Mr KEKE — Restaurant in New York

Mr. Keke Ramen, a new addition to the bustling Flushing dining scene, positions itself as a ramen hotspot with a promise of “rich, savory broths” and “perfectly cooked noodles.” However, my recent experience suggested that the reality might not align with these lofty claims.

Upon entering the restaurant, the lively atmosphere, especially during lunch hours, was dominated by the clamor of delivery personnel picking up orders. The chaotic environment meant that we were largely ignored upon arrival; after waiting for a bit, we eventually had to line up at the cashier to place our order, having only been handed one menu for the two of us. The hurried nature of the service did not foster a welcoming vibe.

The restaurant's website advertises a diverse menu beyond just ramen, including hotpot, dim sum, and a cafeteria-style “pick 4” dining option. Despite this, the focus of our visit was the ramen, as highlighted prominently on their site. We opted for the Tonkotsu Ramen and a cucumber salad. The food arrived swiftly, revealing that speed might come at the expense of quality. The broth in the Tonkotsu Ramen was alarmingly thin, reminiscent of salted water rather than a rich, flavorful broth. The chashu was pre-packaged, with an artificial smoky flavor that overwhelmed the dish, an effect likely due to the lack of a grill or smoking area in the open kitchen.

In a nod to modern twists mentioned on their website, the ramen featured dried goji berries and an asparagus spear—unusual additions to a traditional bowl. The promised naruto (fish cake) was notably absent. The cucumber salad, while refreshing in theory, was too salty to enjoy fully.

In sum, Mr. Keke Ramen seems to be grappling with its identity, trying to juggle a variety of offerings—ramen, hotpot, dim sum, and cafeteria-style dining—without excelling in any one area. The pre-made components, rushed service, and a confusing mix of traditional and modern elements resulted in a dining experience that fell short of expectations. Unless there are significant improvements, it might be worth exploring other options before giving this place...

Food: The ramen was just okay. The tonkotsu lacked flavor, and the signature spicy ramen was so spicy that I couldn’t really taste anything else. I can handle heat and finished the bowl, but there’s definitely an art to balancing spice—and this place kind of missed the mark. That said, the pork buns were amazing. The buns were super soft, and the minced pork filling was pretty good.

Service: You order and pay at a kiosk, which also asks if you want to leave a tip. Do what you want with that info—but just know, it’s mostly self-serve. You grab your own drinks, and the only thing they actually bring to your table is the food.

Atmosphere: Clean and smelled great inside. Simple, but nice enough for a...

The place is very welcome and although its located inside the front of a parking lot, the inside is very cute and spacious and clean. there two staff inside and they were very welcoming, kind, and patient with us. i rlly enjoy the interior design of the place and can tell they put a lot of work into their menu, store and service. I also appreciate how there is a whole separate vegan section in the menu. overall experience was very nice and peaceful and...