7

Nakamura, Lower East Side

Nakamura Ramen, Lower East Side

Nakamura, a hot newcomer in the NYC ramen scene, is Chef Shigetoshi Nakamura’s first restaurant in the US. If his name sounds familiar to you, it’s because it was a pretty big deal when he made his debut at Sun Noodle’s Ramen Lab about a year ago. I, sadly, didn’t get a chance to try his ramen then, but happily visited his tiny new ramen shop last week.

Tucked away on Delancey Street, Nakamura seats no more than twenty people. I got there shortly after they opened, and there already were a handful of other customers slurping away. The space has many the usual stylings of a ramen-ya, but they’ve thrown in a few distinctive touches like the lighted marquee and random books on the shelves. The glass beakers are a nice ode to Nakamura’s start at the lab.

Nakamura Ramen, Lower East Side

Short and sweet, the menu fits on a single small piece of paper. There are five different types of ramen to choose from, including one vegan option (yesssss). It was an easy choice for me, but you eaters of the flesh out there have some tough decisions to make.

Nakamura Ramen, Lower East Side

Jay of the Dishelin Guide got the curry spiced ramen ($16) with a chicken and gyokai (seafood) broth, curry spices, minced beef, and bean sprouts. They don’t skimp on the curry seasonings here. Rich, enticing aromas, and I’m guessing this is the heaviest of the meat-based broths at Nakamura.

Curry Spiced Ramen, Nakamura

Nakamura’s website lists the XO miso ramen ($16) as vegetarian, but it’s actually vegan. The magic in this bowl is from Momofuku’s XO sauce, which is a vegan alternative to traditional shellfish and pork variety. It’s a mixture of fermented rye, soy beans, and tasty seasonings. Talk about serious umami. I’m trying my best not to drool on my keyboard as I write this.

Vegan XO Miso Ramen, Nakamura

While the thick yellow noodles look pretty, they don’t pack as much of a wow as the intense broth. They’re very generous with noodles, but don’t worry, there’s plenty of broth to balance it out. The bean sprouts and Chinese chives add a little crunch, but aren’t exactly unique or standout toppings. All that said, I would come back for more of that broth!

Vegan XO Miso Ramen, Nakamura

Save

You Might Also Like

7 Comments

  • Reply
    Mitzie Mee
    at

    I really wanted to try Nakamura, and I even had a reservation there for my last NYC visit, but unfortunately, I made other plans. I really regret it after seeing your photos. The XO Miso was also the one I had in mind, so now I know where to go next time I’m in the city:)

    • Reply
      wazwu
      at

      Hmm, is there another Nakamura? This one just opened in January, but doesn’t take reservations. You’ll have to come back to try the XO Miso! So delicious!

  • Reply
    Mitzie Mee
    at

    You’re right, it wasn’t Nakamura I had a reservation for. I was planning to do it before a light dinner at LowLife, but I cancelled that reservation, and that’s why I never made it to Nakamura:)

    • Reply
      wazwu
      at

      I know several friends who have visited LowLife and really enjoyed it. Doesn’t sound like a place where I’ll have much to eat though. :P

  • Reply
    annie lee
    at

    wow, the broth looks really thick and rich! you really could claim yourself a ramen expert by now hahaha

  • Reply
    NYC Veggie Ramen Roundup – Let's Nom Nom!
    at

    […] XO Miso Ramen, Nakamura Made of Momofuku’s vegan XO sauce, this broth is packed with serious umami. The noodles and toppings are fine, but this bowl is really all about that fabulous broth. Confirmed vegan. Lower East Side, nakamuranyc.com […]

  • Reply
    Veggie Ramen Roundup, NYC – Let's Nom Nom!
    at

    […] XO Miso Ramen, Nakamura Made of Momofuku’s vegan XO sauce, this broth is packed with serious umami. The noodles and toppings are fine, but this bowl is really all about that fabulous broth. Confirmed vegan. Lower East Side, nakamuranyc.com […]

  • Leave a Reply

    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.