Yuji Ramen Coming To Gowanus Whole Foods

Yuji Ramen, which started as a pop-up shop but will now be permanent in the East Houston Street Whole Foods and has also been found at Smorgasburg, will open a second location in the forthcoming Gowanus Whole Foods at 3rd Avenue and 3rd Street.

Chef Yuji Haraguchi specializes in mazemen, a “dry” brothless ramen that’s recently become popular in Tokyo. Serious Eats calls his spot one of the best ramen shops in the city, saying it’s “one of the most strikingly original ramen experiences you’ll have anywhere.” A standout on the menu has been the bacon and egg mazemen, which Time Out named as one of the best noodle dishes in NYC in 2013:

Break the wobbly, slow-cooked egg onto the tangle of thick, chewy, hand-massaged noodles and smoked bacon to create a luscious carbonara-style sauce. Shredded raw kale and bonito flakes add bitterness and brine to the rich, yolk-drenched noodles, finished with scallion, ginger oil and crispy garlic chips.

So basically, sorry Naruto and Zuzu, but we may have to spend our quality ramen time on 3rd Avenue.

The Gowanus Whole Foods looks like it’s coming along nicely, and it’s still expected to be open by the end of the year, complete with a rooftop bar, a giant greenhouse, and lots of items from local suppliers.

Photo via Yuji Ramen