Ippudo New York

It’s hard to talk about great ramen in NYC without singling out Ippudo, which has locations worldwide. The Hell’s Kitchen branch is just as popular as the original in the East Village (65 Fourth Ave.), with a convivial bar up front where beer and sake dull the pain of waiting. The wait is always worth it, not only for the welcoming cheer from the kitchen staff but for phenomenal Japanese soul food. Akamaru ramen is heady with hearty pork broth, but resist drinking it all right away—pay $2 for an extra serving of thin noodles by saying, “Kae-dama, please.”