Ramen By Ra

A decade into her cooking career, Rasheeda Purdie has already made history a few times, first running the only Black-owned ramen shop in America out of a tight stall in The Bowery Market and now operating New York’s first ramen shop dedicated to asa-ramen, or breakfast-style ramen. While she follows the principles of the Japanese dish, she layers in flavors meant to appease a New Yorker’s diet, from bacon, egg and cheese bowls to lox-inspired varieties.

The vibe: Purdie has held a lot of titles over the years—from stylist to the Obamas to now chef. She can add interior designer to the list, as she had a hand in assembling her East Village storefront. Everything is intentional here, from the chocolate woods and crystal glassware inherited from Purdie's mother, down to the lace curtains and lace headwraps that Purdie and her sous chef, Brianne “Brie” Waller, wear. But it is Purdie and Waller who make it feel like home, as they converse and connect over the counter. 

The food: Purdie fell in love with asa-ramen, and so will you. With 15-plus years of living in New York under her belt, she’s blended the style with breakfast flavors locals will find familiar. The Bacon, Fried Egg & Cheese is a crowd favorite, with thick cuts of bacon, a jammy egg, curls of Parmesan and dredges of bacon fat and lard oil tying it all together. The lox bowl drinks more like the sea, with a nori-infused broth and cream cheese foam—though the lox gets saltier the longer it sits, so eat with speed. The steak and eggs is also a winner, arriving with a punch of chimichurri and sesame seeds bobbing along.  

Purdie also has a walk-up window for breakfast on the go, doling out piping-hot cups of soup (warning: they are very hot) and bao buns filled with a sesame-heavy egg salad that is cookout-worthy. Mind you, some of the buns fall apart rather quickly, so much like ramen, eat it quickly. 

The drink: There's a short list of teas, including sparkling selections, and the aforementioned broth.

Time Out tip: As of April, you can get this ramen to go. There are four options to choose from: everything egg drop (with a vegetarian version), bacon soy egg & cheese and lox. You can try your luck with a walk-up or ensure a cup by ordering on the website. Keep in mind, this ramen is meant to be slurped as soon as possible to keep the integrity of the noodles. That, and it is sold without a lid and comes out quite hot. We wouldn't count on making it back to the office with this one, so head over to the small park across the street for a solitary slurp before you go about your day.