Izakaya Restaurants in New York, NY

“It was a cool place great food and atmosphere“

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

“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 🥰“

“Great sushi! Great ramen!“

“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.“

“Fun spot!“

“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!“

“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.“

“We visited this restaurant during restaurant week. The food was pretty good, but the service was so bad. One of the waiters fell the udon soup on my colleague's shirt and coat. They didn't say anything or kind of show sorry and still charged 22% tips since we are group of 6. If you don't know how to serve, you should not charge that high tips when you had bad services. Tips is ridiculous and service is not professional, but food is recommended“

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

“This is Crazy ... like I love sushi 🍣 ... I've been in so many places just for sushi that I think I'm a professional testing them all ❤️ , but what I just got tonight , the best sushi I've ever have had ... it's without a doubt the best Sushi in the US , no enough with that , my wife thought the same ..., talking about the personal , they are very professional , they come over you front time to time to ask you how are you doing , even the boss was around asking , it means a lot , they really make you feel special and in home ... definitely I suggest to you if you're visiting NY“

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

“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!“

“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“

“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!“

“I love your food. I love your staff. I love the hourlong all-you-can-drink sake which you very enthusiastically refill. I love that you take great care of a person who can’t have gluten. Please take all my money in exchange for delicious grilled fish and chicken.“

“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.“

“Tokyo Record Bar was such a delightful experience. The vibe is fun, intimate, and full of character — like stepping into a tiny vinyl-filled world hidden beneath the city. The staff were genuinely warm and friendly, making the whole experience feel personal and relaxed.“

“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！“

“This little hidden spot is AMAZING! Great food, great vibe, great service, friendly staff! We ordered a ton of stuff and we were so excited to eat it all that I forgot to take a bunch of photos but I managed to take one of the Tatsu-Age which was fire! 🔥🔥🔥“

“It was just chilling, eating my food then I saw a giant elephant yapping about Joyboy and I saw this loney tunes ahh character fighting a dragon, also i saw red lighting from some huge hill with a skeleton head on it. Tbh the food was good since it was served by some blonde chef with a curly eyebrow“

“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“

“Sake Bar Hagi in New York is a great place to eat after going to the theater. It’s located right across the street, which makes it very convenient. Overall, the atmosphere is warm, cozy, and perfect for spending time with your partner. The food is authentic and stays true to Japanese flavors, which we really appreciated.

The service could use a few adjustments, but nothing too unusual considering the cultural style of hospitality. One issue we experienced was with the billing — we wanted to see a breakdown of the charges, but unfortunately we were only given the final total. We tried several times to explain this to the server, but he seemed more focused on having us pay the final amount rather than providing the detailed receipt.

Still, it’s an affordable spot with great food and a nice vibe, especially for a casual dinner after a show.“

“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.“