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Ai Ki Ya

4.3 (349 reviews)
Open • 12:00 pm - 12:00 am (Next day)

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AI KI YA ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Casual
Trendy
Moderate noise
Happy hour specials

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Recommended Reviews - Ai Ki Ya

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Reviews With Photos

Mentai udon
Annie B.

Food/drinks: pretty good- my favorite was the hot pot and tofu appetizer. Skewer plate was pretty good too. The tuna roll tasted fishy and a lot of the appetizers were lukewarm but not bad! Atmosphere: cute! Lots of seating and not too loud Service: good for walking in with big party, very friendly and fast service!! Price: $$ as expected for ktown NYC

Cotton candy sukiyaki
Tiffany L.

Randomly dropped by this restaurant after my hair appointment in the salon next door. We only had 40 mins to eat since we were trying to catch a movie. Our server was so sweet; she quickly took our order and seemed to put in a rush order because we got our food in less than 5 minutes. We ordered the cotton candy sukiyaki and a skewers combo. The cotton candy sukiyaki was a neat concept -- the cotton candy sits on top of the boiling broth and once it melts, adds sweetness to the broth. If you find that the broth is too sweet, you can easily put the cotton candy to the side. I would definitely come back and try other items from their extensive menu.

Chicken skin and Chicken Thigh & Scallion Yakitori
Alex H.

Ai Ki Ya in Chelsea is a Japanese Izakaya restaurant known for its hearty fare with an emphasis on yakitori. We came for happy hour to take advantage of their $3 draft Sapporos. After crushing said sapporos, we ordered 3 skewers (chicken thigh, chicken skin, and pork belly) along with some sushi and gyu don. While we didn't try it we saw someone ordering a cotton candy sukiyaki and we are very intrigued. Everything was super tasty and affordable. We love this for a group dinner or date night that won't break the bank

Mia H.

I once saw this spot on TikTok and finally got the chance to try it recently! Located in Midtown, this Japanese spot offers a huge menu of different skewer options, sushi, hotpot/nabe, and other great Japanese bites. Super cozy spot with lots of Japanese decor that gives it that izakaya vibe. Service was so quick, kind, and fun to talk to. I got their cotton candy sukiyaki when I went and a sushi roll, and both were good. I enjoyed their sukiyaki and thought that the cotton candy above it was super fun. Good quality food, and nice Japanese spot!

Potato salad
Francisca B.

This is a great place to hang out for happy hour or to hang out with friends. I like the option A, B, C for the yakitori especially if you are not sure what to order.

Alice D.

Came here on a Friday evening for dinner and didn't have to wait too long to get seated. There were some other folks there, but not too many so it didn't feel too busy. Service was solid and ambiance was nice. Menu had a good variety of dishes and we got a medley to share amongst five. The cotton candy sukiyaki was yummy and novel to see with the melting cotton candy. Meat was decent quality and overall it was yummy. Skewers were nice as well and the eel bowl was nice to share as well. The set we got came with ice cream at the end which was a nice way to end the meal. Overall, I didn't mind the experience and had a nice dinner. I probably wouldn't return as it didn't feel like anything stood out, but I wouldn't say no if someone wanted to come. Solid meal and left feeling satisfied - thanks, Ai Ki Ya!

Bara Chirashi
Gordon Y.

Cuisine: 7 Service: 7 Decor: 7 Value: 7 Overall: 7 If you're looking for a good Japanese nabe (hot pot), look no farther. Come try one of the 6 options at this izakaya and you will be satisfied. Over the years, I have come here many times on a cold night or late after a movie or Broadway show. Still one of the best late night options in Manhattan for me. My favorites is the Hakata Motsu Nabe, which gets its yumminess from beef intestines, napa cabbage, chines, and more. The Pork Tonsoku Nabe is also quite amazing, with its spicy pork broth filled with pork trotter and pork belly. Lastly, I'll highlight the Cotton Candy A5 Wagyu Sukiyaki. It's obviously somewhat sweet, but also savory with the soy sauce based broth. And of course, the high quality beef just melts in your mouth. I also have tried many of the other menu items. For rice dishes, Gyudon, Beef Tongue Don, and Unagi Don are all decent, but skip the Pork Katsu Curry and the Bara Chirashi. As for noodles, I prefer the ramen over the udon, but neither are must haves. There are plenty of other sushi/sashimi, cold and hot tapas, along with a bunch of yakitori and fried skewers. All of it is average to good. However, I would stick to nabe for the best experience possible.

Pork Tonsoku Nabe
Kathy W.

My friend and I came at around 6pm and there was no wait. It's a cozy place for small groups and good chats. The waiters checked on us frequently without being overbearing. Chicken gizzard and beef short rib skewers: 4/5 Grilled beef tongue: 5/5 - tender and loved the sauce Pork tonsoku nabe (spicy): 3/5 we wanted something hot on a cold day but unfortunately the soup was too salty to drink. It has a good amount of vegetables and meat though. It also came with matcha ice cream which had a deep and rich flavor Overall I had a good experience and I would come back to try other dishes!

Spicy Karaage ramen in miso broth
Hong Kim L.

I love restaurant recommendations in Manhattan after any anime film. My crew and I went to a hidden gem in Herald Square not so easy to the public eye. First advertised having great ramen, izakaya and the best blueberry mojitos. This place screamed of Japanese comfort establish with umbrellas on the ceiling, katanas on the shelves and a classic bar for solo quick eaters with the chefs working behind the bar. This place offers a check off menu where you can write down the amount of dishes to order. Sushi rolls selections, karaage flavored miso ramen, yakitori skewers, katsu curries and a row of blueberry mojitos with one melon ball cocktail - which was delicious by the way. The ramen was a good portion and flavorful. Most of my crew has gone to Japan multiple times and they've noted this is one of the ramen places that comes close to their trip. This place will be added to my usual hideaway spot when I want to dive away from the shopping and large bustling commuter crowds.

Alex M.

Overall: C // 3 stars This restaurant has a massive menu from yakitori to ramen to sushi to Japanese snacks. I think it has high potential to succeed because whoever is cooking can grill the skewers flawlessly. However, what is significantly lacking is their seasoning and flavor profiles; if they solve this component, their food would be divine. (Crispy Sushi Sando: C) - This is essentially a crispy rice appetizer, which they did do well. However, they need to pair it with a sauce by default because it tastes so much better with some flavor like spicy mayo. (Whole Eggplant: A) - Whole garlic eggplant that oozes with a captivating aroma and a tender complexion. (Beef Short Rib: D) - A bit dry and underseasoned unfortunately. Quite sad since this should be a good cut. (Chicken Breast: C) - The chicken is impressive tender, but quite bland and desparately needs salt. The wasabi is strangely watery and also lacks flavor. (Pork Jowl: A) - Great sear on the pork to get a really delightful char in the taste, that pairs well with their yakitori sauce. (Shishito: A) - Well seasoned and tasty on its own, but adds even more flavor when paired with the meats. Food: E Presentation: E Price: E Atmosphere: E Service: E Menu: +1 Insta/Yelp/Beli/TikTok: @amei_eats

Kenneth E.

Came here for happy hour with a friend and am shocked that I've never been here before. This is a place that specializes in skewers and sushi. The inside is a bit janky, but nice and quiet if you are trying to catch up with a friend. The service was REALLY attentive and super friendly. They even reminded us when happy hour was ending (which is everyday by the way). Their prices are also decent for not happy hour pricing as well. Happy hour is from 4 - 7 on weekends and until 6pm on weekdays and you can find $8 sakes, $3 beers, $7 wines. They also had a skewer special that we tried and it was so tasty. My only complaint about the skewer was the bacon wrapped quail egg, the egg was a bit overcooked and a little dry, but the flavor was still there. We also had their crispy tuna rice which came with a mountain of tuna. Perhaps too much rice / tuna for one piece, it was a bit hard to eat. We also tried some of their sushi which was all flavorful and good, but a bit too much rice for my liking. I would def stick to the skewers OR try some of their other non-sushi options next time.

sushi roll
Emily G.

Nice spot for Japanese food, and by Japanese food I mean any dishes that come to mind when you think Japanese cuisine. The menu is huge, if not overwhelming, because of all the choices!! It had izakaya-type decor inside, and makes for a fun for a night out if you'll be around the Midtown area. The service is attentive as well. Come here for the yakitori, sushi rolls, or the hot pots/sukiyaki. Those were the favorites of our group, and all excellent for sharing with a larger group.

spicy pork nabe (hot pot)
Julie Ying X.

I came here for dinner with a friend on a Thursday night. We shared the small spicy pork tonsoku nabe (pork trotters, sliced pork belly, green cabbage, leeks, tofu, sesame, chili, garlic, jalapeno, ginger) and the combo C yakitori (2 shrimp, 2 beef, 2 squid, 2 mushroom, 2 beef wrapped enoki). The small hot pot was a good portion for two people. The portion was pretty large and it included one bowl of rice and one matcha ice cream. The broth was flavorful and had a good kick to it. The yakitori was larger than I expected and all the skewers tasted great but were a bit dry. Service was friendly and attentive. I saw that everyone was ordering the cotton candy sukiyaki, I guess I have to order that next time.

Sushi sashimi platter

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2 months ago

If you're there for tapas, honestly go there. It's good for groups and small bites. Have the chicken breast and wasabi yakitori

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10 months ago

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12 days ago

Large quantities. Great taste. Authentic Japanese food. Various selections. Many tables.

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Ask the Community - Ai Ki Ya

Do they take reservations?

We don’t take reservations during weekends.

Looking for business lunch venue. A) Can you seat 7 people together? B) How loud is the lunch crowd? We need to be able to talk to each other without shouting (quieter is better)

Do they have Happy hour?

We do have happy hour drinks.

Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

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