Rai Rai Ken

Rai Rai Ken

Ramen Restaurant$$$$
East Village, New York
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6.5/10
564
ratings
  • Stars
    Has a stamp of approval from Eater and Time Out New York
    • Eater
    • Time Out New York
  • Tips
    Drew S.
    "Shoyu Ramen + Sapporo = great solo dining experience"(19 Tips)
    Jennifer K.
    "Seated right away, awesome pork buns, miso ramen and shoya?"(19 Tips)
    Caitlin C.
    "Miso ramen with extra corn is the way to go!"(19 Tips)
    Ben K.
    "The curry ramen is a must and affordable!"(7 Tips)
Tips and Reviews icon197 Tips and reviews
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  • Eater
    EaterAugust 15, 2016
    Priced at only $8 and up — cheap by ramen standards — selections skew doctrinaire, with broths based on soy, miso, and curry, and no Tokyo-style salt ramen or fancy-pants pork bone tonkotsu. Read more
  • Tomheart icon on user image
    TomJuly 30, 2017
    No frills miso, shoyu and curry ramen, but simple and delicious. Their tsukemen is a good alternative on warmer days and their cold ramen is a most try when they make it available in the summer.
  • Kevin T.heart icon on user image
    Kevin TakMay 4, 2014
    Very much classic style of shoyu ramen and fried rice "Tyahan" are the best selection. They are likely Syouwa era, the year of 1925-1989, so it is classic!! Take an annin-tofu for dessert. Enjoy!
  • Jennifer K.heart icon on user image
    Jennifer KramerAugust 31, 2014
    Didn't want to wait for 1+ hour for Ippudo and momufuku so went here and it was great. Seated right away, awesome pork buns, miso ramen and shoya? Ramen. Delicious, will def go back
  • Munchies
    MunchiesMay 11, 2015
    The ramen—made from a tasty shio broth and topped with pork chashu, bamboo shoots, and a slice of fish cake—was nothing remarkable, but it was good, filling, and cheap. Read more
  • Michael M.heart icon on user image
    Michael MuseAugust 16, 2014
    The Shio Ramen is my go-to here, with butter. Ask them to add butter. Trust me. Just tell your judgey friends that its a Japanese thing, and they have no culture, you cant take them anywhere.
  • Caroline Kay Hwa T.
    Amazing char siew!!!! Great add-on value with the ramen for the lunch special. Ramen was also delightful - I had the shio wanton ramen and the wanton skin was perfectly silky just like back in Asia.
  • Sparkie
    SparkieJanuary 20, 2014
    What to Order: Shoyu Wonton ramen-noodle soup, with shrimp-and-pork wontons, bamboo shoots, a boiled egg, spinach, fish cake, dry seaweed, and scallion in a soy-sauce-based pork-and-chicken broth.
  • Carmen d.
    Carmen da SilvaMay 5, 2012
    Miso Ramen is where it's at when you're feeling a cold/flu coming on (only $10)--bigger location (2 doors down from original location) now offers seating for 24ppl :)
  • Sasha M.
    Sasha MuJune 26, 2013
    Prices grew to 10-11$ for a portion of ramen, but it's still huge and delicious. Lunch special includes ramen of choice and an appetizer, so it's a good deal for someone extremely hungry.
  • Saba N.heart icon on user image
    Saba NekoSeptember 21, 2016
    Pork buns, Kara age chicken, mapo dofu ramen -- all great! It's very small though so better for a smaller group/you may have to wait
  • Barton S.heart icon on user image
    Barton SmithFebruary 27, 2016
    I come here for their delicious mabo ramen as an alternate to chashu, since their pork broth doesn't compare to Zundo-Ya or Ippudo.
  • Mike C.
    Mike ChauNovember 5, 2012
    Try the Miso Ramen - Ramen in soy bean based soup with cooked chicken, bean sprouts, cabbage, onion, crispy garlic and scallion. +soft boiled egg and corn.
  • Peter T.
    Peter ToNovember 22, 2014
    Been here 5+ times
    Get here a bit early and put your name on the door behind the curtain because it can get busy on weekends and Friday nights.
  • Jonathan R.
    Jonathan RamirezApril 26, 2015
    Very good place to eat and enjoy the day. Plus the delicious food!! The atmosphere is very comforting. I've been coming here many times! ^__^
  • Leah M.
    Leah MaloneAugust 8, 2015
    Dinner special includes kimchi, an app, ramen bowl, sake or Sapporo and moshi for $17, tasty and a great deal!
  • Rita K.heart icon on user image
    Rita KwongMay 3, 2015
    Shoyu ramen (with or without wonton). set C with charshu on the side. Plus a glass of draft beer. You are in heaven.
  • Drew S.heart icon on user image
    Drew SicklerSeptember 21, 2016
    Been here 5+ times
    Make sure to order the pork buns to start followed by any selection of ramen as they are all delicious.
  • Al L.heart icon on user image
    Al LoNovember 22, 2016
    Dinner combo for $19.75 during certain evening hours. Any ramen/yakisoba/rice with appetizer, drink and mochi dessert. What a deal!
  • Ross M.heart icon on user image
    Ross MarshallJuly 9, 2018
    Miso ramen is very tasty. Awesome noodles. Very salty broth but crazy delicious miso and garlic flavor.
  • Cole K.heart icon on user image
    Cole KennedyOctober 8, 2018
    Solid neighborhood ramen spot. Rarely a wait, food comes out quickly, and plenty of options on the menu.
  • Ben K.heart icon on user image
    Ben K.February 10, 2013
    I love this place. They just move to nice new digs a few doors down. The curry ramen is a must and affordable!
  • Marisa T.
    Marisa TomAugust 16, 2011
    Delicious ramen when you don't feel like waiting a couple hours at Ippudo. I usually go for the miso ramen (pretty basic) but it does the trick. Gyoza is bomb here too.
  • Abhinav S.
    Abhinav SharmaSeptember 30, 2013
    Try the Miso Ramen, they do it in a chicken broth that's arguably better than Toto.
  • COOLHAUS
    COOLHAUSJuly 15, 2012
    Rai Rai Ken offers NYers a chance to taste authentic ramen at an afforadable price. And since their new expansion, there's now room to bring friends!
  • emma t.heart icon on user image
    emma tangorenSeptember 14, 2014
    sit at the bar and order miso ramen with a diet coke while you watch the chefs make your soup! mm.
  • Laura N.
    Laura NoonanNovember 5, 2014
    The pork buns are the bomb, the ramen is hearty, maybe not the best in NYC but it hits the spot on a cold day.
  • Yera H.heart icon on user image
    Yera HaApril 23, 2015
    Cash only! This spot is homey, clean and makes a good bowl of ramen. Try the pork buns, too!
  • Mike J.
    Mike JacobsonSeptember 13, 2013
    The Mabo is insanely good. Kind of spicy hamburger flavored. Also, cash only. ALSO, I live next store, come say hello.
  • Kevin R.heart icon on user image
    Kevin RickertJuly 18, 2015
    Came here during off peak time and it was lovely, the ramen was good, maybe a tad salty. Chashu (Pork) was tender and good.
  • NYU Local
    NYU LocalSeptember 15, 2011
    Classic Japanese ramen, for under $10. Get a punchcard and redeem it for a free bowl after 10 visits. (The curry restaurant next door is also really good.)
  • Cassandra B.
    Cassandra BradbyAugust 13, 2012
    Been here 5+ times
    The new location (2 doors down from the old one) is bigger and brighter with the same great food and pricing. Remember CASH ONLY!
  • Annabelle E.heart icon on user image
    Annabelle EmmNovember 19, 2015
    Standing order-- miso with half noodles and an egg! Ramen, gyoza, kimchi, fried rice... all delicious!
  • Jimmy C.
    Jimmy ChaoJune 21, 2013
    Mabo ramen was spicy and delicious. Yummy and affordable, what more can you ask for
  • AmateurConciergeheart icon on user image
    AmateurConciergeJuly 25, 2015
    Can't get into momofuku? Come on over. Ramen is decent and varieties aplenty. Gotta say, the mochi is doo tho
  • Ikai L.
    Ikai LanMarch 11, 2013
    Shio ramen is a clear, lightly salted broth. Nice and refreshing when you're not looking for anything too heavy
  • Matthew P.
    Matthew PantojaDecember 10, 2012
    New, bigger space. The food is still good, but I liked the vibe of the old "hole in the wall spot" with only counter seating.
  • Kate F.
    Kate FurmanMarch 21, 2016
    $17 dinner special for any bowl of ramen, a side, a drink + mochi ice cream.
  • jkhknycheart icon on user image
    jkhknycJanuary 31, 2015
    4-6pm is the real happy hours that will make you super happy :) Don't miss out!!!
  • Adam C.
    Adam ChalifAugust 1, 2010
    I got brought here for the first time tonight. A little "hole in the wall" place. The food was excellent. I highly recommend it. Wanna go back again!! Ramen there was delicious!!
  • Kris C.heart icon on user image
    Kris ConcepcionJuly 24, 2014
    Shoyu ramen is flavorful and the pork belly was tasty. Not the best but a really solid bowl of ramen.
  • Kevin T.heart icon on user image
    Kevin TakDecember 15, 2012
    You will love An-nin-tofu "Almond Tofu . It's nice to have after rich taste ramen!
  • Vladimir D.
    Vladimir DeminSeptember 12, 2013
    After 10pm pork buns are only $4. And they are amazing. Shoyu Raamen is amazing too.
  • Molly D.heart icon on user image
    Molly DonohueApril 5, 2016
    Excellent $17 dinner special includes soup, pork bun, beer, and mochi
  • Tamika G.heart icon on user image
    Tamika GlissonMarch 9, 2015
    Amazing pork buns! The Mibo Ramen was to die for
  • Geoff K.
    Geoff KimFebruary 6, 2012
    Asian 5.3a: For a good hole in the wall ramen noodle place, then this place in the East Village called Rai Rai Ken is pretty good.
  • Amy .
    Amy 🍦September 18, 2011
    Been here 5+ times
    Get the mabo ramen for something different, otherwise everything is very solid. Favorite low key ramen spot for a quick dinner.
  • Effie G.
    Effie GumenikAugust 2, 2013
    make it to their happy hour, pork buns are $4 bucks (dine in only) and they are awesome.
  • Nicole A.heart icon on user image
    Nicole AptekarAugust 7, 2014
    Totally legit ramen, great prices, and open way late. Can't go wrong.
  • Kyo S.heart icon on user image
    Kyo SongFebruary 24, 2016
    Had the shoyu ramen. Very good broth, a bit small but filling enough
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