Ramen Setagaya
“The noodles themselves were delicious – tasted great and were perfectly al dente and came with a half boiled egg.”
“My brother always orders the set menu combination of Syo-yu ramen and curry don, and we always share an onigiri or two (pickled plum or kimchi).”
“Relative to other quality ramen joints that produce tasty bowls of broth and noodles, Setagaya is priced quite reasonably.”
Ramen Setagaya
Take-out: Yes
Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
Bike Parking: Yes
Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
Good for Kids: Yes
Has TV: Yes
Waiter Service: Yes
Price range.
$$ Price range $11-30
8 reviews
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I like ramen. I don't like NYC ramen prices though. Relative to other quality ramen joints that produce tasty bowls of broth and noodles, Setagaya is priced quite reasonably. The homely/plain-looking sign adorning the front of this particular shop, in addition to its location in the overly gaudy Saint Mark's area, set my expectations pretty low. As such, after eating here, I have to say that this spot exceeded those (admittedly low) expectations.
After a failed attempt to get in to Ippudo (1 hour wait at 7pm on a Sunday?! Really??? I still have yet to taste Ippudo ramen after being a resident of NY for the past 6 years), me +3 took the stroll to Saint Mark's. One in our party vouched for this place, so despite the lack of allure (as far as aesthetics are concerned) we all took the plunge.
Small interior, maybe seating for 20-25 people. The place was full, but we were lucky enough to grab four seats just as another party was leaving. The waitress did take a few minutes longer than I would have liked, as far as service goes, as the menu is small and manageable enough to quickly find what you want. As it is a ramen joint, I suggest that you just stick with that stuff. Prices ranged from between $11-$14, and I was pretty happy with those $11 & $12 bowls… ramen pricing inflation has gotten a tad crazy in the past couple years. In the end I opted for R2 (I believe it was shoyu ramen with sliced char sui pork, can't go wrong with that classic selection).
The broth was rich, the noodles weren't overcooked, and the pork was fatty. Well done Setagaya. And though I didn't opt for the "meal deal" (an extra $3 for an appetizer if you choose between R1-R4 ramen selections… includes the choice of curry rice, gyoza, amongst other things), a few in my party did; seems like good value to me.
Shio Ramen + Gyoza lunch ($15.79 w/ tax) – nothing can beat unforgetable Shio ramen I had in Hakodate, Japan. Setagaya version was traditional but it was bland. Char-shu was something I want to come back for. Gyoza pork dumplings were visually promising but something was missing, garlic chives? The sauce, came with, was better after adding more flavors of soy sauce, white vinegar, and hot sesame, that were on the table. Introducing table vinegar to ramen broth also elevated the flavor but not enough to really enjoy it.
Although this joint might not be the top east village ramen spot (trailing others such as Ippudo and Momofuku for your ramen money) it still delivers a delicious bowl. I particularly enjoy popping into Setagaya right after yoga classes at YTTP on St. Marks for a quick warm bowl of ramen.
Almost always get the Shoyu ramen bowl with pork. A tad on the salty side but the base broth is still a fairly solid option. Setagaya doesn't get more stars in my book because the additional toppings in the soup/broth tend to taste slightly 'cheap' compared to the ingredients you can get from other ramen houses.
I'd recommend Setagaya to anyone looking for a quick bite of ramen that doesn't want to deal with the hassle and waits of Ippudo/Momofuku.
I've been here with friends on cold wintry days, I've been here solo on a rainy weekday afternoon, and this place is a solid ramen eatery in my book.
Both times, the staff workers immediately greeted me as soon as I walked in the door. Their service is consistently high-quality: being attentive to when I want to order and get the check, refilling my water glass, and so forth. I'm glad that they treated me the same when I dined solo and when I ate there with friends, because I've experienced the stigma or negative views that staff workers have about solo diners ("a table for just one?").
When I've come to Ramen Setagaya for dinner, I've gotten the classic Shio Ramen. It's filling, somewhat oily, with eggs that are cooked perfectly (with a slightly soft yolk). The Miso Ramen, for lunchtime, was what I tried when I dined solo and it was in a smaller bowl than the bowls that their dinnertime ramen comes in. Equally rich, more salty due to the soy sauce broth, and just the right amount of vegetables, though I'd want more meat.
Space-wise, this eatery is a no-frills ramen shop: it's comfortable and its decorations take on a minimalist / more streamlined style. Ramen Setagaya uses its space really efficiently: along with tables against the walls of the eatery, there's a long table in the center for folks to eat at, too.
I came to this place a couple years ago cuz my friend suggested it. The food is well presented and delicious. I got the R1 last time so I decided to get it again when I revisited them. But this time, I also got the Hiroshi Buns as an appetizer which are a must get!!! It has pork on this soft, fluffy asian bun with an amazing sauce that's got a little kick to it. I just wish that the ramen had more meat to it. You literally only get one slice of meat. It's still really good but I am always still hungry afterwards. Very good service.
It's been quite some time since I last ate here but that's because ramen is something I enjoy when it's really cold out. While most people see ramen as a 'comfort food', I see it as more of a 'OMGImFreezingNeedWarmth!!' type of dish.
Last time I came here was a girls night out with some gal pals. We waited a bit because it was like a Thursday night and Thursday nights are apparently the new Friday night…in St. Marks at least. I think we were also aiming to go to Ippudo but their wait time was even longer.
I ordered the shoyu pork ramen and it was pretty good. The broth was flavorful and the noodles were cooked just right. The pork could have been better (it was very fatty which I get is the standard for ramen – but I prefer less fatty) and there definitely could have been more.
Seating here isn't very large, but it's cozy and it's a nice ambience – not overly kitchy, but they have a very warm and welcoming feel. I'd come back here again with friends if they wanted to, but I've had better.
I've always been curious about this ramen joint, so I decided to have lunch and meet up with a friend that is also a food blogger back in January. We met up on a weekday afternoon and after the lunch rush which was perfect because it was very empty and spacious. Food was on par and service was decent.
For appetizer, I had the deep-fried squid for myself and it was definitely deep-fried and crispy, just the way I like it. There was also some type of tartar sauce that was accompanied with the squid. I can't recall any other ramen joint that had deep-fried squid or octopus on their menu, but at least the one at Ramen Setagaya didn't disappoint.
My friend is a vegetarian and so she had the vegetable gyoza as an appetizer. It looked perfectly pan-fried, but according to her blog post – the filling was a bit soggy and bland. It definitely sounds like it wasn't her cup of tea.
My friend ordered the Vegetable ramen and it was at a good price, only $8.95! The vegetable ramen looked vibrant and healthy compared to what I had. I also found that it was interesting that they included tomato in the ramen, not a typical ingredient you would find in a ramen.
I got the Shoyu Ramen which was also $8.95 for lunch which contained: bamboo, scallions, onions, seaweed, egg, and pork. The ramen looked very harmonious and inviting. I was afraid it would be salty, but it wasn't. The broth was very flavorful and the noodles were cooked al-dente just the way I like it. The egg was runny and perfectly cooked ot my liking as well.
All in all, I really and truly liked Ramen Setagaya and I am glad I gave it a chance and definitely hope to return soon. I've recently learned there's a location in Williamsburg and Fort Lee, so I will have to visit those two locations as well. The one in East Village definitely deserves another visit and love from me.
By far my favorite ramen place that I visit most frequently! Besides always ordering the shio ramen, I also love the fried oysters! It's so fresh and only the outside is crispy. It's perfect. I highly recommend this place!