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    Ichibantei

    3.9 (368 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

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    Reviews With Photos

    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!)

    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.

    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.

    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.

    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
    Giana S.

    On the surface, this place seems promising - atmosphere is set in a dimmed room with silent films and jazz playing over them. But the food was nothing what we hoped it to be. Nice ambiance. The pan fried gyoza was mushy and bland inside with an over cooked, almost burnt skirt. we couldn't stomach eating it. The chicken kastu was plated beautifully but tasted average. The miso soup, cabbage and seaweed which came with the katsu was tasty. Also ordered the cold ramen noodle and not good. In fact, it has a terribly off-putting flavor. The seervice was mid... when expressing dissatisfaction with the gyoza, the waitress was not concerned. 4/10.

    chew
    Bellody C.

    I got the cheese hamburger steak and although it was good, I feel as though the flavor of this particular cheese they use doesn't complement the meat. The regular hamburger steak looks good though! My friend tried the wafu hamburger steak and it was just topped with radish. The sets are really filling- it comes with a side of veggies rice and soup There were a few times when I couldn't spot any staff members when I needed them but overall good experience.

    Nilima S.

    Came here on a whim a few weeks ago for dinner on a busy Friday night and we were seated right away! The vibe inside is kinda cool, a little dark, but the gigantic movie screen projection is a nice add. Not too loud and I'm not gonna lie, major plus points these days when you can hear yourself talking to your friends...Anywho, we shared a few items and I got my own entree but I will say the menu was pretty expansive so there's a ton more to try! We went with the agedashi tofu, dashimaki, and garlic edamame as apps along with something else I'm forgetting the name of. All were pretty good though I will say I think I preferred the dashimaki. For my main, I went with chicken katsu - the entree was fairly large, the curry flavorful, and the chicken well-seasoned. I can't say I'm a discerning palate for Japanese cuisine but I enjoyed the meal overall. For dessert, we tried the earl grey panna cotta as well as the vanilla panna cotta with mixed berries and both were great - the earl grey was unique and a nice touch that it was served out of a tea cup! Would definitely recommend giving this place a try, especially if you're looking for a last-minute spot for a small group!

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    11 months ago

    Open late!!! One of my favorite go to spots. Fantastic food, fast service, and crazy good vibes. I'm such a fan

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    Gallaghers Steakhouse

    4.2(2.2k reviews)
    2.1 miTheater District, Midtown West
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    After years of being in the area for plays, shopping and university related stuff and not being…read moreable to get in due to the wait time not fitting our plans or schedule, we finally made a reservation online to have a meal at this legendary place. We showed up and the place was buzzing with a line out the door. I checked in at the podium and hostess said table will be ready in 5 minutes. 2 minutes later, we the hostess to our table. Looking around everything was the old classic/stereotypical ideas of a what a great steakhouse should be and it did not disappoint. Sal was our waiter, he was friendly, professional and one look we could tell we were in the more than capable hands and nothing would be amiss. He told us about the specials, lunch or dinner menu options. The other wait staff worked like a team that has been together for years, checking on everyone in our section, delivering our orders, refilling our glasses, answering questions, bussing our table everyone with smooth and practiced motions. 2 Caesar salads, 1 8 oz filet w/baked potato, 1 surf and turf w/broccoli everything cooked and presented to perfection. For dessert, the legendary cheesecake with coffee and the baked Alaska. It was the perfect ending to a great meal. In this restaurant the waiters make everyone feel important and special and maybe it's a little pricey but it's New York and they have been around for a really long time so they knew what they are doing and are doing it GREAT.

    I don't believe that there is or could ever be a "perfect" steak. That being said, tonight I may…read morehave had the closest thing to a perfect stake. I first thought, "this is really good". Then it got more delicious the more I ate. But the "pièce de résistance" occurred when my daughter, who doesn't like steak tasted a bite a said, "I never knew steak could taste like that ". The crab cake and stuffed shrimp were very good also but not quite as good as the steak. The ambiance of the whole vibe reminds me of an old movie, where important people from all walks of life go to have a good meal. Our servers where top notch also, If I had to nitpick, I would confess the Mac & Cheese was a little dry and lacked flavor. Also the fries were a little over done but I came for the stake and I left a happy man.

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    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(97 reviews)
    2.0 miTheater District, Midtown West

    Empire Steak House - Times Square was absolutely amazing! From the moment we arrived, the…read moreexperience was top-notch. The food came out perfectly and everything we ordered was delicious. Our server, Ganni, truly made the evening special. He was attentive, friendly, and very knowledgeable. He recommended a wine that paired perfectly with our meal, which made the dining experience even better. They also went out of their way to celebrate my birthday, which was such a thoughtful touch and made the night even more memorable. I highly recommend this place if you're looking for excellent food, great service, and a wonderful atmosphere. I will definitely be coming back!

    A classic steakhouse feel just off Times Square on 49th between 8th and 9th. The service was great,…read morestarted with solid house bread & appetizers like the jumbo shrimp cocktail (good), grilled octopus (good), bacon (tough and not sweet enough like at Strip House), so a mixed start, but they were very patient and also held our table for a little longer than the normal 15min wait as we were late due to traffic. The bone-in ribeye steak was just ok (dry-aged, bone-in ribeye was tough and gristly with a lot of sinew in my cut - unexpected for a good cut of what should be well-marbled meat). Asparagus on the greasy side. Lavender creme brulée was good, though, really could taste the lavender hint over the creamy custard with just the right hint of a crunchy sugar melted on top. Overall, a good service experience, just a bit tough that my steak didn't meet expectations. My dining companion had a great grilled branzino, though - that looked amazing. Will have to try that next time or the bolognese (next table over had that, also smelled amazing)!

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    Del Frisco's Double Eagle Steakhouse

    Del Frisco's Double Eagle Steakhouse

    4.2(3.7k reviews)
    1.9 miTheater District, Midtown West
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    Felt lucky to have snagged a last minute reservation on a Saturday night. Arrived on time and was…read morepromptly seated. Waiter Gerard J. was friendly and welcoming. He helped us make the right selection of steak, and appetizer. We were seated with a nice view of the outside promenade. At first glance the dining room didn't seem large but on the trip to the restroom I learned that they can accommodate large groups and have private rooms as well. Restroom was clean and equipped. We ordered the crab cake, 12 oz. filet mignon and lamb chops, and the lemon cake. The crab cake was chocked full of delicious crab meat, not a lot of breading. The steak was flavorful and arrived hot. The double-bone lamb chop entree was enormous, and delicious. It was accompanied by parsnip puree and a mint-pistachio chimichurri, scrumptious!! For my pre-birthday dessert I chose the lemon cake and was delighted to see Gerard had also brought [ME ;) ] us the strawberry Hibiscus cheesecake and I was so happy he did!!! Both were absolutely mouth-watering. This is a great spot pre-Broadway or Radio City, as I could see it from my table!!! Can't wait to go back!!!

    We celebrated our anniversary at Del Frisco's and had a really great experience overall. The…read moreatmosphere felt upscale but still comfortable, which made it perfect for a special occasion without feeling overly formal. The service stood out right away--attentive, knowledgeable, and well-paced throughout the evening. We never felt rushed, and everything came out at the right time, which made the night feel relaxed and enjoyable. The steaks were cooked exactly how we ordered them--tender, flavorful, and high quality. All of the food had great flavor, and the sides were just as good and easy to share. The only reason this isn't a full 5 stars is that a few small details could have been just a bit tighter. But nothing that took away from the overall experience. Overall, it was a memorable anniversary dinner, and when in Times Square I would definitely visit again.

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    Prime Catch - Lobster Bisque

    Prime Catch

    3.8(93 reviews)
    1.8 miTheater 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.

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    Steak Frites Bistro - Hunger steak 9 ounces

    Steak Frites Bistro

    4.5(297 reviews)
    1.6 miMidtown West, Hell's Kitchen
    $$$

    Finally. I've been on the search. City after city. 6 different French restaurants in Chicago. Not…read moreto mention Washington DC and other cities. But I finally found authentic steak tartare. Hand cut. Not run through a blender. The closest to the nest that I've had in Paris. Ambiance: 10/10 Steak tartare: 9/10 Pomme fritte: 7/10 Service: 10/10 Don't get me wrong these fries were good. Better than all the others. Not quite good as in Paris. It was a joy to eat here. And I feel like I've finally found a place that compares to Paris. The best of Chicago produced nothing to compare to Paris.

    French Bistro in Midtown West, minutes from Penn Station or Port Authority so the location is quite…read moreconvenient. I made a reservation to be safe, as many restaurants now ask if you did so. This place is quite packed every night so it was the way to go. I came here for dinner post showtime and my son and I over ordered but happily enjoyed everything. I think our eyes are way bigger than our stomachs. Starters: - French onion soup, au gratin, was perfect. Great onion profile and lots of it. Not overly salty so that was good. - Beef tartare, classic French bistro staple, must order this. The portion was quite generous and it was delicious. We couldn't stop eating it. The petite toasts were a nice accompaniment as well as the raddiccio salad - cheese board, IYKYK, I never met a cheese I didn't like. This board was matched with nice pairings. Think grapes, fig jam, and marcona almonds. The cheese were a classic French variety - bleu, comte and brie. For our entrees, my son opted for a sandwich and I got the steak. His croque Madame was really delicious. The bread, the ham, the baked cheese and the fried egg was so savory. Yummy. My steak was a sizeable portion but I purposely ordered the bigger ounces since I know we'd share. Fries are nice and skinny, perfectly seasoned. Our waiter was attentive and I asked for the table next to us given all the food I know we were getting. He was not sure if he could accommodate but I insisted he check with management. They came over and put it together for me. I appreciated that given a table for two, for how much we ordered, it'd never fit. Totally would return. If you like French food, this is a solid spot to try.

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    Steak Frites Bistro - View from our window table

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    At the entrance

    Ichibantei - japanese - Updated May 2026

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