Really awesome service and atmosphere.the food was delicious and the serving sizes were bigger than expected! Would definitely return
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Jason Lee
“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!! 👍
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Shin Mon Thant
Izakaya Toribar completely blew me away! From the moment I walked in, I felt like I had been transported to a cozy back-alley spot in Tokyo. The atmosphere is warm and intimate, perfect for a casual dinner or a chill night out with friends.
The star of the show is definitely the yakitori. Every skewer I tried—especially the chicken thigh, pork belly-wrapped asparagus, and the scallop kushikatsu—was perfectly grilled and packed with flavor. I really appreciated that you can choose between salt or tare for seasoning. It’s a small detail, but it shows how much care goes into the food.
The drink selection was also great—sake, Japanese beer, and cocktails that pair perfectly with the skewers. I also loved the small plates like the sesame tofu salad and the okonomiyaki. So flavorful and comforting!
The staff were friendly and attentive, and the service was quick even when it got a bit busy. You can tell they’re passionate about what they do.
Overall, Izakaya Toribar is a fantastic spot—authentic, affordable, and full of charm. I’ll definitely be coming back!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Vanessa Li
Izakaya Toribar is a cozy, authentic Japanese yakitori spot tucked away in Midtown East. The skewers—especially the pork belly-wrapped enoki, shishamo, and whole grilled shrimp—are packed with flavor and grilled to perfection. The atmosphere is lively and intimate, with an open kitchen that adds to the experience. Service is friendly, prices are reasonable (about $4–$5 per skewer), and the sake selection is awesome. It's a great place for a casual night out, especially if you grab a seat at the bar. Come early—it gets busy fast.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Christina Xia
Toribar is a hidden gem in Midtown! It’s hard to find great quality yakitori and kushikatsu at an affordable price in the midst of a bustling NYC but this place not only offers that but the service is fast and attentive and the vibes are fantastic. You really can’t go wrong with any of the skewers but my personal favorites are the tsukune (chicken meatball), kawa (chicken skin), short rib, pork jowl, and mochi wrapped porkbelly, all topped with their signature tare sauce which really brings out the underlying flavors of the meat. The gyunabe is filled with tender, melt-in-your-mouth beef, a savory, umami broth, and perfectly simmered tofu and cabbage - a must get for a rainy day. Another highlight for me is their hamachi kama which is so buttery and has an amazing char from the grill. Toribar also offers a wide selection of thoughtfully curated beverages from sakes to beers to cocktails and even mocktails. I always recommend to friends to grab a bottle of the Himawari or if they’re leaning towards cocktails to go for the white lies or chiyubai. This place is definitely worth the visit, for a late night bite, post-work happy hour, casual dinner, or anything in between!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Nyi Mahn Lu
Hands down one of the best yakitori spots in NYC! Every skewer I tried was delicious—especially the chicken thigh with scallions and the pork belly, both grilled to perfection. The pork-wrapped mochi was a total surprise—super soft and packed with flavor. Also had the quail egg kushikatsu and it was so good—crispy outside and really tasty inside.
Service was friendly and fast, and sitting at the counter watching the chefs grill everything was a cool experience. Drinks were great too—nice sake selection and Japanese beers that go really well with the food. Definitely coming back!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Bimal Kumal
I really enjoyed my time at this Izakaya! The food was great from beginning to end. The karaage was very crispy on the outside and juicy inside—some of the best I’ve had in a long time. The agedashi tofu was also very good—soft and smooth with a tasty broth that wasn’t too salty. After that, I had the seaweed tofu salad, which was light, fresh, and really calming in flavor.
I also had a few yakitori skewers, and they were all cooked just right. They were tender, had a nice smoky taste, and were full of flavor. I especially liked the chicken thigh and mushroom ones.
The place felt warm and cozy, and the staff were kind and helpful without being too much. I’ll definitely come back!
The yakitori here is outstanding. Every skewer is perfectly grilled, from the juicy chicken thigh with scallions to the rich, smoky pork belly. Don’t miss the mochi-wrapped pork—soft, savory, and unlike anything else in NYC. I also tried the quail egg kushikatsu and was blown away. Lightly fried, crispy outside, and full of flavor.
Service is friendly but efficient, and the kitchen moves fast. Sitting at the counter and watching the chefs work the grill adds to the whole experience. Drinks are solid too, with a nice sake list and Japanese beers that pair perfectly with the food.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Alex Bruening
I've been coming here for years and I'm disappointed to have to say I won't be coming back again. I can't justify eating at a place that serves $12 short rib skewers then feeds you skirt steak.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 1
Service: 3
Anne Heymann
Super yummy food, especially loved grilled chicken thighs, veggies & kimchi & happy hour drinks were refreshing and unique. Cool location with edm music. Wait staff helped us order, which was great because our family with teens was new to this cuisine. Fun night out!
While Izakaya Toribar looks like a cozy spot, the food quality didn’t match the vibe.
Cocktails were overly sweet and flat. Most dishes — skewers, fried chicken — tasted like pre-made items, lacking freshness or real flavor. The chicken skin skewer was dry and greasy, with no charcoal aroma.
Loud music and fast-but-bland food made for a disappointing experience. We spent over $100 for three and left unsatisfied. Wouldn’t recommend for those looking for quality yakitori.
Lena Mirisola
So good we went TWICE during our visit to NYC! We visited Japan six months ago and it's been hard to find quality yakitori since then. We were staying at a hotel around the block and stumbled in here - it was packed on a Friday night but they called us for our table in 3 min after telling us 20 min. Score!
The yakitori was PHENOMENAL and the best we've had since Japan. The thighs w/ scallion, meatball, breast, and skin were fantastic. Their karaage is sooo crispy and served classic with kewpie mayo + lemon. The bar is decorated nicely. We went back 2 days later right when it opened and got right in. Great attentive service each night. They warned us the yakitori might take a while during the busy night but it really didn't take long. 5 stars for Izakaya Toribar!!!!!
Anne Boccignone
We had a great night here! A group of 10 of us went here after a show. We were able to make a reservation by emailing them. Very friendly service, a fun atmosphere and really tasty food!
Ksenia Morozova
Used to love this place and come in regularly, but quality to price ratio went down significantly. We will not be coming back.
Amos Choi
Good food and drinks. Yakitori was solid and apps were good. Would come again for drinks and food
Really awesome service and atmosphere.the food was delicious and the serving sizes were bigger than expected! Would definitely return
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
“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!! 👍
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Izakaya Toribar completely blew me away! From the moment I walked in, I felt like I had been transported to a cozy back-alley spot in Tokyo. The atmosphere is warm and intimate, perfect for a casual dinner or a chill night out with friends.
The star of the show is definitely the yakitori. Every skewer I tried—especially the chicken thigh, pork belly-wrapped asparagus, and the scallop kushikatsu—was perfectly grilled and packed with flavor. I really appreciated that you can choose between salt or tare for seasoning. It’s a small detail, but it shows how much care goes into the food.
The drink selection was also great—sake, Japanese beer, and cocktails that pair perfectly with the skewers. I also loved the small plates like the sesame tofu salad and the okonomiyaki. So flavorful and comforting!
The staff were friendly and attentive, and the service was quick even when it got a bit busy. You can tell they’re passionate about what they do.
Overall, Izakaya Toribar is a fantastic spot—authentic, affordable, and full of charm. I’ll definitely be coming back!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Izakaya Toribar is a cozy, authentic Japanese yakitori spot tucked away in Midtown East. The skewers—especially the pork belly-wrapped enoki, shishamo, and whole grilled shrimp—are packed with flavor and grilled to perfection. The atmosphere is lively and intimate, with an open kitchen that adds to the experience. Service is friendly, prices are reasonable (about $4–$5 per skewer), and the sake selection is awesome. It's a great place for a casual night out, especially if you grab a seat at the bar. Come early—it gets busy fast.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Toribar is a hidden gem in Midtown! It’s hard to find great quality yakitori and kushikatsu at an affordable price in the midst of a bustling NYC but this place not only offers that but the service is fast and attentive and the vibes are fantastic. You really can’t go wrong with any of the skewers but my personal favorites are the tsukune (chicken meatball), kawa (chicken skin), short rib, pork jowl, and mochi wrapped porkbelly, all topped with their signature tare sauce which really brings out the underlying flavors of the meat. The gyunabe is filled with tender, melt-in-your-mouth beef, a savory, umami broth, and perfectly simmered tofu and cabbage - a must get for a rainy day. Another highlight for me is their hamachi kama which is so buttery and has an amazing char from the grill. Toribar also offers a wide selection of thoughtfully curated beverages from sakes to beers to cocktails and even mocktails. I always recommend to friends to grab a bottle of the Himawari or if they’re leaning towards cocktails to go for the white lies or chiyubai. This place is definitely worth the visit, for a late night bite, post-work happy hour, casual dinner, or anything in between!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Hands down one of the best yakitori spots in NYC! Every skewer I tried was delicious—especially the chicken thigh with scallions and the pork belly, both grilled to perfection. The pork-wrapped mochi was a total surprise—super soft and packed with flavor. Also had the quail egg kushikatsu and it was so good—crispy outside and really tasty inside.
Service was friendly and fast, and sitting at the counter watching the chefs grill everything was a cool experience. Drinks were great too—nice sake selection and Japanese beers that go really well with the food. Definitely coming back!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I really enjoyed my time at this Izakaya! The food was great from beginning to end. The karaage was very crispy on the outside and juicy inside—some of the best I’ve had in a long time. The agedashi tofu was also very good—soft and smooth with a tasty broth that wasn’t too salty. After that, I had the seaweed tofu salad, which was light, fresh, and really calming in flavor.
I also had a few yakitori skewers, and they were all cooked just right. They were tender, had a nice smoky taste, and were full of flavor. I especially liked the chicken thigh and mushroom ones.
The place felt warm and cozy, and the staff were kind and helpful without being too much. I’ll definitely come back!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Tsukune Chicken Meatball, Chicken Karaage, Mochi, Thigh with Yuzukosho
The yakitori here is outstanding. Every skewer is perfectly grilled, from the juicy chicken thigh with scallions to the rich, smoky pork belly. Don’t miss the mochi-wrapped pork—soft, savory, and unlike anything else in NYC. I also tried the quail egg kushikatsu and was blown away. Lightly fried, crispy outside, and full of flavor.
Service is friendly but efficient, and the kitchen moves fast. Sitting at the counter and watching the chefs work the grill adds to the whole experience. Drinks are solid too, with a nice sake list and Japanese beers that pair perfectly with the food.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I've been coming here for years and I'm disappointed to have to say I won't be coming back again. I can't justify eating at a place that serves $12 short rib skewers then feeds you skirt steak.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 1
Service: 3
Super yummy food, especially loved grilled chicken thighs, veggies & kimchi & happy hour drinks were refreshing and unique. Cool location with edm music. Wait staff helped us order, which was great because our family with teens was new to this cuisine. Fun night out!
Restaurantji Recommends
While Izakaya Toribar looks like a cozy spot, the food quality didn’t match the vibe.
Cocktails were overly sweet and flat. Most dishes — skewers, fried chicken — tasted like pre-made items, lacking freshness or real flavor. The chicken skin skewer was dry and greasy, with no charcoal aroma.
Loud music and fast-but-bland food made for a disappointing experience. We spent over $100 for three and left unsatisfied. Wouldn’t recommend for those looking for quality yakitori.
So good we went TWICE during our visit to NYC! We visited Japan six months ago and it's been hard to find quality yakitori since then. We were staying at a hotel around the block and stumbled in here - it was packed on a Friday night but they called us for our table in 3 min after telling us 20 min. Score!
The yakitori was PHENOMENAL and the best we've had since Japan. The thighs w/ scallion, meatball, breast, and skin were fantastic. Their karaage is sooo crispy and served classic with kewpie mayo + lemon. The bar is decorated nicely. We went back 2 days later right when it opened and got right in. Great attentive service each night. They warned us the yakitori might take a while during the busy night but it really didn't take long. 5 stars for Izakaya Toribar!!!!!
We had a great night here! A group of 10 of us went here after a show. We were able to make a reservation by emailing them. Very friendly service, a fun atmosphere and really tasty food!
Used to love this place and come in regularly, but quality to price ratio went down significantly. We will not be coming back.
Good food and drinks. Yakitori was solid and apps were good. Would come again for drinks and food
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 4
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