With the end of February nearing, and the depths of winter still hovering, I couldn’t get ramen off my mind. There seems no better cure than a hot bowl of soup for winter blues. When you research ramen in New York there seems but one reigning king: Ippudo. With three locations across Manhattan, I visited Hell’s Kitchen early the other day (~12pm) for a solo lunch. I was seated straightaway, which made me cheer silently, because getting seated immediately at a place that doesn’t take reservations, but is as popular and rated as heftily as Ippudo, is no doubt cause for celebration.

The restaurant is arranged with a U-shaped bar where solo and double diners are seated, and also with a tabled area to the side. All waiters cheer and shout ‘welcome’ in Japanese when a new diner arrives, making for a noisy and fun atmosphere. (In the spirit of full disclosure however, I was kind of happy my meal here lasted less than an hour because I can totally see this getting annoying. Fast.).

I ordered the signature Classic “Tonkotsu” pork broth ramen that includes pork loin chashu, mushrooms, scallions, red ginger, and menma (aka bamboo shoots). I also added on a soft-boiled egg to that order for a reasonable $2. Although it could have come out of the kitchen a little hotter, the soup was nonetheless tasty and warming. Its flavors mixed together agreeably, and the soft-boiled egg was cooked to perfection. I could have eaten the broth alone for many meals. I was, however, kind of disappointed with the pork. What I expected was thick, tasty, and fatty slices of pork, but what I got instead were thin slivers of over-cooked pork. I was quite happy I didn’t take the menu’s suggestion and order extra pork loin. In the end I left Ippudo feeling more than satisfied, but also thinking it just might be a bit overhyped.

With all that being said, their slogan “No ramen, no life, Know ramen, know life” ultimately meant I had to forgive them.

3/5 stars.