Kambi Ramen House

Considering the competition, it may seem strange that when Minca owner Shigeto Kamada decided to open a sister location to his popular East 5th Street spot, he stuck with a diverse menu selection similar to the original’s. Kambi’s advantage, though, is its flexibility: Here vegetarians can find refuge in a flesh-free steaming bowl, diners at the blond-wood bar can slurp chewy noodles in a velvety kimchi broth, and cold sufferers can detox with a chicken-soup cure. The pork stock—made from roasted bones and delivered from the open kitchen with your choice of springy thin or thick wheat noodles and slices of fatty pork—may not rival the savory and complex brew at Ippudo, but it still makes for a satisfying meal. Appetizers are limited (though we liked the gyoza stuffed with whole shrimp) and there’s no liquor license yet (BYOB until then), but despite these details, Kambi has a soothing soup for every palate.