Ramen By Ra

T The Eating Educator 33 reviews · Local Guide 11 May 2026

Food Quality and Taste- 5 When I first realized that Ramen was more than the $1.75 packs of noodles at Walmart, I didn't know what to think. As someone who grew up poor, I found it cool that "cheap meal" could also be a culinary masterpiece. The food is cooked to order. Always hot. Always fresh. This "breakfast" ramen spot is a great idea. My favorite? The everything Bao. Service- 5 Service is great. You are welcomed warmly by both chefs. There are hooks for your coat, as needed. And you're quickly shown to your seat. Courses are not rushed (although you only have 45 minutes to eat) and they check with you often to confirm you're doing well. NOTE: Reservations are required. PRO TIP: Know what you want before the reservations open, because you will lose your spot if you take too long. Atmosphere- 5 Warm, cozy. Intentional. Practical. My favorite spot is "The Nook." Right by the window so provides a nice breeze. The nook only seats one, by the way. The noise level is moderate as it only seats approx. 6-8 people at one time. NOTE: There is no restroom, use the restroom before. Value- 5 Totally worth it. I've taken the train to NYC for the day just to visit Ramen by Ra. The pricing is reasonable, and the portion sizes are quite large. Opportunities for learning- 5 The Owner's story, the restaurant concept, the specific dishes and ingredients, and cultural fusion create so many opportunities to learn.

T Tanesha Alexander 12 reviews · Local Guide 20 March 2026

Yesterday was my husband’s and my second time dining at Ramen by Ra. The first time we tried to visit, back when she was at the Bowery, we actually did not have a reservation because we were not familiar with the setup. She let us know that reservations were required, and she did not say it with an attitude at all. If anything, it just seemed like we were probably not the first people that day to show up without one. This time, we booked properly and visited her new location. I ordered the vegetarian bowl (egg drop) and absolutely loved it. My husband ordered the steak and eggs. My broth was the standout between the two, rich, smoky, and just lovely. His was a bit lighter, but still enjoyable. The drinks were also great. We ordered sparkling water and ginger, and the ginger was absolutely delicious. The free refills were a nice touch too. You really have to love that. The ambiance is wonderful. It’s a small, beautiful, intimate space that seats only about 4 to 5 people at a time, which explains why reservations are so hard to get. My advice is to set a timer and know what you want to order ahead of time, because spots go fast. I noticed some older reviews complaining that the broth was salty, but that definitely was not our experience. It seems clear that feedback was heard, because our broth was balanced and delicious. As for Ra, I’ve seen some comments about her interaction style, and honestly, I think people should give her a little grace. She serves multiple bookings a day in such a small space, while also managing random walk-ins who need to be told there’s a reservation system. I can only imagine how repetitive and draining that can be. On top of that, she is cooking and hosting at the same time. No one is at full energy every second of every day. Our interaction with her yesterday was great. She was bright, bubbly, excited about what she does, and clearly very smart. She shared some unique life experiences with us that made the whole experience feel even more special. Bottom line, she has really good energy. The only small suggestion I had was that it may help to add a quaint sign to the door that says “By Reservation Only” and maybe even include a QR code linking directly to Resy. I think that could help cut down on random walk-ins and make things a little smoother for everyone. Would we come back? Absolutely. Black woman owned, intimate, thoughtful, and absolutely worth the reservation scramble.

L Laniya Murray-Harrell 130 reviews · Local Guide 2 March 2026

Such a well put together cozy space!! Good ramen but honestly I know so many other places with a outstanding broth. The broth and ramen was lacking dimension. 🍜 it’s lovely to be upclose in such an intimate environment with such a skilled and passionate chef. I’ll never take this experience for granted. I highly recommend you guys visit to try the interesting flavors!

B Braxton Harris 6 reviews 25 February 2026

I've tried a lot of different ramen at restaurants since 2016, but I'm not exaggerating when I say Ramen by Ra was the best ramen I've ever had! The breakfast style theme to the menu made it even more unique! All I can say is try it for yourself. The broth, the noodles, the cream cheese foam (which is new to me) was really amazing. 10/10!

S Susie Su 1,984 reviews · Local Guide 24 January 2026

Cute small restaurant with only 6 seats, 4 bar and 2 seats by themselves. Everything egg drop ramen was very sesame oil-y, it’s like the Asian steamed eggs with sesame oil with ramen noodles. Steak with soy egg was pretty good, interesting combination with the chimichurri (lime-y) along with the savory soup. Reservations drop twice a month, and you have to preorder when u book the reservation on resy!