Izakaya Toribar
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Still a great spot for some sake, yakitori, and okonomiyaki. I especially loved their bacon asparagus yakitori, short rib yakitori, and their kawa yakitori.
This place has a nice vibe, similar to what you might see in Tokyo at a yakitori bar but a little more elevated and less smoke. The menu is relatively simple, and not as much variety as you might want from a place like this. Also, I don't love that you have to order 5 orders of the kushikatsu. It ends up getting a little pricey. Ultimately, I got 5 kushikatsu and 4 yakitori, seaweed salad, and salmon onigiri. The yakitori was pretty good. Well cooked, could've used slightly more salt, but all of the yakitori was good, with the tebasaki (chicken wing) being the best. The beef was good but a little chewy. I was a little disappointed with the kushikatsu. They didn't have any katsu sauce or hot yellow mustard. The shrimp was tiny. I probably wouldn't get it again. The onigiri was good. There was some seasoning on the rice that made it flavorful. The service was good, they were very attentive. It would be a great for a big group to come but was pricey for just me visiting. All in all a decent, if not great, yakitori and kushikatsu bar.
Came in with decent expectations -- left frustrated. Toribar has a warm vibe at first glance, but from the moment the club-level music kicked in, things felt off. Cocktails tasted like canned mixers, and most food arrived suspiciously fast. The skewers, especially the chicken skin, were dry and brittle, with none of the smokiness or texture you'd expect. Felt more like frozen pre-cooked items thrown into a fryer. Even the karaage was tough. $100+ for three people and we left still hungry. Not returning.
Loved the food and the vibes at this Japanese izakaya. Great spot for a low key date or casual food and drinks with a few friends. The meals here are very shareable. True to form, the food comes out mostly on skewers, and it's a good idea to order a wide variety of items from the menu. The grilled veggies, fried mochi, and various meats were all delicious. Depending on the skewer, many items are under $10, so it's also a pretty cheap meal by NYC standards. Definitely worth checking out!
Such a fun spot! The skewers were so good, and well flavored. I especially liked the takoyaki here! Definitely a good spot for groups esp if you can make it for their happy hour
Got a recommendation for this spot from a friend who spent years in the midtown east area, and it is definitely a hidden gem. It definitely gets busy at dinner time but we were able to grab two seats at the counter. This was actually perfect because we got to watch them cook the food right in front of us! I got a lychee martini, which was really good! Here's all the small plates we ordered - short rib (we had to order seconds, this was to die for) - gyoza - chicken breast w scallion - king oyster mushroom - asparagus - zucchini This is the perfect place if you're looking to try a bunch of different dishes or share with a group!
I order a ton of food so you don't have to. Skip the Kushikatsu (fried skewers). I tried one of each, and they were overly breaded. The scallop was especially dry. However, the yakitori is a must-try! The shishamo (smelt) was delicious, though a bit too salty. I loved the chicken wings, drumsticks, skin, thighs, and gizzards. My top picks were the enoki wrapped in pork belly, king oyster mushroom, and short rib--absolutely amazing! Avoid the grilled squid; it was dry and tough. Don't bother with the chicken karaage, the sauce was mid. I'm usually not a fan of Toppokki, but this was hands down the best I've ever had--spicy, chewy, and delicious! You can't go wrong with the Gyunabe, a sliced beef stew. It's so comforting! They only allow you to sample the sake if you purchase the entire bottle.
Small, busy space in a typical basement restaurant of an old pre-war walkup. Service was excellent here! Sat at the bar and the waitress asked if it was my first time there. Must have been written on my forehead, rightfully so. Told her it was and asked her to just bring me some of their best items. She asked how hungry I was so she could bring me the right amount. Three cocktails, numerous delicious small bites, and other treats later I was very content. Worth the price of admission.
One of my memorable experiences here was seeing Jimmy O. Yang and Awkafina a few tables down from us. With that detour down memory lane aside, I really like coming here as a casual spot to grub on meat skewers and appetizers, while drinking some beers. You can't go wrong with anything on the menu, but I'd suggest to you the Tako Wasabi, Chicken Karaage, and Chicken Thigh with Yuzukosho. They open late, with Friday and Saturday closing at 3 a.m. Perfect place to stop by, if you're out late and find yourself stumbling around midtown.
Great Izakaya in the midtown area! The kitchen is viewable behind a glass wall which is cool - you can sometimes see the fire explode when they are cooking the skewers! Vibe is great - they play good music and the lighting is perfect - not too bright and not too dim. My favorite skewer here is the Chicken Meatball ($6) and the Chicken Thigh with Yuzukosho ($4.50). I always get the Pork Belly Okonomiyaki ($20) and the Tako Wasabi ($10). They have happy hour during the week till 7PM with $5 Kirin Beers in a nice cold mug. They are open late which is nice - seating can be limited during peak hours and the tab builds up easily, but it's still a solid spot that I come back to often!
Overall a great experience. We were trying to get into another izakaya in NYC but the line was so long we decided to give Toribar a chance. Situated downstairs from the street we ducked in and was greeted with the welcoming irrashiamasse in Japanese. It was not very busy when we got there around 5pm just in time for happy hour beer and select drinks. We ordered skewers and small plates all very delicious. Service was good! Place filled up rather quickly and they also have street level seating outside in a tent.
This was more of a 3.5 star experience, but I ended up rounding down. We arrived pretty early, around 6pm, and there were a lot of tables available on a Tuesday night. But as we continued eating, the tables filled up. I don't have anything particularly awful to report; it was really just that we felt the food was just okay across the board. Nothing stood out to make me feel like this was a place that I have to come back to or recommend to other people. However, again, that's not to say the food was bad. We had a great and filling meal here. I just don't know what I'd tell you to get if you came here. We saw a lot of reviews recommending the okonomiyaki, so we got it. I found this one to be much more soft and borderline soggy than others I've had before that have been crispier (which is what I prefer). I also felt the yakisoba lacked some flavor. The one thing I found here that I haven't seen anywhere else is the mochi wrapped pork. SUPER interesting flavors and textures that was different from anything I've tried before.
Legit love this spot! Hidden gem on the lower level. The food is amazing ! And definitely asked for a Frozen Midori sour, it doesn't offer frozen on the menu but if you ask they'll make it. Must try the okonomiyaki, yakisoba and yakitori ! Hamachi as well! Everything is good here ! Can't go wrong ! All their stuff are affordable as well.
The perfect midnight meal if you're craving for some hot skewers. Enjoy this place so much that I had to come back twice. I absolutely enjoyed the chicken yakitori, which included the liver, gizzards, and heart. I still don't know the difference between them, but I still enjoyed all of it. The service was pretty good overall, the food was delicious. The ambience was pretty cool because whoever was DJing, the playlist was putting on Jon Summit throughout the experience. I was a total fan! Other restaurants should take a note of this. read more
We had just gotten out of a Broadway show and were starving so we were just looking for something that was still open at that time while also accommodating gluten free diets since one of us is allergic. We called ahead to confirm that this shop had open tables and were able to serve gluten free so we walked on over and were sat down right away. We ordered the Okonomiyaki ($20) and it was amazing. There was plenty of sauce on top and the pancake was super soft and had lots of flavor. The only thing about it was that it was a lot smaller than I thought I would get for $20. We thought we would be able to split between two of us but the pancake was only about 6" in diameter that it could be finished by one person. It was nice and quiet aside from the music playing but it was a nice place to just chill out at the end of the night. Service was nice and accommodating to dietary restrictions. We spent a while in there because the food did take a bit to come out and came out as they were ready so some people got their dishes and finished eating way before others got theirs. Overall, a pretty solid place to lay back and get some yakitori or other small Japanese dishes. read more
Happy we came here for the lunch specials (only Monday-Friday). Ordered two udons plus a few tofu wraps for lunch and thought they were all so delicious and well prepared. The udon was so chewy and soup tasted refreshing and savory. The fillings for the tofu wraps were good too, the fish and ground pork ones were favs. They're not crowded and loud during the daytime, and never have been here during their evening hours but it seems to be always packed. Additionally, the waiter was so kind and helpful. Also, no tip required! Highly appreciate their hospitality and cannot recommend enough! read more
This place has a nice vibe, similar to what you might see in Tokyo at a yakitori bar but a little more elevated and less smoke. The menu is relatively simple, and not as much variety as you might want from a place like this. Also, I don't love that you have to order 5 orders of the kushikatsu. It ends up getting a little pricey. Ultimately, I got 5 kushikatsu and 4 yakitori, seaweed salad, and salmon onigiri. The yakitori was pretty good. Well cooked, could've used slightly more salt, but all of the yakitori was good, with the tebasaki (chicken wing) being the best. The beef was good but a little chewy. I was a little disappointed with the kushikatsu. They didn't have any katsu sauce or hot yellow mustard. The shrimp was tiny. I probably wouldn't get it again. The onigiri was good. There was some seasoning on the rice that made it flavorful. The service was good, they were very attentive. It would be a great for a big group to come but was pricey for just me visiting. All in all a decent, if not great, yakitori and kushikatsu bar. read more
Came in with decent expectations -- left frustrated. Toribar has a warm vibe at first glance, but from the moment the club-level music kicked in, things felt off. Cocktails tasted like canned mixers, and most food arrived suspiciously fast. The skewers, especially the chicken skin, were dry and brittle, with none of the smokiness or texture you'd expect. Felt more like frozen pre-cooked items thrown into a fryer. Even the karaage was tough. $100+ for three people and we left still hungry. Not returning. read more
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Scott L.
Thank you for sharing your detailed feedback and for the great photos…
Loved the food and the vibes at this Japanese izakaya. Great spot for a low key date or casual food and drinks with a few friends. The meals here are very shareable. True to form, the food comes out mostly on skewers, and it's a good idea to order a wide variety of items from the menu. The grilled veggies, fried mochi, and various meats were all delicious. Depending on the skewer, many items are under $10, so it's also a pretty cheap meal by NYC standards. Definitely worth checking out! read more
9 months ago
2 years ago
Got a recommendation for this spot from a friend who spent years in the midtown east area, and it is definitely a hidden gem. It definitely gets busy at dinner time but we were able to grab two seats at the counter. This was actually perfect because we got to watch them cook the food right in front of us! I got a lychee martini, which was really good! Here's all the small plates we ordered - short rib (we had to order seconds, this was to die for) - gyoza - chicken breast w scallion - king oyster mushroom - asparagus - zucchini This is the perfect place if you're looking to try a bunch of different dishes or share with a group! read more
I order a ton of food so you don't have to. Skip the Kushikatsu (fried skewers). I tried one of each, and they were overly breaded. The scallop was especially dry. However, the yakitori is a must-try! The shishamo (smelt) was delicious, though a bit too salty. I loved the chicken wings, drumsticks, skin, thighs, and gizzards. My top picks were the enoki wrapped in pork belly, king oyster mushroom, and short rib--absolutely amazing! Avoid the grilled squid; it was dry and tough. Don't bother with the chicken karaage, the sauce was mid. I'm usually not a fan of Toppokki, but this was hands down the best I've ever had--spicy, chewy, and delicious! You can't go wrong with the Gyunabe, a sliced beef stew. It's so comforting! They only allow you to sample the sake if you purchase the entire bottle. read more
Small, busy space in a typical basement restaurant of an old pre-war walkup. Service was excellent here! Sat at the bar and the waitress asked if it was my first time there. Must have been written on my forehead, rightfully so. Told her it was and asked her to just bring me some of their best items. She asked how hungry I was so she could bring me the right amount. Three cocktails, numerous delicious small bites, and other treats later I was very content. Worth the price of admission. read more
One of my memorable experiences here was seeing Jimmy O. Yang and Awkafina a few tables down from us. With that detour down memory lane aside, I really like coming here as a casual spot to grub on meat skewers and appetizers, while drinking some beers. You can't go wrong with anything on the menu, but I'd suggest to you the Tako Wasabi, Chicken Karaage, and Chicken Thigh with Yuzukosho. They open late, with Friday and Saturday closing at 3 a.m. Perfect place to stop by, if you're out late and find yourself stumbling around midtown. read more
Great Izakaya in the midtown area! The kitchen is viewable behind a glass wall which is cool - you can sometimes see the fire explode when they are cooking the skewers! Vibe is great - they play good music and the lighting is perfect - not too bright and not too dim. My favorite skewer here is the Chicken Meatball ($6) and the Chicken Thigh with Yuzukosho ($4.50). I always get the Pork Belly Okonomiyaki ($20) and the Tako Wasabi ($10). They have happy hour during the week till 7PM with $5 Kirin Beers in a nice cold mug. They are open late which is nice - seating can be limited during peak hours and the tab builds up easily, but it's still a solid spot that I come back to often! read more
3 years ago
Overall a great experience. We were trying to get into another izakaya in NYC but the line was so long we decided to give Toribar a chance. Situated downstairs from the street we ducked in and was greeted with the welcoming irrashiamasse in Japanese. It was not very busy when we got there around 5pm just in time for happy hour beer and select drinks. We ordered skewers and small plates all very delicious. Service was good! Place filled up rather quickly and they also have street level seating outside in a tent. read more
9 months ago
3 years ago
This was more of a 3.5 star experience, but I ended up rounding down. We arrived pretty early, around 6pm, and there were a lot of tables available on a Tuesday night. But as we continued eating, the tables filled up. I don't have anything particularly awful to report; it was really just that we felt the food was just okay across the board. Nothing stood out to make me feel like this was a place that I have to come back to or recommend to other people. However, again, that's not to say the food was bad. We had a great and filling meal here. I just don't know what I'd tell you to get if you came here. We saw a lot of reviews recommending the okonomiyaki, so we got it. I found this one to be much more soft and borderline soggy than others I've had before that have been crispier (which is what I prefer). I also felt the yakisoba lacked some flavor. The one thing I found here that I haven't seen anywhere else is the mochi wrapped pork. SUPER interesting flavors and textures that was different from anything I've tried before. read more
7 months ago
Legit love this spot! Hidden gem on the lower level. The food is amazing ! And definitely asked for a Frozen Midori sour, it doesn't offer frozen on the menu but if you ask they'll make it. Must try the okonomiyaki, yakisoba and yakitori ! Hamachi as well! Everything is good here ! Can't go wrong ! All their stuff are affordable as well. read more
3 years ago
Low-key yakitori spot with good nabe!! Yakitori was also solid, but could get on the saltier side. Recommend the short ribs though. A bit on the louder side, but pretty intimate and cozy. Perfect for the winter. read more
This place exceeded my expectations! Service was okay, but the food was better than expected. We ordered a variety of dishes, and I would also recommend that for sharing! Each dish comes when they are ready, but they all came out pretty fast. Everything was seasoned well and the drinks here were also good too. The ambiance is pretty nice, as they really tried to make it like an izakaya. read more
9 months ago
LOVE the motsu nabe; slight chewy texture from the intestine and the broth was RICH with chicken flavor. It is a must get after some rounds of drink. I ordered it when the weather outside was past 90 F. No regrets. Just wish the AC was stronger inside. I love that this place open past midnight. It is definitely bookmarked on my 'after midnight' to go places. Not a big fan of their chicken skewers; chicken breast was very dry. Their coating of their fried skewers also did not stick. Coming back here for their nabe! read more
4 years ago
My wallet hurts. I was excited coming here thinking I can try a little bit of everything. Some reviews say this isn't enough food and some say they were full after $30 pp. My bill came out to $80. I don't mind paying when I get great food and service, but it's not so here. For the same price, my meal yesterday night at 8282 in LES was way better. I arrived at 10pm - quite convenient they close so late. Inside was only half full but still felt quite loud with their blasting music. Inside was too dark for my liking too. Walking out felt like a relief because the stairs had nice little lights to guide you up and down the stairs to the actual restaurant. The street lights were also brighter than inside. I ordered a bunch of skewers over two rounds. I wanted to try out both salt and tare before deciding which one I like more. I like how they give you a stack of order sheets, so I can always refer to the menu while waiting/eating and no need to ask for additional sheets to order more. Best: short rib Nice: chicken thigh (I can't decide between scallion and yuzu but slightly leaning towards scallion), eggplant, king oyster mushroom Mediocre: meatball, ebi (shrimp (they didn't clean out its intestine)), asparagus, zucchini Meh: chicken wing (it was so little meat and so dry) I ended up liking salt more than tare. The tare didn't add much flavor imo. Salt more obviously added more flavor and it didn't feel too salty. Their lemon wedge is barely a wedge. It's not user friendly because it's too small. It just folds sideways rather than fold onto itself to squeeze juice out. Out of the two seasonings you can sprinkle on yourself, I like the red one more than the green one. The green one doesn't add much flavor. The red one isn't spicy but adds a bit of umami and texture to meats. I ordered two rounds because I wasn't full after the first. I wasn't exactly full after the second either but I stopped feeling empty. I was debating whether to get takoyaki or onigiri to wrap up my meal, but I stopped. Their specialty is yakitori anyway. My wallet started hurting immediately after I ordered the second round, but I also had my hopes up for the new items in the second round. They were mediocre. Service was lacking. It took longer than desired for someone to get my two order sheets or to refill my water when it was ~25% for a good while. I can't tell whether I'm glad I tried it but I don't expect to come back. read more
It's funny, I've always been all about trying somewhere new, and in a city like this, where I've finally been able to live for an extended period of time, I find myself returning places I enjoy more often than not; izakaya is pricey as hell but just as delicious too- Little skewers are the only way people should be eating at this point; and that egg omelette thingamajig I always get is phenomenal too! They'd get a fifth star if they were more approachable, both in warmth of character and affordability. read more
4 years ago
Vibes (4.5/5): this place has a solid playlist and warmed dimmed lighting giving it a cozy and inviting feeling, especially on a cold day. Chicken thigh skewers (4.25/5): we got the one with the spicy yuzu green sauce and sea salt. It was surprisingly good. Pork jowl skewers (3.75/5): this one was not bad and has a nice char to it. Short rib skewers (4.5/5) were our favorite. It had a perfect ratio of fat and meat making it extremely juicy with a burst of flavor. Very good. I'd go back for it. Yakisoba (4/5) normally I don't like yakisoba but it overall has good texture and flavor. Shishamo (3.75/5) an order were 2 skewers of mini whole fishes. It was not bad. read more
Local Japanese restaurant with fabulous flavors! The main restaurant is located in the basement of a building and there was a outdoor seating on the main street. Our party of 4 arrived at 7:30pm and was seated immediately, hostess checked our vaccination cards and ID. Food- 5 stars. Started with spicy salmon onigiri, various kuskikatsu, gyoza and asahi beer/ delicious! Also tried the Tsukune meatballs, toribar slider, pork jowl and the pork belly okonomiyaki. Each order was amazingly good. Service was great until the kitchen missed my chicken kaarage and that took 20 minutes to arrive after we ate all the other entrees. I had to ask the waiter twice about the entree and I noticed the entree was served to other diners. I was pretty annoyed it took so long and I ended up taking the entree to go. Ambiance- 4 stars. read more
This is been one of my favorite dining experiences as of late. I have not been to Japan yet, but in all of the stories my Japanese family members have told me, this restaurant would match the vibe of restaurants in Japan. The space is slightly loud, but has a wonderful energetic air about it. What we ordered: yes, we ordered the skewers, but what really stole the show was the chicken karaage and agedashi tofu. The flavors were there, but not in an overpowering way. The prices are a little high, but it is worth it. I would love to come back sometime to try more on the menu! read more
2 years ago
3 years ago
Good food a la carte , quick service, casual ambiance It's a skewers style or dish , huge variety of dishes from vegetables to meat to fish to chicken What we like is the choice to order plain or seasoned accordingly Tried zucchini, eggplant, chicken breast chicken hearts and meat along with some cucumber salad , kimchi, edamame ... * No dessert * Opens late Recommended read more
5 years ago
Basement entrance level and they have those covid outdoor seatings in the front street level. I like the tucked away ambiance. Service was attentive. Beer goes well with bbq skewers and other dishes on the menu. Tako wasabi opened up the palate as an appetizer. Takoyaki was a like comfort dish that melted in your mouth like a savory pancake puff. Bbq skewers, I couldn't get enough of! I adored their chicken hearts, pork jowl, shishito peppers and pork wrapped around asparagus. All of their skewers were lovely. Fried skewers, were on the dot. Not much to commend, but fried well and the sauce provided, complimented it. Squid that was grilled, is a must order. It was the last dish and not only fresh, also nicely cleaned, presented well and cooked. Yum and nom away here! Late night munchie favorite spot! read more
2 years ago
The once delicious Toribar has gone since the guy cooked skewers left his job. Everything was just okay and nothing too special. read more
Have been meaning to go to this spot for the longest time and finally did! Sat outdoors in the enclosed sidewalk space away from all the smoke. Service was speedy and excellent considered we were outside, even though they were super busy inside. Yakitori came staggered so we could enjoy them at the perfect temp. read more
3 years ago
A friend and I came here for happy hour and we came right in time, because the place was quickly packed by 6:30pm. Service was fast but we did feel a bit rushed, like they were waiting for us to leave. The inside was cozy and a good spot for after work. For happy hour, I had the cassis oolong which was pretty sweet and tasted like I had ordered oolong tea at a bubble tea shop. I also had a lime chuhai which was quite sour, which I guess is implied in the name. We also ordered the Ebi Mayo, which was fried shrimp. I understand mayo is in the name, but there was a lot of mayo and it tasted pretty sweet, which I did not prefer. We also had the salmon onigiri, which could have used some more salmon and more furikake. Will come back to try more of the food, because the yakitori looked promising. read more
solid izakaya in midtown! it gets busy quickly, so i recommend coming earlier the food: everything was actually so good so i don't think you can go really wrong here, but a few standouts: takowasa texture was so yum and for yakitori i liked the chicken thigh with scallion, gizzard, and pork jowl the best!!! the drinks: i had the oolong chuhai and calpico chuhai!! oolong was my fav the space: smaller side and little dark, it was ok! read more
2 years ago
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More info about Izakaya Toribar
164 E 56th St
New York, NY 10022
Midtown East
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(646) 767-0029
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http://www.izakayatoribar.com
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