So yes, my husband and I had heard of Ha's Snack Bar from the NY Times NYC best restaurants of 2025. There was a really cool video we saw on YouTube had the owners talk about their restaurant concept, and I was quite intrigued. They just kind of show up at the farmer's market for the week, and make dishes from whatever they bring back. I was a little confused when looking up the restaurant initially, as I could never find a menu, but after watching this video, it made sense. Their ingredients change so frequently, that so do their menu items! The dishes are generally the same day to day it seems, with small swaps from various ingredients. BUT every dish is tied together with one common ingredient of FISH SAUCE. Anyway, my husband and I had just flew into NYC and landed in the afternoon. We had a late dinner reservation at Cesar's at 9:30pm, but knew we'd be starving when we landed, and thought it would be fun to eat here prior to just try the restaurant. My husband somehow got a reservation at the bar for 5:30 pm on Valentines' Day. A pleasant surprise! We ordered: -Fried yuba with Shrimp and Sweet Nuoc Nam -Omelette with curry and escargot -Vol Au Vent with Brisket and Tamarind -Passion fruit tart Favorites were the omelette, and the Vol Au Vent. Everything was wonderful though. I really loved the curry of the omelette, and the Vol Au Vent was really interesting. This is a dish you can't really find regularly find at French bistro restaurants - it was basically a pastry filled with the brisket meat, which was quite rich, but the sauce had fish sauce in it, making the dish pleasantly less rich. What really stood out to me for these dishes were the richness, French style of the cuisine, and the fish sauce cut through the richness and had this nice melting pot of flavors in your mouth. The best part was that while eating our omelette, they asked if we wanted a side of WHITE RICE. This was exactly what we needed but didn't know we wanted. Amazing!!! Passion fruit tart for dessert was good too, although can't say it was as memorable as the Vol Au Vent or the Omelette. Service was great, prompt and personable. For the ambiance, I have mixed feelings. It was really cute inside and charming. However, we got seated at the bar (as per reservation, that's fine) but the bar seats were extremely uncomfortable. I honestly would have rather stood up th whole meal versus sit on those horrible bar seats. Argh! I kind of wanted to deduct a star for those awful bar seats, but it just seemed so petty so I won't. It's been a few weeks since my meal there. Weeks later, I'm still thinking of the Omelette with the rice. Pretty mind blowing. read more

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I got lucky through Resy notify and was able to get a Saturday reservation here at 7:15pm. My husband and I were seated at the bar. Like many have mentioned, the space is incredibly cramped with only a few inches between tables and the bar also feeling small. The restaurant felt cozy, intimate, lively, and a just the right amount of chaotic for those who enjoy that energy. One of the bartenders welcomed us, and gave us a general overview of the menu. He was knowledgeable but felt oddly distant for how small/intimate the place is. We ordered two cocktails-- the pink peppercorn pineapple soda which was perfectly smoky from the mezcal, and a bit spiced from the peppercorns with only very subtle sweetness from the pineapple. It was truly perfect! The tamarind margarita was tangy, punchy, and balanced out by a nice salted rim. Both were acceptably strong drinks. For food, we split: - Leeks vinaigrette: per the waiter, one of the only dishes that stays constant within the rotating menu. The flavors were really well balanced. There was something super satisfying about having a complete bite of bread, cold sweet leeks, umami maggi seasoning, tangy and eggy gribiche, and earthy mussels. Very unique. The bread had a perfectly crispy crust which felt properly French. It was a bit messy to eat though since they throw the bread in the sauce so when you want to rip it, you inherently will get your hands dirty. Not sure I would order again but it's worth trying once. - Salad of zucchini: refreshing, bright, herbal. This came with ribbons of fresh zucchini as well as very thinly sliced cucumbers. It had a nice fish sauce based dressing which was not too overpowering, hints of fresh mint leaves, as well as crispy onions which added texture and a punch of flavor. Would get again! - Monkfish with corn sauce: generous fillet of monkfish that was very tender and flaky on the inside, it reminded me a bit of cod. The fish had a hearty corn sauce that was sweet but also had umami elements from the mushrooms. It came with this fragrant, steamed white rice which absorbed those sauces beautifully and made a stellar bite! - NY strip with peanut sauce: this comes with a generous serving of steak. I was not a huge fan of the cut since it was too fatty for my taste and also was a bit too rubbery. The peanut sauce was a bit spicy, very rich, and went well with the aromatics in the side salad. The fries on the side, were on the saltier side but really helped absorb the meat juices and, in combination with the fats of the peanut sauce, really enhanced the flavors. Good but not memorable. Would try their poached chicken next time. For salty fries fans though, these are amazing and you should get them as a side with anything you order. - Vietnamese coffee pavlova: dessert was probably my favorite part. It came with this creamy coffee ice cream that had almost a salty/caramelized note to it, which paired really nicely with the sweet meringue. Probably one of my favorite coffee desserts that I've had in the city. They also added some toasted whole hazelnuts for nuttiness and pieces of Vietnamese coffee jelly for a fun chewy element of texture. Highly recommend! Overall, we had a very fun experience here and really enjoyed trying all the bold flavor combinations. Bistro Ha does make for a very fun and unexpected dinner night. The chaos of the place, and the risky flavor combinations make it a high risk, high reward investment. Even though some dishes were better than others, I would not say anything we tried was necessarily a "miss". It almost makes me more excited to come back and see what "hits" next time. If you can get a reservation, I highly recommend trying it at least once. They may not be consistent each time but I have no doubt they will always keep it interesting. read more

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What a letdown dinner! So disappointing was Bistrot Ha that myself and companion were out the door in 30 minutes. Then we headed straight to another restaurant to satisfy our appetite for both food and beverages. I read about Bistrot Ha on The Infatuation, which more often than not is accurate in its commentary. Surely, surely, Bistrot Ha had its act together considering the success of Ha's Snack Bar. Or so The Infatuation led me to believe. Early arrival to my Thursday June 25th reservation began with promise when the maître 'd found me a stool to sit while waiting for my partner. Things quickly went south when the bartender visibly rolled his eyes in response to my server asking, at my request, if a cosmopolitan cocktail could be made. Later on, the "Salad of Spring Greens, Rau Ram & Sugar Snap Peas ($24) arrived without those peas. When we inquired about said peas, one of the chefs commented to us that she didn't think we'd notice their absence. A new salad was prepared, but somehow a soapy detergent flavor had crept into the salad such that the salad was inedible. Also uneventful was the "Beef Tartar with a Stack of Onion Rings" ($28) because the beef lacked seasoning. My companion's "NY Strip 'a La Beef & Broccolini" ($55) seemed to be a miserly 6 ounce portion of meat, half of which was fatty, and, inedible like the salad, and with equally miserly stalks of broccolini. Ambience and décor proved even more unpalatable than the food. That evening, the restaurant was a dimly-lit gray yellow accompanied by ample humidity. The space felt claustrophobic and dingy, so much different than the image The Infatuation posted on its site. Not to mention that far too many patrons appeared as if they had just crawled out of bed and grabbed the first outfit they could find on the floor of their flats. And no, that comment is not snobby as the Bistrot Ha's dishes are not inexpensive. Ultra-casual restaurants are perfectly fine, but the service and meal must then be well-executed to compensate for the visuals; not the case at my first (and only) visit to Bistrot Ha. Operating a successful restaurant in Manhattan is daunting, and fraught with challenges. It may be that my experience at Bistrot Ha was atypical. But, the bartender eye-roll in combination with other items I note above is enough to assure that I do not make another visit to Bistrot Ha. read more

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We were able to snag a last minute Resy for Bistrot Ha on a Friday night at 7:15 pm and it was busy. Sitting at the bar was nice but you will have people occasionally shove and bump into you because it is a very cramped restaurant, also the barstools are very wobbly. During dinner we witness someone fall off their barstool so be weary. Food and hospitality was great and we had such a lovely evening. We ordered a ton of food for two people: * Pâte Nam Chung with Pickled Radishes ($20) * Leeks Vinaigrette with Maggi & Marinated Mussels ($20) * Beef Tartare with Onion Rings & Tartare Sauce ($28) * Vol-au-vent with Escargot, Lemongrass, and Coconut ($34) * Lamb with Lime Leaf & Grilled Sugar Snap Peas ($62) * Country Pork Chop Canh Chua ($58) * Huckleberry Galette ($23) (We also ordered cocktails & had a complimentarily fried yuba with shrimp & sweet nuoc mam) and spent $274 before tip. Drinks are creative and delicious here. The pâte was well spiced and paired beautifully with the pickled radish to cut through the richness. Leeks vinaigrette was phenomenal and I'm not a fan of leeks or chives. I've never had beef tartare before but I did not expect their dish to taste so similar to a sour cream & onion potato chip, but in a good way. The vol-au-vent escargot was a unique dish since the flaky puff was crisp and hollow but then it's paired with this lemongrass coconut sauce that I think had ginger in it? Not sure but it was delicious and it was interesting not having to scoop out escargot from a shell. The lamb with lime leaf was so tender and it had a sauce almost like mint? that was very refreshing. I thought the pork chops were okay but my friend adored the dish. But the star that stole the show for the both of us was the fried yuba and we didn't even ordered it! It was incredible, you must try. It had a crispy exterior and was covered in a sweet nuoc mam. We wished it was a bit more fishier but that's because we love nuoc mam. Their huckleberry galette was very reminiscent of a pie and it was a nice sweet treat after a ton of savory dishes. Overall we would love to come back and try the rest of their menu. Staff were so kind and gave us great food recommendations! read more

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TLDR version- A bit pricey for the quality. Better mains than appetizers. Loved the big steak, the boudin noir, and all desserts. Most dishes have a salty and sweet component as they all contain fish sauce. I was at this new sister restaurant to Ha's Snack Bar for a very late dinner reservation yesterday with five other people. The place was pretty crowded, and the lighting was a bit too dark for photos. The music was a bit more unique than most spots with good quality speakers, with the last restaurant I remember having similar quality music being LenLen. The server was friendly and very knowledgeable about the menu, though they had to be given the whole 22% automatic gratuity at the end. I didn't bother with a drink, but they have a handful of spritzes and a nice selection of spirits as well as wines by the glass and bottle, as expected for a bistro-ish spot. Possibly due to our reservation time, they were unfortunately out of both fried yuba and leg of lamb, and the menu also did not mention steak frites, which is listed on Infatuation and other sites. The first dish that arrived was unfortunately the weakest. The menu lists it as Crudo of Steelhead Trout for $26, but the server let us know the fish had been replaced with tuna, and the dish was served with yuzu, capers, and pieces of trout roe. This tiny plate came with four pieces of good-quality tuna, and the dish had a very bright, almost overly acidic taste. I liked the tuna, but the capers weren't necessary as the dish was already a bit too salty without them. This was alright, but I think it needed some sweetness or something similar to balance it out. The next dish, also from the amuse section, was the 'Char Sui' Beef Heart for $18. I have only had heart as anticuchos, and by comparison, the meat texture was a tad different, with a mildly hard exterior and a soft, chewy interior. There was a light sweetness on the outside, with some of the lightly sweet char siu/roasted pork flavor, while the dish also had a bit of spice. This was like the other dish, still just okay, but I found the flavors more balanced, and it's more worth it due to the uniqueness of the offal. Our remaining dishes were all mains, and the first to arrive was the Pork Shank & Manila Clam 'Bun Bo Hue' for $45. While named after the soup, the "broth" was more of a cooked-down and concentrated version. The pork shank inside was super tender, though unfortunately, there was a bit of grit in one of the two clams I had. The dish also came with rice, which helped absorb some of the "broth." Most reasonably priced of the mains, and our second favorite savory dish overall was the Boudin Noir With Kumquats & Pommes Puree for $39. The meat was well-spiced and very tender, while the potatoes were buttery and smooth. The kumquats were a nice addition, as they helped tone down the dish's richness. This was excellent, and I would recommend it. Due to menu changes, we decided to split the Big Steak (30 oz) for $225, which came with a side salad and pommes frites. The steak in question was bone-in, and the meat sat atop a delicious and uniquely flavored au jus. The meat itself was tender with a mid chew, and there was plenty of tasty meat still attached to the bone. There was a mild sweetness, richness, and saltiness to the au jus, and the nicely crisp pommes frites were particularly delicious dipped into it. The side salad, which had scallions, chili, and other things, helped with the richness. This was excellent and the definite highlight even at that price point. Last, we got a handful of desserts, though one was a different offering than on the menu. I went with the Meringue with Passionfruit and Tapioca for $18, which was very tasty, and I believe it is occasionally on the original rotating Ha's menu. They described the dessert as a citrusy pavlova, which was accurate. The dish had some crunch and some softness, with a good citrusy component from the passion fruit and grapefruit. The group as a whole ordered two of their $20 Galette Des Rois, made in the French style rather than in New Orleans. This consisted of a puff pastry filled with frangipane (i.e., almond custard) and was served with almond ice cream. The puff pastry was flaky with a crisp exterior and a mildly sweet filling, and I think it would pair nicely with some coffee. Another person ordered a Chocolate Roll Cake, which replaced the Coquito Tres Leches. I believe it was $20 or so, and it was lightly sweet, with good-quality chocolate and some hazelnut flavor if I recall correctly, but I'm not positive, as I only had a bite. It's a bit hard to review this restaurant, as the price point is a tad high, which isn't helped by the automatic 22% tip (possibly because we were a table of six, but I don't know.) If you don't mind paying a bit more for unique and intense flavors, I would still recommend this spot, with the main dishes better than the small plates. read more

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It pains me to write this review because I love the team and I love Ha's Snack Bar. The food here is overly salty and the dishes were not as well executed as Ha's Snack Bar. My husband and I ordered the soft shell crab, asparagus, escargot, black fish, squid and pork cutlet and only the squid dish was good. Everything else was so overly salted. However, we ended on a high note though because their pineapple dessert was out of this world! read more

Bistrot Ha - Pineapple Tart - French Near Me - New York, New York

Pretty great extension of ha's snack bar. Pretty similar menu and some the sauces were similar. Favorites were the asparagus and the fried yuba. read more

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Definitely a tough spot to grab a reservation for, but finally managed to do so after some time. Came here for dinner, and wasn't expecting the space to be so snug, felt very cozy. We sat at the bar and ordered a few dishes to share. Some highlights were the escargot with lemongrass and the fried yuba and shrimp, which both had great flavors. Get that rice and bread to soak up the sauce! We got the lobster and fries, which I did end up thinking was ok. They did a great job cleaning up the lobster, and they left that head butter in, which was a good choice for me, but can definitely be a bit of a stronger fishy flavor for many people. We did notice that service tended to be a bit slow, and at some point, we thought they had forgotten our order since customers who were seated and ordered after us got their dishes before we did, even though we ordered the same dish. Waited quite a bit before we got our next plates, so it felt a bit disjoint as a meal. Also, our rice was quite a bit undercooked, which wasn't ideal. The bread, tho, was excellent. A good meal, but it didn't leave a strong positive impression on me, unfortunately. read more

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As a fan of Ha's Snack Bar, I was super excited to check out their sister restaurant, Bistrot Ha! I had a good time but still think I prefer the former. Started off with the hamachi crudo which featured fresh fish with an interesting combination of sweet, tanginess, citrus, and savory flavors. The textural contrast between the chewy fish, crunchy rhubarb, mint leaves, and the crispy toppings was very interesting. The salad surprised me! I loved the combination of veggies and herbs tossed in a fish-sauce based dressing and then finished with crispy garlic. The saltiness of the sauce and spice from the chili were neutralized by the "grassy" and fresh herbacious flavors of the greens. The leeks were ~delicious~ and the highlight of my meal. I grew up eating maggi sauce with cooked veggies and with boiled shrimp so the sauce was very nostalgic. The addition of well cooked leeks and the egg salad was new and refreshing. Didn't know they worked so well together. Be sure to pair everything with the baguette to soak up the sauce! For mains, the vol au vent was my second favorite dish of the night! The pastry was crispy and paired well with the tasty morels, crab meatballs, and lobster pieces. The sauce reminded me of an egg drop soup like sup mang cua, but with more umami, seafood flavors. The pork chop was juicy, tender, and well seasoned with lots of black pepper. It came with a peanut sauce that reminded me of a satay sauce. Charred cabbage were nice additions to the meat/sauce. For dessert, the toasted sesame and chocolate tarte had great flavors, but I wish the pastry was either chewier or crispier. The chocolate sauce was very cocoa-y and loved how it wasn't too sweet. Sesame taste within the pastry was prominent! For drinks, the yellow spritz offered a floral and slightly bitter citrus-y profile due to the elderflower flavors. The shiso martini definitely featured strong shiso and herbacious flavors. The space is intimate with dim lighting and tables nearly touching each other. Good vibes overall but the wooden chairs were quite uncomfortable in my opinion. Staff were polite and fine, although several tables next to us seemed to know a particular staff member so they definitely got way more attention. We had indicated it was a special celebration on Resy but staff didn't seem to recognize and we were too tired to ask. While I am interested in checking out the other dishes on their rotating menu, I would still prioritize Ha's Snack Bar. read more

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The crudo was AWESOME, flavor pairings were impeccable. It danced on my tongue like a million stars. Bartender? So knowledgeable! After she explained the menu to me, my order changed COMPLETELY and I don't regret it. The vibe in the establishment was elegant with a touch of shameless youth and Tumblr realness. The playlist? DIVINE. COME HERE ASAP. read more

Bistrot Ha - French Near Me - New York, New York

I like pretty much every type of cuisine, the one exception being French food. Maybe I'll completely change my mind when I get to 50 or 60 in the way that I suddenly started loving martinis after I turned 30 (true story). In any case, I'm only interested in eating French food if it's fused tactfully with another cuisine I typically enjoy. At Bistrot Ha, much of the fare is French in concept but flavors that are Vietnamese leaning. It's safe to say that the fusion is not only successful here, but thoughtful, creative, and exciting. Though it is allegedly as difficult to get a res at Bistrot Ha as it is at Ha's Snack Bar, I miraculously managed to snag a 9:15pm here on a Saturday night. I almost didn't believe it and it was as if the host didn't either, because he looked borderline stunned when we walked in and told him we had a reservation. It's also possible that it was a partially masked look of concern, because our table did not end up being ready for 40 minutes. The space is relatively small (yet apparently it is much bigger than Ha's) and there is virtually no space around the bar for hanging out, so the delay was less than ideal for many reasons. That said, we were still table to order a round of drinks while we waited and both were fantastic. On the small side, but delicious all the same (I got the Ha's Martini with gin and my partner got the Lychee Cosmo, for reference). I also tried the Rum Martinez and the orange wine they are serving by the glass at the moment, and both were great. The food at Bistrot Ha is as inventive as it is well-executed. Most of what we ordered was very memorable, unlike anything I'd ever had before. And I don't think that's because I avoid French food -- it's more a testament to the kitchen's creativity. We got a nice sampling of the menu with impressive variety, trying some preparations that appeared more straightforward alongside some that were more unusual. Eats, below: Ha's Salad: A Big fresh salad that was so good I forgot to snap a pic of it. 'Char Sui' beef heart : A- One of the more unique dishes of the night. The pieces of beef are quite small, mixed in with a salad of fresh herbs, nuts, and spicy peppers (maybe thai chili?). A bit too salty for my liking but I don't regret ordering it. Leeks Vinaigrette with maggi and marinated mussels: A+ One of our two favorites from the meal. I cannot even fathom how one comes up with this concept but wow, memorable for all the right reasons. Unbelievably flavorful with so much going on that all just works. Boundin noir w/ kumquats and pommes puree: A Love the sweet/salty/savory combination here, a masterful blend of both textures and flavors. Like the standout items from your charcuterie board leveled up from the minor leagues and dressed up in flaky pastry. Steamed fluke with ginger, scallion, cilantro: A+ We are in the dead of winter right now with temperatures I have not experienced in years. It is not pleasant. The remedy is this dish and only this dish on repeat. So warming for mind, body, and spirit. read more

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Leeks, crab eclair, and fluke crudo were all incredible, although the latter two were too herby for my wife. The duck frites was excellent as well but would probably get a different entree next time. The pistachio rhubarb tart and chocolate cake were perfect. read more

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The sister restaurant to Ha's Snack Bar, but like a French bistro and a slightly larger space! We arrived at 5:10pm to queue before opening (3 parties ahead of us) and managed to be a part of the first round of bar seating. Around 5:15pm, the host came out to ask for party sizes and to get everyone into Resy. Once 5:30pm rolls around, it gets a little disorganized with people starting to show up for their early reservations and the waitlist feeling peckish to go inside. All was resolved by 5:45pm ish and I'm sure it is just new restaurant kinks. We got sat the bar, which appears to seat 11-12 people. We ordered the leeks vinaigrette, fried yuba, tomato fried rice with escargot, lamb sausage and frites and ice cream bombe. Everything was absolutely delicious and had a hint of fish sauce. I particularly loved the leeks vinaigrette, which features maggi sauce and a hearty baguette. Super reminiscent of being a child and eating eggs with maggi and a Vietnamese baguette. You just want your carbs vehicle to soak up all the savory juices. The fried yuba was delicious, stuffed with a shrimpy meatball and drowned in nuoc mam with thai chilies. Our main, the lamb sausage and frites was a delicious umami take on Algerian lamb. Each bite I had of the lamb evolved - it was sweet, spicy, funky all in one. The frites were great too and paired well with the lamb and its juices. Next time, I'd personally pass on the fried rice. The tomato flavor wasn't as present as I'd expect it for being in the name of this dish, but it was still enjoyable. Finally, we ended the night with the ice cream bombe - a baked alaska styled dessert (no cake) with an Asian neapolitan ice cream - black sesame, pandan coconut, and coconut caramel. Super delicious and covered in a marshmallowey meringue. It was the perfect way to end the evening. I'll be daydreaming when I can come back again. Love the space with the James Cherry lighting, the French feel, and the Viet twist on everything. read more

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The follow up to Ha's Snack Bar, it's a little bigger but still a tight space and lots of similar flavors. Amazing smaller plates, like the fried yuba and Tartlette, and the desserts were all really good too. We were rushed out in less than two hours even though our 4 top spent $500 and ordered just about the whole menu so that was kind of a bummer, but you gotta turn those tables I guess when your restaurant is this hot on opening night. read more

Solid meal, though don't know if it was quite as spectacular as the hype would lead you to believe. The entrees and desserts definitely outshine the appetizers. Like Ha's Snack Bar anything with pastry is a winner...really enjoyed the savory Vol Au Vent (when we went it was with lamb) and the Ice Cream Bombe. The Boudin Noir was also tasty. The Tuna Tartare and Fried Yuba were fine but not particularly memorable. Good cocktails (shout out to the Rum Martinez) and interesting wines by the bottle. read more

Everything was fabulous, including the service! Honestly, it was all great. I loved my apricot ini, too and wish I had the recipe.

WOW!! They really nailed it! Decor, ambience, service and most-of-all the food!! Hope you like fish sauce, which I do - because it's in everything. Even the martini (along with an oyster). I was able to get a spot at the bar on opening night and was taken care of by Rose who was awesome! Enjoyed their fish sauce-infused martini followed by the rum Martinez. Started with the steelhead trout crudo which may be the best crudo I have ever had, between the combination of melt-in-your-mouth fish, slightly sweetened lime-enhanced fish sauce and delectable caviar pearls. Followed it up with the black cod - again amazing. So many things to try on the menu. Can't wait to come back!! BTW, in response to Mike C - it states on Resy that parties of 4 are limited to 2 hours - don't be surprised when they enforce their time restrictions read more

Food excellent. Vibe was happening. Drinks good. Staff great. Desserts average. Bar Stool comfort, none! I would still go back. 5 stars!

Not worth the hype. Food was not that great. Underwhelming to say the least. The food is not prepared well.