I guess I'll add an updated review every few years to keep things in check, even though I'm a…read more"regular". Some of the staff has been here for a while, which tells me it is a well managed operation. Quality is still the focus at TONCHIN. Table comfort is still not. I love to bring my children when not crazy crowded so they can also enjoy one of the best ramen restaurants in the world. Maybe I'm exaggerating, but I haven't found better yet. Summer soupless ramen with perfectly chewy noodles and slightly spicy sauce is a great addition. The vegan ban ban kinoko as well as its chicken version are great also during summer. The maguro is delicious but I don't find it as satisfying as the noodles. Mind spiciness level for the younglings. In the winter, the spicy tantan or Tokyo ramen always hit the spot. Fish bun has been improved slightly over the years but thank ramen-sama, it is always as messy to eat as the first time I tried it 7 years ago. Desserts are surprisingly delicious. Typically Japanese ramen restaurants lack in that domain but not here. The Tokyo banana is perfectly crafted: creamy crunchy tasty. The shaved ice are great and super fun to eat. To many more years of happy reviews, and good fortune.

Food was excellent, and the server was incredibly attentive. They took the time to explain each…read moredish and its components, which made the experience even more enjoyable. The atmosphere was also very nice and conducive to conversation. I particularly appreciated how well-paced the meal was, with each course--appetizer, entrée, and dessert--arriving at the appropriate time. This is something I've found lacking at some other spots in NYC, so the timing and overall service really stood out here.

Mango And Cheesecake Bingsu…read more Milk shaved ice, fresh mango, rice cake, cereal, vanilla ice cream, cheesecake, condensed milk. I'd say one of the top Bingsu places outside of Korea. Fun festive youthful guests, staff is professional but the star is what I consider one of the best desserts on the planet, especially in July (did December too and it was just as good!) Cute little shop and a great.place.to relax and treat yourself.to a nice afternoon

I haven't been here in a hot second (I'm talking years) and finally decided to come for some shaved…read moreice on a warm day. There's plenty of tables to sit at and there's also a restroom. We tried the melon shaved ice $22 for the large which was a bit pricy but it was quite delicious. We were worried that the large might be too much for two people but honestly we were able to finish it without a problem. The melon pieces were sweet, the ice is milk based so it was creamy and flavorful on its own. We barely used the condensed milk that it came with (and we loved how they put it on the side for us instead). At the bottom of the shaved ice was cereal pieces and mochi which gave a nice different texture. We also tried their drinks specifically their blue lemonade and mango-ade which I thought was just ok. The highlight is definitely their shaved ice. Definitely go for the large as the small seemed much smaller and for double the price, you can get almost 2-3x more. Overall: it's a great place to grab a shaved ice and relax . The atmosphere is chill and you can stay without feeling rushed.

Came here many years ago & it was so humid so we gave this place another try! We were also craving…read morekakigori! We got 2 items to share: 1) mango pomelo kakigori, 2) yuzu matcha lemonade. The mango pomelo was beautifully made but flavor wise was a let down. The flavors were not potent and tasted diluted (the ice melted so fast and it fell apart so fast that the iced water probably overdiluted the mango pomelo flavors). I still prefer the kakigoris in japan & the best one I have eaten in NYC is from Tonchin (their kakigoris are amazing and you can taste the fruit flavors and the ice doesn't melt that fast or fall apart). The yuzu matcha lemonade drink was very refreshing & you also taste the yuzu and matcha flavors. This was my favorite item out of the 2. Friendly staff & has indoor seating.

My favorite spot as an anything asian shaved ice dessert lover. The best and cutest kakigori…read morearound, I always make sure to stop by when I'm in the area!! Especially hits the spot during the summer.

I believe Seoul Sweets is currently the only spot in NYC specializing in ssal cakes (korean rice…read moreflour cake), and I love how light and not too sweet it is. Made with rice flour and egg whites, it is so airy, and literally feels like cutting through a cloud. Plus, it's gluten-free! A perfect little cake for a small celebration They also make the prettiest korean dessert sets, alongside bingsu, dubai chewy cookies, and einspanner. They're seriously always keeping up with the trends! ＊Black Sesame Ssal Cake $16.5 ** My top pick. The black sesame layer on top was the richest. Super nutty without being too heavy. The sponge and cream cheese had a subtle black sesame flavor. It reminded me of the cream in their black sesame einspanner. ＊Mugwort Ssal Cake $16.5 * This one was surprisingly rich. The mugwort had a strong earthy, herby flavor, while the plain cream cheese layer helped cut through the richness. ＊Mango Ssal Cake $16.5 This was a bit of a miss to me as there wasn't any mango-flavored sponge or mango puree inside. It was just a plain rice flour cake with a few slices of fresh mango on top. Though I could really taste the mild, clean rice flavor in this one. ＊Da-On Sang Set $26 ** A must-order if it's your first time here! The mochi was super soft, and the strawberry was so ripe and sweet. The yak-gwa and joo-ak were chewy, sticky, and just sweet enough, especially paired with the tea that came with the set. ＊Black Sesame Einspanner $8.5 ＊Mugwort Einspanner $8.5 The cream was lighter compared to other einspanners I've had. The mugwort one was bursting with earthy flavor. Definitely try it if you're a mugwort fan. The black sesame was alright. I personally wish it was a little richer.

This review is based on a takeout order…read more Was gifted a box of desserts from here and they were so delish! The box had juak, yakgwa, and injeolmi. All of them tasted authentic (I'm Korean) and well executed. Also tried the black sesame cake which was amazing. The desserts here reminded me of rice cake bakeries/cafes in Korea so it's pretty legit. Sad I haven't made it to their store yet but it looks beautiful based on pictures. I'd love to go try their desserts in store one day!

Came here for the first time and really enjoyed my matcha. I got the mango matcha it was very…read moredelicious and flavorful. Good mix of mango and matcha was high quality. It was $10.5 but 11.5 with tip so a little more expensive than expected for a matcha but I enjoyed it as a treat! You have to order on the tablet and there is only one so that wasn't great especially because it was small and if you have questions the workers are busy. Small area not much space pretty much order and go. I would recommend it you want to try a good matcha in the city!

Stopped by here while we were in the city and decided to try the ube sabo drink since it sounded…read moredifferent from what I normally get. I actually really liked it! The ube flavor came through really well and it was creamy without being overly sweet. Definitely more of a dessert type drink but still really refreshing. It was a little more expensive than I expected, especially after tip, but I didn't mind since it was something different to try. Ordering is all done on a tablet and there was only one when we went, so it did take a little longer with people ahead of us. The shop itself is pretty tiny so I wouldn't really plan on sitting and hanging out here. It's more of a place to grab your drink and keep walking around the city. I'd come back though, especially to try some of the other ube and matcha drinks!

We went on a Saturday night. Showed up pretty early but it was already pretty crowded, luckily we…read morehad a reservation so no wait. Interior is really nice, there's a zen garden that you can see from all sides of the restaurant. Food is great, portion size is the city so kind of small but still delicious food. Really enjoyed the pork katsu with dipping salt and the scallops. It's a fun spot for a date night or eating with a group of friends.

Vibe/ambiance: clean, modern, minimal Service: attentive…read moreReservation: recommended Items ordered: Corn ribs lived up to the hypee!! Mazemen was also v flavorful. Tonkatsu was good but one type of tender and one was dry. Yellowtail crudo kinda salty

Super cute Japanese dessert spot right next to St. Marks! It's an intimate setting with tons of…read moredecor to transport you to Japan, and stellar service. We got their strawberry kakigori (made from ice from the spring water in Japan!). It was light, flavorful, and bit milky from the ice cream and cream on the kakigori. Definitely more a dessert cafe vibe where you can relax and enjoy a conversation with a friend, rather than a grab-and-go. Would love to come back and try some of their other desserts (or teas)!

Cha-An came recommended from a friend so made sure to visit! The exterior door was a little hidden…read morebut not difficult to locate. Immediately upon entering you'll go up a flight of stairs and be greeted by the hostess for seating. It was fairly quiet when I arrived so seating was immediate. Only prepared for the sesame dessert prior to arrival so took a look through the menu for their other spectacular and highly recommended dessert: the matcha shaved ice. The sesame dessert didn't have as much sesame in it as I had anticipated -- I would've loved sesame on sesame on sesame (for example, I was expecting sesame in the ice cream as opposed to vanilla). The shaved ice with toppings was delicious. Also ordered one hot and one cold tea -- both were delicious and would recommend! The cold tea was welcoming on a hot day. If you like toasted and nutty tea, you'll enjoy the genmaicha as much as I did!

Made a reservation for an early dinner here and had a great time, although I didn't realize there…read moreis a 90 min time limit so we were a bit rushed towards the end of our meal. It's quite spacious inside (goes far back) and has a nice ambiance. The bathrooms also smell good. For four of us, we ordered: - Pear Enough mocktails (2/5) not a fan, weird after taste - Truffle Potato Pancake (4/5) not bad but not that flavorful - Octopus Tteokbokki (5/5) loved this - Hojok Galbi (4/5) also good but pretty expensive - Galbi Rice Bowl (4/5) not bad - Tiger Budae Jigae (4/5) not bad - Hotteok Ice Cream (5/5) so good

The interior was nicely furnished and modern and the service was great…read more I do think that the food was good but not great. The food here falls for the very common trap of being "Instagrammable" food. If the food tasted as good as it looks, this would be a 5star review. Alas, it did not live up to its visual expectations.