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Raku

Raku

Udon Restaurant$$$$
East Village, New York
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9.1/10
649
ratings
  • Stars
  • Tips
    Ha-ti N.
    "get the tatsuta-age and the niku udon."(12 Tips)
    Kim P.
    "The ankake udon is really unique and delicious."(4 Tips)
    Hailey Heewoo K.
    "love the beef curry udon - filling, flavorful, and soothing."(5 Tips)
    Eric N.
    "Delicious tofu and beef udon."(4 Tips)
Tips and Reviews icon118 Tips and reviews
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  • David N.heart icon on user image
    David NarazakiOctober 14, 2016
    All of the udon dishes are good beyond words. I dont know what Raku is using to create their soup stock,it is clean crisp and packed with umami. The udon has a mouthfeel second to none.A new regular.
    Upvoted Sep 12
  • emily c.heart icon on user image
    emily chenJanuary 9, 2016
    the udon is unlike any other udon you've had in nyc. super chewy and melty. can't go wrong with the beef/honeycomb tripe, chicken with mochi or egg ones. fried chicken is OKAY.
  • Jeff W.heart icon on user image
    Jeff WooDecember 11, 2015
    A really special chewy udon noodle imported from Japan. The Niku is the star and it's amazing. The Ankake is thick and tasty, just a couple examples of many wonderful bowls
  • Zack S.heart icon on user image
    Zack SheppardMarch 8, 2016
    Awesome udon soups in an adorable little spot. The curry udon was delicious, but the short rib and tripe udon was AMAZING.
  • Matthew H.heart icon on user image
    Matthew HuieMarch 17, 2016
    Been here 10+ times
    The chikara (chicken and mochi) and niku (beef and tripe) udon were amazing. The chicken broth was very flavourful!
  • Rubén G.heart icon on user image
    Rubén GarcíaDecember 29, 2017
    Tiny spot serving what is likely the best udon in NYC. There will be a wait, but it will be worth it. For sure get the Niku (short rib and tripe udon), the flavors are insane!
  • Ailie C.heart icon on user image
    Ailie ChangMarch 26, 2016
    Come in groups of two. You will be seated faster. Start off with the Edamame, Chicken Tatsuta-age, and Agadashi Tofu. Get the Niku Udon with an egg! Delicious broth and beef is so tender. Cash Only.
  • Elynn L.heart icon on user image
    Elynn LeeFebruary 19, 2017
    Been here 5+ times
    Maitake tempura is a great addition. Continues to be one of my favorite places to eat in the city. They now deliver on Caviar too! They're also still cash only, but worth the wait.
  • Susumuheart icon on user image
    SusumuDecember 31, 2015
    Tried Kamaage Udon($9), which is plain udon, to check their udon quality. It was chewy enough to enjoy the noodle. Dipping udon in sauce mixed with scallion and quail egg was interesting.
  • Hailey Heewoo K.heart icon on user image
    Hailey Heewoo KimOctober 23, 2016
    Been here 5+ times
    chicken karaage is delicious! love the beef curry udon - filling, flavorful, and soothing. perfect dish for cold / rainy weather
  • Tom
    TomNovember 19, 2015
    New udon spot in the East Village. Generous portions and pretty authentic. The ankake udon is bomb. They offer Kaedama and its cash only. Highly recommended!
  • Tabi Y.heart icon on user image
    Tabi YooNovember 10, 2015
    I recommend getting the fried chicken to start + share. The vegetable tempura udon was delicious - great if you're in the mood for a more traditional udon. Really loved the way they did their tempura!
  • Evieheart icon on user image
    EvieNovember 25, 2015
    Incredible. Take a break from the ramen trend and go with udon. The wakame udon is simple but so flavorful. Everything else looked amazing as well.
  • Elynn L.heart icon on user image
    Elynn LeeJanuary 11, 2016
    Been here 5+ times
    Ankake udon is really yummy. Love the texture and the eggs. Nameko udon broth is light, yet full of flavor from the mushrooms. Noodles are amazing. Expect to wait for a table - place is small!
  • Kyulee S.heart icon on user image
    Kyulee SeoSeptember 26, 2016
    Their udon noodles are really special, and if you can handle it, add mochi because it is huge and chewy!!!
  • Elisaheart icon on user image
    ElisaOctober 30, 2019
    Been here 5+ times
    Get the Kaki ankake (crab in egg thick soup). Get there early as the restaurant has little seating.
  • Cole K.heart icon on user image
    Cole KennedyFebruary 11, 2019
    Awesome, chewy udon noodles with some interesting soups: I liked the Niku Udon with short rib and tripe. The wait is worth it; just go somewhere on the block for a drink.
  • Ranu R.heart icon on user image
    Ranu RajkarnikarNovember 13, 2015
    A great new Japanese addition to the EV. Same owners as Kura and similar clean interior. The tempura udons don't disappoint and neither does the katsu don. Down it with some sake. Cash only!
  • Elynn L.heart icon on user image
    Elynn LeeJanuary 11, 2016
    Been here 5+ times
    Ankimo is a good choice for a starter. Niku udon was really good. Tender beef and rich broth. Tripe was really nice. Friendly and fast service, even when it's busy.
  • Sissi N.heart icon on user image
    Sissi NieOctober 24, 2015
    Been here 10+ times
    Incredible. Amazing apps (tofu, bacon, and chicken). Get the Beef udon for entree. Can't wait to come back here tomorrow.
  • Josh U.heart icon on user image
    Josh UptonFebruary 12, 2016
    The ankake udon is deeply enjoyable. Adding the nameko mushroom proved to be a great choice too (flown in fresh from Japan weekly!). Freshly minted regular reporting to slurping duty.
  • dawn.in.newyork
    dawn.in.newyorkApril 1, 2017
    Chikara udon changed my life. This is the only place in the city that I have no basis for a complaint about cash only system and limited seatings.
  • Rita K.heart icon on user image
    Rita KwongJune 25, 2016
    Authentic udon noodles, like the handmade ones you would taste in Japan. Not the thick round noodles you get from typical udon shop. One of the best in town.
  • Christopher L.
    Christopher LebronApril 14, 2017
    Some of the best udon noodles I've ever had. Perfect texture (firm, but velvety/pillowy). While you're there, get the Chicken Tatsuta-age; it's crazy juicy and delicious.
  • Adrienheart icon on user image
    AdrienOctober 26, 2015
    Very intimate and aesthetic place. Go for 'niku udon'—their signature dish with beef short ribs in a two-favored broth
  • Tiffanyheart icon on user image
    TiffanyDecember 11, 2015
    Try the ankake (egg drop) udon with thin or thick udon! The bowl is huge and it has a ginger-y finish so if you're not into ginger opt for the beef udon instead.
  • Kim P.heart icon on user image
    Kim PhamDecember 23, 2015
    The ankake udon is really unique and delicious. Tiny little space with a hip & minimalist decor.
  • Christina C.heart icon on user image
    Christina ChinNovember 13, 2018
    Chicken udon and broth was tasty, but not sure the mochi chunks in it were necessary. The gyoza has a distinct taste, not sure i like it. Ginger-y? Cash only!
  • Terence C.heart icon on user image
    Terence ChanNovember 11, 2016
    Best udon ever! So fresh and amazing!! I got the short rib with bacon for appetizer. 5/5
  • Emily W.heart icon on user image
    Emily WilsonNovember 11, 2015
    Definitely get an order of the fried chicken to start, then go for any of the udon bowls.
  • Omer Z.heart icon on user image
    Omer ZachNovember 20, 2015
    Been here 10+ times
    You can now choose between the thick and thin noodles in your udon.
  • Eric N.heart icon on user image
    Eric NingJanuary 8, 2017
    Delicious tofu and beef udon. The udon bowls are large so go when you're hungry!
  • yuoonheart icon on user image
    yuoonDecember 20, 2017
    I love this place everyone is so cute and nice and you feel love in the food
  • Jillian
    JillianMarch 12, 2016
    Egg udon is incredible, especially for winter cold sufferers! Noodles are perfectly chewy. Had this an the fried chicken app 👍🏼👍🏼
  • Matthew H.heart icon on user image
    Matthew HuieAugust 20, 2016
    Been here 10+ times
    New favourite: ankake udon!
  • Grace K.
    Grace KwanJuly 31, 2016
    Hip udon place. Authentic, with a laid-back vibe. The kakiage here was generously portioned and wonderfully crispy. Cash-only.
  • Julia S.heart icon on user image
    Julia San JuanFebruary 16, 2019
    Fried chicken is amazing, udon bowls are massive and delicious.
  • Martin O.heart icon on user image
    Martin OngMay 7, 2016
    Nameko Udon: seaweed and mushrooms. Good chewy udon
  • Sung H.heart icon on user image
    Sung HwangFebruary 14, 2016
    Super cute, clean cut and simplistic japanese style interior. Ankake udon was interesting. Would come again to try other udon. Karaage was too oily though.
  • Ernesto G.heart icon on user image
    Ernesto GutierrezFebruary 23, 2017
    Meat lovers should look no further than the niku udon (beef short rib with tripe). If you run out of udon ask for more! It is addictive.
  • Brandonheart icon on user image
    BrandonOctober 6, 2017
    Been here 5+ times
    Place is amazing!! Super clean broth is like crack. I like the beef broth with a poached egg. And that bacon app!!
  • Emily K.heart icon on user image
    Emily K.October 8, 2016
    GIANT bowls of udon and donburi. Karaage is pretty good. Cash only.
  • Kate F.
    Kate FurmanJune 15, 2016
    Best authentic place to get udon in EV! Prices are reasonable and the servers are so friendly! Cash only.
  • Martha X.heart icon on user image
    Martha XJuly 11, 2016
    Niku udon is my favorite! Amazing soup beef tendon soup for base. And monkfish liver to start
  • EuSok H.heart icon on user image
    EuSok HwangJanuary 16, 2023
    Ankake is really good at winter season. Cash only.
  • Alyssa B.heart icon on user image
    Alyssa B.March 3, 2023
    Bouncy chewy udon noodles! I had zero wait as party of one
  • CJheart icon on user image
    CJJanuary 5, 2018
    Very yummy undo!! Try the beef or the duck soup. Also like the simple decoration
  • Omer Z.heart icon on user image
    Omer ZachNovember 3, 2015
    Been here 10+ times
    Massive bowls of udon start at $9 at this new udon restaurant.
  • Colin L.heart icon on user image
    Colin LeeJune 3, 2018
    A very authentic Japanese noodle house - the curry noodle and fried chicken are delicious
  • Polina W.heart icon on user image
    Polina WeitzMay 1, 2021
    Delicious noodle soups. Beautiful broth, and amazing udon noodles. Highly recommended.
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