the buzz

“Ippudo”

Ramen rivals Momofuku, Minka, and Setagaya et al might want to get ready for a new contender in the noodle wars. Ippudo is coming to New York City. This 10-year old Japanese chain hails from Kyushu, with shops in Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka, and is known for its signature pork-based tonkotsu served with spicy miso sauce.

The Tokyo-based blogs I’ve read about this joint rave about its wildly rich broth that makes its long lines worth the wait. We’ll be able to judge for ourselves soon enough because they’re just about ready to open their first NYC branch at 65 Fourth Avenue (between 9th and 10th Streets) in a unique wood-lined space that resembles a modern log cabin from the outside. (On the inside I spied orange leather banquettes and lots more dark polished wood, indicating a far more high-end ramen experience than is currently available.) I stopped by today on my way home from brunch at Five Points and had a chat with the guys outside on a smoke break. They gave me a two-week time frame for opening, anticipating serving steamy bowls of ramen by the first week in March. Stay tuned.

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