Ramen Ishida
Ramen restaurant · Lower East Side ·
Former Ippudo chef serving meat & veg ramen, plant decor
Former Ippudo chef serving meat & veg ramen, plant decor
"You’ll have to sit shoulder-to-shoulder with your neighbors to eat at this teeny-tiny LES ramen spot, but their shoyu and miso ramen are totally worth it. The thick, chewy noodles wrap around each slab of fatty pork like an octopus gripping onto its prey, and the broth is flavorful enough to function as full-on aromatherapy. Despite there being only eight seats in the cramped space, you rarely end up waiting more than 10 minutes to sit, and no one will rush you. Take your time and order some appetizers, too. We sometimes stop by just for pork buns and karaage." - will hartman, willa moore, sonal shah, neha talreja, kenny yang
"Occupying a shoebox space on the Lower East Side for almost a decade, this counter-only shop puts you right next to the action, with a handful of stools wrapped around the kitchen so you can watch chef Yohei Ishida expertly folding noodles into bowls; a second, larger, swankier location recently opened in Chelsea. The menu focuses on clear-soup ramen, but everything is high quality—the toppings, the other ramen bowls, the sides, and especially the gyoza in broth. The real gem is off-menu: the “’80s Shoyu,” infused with an exhilarating amount of dried fish, served only at the LES location and only when Ishida is manning the stove." - Sho Spaeth
"You’ll have to sit quite literally shoulder to shoulder to eat at this teeny LES ramen spot, but their shōyu and miso ramen are totally worth it. The thick, chewy noodles wrap around each slab of fatty pork like an octopus gripping onto its prey, and the broth is flavorful enough to function as full-on aromatherapy. Despite there being only eight seats in the cramped space, you rarely end up waiting more than 10 minutes to sit, and no one will rush you. Take your time and order some appetizers, too. We sometimes stop by just for pork buns and karaage." - Neha Talreja
An eight-seat LES counter from an Ippudo alum devoted to clear Tokyo-style shoyu and miso, plus standout vegan options. Admired by Condé Nast Traveler and local reviewers for precision and soul.