It has become noticeably colder in New York City over recent days, and therefore now is the perfect time to slurp on some delicious ramen. New York City certainly has no shortage of ramen-yas, from the long-standing institutions like Totto and Ippudo to a number of newcomers from Japan. One of the newcomers that I’ve been trying to visit was Mr. Taka, which opened around December last year. The chef apparently has some serious pedigree having worked at a popular joint in Tokyo. My girlfriend and I had quite a satisfying meal on a recent weekday visit.
Before the ramen, it’s always a good idea to order a couple of starters, and Mr. Taka has some surprisingly good options. Miso cucumber is always one of my go-to options to start the meal at a ramen ship, and the one at Mr. Taka accompanied by sesame oil and Japanese red pepper was delicious. My girlfriend has always been a fan of fried sweet potato, and we both enjoyed the sweet potato tempura that was expertly cooked to have the optimal crispness to the texture. Now onto the ramen. We both ordered the spicy miso ramen based on chicken and bonito fish broth. I could tell that the ramen has refined quality built upon years of craftsmanship. The noodles were on the right level of firmness, and the broth had soothing aroma without being too oily or salty while having a spicy kick that was quite satisfying. We had no problem making a quick work out of our bowls. I wouldn’t say the ramen is one of the very best in New York ramen pecking order, but it was one fine ramen bowl that will warm your heart every time you visit.
Mr. Taka doesn’t take reservations and the place was nearly full on our visit, but the quick turnover means you won’t have much problem getting seated after a short wait in the worst case scenario. On a cold night, complementing your meal with warm sake seems like the way to go. The compact space has a hip vibe fitting for its location in Lower East Side. If you’re looking for a change of scenery in New York ramen world, Mr. Taka is definitely one of the viable options to consider.
KenScale: 8.0/10
- Creativity: 8.0/10
- Execution: 8.0/10
- Ingredients: 8.0/10
- Flavor: 8.5/10
- Texture: 8.0/10
Address: 170 Allen Street, New York, NY 10002
Telephone: (212) 254-1508
Website: http://www.mrtakaramen.com/
KenScale 