Chuko Ramen
| Address: | 565 Vanderbilt Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11238, USA |
| Phone: | +1 347-425-9570 |
| Site: | chukobk.com |
| Rating: | 4.5 |
| Working: | 12–3PM 12–3PM 12–3PM 12–3PM 12–3PM 12–3PM 12–3PM |
Location
Photos 100
Reviews 12
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Adam Rubens
This is pretty much all I want from a neighborhood ramen shop. First, and most importantly, the ramen was good. The broth of the kimchi pork was tasty, warm and thick without being too rich. Noodles had a good consistency. And while the vegetarian broth was a bit lighter, it was still flavorful and good. It does get a bit busy there at peak hours, but at 7 PM I was able to get a spot at the bar. There was a table and a few bar spots available at 8 PM as well. So busy, but not overcrowded. Though to be fair, my first visit was on a weekend, and there was a wait. The crispy brussel sprouts werent really crispy, but they were incredibly flavorful and good. I took the bowl and drank the broth that was left over it was so good. No problems with the service either. The guy at the counter was helpful and polite. My water glass stayed full (yay!). And the interior is pretty sparse, but felt good. If this were my local spot for ramen, Id be pleased.
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Jenna Cardinale
I love the vegetarian ramen at Chuko. Silky, but not overly rich, I would eat it every day if someone would let me. Its worth the wait (just grab a drink at Weather Up across the street). The service is always on-point, even though theyre dealing with customers who have been waiting a while. A couple of veg notes -- the chili oil contains oyster sauce, but your server will bring an excellent spice powder as a substitute. The kale salad is tasty, but its more fried than fresh. Update! Since moving to a larger location up the block, theres more seating & they now serve two types of vegetarian ramen and theyll make the Brussels sprouts app vegetarian if you ask. Ive never not had an excellent experience there.
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Kevin Huang
Solid food all around. Good sake/beer. Great service. I tried to eat here a while back. The wait was well over an hour so it didnt work out. This time on a rainy Tuesday at 6pm I was the first person at the restauraunt and no wait! Staff was super friendly, holding the door for me while I got myself situated and asking if I needed anything while I waited for a friend. Server was very knowledgeable and knew her way around the menu and what she recommends. The pork and shrimp buns are great. The crispy Brussels were also really tasty. The fried tofu was interesting but not as good as roasted pork. She told us all of this and it was true. Also the ramen dog sake is refreshing and you can keep the cup!
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Cynthia Cavaliere Nyamekye
Boy do I wish this restaurant had been here when I used to live in the apartment right above it years ago!! On second thought, I probably would have gone broke! Want great ramen? Look no further folks, this place is simply delicious! Their house made hot sauce is MAGICAL (trust me on this), the unassuming kale salad was extraordinary, the chili soy wings YUM!, and the kimchi ramen? Lets just say that I cant wait to eat it again and again and again. The shrimp and pork buns were good but not super memorable (definitely add the house-made hot sauce to elevate them) and the service was excellent. Overall a great experience close to home and a place Ill be returning to more than once for sure.
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Charlie Shay
Update 2/22/2017: new location, same great food (tater tots with okonomiyaki toppings is another must try). Veggie miso ramen is probably the best meat-free ramen Ive had in NY so far (that broth is so rich in flavor). And now they accept credit cards! Update 7/08/2016: this location will close at the end of July and move to where Bar Chuko was (a block north). The ramen here is amazing! Probably the best ramen Ive had in Brooklyn - the pork broth is rich and have a nice bonito flavor in it. This place is busy most of the time, so be ready to wait a bit even during weekday lunch (come at noon during the weekday to avoid a big crowd).
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Albert Oeswadi
Worth the hype and trip to Prospect Heights. The wait system is great. Theyll text/call you when the seats are ready (plenty of bars nearby to enjoy and spend time). Service was fast and attentive. I ordered the Pork Bone ramen, with extra chili oil sauce. The portion is pretty big and worth the $15 price-tag - plenty of meat and noodle. The chili oil is amazing. The restaurant also carries a decent list of beers and liquor (not a surprise since owner also runs a bar). Felt a little rushed at the end, but it makes sense since theres a long wait list.
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D Nguyễn
As far as ramen goes Chuko is a decent neighborhood shop. Simple wood table and bar interior. On this cold rainy night it seems like everyone had the same thought. A nice hot bowl of ramen. The broth was pretty lean compared others ramen shops. Noodles firm. The pork slices where a bit to fatty for me. The Brussels sprouts was a bit sweet and oily. The service was top notch. Friendly waitress and prompt service. Between the other Brooklyn competitors it is a hard decision and I’m glad that it is. It is a win for us ramen lovers.
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Tom Klaber
A pretty nice ramen experience. The menu is pretty small and service was quick. The miso ramen broth was rich and delicious. It came with an egg that was cooked to perfection. The brussel sprout dish was very good. Pork bun was only OK. Expect a wait during almost any time. We tried to get their early (6:15 on a Saturday) and it was still a 35 minuet wait for a table of 2. The nice thing is they will call you when your table is ready - so you can wait at one of the nice bars on the block and have a drink.
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Ellie Rauch
The pork bun and the crispy brussel sprouts were both excellent preludes to some very good ramen. I had the pork bone broth with roasted pork, which had a silky rich flavor and was very enjoyable, however, I am not sure this place lives up to the hype and the long lines (fortunately, we came early enough that there was no wait). I think there is better ramen in the city, and while I would certainly go again if friends wanted to, I would not make the trek over there (it is a decent walk from the train) on my own.
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Bre P
Casual and communal atmosphere. Our wait was pretty long. We sat at the bar facing the entrance which was cold, but thank goodness we were about to be served something hot. The kale salad was great, but a little too salty. I think it was a little overdressed. The kimchi and pork bone ramen were great. The mustard greens in the pork bone ramen was salty, therefore making the broth salty. If they could just reduce the salt in the dishes, it would definitely be five stars.
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Jayse Lee
Been going since they opened the original/previous location and its been consistently delicious every time. Especially love the veggie broth ramen. Broth is thick and yummy and is one of the best ramen broths Ive tasted, veggie or not. Noodles are either the standard curly ramen noodles or some dishes come with the straight kind. Brussels sprouts side is also delicious. An all time fav. Small menu. Cute/casual place. Long waits.
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Kate Kosche
Ramen is very good, especially the kimchi ramen, but the wait is not worth it. I have only managed to get in and get fed a few times during really off hours (say, 3PM on an Monday) because I just cannot deal with the lines. I actually LOVED the Brussels sprouts and the pork bun was quite god. But two hours for a bowl of ramen at prime time? No way. Service is quite rushed (for fairly obvious reasons) but generally pleasant.
