Naruto Ramen
| Address: | 1596 3rd Ave, New York, NY 10128, USA |
| Phone: | +1 212-289-7803 |
| Site: | narutoramenex.com |
| Rating: | 4.4 |
| Working: | 12–10PM 12–10PM 12–10PM 12–10PM 12–11PM 12–11PM 12–10PM |
Location
Photos 100
Reviews 6
MI
Michael Wang
On this hot summer day, I was running some errands as usual. Being that I was in the Upper East Side, and was feeling for some ramen, it just so happened that Naruto Ramen was on my bookmark list, and was only a couple blocks away. I decided to walk here around 2pm on a Saturday, and was pleased to find that there was no line, and it was half empty. Could it be that it is a bad sign, or that I just decided to eat lunch incredibly late. Naturo Ramen isnt a large ramen joint by any means. But then again, not many ramen spots aside from Ippudo really are. Before you decide to go here to get a meal, do note that this place is Cash Only, so be prepared to bring at least $15 to be safe. Once I sat down at the bar, I decided to go with the Naruto Ramen ($9), and a half-sized fried rice ($4.50). After tax and tip, I paid around $16. Now as far as the fried rice goes, it was pretty decent, but a tad on the salty side. If they just cut down a pinch or two of salt, it would be just right. However, I did like the little addition of the sliced up fish cake in the fried rice. The Naruto Ramen was shoyu based, and came with the typical ramen fixings: 1/2 soft boiled egg, bamboo shoots, bean sprouts, chashu. The soft boiled egg was actually a little sweet, so that was kind of weird. On the plus side, the noodles were nice and firm, and the slice of pork was thick and juicy. Even though it was only one slice, it was thick enough to be equal to two slices at many other ramen joints. As far as the broth goes, it wasnt that amazing. Typical shoyu taste, but nothing to make me go "wow, I want some more." To go further into the noodles, I saw that their noodles are packaged. I know that might rub some people the wrong way, being that they dont actually make their own noodles. After feeling that way for so long, Ive just come to accept it for what it is, and moved on. All in all, face it. The Upper East Side doesnt really have any ramen spots. If you want good ramen, you need to go down past Central Park. Naturo Ramen is decent, but its not good enough to where Id make the hike to the UES to have a bowl. Plus, the cash only deal is kind of a bummer since I tend to not carry a wad of cash around town.
RO
Robert Celestin
7/29/14: Coming highly recommended from another local reviewer, I couldnt wait to try this place. I went in the late afternoon with a party of 2 and we were actually seated right away. This was a surprise because not even 10 minutes later there was a line of at least 4-5 people outside the door (since we took the last two seats). Being such a small shop was a benefit I think because it felt pretty cozy. The other great thing about this place is that you get to see your dish prepared right in front of you regardless of where you are sitting. We happened to be right in front of the stove so the preparation was right in sight. Once we were served (fairly quickly by the way) we were treated to large sized bowls of delicious ramen. I ordered the Miso but wasnt expecting how amazing and unbelievably tender and flavorful the pork was going to be. It is not an understatement to say that it really melts in your mouth. The rest of the dish was just as good and very filling. Very gracious staff and wonderful atmosphere overall.
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Samir Rao
I hate to play the comparison game with the ramen shops because there are a ton out there and its hard to be the best of the best, but when youre in a city like New York, its got to happen. Naruto is another one of those places that might stand up well in isolation but compared to Misoya Ramen, with its larger seating area, vegetarian-friendly (and even dedicated) ramen varieties, and credit-card friendly service, its hard to compete. Naruto ramen was one of my first in the city and I liked their noodles a lot, but at the end of the day, for the vegetarian youre getting pretty basic ramen + lots of vegetables without a real focus on the crafting of the meal like you get for an equivalent meat dish. I was also not a fan of the fact that you have to pay at least $10 for a seat so my family had to overorder to have food there. Its convenient and cheap for me so Ill probably go again but I dont get the same satisfaction as when Im at other places. Still, by itself its one heck of a place.
SA
Sarah Wainio
It was a rainy day. Dreary. I wanted soup. Crazy as it may sound, Ive found Manhattan to be void of good Pho- a real tragedy. So I set off in Yorkville seeking ramen. I stumbled on Naruot Ramen which had an A and that seemed good enough for me. I didnt recognize much on the menu but that didnt scare me. Wouldnt say the menu is friendly for cautious eaters. I ordered a bowl that had vegetables, pork, noodles, and egg-drop like broth. There was a tart vinegar taste and I added Sriracha for spice. I loved my experienced and enjoyed watching the chef run around the tiny joint. He seemed particularly stressed and appeared to be yelling at his sous chef in Japanese. Had I known what was said in the staff conversation I might have been annoyed or offended, but I was able to tune out the conversation and it became an interesting background sound. I would recommend Naruto Ramen. Id also like to try it again and hope for different service. *Cash only. **No chicken dishes.
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Stephen Lyman
Another Japanese restaurant thats chronically underrated. Naruto was the first ramen worth eating on the entire Upper East Side (the most densely populated neighborhood in Manhattan). Its a classic ramen shop, narrow with a long counter and salarymen quickly slurping down their bowls of steaming noodles. It reminds me of Rairaiken in the East Village before they moved locations. Its not Ippudo or Hide Chan, but its a fine entry in the style. Sometimes overly salty, but always tasty, I find their ramen a fair step above their sister Ramen shops, Terakawa. Perhaps its the classic ramen shop decor that helps with this or the more simple menu. Not sure, but it works. Their daily specials are always a value as well. Sadly, theyre not listed on their website, so youll have to stop by to find out what and when they are. This is a go-to stop on my way home if I work late. Nothing quite like a bowl of ramen and a draft beer after a long day at the office. Kampai!
ZA
Zachariel Govad
I found this place a few years ago when one of my really close friend and his dad introduced me to it. I love the anime Naruto and when I saw this I just thought it was great, once I was inside I found the atmosphere to be fun, the place is small with a few chairs where customers can see how the food is made. The chefs and workers were really great the times that I have been there, one of the chef even taught my younger brother how to use Chopstick, quickly becoming my brothers favorite restaurant. The food always taste great, Ive had different ramen, including the Naruto Ramen which is really good as well as Teriyaki. The prices are really reasonable and portions really big. The only thing that is a bit of a downer is the fact that its Cash-Only, as do most Asian place seem to be, from my personal experience.
