Okonomi//Yuji Ramen Williamsburg

We have been wanting to try this place for ages. But when you are a restarant that only seats TWELVE then you can imagine that people can't just walk in and sit. I am quite impatient so never wanted to man the wait but last night we said 'fudge it' and went to the Blind Barber next door for a beer while we waited. After 35 minutes we got a text (thank god!) and went to see what all the hype was about.

Just a backstory on this place. The chef, Yuji Haraguchi, had never worked in a professional kitchen before he was hired as a line cook for Robertas (the all-the-craze pizza joint in Bushwick). Being the newbie he was he was in charge of making the daily staff family meals . He always made ramen and everyone was BLOWN away. Apparently Yuji was an absolute messiah in the kitchen! Fast forward, he began selling his ramen at a food truck at the Williamsburg smorgasborg which then led to a permanent pop-up space on the second-floor food court of the Whole Foods on Bowery. Yuji Ramen served Yuji’s brothless ramen creations all day, and then at night, he offered a one-of-a kind, 16-seat, impossible to get into tasting menu.

Fast forward to the brick and mortar location off the Lorimer stop in Williamsburg. I love a good underdog story so I was stoked to be here! During the day, this tiny 12-seat house of chopstick utopia is home to Okonomi, in which they serve a traditional Japanese set meal called “Ichiju Sansai.” At night, the space gets taken over by Yuji Ramen, one of the best, most unique noodle joints that exists in this fine city (I mean that!)

We started with a carafe of sake and launched into some small apps. I am a huge food snob and rarely love EVERYTHING I order at a restaurant. That was not the case here. I loved every bite of every dish and was licking each bowl clean. My favorite was the Spicy tuna noodes. Alex and I were LITERALLY arguing over the last bite (I won). I havent tasted spices like that in a while and I left satisfied and with plans to go back the same weekend. Scroll down to see what we ordered and if you don't check this place out soon...You have clearly lost your noodles.

Kimoto Sake

I was in love with the sake cups and carafe

Cheers

Sake options range from cold to hot

Menu is small and to the point!

Sunomono $7

Kurashi Nuta $8

Spicy Tuna $20 and The Ankimo Ramen $18

Another major plus...they are passioante about the concept of mottainai, let nothing go to waste. The dining room, in shades of earth and water, is minimal. Dried fish skins decorate the walls rather than pretitious art or artifacts and bones from the morning’s fish go straight into the evening’s broth.

Considering there are only 12 seats, you will likely have to wait regardless of when you come, but they move quickly, and The Blind Barber is right next door, so you can go and get a coffee during the day, or a beer at night, until your table is ready.