Izakaya Restaurants in New York, NY

“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!“

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

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

“Konban is an izakaya-style restaurant located in Chelsea with a sophisticated vibe and wooden interior. They even have a zen courtyard garden smack in the middle. It is so calming to sit by the window and enjoy the meal with that view. My boyfriend took me there and the intimate atmosphere made it a perfect date night spot.

Their tonkatsu, corn ribs and corn ice cream has taken the social media by storm. Every dish came in a small portion but exquisitely crafted. Even the complimentary starters (cherry tomato with yuzu cream cheese, yuzu sparkling drink) were memorable.

The restaurant gets really packed on weekends. Make sure to get a res at least a week in advance to secure a table (it isn’t as competitive as before!).

＊Katsu Tenderloin $15 ***
I picked tenderloin instead of loin as I prefer my pork to be more meaty and less fatty. The tonkatsu sauce was thick, rich and sweet, easily my fav one among the three. Truffle salt was aromatic and addictive. Wasabi didn’t really match well imo.

＊Sabazushi (Mackerel Sushi) $19 ***
My first time trying Mackerel Sushi and this one blew my mind. The mackerel was melt-in-your-mouth tender. The ginger and shiso were appetizing and they added so much flavors to the sushi. I am still dreaming about it.

＊Konban Corn Rib $13 **
Everyone recommends corn ribs from konban. You won’t be able to stop eating it after your first bite. The corn cheese powder tasted like doritos.

＊Eggplant Agebitashi $15
Served with toasted baguette slices, the eggplant agebitashi has a western spin with a mix of parmesan cheese and pork ragu sauce.

＊Mazemen $17
The mazemen was made of their housemade flat noodles, spicy pork, almond butter, scallion and butter. Thought it would taste like dan dan noodle but it was different. The texture was creamier and thicker.

FYI I didn’t get the viral corn ice cream at last. It looked cute but I heard from the other table that the white chocolate part was very sweet.“

“Great sushi! Great ramen!“

“It was a cool place great food and atmosphere“

“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！“

“I really loved this whole experience. We sat downstairs for the omakase experience and it was so fun and the food was truly fantastic. The best Duck I have had in a while. The upstairs is more of a party and a great soundtrack but is very loud so be prepared for that. The downstairs was just right for a date night. I did the sake pairing and now have a new favorite sake that I would have not have known about otherwise. Thank you guys!“

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

“Fun spot!“

“Traditional omakase menu, very affordable and no tipping policy. They have a late night menu as well. Both times I visited, we had already eaten earlier and didn't want to order the full omakase. Each time the bartender was kind and asked the chef if he could prepare a 3 dish course for us, and the chef kindly agreed. Each dish was excellent--traditional Japanese cuisine. Next time, I will definitely try the full menu or go after 11pm for the late night menu.“

“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!“

“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!“

“Wonderfully eclectic place with phenomenal cocktails. Do both experiences (Sip & Guzzle) if you can when you book there. Highlights for me were the chicken, the wagyu sando, and the milkshake. Wagyu old fashioned was also very very tasty.“

“I came here for dinner with friends and we all enjoyed it! The interior of the restaurant is cozy and we got a booth seating. Service was fairly quick, and staff was friendly.

We ordered a variety of dishes: the cucumbers, kaisendons (the mini and uni ones), the squid, the chicken and meat assortments, chicken karaage, and okonomiyaki. Everything was delicious. My friends loved their cucumbers and mini kaisendon, while I loved their squid and uni kaisendon. The skewers were delicious and juicy, and I highly recommend trying their assortments. Definitely one of my favorite izakayas in the city, so far.“

“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！“

“Been coming here since it's opened. Worth the visit if you're in the area. Donburia and this became my go to diner place after work if I'm feeling Japanese.
I hope they can change their TikTok song playlist. Makes me do more take outs than dining in.“

“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.“

““I recently visited Toribar in New York City, and it was an amazing experience! This yakitori bar offers a cozy atmosphere with a great selection of skewers. The chicken was perfectly grilled, tender, and flavorful. The staff was friendly and attentive, making the dining experience even better. Highly recommend this spot for anyone who loves authentic yakitori!! 👍“

“Cute neighborhood authentic ramen place! The line outside made us originally avoid going, but their efficient process moved everyone quickly without a long wait. Lively inside but you can still have a conversation. Service was genuine & friendly.“

“I don't often write reviews but I had to for Sozai. The food is incredible, the vibes are amazing inside and the service is wonderful. You can't go wrong with any of the dishes! And I also love the bar area in the back if you were just going for a drink, but I highly recommend eating here as well.“

“super cool vibe and gets better as the night goes on. located in chelsea market but not hideously touristy which is nice. enter on 15th st. serving great cocktails and asian inspired cuisine. the toro hand rolls were a highlight. i got the sweet potato cocktail (sorry i forget the name) but if you like negronis you’ll love it. it’s giving tokyo record bar. highly recommend in a weekday hangout with friends or even a date.“

“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.“

“Heno Heno is one of my favorite low-key spots in Hell’s Kitchen to wind down after work. It’s a cozy, local Japanese izakaya that feels like a hidden gem. I usually go for the fried fish cake with cheese inside.. crispy on the outside, gooey and savory inside. The rainbow roll is fresh and satisfying too.

Nothing fancy, but that’s exactly what I love about it. Just good food, a quiet vibe, and a welcoming, neighborhood feel. Perfect for solo dinners or a relaxed catch-up with a friend.“

“The beef bibimbap is amazing.“