Excellent soft opening. I've had Ippudo in Japan, NY, and London. And I can honestly say, this is way better than the experience in NY. There is a strong energetic, welcoming feeling as you enter the glossy restaurant. The chefs and staff are yelling "WELCOME" in Japanese so often, you gotta wonder when they have time to cook. All of the servers/staff were well trained and did their jobs with alacrity and care for my experience. I pretty much forgot I was in London. I ordered two different ramens: Hakata (white, comes in white bowl) and the Akamaru (red, comes in red bowl and comes with red paste and seasoned oil). The base of the two ramens taste similar, but the red was a bit preferred this time (probably due to the red paste and additional seasoning oil). The pork was outstanding--thick and delicious and really not as fatty as I've experienced in other places. If I were to get an "extra' for my ramen, a soft boiled egg (which is an art unto itself) is always a good and worthwhile add-on. Asahi Dry draft (a pilsner)--excellent and cold as should be expected. I also ordered a Kale Salad to see what they were doing with it. Usually Japanese restaurants have very fresh, well prepared greens and great dressings. I'd say the Kale salad with fruit, nuts, and sesame dressing did not disappoint. I won't be thinking of it in my sleep or craving it, but if you're looking for a superfood addition, this will do more than fine. You may be going with your work buddies or on a cool date, but the ramen is good enough that it may take you to a solitary space for a few bites. Good ramen demands introspection, thought, appreciation as you bring your face close into the bowl to inhale and slurp politely. Sometimes the simplest things are the hardest to do (well). I haven't tried ramen anywhere else in London, but I can say this blows away the New York Ippudo by good measure. This restaurant is beautiful and spacious and the ramen actually tastes close to Japan (and is a lot less expensive than flying out there). Great experience at Ippudo--congratulations on building a new dining experience in the UK. read more

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I ordered the special ramen along with yaki gyoza and it was delightful. The broth was rich and flavorful, the noodles were just the right firmness, and the toppings worked well together. My only complaints are that the egg was still cold and mostly runny and that the service wasn't great (they confused our order with the table next to us and we had to ask twice for refills on our water) but these were minor in my opinion. read more

Ippudo London - Ramen Near Me - London, XGL

Ippudo is consistently tasty from Tokyo to London. Their food is good and reasonably authentic for a chain albeit expensive. Ippudo's gyoza were delicious and the spicy tonkotsu hit the spot after walking through brisk fifty degree London weather. I would recommend Ippudo to anyone who isn't feeling particularly adventurous, but wants to have a good bowl of ramen and doesn't mind the cost. read more

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I had a great experience at Ippudo. The wait on Wednesday night ~7pm was about 20 minutes which we gladly spent at the bar. I don't drink alcohol, but the bartender was kind enough to whip me up his own virgin mocktail creation - lychee, strawberry, calpis and fizz...it was the cutest drink (and very yummy). We ordered the karaage (fried chicken) and the pancake as starters - yum! We were pleased with both. The chicken portion isn't the biggest and comes with only about 4-5 pieces, but it's very tender. The pancake was gorgeous and still piping hot on the pan. I got the regular white bowled tonkotsu ramen (I don't remember the full name of it...but it's the first option on the menu) and was very pleased even if it's simple and straightforward. Do ask for sesame, crushed garlic, and chili oil to add into your ramen. The ramen is the thinner kind, and you can tell it's real fresh. When we entered, everyone shouts Japanese greetings at you....and when you leave, everyone shouts Japanese goodbyes and well wishes. It's kind of endearing. read more

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One of the best Ramen I have ever had. I have tried a lot of ramen places and I think this is my favorite. It has flavorful and a bit of a kick. We ordered the ramen with the red spicy paste. They asked you if you want the ramen to be firm or soft. Never been asked that before. We decided to go with firm and it was a good choice. Sucks tho cause my sister and I already had lunch and ice cream before we happened to walked by this place. The service was kind of slow. Though, we had been experiencing very slow service in London in general. That's the only reason I gave it 4 stars. The chicken Karaage was really good also. read more

So far the best ramen Ive had in London. I prefer it to Kanada Ya and Bone daddies because I think its the best of both world. The pork broth is juicy, ramen are thin and perfectly thin plus you can get a poached egg instead of the classic soft boiled egg. Also the chashu pork is a bit thicker which gives an extra touch to the whole combo. But I would come back to any of them any time!!! read more

Ippudo London - The main event: akamaru modern with poached egg and extra chashu pork!!! - Ramen Near Me - London, XGL

I really liked ippudo - the ramen doesn't come with as many included extras as somewhere like Shoryu (which remains my favourite ramen joint) - so if you want an egg in your bowl you have to pay extra... however the broth was really rich and flavoursome and you have a choice of which type of noodles to have and how soft or hard you want them. Definitely a place to check out if you're a ramen fan (or even if your not!) read more

Ippudo London - The Ramen "Special" - Ramen Near Me - London, XGL

No idea what happened here, but the broth was super watery and plain. The noodles were too hard and the meats were bland. It's hard to make great ramen, but it's also hard to make terrible ramen -- it looks like Ippudo London has managed to do just that. Interestingly enough, I've gone to the Paris branch of Ippudo and it was much, much better, so I'm not sure what's going on here in London... read more

Ippudo finally makes it to London! Went for lunch on a weekend a couple weeks after their opening. Like the Ippudo in New York, there was a queue. I ordered the Akamaru Modern and shared my friend's gyoza. I wasn't amazed by either. The gyoza was made with chicken, and I would have preferred pork. If you're coming to a ramen restaurant famous for their tonkotsu broth, wouldn't you want to continue the pork theme? The flavor of the ramen was fine, but gave me MSG dehydration afterwards. I appreciate that Ippudo is rather new and they are keeping the menu (at least with respect to the ramen) quite simple. London has many other options for ramen and I would have preferred some specials. read more

Ippudo London - Akamaru Modern - Ramen Near Me - London, XGL

Ramen is great here and always comes with a soft boiled egg which is great. Bit annoying. When you have to pay extra for an egg *cough cough* bone daddies * cough cough * Saying that...Ippudo isn't inexpensive. A ramen and pork bun (singular) will set you back ~£18. Nice place for a casual dinner or a date. Turned up a little late, they didn't let my friend sit down till I arrived?? Meh Ramen: 8 spicy boiled eggs / 11 Pork Hirata Buns: 17 sesame seeds/ 21 Atmosphere 6 DJ Khaleds / 10. ....but then at 8pm the restaurant started playing some dope tracks. Another one after another one. Atmosphere bumped up to 8/10. Overall a good experience, tasty food. Would recommend if you're looking for a ramen joint and don't mind paying the extra buck. Would I go here again? Yes. Would I order a f*ck load more pork buns. Yes. Yes I would. read more

Having first tried it in Kuala Lumpur, we were truly excited to when Ippudo finally opened its first store in London. We actually visited back in December 2015 so the ramen and food might be slight different. We had two of their hirata buns: their classic pork bun with signature soft braised pork belly and chicken katsu bun. A little slice of iceberg lettuce adds a nice crunch to the dish, otherwise you'd literally feel like you're eating air since the bun is so soft and fluffy! A thin layer of mayo and a special chilli sauce combines everything together. A must try if you go to Ippudo! Next we tucked into the lovely ramen. Each came topped with 2 slices of their famous tender pork belly, spring onions, kikurage mushrooms and a dash of black garlic oil. Don't be put off by the garlic oil though, think of it like when you add a dash of sesame oil to your stir-fry - its an added level of fragrance to the dish! First up is the Akamaru Modern (£11.00) - Ippudo call this their "bolder translation" of their classic pork broth, as its got their secret special blended miso paste (fermented soya beans).If you like miso, then this is definitely one for you. Second, we had the Karaka-Men (£11.00) - Ippudo's original tonkotsu broth with a blob of their spicy miso paste. Definitely not for the faint hearted. The depth of the chilli really hits the back of your throat, yet it's not too overpowering as you can still taste the intensity of the pork broth. A meal wouldn't be finished unless we had dessert too! We opted for the Houji-Cha Pudding (£5.00). This was a smooth milky-like pudding, similar to the pana cotta. The pudding is flavoured with roasted tea and topped with a layer of sweet kuromitsu sauce (black honey). The whipped cream on top is flavoured with honey. Nothing we've ever eaten before, so slightly weird, but oddly satisfying! Personally we think Ippudo ramen reminded us the ramen we've tried in Tokyo and Kyoto... read more

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Set behind Tottenham Court road station Ippudo is a Japanese Ramen and beef restaurant that is great for a quick stopover if you are in the area. First there is no way to book this restaurant. This was OK for us as we were just popping in following a visit to an exhibition. We waited at the bar with its snazzy noodle counter which would look amazing at night. We helped ourselves to some Sparkling Hana-Fuga cocktail Sake. For the price per bottle we got two champagne glasses worth. I suspect that this is the alcopop of Japanese sake with its sweet fruity taste. We both did enjoy it as it went straight to our heads even with a 5% alcohol content. It took around 20 minutes for a table to become free and we were seated in the rather cavernous interior. This place has top to toe windows but it lacks some of the character that you would expect from a Japanese restaurant. However as there were quite a few Japanese people dining here I suppose this is acceptable place to eat. We decided to go for the Ramen. I had the shiromaru classic with an egg which is called something else and cost more. The waiter asked how I wanted the noodles. Soft or hard. Being a bit of a weakling I took the soft option. I also ordered a cha su pork bun. This was very satisfying. The bun was soft and somewhat doughy, the pork was glazed in a sweet syrup and went well with the mayonnaise and lazy salad leaf that had been tucked in. When the Ramen arrived the egg was on top uncut. This was a bit of a surprise.. had the cooks become lazy. It did spoil the picture I took but hey ho it was still quite tasty even though probably pre-cooked. The soup had a strong pork flavour and went well with the chashu, sesame kikurage mushrooms, bean sprouts, bamboo shoots and spring onions. I gobbled it down but I think I have had better a few weeks earlier. To down all the food we ordered some sake. I love the chilled variety which is cloudy and easier to drink than the paint stripper sake which is considered finer. We had no room for dessert. One thing I found lacking here was the lack of display. Servings were carried out on rather bland plates and glasses. Much like the place it lacks real Japanese character. Room for improvement I think. read more

After finding that several other Japanese places had no table available online, we decided to try Ippudo and just take our chances. We had to wait about 15 min to get a table, but we were able to sit at the bar and have a drink while we waited so no big deal. I tried plum wine for the first time. Sweet! I liked it. To start we split the chicken karaage and the chicken gyoza (not the deep fried or boiled but normal pot sticker style). Both were flavorful. Then I had the basic Tonkatsu Ramen. It was really nice. Great broth, tender pork and perfect chewy noodles. My coworker had the vegetarian ramen, with egg added. He said was really good. He also had the tempura chicken to go on top of the ramen (since all the meat ramen issues are pork based and he is Muslim). He said it was really good. Overall, glad we went. Service was fine. Nothing amazing, but the guy was friendly and we got what we needed when we needed it. I would totally go back again. read more

I've been waiting for a reunion with my favorite ramen hotspot in New York since last year, when I found out Ippudo was opening up a location in London. There has not been a dearth of ramen slurping since I've arrived in London, however, with ramen masters sprouting up all over the city like rabid mushrooms. Ippudo is up against serious contenders. The ambiance was just as I remembered it in New York, slightly brooding and sexy, if you could call a ramen house sexy. I arrived on a Friday night at 6 pm ready to get my noodle game on and was surprised the wait was only about 20 minutes for a table of two. Once seated, I ordered my usual, the Hirata Buns for 7 quid and Akamaru Modern for 11 quid. I always thought the Ippudo's prices in New York were hard to swallow (or slurp) but I guess they're a bargain compared to their prices in London. I've never been impressed by the Hirata Buns, and I still uphold that opinion. They're okay, and very minimalist compared to other buns I've had. The NOODLES. One thing Ippudo has always excelled at is the noodles. No one can do springy and sleek when it comes to noodles like Ippudo. The bowl was kept simple, with fair portions of pork belly chashu, bean sprouts, mushrooms, and spring onions. The broth was a bit too salty, and this is where I think Bone Daddies is slightly stronger- keeping the broth's flavor without compromising saltiness. This is the only ramen place in London I've finished everything. The portions are just right and satisfied the craving without making me feel like pork fat was seeping out of my pores. Definitely coming back, but boycotting the Hirata Buns. read more

We came here on a chilly Sunday after visiting the Britsh Museum which is nearby. It looks a bit hipster. There is reasonably loud 80s music playing and literally everyone greets you with an 'irrashaimase' as you walk from door to table. We perused the menus and they had a supplementary smaller menu with specials. I went for their signature ramen, the Shiromara Hikata Classic. This is a tonkotsu pork broth with a piece of pork loin. The broth was fine, but had a subtle greasy aftertaste. I wanted to eat something else to balance it out. My wife had one of the special spicy ramens. The noodles were a bit overdone for her, but she does prefer them to be a bit under. The broth was not as spicy as she was expecting, but it was nonetheless good. The people are friendly and it feels like they have 'learnt the script' well. The ramen came out quickly after we had ordered and this was appreciated on a cold day. read more

I was looking forward to this since visiting Ippudo in Japan, I mean REALLY REALLY looking forward to it. And what a disappointment. tldr: Food was good, service was appalling. Won't be coming back. In Japan, Ramen bars are a local grubby place where all that counts is the food - which is 99% of the time just amazing. Even chains such as Ippudo have this kind of authentic charm to them that I couldn't wait to live again in London. Well, they tried to recreate the charm, but they also added some false pompous poshness. It didn't work. At all. And it just turned it into a bad customer experience: something you wouldn't ever find in Japan. So note: you can't book a table, and you can't be seated till the whole party is there. Fair enough, they need a quick turnover. But again, this method doesn't fit with the sense of "posh" they are trying to convey in this place. So we ended up waiting at the bar, having some bar snacks and starters while waiting for the queue to grow, and grow. We finally get seated 20min (after receiving a text notification) after all our party was there. The menu is pretty simple, and offers a bit more variety that what you would find in their Japanese restaurants. Prices are acceptable, similar to what you would be paying in other ramen bars in London. And well, this is what saves them their 2 stars: the food was actually pretty decent: - The Gyoza were fantastic - The ramen was as it tasted in Japan - never been a massive fan if their noodles, but their broth is fantastic. My other half went for the spicy ramen, and added the extra spice, and went for the x15 spicyness. But beware: it is lethal. He loved it, my mouth was burning by just dipping my finger in it. We decided to skip desert and paid the bill. Wile we were just saying goodbye to our friends when one of the managers came and asked us to leave. That was pretty much the last straw. Ippudo London? Been there, done that. I'll go and satisfy my ramen-craving needs somewhere where I am not treated like kettle, thanks. read more

Fabulous dinner stop on a rainy Monday evening. My younger sister has only moved to London a few weeks ago and still somehow managed to scope out this place before me. Her description of it sounded so tasty that I insisted she go again and take me! Anywhere with a roof would have been welcome shelter after sploshing our way over from the bus stop, but this place was particularly nice to enter, with the glow from the gleaming wooden interior visible through the glass frontage. We arrived at a quite early 6.45pm so were happy to wait when she said it'd take about 20mins for a table. They have one of those systems that texts you when your table is ready but given the rain we weren't going anywhere fast. We pulled up 2 high chairs at the bar instead and enjoyed the decor around us with ramen bowls on display overhead and dried noodle squares set into the counter. We both like plum wine in Japanese places so ordered Plumpop cocktails - prosecco, plum wine and orange bitters with a strawberry. Before the barman had finished making them though the front-of-house came over and asked if we'd mind counter seating; we didn't, so could be seated then. We walked round to a row of seats lining the kitchen, so they all face into the chefs' food prep area, and are suitable for solo diners or two's. Our cocktails followed us and were delicious. Food-wise we were too intrigued by other parts of the menu to order the traditional ramen which seems to be the specialty here. Instead we went for a chicken hirata bun each, which was so tasty that next time I might just gobble 5 buns myself for a meal. For main, we shared a Japanese savoury pancake stuffed with pork belly and cabbage and made with their pork broth, and a sizzling pot of noodles with minced chicken and tofu. Both were incredibly hot (in temperature) but the flavours were delicious (once the feeling in my tongue returned). Our server was very friendly, and they make an effort to speak a few words of Japanese to say thank you and bye which I thought was a nice touch. It's probably on the pricey side for what the food is but it's a swish little setting right in the middle of central London so I think much as expected. Best for smaller groups or date night I think; the hardest part was resisting nabbing one of the big red ramen bowls on the way out - my sis definitely had her eye on one to use at home! read more

Nooo, just because it's famous in New York doesn't make it good here. From what I can remember or don't want to remember about this place besides the extremely slow service. Starters Cucumbers - not even flavor Cheese pancake thing - don't get! Dumplings - my little wouldn't even eat it... Wings - not too shabby. Whew! Ramen - we got the spicy one which was ok, but nothing that stood out or anything. Was definitely really thirsty after (msg lots??) And that's it - so bottom line, I would rather eat at bryon a couple doors down and that place isn't even good!! read more

This is my favorite ramen. I prefer this over the NYC branch, the same dishes taste the same, but there are better veggie options in London (as usual) and better service in London (definitely not as usual!). It's more spacious, relaxing and comfortable than the NYC one. London has shorter lines too. read more

Ippudo London - Ramen Near Me - London, XGL

I can't even deal with how delicious this is/was. Like, I left my friends and immediately texted: "I'm already having ramen flashbacks". We literally - no seriously - asked aloud whether the dessert menu could just feature...another course of perfect tonkotsu ramen. It's great. The music is weird (but great), the aggressive yelling is loud (but great), the waiting system where they text you instead of carrying around a ridiculous buzzer is efficient (and great!). Service is ON POINT, and - small, but important, detail - we laughed at how "not London" their tap water is. Big chunks of ice! Mega-tumblers! Quick refills! Anywho, on to the ramen. I went for the Akamaru ramen (pork belly, miso, garlic oil, LOTSA YUM). A quiet came over our table. It's comforting, but complex. And fatty, but also not heavy. It's just...such a miraculous bowl of win. For an additional 1.50 - I CAN NOT RECOMMEND HIGHLY ENOUGH THE SOFT-BOILED EGG. Perfect centre, perfectly seasoned, perfect complement to the ramen. In/out, with service, for 13.50. I know that some have gripes about the amount of pork / portion size, but I think it was generous in a great atmosphere with top quality. Yelp note: also consumed? The edamame which is tossed in soy with some garlic chips. Sure. I mean, don't get it if it'll interfere with the room in your stomach for ramen but otherwise, solid. read more

Un-amazing ramen place. Has a good beer called 'Owa' Japanese beer made in Belgium. Some good buns, plate of three for £10 is a good starter. Ramen only average and honestly, though it's professional enough, and cannot complain about the service, prices are on the high side and I am not sure I'd be racing back. Lacks soul, I suppose. It is after all a chain and it's a bog-standard kind of deal, and not somewhere you'd get too wild about. read more

Great decorations and service. Love the menu, especially their regular ramen - the broth is not too thick and with the right flavours. Been here many times. read more

They got rid of the £10 student deal. What a shame! You can eat at the bar for fast service if you're a small party and don't want to wait for a table. The Karaka Spicy Men is spicier than the Akamaru Modern but they are generally pretty similar. Noodles are straight and thin. This is a good place to get your ramen fix. read more

I was reminded today of why I love Ippudo. This is the fourth Ippudo location I have dined at, and the ramen did not disappoint. All of the dishes Ipuudo is known for were on the menu. Plus a few UK-inspired ones. Up until today, the most memorable Ippudo ramen special I ate was the black sesame oil miso ramen in NYC in 2012. And today it was knocked off of it's pedestal by London's current special, Red Tan-Tan Men. In short, Red Tan-Tan Men is the most unique and best ramen I've ever eaten. EVER. ****IF YOU CAN HANDLE SPICY RAMEN, THEN ORDER IT WHILE YOU STILL CAN**** The special just became available yesterday and is available through the end of June 2016. The wait staff believe it to be available only in London because each chef at each location comes up with their own creation. Read on if you want the details... THE BOWL: white in color THE NOODLES: As usual, the straight noodles were perfect. (You have the option of getting it hard, medium, or soft. I chose medium.) THE TOPPINGS: (1) cilantro, or coriander leaves as they are called in the UK, was... a first for me to eat w ramen; (2) chili oil has a nice mild-medium kick; (3) a poached egg comes on the side, which is meant to be added to the broth; the whites had the texture of silken tofu, and the yolk was a creamy soft boil; (4) 3 fried wontons are small, and have chicken and vegetable filling, and usually come in the broth, but I asked them to put it on the side (because I hate soggy fried anything); (5) spicy nikumiso paste, which is SUPER SUPER SUPER spicy (!!!); luckily the waiter warned me, so I asked for it on the side (so that I could control the spiciness of my broth) my best guess is that it is made up of ground pork, miso, and very spicy red chili oil. (6) sweet vinegar (comes on the side in a bottle) which is meant to be added to the broth THE BROTH: First of all, this is a CHICKEN BROTH, not a pork broth. So the flavor is obviously different, but it has a similar level of "depth" as the pork broth minus the greasy feeling on your lips. Also, there are instructions on how to "layer on" the toppings to achieve different broth complexities. Here is how I ate it: (1) first try the original base soup... It's rich in flavor and has a mild-medium spicy kick from the chili oil. (2) the instructions tell you to add the nikumiso paste next but since it was so spicy, I decided to do it last and, instead, added in the egg next. And OMG it was amazing. It gave the broth a nice creamy and silky texture; (3) then next came the sweet vinegar. I was nervous about this one since I didn't know what to expect. So I only added a little at a time as I ate. But wow did it made it even more amazing. It was just the right acidity and sweetness. Sweet, sour, and salty all in one bite. I was I heaven; (4) then finally came the nikumiso paste. I've made the mistake of underestimating spicy paste before (rendering it inedible), and I never wanted to ruin another ramen bowl ever again, so I'm really glad I asked for it on the side, because it was way to spicy for me to add it directly to the broth; so I asked for a small empty bowl, which I used to "dilute" the spiciness by adding a little bit of broth. I semi-drained the ground pork in small batches throughout the rest of my meal. This required extra work but was worth it to me because it was even more delicious. There is a recommendation on the instruction card to add rice to your broth at the end. But I didn't try it, since the noodles were so good on their own. Does it need additional toppings? Well, the wontons provide a nice crispy texture to contrast the rich creamy broth. I wish I had more than just 3 wontons. But in terms of adding the other toppings (seaweed, onions, chaushu, etc), no, I felt it was right just the way it is.e read more

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As a person from California and Bay Area - I've had numerous opportunity to try Japanese ramen. With the announcement of Ippudo, opening in London I was ecstatic and the ramen reassured my belief. Was it life shattering ramen - not really, but still the best ramen in London. read more

Ippudo London - Ramen Near Me - London, XGL

the broth is good.Both the white bowl and the red bowl.Soup has a shrimp roe taste to it in addition to the pork bone taste. 1 slide of pork only per bowl! However,unlike Kanada-ya, you cannot choose how dente you want the ramen. Eel on rice is also authentic.Be prepared to queue up. 4 star for London. 3 star compared to Japan. unlike Kanada-ya across the road ,Ippudo charges 12.5% service charge read more

I've had Ippudo in NYC and Sydney- both were very impressive. So I was quite excited when Ippudo London opened. For consistency comparison I ordered the Akamaru ramen (red bowl; pork belly with miso paste). The broth was light and flavoursome and the noodles were soft... BUT only one piece of pork belly for a £11 bowl noodle? I was very disappointed with the portion size especially since I've fond memories from the other restaurants. Ramen is a "thing" in London at the moment- there are many places I'd go back to before coming back to Ippudo in London. read more

Unbelievable terrible experience! It's so ridiculous that they refused to take orders from one of my friends who arrived late. And even worse, they tried to make my friend sit at a separate table away from us, and only by doing that can they take orders from her. Can you imagine a normal business do this? They insist "it's store policy" but sorry policy for what? I've been to ippudo Tokyo and Shanghai, no one did that! Or maybe special policy for London? Sorry other London restaurants are never that rude to customers! read more

Pretty decent ramen, but not as good as the New York location. The tonkotsu ramen was a bit uneventful, hot but lacking in flavour. The nigori sake was nice, bit dull, and sort of... chunkier than I expected? Service was great, though. Interior decoration felt sort of like "tacky Japanese," like sort of what a western business person might imagine connoted "Japaneseness" to other western clientele? read more

Ippudo London - Nigori sake served with ice in the interior of the carafe! - Ramen Near Me - London, XGL

Still love the noodles even in this London version of the restaurant. There's a different vibe in this location but mostly because it's so large compared to the New York restaurant. I thought that the staff was friendly, the food was served quickly, and the noodles were of good quality. It's a great alternative to busier ramen shops in the area, and it's comforting to know that this is so nearby. There are a few different broth offerings and different than the NY menu--the London menu seemed more extensive, with a number of hot dishes, appetizers, and a decent sake/wine/beer selection. read more

I'm sorry but this is not a legit ramen place. The place is extremely fake as in a "wanna be" because employees there spoke crappy Japanese phrases (almost to the point it should be considered as mockery). If you're going to speak it, learn how to speak it correctly! There is nothing more annoying than having 10 staff members shouting the same thing over and over again when entering and exiting the eatery. In terms of the food, I think that eatery was just half arsing everything - especially being very stingy on the chashu. This is another type of chain eatery that is out there to rip off people that don't know any better. I would avoid the place at all cost. I know ramen places are scarce in London but please don't go in there out of desperation. It is not anything like what you'd get in an authentic ramen place in Japan, San Francisco, Los Angeles or New York. I would never go back there for sure. I hope more ramen places will open in London where people wouldn't find ramen to be such rare or exotic food but instead evolve into just a normal food option (sit, eat and out). read more

Excellent broth, chashu pork is lacking in quality (at least when I ate there) but isn't a deal breaker. Toppings are great, especially the exquisite egg which comes whole and drips into the broth when you split it. The noodles were a bit softer than expected for the "hard" level I asked for. The atmosphere is nice, although the welcome in Japanese is a bit over the top... read more

Will and Joey from the NYC branches have done a wonderful job of recreating the service and atmosphere of the branches in the US at the new London location. The ramen is almost identical in taste once you add a little spice to the dish and the signature chicken buns are deliciously addictive. I'm so glad that Ippudo has made the move to the UK, and now takes the crown from Bone Daddies as the best ramen in town! read more

"I can't believe I'm queuing up for ramen" says the guy in front of me in the queue to enter Ippudo. and I think to myself, "so true, why am I queuing up for ramen?" In truth, it was my friend Pen L. who successfully talked me into it. Well after queueing for around 15mins (even if timed your arrival directly on opening time), expect to be greeted with a Japanese welcome into the restaurant by every single member of staff you pass (frankly I feel sorry for the staff who have to keep chanting this greeting all night long), then you will be seated and served by people from all walks of life. It would seem that for most of the staff, English is not their first language, which is fine until you find yourself slowly repeating your question in order to elicit an answer. Nevertheless, the food was nicely presented, the noodles sufficiently succulent to be memorable and the variety available from the menu was decent. The portions are quite small but this works out well if you want to try out out a full 3 courses. The food does take quite some time to arrive but you can tell that attention has been dedicated to its preparation. Ippudo has a little more style over substance but all in all, a worthwhile visit and an original experience. read more

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I have been to Ippudo in New York and was really eager to check out their new London restaurant, having tried a few of the ramen establishments here like Bone Daddies, Shoryu, and United Ramen. My friend and I originally decided that we would show up in Holborn and decide between Kanada-Ya and Ippudo on the spot, depending on which queue looked better, as they both don't take reservations. So when we arrived and saw 10+ people waiting outside of Kanada-Ya in the cold on the street, Ippudo was the obvious choice. Luckily, on a Monday night the wait was not that long, and I put my name down for an estimated wait of 15-20 minutes. They do the same thing as The Ship where they take down your cell phone number and then say that they will text you when your table is ready. The problem is that it didn't work so well since that when the table was ready, they came over and called out my name, and meanwhile the text message system was not notified so kept sending me texts saying that my table would be ready soon, including after we had already left the restaurant! At the bar I ordered a pint of Asahi and an order of the pork hirata buns. I was served right away and the buns came only a few minutes after I ordered them, so you don't have to worry even if you only have a short wait for a table. It was spicier than I had imagined, but the pork was tender and fatty, and it was very tasty. Unfortunately they are 2 for 7 pounds, and at that price I'm not sure if it's worth it. We paid for the food and the drinks right away, as they said that it was difficult to transfer the tab to the table since the bar and the restaurant operate separately. Once we were seated, service was extremely prompt and they came over almost immediately, expecting us to know what we wanted. There is actually quite a large selection of appetizers but only four ramen options, two with meat and two vegetarian. As we had already eaten a bit, we went straight for the ramen. I got the classic Shiromaru Hakata and my friend got the Akamaru Modern, which has garlic oil and a special red house paste. It was a solid bowl of ramen, though it did not come with an egg and there wasn't the option to add crushed garlic or sesame seeds, which is an option I find myself expecting at these specialist ramen establishments. I tried my friend's Akamaru Modern, and it did indeed have a much stronger kick to it, if that is your type of thing. I like that they don't mess around with the ramen and just serve a few classic dishes that they are good at. What I don't understand is the vibe of the restaurant, which tries to be both traditional Japanese and a cool trendy place at the same time. It is in a modern glass multi-use building in the center of London, but yet while we were being seated, the not-Japanese hostess kept shouting welcomes in Japanese and the staff would echo in Japanese when they too were mostly not Japanese. The decor is also not Japanese and the music playing was an odd blend of pop and dance tunes, with some memorable songs by Jesse McCartney and Miley Cyrus. read more

I love ramen, but I am REALLY picky with it, specially being vegetarian, so Ippudo was a really nice surprise. I ordered the vegetarian ramen and the broth was really tasty, the size big enough to make you feel satisfied and the flavour...amazing. The service was amazing too, and they make you feel welcome. I will definitely come back to Ippudo, I have been talking about this place to everyone I know...! read more

I was so excited to see Ippudo opening in London as I loved the place when I first tried it in Hong Kong. But being well known with many people around the world it is no surprise there is a queue. I waited for 1 1/2 hours for a table of four but happy to as we could go away for a drink and wait for them to text us when a table was ready. Ippudo currently has to be my favourite ramen restaurant in London as the flavour of the broth is the best. But only downside is the ramen does not come standard with an egg and you have to order it as an add-on. An interested add on to the ramen is the curry ball which is a small curry paste ball served separately. Add it to your ramen and it instantly become a tasty curry broth ramen. You can order one portion and share between two or three people as a little bit is enough to infuse a curry broth, unless you prefer a strong curry broth. As well as ramen there are a range of appetiser to order including gyzoa and even Ippudo version of fish and chips. Then to complete a ramen meal you can finish with a range of Ippudo desserts. Yum!!! read more

Hi guys, so my last visit I didn't even get to go inside but I returned at the end of 2014 with a friend of mine. Unfortunately the bad experience continued. Yes, when you walk in they all yell welcome in Japanese to you and something else when you leave. It is a bit weird and jarring but that's the way they do things in Japan! The problem this time was that hidden in the ramen that my friend ordered was a string. She held it up with her chopsticks and I said is that just some noodle? Nope, it's like those strings you get when you buy raw chicken, and it's in her ramen. WOW. We waved a waiter over, who saw that and promptly took the bowl away apologising all the while. In the interim another 2 waiters came along and apologised again. One of the waiters offered to replace her bowl of ramen and any extra she wanted for free. Nice gesture, though we were already full (unfortunately she was near the end of her bowl of ramen before this "discovery"). The food is mediocre, the soup stock was nothing special. Coupled with the ghastly experience, I am going to stick with Kanada-Ya. read more

I can't believe I haven't reviewed Ippudo yet, but maybe it's a subconscious thing because I don't really want to share it? It's the best ramen in London and I have a hard time finding ramen I can have as ramen is usually made with pork broth, but Ippudo makes a fantastic vegetarian broth that is so damn good it is better than some chicken ramen broths I have had in the past. This has become one of my favourite places in the city and there is nothing better than a hot bowl of steaming perfectly chewy yet soft noodles on a chilly evening. I always add the egg, which comes cold but if I let it sit in the broth for a little while, I get a perfectly melty center that is yummy. The tofu is not my favourite but the bean sprouts are delicious and I find that I can never make it to adding extra noodles (it's an option for people who have leftover broth they want to use) because I always finish what I have. There is also a really lovely chicken hirata bun appetiser here that is fluffy bun goodness with teriyaki flavour. The gyoza is also some of the best I've had and is steaming hot and perfect. I once had the fish and chips appetiser here and although it was well-made, I would say it is actually way too filling and I was actually really sad when my ramen came and I was too full to have much of it. They don't do takeaway so don't make that mistake. The iced green tea was also too strong for me, and the fried chicken appetiser was nice but not my favourite. The ramen is basically the star at this restaurant and it's a well-deserved title. The decor here is glam with its gorgeous chandeliers and yet somehow cosy and comfortable at the same time. I would warn you that the waiting time can be long if you come on a Saturday night, so come early if that's your day. read more

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Having tried the NYC and Sydney versions I was happy to hear that a branch was opening in London!!! Comparatively it sits comfortably in the middle of the three, not quite as good as NYC but streets ahead of Sydney (which was awful) The venue is pretty funky and welcoming, there is a bar where you can wait and have a drink and the rest of the restaurant is was surprisingly bigger than I first thought, but they pack the tables in so your pretty close to other diners. The food was good!! We had the pork bun and gyoza, the bun was really good but gyoza didn't really impress me. We had two different Ramens both very tasty, but they don't come with an Egg unless ordered as an extra, I was left a little miffed having ordered it but it then turning up without it.... I couldn't be bothered to wait so went without. The service was very good the waiter knew the menu and made good recommendations. I'm still to try the place opposite that has some glowing reviews but I would certainly be coming back. read more