(Honestly, we just wanted to say New York noodle news. You try it. New York noodle news.)
And now that that’s out of our system, let’s discuss the arrival of E.A.K. Ramen: the first stateside
outpost of a Japanese chain known for some damn tasty and unique broth, now open in Greenwich Village.
The style you’re working with here is called ié-kei ramen, and it combines Fukuoka-style tonkotsu broth
with Tokyo-style soy sauce broth. Essentially, it’s got both pork and chicken flavor and is really,
really, incredibly creamy. They then throw in some thick, straight noodles and top it with spinach, seasoned
egg, braised pork, toasted seaweed and whatever else you might desire. Menu’s right here.
It’ll all be served in this narrow, sleek, wooded space—claim some real estate at
the bar overlooking the open kitchen and start by dipping some octopus pancakes in sweet-spicy sauce or
getting a mountain of fried burdock roots to share. From there, do the ramen thing: order a classic like the
E.A.K. Ramen or the Oh So Hot!, then add to it—or go ahead and build your own. Whatever feels right. And
before that comes, you’ll want to settle on a liquid companion for your soup. Our vote is on the
soju-spiked green tea known as Drunk Bamboo.
