As the end of the year approaches, my budget is becoming tighter. When my friends visited last week, I had to use some of my money for ice skating. Then, when the winter market opened, a good chunk of change went to buying presents for friends and family. On top of that, I spent another few bucks to go see “the Nutcracker” and the Rockettes. Thank goodness I managed to find some discounted tickets. In addition to all of all this, I still have to eat, but who has time to cook on the eve of finals?

Fortunately, Terakawa Ramen, which is just down the street (Columbus between 58th Street and 57th Street), dishes out warm and filling meals for under $10. The little hole-in-the-wall restaurant is cozy inside with barely enough seating for ten customers, which reminded me of my trip to Japan a few years ago. Some of the ramen bars in Japan are so cramped that you have to stand while you eat. During dinner it can become quite crowded inside Terakawa too, but most customers do takeout, leaving one or two seats open at the bar to sit.

When I went to Terakawa Ramen, my friend and I ordered the chicken teriyaki and the sho-yu ramen, both of which cost $9. Sho-yu is Japanese for soy sauce. Usually I wouldn’t agree to order chicken teriyaki because I feel it is so American, but my American friend insisted. It’s not that I do not like chicken teriyaki, I just prefer trying the restaurant specialties. I will admit, however, that the tantalizing picture on the menu did look irresistible.

About 10 minutes after ordering, our food was served. The chicken teriyaki dish was larger than I had expected. It came with ten pieces of chicken, a large helping of rice and a salad with ginger dressing. The chicken pieces were moist and flavorful. Unlike many other restaurants, Terakawa Ramen uses the juicy thigh meat of the chicken instead of the breast meat. The teriyaki glaze was not gelatinous and had a smoky sweet flavor. The chicken also had a slight char, which added a little depth to the flavor. Was I disappointed? No. Would I order the teriyaki again? Unfortunately, yes.

The sho-yu ramen was topped with a slice of kamaboko (fishcake), bamboo shoots, a runny hardboiled egg, pork slices and green onions. For $2-$3 extra you could add various extra toppings. The ramen noodles had a chewy texture and the broth had a light soy sauce flavor. If you want to spice up your ramen, they have a condiment box with an assortment of options ranging from togarashi (Japanese style pepper seasoning) and hot sauce to crunchy garlic pieces and chili oil. One of my favorite pieces about the dish is the runny hard-boiled egg because of its savory soy sauce marinade.

On the menu there are more fancy ramen bowls with extra meats and toppings. During lunch there is a special where you can order a side dish along with your entree for an extra $2. The side dish options include pork fried rice, pan-fried dumplings and chicken curry.

The service was prompt and helpful even though there was a rush of people coming in for takeout. Despite the fact that there was only one waitress, she was still attentive and even managed to keep my water glass full. As a side note, remember to bring cash because the restaurant does not accept credit or debit card. This place is a great stop to pick up a hot meal during these cold months. Fortunately, it is easy on  a college student’s budget, which makes the food taste even better.

IF YOU GO
Rating: 4/5
Price: $

Where: 885C 9th Ave., New York, NY 10019