Momofuku Noodle Bar

Restaurants, Japanese East Village
Recommended
5 out of 5 stars
(10user reviews)
1/3
Gabriele Stabile
2/3
Gabriele Stabile
3/3
Courtesy Momofuku

 

David Chang has gone from East Village rebel to awards-circuit veteran, piling up accolades from Bon Appétit, GQ, the James Beard Society, Food & Wine and just about anyone who has ever eaten a pork bun. And years later, his Noodle Bar is still original, fun and, at times, outstanding. Noodle Bar made its bones taking the economic savior of college students everywhere—ramen noodles—and making them hot, duding up most of the bowls with sexy yet earthy ingredients like poached eggs and pickled pear, the latter turning the pork broth of the beef brisket nguyen into a spicy fruit tea. 

Posted:

Venue name: Momofuku Noodle Bar
Contact:
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Address: 171 First Ave
New York
10003
Cross street: between 10th and 11th Sts
Opening hours: Mon–Thu noon–4:30pm, 5:30–11pm; Fri noon–4:30pm, 5:30pm–1am; Sat noon–4pm, 5:30pm–1am; Sun noon–4pm, 5:30–11pm
Transport: Subway: L to First Ave; N, R, W to 8th St–NYU; 6 to Astor Pl
Price: Average main course: $16. AmEx, MC, V
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Average User Rating

4.7 / 5

Rating Breakdown

  • 5 star:6
  • 4 star:3
  • 3 star:0
  • 2 star:0
  • 1 star:0
LiveReviews|10
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tastemaker

They don't take reservations, but I went at 5:30 on a weeknight and didn't have to wait. Green scallion noodles were my favorite. Also the charred romaine was so interesting and different- I LOVED it. Ramen was just ok. Shrimp bun was pretty good, but I wasn't blown away. 

tastemaker

It feels very upscale in here and there's usually a wait - I think their ramen is pretty good (not the best) but their spicy shrimp buns were absolutely incredible and the little mini desserts truly stole the show.


My favorite noodle spot. I always get the cold noodles and they never disappoint. The pork buns are also amazing. Momofuku can do no wrong!

Tastemaker

I finally came here with a friend on Sunday afternoon. We had a 30 minute wait which I found reasonable for a place that seems to always be busy. I got the brisket buns and my friend got the chicken pho (not the actual names, which I can't remember) and they were both delicious. We also split the Asian pear salad I think it was called and it was SOOOO good, much spicier than I had anticipated, but 100% worth it and amazing. I look forward to coming back here and trying more items on the menu. 


Momofuku, the brainchild of David Chang, is known for its ramen, Asian fusion dishes, and large format meals. 


At Momofuku Noodle Bar, they specialize in ramen (obviously) and fried chicken dinners. Due to its popularity, there will almost always be a wait here, regardless of time of day. I'd recommend putting your names down and then checking out a local bar like Keybar for some drinks. 


I've tried both their ramen and fried chicken here, and while the ramen is pretty standard (I prefer Totto and Minca, honestly), their fried chicken are the true standouts. Like all their large format dinners, you will need to make a reservation beforehand (4-8 people), and make sure you're there for your reservation on time or there will be a $100 charge. 


Their fried chicken dinner is done in two styles - a southern style buttermilk and a Korean style. The generous portions are more than enough to feed your entire party, and each piece is insanely juicy, with a crispy layer of fried crust.  My only complaint is that while their chicken is amazing, I just don't think it's worth the price. Overall though, including the experience, I'd say it's a pretty solid dinner spot. 


Got there just before they closed for the afternoon and was seated right away. Loved everything especially the shrimp buns.

tastemaker

We got in line 45min before the restaurant opened in order to be part of the first seating of the night, and while the ramen was good the pork buns REALLY made it worth the wait...Keep an eye out for the daily specials too - they're always delicious.

tastemaker

 If you love ramen, you have to visit here when you're in NYC! I went here for a birthday dinner and the noodles lived up to every expectation that I could possibly dream of. Everything on the menu is delicious, but I would recommend sharing the momofuku ramen and the spicy noodles so you can have the best of both worlds.  The shitake mushroom buns are insanely good and worth the (potentially long) wait.  (The food is also Instagram-worthy, but I challenge anyone to not dive into their food immediately after it's served. It's really that good.)


Delicious food for a great price.  The pork belly ramen always hits the spot on a cold/rainy day.  Make sure to try the brisket buns!

moderator

This ramen house is one of my favorites in NYC and a perfect meal as the temperature falls. I typically go for their namesake, the momofuku ramen with pork belly, pork shoulder, and a poached egg. They have daily specials, soju slushies and fried chicken (reserved in advance for 4-8 people).