ICHIRAN Ramen NY Times Square — Restaurant in New York

They discriminate against diabetic patients.

A diabetic meal must contain veggies to balance carb intake, especially for pre-diabetic patient who’s not prescribed with medical pills but still need to eat healthy and balanced.

After being diagnosed as pre-diabetic, I usually bring 2oz spinach with me whenever I treat myself with some “high GI” carbs. Eating leafy veggies with high GI carbs was recommended by my doctor, and also a way to keep myself safe and healthy while still being able to live a “normal” people life. Fighting pre-diabetic is difficult and stressful enough, and eating high GI carb is a monthly treat for myself, like a temporary joy from food and escape from reality. Even for this monthly treat, I always consume leafy veggies to keep things under control.

This month, I chose Ichiran as my treat.

I loved Ichiran when I was healthy, and this was my first time eating it after being diagnosed.

I understood when the restaurant staff told me they don’t allow other foods, but I’m surprised how store manager treated and escalated the whole situation.

She was not apologetic for their menu lack of leafy veggies (so I have to bring my own), and stated it was my “mistake” for not seeing their sign about outside food disallowed. She also claimed they had diabetic accommodation if I consider scallions as leafy veggies.

After rounds of conversation, she concluded they could give me a one-time generous gesture for allowing me eat my spinach in the restaurant, though not in the future - and “it’s OK if I not come back”.

What really hurt me was her lack of knowledge and empathy for diabetes. She made me “see” how “normal” people would treat and think of me. She made me feel abnormal, and that I should just accept the truth and live under the shadow of “normal” and “healthy” people. She made me sick of living a hard enough life fighting diabetes, and would rather quit this life.

She would not give me a sincere apology but kept asking “what I want” to end the conversation - after she finally understood what she did.

She offered a refund of our meal, as it’s more difficult to fulfill my request: a true apology.

Her ignorance and arrogance against diabetes are 100% result of her health privilege, which she’s unaware of. It’s hard to believe a ramen restaurant manager had little to none knowledge of diabetes. After all, it’s a business about carb. I’d rather be an ignorant and arrogant healthy jerk, than a kind person suffering from diabetes.

Update:

I could not live with the fact that I was discriminated and demeaned on the basis of my disability. After a full day, I am still wondering why a human being would treat another human being suffering from a disease without sympathy, and why would a healthy person discriminate medical accommodation request from a disabled human being.

Again, all I asked was having my 2oz spinach with Ichiran’s ramen to control my blood sugar level. The store manager treated my spinach as a violation of restaurant policy which bans outside food. The restaurant policy is clearly a violation of ADA, and a clear discrimination against type 2 diabetic people like me.

I understand Ichiran is a private business and they could choose to accept disabled people as customers or not. However they should make it clear that they are “anti all outside food, including medical accommodations for diabetic people”

Talking about the humiliation and mental distress I suffered from my disability - the store manager stated “you can leave whatever review you want if you are unhappy”.

Kinda made me have to fight for myself. It’s not cool to discriminate...

Updated*

This was the single (I went twice) best bowl of ramen I've had. I don't know if there are better places to get ramen, undoubtedly it seems there may be. But this tops my humble Midwestern list.

My fiancé and I (she didn't know yet at the time) got Ichiran's classic tonkotsu ramen before seeing Wicked for the first time. What a treat! Honestly, I didn't know ramen could taste better than the drab dishes I've had in my hometown. The dish seems so simple and effortless, which enhances the magic in my opinion. Making ramen is not simple and definitely not effortless, yet Ichiran has it perfected. It was so good we had to go back the next day and get another bowl of it before coming back to Wisconsin. Oh, and we bought some to make here (it's that good).

Located off Times Square, Ichiran can get busy quickly. The first time we got it we must've lucked out with our timing (6pm) be a rather slow period. Because the next night (8pm) we stood in line. Guys, I've never stood in line (outside) for a restaurant before. I'm the guy that hears "15 minutes ok?" And tries to find a different restaurant before committing. But we stood outside Ichiran for at least 15 minutes (the line was deep, like 35 or more people in front of us) despite the weather. It's totally worth it.

The service is unique in my experience. Once you've selected your desired meal on the tablet and paid, you're either asked to stand in another line or your wisked immediately to the seating area. The seating is the special part. It's a dinner style counter (sort of) with a curtain separating your "table" from the kitchen. There's also dividers between each seat, but they can opened if you're there with others. The staff is incredibly courteous and the service is swift. Within about 5 minutes someone introduces themselves at the curtain and offers water and your beverage. Less than five minutes after that, your food is served. Eat it immediately. Don't wait on your guests. Eat. Enjoy.

While you're at it, read the posters they've got hanging up. But mostly stuff your face and enjoy the deliciousness.

Update: 04.06.2025

So here I am, a thousand miles from Ichiran and my mouth is doing that same delightful dance as if I were blocks away having just finished dinner there. I decided to try my hand at chashu pork (I did alright) and paired it with the box kit ramen that Ichiran sells.... y'all gotta stop playing! This ramen is too good. Idk how I'm going to survive after this....

Stepping into this place is like entering a new dimension where everything you thought you knew about ramen is gently (Only applies to Toronto, okay?), yet firmly, challenged. The experience starts with the aroma; a gentle and subdued pork smell that tantalizes your senses without overwhelming them, a delicate dance of spices emanating from the chashu and the broth that invites you in for a taste. And oh, what a taste it is. The broth is a masterpiece of balance. Not too hot, not too lukewarm, just the right amount of fat and thickness that coats your mouth with every spoonful. It's like the Goldilocks of soup broths, paired with noodles that strike the perfect balance between chewiness and softness. Each slurp is a testament to the art of ramen making, a harmony of texture and flavor that leaves you wondering how something so simple can be so profound. The chashu, presumably pork loin, is a revelation. Astonishingly soft and tender, it makes you question whether this is loin or belly. It melts in your mouth, a pleasant surprise that adds depth to the already rich bowl of ramen. The spiciness level is just another note in this symphony of flavors, present enough to add a kick but not so overpowering that it detracts from the overall experience. Though one might argue the ramen could stand alone without it, it's a welcome addition that completes the dish. Eating at Ichiran Ramen feels like witnessing a carefully choreographed performance, where each element is carefully planned and executed to perfection. It's almost as if robots were programmed to create this culinary masterpiece, leaving you in awe of the precision and care that goes into each bowl. It's a shame that this level of ramen artistry isn't available in Canada or Ichiran Ramen could be bar too high for...