the pickled cucumber and cabbage. The thick noodles are perfectly bouncy and chewy. Shoyu Duck (4/5) - Light broth as I did not taste the undertones of duck in the broth.

    Cuisine: 8 Service: 7…read moreDecor: 7 Value: 6 Overall: 7 Ramen shops are everywhere in NYC nowadays. However, most of them are average at best. Looking for a quick bite last week in LIC right in the heart of court square, I found this little restaurant. Walking in, it's quite spacious and nicely decorated. Two of us were seated promptly and given menu and water immediately. After a quick look through, we settled on an appetizer to share and two ramen bowls. The Popcorn Shrimp was unfortunately not made very well. Many of the pieces of shrimps were stuck to each other's batter. It didn't taste horrible, just not preferable. On the other hand, the ramens were made extremely well. The Chicken Paitan Ramen has a savory but clean chicken broth that would be perfect when feeling under the weather. The chicken was super tender and the egg was delightfully yolky, while the chewy noodles were a great match for the dish. With that said, my favorite item of the evening had to be the Toriniku Ramen. It had a rich and deep pork flavor that completely elevates my senses to another level. The pork jowl was thick cut and very delicious. Last but not least, the straight firm thin noodles were the perfect accompaniment. I don't look for ramen as often as I use to any more due to the climbing cost of a bowl of these noodles, this place included. However, if I'm in the mood, and don't feel like trekking to Manhattan, then I may just very well end up here.

    Photos
    Ramen Spot - Front of the restaurant

    Front of the restaurant

    Ramen Spot - Karaage Chicken

    Karaage Chicken

    Ramen Spot - Karaage Chicken

    See all

    Karaage Chicken

    Dai Hachi Sushi - Beef Negimaki (D)

    Dai Hachi Sushi

    4.5(307 reviews)
    0.6 miHunters Point, Long Island City
    $$

    OK. This won't take long. Fabulous…read more Fabulous meal and fabulous service tonight (Sunday). Three of us came at 6:30 pm and were promptly welcomed. I ordered the Dinner sushi combination D - tuna, salmon and white tuna. It came with a not-so-small small garden salad in a decent dressing. One of my table mates got the Bento box with teriyaki salmon and the other got two rolls (Spicy Girl and Cucumber, Avocado, Jalapeño and Scallion). We also ordered a shrimp shumai appetizer (six small, tasty shumai in the serving). Everything was delicious. And the service was outstanding. To be honest, initially we thought we were being rushed because the server came by repeatedly to remove empty plates and the wrappers from our chopsticks - but we quickly realized that this was really extremely attentive and great service. Throughout the meal, our water glasses were refilled numerous times and we were not rushed at all. After our leisurely meal, we ordered a Green Tea Mille Crepe and an order of fresh fruit. The crepe was very good, although the topping of green tea was a bit thick for us and we scraped it off and ate the rest. The fruit was fresh and delicious. We truly felt very welcomed and valued as customers here. We didn't drink anything other than water, so our bill was only about $100 (before tip) for the 2 hours we were there, but even as we left we felt valued by the serving staff and sushi chefs. An excellent meal and experience.

    Ok honestly love this spot. It's very interesting and kinda unique that it's a nice sushi bar and…read morealso a sports bar: there's two separate bars. There's TVs. There's seating inside and out. It's high key a vibe and perfect for going to watch a game and having good food. The sushi was yummy. The shrimp sushi you could skip. The rice done well in that it stayed together when you bit it. Very good. I enjoyed the food here and especially for the price. One roll was $9 which is cheaper than a grocery store! Awesome spot

    Photos
    Dai Hachi Sushi
    Dai Hachi Sushi - Shrimp and broccoli, Asian menu

    Shrimp and broccoli, Asian menu

    Dai Hachi Sushi - Asian menu shrimp and broccoli

    See all

    Asian menu shrimp and broccoli

    Kyuramen - Long Island City - Chicken

    Kyuramen - Long Island City

    4.3(339 reviews)
    0.1 miLong Island City
    $$

    Food/drinks: got the yin yang bowl which was nice to be able to try 2 kinds of ramen! The ramen…read morehere is solid, no complaints Atmosphere: cute! Very interesting seating with the honeycomb Service: very attentive Price: reasonable and some are pretty affordable for NYC + portion size!

    We came here for a group dinner and the overall experience was... Let's say the company was better…read morethan the food or the service, although an honourable mention goes to the matcha pudding although it is ironic because in my mind, it was thrown in with the omurice as a combo. Firstly, we had wanted to dine in the honey comb booth, so called ahead to reserve one. We didn't know whether a reservation was needed or if we could walk in, but the person on the phone took our name and confirmed our reservation at a specific time on a specific day for a specified number of diners. When we rocked up, we were told that there was no honey comb booth for us. A longer version is that apparently only the two bottom booths are big enough for 4 people but they were both taken. Never mind that as we were leaving, I saw two people in one of those booths. The food? The ramen was mediocre. The omurice was fun to try and the curry sauce was as suitable as their demi glace for it. I wasn't enthused about the bland fried rice for the omurice, though. The popcorn chicken was nice and juicy and stayed that way for the entire meal, which was pleasantly surprising. The pork and chicken yakitori were nice and juicy whereas the beef skirt was overcooked. The braised pork don was on the sweet side but was fine for what it was. The matcha pudding's consistency was closer to a custard than a pudding, but the cream complemented it and the tiny bit of red bean juice actually enhanced the pudding, which would not have been as enjoyable on its own. I doubt I will return, but I wish them well and hope they continue to improve.

    Photos
    Kyuramen - Long Island City - Iced tea was fiyah

    Iced tea was fiyah

    Kyuramen - Long Island City - Yinyang Bowl extra broth, very good

    Yinyang Bowl extra broth, very good

    Kyuramen - Long Island City - Grilled chicken and ramen

    See all

    Grilled chicken and ramen

    Tonchin

    Tonchin

    4.4(2.6k reviews)
    2.2 miMidtown West
    $$

    The first time my friend brought me here, I thought the ramen didn't impress me the way a Michelin…read morerestaurant should have. But maybe because I tried the Smoke Dashi Ramen and the smoked fish oil did not appeal to me at all. I used to make it a requirement to visit Ichiran every time I came to New York, but this time I'm so glad I decided to revisit Tonchin. The noodles were thick and perfectly chewy the way I like it. And the broth was rich in a way that was almost milky, and not just a bowl of broth and salt like your typical American ramen chain restaurants. It barely knocks Ichiran off the top of my list for ramen in the US. However, as good as the chashu was, it wasn't as delicate as Ichiran does it. Nevertheless, I haven't had such an enjoyable meal in a while. #384

    Walking up to the entrance looks like a dingy alley way due to the musky and dark area…read more Signage can be seen as a small flag hanging from a pole and to the left is a door with Tonchin imprinted on the wall. Entering inside the server was easy to talk too and had a speak easy type feel. Lights dimmed down with Michelin Star awards to my left, bar seating to my right, additional seating in the back next to the visible busy kitchen. Music was a modern sound of Korean hiphop and EDM. Menu was a QR code and within 15 minutes my appetizer and ramen was delivered. Ordered: -Tsukune chicken and pork bun This was delicious! The Karachi coleslaw paired well with the teriyaki sauce which also calmed the sweet taste. Tonkatsu Tokyo Classic Ramen - This was good, but as a ramen fan, I think it could of been slightly better - Broth was definitely good with a bold salty taste - Chashu was soft, thinly cut and not chewy. However, I'm a seared chasu type guy, but each their own. - I did not add additional side items to the ramen besides what garnishes already come with the bowl. - Overall Tonkatsu Ramen was normal Next time I'm in town, I will be back to try the Tan Tan ramen and other appetizers next!

    Photos
    Tonchin - Interior

    Interior

    Tonchin - Chicken Tsukune Bun

    Chicken Tsukune Bun

    Tonchin - Kimchi mushrooms

    See all

    Kimchi mushrooms

    Susuru Ramen - Kuro

    Susuru Ramen

    4.7(253 reviews)
    0.9 miAstoria
    $$

    Ambiance (3/5): The place is tight and can not seat very many parties or large groups. We happened…read moreto get seated immediately on a busy weekend but a queue quickly formed after us. The particular weekend we went (July 5), the air conditioning unit was broken so we were melting inside. Wooden benches and stools with no backs were not comfortable. Service (4/5): There was only one server bustling back and forth. She did a great job in getting orders, refilling waters, and closing out for just her. There were times we had to flag her down. Spicy chicken wings (5/5): Perfect exterior skin crunch with not too much breading. The sauce was light and not overpowering. Deluxe (5/5) and TanTan (5/5) were both very flavorful. Slightly preferred the Tan Tan more because it had a kick and more spice. I requested some extra chili oil for the Deluxe to give it a little more flavor. However, I felt like the broth was too salty. Pork slices were thin was flavored through with not too much fat to the pieces, so it wasn't tender or rich. I love the bounce and chew of the noodles. Definitely one of the better ramen shops in the neighborhood.

    Susuru Ramen (located just over the Long Island City border in Astoria) is a gem for its rich,…read moresimmered-for-hours chicken paitan broths, perfect noodles, and vibrant black garlic oil. However, its tiny dining room often means long wait times and limited seating. The signature chicken paitan broth is slow-cooked for 8 hours to create a rich, creamy, and flavorful milky soup. Locals highly recommend the Kuro ramen (featuring rich black garlic oil) and the Deluxe ramen. They also serve a highly rated Veggie Miso. Appetizers shine here. The Garlic Edamame and Takoyaki are fan favorites, and the Chicken Karaage is a must-try. Authentic and cozy. The space is incredibly small with limited seating and does not offer outdoor dining. Expect long wait times for a table during peak dinner and weekend hours. This food place that offers delicious savory broth paired with springy, bouncy noodles is definitely worth a try.

    Photos
    Susuru Ramen
    Susuru Ramen - Crispy Takoyaki

    Crispy Takoyaki

    Susuru Ramen - Shrimp Katsu: $6; $6.53 with tax. Why does it taste like a peanut butter sandwich?

    See all

    Shrimp Katsu: $6; $6.53 with tax. Why does it taste like a peanut butter sandwich?

    Vert Frais - cocktailbars - Updated September 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...