Raku

Enjoyed a beautifully prepared bowl of udon. Deep, rich flavors at a very reasonable price, with a great variety of udon options to choose from. The interior, tableware, and overall service were all clean and well maintained, making the experience even better.

Great food! First time trying udon and I loved it. Gotta be honest I had the table set up. The long table that seats multiple parties is kind of awkward. If I wanted to have a private conversation I couldn’t because everyone at the table can hear you. Anyway the fried chicken is amazing a definitely a must order. The yuzu lemonade was tart and tasty and also a must order for me. I order the holiday special duck breast udon. It was perfect, slightly sweet with mushrooms, onions, cabbage, with a side of rice and poached egg. Sucks that was a special because I would definitely reorder. I CLEANED my bowl. Fantastic broth, honestly zero complaints or notes there. Will definitely return

This was our first time at this location. We walked in as a party of two and were seated right away with no wait. However, at their Lower Manhattan locations, there is usually a wait time. The ambiance is quite loud, and there isn’t much seating for a private party—even for just two people. There’s also a chance you’ll be seated at a large table with another party. We ordered the Kaisendon, Zaru Udon ($16.00), Vegetable Tempura, Pork Gyoza, and Ebiten Udon. The taste never disappoints. The udon texture is very good—thick, chewy, and pleasantly bouncy.

So happy they opened a Midtown location! I’m a forever Raku fan While I still prefer the original East Village spot, the Midtown partnership with sister patisserie Fouet is great, you can try so many desserts! What we ordered: Truffle Wonton (4.25/5): Loved the strong truffle flavor in the wontons, but the broth was surprisingly heavy on the sesame. The udon texture was chewy and perfect, just as I remember it! Age Dashi Tofu (4.25/5): The dashi broth paired with the tofu was a great and very well executed combination. Karage (4/5): This used to be better; unfortunately, it felt a little too oily this time around. Soba Pudding (4.5/5): My favorite item here! Not too sweet and beautifully balanced in flavor. A must try dessert!

Lots of lines outside usually is a good sign and for good reason. Their udon is as good as advertised - chewy noodles and tasty broth with lots of great options on ingredients. Also great is the chicken tatsuta-age which is both crispy and juicy. But don't sleep on the donburi the kaisen don being our favorite.