Chef

Ivan Orkin

Discipline: Chef
Venue: Ivan Ramen · Restaurant

Portrait of Ivan Orkin

i. Biography

Ivan Orkin has, since 2014, made his life in New York City with Ivan Ramen, where ramen is treated less as a menu category than as the room’s central logic. The work rests on a plain but demanding premise: a good bowl should feel continuous, self-contained, and larger than its edges. That is the standard Orkin sets for the dish.

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Coming Up

The route to ramen moved through formal training and a detour abroad. Orkin trained at Culinary Institute of America, then worked as an English teacher in Japan, a period that shaped the rest of his culinary life. Back in New York, he worked as a chef at Mesa Grill in New York and later as a chef at Lutèce in New York.

Where They Are Now

As chef and owner, Orkin treats ramen as one finished bowl rather than a collection of parts. Broth, noodles, and the rest are built to read together, with the goal of a single, seamless impression. The emphasis is on unity, not isolation.

Career - chef and owner — Ivan Ramen, New York City (2006–present) - English teacher — Japan - chef — Mesa Grill, New York - chef — Lutèce, New York Education: Culinary Institute of America

Signature

Ivan's signature dishes include Shio Ramen. In this context, signature points to clarity and restraint, with the bowl allowed to carry the work on its own terms.

In Their Words “I think of a good bowl of ramen. To me a good bowl of ramen has no beginning and has no end.”

Honors

The restaurant earned two stars in the MICHELIN Guide. That recognition tracks with the same emphasis running through the work: exactness, control, and a bowl composed to hold together from first look to last bite.

FAQ What is Ivan Orkin's current role? As of 2026, Ivan Orkin is Chef and Owner. Where did Ivan Orkin train or study? Ivan Orkin trained at Culinary Institute of America. What is Ivan Orkin known for? Ramen.