Izakaya Restaurants in New York, NY

“It was a cool place great food and atmosphere“

“A Katsu That Will Change You- Konban NYC

Konban NYC delivers a beautiful balance of comfort and creativity, where every dish feels both familiar and elevated. The intimate setting pairs perfectly with their modern take on Japanese-inspired small plates.

To start the konban corn ribs were a fun and indulgent surprise—sweet, crunchy, and dusted with a cheesy umami powder that made it impossible to stop eating. The cucumber katsuobushi offered a nice contrast—cool, refreshing, and subtly savory thanks to the bonito flakes and kombu powder.

The shishito peppers were blistered to perfection and seasoned with an umami powder that elevated the simple vegetable into something deeply satisfying.

Lastly the karaage, a standout and table favorite —lightly battered and perfectly crisp, served with a rich black pepper mayo that gave each bite a peppery, creamy kick. The tenderloin katsu was equally impressive—juicy, tender pork wrapped in a delicate, golden crust, paired with a trio of condiments: tonkatsu sauce, a dab of wasabi, and a touch of truffle salt. Each combination brought out something different, but all were excellent.

To finish, the mazemen stole the show. The spicy pork sauce, rich almond butter, and thick noodles created a luxurious, nutty, and spicy balance—comforting yet bold, with the pat of butter melting into a luscious coating.

Overall, Konban NYC feels like a place that takes its flavors seriously while keeping things relaxed and fun. Ideal for sharing plates, sipping sake, and lingering a little longer than planned. Here are too more nights with friends and food at Konban 🥰“

“A delightful small cozy place, with a varied menu. Everything we had was top-notch delicious!! This one gets 5 stars from me“

“I wouldn’t call Katana a dive bar, but on a Tuesday night it felt like a great neighborhood bar. Relaxed atmosphere. Was surprised at how small it was but that added to the chill vibe. I bet on a Thirsty Thursday and the weekend that all changes, but the bartenders and the craft cocktails will be just as great.“

“Ended up here accidentally on a layover: Hands down, the best ramen I’ve ever had (springy, slurpy perfection), amazing cocktails (if you like gin the Japanese 75 is a must try!), and whatever the whipped cream, creme brûlée’d banana dessert was tasted like heaven. I even ordered another tonkotsu ramen to go (all the way to Florida) to bring back to my fiancé. They separated all of it, packaged it so it wouldn’t leak, and wrote directions on specific timing for heating up each item! Very impressive service. I’ll be back again!“

“Fun spot!“

“Great sushi! Great ramen!“

“The waiter was very polite and kind.
The food was authentic Japanese cuisine, but the portions were quite small. I should have asked for white rice when the baked fish was served.
I think this restaurant is especially good if you enjoy drinking sake.“

“Donde veas personas japonesas comiendo su comida fuera de su país es un buen indicador de la calidad. El lugar no es grande ni con decoración espectacular. El menú sencillo pero presenta lo más representativo de la gastronomía que son yakitoris niguiris y sobas. Buena opción cerca de gran central“

“Ramen is good ! Soup is good not so oily Yakitori good with Asahi Beeru !“

“Just saw an amazing Broadway show and came here not expecting anything and was blown away... all the sushi - ikura, uni, toro was so fresh and delicious. You have to try their pork & chive dumplings that the chef finishes off with this yellow, mild cheese sauce - its the best!“

“Best Filipino Fusion, Try the Cebuano Longganisa. Perfect“

“Celebrated a joint birthday celebration here. The food is delicious and service is amazing! Staffs especially May is very friendly! First time to try this restaurant and the staffs already made us feel at home. Will definitely come back soon! Thank you Yezo Isakanaya for a good and wonderful service!“

“Fresh food, good portion I had Kaizen don, sashimi on rice it’s fresh and refreshing. I recommend a calpico lemon drink it is so good with food“

“Place is small and crowded but the staff is handling it well and very friendly. Ramen was delicious, I think the noodles itself were one of the best or even the best I had in life (and I ate hundreds of bowls already). Delicious rich broth, soft but crispy chashu, lots of flavors. Big portion. Definitely coming back to try more!“

“Came for lunch with my friend earlier this week and it was great. We got both the lunch special (I got the oyakodon with kara-age and he got the gyudon with sweet potato fries) as well and some skewers and beer. They run a happy hour from 12 to 6 pm which is great if you like Japanese beer (and I do). There also a complimentary miso soup at the beginning of the meal. All the food was good (the kara-age was portioned into larger piece than I'm used to but it was still juicy and tasty) and big portions on the rice bowls. You can get the skewers grilled with salt or tare and they come with a wedge of lemon you can squeeze over it. If you do get skewers, I recommend eating them ASAP because they cool off quicker than the rest of the food (not their fault or anything, just the nature of it).

There was only one waiter who doubled as the hostess while we ate (it was pretty quiet when we were there, but it's probably busier during dinner and the weekend) and service was quick and friendly. They also run some promotion where if you can stop a big stopwatch at exactly 8.88 seconds you get your meal free but we stopped too early at 8.73. Music was audible (mostly kpop and jpop/rock I think) but not overwhelming and you can still hold a conversation. Seems like a great place for a date, casual dinner, or just chilling after work so I'd definitely come again“

“I love the atmosphere and the customer service they provide! The food was good and differently one of my favorite place to eat in New York city!“

“We had a 4:30 PM reservation but lined up early and were lucky to get it.

The ambiance is effortlessly cool.
The sesame cabbage ($8) was beautifully balanced, and the burger ($35) was exceptional — the A5 Wagyu patty simply melts in your mouth, complemented by the umami-rich Parmesan and perfectly layered house-fermented slaw and aioli.

They first brought only one burger even though we ordered two but THANK GOD the kitchen had one more left.

Fair warning: it’s very rich and heavy — if you’re not ready for an indulgent meal, this one’s not for you.“

“One of my favorite Japanese Restaurants, wish they were open later but the selection of Izakaya Yakitori and Sushi & Sashimi Japanese home style cooking is top notch ! Sake selection on point. Must have All Yakitori, Tako Taro Salad, Hama Kama, Hamachi + Maki Rolls as well as Hot Pots + Ramen. Prices are reasonably and affordable doesn't break the bank. Must have list! Arigato !“

“Cool Japanese bar/restaurant! I think the vibes are great here and the have a really cool interior. The food however was just very normal and a bit overpriced for my taste/the portion sizing. I think this would be a great place for drinks and maybe 1-2 small apps. But the pricing is still a bit steep
for even beer - would recommend this place if you’ve enjoy cool cocktails and a darker atmosphere/vibey music.“

“I came across this place on instagram and decided to celebrate my birthday there with my friends. We had a wonderful time! It was our first Omakase experience and it did not disappoint. The food, the ambiance, the music, the staff - everything was great and we all had so much fun. Would definitely recommend it. Thank you!“

“Randomly stumbled upon this place at 1pm on a Sunday looking for somewhere that wasn't crowded. It was immediately a vibe with the music they were playing. We got a seat close to the street to people watch lol. The specialty rolls didn't come with a lot of pieces BUT it was of great quality and super delicious. We got the chicken katsu with the egg and that was so flavorful. Paired with the thai ice tea?? Delicious.“

“ニューヨークで超落ち着く日本料理屋さんです。最高でした！日本の皆様にもぜひ紹介したいです！“

“最高でした！ 日本でもここまでの居酒屋は無いと思います！“

“We had mostly Yakatori. They were really good. Also tried the ramen soup. That was also very tasty.
I also loved the pictures on the wall.
I saw a couple order a dish that comes with cotton candy that lights up. I have to try that next time.“

“Fantastic experience for a romantic dinner. We sat at the bar and the sushi chef immediately started a welcoming rapport describing the drinks and menu items. We had delicious sushi a la carte and fantastic sake. Highly recommend for a nice dinner and sitting at the bar to get to know the amazing staff here.“

“Stumbled into this spot in search of a late night eatery in Midtown East. Friday night and it wasn’t overly crowded, service was attentive, and the food was a surprising hit! All the yakitoris were delicious. I would skip the Okinomiyaki, we got it with seafood and it was really rubbery, but overall solid spot“

“My friends and I go here regularly and sit at the bar to eat and drink or I will bring my kids and sit in the main dining area. I have been going there for over 14 yeats. It is one of my go to places in NYC. They have a wide variety in their menu so they offer something for everyone from basic rolls and sashimi, ramen, skewers, and sushi and rice bowls. There are many additional items on the menu and I have tried nearly everything over the years and nearly everything is tasty. I would never say 100% of any menu at any restaurant is tasty as we all have our own taste buds. But I guarantee you that Sake Bar Hagi has multiple items on their menu that will appeal and be tasty to each individual taste. Also their wide variety of items wards of food taste fatigue that happens when you go to one restaurant on a regular basis. I would highly recommend this restaurant.“

“The beef bibimbap is amazing.“

“Sick posters all over the restaurant, and the bathroom has a comic wall, which was awesome. The food is really good, although the wait for the sushi was a bit long. Still really good and not too busy, and I got a table right away, so I highly recommend.“