Ikedo Ramen closes in Carle Place, opens in Mineola

Ikedo Ramen's owner, Mimi Chi, fell in love with ramen as a student at counters throughout Tokyo more than 25 years ago. Chi — who opened her first ramen restaurant in Port Washington in 2020 — has debuted a new 50-seat slurp shop with a refreshed concept in Mineola.

The Mineola Ikedo replaces the Carle Place location, which has closed. This is the third iteration of Ikedo, which began as Ichiddo Ramen, a chain from Minneapolis. The Mineola restaurant is rebranded as Ikedo Japanese Eatery with changes including a new chef, formal sushi bar and collection of coffees, dirty sodas and boba teas.

One of Newsday’s best ramen shops, Ikedo offers a bowl of spicy tonkotsu ($18.99) that still wows with its rich broth, fatty, succulent chashu pork and al dente noodles. The approachable menu is carefully rendered, with a few ramen varieties alongside udon soups and rice bowls. Also on the ramen menu is a spicy vegan version ($16.99) and a build-your-own option starting at $15.99. Appetizers from gyoza ($7.99) to shumai ($8.99) to karaage ($8.99) kick things off. If you’re not into ramen, other non-sushi dishes include chicken, pork and tofu buns ($5), donburi, or Japanese-style rice bowls ($14.99+), and stir-fried rice featuring various proteins for an additional charge.

In the move to Mineola, Chi was looking to streamline and, ultimately, scale the Ikedo concept into "a more modern brand," she said. Her partners from Port Washington were "not interested in moving in that direction." Chi decided it was best to part ways. 

Enter new chef Shuichi Kotani, who hails from Japan and owns a gluten-free soba noodle spot, Uzuki, in Greenpoint, Brooklyn. Kotani oversees the same ramen and rice bowl menu as Ikedo in Port Washington, in addition to the new boba tea/coffee concept and 24-seat sushi bar. There, hand rolls and poke bowls, plus Japanese izakaya, will be on offer. The sushi bar, with its darker motif, is the yin to the cafe’s bright and airy yang, separated by a floor-to-ceiling, gold-chained curtain for a total of 50 seats. Ramen, of course, can be slurped anywhere on-site, and is also available for takeout.

Ikedo Ramen, 530B Jericho Tpke., Mineola, 516-280-3285, ikedoramen.com. Monday through Saturday from 10:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. and Sundays from noon to 9 p.m.

By Marie Elena Martinez

marieelena.martinez@newsday.com@mariesworlds

A global freelancer who has checked her suitcase to raise her young daughter on her native Long Island, Marie Elena will always make time for good mezcal, even better tacos and killer conversation. Preferably, in a corner bar seat. She can be found on Instagram at @mariesworldeats.