Dayfarer Declaration: Totto Ramen is the best ramen in Manhattan...

...which is why you will almost certainly find a long line outside of this tiny Japanese eatery on the eastern edge of Hell's Kitchen. The chicken and soy based Paitan Ramen is so ridiculously good that tourists and locals alike arrive in hordes, and will wait for hours, to get a taste of the rich and intensely flavorful broth. However, dining on a Monday evening will give you the best chance of scoring a seat in under 30 minutes.

Once you do place your order, there's barely time to take a sip of sake because your food is out immediately. The sound track fades from Wu-Tang to Guns & Roses and is loud enough to drown out the chorus of ardently slurping diners, so dive in and enjoy.

ESSENTIAL INFO:

-Total Cost: About $30 for ramen, a side and a drink. Tax and tip included.

-A party of two is your best bet at reducing wait time at Totto Ramen. Four is really the maximum number of diners for a table and you will definitely wait longer. If you can, sit at the counter, where you admire the handy work of the blow torch wielding chef charring chunks of pork. Solo diners can squeeze in without much wait.

-Totto Ramen is cash only.

NEARBY:

Continue your evening with Vince Giordano and The Nighthawks at Iguana.