Years ago, the term ramen meant one thing: With two bucks and a kettle of hot water, you’d have dinner. These days, ramen is being cooked by James Beard award-winning chefs for sophisticated foodies. Now comes Ippudo—a popular Japanese chain from Shigemi Kawahara—which arrives in New York today, making its U.S. debut with a splashy, highly stylized 80-seat restaurant designed by Tenen-sha Architects of Japan.
From the outside, the space looks like a log cabin built by Frank Gehry, but step inside and you’ll find a Zen-style dining room, finished with organic accents like stone and oak, walls covered in kimono fabric, wide booths lined with tatami mats, and a striking bamboo tree that gives the room a feeling of serenity and peace. A secluded private room allows 30 guests to come together for a rare ramen feast.Ippudo is best known for its handmade noodles (thin and delicate) and its wildly rich pork-based ramen dishes. The Shiromaru is a white broth stocked with Berkshire pork, scallions, and cabbage, while the Akamaru is a more vibrant pork broth that’s seasoned with a secret red sauce made from soy sauce and garlic oil, among other I’d-have-to-kill-you-if-I-told-you ingredients. In addition to ramen, the menu includes house pickles, assorted salads (shrimp and squid), and larger plates like braised pork belly with daikon radish and soy sauce, and octopus sashimi with lemon.
Unlike most ramen houses, Ippudo also has a stunning bar, offering beer, cocktails, and an impressive list of 35 sakes. Ramen will never be the same again.
From the outside, the space looks like a log cabin built by Frank Gehry, but step inside and you’ll find a Zen-style dining room, finished with organic accents like stone and oak, walls covered in kimono fabric, wide booths lined with tatami mats, and a striking bamboo tree that gives the room a feeling of serenity and peace. A secluded private room allows 30 guests to come together for a rare ramen feast.Ippudo is best known for its handmade noodles (thin and delicate) and its wildly rich pork-based ramen dishes. The Shiromaru is a white broth stocked with Berkshire pork, scallions, and cabbage, while the Akamaru is a more vibrant pork broth that’s seasoned with a secret red sauce made from soy sauce and garlic oil, among other I’d-have-to-kill-you-if-I-told-you ingredients. In addition to ramen, the menu includes house pickles, assorted salads (shrimp and squid), and larger plates like braised pork belly with daikon radish and soy sauce, and octopus sashimi with lemon.
Unlike most ramen houses, Ippudo also has a stunning bar, offering beer, cocktails, and an impressive list of 35 sakes. Ramen will never be the same again.
Ippudo
Photo: Courtesy of Ippudo NY
Ippudo's main dining room features a large bamboo tree.
Photo: Courtesy of Ippudo NY
Ippudo offers an intimate private room for 30.
Photo: Courtesy of Ippudo NY
