Momofuku Review: Worth the Hype? Momofuku in 60 Minutes

The review was written by Claire Leung (pen name - Wokchoy)

Momofuku Noodle Bar. An oh-so-revered name in the hallowed halls of restaurant fame. With an empty stomach and an hour on the clock, we dashed towards the Columbus Circle mall in an epic quest for springy noodles and rich, savory broth. 

A seasoned restaurateur, chef David Chang is wildly successful. Since opening his first Momofuku Noodle Bar in 2004, he has expanded, opening additional restaurants in New York, Las Vegas, and Los Angeles. Momofuku Ko—a high-end restaurant that offered 10-16 course meals while it was open—earned two Michelin stars in its first year alone. In short, Chang is a restaurant god. Since its inception, Momofuku has evolved into a multi-million dollar group—a label that you can even find printed on colorful packaging in the instant noodle aisle of your local grocery store. It would suffice to say that I was beyond excited to try this ramen. 

Pork Ramen – pork belly, poached egg, bamboo

It arrived in front of me, a steaming heap of glossy noodles swimming in a deep orange elixir. I noticed the crown jewel immediately—a delicate poached egg so round that I thought it would burst at any moment. The bowl looked beautiful. But how did it taste? It only made sense to start with the tender wedge of pork that lay beside the noodles. With a crispy exterior enveloping its inner succulence, each bite was melt-in-your-mouth delightful. While the noodles could’ve used slightly more bounce (the more chews, the better!), a firm bamboo chunk provided the perfect crunch to balance out the heaviness of the dish. While we were waiting for our food, Elie pointed out the sign behind the bar—menu items and short messages pertaining to Momofuku were spelled out by shuffling letters that would flip every once in a while to display a different memo. A cute touch that complemented the modern-chic design of the restaurant’s interior. With a little more time to enjoy the food and less stress about how we were going to split the bill a monstrous six ways, I’d have almost no complaints about my lunch experience. I’m excited to visit Momofuku Noodle Bar again when I get the chance!

Claire loves trying out new restaurants in the city!

Learn more about Momofuku Noodle Bar by visiting: https://momofukunoodlebar.com/

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