ICHIRAN Midtown

I absolutely love ICHIRAN! After trying their location in Tokyo, I was pleasantly surprised to learn about this location in Midtown NY.I tried the Classic Tonkotsu. Their ramen is fresh and made to order. The broth is rich and has a deep, savory flavor. Noodles are cooked to your liking and I love that they give you so many customization options! Food comes out pretty quickly as well, which is always a plus.The seating varies depending on how small or large your party is. Smaller parties can opt for the classic, solo booths for that authentic ramen dining experience.This location does get quite busy, being so close to high traffic, tourist areas. So be prepared for a slight wait. But it's so worth it as it definitely mirrors the Japan-based locations.

Food: Oishii!! Delicious broth! Stick with less heat even if you like red hot chilly peppers as it kills the overall deliciousness of the sumptuous broth you're about to devourMatcha beer: Do not recommend. Bathroom: needs to be checked often for cleanliness The whole experience was wonderful but turned out to be a complete done deal after a short visit to the bathroom. The toilet roll wall looked trendy and well stocked but the bathroom itself was just despicable. I was brought back to the reality of midtown mayhem within seconds of planning a trip to loo

Service: 3.5Food: 4Came here recently with my colleagues on a chilly evening after work. It was freezing out and perfect weather for a hot bowl of ramen. We arrived before 5pm and the place was emptishhh with a group infront of us. I haven't been to this location in the last 4yrs and they definitely changed a few things. Orders/payment is now handled at the beginning of your experience like in Japan. I liked that they changed it to be as authentic as possible. Step 1: You go to a kiosk to place your order and pay. If there is a line, queue until you get to kiosk. Step 2: Wait for the staff to call your name and give the receipt (suggestion: print extra copy of receipt for you to keep) and tell you which seats to go to.Step 3: Go to your seats and place the receipt on the "call" button area. Then you can go ahead and get comfortable (remove jacket to hang on the coat rack, etc). The staff keeps that reciept.Step 4: Wait for your meal and enjoy.We were seated on the right side in the back and luckily right by the water station. There wasn't hand sanizter or tissues by us (they were toward the front of the section) that we had to go find.Bathroom code: 11111There are only 2 bathrooms. They switched from rectangular bowls back to regular ramen round bowls. That was nice as I didn't like the rectangular bowls they had a few years ago. The char siu was really really thin slice but oh so tender (silky soft). Broth was rich and yummy. The ramen really hit the spot. I had forgotten you have to peel your own jammy eggs. It was cold. I taught one of my colleague to softy apply pressure as you roll the egg on the plate to better crack and peel it. I don't think he like peeling his own egg and perfect it the restaurant peel and slice. For some people, it may be a slight inconvenience or off-putting as most ramen shops put peeled & sliced egg in your bowl. 2 cons:1. One of my colleague next to me had order coke which never came. I explain to tap the "call" button and ask for it. It came toward the end of his meal and by then he couldn't finish the entire can because we were going straight on the subway to go home... and if you know, you know no one wants to risk long commute home rushing to the potty and especially if there are any train delays. 2. Another colleague got up after his meal to use the restroom... his area was cleared and by the time he return to sit, a new guest arrived and looked at us in confusion. I guess there is a sensor? But they should had checked to make sure the guest completely left before a new guest arrive. Because new guest had to wait for us to grab our stuff off the coat rack before he can then get comfortable. That would mean, if there was a long line at the restroom with longer wait time, new guests would sit at the area and surprise the existing guests on their return. Does that mean, you should leave personal belonging at your table (that can be risky for solo diners) to prevent them from clearing your area? I had left earlier with my phone there (had my colleagues watch it) to go wash my hands before the meal arrive, but for solo diners that may not be an option. Suggestion: maybe have a small "Using Restroom" plaque table sign to leave on area that guests can put during their meal so that staff clearing bowls can be aware and not notify its empty yet. Like those "reserve" sign but say restroom?Also noticed, on this side on the dining area, our partition walls weren't able to be move... usually for groups, you can move the partition and see your friends while you dine. This area had no options for that. I remember having that options in the past. Overall experience was as expected and hit the spot for our craving. Yum. After our meal, we grab our stuff and left satisfied.

Came in on a Sunday night, waited about 20 minutes to be seated and it was all worth it. You order on the kiosk prior to being seated down. Once paid, you are given an assigned seat to sit and give the receipts to the staff and they will eventually give you the food. Food comes out in good timing and tastes amazing just as I remember when I went to Japan, the ambiance is great. There is hook to put your coats or purses behind you to use.

I remember the last time I visited Ichiran, and things have definitely changed since then. I walked in, ready for my usual ramen fix, but as soon as I sat down, I noticed something different - the BOWL. Gone was the familiar squared bowl I remembered, replaced by the classic round bowl you'd find in their original Japan locations. It was a small detail, but it instantly made the experience feel more authentic and connected to the heart of Ichiran.The next change hit me when I went to place my order. The ordering machine is now right at the counter, but through a tablet, but it felt more seamless, almost like they've fine-tuned it to match the efficiency and flow. It was clear to me that Ichiran is striving for consistency across all their locations, making sure the experience is as close to what you'd get in Japan as possible. And then the food quantity is much better than the last time I visited as well. It is more complete than last time. But what hasn't changed? The customer service. It's always been excellent here. The staff is friendly, quick, and attentive - just like you'd expect from a place that takes their ramen so seriously. There's something comforting about knowing that, no matter where you are, Ichiran will always deliver that same level of care.Ichiran's reputation as a beloved ramen chain in Japan definitely stands true. They've built a following because they don't disappoint. Their tonkotsu ramen is still rich, savory, and comforting, with that signature depth of flavor that instantly transports you to the streets of Japan. Whether you're having a quiet solo meal or enjoying a bowl with friends, Ichiran's setup is designed to make you feel at home. The private booths give you space to enjoy your ramen undisturbed, but you don't feel isolated - it's all part of the experience, designed for anyone from solo diners to groups.I walked out of Ichiran once again feeling satisfied and happy I made the visit. It's a place that always sets the bar for what good ramen should be. The changes are for the better, and while I'll always love a good bowl of Ichiran wherever I am, there's something special about the little details that bring it closer to the real deal in Japan. Every time I'm here, it feels like a reminder of why Ichiran holds such a special place in the ramen world.

Ambiance: 5/5This feels exactly like the Ichirans in Japan. Order and customize your food, wait to be seated, sit in an individual booth, and enjoy your yummy noods. Service: 5/5Everyone is quick, efficient, and friendly. There are self serve water stations too. Food: 5/5Delicious hot broth over perfectly cooked noodles! We got the extra toppings on the side and it was the perfect amount because we were hungry. Also, the matcha pudding is a must get!!! It was silky smooth, not too sweet, and the perfect ending to a great meal.

One of my favorite spots to go for ramen in NY! They have a few locations around New York but be prepared to wait for at least 30-40 minutes to get inside as they have a small waiting area/lobby.Once you're seated, it is a booth-style so it's perfect for introverts or solo travelers. You pay prior to getting seated so you will just have to show your receipt to your server which is behind the curtain (face unseen).The menu only consists of ramen and additional toppings for food so they've really mastered their craft. The ramen I personally created with their various options from broth richness, noodle doneness, and spiciness was amazing!I can't wait to be able to visit the original location in Japan!

I had a great first experience trying this restaurant. It was cold and snowy on the day I went to try it and there was a small line ahead of me of about 10 people but the wait was only about 15 minutes. You have to order through a kiosk and then an employee explains how everything works and seats you based on party size. Once you arrive, you put your receipt through the window and the food is brought to you within 5-10 minutes. The noodles were perfectly cooked and thin which made it easy to eat. I got the vegetable broth and added an egg which was perfectly jammy. I didn't expect much from the broth but it was the only other option besides pork which I do not eat but wow the broth was flavorful and tasty. It was well worth the wait and the staff were super friendly and helpful. This is also a no tip resident which was refreshing and because the staff seemed happy I'm sure they actually get paid a living wage. I enjoyed my first experience and can't wait to go back for another bowl.

Amazing experience all around! Service was quick and very kind, ambiance was very relaxing, and food was really stand out. Everything has so much flavor and the classic ramen was maxing out in the comfort food department! Definitely some of the best ramen I've had if not the best(coming from a little Missouri boy).Something to note is that it's all side by side seating no tables in case you're wanting to come to talk with a group together.

Showed up to Ichiron on a busy Saturday night. The wait was long, roughly 45 minutes in the cold, but this place is definitely worth the wait. Once inside, we waited in a short line just before ordering at a digital kiosk that allowed us to fully customize our orders. The young lady in charge of the front desk was very type A, though that is likely needed in her position. She was organizing multiple dining parties at once as well as keeping track of who orders what, who sits where, and which dining seats are full/empty/being bussed. She was on top of it, and that was greatly appreciated when encountering such a unique dining experience. We were seated after a short wait after ordering and holding on to our receipts showing which customizations we ordered. We were seated in seats 14 and 15. Each seat is a small cubicle-type area, seen in the photo provided. Very cozy. There are hooks behind you for placement of coats. There is free filtered cold and hot water. Seats are lined up one after another in a row with everyone facing the same direction. I was immediately greeted by the Japanese worker behind the short gap at the bottom of the wall at the back of my seat's cubicle. They took my receipt, thanked me for dining there, then returned shortly to drop off my drink and toppings. The experience was cozy, comfortable, calming, warm, polite, and wonderful.The ramen was incredible. Ichiron's special spicy sauce is unlike any other slice I've tried in any other ramen. The broth was warm, mouth-watering, and satisfying, and the pork chashu was melt-in-your-mouth tender. So delicious. You can tell they've fine tuned their spice concoction to perfection. I got level 4 spice which was perfect, not too overwhelming but just enough for a little kick of heat. The noodles were perfectly cooked. Fun fact: you can choose between 5 different levels of firmness/softness of noodle types when ordering. I went with the recommended option #3, right in the middle. The meal was delivered without much wait and was accompanied by the cook giving a short bow, common in Japanese culture as a sign of respect and thanks. I loved the interactions with the cooks and server behind the cubicle. No eye contact was made, as the gap is just below chest level of the worker. This allowed the interactions to be polite, respectful, and much more complimentary than your usual American service. There was no tip expectation as well which was also appreciated. Overall, I would honestly rate this as my favorite ramen experience I've ever had. The ramen itself is at least top 3 I've ever had, and it's not number 3 more than likely. No matter the wait time, please do yourself a favor and experience Ichiron. I have no doubt it will be a highlight of your visit to NYC.