Hinata Ramen on 55th

Recently in New York, the cold has been hitting the city hard. Walking around the city, I tried to figure out what the best kind of dish to have for a cold day like this. Then I remembered: RAMEN!

Ramen is probably the most comforting to eat during the winter. Delicious and warm, ramen is my family's go to comfort food. 

159 E 55th St, New York, NY, 10022

My roommates and I literally pass this hole-in-the-wall every time we walk to La Baguette (the place where they accept our dining dollars) and today was the first day we decided to try it. 

Hinata is actually only a block away from our dorm so it was good to know that good quality asian food can be found just minutes away.

Inside Hinata was actually really nice. It had a home-y atmosphere and it was very warm and comfortable. The waiters were great, helpful, and friendly. I really like how everything had a wooden theme to their furniture. It was pretty empty though when we went, so this place doesn't receive too much attention.

One thing about the place I really didn't like was their choice of music. It was kinda off. The theme of the place was very Japanese so I would've expected nice traditional Japanese music or at least something fitting. They were literally playing music like "Waterfall by TLC" and other hip hop and RnB music.

I also want to comment on how expensive this place was. I mean, for a college student, this place was quite pricey. $13+ per ramen and a good appetizer would cost you $7. This makes it a once in a blue kind of place to go to.

Capico - $3.50

For my drink I ordered something called Capico. It was a Japanese milk-based sweet soft drink. It had a very unique, lemon-like taste, but with a hint of milk. Although I was expecting something thicker, it was actually very refreshing and for those who doesn't like something too sweet, this would be good drink for you.

Ramune - $3.50

As for my roommate, Josh, he ordered a classic Ramune, which is basically a citrus soft drink with a cool gimmick to it. The coolest part about it is how you open it. You basically push a plastic top onto the opening to make the marble fall inside. Other than that, it's basically a better sprite.

Pork Bun - $7

This was an interesting way to do a pork bun. I was expecting the traditional one that looks like a big dumpling. This was actually really good. The bun itself was fluffy and sweet, which contrasted well with the savory and well seasoned meat.

I thought that the meat was the best part. I like that the chasu (the pork) they had was fatty. The lettuce also offered a crunch that accompanied the pork bun quite well.

My roommate, having tried this for the first time, thought that it reminded him of an asian burger saying that you can offer this to anyone and they would like it. It was a great transitional food if you are trying asian dishes for the first time.

Hinata Paitan Ramen - $12.5

Now for the main course. Firstly, the broth. I thought that the broth was surprisingly good. I didn't expect it to be as rich and creamy as I thought it would. It was a bit lighter than most of the miso based broths I've had, but I thought it was still delicious. Compared to most of the ramen I've had in NYC, this was among the top. It was one of the most flavorful.

Secondly, the noodles. I wasn't the biggest fan of the noodles. I've had better house made noodles than these. It was a little on the harder side. Usually, when I have ramen I'm used to the softer noodles that doesn't necessarily require too much chewing. I wouldn't say that it was terrible. I mean, it was good, but it's not my type.

Lastly, the chasu. Oh man, this was definitely the best part of this restaurant. It was fatty and delicious! I should've ordered extra chasu! It was well seasoned and it was something I had to save for last.

Overall, Hinata was a great place to eat. Although its menu is quite small, their food is delicious. It's not place I would go to everyday, but a place I would go to occasionally. For the amount you are paying, you will be full and warm. I really like this small and quiet place. This is somewhere I'd definitely bring someone for a nice asian meal that is close by.

"A bowl of ramen is a self-contained universe with life from the sea, the mountains, and the earth."

-Maezumi (The Ramen Girl)