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Long Islanders love restaurants with personality.
And $5 ramen on a rainy, chilly weekend certainly doesn’t hurt, either.
Krazy Ramen celebrated its soft opening Friday, Jan. 9, offering $5 ramen to dine-in customers through Sunday, Jan. 11.
By Sunday afternoon, the new noodle shop in West Babylon’s South Bay Commons was packed with diners eager to score the deal on favorites like Classic Tonkotsu, Miso Ramen, and Kara-Age Shoyu Ramen.
Plenty of customers also lined up for takeout, many more than willing to pay full price — between $15 and $16.95 — and skip the wait.
The full menu will be available soon and includes boba tea, rice bowls, and Japanese appetizers such as pan-fried pork gyoza, takoyaki octopus, cha shu buns, and kara-age chicken with spicy mayo. Poke is also a major part of the lineup, with customizable “Poke Your Way” bowls and signature creations priced at $16.95.
Not in the mood for ramen or poke?
The menu also features four classic fried rice dishes and a selection of rice bowls, all priced between $9 and $14.
Business meets hobby
Co-owners Yan Guo (pictured) and Leo Ling bring decades of restaurant experience on Long Island, most recently as the founders of Meet Noodle, a ramen and pho restaurant on Nesconset Highway in Stony Brook.
“My business partner wanted to open a location closer to where he lives in Babylon,” Guo said of the decision to bring their noodles — and their bold theming — to the South Shore.
And the anime aesthetic? That’s personal.
“I’ve been a fan since I was a young boy,” Guo said, smiling as he talked about Dragon Ball Z.
First aired in the U.S. in 1996, the series — along with Sailor Moon — further introduced Japanese anime to a mainstream American audience. Krazy Ramen’s logo even features Goku, the show’s noodle-loving hero.
“I had all the Dragon Ball Z manga books,” Guo said. “Now there are so many other series that kids like, too. We try to represent them all.”
He gestured toward the floor-to-ceiling mural near the entrance, where characters from Naruto and One Piece share space with Dragon Ball Z favorites Vegeta, Gohan, and Goku front and center.
The murals, paired with life-size statues, give the restaurant a theme-park feel. The attention to detail makes a visit to Krazy Ramen feel like a mini family outing — or a must-see stop for anime fans — rather than just a quick lunch.
Follow along
Krazy Ramen is located in the former Blaze Pizza space at 1047 Montauk Highway in South Bay Commons, a sprawling shopping center anchored by Burlington, Marshalls, and ALDI. Click here to visit the website for the full menu and to order for pickup.
Top: The anime mural at Krazy Ramen in West Babylon. Inset: Owner Yan Guo. (Credit: Andrew Rappaport)
