Needed to meet a friend between Times Square and East Village so this seemed like a good option. Hot and humid summer in NY so of course I suggested hot soup for dinner. My friend surprisingly obliged. We got a few drinks -- my friend a beer and me some of their shochu cocktails, pineapple. I'm reading some of the reviews as I write this and I find it humorous, because I can relate to their struggles with 0 A/C in the restaurant. So, similar to other patrons, my friend and I were blissfully unaware that this place had no A/C during a 90 degree humid day. Right when we sat down we were dripping with sweat. Funny enough I had a photoshoot canceled that day but I think it was for the better since my makeup was 10000% melted off. My poor friend was perspriing and sweating through his shirt, constantly dabbing his head with a napkin. Me, I was able to take my kimono off and sit there with my crop top, like a champ. So, if you are thinking about having a date, do not come here. I got the udon w/ chicken karaage, and my friend got the cold udon (because he is way more practical than me). I enjoyed my order, and my friend seemed to too! so 5/5 for flavor. 0/5 for being comfortable. I will probably have to come back when the weather is cooler... but! I enjoyed my food.
Yin H.
What a gem!! I knew it was going to be good when we walked in on a hot Thursday night and the place was packed despite there not being strong AC (just a few fans) and we saw groups of japanese people in their 30s through their 60s. We waited about 10 min for a table and then promptly seated. We started with the chicken Karage, came out piping hot and loved that it was very thinly breaded. Next came my udon soup with shrimp tempura and kimchi. Oh man it was glorious. I'm not a big fan of tempura but this coating was light and airy. The broth was made even more delicious by my kimchi topping which made it spicy. We were sweating our asses off but that was also the fun part and made it a memorable experience. Everyone was chugging huge ping of beer and having a great time. Definitely a casual non pretentious kinda place. I can't wait to come back!! Really affordable prices, $40 for drinks, 1 app, 2 mains.
Jacky C.
Came here on a Thursday evening after attending a networking event with a friend. It was a hot in the high 90s and super humid day. Unfortunately, this place was not keeping cool. We found a table that had an AC over it, which was not doing the best job, but got the job done. The staff ended up shutting it off, so we were essentially sweating and sitting with our dinner super uncomfortably. I don't think anyone would enjoy their meals here sweating through their shirts, dripping in sweat, and feeling sticky from the humidity. Hopefully, they get that fixed for the remainder of the summer. In terms of food, I ordered the Shrimp and Vegetable Tempura Udon ($11.50). Pretty inexpensive, yet filling for NYC standards. The tempura was served separate from the udon and broth, otherwise soggy tempura would not make me a happy camper. The broth and noodles were great and not too heavy on sodium.
Kyle Y.
Food was great, price was reasonable. Would definitely revisit for udon & japanese curry.
Patricia Thai
Love the store atmosphere! Ordered a bowl of beef udon with shrimp tempura ?
Rina D.
This place seems more like a quick eat kind of place. The menu and interior design seemed a bit outdated. The ramen I got was just okay.. I think I had better in Philly /: But for the price, it was decent and the portion was good enough. The service was just speedy, just enough to get our orders and what we needed, but nothing more. There were sanitizers available on the table and the staff were wearing masks. During lunch time, it will get crowded with those working in the area taking lunch breaks.
Melanie Tam
Came in on a Thursday at around 5:15. Hubby was not getting there until 5:30 but luckily, the place was pretty empty, so they let me sit. It started getting pretty packed shortly after 5:30. They don’t skip tables but the tables are back to back, so just beware of that.Happy hour is until 7 and they have quite a few drink specials, including sake, beer and wine. You could get a pitcher of beer for $12!! I had the Nigori sake, which I was not a fan of because it tasted kind of gritty. Hubby had the shochcu cocktail, which he said he was pleasantly surprised by.For food, we started with the assorted sashimi. It comes with 3 salmon, 3 tuna, and 3 yellowtail. Definitely skip this one because the fish doesn’t taste good. I don’t think it had gone bad or anything like that but it just didn’t taste fresh. I don’t think a lot of people order this so maybe there’s just not enough demand for it. We also ordered an ebi kakiage. I thought this would just be shrimp tempura but it was actually a mish mash of veggie tempura and pieces of shrimp tempura, fried together in one massive ball. I could have done without this as it was pretty oily.For the mains, we both decided to do a combo, which we already knew would be too much food but we figured we could just take it home and then we’d have lunch the next day. I went with the katsu curry set, which comes with your choice of chicken/pork katsu with curry and rice, and a bowl of udon. No complaints about the curry - I really liked it. But the udon was a bit disappointing. I was thinking it would be freshly made udon, but it was definitely pre-packaged. The broth was good though. Even though I knew it was full of MSG, I finished every last bit of it. If I lived in the area, it’s definitely something I’d order if I was sick. Hubby got the gyudon set, which is a beef bowl and rice, and a bowl of the same udon. The beef was a bit old tasting.While I enjoyed the curry, I don’t feel like it’s anything special that I can only get at this specific restaurant. Neither is the udon. There was also very little AC for a hot summer day, so it was not comfortable eating soup in there. Overall, it wasn’t bad but there are definitely better izakayas around. At least the food and the HH specials are cheap!
Alexis
Such a good place! Nice people and amazing food, found the place on Seated and so glad we stopped by. We will be back again soon.
Jadine V
One of my favorite spots in the city. Great low-key place to get a piping hot bold of noodles and a cold beer for a great price. Service is very prompt as well.
Mel T.
Came in on a Thursday at around 5:15. Hubby was not getting there until 5:30 but luckily, the place was pretty empty, so they let me sit. It started getting pretty packed shortly after 5:30. They don't skip tables but the tables are back to back, so just beware of that. Happy hour is until 7 and they have quite a few drink specials, including sake, beer and wine. You could get a pitcher of beer for $12!! I had the Nigori sake, which I was not a fan of because it tasted kind of gritty. Hubby had the shochcu cocktail, which he said he was pleasantly surprised by. For food, we started with the assorted sashimi. It comes with 3 salmon, 3 tuna, and 3 yellowtail. Definitely skip this one because the fish doesn't taste good. I don't think it had gone bad or anything like that but it just didn't taste fresh. I don't think a lot of people order this so maybe there's just not enough demand for it. We also ordered an ebi kakiage. I thought this would just be shrimp tempura but it was actually a mish mash of veggie tempura and pieces of shrimp tempura, fried together in one massive ball. I could have done without this as it was pretty oily. For the mains, we both decided to do a combo, which we already knew would be too much food but we figured we could just take it home and then we'd have lunch the next day. I went with the katsu curry set, which comes with your choice of chicken/pork katsu with curry and rice, and a bowl of udon. No complaints about the curry - I really liked it. But the udon was a bit disappointing. I was thinking it would be freshly made udon, but it was definitely pre-packaged. The broth was good though. Even though I knew it was full of MSG, I finished every last bit of it. If I lived in the area, it's definitely something I'd order if I was sick. Hubby got the gyudon set, which is a beef bowl and rice, and a bowl of the same udon. The beef was a bit old tasting. While I enjoyed the curry, I don't feel like it's anything special that I can only get at this specific restaurant. Neither is the udon. There was also very little AC for a hot summer day, so it was not comfortable eating soup in there. Overall, it wasn't bad but there are definitely better izakayas around. At least the food and the HH specials are cheap!
i had the cold udon with dipping sauce and fried shrimp tempura on the side. the udon had the perfect texture and the dipping sauce tasted pretty authentic. the tempura came out extremely hot and crispy. will be back to try more
Kevin H.
Ordered a katsu don for take out here at lunch. This definitely hit the spot. The skin for the chicken katsu was extremely crispy and full of flavor. Mixing the egg, rice, and I think there was some soy sauce is a great combination. It also came with a miso soup which was good. Will definitely come here again and try the udon.
Yeojin Kim
It is the best udon and fried food in NYC. THE BEST. You cannot eat this fresh crispy fried tempura anywhere even if you pay $100.
Unisha M.
Enjoyed our dinner while we were in town. We got seated pretty quickly. The staff were wearing mask and sanitizer was provided on every table. I had the chicken katsu curry combo with udon noodles. My husband went with grilled yellowtail fish which came with a side of steamed rice, miso soup, and salad. We also got gyozas and chicken karage for starters. The gyozas were okay not crispy at all, they were overcooked and soggy. But the karage was good, hot, fried, and crispy with tender juicy chicken inside. The grilled fish was the winner out of all the dishes. The noodles were a bit overcooked but the broth was heavenly. My curry was okay too, I loved the katsu. The customer service was decent since they were busy, they didn't come to ask us if we needed anything.
Sofyan S.
Food (5/5): Awesome food especially for the value. Got a shrimp kakiage and udon set. Shrimp Kakiage was savory and udon was delicious. Food came out fast and efficient. Service (5/5): Fast and efficient service. Seated us quickly. Got our order and responded to requests as needed. Venue (4/5): Nice indoor venue with good vibe and clean. Bathrooms could be better maintained.
Needed to meet a friend between Times Square and East Village so this seemed like a good option. Hot and humid summer in NY so of course I suggested hot soup for dinner. My friend surprisingly obliged. We got a few drinks -- my friend a beer and me some of their shochu cocktails, pineapple. I'm reading some of the reviews as I write this and I find it humorous, because I can relate to their struggles with 0 A/C in the restaurant. So, similar to other patrons, my friend and I were blissfully unaware that this place had no A/C during a 90 degree humid day. Right when we sat down we were dripping with sweat. Funny enough I had a photoshoot canceled that day but I think it was for the better since my makeup was 10000% melted off. My poor friend was perspriing and sweating through his shirt, constantly dabbing his head with a napkin. Me, I was able to take my kimono off and sit there with my crop top, like a champ. So, if you are thinking about having a date, do not come here. I got the udon w/ chicken karaage, and my friend got the cold udon (because he is way more practical than me). I enjoyed my order, and my friend seemed to too! so 5/5 for flavor. 0/5 for being comfortable. I will probably have to come back when the weather is cooler... but! I enjoyed my food.
What a gem!! I knew it was going to be good when we walked in on a hot Thursday night and the place was packed despite there not being strong AC (just a few fans) and we saw groups of japanese people in their 30s through their 60s. We waited about 10 min for a table and then promptly seated. We started with the chicken Karage, came out piping hot and loved that it was very thinly breaded. Next came my udon soup with shrimp tempura and kimchi. Oh man it was glorious. I'm not a big fan of tempura but this coating was light and airy. The broth was made even more delicious by my kimchi topping which made it spicy. We were sweating our asses off but that was also the fun part and made it a memorable experience. Everyone was chugging huge ping of beer and having a great time. Definitely a casual non pretentious kinda place. I can't wait to come back!! Really affordable prices, $40 for drinks, 1 app, 2 mains.
Came here on a Thursday evening after attending a networking event with a friend. It was a hot in the high 90s and super humid day. Unfortunately, this place was not keeping cool. We found a table that had an AC over it, which was not doing the best job, but got the job done. The staff ended up shutting it off, so we were essentially sweating and sitting with our dinner super uncomfortably. I don't think anyone would enjoy their meals here sweating through their shirts, dripping in sweat, and feeling sticky from the humidity. Hopefully, they get that fixed for the remainder of the summer. In terms of food, I ordered the Shrimp and Vegetable Tempura Udon ($11.50). Pretty inexpensive, yet filling for NYC standards. The tempura was served separate from the udon and broth, otherwise soggy tempura would not make me a happy camper. The broth and noodles were great and not too heavy on sodium.
Food was great, price was reasonable. Would definitely revisit for udon & japanese curry.
Love the store atmosphere! Ordered a bowl of beef udon with shrimp tempura ?
This place seems more like a quick eat kind of place. The menu and interior design seemed a bit outdated. The ramen I got was just okay.. I think I had better in Philly /: But for the price, it was decent and the portion was good enough. The service was just speedy, just enough to get our orders and what we needed, but nothing more. There were sanitizers available on the table and the staff were wearing masks. During lunch time, it will get crowded with those working in the area taking lunch breaks.
Came in on a Thursday at around 5:15. Hubby was not getting there until 5:30 but luckily, the place was pretty empty, so they let me sit. It started getting pretty packed shortly after 5:30. They don’t skip tables but the tables are back to back, so just beware of that.Happy hour is until 7 and they have quite a few drink specials, including sake, beer and wine. You could get a pitcher of beer for $12!! I had the Nigori sake, which I was not a fan of because it tasted kind of gritty. Hubby had the shochcu cocktail, which he said he was pleasantly surprised by.For food, we started with the assorted sashimi. It comes with 3 salmon, 3 tuna, and 3 yellowtail. Definitely skip this one because the fish doesn’t taste good. I don’t think it had gone bad or anything like that but it just didn’t taste fresh. I don’t think a lot of people order this so maybe there’s just not enough demand for it. We also ordered an ebi kakiage. I thought this would just be shrimp tempura but it was actually a mish mash of veggie tempura and pieces of shrimp tempura, fried together in one massive ball. I could have done without this as it was pretty oily.For the mains, we both decided to do a combo, which we already knew would be too much food but we figured we could just take it home and then we’d have lunch the next day. I went with the katsu curry set, which comes with your choice of chicken/pork katsu with curry and rice, and a bowl of udon. No complaints about the curry - I really liked it. But the udon was a bit disappointing. I was thinking it would be freshly made udon, but it was definitely pre-packaged. The broth was good though. Even though I knew it was full of MSG, I finished every last bit of it. If I lived in the area, it’s definitely something I’d order if I was sick. Hubby got the gyudon set, which is a beef bowl and rice, and a bowl of the same udon. The beef was a bit old tasting.While I enjoyed the curry, I don’t feel like it’s anything special that I can only get at this specific restaurant. Neither is the udon. There was also very little AC for a hot summer day, so it was not comfortable eating soup in there. Overall, it wasn’t bad but there are definitely better izakayas around. At least the food and the HH specials are cheap!
Such a good place! Nice people and amazing food, found the place on Seated and so glad we stopped by. We will be back again soon.
One of my favorite spots in the city. Great low-key place to get a piping hot bold of noodles and a cold beer for a great price. Service is very prompt as well.
Came in on a Thursday at around 5:15. Hubby was not getting there until 5:30 but luckily, the place was pretty empty, so they let me sit. It started getting pretty packed shortly after 5:30. They don't skip tables but the tables are back to back, so just beware of that. Happy hour is until 7 and they have quite a few drink specials, including sake, beer and wine. You could get a pitcher of beer for $12!! I had the Nigori sake, which I was not a fan of because it tasted kind of gritty. Hubby had the shochcu cocktail, which he said he was pleasantly surprised by. For food, we started with the assorted sashimi. It comes with 3 salmon, 3 tuna, and 3 yellowtail. Definitely skip this one because the fish doesn't taste good. I don't think it had gone bad or anything like that but it just didn't taste fresh. I don't think a lot of people order this so maybe there's just not enough demand for it. We also ordered an ebi kakiage. I thought this would just be shrimp tempura but it was actually a mish mash of veggie tempura and pieces of shrimp tempura, fried together in one massive ball. I could have done without this as it was pretty oily. For the mains, we both decided to do a combo, which we already knew would be too much food but we figured we could just take it home and then we'd have lunch the next day. I went with the katsu curry set, which comes with your choice of chicken/pork katsu with curry and rice, and a bowl of udon. No complaints about the curry - I really liked it. But the udon was a bit disappointing. I was thinking it would be freshly made udon, but it was definitely pre-packaged. The broth was good though. Even though I knew it was full of MSG, I finished every last bit of it. If I lived in the area, it's definitely something I'd order if I was sick. Hubby got the gyudon set, which is a beef bowl and rice, and a bowl of the same udon. The beef was a bit old tasting. While I enjoyed the curry, I don't feel like it's anything special that I can only get at this specific restaurant. Neither is the udon. There was also very little AC for a hot summer day, so it was not comfortable eating soup in there. Overall, it wasn't bad but there are definitely better izakayas around. At least the food and the HH specials are cheap!
Restaurantji Recommends
i had the cold udon with dipping sauce and fried shrimp tempura on the side. the udon had the perfect texture and the dipping sauce tasted pretty authentic. the tempura came out extremely hot and crispy. will be back to try more
Ordered a katsu don for take out here at lunch. This definitely hit the spot. The skin for the chicken katsu was extremely crispy and full of flavor. Mixing the egg, rice, and I think there was some soy sauce is a great combination. It also came with a miso soup which was good. Will definitely come here again and try the udon.
It is the best udon and fried food in NYC. THE BEST. You cannot eat this fresh crispy fried tempura anywhere even if you pay $100.
Enjoyed our dinner while we were in town. We got seated pretty quickly. The staff were wearing mask and sanitizer was provided on every table. I had the chicken katsu curry combo with udon noodles. My husband went with grilled yellowtail fish which came with a side of steamed rice, miso soup, and salad. We also got gyozas and chicken karage for starters. The gyozas were okay not crispy at all, they were overcooked and soggy. But the karage was good, hot, fried, and crispy with tender juicy chicken inside. The grilled fish was the winner out of all the dishes. The noodles were a bit overcooked but the broth was heavenly. My curry was okay too, I loved the katsu. The customer service was decent since they were busy, they didn't come to ask us if we needed anything.
Food (5/5): Awesome food especially for the value. Got a shrimp kakiage and udon set. Shrimp Kakiage was savory and udon was delicious. Food came out fast and efficient. Service (5/5): Fast and efficient service. Seated us quickly. Got our order and responded to requests as needed. Venue (4/5): Nice indoor venue with good vibe and clean. Bathrooms could be better maintained.