Ivan Ramen

Ivan Ramen is far from Cup Noodles. It's an experience that raises the bar on the genre, with whole wheat and rye variations threaded around pork, mushrooms and vegetables. Founder Ivan Orkin, from Long Island, first hit it big in Tokyo by subverting ideas the Japanese traditionally held firm. The menu includes steamed pork buns, Tokyo Shio (soy sauce, dashi and chicken broth, pork belly, soft egg, toasted nori) and katsu curry (panko-breaded chicken breast cutlet, Japanese curry, potatoes, Matsuri rice, assorted Japanese pickles).