A Quiet Gem in the East Village — Raku
Raku is a favorite stop in the East Village for me. I believe my friend Ben took me here for the first time, and I remember being really blown away by this udon with tripe. Normally I’m not too big a fan of tripe, but the texture was soft and perfect, and it was loaded up with flavor from the broth, which took it over the top.
You know I’m a ramen fiend, and I’ve been all around the city and make a ton of home - but I recently had a bowl of udon at home and it reminded me of my deep fondness for it. It’s generally much lighter, and much brother, than ramen, and I really love that. Love me a massive bowl of soup. I could go for some right now, in fact.
I also find the exterior extremely captivating - the clean white wall with a single doorway, noren flowing in the wind while the shop is open. A tiny window besides, sometimes the potted plant is out there. Tiny menu on the wall, and that one little piece of wood off to the side - it is such a calming sight to take in amid the bustle of the city. There’s actually quite a few other Japanese restaurants within a few blocks of here with excellent exterior detailing that I really love. You’d think I’d have a compilation of them by now - but if you know me, you know how frequently I get around to such things.
