Rai Rai Ken
Ramen Restaurant$$$$
East Village, New York
Has a stamp of approval from Eater and The Corcoran Group
"I miss this place much!!! Greart curry ramen & shoyu ramen♥"(19 Tips)
"Seated right away, awesome pork buns, miso ramen and shoya?"(19 Tips)
"bar and order miso ramen with a diet coke"(19 Tips)
"The curry ramen is a must and affordable!"(7 Tips)
197 Tips and reviewsFilter:
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TomJuly 30, 2017No 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, 2014Very 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, 2014Didn'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
Michael MuseAugust 16, 2014The 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, 2013Amazing 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, 2014What 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, 2013Prices 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 NekoSeptember 21, 2016Pork 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
Al LoNovember 22, 2016Dinner combo for $19.75 during certain evening hours. Any ramen/yakisoba/rice with appetizer, drink and mochi dessert. What a deal!
Jonathan RamirezApril 26, 2015Very 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, 2012Miso 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, 2016I 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, 2015Shoyu ramen (with or without wonton). set C with charshu on the side. Plus a glass of draft beer. You are in heaven.
Cole KennedyOctober 8, 2018Solid neighborhood ramen spot. Rarely a wait, food comes out quickly, and plenty of options on the menu.
Ross MarshallJuly 9, 2018Miso ramen is very tasty. Awesome noodles. Very salty broth but crazy delicious miso and garlic flavor.
Mike ChauNovember 5, 2012Try 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.
Kevin RickertJuly 18, 2015Came 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, 2013I love this place. They just move to nice new digs a few doors down. The curry ramen is a must and affordable!
Make sure to order the pork buns to start followed by any selection of ramen as they are all delicious.
jkhknycJanuary 31, 20154-6pm is the real happy hours that will make you super happy :) Don't miss out!!!
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.
Annabelle EmmNovember 19, 2015Standing order-- miso with half noodles and an egg! Ramen, gyoza, kimchi, fried rice... all delicious!
Marisa TomAugust 16, 2011Delicious 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, 2015Cash only! This spot is homey, clean and makes a good bowl of ramen. Try the pork buns, too!
Laura NoonanNovember 5, 2014The pork buns are the bomb, the ramen is hearty, maybe not the best in NYC but it hits the spot on a cold day.
Abhinav SharmaSeptember 30, 2013Try the Miso Ramen, they do it in a chicken broth that's arguably better than Toto.- emma tangorenSeptember 14, 2014sit at the bar and order miso ramen with a diet coke while you watch the chefs make your soup! mm.
Ikai LanMarch 11, 2013Shio ramen is a clear, lightly salted broth. Nice and refreshing when you're not looking for anything too heavy
- Kevin TakDecember 15, 2012You will love An-nin-tofu "Almond Tofu . It's nice to have after rich taste ramen!
JillianJanuary 31, 2017Not too bad for seamless ramen on the go! Very tasty pork chunks and perfectly soft boiled egg
Jimmy ChaoJune 21, 2013Mabo ramen was spicy and delicious. Yummy and affordable, what more can you ask for
The Corcoran GroupOctober 8, 2010Have a late lunch here from 2-5pm - $11 includes Ramen and one appetizer. Try the ramen with tofu and ground pork.
Adam ChalifAugust 1, 2010I 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!!
COOLHAUSJuly 15, 2012Rai 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!
Kris ConcepcionJuly 24, 2014Shoyu ramen is flavorful and the pork belly was tasty. Not the best but a really solid bowl of ramen.
Leah MaloneAugust 8, 2015Dinner special includes kimchi, an app, ramen bowl, sake or Sapporo and moshi for $17, tasty and a great deal!
Matthew PantojaDecember 10, 2012New, bigger space. The food is still good, but I liked the vibe of the old "hole in the wall spot" with only counter seating.
Mike JacobsonSeptember 13, 2013The Mabo is insanely good. Kind of spicy hamburger flavored. Also, cash only. ALSO, I live next store, come say hello.
The new location (2 doors down from the old one) is bigger and brighter with the same great food and pricing. Remember CASH ONLY!
Time Out New YorkJune 4, 2013With 30 seats, Rai Rai Ken is a good approximation of the small, humble ramen-ya found throughout Japan. Read more
NYU LocalSeptember 15, 2011Classic 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.)
AmateurConciergeJuly 25, 2015Can't get into momofuku? Come on over. Ramen is decent and varieties aplenty. Gotta say, the mochi is doo tho- Get the mabo ramen for something different, otherwise everything is very solid. Favorite low key ramen spot for a quick dinner.
Serious EatsMarch 31, 2013Not our favorite ramen in the East Village, but a solid bowl for when a noodle craving hits.
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Experience authentic, Japanese ramen at Rai Rai Ken. It's the next best thing to a visit to Japan.
Open until Midnight (Show more)
- Mon–Thu, Sun
- 11:30 AM–4:00 PM
- 6:00 PM–Midnight
- Fri–Sat
- 11:30 PM–2:00 AM
(212) 477-7030
Features
Reservations
No
Credit Cards
Yes (incl. Visa & MasterCard)
Outdoor Seating
No
Parking
Street
Restroom
Yes
Food & Drink
Menus
Lunch, Dinner, Happy Hour
Drinks
Beer
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