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Rai Rai Ken

Ramen Restaurant$$$$

East Village, New York

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Rai Rai Ken

6.5^/10

564

ratings

The experts at Eater and Serious Eats recommend this place
"Shoyu Ramen + Sapporo = great solo dining experience"(19 Tips)
"Seated right away, awesome pork buns, miso ramen and shoya?"(19 Tips)
"Miso ramen with extra corn is the way to go!"(19 Tips)
"The curry ramen is a must and affordable!"(7 Tips)

197 Tips and reviews

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ramen
pork buns
casual
happy hour
gyoza
lunch specials
good for a quick meal
delivery
spicy food
fried rice
wontons
great value
off-menu items
desserts
good for singles
corn
bar
dinner
chicken
chashu
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EaterAugust 15, 2016
Priced at only $8 and up — cheap by ramen standards — selections skew doctrinaire, with broths based on soy, miso, and curry, and no Tokyo-style salt ramen or fancy-pants pork bone tonkotsu. Read more
TomJuly 30, 2017
No frills miso, shoyu and curry ramen, but simple and delicious. Their tsukemen is a good alternative on warmer days and their cold ramen is a most try when they make it available in the summer.
Kevin TakMay 4, 2014
Very much classic style of shoyu ramen and fried rice "Tyahan" are the best selection. They are likely Syouwa era, the year of 1925-1989, so it is classic!! Take an annin-tofu for dessert. Enjoy!
Jennifer KramerAugust 31, 2014
Didn't want to wait for 1+ hour for Ippudo and momufuku so went here and it was great. Seated right away, awesome pork buns, miso ramen and shoya? Ramen. Delicious, will def go back
MunchiesMay 11, 2015
The ramen—made from a tasty shio broth and topped with pork chashu, bamboo shoots, and a slice of fish cake—was nothing remarkable, but it was good, filling, and cheap. Read more
Michael MuseAugust 16, 2014
The Shio Ramen is my go-to here, with butter. Ask them to add butter. Trust me. Just tell your judgey friends that its a Japanese thing, and they have no culture, you cant take them anywhere.
Caroline Kay Hwa TanMay 9, 2013
Amazing char siew!!!! Great add-on value with the ramen for the lunch special. Ramen was also delightful - I had the shio wanton ramen and the wanton skin was perfectly silky just like back in Asia.
SparkieJanuary 20, 2014
What to Order: Shoyu Wonton ramen-noodle soup, with shrimp-and-pork wontons, bamboo shoots, a boiled egg, spinach, fish cake, dry seaweed, and scallion in a soy-sauce-based pork-and-chicken broth.
Sasha MuJune 26, 2013
Prices grew to 10-11$ 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.
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!
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
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! ^__^
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 :)
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.
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.
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.
Cole KennedyOctober 8, 2018
Solid neighborhood ramen spot. Rarely a wait, food comes out quickly, and plenty of options on the menu.
Ross MarshallJuly 9, 2018
Miso ramen is very tasty. Awesome noodles. Very salty broth but crazy delicious miso and garlic flavor.
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.
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!
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.
jkhknycJanuary 31, 2015
4-6pm is the real happy hours that will make you super happy :) Don't miss out!!!
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.
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.
Annabelle EmmNovember 19, 2015
Standing order-- miso with half noodles and an egg! Ramen, gyoza, kimchi, fried rice... all delicious!
Abhinav SharmaSeptember 30, 2013
Try the Miso Ramen, they do it in a chicken broth that's arguably better than Toto.
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.
Yera HaApril 23, 2015
Cash only! This spot is homey, clean and makes a good bowl of ramen. Try the pork buns, too!
Ikai LanMarch 11, 2013
Shio ramen is a clear, lightly salted broth. Nice and refreshing when you're not looking for anything too heavy
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.
Kevin TakDecember 15, 2012
You will love An-nin-tofu "Almond Tofu . It's nice to have after rich taste ramen!
Jimmy ChaoJune 21, 2013
Mabo ramen was spicy and delicious. Yummy and affordable, what more can you ask for
JillianJanuary 31, 2017
Not too bad for seamless ramen on the go! Very tasty pork chunks and perfectly soft boiled egg
The Corcoran GroupOctober 8, 2010
Have a late lunch here from 2-5pm - $11 includes Ramen and one appetizer. Try the ramen with tofu and ground pork.
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!
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!!
Tamika GlissonMarch 9, 2015
Amazing pork buns! The Mibo Ramen was to die for
Kris ConcepcionJuly 24, 2014
Shoyu ramen is flavorful and the pork belly was tasty. Not the best but a really solid bowl of ramen.
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.
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.
Leah MaloneAugust 8, 2015
Dinner special includes kimchi, an app, ramen bowl, sake or Sapporo and moshi for $17, tasty and a great deal!
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!
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.)
Time Out New YorkJune 4, 2013
With 30 seats, Rai Rai Ken is a good approximation of the small, humble ramen-ya found throughout Japan. Read more
AmateurConciergeJuly 25, 2015
Can't get into momofuku? Come on over. Ramen is decent and varieties aplenty. Gotta say, the mochi is doo tho
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.
Serious EatsMarch 31, 2013
Not our favorite ramen in the East Village, but a solid bowl for when a noodle craving hits.
Kyo SongFebruary 24, 2016
Had the shoyu ramen. Very good broth, a bit small but filling enough
Yo KatsuseJuly 17, 2015
New Combo for Lunch and Dinner are real stealer
prairie rose freeMarch 6, 2013
Love the warmed up toilet seats! Oh, and the happy hour Sapporo/gyoza special for $6 can't be beat!

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