Ippudo Central St Giles

First try of this ramen spot. Quite busy in a Sunday night. Great selection of ramen broth - pork, two spicy variations, and a menu special. Pork broth is alright, could be stronger imo, and compared to more authentic broth I've tasted in Hong Kong and Japan. Noodle is great and not too soft. The charsiu pork could be better both in terms of texture and size. Overall I would give this 7.8/10. Everything is alright just not WOW. Chicken karaage is fried to perfection, yet size of pieces are again on the smaller side. It comes with ponzu sauce but I would have preferred mayo?

I was very much delighted when the the staff would greet people in Japanese, it’s a lovely gesture to add to the service. I loved how there were tables that were well-suited for those who came to eat alone. I ordered the Karaka-men ramen. Broth was thick and full of flavour. It’s a shame that the chashu pork belly was relatively small. I enjoyed the spicy kick to it. Overall, it was good.

Dined at Ippudo recently and was genuinely taken by their culinary offerings. The ramen was a delightful bowl of flavors, capturing the essence of authentic Japanese ramen. The octopus starter was a revelation - creamy and bursting with umami goodness. Not to be left out, the chicken gyoza was equally commendable, with a perfect balance of crispiness and flavor. Additionally, the prices were incredibly reasonable, offering great value for such high-quality dishes. While the food was the highlight, the service was decent but left some room for improvement. All in all, a place worth visiting for the gastronomic experience and excellent value. Would recommend for ramen enthusiasts.

Unfortunately, it was an average experience, to be honest, after much better ones in Canary Wharf and Embankment. We were seated quite quickly and someone came to take out orders within a couple of minutes and gave us some tap water for the table. We went for one classic ramen and one modern, each with an egg. The broth is thick and creamy with just the right amount of salt, the best that we've tasted (we knew this already, having been before), and the noodles are cooked perfectly, however, the prices are high (£15/£16) and we barely each received a full slice of pork, which is particularly tight versus competitors, such as kanada-ya, shoryu, tonkotsu etc., who give 2-3x the quantity. To top it off, we would've liked to have ordered something to finish but they left us for 25 minutes or so before we finally just asked for the bill. Will definitely return to give a second chance, as the brother is so much better than others we've tried, hoping for an improvement.

This place is absolutely fantastic if you want a good, filling bowl of well proced Ramen! The staff are extremely kind, greeting you at the door, and as you walk through the restaurant (part of the franchises gimmick), but it works! You feel welcome as you are seated. The menu is easy to understand (there are pictures), and the food is great! It's tasty, and it's filling! For the price, I couldn't recommend it more! In terms of atmosphere, it probably needs a bit of work, probably just wear and tear due to age and use, but it's decent enough for what the place offers. Overall, great food, good staff and a nice place to sit and catch your breath, eat and fill up!

This location is so much better than other crowded spots. Quiet breezy yard, spacious layout, and no rush to drink the noodles. This time I had hakata instead of akamaru. Personally I prefer the spicy miso better— lots of savory umami with a hint of dandan. The egg is beautifully cooked. Gyoza is half size smaller than normal but perhaps can serve as a less guilty side dish. Even though it’s much more expensive than the ippudo in Japan, the authentic (as defined by my Japanese friend’s recognization and trust) taste is worth it.