Ramen By Ra

Yesterday was my husband’s and my second time dining at Ramen by Ra. The first time we tried to visit, back when she was at the Bowery, we actually did not have a reservation because we were not familiar with the setup. She let us know that reservations were required, and she did not say it with an attitude at all. If anything, it just seemed like we were probably not the first people that day to show up without one. This time, we booked properly and visited her new location. I ordered the vegetarian bowl (egg drop) and absolutely loved it. My husband ordered the steak and eggs. My broth was the standout between the two, rich, smoky, and just lovely. His was a bit lighter, but still enjoyable. The drinks were also great. We ordered sparkling water and ginger, and the ginger was absolutely delicious. The free refills were a nice touch too. You really have to love that. The ambiance is wonderful. It’s a small, beautiful, intimate space that seats only about 4 to 5 people at a time, which explains why reservations are so hard to get. My advice is to set a timer and know what you want to order ahead of time, because spots go fast. I noticed some older reviews complaining that the broth was salty, but that definitely was not our experience. It seems clear that feedback was heard, because our broth was balanced and delicious. As for Ra, I’ve seen some comments about her interaction style, and honestly, I think people should give her a little grace. She serves multiple bookings a day in such a small space, while also managing random walk-ins who need to be told there’s a reservation system. I can only imagine how repetitive and draining that can be. On top of that, she is cooking and hosting at the same time. No one is at full energy every second of every day. Our interaction with her yesterday was great. She was bright, bubbly, excited about what she does, and clearly very smart. She shared some unique life experiences with us that made the whole experience feel even more special. Bottom line, she has really good energy. The only small suggestion I had was that it may help to add a quaint sign to the door that says “By Reservation Only” and maybe even include a QR code linking directly to Resy. I think that could help cut down on random walk-ins and make things a little smoother for everyone. Would we come back? Absolutely. Black woman owned, intimate, thoughtful, and absolutely worth the reservation scramble.

The reservation-only system makes your time at the restaurant very intimate as there are only 6 spots (4 counter and 2 table). Since Ra has the orders in advance, your selected ramen order of choice is more of less ready within minutes of your arrival. Dave Brubeck was playing the entire time, which had Ra and I humming along at moments and added a soulful touch to the entire experience. I started off with the lox bao and as a lover of salmon, it was an inventive fusion of flavors. The ramen was the obvious star of the show with my everything egg drop soup topped with chili oil -- it added the extra bit of heat without being overbearing and distracting. It was the perfect hearty meal for a cold NYC day.

I've tried a lot of different ramen at restaurants since 2016, but I'm not exaggerating when I say Ramen by Ra was the best ramen I've ever had! The breakfast style theme to the menu made it even more unique! All I can say is try it for yourself. The broth, the noodles, the cream cheese foam (which is new to me) was really amazing. 10/10!

My husband and I celebrated our anniversary at Ramen by Ra this past week, and it honestly couldn’t have been a better choice. The space felt so intimate and welcoming, the kind of place where you can slow down, connect, and really enjoy your food. The ramen was everything I love about a great bowl, deeply comforting, made with care, and so satisfying. The broth was rich and filling, and the noodles were exactly how I like them. You can feel the love in every slurp!