Chuko is the Prospect Heights ramen haven serving rich bowls alongside inventive small plates like spicy Brussels sprouts and pork buns, perfect for cozying up on a chilly night.
"We once walked a mile on the coldest day of the year to get to Chuko. We’re not necessarily recommending this, but if you find yourself around Prospect Heights with a full body chill, there is no better solution than a massive bowl of expertly created broth at this corner spot on Vanderbilt Ave. The ramen is a bit of a choose-your-own adventure: pick your broth (we like the miso), and then decide on additional add-ons. Follow your instincts here, but make sure your instincts include the “rayu” garlic chili oil, guaranteed to solve any late-fall sniffles." - will hartman, willa moore, sonal shah, neha talreja, kenny yang
"Even after 13 years, Chuko remains the most consistently great spot for a big bowl of ramen in Prospect Heights. Start your meal with pork buns, then move on to the quintessential kimchi ramen, and be sure to get an egg on top. It’s worth noting that the vegetarian ramen is considerably more flavorful than other vegetarian versions we’ve tried around the city. This place gets busy, and you’ll probably have to wait for a table, but if you don’t mind eating at a bar, you should get seated faster." - bryan kim, hannah albertine, nikko duren, willa moore
"We love Japanese food with a passion. We even make our own ramen and pork bun dishes at home, and they’re really quite good. They’re just not nearly as GREAT as this. Across from its little sister Bar Chuko, Chuko Ramen is one of the most popular spots in the neighborhood. There’s always a wait and for good reason. The owners are three veteran chefs of Morimoto, a modern Japanese cuisine restaurant, and Morimoto himself is one of the original seven Iron Chefs. Chuko has been hailed by Food & Wine and many others as one of NYC’s best ramen restaurants. A bold statement to make in this town, but you easily begin to understand how accurate that claim is with one bite. Our must haves are: shrimp bun with garlic tartar sauce, steam bun with pork + chili mayo, kale salad with crispy sweet potato + raisins + miso. P.S. the chef’s fave is the Soy Ramen with scallion, egg and bamboo." - Aki Carpenter & Chris Huban
"Ok everyone, pay close attention because this one is a must. Located across the street from the original Chuko Ramen is his little sister Bar Chuko, an izakaya sharing the same owners. Like a traditional Japanese izakaya but with a twist, Bar Chuko serves smaller portioned, diverse plates that are meant to be shared. Although we’re not gonna lie, it was hard to share when everything tasted as good as it did. And with an amazing collection of Japanese whiskeys, cocktails, sakes and beers, sitting at the bar was a real treat. Our must haves are: Miso cheese w/ ikura with cucumber + scallions, surf clam tartare with wasabi leaf + lime, and the okonomiyaki with octopus." - Aki Carpenter & Chris Huban
"The Poppy’s space converts into Chuko Ramen for lunch at 10:30am. And if you’re there when the switch happens, you’ll get to watch the marquee and menu displays all flip and rotate like an old-timey destination board. Chuko is one of our in all of New York City, so naturally, the LGA counterpart is a solid option. A bowl of classic sesame garlic is always a good decision, but they also have great handrolls if you don’t want to commit to slurping broth in an airport. " - Anne Cruz
