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The restaurant itself is set up in a super cool way. A little unassuming as the entrance makes it seem like it's a cafe - but there's really a whole seating area in the back. There are private tables, but also long communal tables in the middle for smaller parties, which I think is really cool. This was probably the best miso soup and udon I've ever had. Super hearty and warm meal. If you're looking for something comforting, this is a solid choice to go with (and prices aren't too egregious for this nice setting).
We came here for an early dinner on a Monday and were seated promptly. We tried the yuzu lemonade and it was super sweet and citrusy. I got the kaisen don ($33) but you DEFINITELY need to get the udon. I had a bite of my sister's and it was amazing! My sister got the mountain vegetable udon ($18). They are known for the udon which I didn't know. Also the portions are large. They have a variety of gorgeous, delicate looking desserts too! The inside is stylish and minimalist. The staff are super attentive and polite.
There's nothing that hits quite like Raku on a cold NY evening. Every udon dish I've tried here is excellent. This time, I went with the seasonal mushroom udon - the mushroom variety was great, udon is chewy, and the broth is incredibly flavorful yet clean. The chicken tatsuta-age is crispy, super juicy, and full of flavor. I went solo so I was able to get seated pretty quickly. The inside is minimal, clean, lots of wood. It gets quite busy, but easy to stop by for a quick meal.
Raku is a popular spot serving udon noodles and small bites. The interior was pretty chic with lots of wooden architecture and a small bakery at the front. I went on a Thursday late afternoon and it was a quiet and somewhat relaxing ambiance. The service was fantastic! My friends and I got the Chicken Tatsuta-age, Salmon Oshizushi, Cold Udon with Vegetable Tempura, Gyutama Don, and Ebiten. The Chicken Tatsuta-age was crispy! It tasted best when the lemon was squeezed over the dish and when it was dipped in the tangy sauce. The chicken itself was a bit tougher than usual, but it was not tough or chewy. Just took a few bites to break off into smaller pieces. I got the Ebiten and while the shrimp tempura itself was fried to perfection and paired well with the soup, I do not think the dashi broth was for me. It was too fishy. I did like the udon noodles! They were chewy but not too chewy. Overall, I would give this place a 3/5 just because I am not a big udon noodles person. My friends really liked this place, but I am pickier with my food. Again, the service was great but the food did not taste the best for my taste palate.
Raku still deserves high ratings overall, but we tried their peach dessert today and it was a 2/5 for us. The peach and sauce tasted super artificial and canned. I'd pass on this
Oh em gee. The broth is so good. We got the Seasonal Mushroom Udon, Nabeyaki Udon, Niku Udon (spicy), and Ankimo. My favorite was the Niku Udon. Truly can't describe how delicious the broth is. It is so rich yet so light at the same time. Great portion of toppings. The Ankimo dish was really interesting too. I haven't had monkfish before but really enjoyed it. My friend and I said it kinda reminded us of canned tuna at first bite... lol. But it has its own flavor profile. Cute interior. Food ready pretty fast. A lot of udon spots don't normally wow me. Very content. And I know I'll be craving this udon in the future.
Hot day; cold udon. It's a match made in heaven! We were happy to stumble across the Hell's Kitchen outpost of Raku around lunchtime recently, chef Norihiro Ishizuka's homage to udon in its many forms. Years ago, the Pardner and I frequented the first -- and at the time only -- location in the East Village. Now there are evidently four locations, including one in Toronto. Given the heat, we ordered zaru udon (chilled udon served on a bamboo tray). Zaru udon usually comes with mentsuyu (dipping sauce), wasabi, grated ginger and scallion. Raku's version also came with shiitake and raw quail egg, which were pleasant touches. There are currently three ZARU UDON lunch special sets on offer Tuesday through Friday, from 12-4 p.m., each $21, with a choice of accompaniment: SABAZUSHI (mackerel pressed sushi), VEGETABLE TEMPURA, or TORITEN (Japanese-style fried chicken). Raku, meaning "comfort," is true to its name. The udon was as good as I remember: pleasantly springy, the house mentsuyu on the sweeter end of the spectrum, but not overwhelmingly so, and served with ethereally light shiso leaf tempura. We liked the range of condiments, especially the quail egg, which imparted a silky quality to the tsuyu. The sabazushi (mackerel pressed sushi) that came with one of our sets came sliced into three pieces, with rice that was appropriate for the genre (pressed and dense, softer than nigiri, but not too mushy) and well cured, non-fishy mackerel. Vegetable tempura that came with our other set was well fried: light, well blotted and not overly greasy, a nice mixture of onion, burdock root, carrot, green pepper, and eggplant. The accompanying tentsuyu, slightly warm, was well made, but (as with mentsuyu) on the sweet side. We ordered otsumami ($12), including ohitashi (boiled spinach, bonito flakes, sesame seeds), hijiki (seaweed, carrot, bean curd), and kinpira gobo (braised burdock root, carrot, daikon). These were all well made, especially the lightly boiled, gently seasoned ohitashi. Hijiki and gobo were again on the sweet side, as much of this menu seems to be. The food is simple, homestyle fare that's made with precision and attention to detail. I do not think the udon is freshly made in-house (it lacks that particular aroma and the maximally springy texture of fresh-made), but it is of high quality, likely flash frozen. Service was gracious and friendly; the dining room is beautiful and comfortable, despite being completely windowless. My only regret was that we didn't have room for any of those ridiculously beautiful desserts by Pâtisserie Fouet, which had us salivating so much before the meal. Obviously, this means there has to be a return trip.
I came to grab lunch by myself as I've been wanting to try Raku. It was a warm day so I opted for and ankimo appetizer and buta shabu cold udon with thinly sliced pork, lots of scallions and sesame sauce on the side. I love ankimo and the monkfish liver was great! The ponzu sauce was perfect paired with the creamy, decadent ankimo. The udon is solid but I was a bit surprised that the udon is actually flat rather than round. It wasn't as chewy as I like but the texture was pretty good. I enjoyed dipping the noodles in the sesame sauce but I do think it needed something else, maybe a shoyu based sauce as well. The portion was huge I could barely finish it. My check also came with a frozen grape which I thought was a cute touch and a nice sweet treat after the meal! Such a great easy casual spot for noodles, especially if you're solo dining.
Dunno if it was the hangover but Raku's deceptively simple bowl of noodles was one of the more memorable meals I had in New York. Flavorful broth, fresh ingredients, and the perfect udon noodle texture, This was probably the closest bowl of noodles to the ones I've had in Tokyo. Due to the summer heat/humidity I ordered the sansai bukkake (cold udon) and even with its lack of meat the vegetables, mushrooms, and broth was the perfect meal for the weather. Definitely would recommend a reservation if you can or enjoy walking around the neighborhood
Raku is as good as I remembered it from our visit years ago to their other location. This location partners with the Fouet for their excellent desserts. Service was pleasant, helpful, and fast. The space is a decent size. We only waited a few minutes for a Wed night dinner after 8 pm. We enjoyed all the food! - Agedashi tofu was legit and tasty. Good balance of flavors and I enjoyed the abundance of shaved bonito. - The niku udon had a delicious broth, variety of cuts (including honeycomb beef tribe!), and noodles cooked just right. Yummy and comforting! - The jaja cold udon was perfect for the warmer night. It's got a kick and a great balance of flavors. The noodles is a narrower, flat type, rather than the round udon in the niku udon. - The soba pudding from Fouet was a little smokey, so tasty, and silky smooth. Here's their current menu for more info: https://www.rakunyc.com/pages/menu-midtown Overall, we cannot be more happy with our first meal in New York on this trip!
4.5 rounded up to 5. Good assortment of items and overall, pretty good! Surprisingly, the most disappointing items to us were the udon and chawanmushi - they weren't bad but they were probably our least favorite items which surprised us given the hype for those items. The noodles were good but my husband thought the broth was too creamy (we got the warm crab one). Absolutely loved the agedashi tofu and black sesame latte. Miso cod wasn't bad either. Definitely a good spot to try if you're in the neighborhood!
I didn't expect this location to be so spacious! It goes pretty far back, and it's so beautifully decorated. I love that they have desserts from Patisserie Fouet in the front of the restaurant, and in the back, there's a combo of different types of seating. There is a long table that is shared, so if you're a party of two, you sit across from each other. I ordered the Udon Toriten which comes with four marinated fried chicken (comes in soup or on the side). I loved the udon, but to be honest the chicken was a letdown. It wasn't crispy like I expected, it was pretty oily and got soggy. I am still giving Raku five stars since I loved the ambiance, decor, and udon itself so much, and there's other things on the menu I would try.
Came in without a reservation on a Thursday night and joined they waitlist. They said it would be 45 minutes, it ended up being 8 mins. Started with the pork gyoza which were ok, not very flavorful and somewhat bland. Entree was the cold udon ja ja which came with ground spicy miso pork, cucumber, tomato, poached eggs in a cold broth; was very good and filling. Cocktail was the cassis gin royal,me, which was a nice blend of flavors. Service was good. Everything comes out super fast. We were in and out in under an hour.
A perfect spot for a comforting bowl of udon, but with a modern and elevated interior! The weather was on the hotter side, so I opted for the cold udon with vegetable tempura, and it was a light and refreshing meal! The dipping sauce went well with the udon, and the tempura was light and crispy. The hojicha latte was also good, but I wish it was a little sweeter. A unique standout was the complimentary frozen grapes they gave at the end of the meal, it was surprisingly good for how simple it was. The interior was modern and sleek, it would be great for both a special or casual meal. The servers were also very nice and gave us recommendations. I would definitely come back the next time I'm in the city! read more
17 days ago
Came by late at night and they were packed! They showcase their desserts up front and most were sold out, which to me was a good sign. I ordered the Nabeyaki hot udon and it came with shrimp tempura. Yum and very filling. We also got the chicken karaage and a meat eggplant appetizers. I wasn't a fan of either really. We also ordered the strawberry shortcake and chamomile mango mousse for dessert. Wish portion sizes were a bit bigger for sharing. Wasnt a fan of the chamomile mango one but liked the strawberry shortcake one. Service was quick and fast. We were seated in a booth and I'm glad we got that type of seating instead of the smaller tables where you can be quite close to another party. read more
28 days ago
The restaurant itself is set up in a super cool way. A little unassuming as the entrance makes it seem like it's a cafe - but there's really a whole seating area in the back. There are private tables, but also long communal tables in the middle for smaller parties, which I think is really cool. This was probably the best miso soup and udon I've ever had. Super hearty and warm meal. If you're looking for something comforting, this is a solid choice to go with (and prices aren't too egregious for this nice setting). read more
We came here for an early dinner on a Monday and were seated promptly. We tried the yuzu lemonade and it was super sweet and citrusy. I got the kaisen don ($33) but you DEFINITELY need to get the udon. I had a bite of my sister's and it was amazing! My sister got the mountain vegetable udon ($18). They are known for the udon which I didn't know. Also the portions are large. They have a variety of gorgeous, delicate looking desserts too! The inside is stylish and minimalist. The staff are super attentive and polite. read more
2 months ago
There's nothing that hits quite like Raku on a cold NY evening. Every udon dish I've tried here is excellent. This time, I went with the seasonal mushroom udon - the mushroom variety was great, udon is chewy, and the broth is incredibly flavorful yet clean. The chicken tatsuta-age is crispy, super juicy, and full of flavor. I went solo so I was able to get seated pretty quickly. The inside is minimal, clean, lots of wood. It gets quite busy, but easy to stop by for a quick meal. read more
2 months ago
Raku is a popular spot serving udon noodles and small bites. The interior was pretty chic with lots of wooden architecture and a small bakery at the front. I went on a Thursday late afternoon and it was a quiet and somewhat relaxing ambiance. The service was fantastic! My friends and I got the Chicken Tatsuta-age, Salmon Oshizushi, Cold Udon with Vegetable Tempura, Gyutama Don, and Ebiten. The Chicken Tatsuta-age was crispy! It tasted best when the lemon was squeezed over the dish and when it was dipped in the tangy sauce. The chicken itself was a bit tougher than usual, but it was not tough or chewy. Just took a few bites to break off into smaller pieces. I got the Ebiten and while the shrimp tempura itself was fried to perfection and paired well with the soup, I do not think the dashi broth was for me. It was too fishy. I did like the udon noodles! They were chewy but not too chewy. Overall, I would give this place a 3/5 just because I am not a big udon noodles person. My friends really liked this place, but I am pickier with my food. Again, the service was great but the food did not taste the best for my taste palate. read more
1 month ago
Raku still deserves high ratings overall, but we tried their peach dessert today and it was a 2/5 for us. The peach and sauce tasted super artificial and canned. I'd pass on this read more
Oh em gee. The broth is so good. We got the Seasonal Mushroom Udon, Nabeyaki Udon, Niku Udon (spicy), and Ankimo. My favorite was the Niku Udon. Truly can't describe how delicious the broth is. It is so rich yet so light at the same time. Great portion of toppings. The Ankimo dish was really interesting too. I haven't had monkfish before but really enjoyed it. My friend and I said it kinda reminded us of canned tuna at first bite... lol. But it has its own flavor profile. Cute interior. Food ready pretty fast. A lot of udon spots don't normally wow me. Very content. And I know I'll be craving this udon in the future. read more
2 months ago
Hot day; cold udon. It's a match made in heaven! We were happy to stumble across the Hell's Kitchen outpost of Raku around lunchtime recently, chef Norihiro Ishizuka's homage to udon in its many forms. Years ago, the Pardner and I frequented the first -- and at the time only -- location in the East Village. Now there are evidently four locations, including one in Toronto. Given the heat, we ordered zaru udon (chilled udon served on a bamboo tray). Zaru udon usually comes with mentsuyu (dipping sauce), wasabi, grated ginger and scallion. Raku's version also came with shiitake and raw quail egg, which were pleasant touches. There are currently three ZARU UDON lunch special sets on offer Tuesday through Friday, from 12-4 p.m., each $21, with a choice of accompaniment: SABAZUSHI (mackerel pressed sushi), VEGETABLE TEMPURA, or TORITEN (Japanese-style fried chicken). Raku, meaning "comfort," is true to its name. The udon was as good as I remember: pleasantly springy, the house mentsuyu on the sweeter end of the spectrum, but not overwhelmingly so, and served with ethereally light shiso leaf tempura. We liked the range of condiments, especially the quail egg, which imparted a silky quality to the tsuyu. The sabazushi (mackerel pressed sushi) that came with one of our sets came sliced into three pieces, with rice that was appropriate for the genre (pressed and dense, softer than nigiri, but not too mushy) and well cured, non-fishy mackerel. Vegetable tempura that came with our other set was well fried: light, well blotted and not overly greasy, a nice mixture of onion, burdock root, carrot, green pepper, and eggplant. The accompanying tentsuyu, slightly warm, was well made, but (as with mentsuyu) on the sweet side. We ordered otsumami ($12), including ohitashi (boiled spinach, bonito flakes, sesame seeds), hijiki (seaweed, carrot, bean curd), and kinpira gobo (braised burdock root, carrot, daikon). These were all well made, especially the lightly boiled, gently seasoned ohitashi. Hijiki and gobo were again on the sweet side, as much of this menu seems to be. The food is simple, homestyle fare that's made with precision and attention to detail. I do not think the udon is freshly made in-house (it lacks that particular aroma and the maximally springy texture of fresh-made), but it is of high quality, likely flash frozen. Service was gracious and friendly; the dining room is beautiful and comfortable, despite being completely windowless. My only regret was that we didn't have room for any of those ridiculously beautiful desserts by Pâtisserie Fouet, which had us salivating so much before the meal. Obviously, this means there has to be a return trip. read more
I came to grab lunch by myself as I've been wanting to try Raku. It was a warm day so I opted for and ankimo appetizer and buta shabu cold udon with thinly sliced pork, lots of scallions and sesame sauce on the side. I love ankimo and the monkfish liver was great! The ponzu sauce was perfect paired with the creamy, decadent ankimo. The udon is solid but I was a bit surprised that the udon is actually flat rather than round. It wasn't as chewy as I like but the texture was pretty good. I enjoyed dipping the noodles in the sesame sauce but I do think it needed something else, maybe a shoyu based sauce as well. The portion was huge I could barely finish it. My check also came with a frozen grape which I thought was a cute touch and a nice sweet treat after the meal! Such a great easy casual spot for noodles, especially if you're solo dining. read more
Dunno if it was the hangover but Raku's deceptively simple bowl of noodles was one of the more memorable meals I had in New York. Flavorful broth, fresh ingredients, and the perfect udon noodle texture, This was probably the closest bowl of noodles to the ones I've had in Tokyo. Due to the summer heat/humidity I ordered the sansai bukkake (cold udon) and even with its lack of meat the vegetables, mushrooms, and broth was the perfect meal for the weather. Definitely would recommend a reservation if you can or enjoy walking around the neighborhood read more
4 months ago
Raku is as good as I remembered it from our visit years ago to their other location. This location partners with the Fouet for their excellent desserts. Service was pleasant, helpful, and fast. The space is a decent size. We only waited a few minutes for a Wed night dinner after 8 pm. We enjoyed all the food! - Agedashi tofu was legit and tasty. Good balance of flavors and I enjoyed the abundance of shaved bonito. - The niku udon had a delicious broth, variety of cuts (including honeycomb beef tribe!), and noodles cooked just right. Yummy and comforting! - The jaja cold udon was perfect for the warmer night. It's got a kick and a great balance of flavors. The noodles is a narrower, flat type, rather than the round udon in the niku udon. - The soba pudding from Fouet was a little smokey, so tasty, and silky smooth. Here's their current menu for more info: https://www.rakunyc.com/pages/menu-midtown Overall, we cannot be more happy with our first meal in New York on this trip! read more
4.5 rounded up to 5. Good assortment of items and overall, pretty good! Surprisingly, the most disappointing items to us were the udon and chawanmushi - they weren't bad but they were probably our least favorite items which surprised us given the hype for those items. The noodles were good but my husband thought the broth was too creamy (we got the warm crab one). Absolutely loved the agedashi tofu and black sesame latte. Miso cod wasn't bad either. Definitely a good spot to try if you're in the neighborhood! read more
6 months ago
I didn't expect this location to be so spacious! It goes pretty far back, and it's so beautifully decorated. I love that they have desserts from Patisserie Fouet in the front of the restaurant, and in the back, there's a combo of different types of seating. There is a long table that is shared, so if you're a party of two, you sit across from each other. I ordered the Udon Toriten which comes with four marinated fried chicken (comes in soup or on the side). I loved the udon, but to be honest the chicken was a letdown. It wasn't crispy like I expected, it was pretty oily and got soggy. I am still giving Raku five stars since I loved the ambiance, decor, and udon itself so much, and there's other things on the menu I would try. read more
Came in without a reservation on a Thursday night and joined they waitlist. They said it would be 45 minutes, it ended up being 8 mins. Started with the pork gyoza which were ok, not very flavorful and somewhat bland. Entree was the cold udon ja ja which came with ground spicy miso pork, cucumber, tomato, poached eggs in a cold broth; was very good and filling. Cocktail was the cassis gin royal,me, which was a nice blend of flavors. Service was good. Everything comes out super fast. We were in and out in under an hour. read more
Fun! Friendly service. Quick to share their opinions and a few laughs along the way. Ambiance is good. Modern and Asian. Lots of natural wood, everything is clean and sturdy. Plenty of space. I think there's a row of tables in the middle that ends up almost like a communal table. Booths are comfortable though the lighting was a little strange, with recessed lights in the ceiling plus a lower hanging lamp that created some strange shadows. Not a deal breaker but definitely a bit of a head scratcher. Food is great! I was excited for udon and it did not disappoint, going with the hamaguri udon myself with some shrimp tempura. Not fishy, subtle sweetness, good texture on the noodles. Shrimp tempura is light enough though a little greasy, but it's helped by a quick dunk in the sauce or udon broth. The pressed mackerel sushi was a pleasant surprise. Fishy in a good way, offset with some sweetness and tartness from soy and presumably vinegar. One of my favorite bites generally so when it's on the menu there's a good chance I'm ordering it, and they have a good version here. Desserts. They're great though I'm not a dessert guy usually, though the black sesame brings the flavor. The soba pudding had an interesting nuttiness to offer some complexity. And the roll cake was delicious, especially with the fruit sauce. And they definitely earned the Asian compliment of "not too sweet". IYKYK. All in, a strong showing. Highly recommended. read more
![Raku - Soba Pudding [pf], some roll cake and a black sesame soft serve - Japanese Near Me - New York, New York](https://s3-media0.fl.yelpcdn.com/bphoto/vpxvS-hLCPUsp8Nxa9kXqQ/348s.jpg "Raku - Soba Pudding [pf], some roll cake and a black sesame soft serve - Japanese Near Me - New York, New York")
Raku is such a gem for a friends' night out. The space feels modern and clean, with a lively energy that makes it easy to settle in and enjoy a long meal together. Everything we tried tasted incredibly fresh, from the sushi to the noodles--it really shows in the quality. The spicy cucumber salad was a standout to start: crisp, refreshing, and with just the right amount of heat. We also loved the chicken tatsuta-age, which came out perfectly crispy, paired with a dipping sauce that definitely brings the spice. My absolute favorite was the sansai udon. The broth was rich and flavorful, and the udon noodles were cooked perfectly with that ideal chewy texture. The chikara udon with mochi was another standout--hearty, comforting, and super satisfying. And definitely don't skip dessert--it's the perfect way to end the meal. It does get pretty busy, but the staff handles it well--they were attentive, friendly, and kept everything running smoothly. Definitely recommend making a reservation ahead of time. Overall, a fantastic spot I'd happily come back to. read more
2 months ago
Vibe/ambiance: clean, modern, comfortable Service: standard Reservation: recommended Items ordered: Niku udon: 9/10 love the chew of the noodles Cold noodles: 8/10 read more
My sister and I walked in around 2:00 pm on a Saturday, and we were immediately seated. The interior was such a vibe. There was a beautiful display case of desserts right by the entrance, and the hostess led us down a hallway to the main dining area of the restaurant. We sat in a cute private booth, and we ordered the maguro yukke as an appetizer. I thought there was a little too much sesame oil, but overall, it was delicious. I ordered the mushroom udon, which was also delicious (considering it's just udon noodles and mushrooms). My sister also enjoyed her kaneki don. Afterwards, we tried their soba pudding and earl grey panna cotta. I enjoyed the soba pudding, I just thought the brown sugar on the bottom was a little too overpowering. Overall, it was a nice place, and I would love to come here again to try more of their desserts! read more
Wow. I want to knock off a star because they forgot my Udon entree, but that would be unjustified. The atmosphere, the kindness of the staff, and the fresh and delicious food are hard to pass up. The menu is very extensive, and you will need some time to really pick out some items. Don't fret, you will most likely come back to try other items in the near future. As for me, I ordered the Beef Curry Udon, Shrimp Tempura, salmon oshizushi, and essentially all the matcha desserts on the menu. I also ordered the buta shabu cold udon, but they somehow forgot to place that order. 1) Beef Curry Udon | 9.2/10 - Fresh and snappy udon. The curry was flavorful and thick, which really grabbed onto the udon nicely. The portion is generous for one, although if you are a meateater, I would suggest ordering extra beef. 2) Shrimp Tempura | 10/10 - This dish sat on the table for a good ten minutes before I ate it. All kidding aside, it almost tasted like I ate it right off the fryer. How do they do that?! 3) salmon oshizushi | 4.5/10 - Meh. A lot of rice and 1 cm thick salmon glued together. 4) Desserts | 100/10 - I highly doubt you can go wrong with anything on the dessert menu here. Everything is extremely delicious, not sugary, and fresh. It is pricey, but the craft that goes into the desserts is worth every penny. Overall, an excellent experience and well worth a repeat. The lines are quite long in the Midtown location during busy hours. Definitely plan ahead. read more
I'm usually not huge on udon but this place changed my mind. Noodles were so fresh and chewy. I got the toritken with the fried chicken on the side. There was a 30 mins wait when we walked in around 1 PM on Saturday afternoon. Note: they also don't allow any outside food/drinks but they held onto our lattes inside until we were done. read more
Raku is a must whenever I visit NYC! I'm not sure what the science behind their noodles is but it is to die for! I think about it every day. They don't typically take reservations for small parties so I would recommend lining up before they open to ensure a seat because they fill up very quickly. Even if you are by yourself, they have a communal table in the middle where you will be seated with other solo diners--a great way to try even by yourself and make new friends. The interior is pretty tight to accommodate as many people as they can but it's not uncomfortable. Staff are very prompt and accommodating and don't forget to enjoy the frozen grape at the end of your meal! I have always gotten too full after the meal to ever try but I will be back for just desserts! read more
2 months ago
Best udon in Manhattan. The menu is simple and doesn't overwhelm you with too many options. Service is always friendly and there's also a bakery in the front of you wanna grab some sweets to go on your way out. ebiten (shrimp tempura) 8/10 niku (beef short ribs) 8/10 read more
I arrived about ten minutes before opening and there were already a few parties waiting in line. Once the restaurant opened, we were seated promptly. The food came out fairly quickly after I placed my order. The broth was incredibly rich and comforting on a chilly day. The udon noodles were silky and smooth, with the perfect texture. The location itself was nice and spacious, and the staff were all friendly. Definitely one of my top spots for udon. I highly recommend! read more
WHEN: Sun @1pm This place is a bit hidden since there is no signage but we eventually found it! However, it was a 40 min wait, which we didn't mind since we would just walk around. They were very accurate when they said we would be ready in the time the said. It's such a busy and lovely restaurant where you will most likely be seated next to strangers, and if you are lucky like us, you get to sit next to a company with some tea--yeah a dude was sharing how toxic of a relationship he is in and his friend is telling him so and we all agree and wish we told him somehow. ANYWAY, here's what was ordered: SANSAI UDON - $19 Mountain vegetables, maitake mushroom tempura. This was due to a few days of eating burgers and pizza and we thought we should get something with vegetables. However, it did not look like the photo, where the tempura is on a separate plate. Our dish had the tempura drowned in the udon soup, which made it all soggy. Oh well. TRUFFLE WONTON UDON - $31 Did I just order the most expensive bowl of udon, that was more than $10 than my partners? Who am I!?! It's okay, I'm on vacation and this sounded so good. You definitely taste the truffle flavoring in the wonton, and this bad boy also comes with wakame seaweed. This hot bowl was solid and I am so happy I pulled the trigger here. No regrets! read more
A lot of my New York friends always mentioned Raku as one of their recommendations, but I was a bit hesitant the first few times because I'm not a huge fan of udon and its something I consider a "make it at home" food. I decided going because it was closely after church and I don't regret going at all! My friend ordered the Ebiten Udon and I got the Toriten Udon. Both were super satisfying in different ways, but what stood out the most was the noodles were SO BOUNCY! The bite and chew on it was so good and the broth was great too. For the Toriten, I got the fried chicken pieces on the side and it added a nice savory punch without feeling heavy or greasy. Taking a slurp of noodles and then the chicken was just right. My friend completely devoured the Ebiten and he gave me one of the shrimp tempuras. The shrimp tempura was so light and it just melted in my mouth. Raku has that cozy, minimalist vibe and all the servers were super attentive. I would come back again to try the other non-udon items I saw on the menu! read more
Delicious udon spot for a cold day. Came by on a Wednesday night around 5pm, before a broadway show without reservations. They were able to sit our party of 2 at the bar. Restaurant is minimalist and sleek and service was great. We got the yasai kakiage (vegetable tempura udon) and gyunan (prime beef udon). The udon is fresh-made and chewy. I liked the vegetable udon a lot more since it was a clear broth that was refreshing. The gyunan had a weird flavor I didn't enjoy. Overall, great spot for dinner a bit further out from the hustle of Times Square to grab a bite to eat before a show. read more
great spot for udon! the front of the restaurant is a bakery, and the back has dining (and fairly few tables and seats), so helpful to have a reservation or put you name down early and walk around. I really enjoyed their seasonal autumnal mushroom udon and thought the presentation was gorgeous - and very flavorful and filled with different mushroom textures. the service is friendly and fast, though you do feel some overt pressure to wrap up for them to turn the next table. overall a cool spot and would stop by to try their baked goods sometime! read more
Raku is always a solid option for udon. The cold and hot noodles are great options. It's a clean and elegantly designed space although it's not huge. The main dining table is shared so that can be a little tight. The service is attentive and friendly. They also serve desserts from Patisserie Fouet - don't sleep on the strawberry shortcake. The pink peppercorn is such a unique and welcome addition. Would recommend for a great Midtown spot! read more
11 months ago
Raku is located at the back of Patisserie Fouet. I went for lunch around 12:30pm on a weekday with no reservation and waited for 5-10 minutes for a table for 3. The menu includes appetizers, sushi, donburi and udon with added toppings available. They also had curry lunch specials. We ordered a misoyaki cod, katsu don and nabeyaki udon to share. The misoyaki cod ($28 without rice) was nice and flakey and had a very nice strong miso flavor. The katsu don ($24) included a very generous portion of rice. The egg was cooked dry, not runny. The deep fried pork cutlet was lightly crispy. Everything was very well seasoned. Nabeyaki udon ($31) is one of my favorite dishes, and this was a very nice version. The broth had a little bit of a smoky flavor, lots of flavor but still pretty subtle (not overwhelming) and so comforting. The udon noodles were perfectly thick and chewy. The toppings were generously portioned, especially the chicken, so no lack of protein here! The shrimp tempura was really tasty and the batter was very light. I didn't add any more toppings. These are elevated versions of these dishes and very generous portions, and the prices are higher to match. The service was great - attentive but not overbearing, and our water glasses were never empty. The space was clean and not too crowded. We did share a large communal table, but they still spaced us out and there was no one in the seats directly next to us. We were pretty full, so we bought desserts from the Patisserie side to go, though many of the items + some additional options are available on the menu in the restaurant! I thought Raku was great! I don't always need elevated versions of these dishes which can be considered comfort food, but it's a nice treat. I would definitely recommend it and would return myself! read more
11 months ago
Comforting broth with fresh udon noodles, the perfect dish for a cold evening! To start, I tried their ankimo that came with one piece. I really enjoyed that the sauce had a bit of a spice to it, something different from the typical ankimo dish. However portion wise, I didn't think it was worth the price. I went with the gyunan udon, the only thing I wished is that it had a bit more meat, but loved everything else about the udon! My friend got the special 10 YR anni lobster tempura udon. The portions were pretty good size with that option as well. read more
First time at this location, have been to the east village one many times! Raku was delicious as per usual, glad there's another location now. Got the Chiikara Udon. Getting their mochi is a must! Delicious and my favorite part of Raku. Space is quiet nice and the staff was kind. Raku here is now combined with Patisserie Fouet. You can get delicious ramen and dessert now at one spot read more
1 year ago
Absolutely delicious udon with tons of vegan options! Not just 1 token veggie dish, but ~4-5 vegan udon selections. There are also vegan appetizers like gyoza (which I did not try this time). The autumn mushroom special is amazing! If you are vegan/ vegetarian just make sure to let them know so they use the veggie broth. The veggie broth is incredibly flavorful and SO full of umami. The portion is huge and will fill you up with soul-nourishing broth and perfectly chewy udon noodles. I also tried the matcha latte with oat milk and it was sooo good. Nice quality matcha, great color, and it comes in a huge ceramic cup for $7. Way better than a lot of cafes I've tried. This location in midtown/ Hell's Kitchen is gorgeous. When you walk in there is a bar area along with a bakery/ patisserie with very pretty desserts. When you walk further in most of the seating is in side, and the aesthetic is perfecct . Clean, simple & modern, yet still with character. Service was attentive and food came out in a reasonable time. Overall, Raku is one of my favorite spots in the city to enjoy a reliably good meal, especially if i want to have plenty of vegan options while eating with non-vegans. read more
1 year ago
TLDR: Bouncy noodles, tender meat, good broth. Not too heavy. Food Gyunan Udon: The popular, simple, delicious, and safe choice. The noodles were bouncy, broth was flavorful, and the meat was tender. It's not outstanding in any particular way, but if you want a good beef soup on a cold night, it'll get the job done. Niku Udon: Perfect if you prefer different cuts of meat. The broth was rich, short rib was tender but bouncy, and the noodles were perfect. I wish I added the chili oil as others recommended--next time! Was it worth $28? ehhh Fig Honey Panna Cotta: A refreshing desert after our savory meal. We originally wanted the Soba Pudding but it was sold out. The honey panna cotta was silky and light, with just enough sweetness to make the fig leaf jelly stand out. The jelly had a subtle green, almost floral flavor that kept the whole thing from feeling too rich. The bits of chocolate and rosemary added a nice little twist, which worked surprisingly well. Service: Quick and friendly Ambiance: If you sit in the center you'll be close enough to hear other patron's conversations. Not ideal, but at least the atmosphere is nice. There's also a dessert area that you have to walk through to get to the restaurant in the back. Browse the selection while you wait for their table. read more
![Raku - Fig Honey Panna Cotta [pf] - Japanese Near Me - New York, New York](https://s3-media0.fl.yelpcdn.com/bphoto/02X8rBVt0XGcOMCnaiL8kQ/348s.jpg "Raku - Fig Honey Panna Cotta [pf] - Japanese Near Me - New York, New York")
![Raku - Fig Honey Panna Cotta [pf] - Japanese Near Me - New York, New York](https://s3-media0.fl.yelpcdn.com/bphoto/GwUmzHItCm-sShYY18t6Sw/348s.jpg "Raku - Fig Honey Panna Cotta [pf] - Japanese Near Me - New York, New York")
The best udon in the states. The broth is very rich/ flavorful and the noodles are freshly made with chewy texture. The food comes out fast and the space is very ambient. Great service. Highly recommend stopping here for lunch! read more
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776 9th Ave
New York, NY 10019
Theater District, Hell's Kitchen, Midtown West
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http://www.rakunyc.com
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