Raku

This was my first time dining at Raku, and I had a great experience overall. Despite the restaurant being nearly full on a Saturday during lunch, my party was lucky to snag the last two seats at the bar. I would highly recommend a reservation during busy times just in case! We were served punctually, and the food all came out piping hot. The udon noodles were springy and delicious. The chicken tatsuta-age was a standout appetizer with a decadent sauce to go with the karaage. I ordered the nabeyaki that came with shrimp tempura. The fish cakes were a delicious addition to the soup. My broth had lemon slices and a lot of vegetables, and it tasted delicious! I would highly recommend a visit for anyone during these cold months!

I had been to the one in Soho before, but the east Village location is the original. My wife had seen some vids about this place and how the udon is even better than what you can get in Japan! Reservations open up 2 weeks in advance and can be had if you can plan ahead but they emphasize walkin availability (leading to long lines). That night we had a 40ish minute wait. Inside and out, stark decor typical for Japanese restaurants. The appetizer rundown: large tatsuta-age was 10 big chunks of very well fried and juicy chicken with a tangy creamy sauce; shishito pepper tempura - very nicely fried with a light batter and mild flavor -- none of these were oily. For udon, we got the spicy niku and the kani ankake. The spicy niku was flavorful and had chunks of short ribs. The kani ankake was interesting - it was thicker almost like a lobster sauce consistency. But the important mention was the noodle itself was a slightly flatter shape and had an amazing chewy consistency. But wait - we decided to give the cold noodle a try. It comes very plain with a few shiso leaves and a side dipping sauce. It was simply AMAZING - it was even firmer and the clean taste was incredible. Plus, it's actually cheaper than the hot ones. We were going to end it there but we saw another table enjoying intriguing desserts served in a glass mason jar (soba pudding) and wide mouth glass cup (matcha tiramisu). Both were also AMAZING in terms of light sweet flavor (soba pudding) and rich concentrated flavor (matcha tiramisu). Highly recommended.

Delicious, chewy udon in a very flavorful broth. I got the shrimp tempura udon (ebiten), and was really happy with it! The noodles were chewy and thick, and the broth had a delicious savory flavor with notes of seaweed. The shrimp was perfectly tender and fresh, with a light crispy coating that made it perfect for soaking up the flavorful broth. The dish also came with a piece of tempura eggplant which was a nice surprise. I will say though, I was surprised that it only came with one small pickled plum, I like those a lot and thought the dish would come with more. Either way it was super delicious and I would totally recommend Raku if you're craving a warm bowl of udon!

Raku is one of my favorite restaurants in NYC. On a freezing winter night, the ebiten udon came out boiling hot, warming me instantly. The broth is savory but never overpowering, letting the soft, chewy udon shine. The shrimp tempura was super fresh and perfectly crunchy… such a good contrast. The seasonal maguro yukke was incredible. Clean, rich, and icy-cold in the best way. Going back and forth between the cold tuna and the hot soup made the whole meal feel balanced and thoughtful. I came alone on a weeknight and was seated in 5 minutes. Cozy, consistent, and always hits.

Had a great time at Raku. We ordered the fried chicken, pressed mackerel sushi, their special seaweed salad, and the short rib hot udon. The food was clean, satisfying, and really hit the spot across the board. One small note: it would be great if the appetizers were staggered a bit better to fit the table and pacing of the meal. We also realized we had made our reservation for the wrong day, but the staff was incredibly accommodating and seated us in under 20 minutes anyway. Really appreciated the flexibility and hospitality, thank you!