Cancel

Open app

Search

Ichibantei

3.9 (372 reviews)
Wed • 11:00 am - 3:00 AM (Next day)
Thu • 11:00 am - 3:00 AM (Next day)
Updated over 3 months ago

Order Ichibantei Takeout or Delivery

Ichibantei Photos

ICHIBANTEI ATMOSPHERE

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

You might also consider

More like Ichibantei

Recommended Reviews - Ichibantei

Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
Yelp app icon
Browse more easily on the app
Review Feed Illustration

Reviews With Photos

Good earl grey panna cotta
Rita L.

Writing a review for my experience last night. I stopped by since I knew a couple of friends were there having dinner and a few friends and I wanted to check out the spot. We had some drinks and appetizer and dessert and to our surprise when we got the bill we saw a 25% tip added automatically. My group was told that we were not going to be billed under the same bill as my friends party since they had a lot more people, and we sat in a different table next to them. We were also there after having dinner so knew it was just gonna be a drink for fun, and we got there a lot later. I thought that was kind of sketchy they did that and surprised to see the charges. I didn't know sitting next to my friends meant we were automatically charged as a larger group and to be forced to pay that tip felt off, it would have been helpful if they told us and i would've totally sat at a different section if i knew about it walking in. (the other groups host had a dinner event I was not a part of) We were also okay getting a separate table with our group of 4 and we was just gonna go say hi to our friends, it's so weird this is how they're doing business and expected us to pay more for the tip. Surprising because I would have just said, I want to sit at a different section and not have to be charged extra. Honestly, I just hate not having the option to choose what we want to tip and that it felt forced. Otherwise friendly staff, good earl grey panna cotta and passion fruit cocktail, but that tip situation threw my experience off. Didn't know what else to say besides feeling like we've overpaid. Ooh also the bathroom was gross. The first one closer to the reception lady walking in is a little bit cleaner. The second one by the staircase is really disgusting and smells disgusting. I don't know how they're cleaning this restroom... it's so dark and just... yuck! The whole vibe of this place is really dark. Not my type of place to go. Won't be back again for sure.

lunch special menu
Joann S.

The service was pretty good and the ambience was also really nice. The lighting was dim and they had a movie playing in the background (Harry Potter). I liked what I ordered, which was the steak and rice. I preferred the takoyaki over the shio takoyaki, but they were both a little softer than the ones I was used to.

Gyudon kizami-wasabi
Anna K.

The restaurant has been relocated. The new spot is much more luxury and modern with black wall. Screen playing is cool but could play better things. Our waiter was really friendly :) Ordered Gyu-Don. Was really tasty! They open until 3am. Will come back for another meals!

Ashley C.

I'm obsessed with this place. I used to live in Japan and everything tasted authentic like a regular Tokyo izakaya. I went with my friend and the temptation to order everything on the menu was strong. On a Friday night they were packed so I recommend reservations. The vibe is really cool too great date spot!

Adi V.

Ambiance was good, something unique with the screen playing, 7/10. Service was good, as expected nothing over the top, 5/10. Food was decent, I'm vegetarian so there weren't many options and they said they couldn't sub meat for vegetables on some dishes. Also didn't get my miso soup until after the food was finished, 5/10. (The others liked their food though!)

Megana V.

the food was alright but the portions were large and the vibe inside was sort of incredible. they had a huge project playing ghibli movies the entire time so it felt cool and kitschy lol

Rina D.

Cool concept, dark and theater like ambiance, but everything was very salty ): For appetizers, we got yuzu shishito peppers and it was SO salty, we could barely eat it.. The agedashi tofu was probably our favorite as its texture and flavoring was very good. The karaage was kind of unique as the chicken was very thick and stiff.. not the typical type of chicken(?) you would get for karaage. I got the chicken katsu and once again, the chicken was not tender and it was very stiff and thick! It was once again like a different part of the chicken than the typical chicken katsu that you would get. The sauce was also pretty soy sauce(?)/salt heavy and I did not end up finishing my meal.. Service was okay! Staff seemed pretty tired/not enthusiastic as she talked to us and took our orders.

Jason M.

My brother and I found ourselves at Ichibantei for a late dinner after a nearby concert. He took lead with picking the place as I had made arrangements for the concert; since he had been here before with good things to say, it seemed like the ideal spot to try - so off we went. Ichibantei sits on 3rd Ave and 13th Street. Walking in, I was really surprised by the size; the space is huge with a large hall/waiting area towards the front which gives way to a decently-sized dining room that also houses a bar. I noticed some stairs as we were making our way to our table - not sure if that led to another level but regardless, there's a lot of space here. The decor is modern with low lighting and a dark color scheme paired against colorful art hanging on the walls. The mellow music playing completed the feel. The menu is mainly Japanese, with a good selection of apps, rice bowls, curries, and entrees. We decided to start with a few apps - namely, the shio takoyaki, Ichibantei fries, and gyoza. I enjoyed all three - the gyoza were my favorite as they were crispy with a lot of flavor. I'm not really into takoyaki but these were topped with a tasty sauce; the fries were good too - steak style and seasoned well. For my main I got the chicken katsu curry - this was really good. The chicken was fried well without being too greasy and the curry was flavorful. I must say, portions were very generous - both with the apps and the entrees. They're open late so I can totally see this being an after hours spot when hunger calls. Service was good, we were seated promptly despite being early for our reservation and food came out at a good pace. Overall, I had a great experience at Ichibantei - food and aesthetics were a yes and I wouldn't hesitate to return for another meal.

Pork Katsu Curry
Samantha W.

We had been searching far and wide for katsu curry, and we came upon Ichibantei. I gotta say, a little underwhelmed by the experience. The restaurant itself is gorgeous. I really like the dimly lit interior and high ceilings. The intimate vibes are very cozy. The drinks were good, nothing special about them. My boyfriend got the rum and ginger and thought it was too tart. It needed something to balance it out. The katsu itself was pretty good! The breading was crispy, and the meat was juicy enough and had some great fatty parts. The curry was a bit disappointing though. It was kind of grainy and a bit thin. It also had a slight sour aftertaste that I didn't love. I've definitely had better curry, and at a much lower price point. For $26, I was expecting to be wowed, and I just wasn't.

Mervi T.

Delicious food and amazing vibes!! They have a movie projected on the wall & servers were quick and attentive

Chicken nanban
Peggy C.

I checked out Ichibantei because I wanted to see how the chicken nanban compared to my home-cooked experience in Japan. The chicken did not disappoint. It was juicy and flavorful and had a unique tartar sauce that pulled the dish together with the rice. I did enjoy it. My husband's curry was just OK, but was a good portion. The salted edamame appetizer was not very good. It seemed microwaved and certainly overcooked. The service was decent, but in no way justified the suggest 25%-35% tip on the card reader. This place is much more of a bar than a restaurant, and it has a grimy feel to match. Nightmare Before Christmas playing on the big screen around Halloween time, FYI.

kurobata pork ginger. Teishoku (me thinks)
Ruwan J.

Ichibantei used to be a cozy Japanese soul / comfort food spot in the East Village off of First Avenue. in 2023, it moved into a much larger building where it is still resides currently...still in the East Village on Third Avenue. came here on a busy Saturday night (before the big snowstorm) to pick up a takeout dinner. ordered a "Katsu Curry Rice" platter, but it was actually "Karaage Curry Rice"--but i sorta knew this because the app i ordered through had a pic, so i knew i was getting fried chicken chunks (karaage) versus a fried Panko-breaded sliced chicken cutlet (Katsu). assume it's just a error or glitch. anyway, either way i was getting fried chicken pieces, an ample amount of Japanese rice, curry sauce, and pickled radish as a takeout order. the current larger Ichibantei space is sleek, modern, and feels very Japanese pop culture with a touch of NYC versus the previous Ichibantei space which is was way more intimate and casual. Ichibantei's entranceway has seating to wait; there is hostess station to check in for your reservation or to pick up orders, and beyond that is the large main dining low-lit room + bar (you can eat at the bar). on one of the dining room walls, they screen movies throughout the day and night. "Bambi" was playing when i was there that night. there are more floors with seating options, but i didn't check them out. anyway, the restaurant was slammed as they had a full house and what seemed like a never-ending stream of delivery people picking up orders. so my order was about ~25-30 minutes late, but it wasn't a big deal because I was in no rush to head back in the abyss of a freezing winter night. when ready, my order was packed neatly. got home quickly as i was hungry and the food smelled great even through the bag. the food? very good. everything was very warm, so my food didn't sit too long. the karaage was crispy potato-starch-coated fried-chicken-thigh chunks on the outside, but juicy and flavorful on the inside. so good. the Japanese rice was right amount of soft, sticky chewiness to complement the karaage and curry sauce. the curry sauce is thick-ish, seasoned-well with layers of savory umami-ness, nice and aromatic but not spicy, but more mild with sweet notes. combined all together, it makes for satisfying comfort food calories. Ichibantei is open for both lunch, dinner, and stays open late--serving up tasty Japanese soul food for hungry spirits.

Beef Curry Udon, Niku Udon
Michelle Y.

Super spacious very cool movie-theater(???) themed restaurant with japanese rice/udon dishes. udon was so good, noodles were cooked well and niku broth was so flavorful (we were a fan of the raw beef). I was also just a fan of the vibes in general, and the servers were nice as well.

Chicken Katsu

See all

4 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 2
Oh no 0

5 months ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 1
Love this 1
Oh no 0

2 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Rita L.
3364
1068
9522

7 months ago

Helpful 16
Thanks 2
Love this 7
Oh no 4

7 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

5 months ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 1
Love this 1
Oh no 0

6 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

1 year ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

4 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Rina D.
190
644
3038

1 year ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 2
Oh no 0

1 year ago

Helpful 8
Thanks 2
Love this 6
Oh no 2

2 years ago

Helpful 5
Thanks 1
Love this 6
Oh no 0

11 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

11 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 1
Love this 0
Oh no 0

9 months ago

Helpful 23
Thanks 10
Love this 19
Oh no 0

1 year ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Giana S.
91
89
64

1 year ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 1

2 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

4 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

10 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

1 year ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 1

1 year ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

10 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

2 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

2 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 2
Oh no 0

1 year ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

1 year ago

Helpful 2
Thanks 0
Love this 3
Oh no 0

2 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

3 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 2
Oh no 0

3 years ago

Helpful 3
Thanks 1
Love this 2
Oh no 1

3 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

3 years ago

Helpful 2
Thanks 1
Love this 3
Oh no 0
Photo of Chin T.
121
544
1675

3 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 1
Love this 0
Oh no 2

2 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 1

11 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

5 months ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 1
Love this 1
Oh no 0
Photo of Spoii X.
71
28
79

2 years ago

Helpful 3
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

1 year ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Najwa G.
553
1161
2760

3 years ago

Helpful 8
Thanks 0
Love this 5
Oh no 6

3 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

Page 1 of 10

Ichibantei Reviews in Other Languages

Ask the Community - Ichibantei

You might also consider

Carmine's - Time Square - Chicken Alla Romana

Carmine's - Time Square

4.0(5.6k reviews)
1.7 mi•Theater District, Midtown West
•$$

Our family had such a magical time attending The Grandest Princess Ball Ever at Carmine's! We…read moredressed our daughter as Princess Anna from Frozen, and she absolutely stole the show. From the moment we arrived, the atmosphere felt so special and full of excitement for the kids. The event itself was beautiful. The princesses were wonderful with the children, and everyone had the chance to dance, sing along, and even create Mother's Day cards together. Watching our daughter light up while interacting with the princesses truly made the day unforgettable. The desserts included with the tickets were mediocre. The entire experience created such sweet family memories that we'll cherish for a long time. We also decided to purchase the hot buffet, which included Caesar salad, mixed salad, penne alla vodka, penne with garlic & oil, chicken parm, chicken cutlet, meatballs, and sausage & peppers. The food overall was good, and there were plenty of options for everyone. The kids' drinks were complimentary, while alcohol was a separate charge. Our little princess loved her Shirley Temple with extra cherries, and I really enjoyed my Jameson and ginger ale. The Caesar salad was especially good with their homemade dressing, and the huge croutons definitely made an impression. Maybe a little over the top, but still tasty! I ended up slicing the chicken cutlet into the Caesar salad, and it was honestly phenomenal together. The chicken cutlet itself was flavorful and one of our favorite items. The penne alla vodka was also very enjoyable. Unfortunately, the chicken parm was very dry and lacked flavor. We also skipped the meatballs after being told they contained pork. In hindsight, I probably should have looked up the ingredients beforehand, but we decided to pass on them. The only downside of the experience was a misunderstanding regarding the buffet. I was approached by a waitress asking whether we had already spoken to someone about eating. I initially thought the buffet was included with our event tickets, but apparently it was separate. I must have missed that information pw, so I ended up purchasing meal tickets for my family on the spot. I just wish the interaction had been handled a little more warmly and clearly. Aside from that small issue, we genuinely had a wonderful time. The event was beautifully organized and full of joy, music, laughter, and magical moments for families. Seeing our daughter so happy made everything worth it, and it turned into such a memorable Mother's Day celebration for us all.

The service at Carmines is impeccable! Carmines especially this location in Times Square gets busy…read moreso we made a reservation before hand. We were running behind after watching a show on broadway, but called and they were able to hold our table for us. The portions are family style and decently priced especially for the location. Were ordered clams, seafood pasta and drinks. Everything was delicious!

Photos
Carmine's - Time Square - Manicotti

Manicotti

Carmine's - Time Square - Pesto

Pesto

Carmine's - Time Square - Lasagna

See all

Lasagna

Gallaghers Steakhouse - New York Sirloin

Gallaghers Steakhouse

4.2(2.3k reviews)
2.1 mi•Theater District, Midtown West
•$$$$

Hello Yelpers, Jen & I just got back from New York and several other locations, Sleepy Hollow,…read moreNiagara Falls, Boston & Canada , it was a fun 7-days but glad to be back home, we tried many locations for dinner but this one I had to do a review, our son & daughter in law surprised us with this dinner as Jen & I celebrated our 41 year anniversary, the restaurant was Very nicely done in side, as you first walk in you can see the cooler were they age all there beef, we had a reservation ( beside to make a reservation as it fills up quickly ) we were seated in a reasonable time, the service is top notch as you will have two waiters assisted to your table, we decided to split out protein 4 ways as you'll see why, I forgot to photograph two side dishes one being a sweet potato hash, and MacCheese , Everything Was incredible, two small pieces left of the steak as we all were so stuffed. The Ambiance & decor are pretty nice as I walked around to check it out. I'm sure there are other locations but if in NY stop by and have dinner.

I would definitely recommend Gallaghers Steakhouse. This place has so much history, and we had a…read moregreat experience from beginning to end. The steak was amazing, and all of the sides tasted fresh and were very well prepared. The drinks were also well made, and the desserts were honestly some of the best I tasted during my trip to New York City. Service was excellent and attentive throughout our meal. Gallaghers is located near Times Square, but don't let the location fool you, this is a legitimate classic New York steakhouse with great food and a lot of character. If you're visiting Manhattan and looking for a traditional, old-school NYC steakhouse experience, I would highly recommend Gallaghers. If you're looking for something trendy or ultra-modern, this probably isn't the place but that's exactly part of what makes Gallaghers special. Definitely a place I would return to on another trip to NYC.

Photos
Gallaghers Steakhouse - Dining room

Dining room

Gallaghers Steakhouse - Baked Clams Casino

Baked Clams Casino

Gallaghers Steakhouse - Keylime pie.

See all

Keylime pie.

Brooklyn Chop House Time Square - Sweet & Sour Chicken

Brooklyn Chop House Time Square

3.7(492 reviews)
1.9 mi•Theater District, Midtown West
•$$$
Luxury
Private events

I've heard a lot of mixed reviews about Brooklyn Chop House, but honestly, I can't relate because…read moreevery time I've gone, I've had a good experience. I usually get the wonton soup with the jiaozi dumplings, and it's one of my favorite things on the menu. I haven't really seen that combination anywhere else, and I think it's really unique and really good. They also have a great happy hour. I'm not the biggest fan of the wings, but the shrimp and lobster roll is definitely worth trying. The service has always been good when I've visited, and the atmosphere is always a vibe. It's close to the Theater District, so it's a great spot to grab dinner before or after a show. There's usually a nice crowd, and you might even bump into an actor or celebrity. Overall, it's a place I keep coming back to because the food is consistently good, the service has been solid, and the overall experience is always enjoyable.

Ambiance (4/5): We were seated immediately at our reservation time. Feels like an elevated night…read moreclub on the inside with loud background music and dark lighting. A bit too loud to talk to each other. There is plenty of seating in the waiting area and seating by the bar to order something while you wait. Décor was stylish. Service (5/5): Carolina was the sweetest server on a weeknight evening. She ran down the menu in a helpful way by telling by setting expectations for dish sizes. She checked in regularly. Food (4/5): The food was good, but nothing stood out, especially for the price point. Chicken wontons (3/5): Nothing to right home about Potstickers (3/5): Nothing to right home about Vegetable lo mein (3/5): Nothing to right home about, sweet/salty sauce Philly spring rolls (4/5): Better than the others because it had some more flavor and was pretty unique Steak chimichurri (3/5): Sauce was good but they cooked a medium steak that it was tough to chew Filet mignon and broccoli (5/5): Wow this was hands down the best dish of the night. The pieces of meat were generous and SO SO tender! The sauce was cooked into the pieces of broccoli Bok choi (5/5): A nice exterior crunch with a forward garlic oil taste Fried rice (3/5): Nothing to right home about

Photos
Brooklyn Chop House Time Square - Bar area

Bar area

Brooklyn Chop House Time Square - Birthday Cake

Birthday Cake

Brooklyn Chop House Time Square - Lychee Martini with Lychee Fruit

See all

Lychee Martini with Lychee Fruit

Empire Steak House - Times Square - Surf and Turf: USDA Prime filet Mignon, and Lobster Tail, at Empire Steak House Midtown West.

Empire Steak House - Times Square

4.6(107 reviews)
2.0 mi•Theater District, Midtown West

The vibe of the place was nice & the staff were great, but I'm not quite sure why the ratings are…read moreas high as they are. The service was not what you would've expected for this quality of food. The bread was okay, when you dipped it in the olive oil and vinegar it was better. The lobster ravioli was good (I ended up getting that instead of the surf and turf since mine came out well done... bleh)!! Baked potato was weird, not really a fan. They do have some good Canadian bacon though, but they have that in their fully loaded potato and it takes over the entire thing so maybe don't do that. The steak was okay at best. Steak fries were decent, a bit greasier than we would've liked. Overall, I wouldn't really recommend this as a place to go to in NY as we would likely never go back. We spent so much money on a dinner for it to feel not worth after we left. And it was our anniversary dinner too.

I was craving steak while visiting NYC and couldn't get a reservation to try out Peter Lugers(I've…read morebeen to the Vegas location). I read that this place is very similar so gave it a shot since it was also close by time square. Overall, I had a good experience. I got the porterhouse for 2 and it was more than enough for my kids and I. The mashed potato's and thick cut bacon were really good too. The only nit pick was that the steak was cooked a little bit more than the medium I asked for. Still tasted good though and i wouldn't hold it against them. Our server was attentive and I'd give him high marks. For anyone looking for a higher quality steak experience in NYC, this should fit the bill.

Photos
Empire Steak House - Times Square - Strawberry flambé

Strawberry flambé

Empire Steak House - Times Square - The guest favorite Sizzling Canadian Bacon at Empire steak House. Extra thick by the slice.

The guest favorite Sizzling Canadian Bacon at Empire steak House. Extra thick by the slice.

Empire Steak House - Times Square - Sizzling Canadian Bacon

See all

Sizzling Canadian Bacon

Valerie

Valerie

4.3(1.4k reviews)
1.7 mi•Midtown West
•$$

As a tourist from the Midwest, I want to first start with the decor. The absolute homage to the…read more1920s is beautifully reflected in the decor. The tile on the floor to the sconces hanging from the walls. The bar is a beautiful scene for a backdrop for photos, but more importantly than any of that is the service provided. We specifically want to mention included Daniel. Daniel was the most hospitable, the most gracious and absolutely the most accommodating staff we have encountered in our trip to New York so far. Daniel made excellent choices and actually helped to custom craft drinks to our particular taste. In addition Daniel provided excellent recommendations for heavy snacking plate sharing and enjoying the overall experience.

I'm from New York and let me tell you something. I have eaten at thousands of restaurants in this…read morecountry. There's no comparison to my favorite restaurant Jerk and Jambalaya in Rehoboth Beach . The restaurant and Sintelle Taylor are excellent, excellent, excellent and did I say excellent. The food speaks for itself. The oxtails, the Mac and cheese, the greens the corn bread. Yes honey I will travel for great food. Listen up y'all restaurants, I will no longer be mistreated by bad and then asked for a tip. Jerk Jambalaya I support you and thank you for all you do. The standard has been raised . God bless you and your restaurant and team. Beautiful restaurant. Tell them Ms. Monique sent you.

Photos
Valerie
Valerie
Valerie

See all

Prime Catch

Prime Catch

3.8(92 reviews)
1.8 mi•Theater District, Midtown West

I really liked the ambiance. The music was good and not too loud. I didn't even need to wear…read moreearplugs, as I often do these days to protect me from getting much worse migraines. I sat at the bar, since it was only me, but tho the bar wasn't busy and service was friendly, it was very slow. The food was wonderful! I'm glad I made the choices I did, tho of course nothing I wanted was included in the happy hour specials. The fried calamari was some of the best I've had tho it was observed with a little bit of cocktail sauce and a huge thing of tartar sauce. I'm sure I could have gotten more cocktail sauce, since I don't like tartar sauce, but it wasn't necessary. The calamari was so good. The lobster bisque was delicious and the picture can't show you that it was full of lobster. There was a LOT more lobster than a lobster bisque normally contains and the price was about normal for a lobster bisque with one tiny piece of lobster. The iced tea was a bit out of control. If I'm going to be charged $5 per glass of iced tea, that glass should be larger than the ones they use AND not 90% ice. That much for a glass of ice with a splash of iced tea is extreme. I'd still return, since the food was wonderful and hopefully I just got unlucky with the service.

My group and me order meatballs, the classic burger, and the fillet. Everything was deliciously…read morebuttery but never too over powering with its flavors. Everything came out in a couple minutes or less. The size of the restaurant created a cozy and comfortable environment along with that the light created a soothing atmosphere.

Photos
Prime Catch
Prime Catch
Prime Catch

See all

Ichibantei - japanese - Updated October 2026

Loading...
Loading...
Loading...