TORIBRO Ramen — Restaurant in New York

This teeny Raman bar had a wonderful vibe and could have been cut and pasted straight out of Tokyo. As fans of the show Midnight Dimer, we almost felt like we were on the set of the show.

Small aisle, directly behind the stools, check

A bar just in front of those stools with the chef, within reaching distance on the other side, check.

A stoic chef efficiently going about handling all of the dishes on his own, check.

One waitress, bringing him orders from both the bar and the few small tables in the back, check.

Huge pot of broth that’s probably been simmering for over 24 hours, check.

Calming, sedate, decor, check

We walked in about 10 minutes after they opened at noon, and were immediately seated at the bar. By the time we were served and finished our meal, there was a line of people standing in the rain outside. A true testimony to the quality and deliciousness of the food here.

We started with super tender pork belly in a steamed bun. Almost melting your mouth meat with wonderful flavor. The bun was light and airy absorbing the juices contained inside. Totally yummy!

I ordered the number five Toribro Mega ramen which has extra meat and asked for no sprouts. My wife opted for the number two Toribro spicy ramen. Both was made totally to order as we watched him do it from just a couple of feet away. It’s really cool to see the process in action and the efficiency with which he operated. The show is worth the price of the ticket. :-). The flavors were outstanding, warming us as only a delicious bowl of ramen can.

So, if you are a ramen lover, or, if you’ve never tried it, this is the place for you. The menu isn’t huge, but there are levels of flavor and heat for every taste. The prices are very reasonable, and the portions are great. I HIGHLY recommend Toribro and will be eating there again. The next time we come...

I had a terrible experience at this ramen spot and will never return. The place is small, cramped, and uncomfortable, but the worst part was the lack of basic hygiene practices. Both the server and the cook wore the same dirty blue gloves throughout their shifts.

I came in shortly before closing and was shocked to see the cook step out from behind the kitchen area, touch doors, keys, and other surfaces, then return to prepare food without changing gloves. I watched him handle scallions, vegetables, meat, and noodles all with those same gloves. He touched my entire meal with the same gloves that had been used for hours, cross-contaminating everything. It was disgusting and unacceptable.

I voiced my concern and asked the cook to change his gloves, but by then, my food was already prepared. And they didn’t even offer me to make me a fresh bowl after contaminating my food. The ramen itself looked unappetizing and even seemed to have spit bubbles in it. I wanted to leave and not risk getting sick, but knowing how these situations can escalate and how some people can come off aggressive or hostile, I stayed and paid for the meal. That night, I suffered from a terrible bellyache.

It would be far more hygienic if the cook washed his hands and changed gloves while preparing different meals and took his gloves off after touching other objects. Unfortunately, it seems like a lot of similar establishments like this have poor hygiene and unsanitary practices, which is incredibly disappointing.

This was my second visit, and it will be my last. I left feeling upset, hungry, and disgusted. I regret spending my money here. If you care about hygiene and quality service, avoid this place...

Please, for your own sake, please avoid. Your $15/$30 are much better spent elsewhere. Surprise your mom with it, or donate it to charity or something, you’d get more enjoyment from that.

I don’t usually review places but I had to for this one, just to let people know. I have no idea how this place got as highly reviewed as it did.

This is both one of the worst ramens I’ve had and also one of the worst dining experiences.

The broth did not have much flavor (and not just because it’s chicken paitan, I’ve had good chicken broth, give Susuru a try). The noodles were just normal, okay. The 2 thin pieces of pork char siu were also just normal, average at best.

The service was extremely slow. I sat down at 2:57PM, and just sat there staring into space until 3:17PM when someone remembered to take my order. I received my food at 3:37PM. I also had to ask for water myself, and it’s not like the place was busy (just around 4-5 pairs).

Oh, and the atmosphere. It’s in the basement, very small and tight. It’s typical of ramen restaurants in Japan, so I won’t fault that. But my stool was so loose that I almost fell twice. It’s like I had to balance myself as I was sitting. My leg was falling sleep halfway through the meal.

Please, for the love of God, save your money. Go across the street and get yourself an earl grey cream puff from Bibble & Sip or something with this money instead. You’ll...