a ramen shop comes to greenpoint
strolling down manhattan avenue this afternoon, i noticed that what had been katsu (tiny, usually empty japanese place) now boasted a different handpainted sign (ichiran ny). the note in the window said that ramen is very popular in japan, explained the different kinds, and said that ichiran is a japanese restaurant that excels in the tonkatsu variety. it also said that the owner of ichiran had fallen in love with greenpoint (?!) and was opening a new branch here. there were several magazine articles praising the original shop in tokyo. a september opening is promised. it seems a little odd, but here's hoping that we get some excellent japanese food.
wleatherette
Aug 11, 2007 11:48AM
This is a real scoop. I confirmed on their corporate site in Japanese. Here is an English web page they've put up- http://www.ichiran.co.jp/pc/hp/englis... . This is great news. Intereseting choice of location though...
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really interesting choice of location! i wonder if the people who ran katsu have some sort of connection with ichiran...? really looking forward to this, in any case.
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Thanks for this excellent tip.
The Ichiran website lists the address as:
1013 Manhattan Ave. (at Greene St)
Brooklyn,NY,11222
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Spoke with the neighbors a couple of weeks ago and got the impression that its going to take a bit longer than expected. Apparently they haven’t started doing anything inside…
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OMG - not to seem over excited, but OMG!
I've just moved from 2nd and 13th to Greenpoint. Right as Ramen Setagaya opens in my hood. Well, I was looking for Tomcats barbershop in my new hood, get lost and saw this place. I am so excited!
BTW, found the barber shop.
2nd BTW, did make it Ramen Setagaya and its amazing. Hopefully this place will be just as good.
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Anyone have an update as to opening? Can't wait.
Love the Tomcats as well.
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Stopped by today. There seems to be some amount of progress- particularly with the amount of articles (some in Japanese) posted on the windows and door. One of them is from Adam Sachs' story earlier in the year from the NYT magazine, which I participated in and had recommended the Roppongi branch of Ichiran- http://travel.nytimes.com/2007/05/20/...
There is also a string of lights below the awning. More revealing, I spied Ichiran branded "noren" curtains hanging about, as well as a glimpse of someone inside working behind the counter. Nevertheless, things look a long way from kickoff. Ichiran shops have a particular layout and configuration and I'm interested in how this will be handled in Brooklyn, NY, USA. It will surely be one small step for a noodle shop, one giant slurp for mankind.
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I'm just waiting for Wagamama to finally open up something stateside (hopefully in NYC).
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they're opening in boston. feh. i've eaten there quite a few times in the uk as my friend's kids really like it, but i've never had anything memorable. what isn't greasy and oversalted tends to be bland, and i don't think that the ingredients used are of particularly good quality.
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I went to Wagamama in Boston - incredibly disorganized service, slow, and they repeatedly sent our dishes to other patrons. I was not impressed with the service or the food, which I thought was slightly overpriced and pretty damn bland.
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i peeked in the other day as well. like you, i'm VERY curious as to how this tiny brooklyn storefront will be transformed into an ichiran shop.
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just a minor correction to the opening post - it's Tonkotsu, not Tonkatsu (which is the fried pork on rice dish). Man this is exciting - hope it opens soon...
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Does anyone have any more updates? My friend walked by and said it looked open the other day, and then closed again the next.
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All was shuttered and closed when I walked by on this past Sunday the 28th. The anticipation is killing me on this one.
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I poked my head in the day the restaurant appeared open: turns out they were hosting a private party/meal. they told me they would be open "next year." hopefully that means january 1st!
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i passed by on my way to cafecito and noticed there were people inside. by the time i passed by again, there was a "free tasting today" sign on the wall.
i'm not exactly a ramen connoisseur, but it really was the perfect thing to eat on a day like today. the broth was really rich, the pork cooked perfectly and the noodles (super thin - much more thin than i'm used to) al dente. they're not opening until next year, but i imagine the free tasting will go on for a few more hours.
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As of today, there still isn't much going on. I made it a point to swing by this afternoon while on a run and see what was happening. When is this place going to open already???!!!??? I've already told my Japanese hair stylist about it and she's telling all her friends. I hope it's worth the buildup!
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An article in a Fukuoka paper says it will open sometime in 2008. The same article mentions that Ippudo in the EV will open in January.
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I can't wait to eat at this place!! I am freaking out!
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Has it opened? Any reports?
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