November 11, 2005
Camera in the Kitchen: Rai Rai Ken
So it's finally getting cold, and Gothamist is heading straight for our favorite soup joints to warm up and fill up before the cold soaks into our bones. #1 on the list is the East Village's indispensable Rai Rai Ken, the teeny tiny 14-stool ramen shop that serves steaming hot bowls of miso and seafood broth ramen bursting with noodles and the deliciousness of bean sprouts, cabbage, onions, garlic, scallions, and topped with a thin slice of pork. Rai Rai Ken also offers a beef curry and an assortment of appetizers from edamame to gyoza, but if you can manage at spot inside at all, Gothamist insists it's really the ramen that can't be missed. Where's your favorite ramen joint?
Rai Rai Ken is located at 214 E. 10th b/w 1st & 2nd and open for lunch and dinner. (212) 977-7030.
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i love sapporo on 49th street between 6th and bway. oishiiiiiiii!
Sapporo is yummy, but Rai Rai Ken is great - cheap and fast. If only someone could open a Tampopo-esque joint.
what are some other good general soup places?
Not ramen, but Rainbow Falafel on 17th b/w B'way & 5th makes a killer (super-garlic-y) lentil soup. City Bakery has a good tortilla soup with lime and melt-y cheese on 18th b/w 5th & 6th. Also, yesterday they had a hot pumpkin puree soup that's simple, but yummy. Clinton St. Baking Co. also makes a good carrot ginger soup.
I find Rai Rai Ken's broth to be too salty, and a couple of times not hot enough.
IMO the best japanese soup in the EV is the eel ochazuke at Kasadela.
And I hear that Hair Kuwayama next door gives an excellent, reasonably priced and stylish hair cut.
menkui tei - theres a few locations - on 56th & 6th or by St marks - on 3rd ave.. delicious ramen noodles w/ katsu don!!!
rai rai ken is my fav hands down. but now i'm worried -- it's already crowded enough; will the feature on gothamist bring throngs of curious ramen-hungry patrons to our beloved little ramen shop?
I live right nearby, and everytime i see throngs of people standing outside of Momofuku I cant help but think that they must not be aware that cheaper and tremendously better noodles are right around the corner. But then again, bcz RaiRaiKen is so small, maybe its better that way. (for me, that is..)
It's a tossup for me between Rai Rai Ken and Minca - Rai Rai's cheaper, despite its better location, but Minca might be better.
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Not ramen, but if you want cheap delicious (pho) noodle soup, I'd recommend Pho Grand on Grand and Allen. Get the #6 or #9, and gobble the eye of round while it's still raw!
Can you really consider ochazuke SOUP? It's just green tea poured over rice and other ingredients.
I agree with foodgirl though - menkuitei (56th and 6th) is my pick for ramen in NYC. They have way more choice soup-wise compared to RRK, and their noodles just taste better.
Minca, hands down. Really tasty ramen!! and their Gyoza rocks!
I just ate at Nooch in chelsea last weekend and the ramen noodles were to die for! i first had ramen when i was visiting my sister in japan and couldn't believe how good it was (compared to the cup o soup crap we try to pass of here)...and i've been trying to find something as good here...check it out..i'll be sure to hit up Rai Rai Ken now to see how they are!