A little small but great little spot. Be prepared to wait in line but isn’t bad
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Kaya Yusi
Best udon I’ve ever had I love Raku so much
Hazel Yoo
Simply amazing! The noodles are top tier and tempura was crispy fresh. One of my best udon experiences so far. Would definitely go back to have the cold udon (zaru) again. People usually rush in when it opens to if you want to secure a spot go there 5min before opening.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Chicken Tatsuta-Age, Noodles
Alon Juwal
Raku is a hidden gem for udon lovers seeking a cozy dining experience. It’s intimate ambiance sets the stage for an unforgettable meal. The menu, though simple, boasts delicious dishes crafted with care, with the Udon being the star of the show. From traditional favorites to delightful surprises, each dish is a testament to the chef's mastery. With friendly service and a welcoming atmosphere, Raku is the perfect spot to satisfy your udon cravings in comfort and style.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Anastasia Gudkova
Truly the best udon in the city!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Eric San José
Easy to see on 6th Street on the LES. Very small restaurant. The outdoor dining area is actually much bigger. Food is good. Nice staff. The bacon appetizer is the star ⭐️. Curry Udon & Rice Bowls are recommended. NYC prices so bring your credit cards ?. We will definitely be going back.Vegetarian options: Vegan optionsDietary restrictions: Something for all dietary needsParking: Parking on the street is available, but it fills up quickly.Kid-friendliness: Not for kidsWheelchair accessibility: Not wheelchair accessible
A simple, no frills udon spot! The texture of the udon was perfect, the best I’ve had! Hearty comforting broth, perfect for a cold day. We only waited a couple minutes for a table and service was pleasant.
s a
The best udon I had in NYC! Started with Chicken which was perfectly fried to golden crispy and juicy inside. Pork Gyoza which reminded me of hometown one in Tokyo, crispy bottom and juicy fillings. Tempura Udon was authentic, chewy and flavorful tasty soup. Wish they gave me a bit more tempura than 2 shrimps & one little eggplant. Overall thumbs up for this place! We enjoyed good food and attentive & friendly service! Definitely will come back!
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Chicken Tatsuta-Age, Noodles
Meron Aberha
The fried chicken was amazing. The wagyu ramen was delicious while on the expensive side and not enough meat. The curry ramen was not my taste profile but my gf enjoy it. The noodles are thick and filling while the broth will be nice and warm with a very smooth taste. Overall a nice casual stop for
Love Raku, the east village location is slightly less busier than the soho one- either way love to go at either spot every time. The noodles and broth are perfect and I usually order the simplest one (duck, wakame) so flavorful and filling.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Ellen Lee
I recently visited, and the service and food were great. I noted a slight variation between branches, but overall, I highly recommend it.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Se Min Cho
Recently, I had lunch with my mother and my mother’s friend’s family in Raku. We were 5, and it was the first time for us to eat in Raku. We all had the noodle with soup. The warm soup noodles were the best choice because it was a cold day. The texture of the noodles was incredible. I have never eaten the noodles with this chewy texture. What a soup base it is! The warm and deep-tasted soup was delicious and made my stomach comfortable. So, I could give five stars for the food. However, I would rate the service only one star. When my mother and I arrived, the server requested us to wait outside until the rest people came. As I said previously, it was one of the coldest days. Even though my companions arrived in 15 minutes, the cold kept us frozen. I couldn’t understand why we had to stay outside, though some tables were vacant.Another thing I really upset about was the server’s attitude. When my mother asked if the noodles she chose came with soup, the waitress looked dismissive and said harshly, "Yes." My mother told me later that she was embarrassed. It might be a ridiculous question if this restaurant had only noodles with soup. However, not everyone knows that; especially those coming for the first time, like us, definitely don’t know it. Also, the server was responsible for explaining the menu and food. All the rates of the excellent food were written off with the rude attitude of the server.I am curious why noodle soups became a soul food in Japan and Korea. In Japanese cuisine, Ramen and Udon are traditional noodle soups among Japanese cuisine.So do Kalgugsu and Janchigugsu in Korean cuisine. Compared to Western food, Korea and Japan have developed a variety of soup dishes. I think that soup noodles are the best of the soup dishes.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 5
Service: 1
Recommended dishes: Noodles
Elsa Nollet
Worst service in New York….. The waiters are so rude….. Save your money for nicer people!! I you want to eat real Japanese food in the neighborhood without being yelled at, I recommend Izakaya or Benemon!! :)
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
밥먹자
I went there after searching for a good restaurant in New York, and although the udon soup is definitely delicious, it is definitely not a place I would go to during a short trip. It's just a local udon restaurant. But I liked it. I feel like I'm just an ordinary person in New York. The store on the street has a better atmosphere than the indoor store. There are many Japanese udon restaurants everywhere. The udon ladle size is the best for eating soup. Cola tastes like cold medicine. ha ha ha.
Hands down the best udon I’ve ever had.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 3
A little small but great little spot. Be prepared to wait in line but isn’t bad
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Best udon I’ve ever had I love Raku so much
Simply amazing! The noodles are top tier and tempura was crispy fresh. One of my best udon experiences so far. Would definitely go back to have the cold udon (zaru) again. People usually rush in when it opens to if you want to secure a spot go there 5min before opening.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Chicken Tatsuta-Age, Noodles
Raku is a hidden gem for udon lovers seeking a cozy dining experience. It’s intimate ambiance sets the stage for an unforgettable meal. The menu, though simple, boasts delicious dishes crafted with care, with the Udon being the star of the show. From traditional favorites to delightful surprises, each dish is a testament to the chef's mastery. With friendly service and a welcoming atmosphere, Raku is the perfect spot to satisfy your udon cravings in comfort and style.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Truly the best udon in the city!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Easy to see on 6th Street on the LES. Very small restaurant. The outdoor dining area is actually much bigger. Food is good. Nice staff. The bacon appetizer is the star ⭐️. Curry Udon & Rice Bowls are recommended. NYC prices so bring your credit cards ?. We will definitely be going back.Vegetarian options: Vegan optionsDietary restrictions: Something for all dietary needsParking: Parking on the street is available, but it fills up quickly.Kid-friendliness: Not for kidsWheelchair accessibility: Not wheelchair accessible
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Chicken Tatsuta-Age, Niku Udon Soup, Curry Udon, Noodles
A simple, no frills udon spot! The texture of the udon was perfect, the best I’ve had! Hearty comforting broth, perfect for a cold day. We only waited a couple minutes for a table and service was pleasant.
The best udon I had in NYC! Started with Chicken which was perfectly fried to golden crispy and juicy inside. Pork Gyoza which reminded me of hometown one in Tokyo, crispy bottom and juicy fillings. Tempura Udon was authentic, chewy and flavorful tasty soup. Wish they gave me a bit more tempura than 2 shrimps & one little eggplant. Overall thumbs up for this place! We enjoyed good food and attentive & friendly service! Definitely will come back!
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Chicken Tatsuta-Age, Noodles
The fried chicken was amazing. The wagyu ramen was delicious while on the expensive side and not enough meat. The curry ramen was not my taste profile but my gf enjoy it. The noodles are thick and filling while the broth will be nice and warm with a very smooth taste. Overall a nice casual stop for
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Noodles
Restaurantji Recommends
Love Raku, the east village location is slightly less busier than the soho one- either way love to go at either spot every time. The noodles and broth are perfect and I usually order the simplest one (duck, wakame) so flavorful and filling.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I recently visited, and the service and food were great. I noted a slight variation between branches, but overall, I highly recommend it.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recently, I had lunch with my mother and my mother’s friend’s family in Raku. We were 5, and it was the first time for us to eat in Raku. We all had the noodle with soup. The warm soup noodles were the best choice because it was a cold day. The texture of the noodles was incredible. I have never eaten the noodles with this chewy texture. What a soup base it is! The warm and deep-tasted soup was delicious and made my stomach comfortable. So, I could give five stars for the food. However, I would rate the service only one star. When my mother and I arrived, the server requested us to wait outside until the rest people came. As I said previously, it was one of the coldest days. Even though my companions arrived in 15 minutes, the cold kept us frozen. I couldn’t understand why we had to stay outside, though some tables were vacant.Another thing I really upset about was the server’s attitude. When my mother asked if the noodles she chose came with soup, the waitress looked dismissive and said harshly, "Yes." My mother told me later that she was embarrassed. It might be a ridiculous question if this restaurant had only noodles with soup. However, not everyone knows that; especially those coming for the first time, like us, definitely don’t know it. Also, the server was responsible for explaining the menu and food. All the rates of the excellent food were written off with the rude attitude of the server.I am curious why noodle soups became a soul food in Japan and Korea. In Japanese cuisine, Ramen and Udon are traditional noodle soups among Japanese cuisine.So do Kalgugsu and Janchigugsu in Korean cuisine. Compared to Western food, Korea and Japan have developed a variety of soup dishes. I think that soup noodles are the best of the soup dishes.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 5
Service: 1
Recommended dishes: Noodles
Worst service in New York….. The waiters are so rude….. Save your money for nicer people!! I you want to eat real Japanese food in the neighborhood without being yelled at, I recommend Izakaya or Benemon!! :)
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
I went there after searching for a good restaurant in New York, and although the udon soup is definitely delicious, it is definitely not a place I would go to during a short trip. It's just a local udon restaurant. But I liked it. I feel like I'm just an ordinary person in New York. The store on the street has a better atmosphere than the indoor store. There are many Japanese udon restaurants everywhere. The udon ladle size is the best for eating soup. Cola tastes like cold medicine. ha ha ha.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5