Honestly, first impressions mean a lot. Initially , my first visit, I was a bit skeptical because of the presentation. I figured it was just a busy saturday night & the taste didn't disappoint, it actually exceeded. The pictures with the strawberry green tea is from my first night yesterday. The picture with the Matcha is from my second time coming, around 8:30 pm on a sunday. Still high volume foot traffic , but the service was excellent. The pomegranate matcha. The quality of matcha was great, the taste of pomegranate was a bit light but you could still taste that there was a fruit concentrate. I think maybe a thicker syrup would've made it but I can't even complain for real because it was good. The Koku Ramen , I believe this is the signature staple. The taste is like nothing I've had before . Usually I'm more a fan of thicker noodles when it comes to my soups but the noodle texture was perfect. The broth was deep and savory, and I got level two spice. Enough to make your lips tingle but makes you want to lick the bowl clean. I will say I'm a bit sad they didn't have bok choy today but nonetheless , it was great. The pork didn't have much of a salt too it itself , but I feel like it's better so that the broth comes with all of the flavor. All together , average spent per person could probably be $30 & it was the best $30 in midtown I've spent honestly. read more

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A little ramen shop on 32nd, they have a number of seats along a wooden counter facing the kitchen, and the back area has seats for bigger groups. Ordering was quick, tap water in a plastic summer cup (reusable, not one-use), and I had a dinner order of ramen (slightly more expensive than lunch), a miso ramen that had a nice mix of soft boiled egg, two slices of marinated chicken breast (a bit too dry for me, tough to chew and mild soy sauce flavor), scallions, some grilled corn, spinach and nori. The miso was stronger than average which was nice, the noodle was ok chewiness. I've had better noodles and next time will have to try pork instead of chicken. Overall a quick meal before the train home. Cash has a 10% discount. They have a large selection of drinks and specials for lunch and around dinner with drinks. read more

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Small corner shop in K-town, easy to miss but very good. There aren't too many vegetarian options but the ones that are there are really good. The red one was very spicy and the soft tofu complemented the flavor well. The cream one was less spicy but I still thought it was great with the tofu and corn. Very filling portions! read more

Koku Ramen - Ramen Near Me - New York, New York

Small ramen restaurant in ktown, limited tables but good food with quick service! It fills up and gets loud so I'd recommend to get there early. Menu is smaller but great food! I ordered the chashu don which was delicious and pretty big portioned. Pay the tab with cash for a small discount. read more

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Quick, easy ramen spot I dined alone and got a seat at the bar right away. The small restaurant was busy but they kept churning out the ramen quickly so other seats opened up quickly too. Not the best bowl I've had but hits the spot. Good portion I paid about $22 for it though which I felt was expensive read more

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Delicious food, cleaned it to where there wasn't a drop of broth left, and I typically don't do that! Came right at opening but although they were expecting us yet we were welcomed. Staff was kind and quick ok their feet. Good song choices, caught a good vibe the entire meal! Even asked for their playlist and staff was kind enough to share! read more

Koku Ramen - Koku Ramen - Ramen Near Me - New York, New York

Had the koku ramen with pork, it was very tasty and comforting while still feeling different than other pork ramens out there. Vibe is very standard for ramen, lunch special is very reasonable for such good food. read more

Koku Ramen - Koku Ramen - Ramen Near Me - New York, New York

Little ramen shop in Korea town! When everywhere is busy and you just want a quiet lunch/dinner this place was great. It wasnt too busy when I visited and is very relaxing and layback. Stopped by on my way home by myself and grabbed a beer, ramen, and few skewers. Solid ramen and place to eat. Besides that I will go back when I am craving this combo I dont really have much else to add! read more

4.5 stars - it's been a while my friends. This place has a fast paced energy and service is really attentive. The menu offers really good ramen options and lots of appetizers. My party of four was eager to order the ramen dinner special where you can choose a house ramen (Koku signature, miso, is) and beer pairing. I opted for the creamy mentai ramen instead since it was a warm evening and I didn't want any broth. It was creamy yet light and not heavy at all. All of the ramen options were good, we had non-spicy and spicy Koku. You can choose your heat tolerance, literally a pepper scale. Just let them know. Note, no reservations allowed and your full party must be present to be seated. The drinks available are great for pairing with your food, just to hang out or to chill. Both alcohol and non-alcoholic available. You'll like the scene here! read more

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Popped in because somehow, at 11 pm on a Saturday night in Chelsea, I could find no open izakayas or ramen joints (really, post-9/11 NYC?), and so we walked up to Koreatown knowing there would be SOME PLACE open to get my fix. Randomly decided on this spot because it had ramen in the title, and I decided I REALLY wanted noodles. There was a surprisingly empty row of single bar seating right at the front of the restaurant, then there are ample tables in the back. As soon as I saw the picture of the Mentaiko Cream Ramen on the menu, I knew I had to have it because it looked like just the noodly comfort dish I was looking for. Warm, hearty, flavorful, wonderful ramen texture. More like a pasta dish with sauce than a soup. Like a Japanese-Italian crossover. I was supremely satisfied. Waiters weren't over-personable, but helpful with any questions. Good to know this place is a "late-night" option and seems like a great choice for solo-dining. read more

Koku Ramen - Yeaahhh buddy - Ramen Near Me - New York, New York

What a great little place to sit down and get really good ramen! The server was super friendly and helped make sure we were both happy with our orders! The ramen was super rich and perfect! Really needed this! Would come back again! read more

Koku Ramen - Ramen - Ramen Near Me - New York, New York

I absolutely adore this place. I come often with co-workers and friends. The team is always friendly and the soup is always good! It's a great space for groups. I think for couples, it's cool. Not exactly romantic unless the place is empty. Anyway, ya'll need to come out and grab a bowl of ramen! It will warm the soul. read more

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Overall: I'm a big fan of mentaiko pasta so this review will be rather skewed, but I thought this place was amazing. Seating is a bit cramped, but the wait is worth it and the food is great. Food: The mentaiko pasta was simply superb. Very strong flavors and the noodles were good perfectly, I like a chewier noodle and they were able to deliver! Service: The wait is a bit on the longer side, but we came during a late dinner hour so that was to be expected. Ambiance: This is a casual sit down place. Not a ton of seating inside, but they also have a bar option if you're coming by yourself or with one other. read more

Koku Ramen - Mentaiko Cream Ramen - Ramen Near Me - New York, New York

This cute Korean eatery offers a relaxed atmosphere with both a sushi bar area and table seating. I tried the coconut curry with chicken, which was flavorful and satisfying. The chicken was an add-on for $4.00. It was well worth it for the portion and quality. I didn't even finish half of it. The spot caters to a laid-back crowd and accepts cash with a discount, which is a nice perk. Service was straightforward and efficient--nothing fancy, but it matched the easygoing vibe of the place. Perfect for cold weather. read more

Koku Ramen - Coconut Curry - Ramen Near Me - New York, New York

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We started with the katsu sando, which ended up being my favorite item of the meal. The edamame was also really good and a nice way to kick things off. For my main dish, I ordered the pork ramen at a low spice level, and it was absolutely perfect. The flavors were well balanced and amazing. The service was good, and the space itself felt clean, modern and relaxed. read more

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After spending the day shopping at Macys in Black Friday and warming up with hot tea at Prince Tea House, our server recommended Koku Ramen to us. It is a small hole-in-the-wall restaurant but the food is amazing. I highly recommend getting there early as the it is a small space and there is very little room inside to wait for a table. I got the Koku special ramen and got the lowest spice level (1 pepper rating). To be honest, I thought it was still spicy even at the lowest level but I also cannot tolerate a lot of spice. The other members of my group also got ramen. We all loved our orders! The only problem was that the service was kind of slow. Like it took a long time to get our appetizers and then we waited a long time for our ramen. For a restaurant that's super busy, I would think that they would want to get food out of the kitchen fast to turnover the table quickly. I highly recommend this restaurant! read more

Plus sides; open late, good spot in k-town, quant little spot. The ramen is average but they definitely have a decent variety. We went in on a late night after visiting a great bar around the corner. The service is as expected for a small location that gets plenty of to-go orders. The ramen was very basic but options are limited this late. I would gladly go again if I was in a pinch but there are a lot of options that are open well before 9pm. read more

Koku Ramen - Spicy miso and 2 spicy tonkatsu - Ramen Near Me - New York, New York

My sister and I were looking for a sit-down restaurant after watching a show on Broadway, and found this via a yelp search. Located in Korean town, it's a small, an almost hole-in-a-wall restaurant. But, you would never know with some of the crowd there. The ambiance was casual, and with a soundtrack of Kpop, and other Asian artists playing in the background, although a bit too loud for me, but that's what earplugs are for. Lol. Service was quick, and efficient. Water was served right away when we sat at our table. And, the server assigned to our table was patient, and gave us time to look at the menu. As for food, I ordered the Miso Ramen. It very good. Unfortunately, I left a quarter of the bowl unfinished. Yes, I got full so quickly. The restaurant accepts both credit cards and cash. Customers get a 10% discount when paying in cash. read more

Koku Ramen - Miso Ramen. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to finish it all. Sadness. - Ramen Near Me - New York, New York

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At first, I didn't like the texture of the ramen noodles here but I keep coming back here as this place is easily accessible and always have a table for us whenever we are in K town. Kimchi Tan Tan & Koku ramen are my favorites and takoyaki here is amazing. I think I gradually felt in love with this place as I keep coming. Service was mostly quick and place is clean as well. read more

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We went here on our date night and deeply enjoyed the food. The main waiter was not speedy but the water was refilled by the other very often. It is a quaint spot with many interesting options. read more

Koku Ramen - The Dandan Noodle is flavorful and fun. - Ramen Near Me - New York, New York

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We walked in and got a table for two for dinner on a Monday night. There are little coat hooks. We got the takoyaki, Koku ramen, Jeju wheat beers, and merona mojito. All were good. The noodles were cooked well and the level 3 spice was strong. The server was nice and attentive. read more

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One of my go to ramen spots in the city. The spicy miso broth is so flavorful, just the right kick and amount of spice. I always want to get this when I'm not feeling well or when it's cold out. read more

Koku Ramen - Ramen Near Me - New York, New York

We came here for lunch and it didn't disappoint. Service was very attentive and the ramen was delicious. It is reasonably priced. The art and graffiti at the wall give this place a cool vibe. Will definitely come back! read more

Koku Ramen - Kimchi Tantan - Ramen Near Me - New York, New York

Good ramen, quick service and a chill, no frills vibe. Best for smaller groups of 4 or less. Ramen had a good spice level and the ramen + drink special was great. Amazing location. Expect a short wait on the weekend. read more

Ambiance (4/5): The front of the shop mimics classic Japanese ramen shops with bar seating overlooking the kitchen. The back has a mix of floor tables/booths and high-top tables. The high tables have stools with no backing which made my back hurt over the course of the meal. The music is low (which is nice), nicely lit, not noisy. The interior décor was very immersive and exciting. Service (4/5): The servers did not seem very friendly and did what they had to do. No issues getting our orders in or being serviced. Chicken Skewers (4/5): There were 3 skewers included with the large pieces! The sauce is sweet and flavorful, the chunks were not dry but also not juicy. Dan Dan Noodles (3/5): This was prepared unlike other Dan Dan noodles sauce was more tangy and the noodles were on the soft side. The noodles was spicy but not too spicy. Mild Koku Ramen (3/5): I did not really enjoy the dish--the charsu pork pieces were chewy and not seasoned through. I was a fan of the seasoned soft boiled eggs and the toppings that were included. The broth was savory but was missing something. The thin straight noodles were okay. read more

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Speedy service, level 2 was a good amount of spice for the Koku ramen. Mega size could feed 3 imo read more

Koku Ramen - Koku Ramen - Ramen Near Me - New York, New York

This Ramen joint hit the spot on a cold, bitter day. We stumbled into this restaurant, looking for a quick bite because we were on a time crunch. The service started a bit slow. We were seated, but not given a menu. We waited about 5 minutes and then asked for the menu and finally the server gave us the menu. The food did came out after 15 minutes, it was hot and delicious. The space is pretty tight with limited seating. I would not recommend this spot for a group bigger than 4. read more

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Good ramen if you are around but nothing like OmG OmG! Toppings were good, chashu good (i would liked a bit more tender). Ramen noodles cooked perfectly Broth was ok, but I didnt finish it. read more

Koku Ramen - Koku Ramen - Ramen Near Me - New York, New York

Ramen place in the middle of Korean town. We got there around 11:30am and half the restaurant was full. The server was pretty good and attentive. We didn't finish the sweet potato fries and he nicely wrapped it up for us. I have not heard of this place before but I like the ramen. The noodle is good and the soup was pretty good. I don't think I was overly thirsty afterwards like many other ramen place. The pork was pretty tender and fatty also. I could have gone to those more know ramen place and wait in line for a long time for better ramen but honestly this place was plenty good. read more

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Service and food were great! Servers are so great and ambiance is even better!! Food comes fast and better than promised!

The ramen was a bit disappointed because the noodle is very much machine processed. In Chinese the Ramen (where these Japanese characters were derived from) means pulled noodle. It's minimum standard to have pulled noodle to start if you want to be in the top 10 ramen place in NYC. read more

Koku Ramen - Ramen Near Me - New York, New York

On a busy weekday after work, I was meeting up with a friend. The original restaurant we had decided on was super busy and had a long wait and we were starting to get hangry. Since it was cold we knew we wanted something warm and saw this ramen shop on the same street. The ramen shop looked busy also but had two seats available and we decided to take a chance. The ramen broth was so good and full of flavor and the portions were so big. I would definitely come back here. read more

Koku Ramen - Ramen Near Me - New York, New York

It's was good but not enough noodle in my Ramen for me I guess that's extra lol but I didn't see it as an extra just protein extra cost. But the truffle edmade was BOMB.com my mango lychee drink was pretty ok it was too thick in my opinion but it taste great!! Place is small but you eat and out quick service read more

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Food Delicious, nutritious, fulfilling and REAL. I enjoyed the Miso Ramen with the roasted corn, mushroom, bamboo shoots, mushrooms and pieces of pork. The broth was rich, and satisfying. I added the Sac Sac (white) grape drink with grape pearls in the drink. This meal made me smile. Service: Excellent, attentive with respectful distance. Ambiance: Love the comic art on walls, it is authentic pairing with the Korean food. I will return this another favorite. p.s. It is best to have cash, it saves you money, you can use it toward the tip, they deserve it. read more

Food was alright. Small place. Servicewas also ok. No complaints. Worth a try. I wouldn't come back though since there's so many places to try around the area. read more

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Came here late night after a longggg shift working the last day of a Lil Tecca concert- so you understand what kind of night I had. My cousin send I walked here after work just craving a nice study bowl of ramen and this spot came up on our search. We walked there and immediately upon arrival we were greeted, sat, and given a nice cold cup of water- thank you. Ordering was super easy and it server was very helpful, the kitchen was super accommodating and to be very honest- once put eaten came out, we did NOT pick our heads up or off our bowls unless to dab or chins with napkin and then diving right back into our bowls. She had the miso tonkotsu and I had the curry coconut and added mixed seafood- LORD was it good. I can't even get into it, if I didn't have to go pick my kids up from their grandmothers tonight, I'd go right now after work. It was SOOOO good. My kettle was SETTLED. They close at 2- I'll be going back again and again and again until I get sick of it. Yall might want a more fancier place, and I have good reccs for that but THIS is comfort, this is home, this is decompress after work or a long day, this is for REAL friends and a lover you don't have to pretend or act cute with. I'll be back to try every bowl. Thank you guys again for a good meal. read more

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Very cozy and comfortable space. The service wasn't bad but could be a little better. Not as attentive or helpful as I'd hoped. The wings were fried super well, had a great flavor and I loved the soy glaze. The shrimp tempura was also great! Crispy prawns, and the wasabi mayo was a unique and refreshing flavor. I also had the Dan Dan noodles but didn't enjoy them at all. They were flavorless and unfortunately adding extra sauce didn't help. I would return but only for the wings and shrimp! read more

Koku Ramen - Shrimp Tempura - Ramen Near Me - New York, New York

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If I can eat here every day I would. The food is so delicious. It's not even that salty. I always get chicken karaoke or I get shrimp tempura but this summer says it was a lunch special. That's what I got.. I've been coming so this establishment for the past five years on random months and the food never disappoints. The service is A1. And it can get a little bit loud if you go here during lunchtime, but for the most part, it is very calm.. read more

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If you're looking for some good ramen, this is the spot. It's definitely a hole in the wall. The restaurant is small, so seating is limited. We waited 10 minutes prior to be seated. We strolled into this restaurant and we're absolutely wowed after the first bite. We ordered some sake to start off, the Hana Awaka was yummy! We ordered the peach flavored one, it tastes like a sweet moscato honestly. As appetizers we got the chicken karaage and the shrimp tempura. This soy sauce marinated fried chicken served with spicy sambal mayo. So crunchy and scrumptious with every bite. The shrimp tempura came on a bed of purple cabbage lathered in 2 different kinds of mayo. Sweet and tangy all at once. The ramen was amazing. The broth was absolutely delicious. The spice gave it a real kick! My friend had the Koku ramen which had pork, boiled egg, mushrooms, scallions, and bok choy. Very flavorful and creamy. Overall, I highly recommend you check this spot out. Very good portions and extremely filling. read more

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Feels a little weird to eat at a ramen place in K-Town but I decided to go for it anyways and kind of regretted it? Came of a weekday night and the store was around 75% full and so was able to get a table very easily. All the waiters were incredibly nice and chatted us up. I ordered the Koku Ramen with Mild Spice and it was not spicy at all so would recommend increasing the spice level if you want to feel some heat. The soup was pretty good but I wish there was more of it as the soup to noodle ratio was a bit off. The noodles reminded me of noodles from Ippudo, very thin. I wasn't the biggest fan of how much wood ear they had in the dish, wish there was pickled bamboo instead. The egg was subpar, which was disappointing because usually that's my favorite part of the ramen. The chasu was thick cut which was nice but I wish it was grilled on both sides. Very mediocre ramen restaurant. Would go somewhere else if you want to spend your $20 wisely, but I guess if all the restaurants in K-Town are full, this is not the worst alternative. read more

Koku Ramen - Koku Ramen - Ramen Near Me - New York, New York