Crave

Crave is a fast-casual restaurant at 1386 Mount Hope Avenue in the Mount Hope neighborhood of Rochester, NY. The cafe-style space focuses on customizable ramen bowls, bubble tea, and salads, with a format that works for both quick takeout and sit-down dining. Situated along the Mount Hope Avenue corridor near the University of Rochester's College Town development, Crave caters to students, hospital staff, and neighborhood residents alike.

The menu centers on a build-your-own approach to ramen. Diners select a broth — options include miso, tonkotsu (pork bone), and spicy miso — then choose from wavy noodles, straight noodles, or gluten-free rice noodles. Protein choices include pork belly, chicken, and shrimp, with unlimited toppings such as mushroom, edamame, bamboo shoot, seaweed, and fishcake. Beyond ramen, the menu includes:

• Yaki noodles (Japanese stir-fried noodles)
• Rice bowls and salad bowls with ginger, yuzu, or sesame dressing
• Small bites like pan-fried gyoza, Japanese fried chicken, and steamed buns
• A full drink menu spanning milk tea, fruit tea, sparkling tea, and smoothies

Vegan-friendly options are available across the menu. Crave is open Monday through Saturday from 11:00 AM to 9:30 PM and Sunday from noon to 9:30 PM.

Crave has built its identity around the customizable ramen bowl concept, letting diners assemble combinations from a wide selection of broths, noodles, proteins, and toppings. The drink program is also a draw — particularly the ube milk tea and other bubble tea varieties. The restaurant occupies a niche in Rochester's dining scene as one of the few dedicated ramen-and-bubble-tea spots on the south side of the city.

Crave sits on Mount Hope Avenue in Rochester's Mount Hope neighborhood, a short distance from the University of Rochester's College Town retail center and the medical campus. Highland Park, home of Rochester's annual Lilac Festival, is nearby to the east. The corridor is walkable and well-trafficked by university students and medical center employees. Outdoor seating is available at the restaurant.