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    Raku

    4.4 (1.8k reviews)
    ModerateJapanese, Noodles
    Closed • 12:00 pm - 9:30 PM
    Updated 2 weeks ago

    Order Raku Takeout or Delivery

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    RAKU ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Dogs allowed

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    Recommended Reviews - Raku

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    Reviews With Photos

    Kamonan duck udon
    Dorothy Y.

    Came here because I accidentally booked the wrong location and the other two options didn't have availability. It was a pleasant surprise to see that they expanded into the adjacent storefront. Now there's 4-5 booths and a bar table. The annex matches the interior design of their Soho and Midtown location and feels clean and spacious. Service was a bit slow from the hostess to the server. We ordered: small chicken tatsuta-age, niku udon, kamonan udon, assorted mushroom udon, green tea tiramisu, souffle fruit roll, soba pudding. Appreciate how big the chunks of meat are used for fried chicken. The exterior was a bit overfried but the interior stayed Broth and udon aligns with their Soho location which makes me more willing to come to this location moving forward. The assorted mushroom is seasonal. It's a nice lighter cleaner option but at the same time the mushrooms don't add much flavor. Kamonan is the duck which I chose because duck is a less common meat option around. I felt that the duck was a bit tough and bland yet also added too much oil into the clean broth (relatively to me). Niku is an OG but I haven't had it in a while. This time I was surprised how the marinate is light resulting in stronger meat flavor. I wish it would be more tender but it's alright. Desserts were more disappointing to me. I used to go to Patisserie Fouet frequently before they shut down the Union Square location. Green tea tiramisu had strong matcha soaks but I found the overall dessert to be a bit bland. The soaked sponge was a bit too wet too. Souffle fruit roll was huge, better to share with others especially after already eating savory food beforehand. I think it's intentional for the cake to be so dense. It came out really smooth but way too dense to feel like a dessert. I think I would eat this as breakfast instead. The raspberry sauce's tartness and punchiness is much needed otherwise I don't know if I can finish it. Soba pudding is my usual favorite and it stands up to the test of time. Still super smooth and with wheaty depth.

    Wagyu Kushiage
    Generous Y.

    My friend met up with us and planned this spot, sinai was excited. Pretty small interior, quite tight inside and can get loud with the conversations. I felt like I had to speak a bit louder at times. Service was amazing, they were helpful the entire way. Raku is a bit hidden without much signage so we almost missed it but luckily our friend was already there. Simple udon, nothing fancy but they get to be consistent and comforting. I thought the appetizer we got was better than the udon, but the udon itself was good too! Wagyu Kushiage - deep fried wagyu beef? Amazing. Delicious. Succulent. The beef was juicy, tender, and extremely flavorful. Tons of juice and moisture flowed out when bitten, the meat had potential to melt in mouth if thin. Deep fry was light to give respect for the beef. Frozen grapes at the end for dessert! It's not much but definitely a cute gesture. Toriten - firstly, glad they offered the chicken on the side. It's fried chicken so would definitely get soggy in broth. Said chicken was so soft, tender, and juicy. Also a light, soft deep fry. Udon itself was calming and comforting, but not particularly special. Just very well made udon.

    Maria R.

    Theres a sign outside saying speak to the host no one was there so I went inside to be told to wait outside. Someone finally came and sat me inside. I ordered the cold noodles and the steamed egg. I was told the egg takes 15 minutes it took closer to 40 mins I had finished my food and drinks and was ready to go by the time I got it. While the food was ok the service and atmosphere wasnt there for me.

    Evonne H.

    Went to try the curry udon and kitsune udon ... loved the plain udon broth .. very clear and satisfying broth.. will come back try other udon

    Tiffany T.

    This location in particular is very small Niku udon - super chewy and flavorful noodles! Broth had a lot of flavor this time too! Meat had one good piece but rest was too dry and/or too fatty 4.5/5 Shrimp tempura - a bit oily but still good! Shrimp is soft and bouncy but wish it was bigger in comparison to the tempura 2.75/5

    Chelsea L.

    The udon here is beautiful. Perfectly bouncy with a clear, deep broth. Service is also good. The chicken karaage was also juicy and crispy. However, we tried the mackerel sushi and that fish to rice ratio was kind of outrageous. After the first piece, I felt like I was just eating overly vinegar-y sushi rice.

    Seasonal Mushroom Udon
    Kayla H.

    I was skeptical of this place because I didn't think the price of udon would be worth it. I was wrong. The actual udon noodles themselves are incredible. They're soft but not mushy, and have a nice spring to them. They are genuinely the best udon noodles I've had. Udon and mushroom are two of my favorite things, so it was a no brainer when ordering the seasonal mushroom udon. It comes with all types of mushrooms including maitake, woodear, king oyster, local oyster, and shiitake. It also comes with tororo kombu and tofu. The both is light and flavorful, perfect for a cold night. I wish they would keep this dish permanently because I want to order it again and again. I also liked the frozen grape at the end, it was a nice ending to a good meal. The servers were helpful and the space was on the smaller side. It has minimal decor with wood furniture. The place is tightly packed and busy so just make sure to have a resy booked. Overall, I would highly recommend trying Raku.

    Curry Chicken Udon
    Tully B.

    Raku is a glowing gem in the competitive NYC food scene. First find the restaurant, then allow yourself a full body and mind reset with glorious, silky udon noodles, intentional decor and refreshingly effective service. The space is small! The coziness compliments the warmth of the bowls (though the cold udon looks lovely too). love the snow crab udon with egg drops. The broth is smooth and unctuous, the protein plentiful. My man got the curry noodles.. goodness they are a warm hug. A revival of what it means to be full but not stuffed, ready to step back onto the city streets at a reasonable price. Cheers!

    Jude K.

    Hands Down the Best Udon in the U.S.! I've had my fair share of udon across the country but I can confidently say that Raku is in a league of its own. It is arguably the best udon spot in the United States. Broth & Noodles: There is absolutely nothing to complain about here. The broth is deep and flavorful and the texture of the noodles is perfect--great "chew" and consistency. It's clear they take their craft seriously. The Poached Egg: I loved that they serve the poached egg (onsen tamago) on the side. It gives you the flexibility to enjoy the pure broth first before adding that creamy richness to the meal. The One Regret: The only downside to my visit was that the Saba Sushi was already SOLD OUT. I've heard amazing things about it, so it was a bit disappointing to miss out this time.

    Chicken Tatsuta-age
    Cyrus A.

    Raku East Village was excellent! The starters were great; the chicken tatsuta-age was especially tasty and came with a tangy sauce. Pork gyoza were full of flavor and a nice texture that was somewhere between chewy and crispy. The udon was so impressive, I would have been happy just drinking the broth. The udon noodles were perfectly prepared, and the tempura that came with my dish added a nice element to the meal. Prices were super reasonable for fantastic food, definitely a great spot to check out!

    Buta Shabu (pork belly, cucumber, shiro goma, daikon sprout)
    Angela P.

    First time trying Raku. This spot was previously all over my feed. So I'm glad I finally got to try it. Get a resy before going. It's quite busy and the staff are constantly moving. We got really lucky. they had one table available, but it was reserved for a later time slot. If we wanted to be seated, we had to finish our food before the next resy, which we were fine with. We were glad to be seated right away. Known for their udon, so ofc we got some. We ordered: Appetizer: Ankimo (Monkfish Liver) (it's def an acquired taste) Gyoza (Pork) (you can never go wrong with gyozas) Yaki Nasu (deep fried eggplant, spicy miso pork, quail egg) (very different from what I imagined it to be.) Entree: Yasai Kakiage Udon (Vegetable Tempura Hot Udon) Buta Shabu (pork belly, cucumber, shiro goma, daikon sprout) Since this spot is known for their udon. The noodles were cooked perfectly and the broth was very flavorful. But don't forget to try out their appetizers too! They have a lot of great appetizers. Heard they had a lot of great desserts. Unfortunately, we were quite stuffed that day and couldn't squeeze it in.

    Agedashi tofu
    Joyce L.

    Comfort Japanese food. We stopped by for a quick bite while waiting for another dinner reservation actually (and to get out of the rain). But this place hit the spot! We were quite content, despite it being a quick stop. Service was superb. The handmade udon noodles were a bit hit!

    Alisa J.

    Great udon spot. Udon comes out piping hot and fresh. I got the seasonal mushroom. One of the mushrooms had strange skin texture that I didn't like at all. The service was very friendly. Would definitely recommend making a reservation even on a week day.

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    14 days ago

    A bit dirty on the floor , I'll be care fire if some one in your group concernes hygiene

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    Raku Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Raku

    Can I make reservations?

    I don't think so, it's waitlist only.

    Are they still forcing vax info?

    No they aren't

    Gluten free noodles available?

    Do they use whole wheat udon noodles?

    I don't believe so. Looks like they use the same udon noodles for all the dishes.

    Is the udon bought or made by themselves?

    Made in house!

    Is it difficult to park a car around there?

    Would not suggest driving if coming from the city anyways since parking can be expensive. But not impossible

    Any heat for outdoor dining?

    I believe they have the space heaters! They've created more covering compared to last time- so much cuter and sturdier

    Is there a vegetarian udon?

    The dipping udon is just the noodles dipped with sauce - they give you an egg but you don't have to put it in! Zaru, Hiyashi, Oroshi, yamakake And kamaage can all be prepared vegetarian by request.

    Hi, what broth is used? Is there broth available that is not pork or beef?

    They use a dashi broth base for most. They currently have plenty of non pork/beef, vegan and vegetarian options for appetizers and udon.

    Do they use different udon noodles for the tantan vs the niku?

    Just one type of udon

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    Tipsy Shanghai

    Tipsy Shanghai

    4.1(154 reviews)
    1.6 mi•Murray Hill, Midtown East
    •$$

    Ordered eggplant in garlic sauce, fried rice, steamed pork dumplings. Everything was scrumptious…read more So glad I found this place, which will be my new go-to. I also ordered the coconut dessert, which was cancelled from my order because they were out. Sometimes when this happens, restaurants will call to suggest an alternative. I do wish they would have done this, but overall, a great experience.

    I had not been back to Tipsy Shanghai for perhaps a year or two, and I was surprised by how much…read morethe food quality seems to have deteriorated. We ordered three dishes that I had either enjoyed before or was familiar with: Wuxi Pork Ribs: The ribs were quite decent, tender and juicy, with a nicely balanced sauce. But there was nothing particularly memorable about them. The menu says the secret recipe has been passed down through generations for more than 110 years, but I found that claim hard to reconcile with what was on the plate. Slow-roast a slab of pork ribs for four hours at 250°F, I can get a very similar result at home. Famous Assorted Bowl: This used to be one of my favorite dishes here, and I ordered it almost every time I visited. Unfortunately, this time it was a real disappointment. The ingredients no longer tasted freshly prepared, well-seasoned, or flavorful. Instead, much of the dish had the bland, slightly lifeless quality of previously frozen food. Even the shrimp in the soup did not taste particularly fresh. Boiled Shredded Dry Bean Curd with Chicken and Shrimp: This is a classic Yangzhou dish and another item I used to order regularly. In the past, the bean-curd sheets were cut into extremely fine threads, with a soft and delicate texture that absorbed the flavor of the broth beautifully. This time was completely different. The bean-curd threads were hard and dry, with the texture of a packaged frozen product, and they had absorbed almost none of the broth's flavor. What had once been a delicate, carefully prepared dish now tasted surprisingly flat. Overall, Tipsy Shanghai used to be a restaurant I returned to for several specific dishes. However, both the quality of the ingredients and the care in preparation seem to have declined noticeably.

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    Tipsy Shanghai - Black truffle fried rice

    Black truffle fried rice

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    Dun Huang - N1

    Dun Huang

    4.4(394 reviews)
    1.6 mi•Murray Hill, Midtown East
    •$$

    Was looking for a restaurant nearby since it was pouring outside, and this place turned out to be a…read moregreat find. Came here for dinner on a weekend. The restaurant is near my friend's place. The place was exactly what we were looking for... Inexpensive, cozy and comfortable atmosphere! The place was a little busy, and didn't take reservations, but we were seated immediately. Amazing service and delicious food! The food was fresh and came out fast. Portions are generous, so you definitely won't leave hungry. My favorite dish was the Signature Lanzhou Beef Noodle Soup, which was delicious and flavorful, and also gluten free, dairy free and soy free. Others had something else I had no interest in to remember the name. Their menu has many options to offer, including gluten free, soy free, and dairy free options. We would come back again and highly recommend you check out this place if you are in Murray Hill Manhattan. My only complaint was that I noticed a male staff member leave the restroom without flushing the toilet, which took away from an otherwise positive dining experience.

    ​Dun Huang is a reliable spot if you are looking specifically for wide noodles, but the rest of the…read moremenu falls short. ​The noodles themselves are well-prepared and have a great, satisfying chew. However, the other dishes are not particularly memorable. The skewer meat was tough and difficult to chew through, while the burger had a mushy texture and lacked distinct flavor. ​The service is standard for a quick-service noodle shop; the staff isn't overtly helpful or friendly, but they aren't inhospitable either. Stick strictly to the wide noodle dishes if you decide to visit.

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    Dun Huang
    Dun Huang - C1. Fried Eggplant in Garlic Soy Sauce

    C1. Fried Eggplant in Garlic Soy Sauce

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    Mi

    Mi

    4.0(3 reviews)
    1.4 mi•Murray Hill, Midtown East

    Had walked by a few times but a on post gym Trader Joe's run the pictures were enticing enough…read more Got a Lanzhou beef noodle combo with a drink and a lamb burger. The beef soup is clear and light and the noodles have a delightful texture, with a slight chew and good bounce. There's a good portion of braised beef as well. Tender but a bit fatty for my taste, but given the portion it's not going to kill you. Lamb burger ended up as overkill and will be consumed as leftovers but a quick sampling let me know that it's gamey and fatty with strong notes of cumin. Not a bad thing, but something to note for people that might not generally enjoy lamb or cumin. Black pepper beef rice bowl was solid too. Spice wise, you can calibrate accordingly but I'd recommended at least their regular spice level. Decent amount of tenderized but still chewy beef. Both dishes came with a salad of celery, carrot, cucumber, peanuts and seaweed strips in a light sauce. Couldn't quite figure out the sauce but it was lightly tart and refreshing. Space is clean and modern. Neutral wood, well lit. Service is friendly enough. If you dine in, you order at the kiosk and they'll deliver to your table. We had leftovers that they graciously packed up. Solid choice. I hope they stick around as they do bring a different cuisine to the area.

    first time trying chinese halal food and it did not disappoint!…read more had a mix of more common chinese dishes and uyghur dishes. got several of the popular noodle dishes and the bun. all were very flavorful!! service was fast. the portions were a bit smaller than I would've liked but still fairly filling. overall quite good and a good regular spot in murray hill.

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    Mi
    Mi
    Mi

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    Shuya - duck tsukemen

    Shuya

    4.6(65 reviews)
    1.4 mi•Murray Hill, Midtown East

    True Japanese gem. Tried a few that were mentioned in the reviews by others and did not disappoint…read more Blue fin tuna w avocado 5:5 -- The scallion broke down the acidity of the sauce and blended the pieces of blue fin more flavorfully. Keep in mind this is blue fin tuna, not fatty tuna. Fried chicken 6/5 -- Yes, if there was a 6. Very tasty and well cooked - had a side of not very spicy sauce. Good portion. Flavored with salt, pepper and tangy sweet chili Thai sauce. Although the salt was is a bit too salty for my tongue, but will be excellent w beer/sake or rice. Salmon with Apple yuzu 4/5 -- It was good but the amount of apple yuzu sauce added too much acidity in enhancing the flavor of the raw salmon. Though salmon was fresh, the sauce broke down the salmon a bit too much for me. Served with grounded pepper. Will definitely return to try other dishes for dinner.

    I really really wanted to like this place and if I'm in the area I'd give it a second shot but…read morewouldn't travel to eat here. Pros: nice ambiance and the server was fantastic. Very polite. Attentive. Got us food quickly. Cons: our $6 rice ball was essentially all rice. My cold sesame noodle was a bit too salty for me. The wings were WAY too salty. To the point of almost inedible. And when I say something is salty that's saying something cause I LOVE salt. What I like others usually say is too salty and so for me to complain about salty is probably on another level for regular customers. I will say I did enjoy the cold noodles and my wife enjoyed the chicken you noodles so again it wasnt horrible but I was a bit disappointed.

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    Tonchin

    Tonchin

    4.4(2.6k reviews)
    1.6 mi•Midtown West
    •$$

    Everything was good. BEST RAMEN OF MY LIFE…read more We didn't have a reservation and we had a large party but they still made it happened. I will go back next time I visit NY.

    Stopped by here on my way to the Morgan Library which is just about a block or so away on a…read moreThursday mid afternoon and was surprised there were quite a few people here. It would've been very easy to miss unless you're specifically looking for this place. Upon entering you're greeted by the numerous Michelin guides lol, front desk seated me pretty shortly after ensuring my seat was set, I was sat at the bar where they have a scan menu. Server immediately was attentive and filled my glass with some water. I was originally going to get the Dashi ramen but after I shared I'm allergic to shrimp the server felt it was a bit risky he was very careful so I appreciated that. I got the Tokyo ramen instead and a side of shishito peppers (he also omitted the Dashi JIC). It was happy hour so the appetizer was $7 I/o $8 and I also got an Asahi draft for $8. Ramen was $22. I was very surprised the server even asked about the oil the pork and peppers are fried in JIC of cross contamination - he shared that they use the same batch of oil as frying tempura (but I was ok with that but just watch out if you're like super super sensitive). Ramen: 7/10, decent bowl but not the best I've had. Feels a bit more Americanized and I prefer authentic Japanese ramen. Soup was rich, flavor but again it's one you can find at many other ramen shops in nyc. Noodle was a bit lackluster it was a bit soggy, not springy like freshly made ramen. The pork slices are flavorful but felt it's bit thin, I prefer a good cut...but personal preference. There's 2 thicker slices of marinated bamboo and half a jammy egg topped with scallions. Decent bowl but don't think it's worth $22. Shishito peppers: nicely fried. Well seasoned. 9/10 Overall - good spot for a decent bowl of ramen in the area. Environment: clean, nothing that caught my attention with design but just minimalist style, with black hard

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    Raku - japanese - Updated September 2026

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