Ippudo’s Spicy Pork Ramen

In Asia, Ippudo outlets are a dime a dozen.  But in New York, this Japanese “noodle brasserie” is a rare gem with some of the most innovative ramen dishes in the city and a streetfront window where you can watch the chefs pulling noodles daily.   Come dinnertime, there’s seven different kinds of ramen bowls on the menu with seven varieties of toppings, including a poached egg and mustard leaves.  This fall, they’ve got a special, spicy “Kuro Tan Tan Men” that you won’t want to miss.  It comes with tonkatsu (pork) ramen with black sesame sauce, topped with cabbage, cilantro, and fragrant shrimp oil & fresh lime.  If you’re visiting for the first time, the “Akamaru Modern” is a rite of passage here, with a traditional, pork soup noodles, pork chashu, cabbage, sesame kikurage, mushrooms, scallions, garlic oil, and miso paste.  We’re not done yet.  You’ll want to add the kakuni topping: a tender piece of braised pork belly lending even more succulence to the already porky broth.  The meat is so tender, it falls apart as soon as you touch it with your soup spoon… no knife or fork needed.