Ramen Ishida

🍜5 / 5ramen rating

Service: 5

Atmosphere: 4

Spend: $20–30

“Normally when visiting Ramen Ishida I go with the off-the-menu Tokyo 80s Shoyu, but I had originally been in the neighborhood to have Miso XO at Nakamura, only to find it closed by the health department (?!). So I walked over to Ramen Ishida and tried their Umami Miso as I had been looking forward to miso all day. Started off with the Echigo Stout, which had a sweet malty taste that I believe may have altered the flavor of the soup. Despite being a miso, the characteristic miso malt was not there. Chicken oil was very pronounced, and there was a bit of the saltiness from the miso, but much more like a mellow tare. Delicious! The noodles were medium thickness and springy. The chashu was the best I have had in a long time - thinly sliced but tender and popping with smoky fatty flavor. Moyashi bean sprouts, a jammy egg, corn and a skinny whisper of bok choy rounded things out. An outstanding bowl.”

🍜5 / 5ramen rating

Service: 9

Atmosphere: 5

Vegetarian: Great vegetarian options

Spend: $20–30

“This wasn’t just another ramen visit — Ramen Ishida was my redemption bowl. After a forgettable first ramen experience back in 2013 near St. Marks, I spent seven years thinking ramen just wasn’t for me. Then, in 2020, I stepped into this tiny LES shop on a quiet Manhattan side street — and everything changed. Their truffle-infused shoyu broth is rich, earthy, and perfectly balanced. The noodles had that ideal chew, and the chashu melted on contact. It honestly stopped me mid-sentence. I went back three days in a row. Since then, I’ve had ramen in Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka — and Ishida still holds a top spot on my list. Don’t sleep on this place. It’s easy to miss, but impossible to forget.”