Raku

*I would give a 4.3/5 but thought it would be fair to give 5 on yelpRaku is one of the top udon places in New York and I have visited the Soho location before. I decided to try the East Village location because I thought it would be bigger (it is not) and I really enjoy the udon. I went as a walk in for 2 around 8 and was told there was a 45 minute wait. We put our names down and went across the street to get a drink while we waited. The host texts us 4 minutes after we put our name down and it said we had 10 minutes to confirm so I confirmed but we didn't get back until 15-20 after we had confirmed since we needed to close out at the bar. It said our table was released but I decided to go up to the host anyways and let her know we got texted so we could try to get the next available table. Immediately she looks down at the iPad and makes a smirking face and proceeds to tell us what we did isn't allowed and she decided to do us a favor and give us an open table but if we're going to go somewhere else while we wait we have to be back in time. I understand they didn't need to save our table but she was pretty rude in the way she communicated it and could've been nicer. This hostess definitely left a bad impression since we didn't expect them to save the table even though they were 40 minutes off on the wait estimate, and she acted weirdly annoyed at us.Despite this, the rest of our experience was positive. Our server was extremely friendly and we got the Yuzu mimosa and agedashi tofu appetizer. The mimosa is exactly like what it sounds and super bubbly and refreshing with strong yuzu flavor. Agedashi tofu was delicious and the bonito flakes honestly tasted like a smokey fish jerky on top. The sauce was also great.I got the Gyunan udon which I expected to be a bit more meaty and savory in flavor but it was a more light and clean broth (still very good). Udon is chewy and wonderful texture. The gyunan was a bit lackluster overall since the meat was not very soft and I think it could've used some more fatty slices of beef and more beef in general. I tried the spicy Niku broth and it was amazing so a better option for something more hearty. Matcha tiramisu is my favorite dessert and theirs wasn't my favorite version but still very good! I like how the matcha flavor was strong and it was not too sweet at all. The one thing I didn't love was the gelatin/pudding stuff at the bottom because the texture was a little weird but the flavor was great! I will also add it is super weird that the restaurant is separated into two halves. I was in the tiny half with the kitchen but the servers have to walk outside on the street for like 30 feet and go to the other side to bring food. The interior is nice but the setup is odd. Overall, I really like Raku but I prefer the Soho location since it is a bit bigger so less wait times. If it weren't for the host I would give this place a 9.3/10 but it honestly brought it down since service is an important factor for me. I enjoy the udon here despite the gyunan missing a little bit of flavor for me and being somewhat pricey but I will definitely return to try some more unique udons.

We had a reservation at 5:30pm on a Sunday and though the other guests in my party were running late, they sat me down right away and were very understanding, which I greatly appreciated.I started off with the hot organic green tea, which warmed me up right away from the frigid walk to the restaurant. For starters, we ordered the Sabazushi (three mackerel pressed sushi) and Chawanmushi (steamed egg). The sushi was nicely made as both the fish and rice were fresh. The egg was silky and well seasoned. They were also generous with the seafood and toppings. For entrees, I ordered the Toriten Udon (four marinated fried chicken) and the other guests ordered the Kamonan Udon (LI duck breast, Tokyo negi). For the Toriten, I asked for the chicken to be on the side and I'm glad I did because the chicken was crispy and juicy and I enjoyed eating it with the chili powder. The udon and broth were simple, but made very well - one of the best in the city! The udon was bouncy and chewy in the best way possible and the broth was well flavored.

My friend and I met up for the first time in 2 years here and had a really warm and yummy lunch - a perfect place to catch up and eat well. We arrived right when they opened and there was already a small group of people lined up waiting to get in. The inside is small and cozy, reminding me of Japan. We started off with the chicken tatsuta-age and we immediately needed to down some water after taking a bite. Although it was flavorful and the batter was nice and crispy while the meat was tender, there was way too much added salt and not even the spicy mayo nor lemon could balance it out. I was disappointed since I had read rave reviews on their karaage. But I did appreciate that you could choose between 6 or 10 pieces of chicken.Now onto what we came here for and what ultimately saved this meal - udon! I ordered the kamonan (duck breast) while my friend got the tantan udon. Portions are crazy big. If I weren't here to visit, I would have split this into lunch and dinner but I ended up finishing it and walking out looking pregnant. The duck was extremely tender and the noodles were cooked to perfection. So bouncy, chewy, and everything I have ever wanted. Incredible broth and if I wasn't already so full, I would have drank every last drop of it. Overall a comforting meal that left me satisfied.The service was great up until the end, when something out of the ordinary happened to us. After payment and tipping, one of the waiters came up to us and told me that I had tipped so low (I tipped 15%, which is average?) and he ASKED for my reasoning. Dumbfounded and confused, I had to reassure him that everything was okay and hurried out of there. I was telling another friend about this and she mentioned that the same thing happened to her after dining at this location as well. Maybe they were trained to do this? Just an awkward and very weird experience. Amazing noodles, though.

Been here plenty of times over the years and have always had a great time! They recently expanded and the interior with the bar at the entrance and separated booth seating right next door. Raku is one of my top 5 udon places and has never failed me when I crave a good bowl of noodle soup. This time, I had the tantan udon. The photo doesn't do it justice since the broth pretty much is all you see in the photo. Packed with ground pork, scallions, and peanuts, every bite of the perfectly chewy udon had so much flavor. It also had a bit of spinach and a poached egg, runny yolk and when popped into the broth made it a little creamier. The broth had a nice little kick to it but wasn't overly spicy or salty. Mmm good! Every time, the chicken tatsuta-age is a must for an appetizer to share (or not share!). Big bite sized pieces of crispy chicken, topped with lemon juice, and spicy mayo on the side! Every piece of chicken was juicy, not dry, and best when consumed piping hot.For dessert on the menu (by patisserie fouet), four of us shared the soba pudding and matcha tiramisu. The soba pudding was very light and had a caramelized black sugar base- sweet but not overpowering. If you want dessert that's not too sweet, and tastes close to vanilla ice cream, this is it! The matcha tiramisu is every matcha lover's dream. ‍... and so worth taking a lactaid for (lactose intolerance). With layers of mascarpone, green tea sponge cake and topped with toasted rice puffs, every bite was an explosion of very rich matcha taste. You need to love matcha to really enjoy this dessert and I absolutely loved it. It also wasn't too sweet either! Overall, I can foresee myself coming back here again and again and am glad they expanded for more space! Service was exceptional as always!

Excellent Service. Nice ambiance on the bar side. I forgot to take a picture of the actual udon, but it was super good. The texture was the perfect level of chewy and the there was a perfect amount. The food was also reasonably priced. The agedashi tofu was also yummy.Overall I'd recommend this place.

Raku is a bit of an institution at this point, one of the best udon spots in NYC for quite some time and really has grown over the years. I first came when they were a small spot, before they expanded and added another location, and came back a second time after the expansion. The udon noodles are super flavorful, and they're doing some modern and creative twists to some of their dishes. The bacon dish which is essentially a giant slab of pork belly is a winner, although out of the 2 times I've had it, it was a bit on the drier side, but when it hits it hits. The curry and wagyu udon were also quite delicious, and I would recommend this place as one of the best udon places in NYC, not that we have tooooo many in manhattan. The space is well lit, lively, and energetic. Give it a try!

Perfect on a cold day, especially if you want a quieter, more peaceful dining experience. This location is easy to miss as the doors are right in the wall, but there were people waiting outside which helped. My friends and I came by on a Thursday night and the wait was 45 minutes for three people, so we wandered around until we got a text. We opted for bar seating as it would get us in sooner and it was still a good experience (except for the bursts of cold air as the door opened/closed)!I ordered the kamonan udon (duck) and it was delicious, hearty with a strong duck flavor, maybe a little salty for me towards the end. The noodles are nice and chewy, and the duck was perfectly cooked. It was a large serving, which could serve as two meals if noodle dishes traveled well enough for that. I will say I wish the udon dishes here came with more default toppings than just the protein and green onions, but oh well.

Winter is around the corner, and I find myself craving for hot soup and noodles more often. I was impressed by Raku's cold dipping udon last time, but their warm udon is EVEN BETTER! I almost drank up the entire bowl of hot soup. We went to their East Village location, which was much smaller and more cramped than the other locations. I highly recommend making a res to avoid the wait (yes, there's a wait even on weekdays!)＊Gyunan Udon 牛南うどん $21If you don't want to splurge on their wagyu udon ($35 for American Mishima or $42 for Japanese A5 Miyazaki beef), gyunan would be the perfect choice. The beef was so tender and juicy that I enjoyed every bite of it. It almost melted in my mouth. Compared to wagyu, prime beef was less heavy and had a lower fat ratio. How could they keep the chewiness and bounciness while serving the udon in hot broth!? I am usually picky about udon soup's texture, but this one ticked every box. Let's talk about the soup -- it looked clear but it was actually bursting with flavor. It gave me enough warmth and coziness.

The best udon ever. I used to go to Udon West but after it closed I was never able to find good udon. This is better!! The waitresses and hosts were very nice and tried their best to accommodate us. We didn't have a reservations but we went next door and drank some wine for two hours while waiting. Honestly the wait is worth it. It's very cozy and smells delicious when you walk in. Great vibes. But definitely make a reservation at least a day before because they are so busy. For good reasons. Will be back !!!

I'm a big fan of raku udon! I live on the west coast and when I visit my boyfriend who lives on the East coast I always request to go to raku. It's quite literally the best udon I have ever had. All their dishes are so flavorful, the udon has the perfect chew, the broth (no matter what you get) is always so delicious, and the appetizers are always great! The service is spectacular as well, very tentative and kind. I've never had a bad experience when going! The inside is kind of small, but it has a very nice vibe.