We went to Izakaya Mew on a Friday night and waited around 45 minutes, which is pretty typical for…read morethis spot. Once we were seated, service was quick, and our dishes came out pretty fast. The salmon don is always a favorite. The salmon is nicely marinated, with rich, fatty pieces. The kani cream croquettes were crispy on the outside, but the filling tasted more like clam chowder, and were quite small. The omusoba was still so good! The noodles were well seasoned, and the egg was super soft. The chicken nanban was flavorful, though the chicken was a little soggy. If you prefer your chicken to stay crispy under the sauce, this might not be your favorite. Overall, still a solid spot with a couple of favorites that keep me coming back!

Came on a Friday night with no reservation. We were seated after around a 20 minute wait!…read more Enjoyed every sip and bite I had. - Frozen kirin: super refreshing. This felt a bit stronger than your standard draft beer! - Yellowtail carpaccio: enjoyed this a lot!! Fish quality is great and all the flavors blend well together. - Kimchi cream udon: was a bit skeptical but enjoyed this a lot. Seems like a simple dish but they do it well. - Yuzu cocktail: very sweet and strong! Great cocktail.

I LOVE RAKU! Came here for lunch shortly after getting back from Japan because I was having some…read moremajor udon cravings, and this definitely hit the spot! We tried the ankimo, which was good, but the dipping udon was easily the highlight for me. It was SO delicious and exactly what I was craving. The restaurant itself is super cute and cozy, making it such a nice spot for a comforting meal. We did have to make a reservation, so I'd definitely recommend planning ahead. Overall, such a great experience and somewhere I'd happily come back to whenever I'm craving udon!

Raku is a Japanese chain in NYC that specializes in udon noodles, bowl dishes, and some favorite…read moreJapanese comfort foods. We decided to visit their East Village branch and were seated at the bar on the right side of the restaurant with a different entrance as well. We started with sabazushi; three mackerel pressed sushi and karaage chicken together with our favorite Japanese beer. We thought that the sabazushi stood out; it was delicious and presented well. For hot udon, I opted for nabeyaki; it is a mix of chicken, sea eel, fish cake, shiitake mushrooms, and served with 2 shrimp tempura. It was a good choice for a cold Saturday evening. Overall, we enjoyed our dinner here, and there are other dishes that we would like to try next time.

Konban is a pretty great spot with some truly authentic food and fast, caring service. It's in a…read moreunique space in Chelsea, feels almost like a speakeasy. The space is usually quite busy, but still feels serene. The cocktails are very good, though they lean heavy to gin, vodka, and whiskey as it is japanese - you will miss out on tequila and mezcal at this spot. The Katsu is good, but I don't really like katsu, so i'm not going to try to sell that. The uni toro dish however is just out of this world and exactly what I want to eat every day! This stuff is a dream come true. The corn ribs are the best preparation of corn outside of very cheesy esquites that I've ever had, and the mazeman is some really god noodles. Other dishes are good, but I would say the Mazeman, uni toro, and corn ribs are the musts for me. Corn ice cream at the end is a nice treat, it tastes a lot like white chocolate, but there's corn in there too!

It was a good dining experience, but nothing to write home about. I'd give 3.5 and wouldn't…read moredissuade anyone from trying it and making their own opinion. For three people, we paid about $200ish and got: - 2 beers - $21 Ebi Katsu - good but basically prawn tempura with flakier coating - $ 15 Konban Corn ribs - YUM - $17 Karaage - good, standard Izakaya - $15 Shishito peppers - LOVE - $36 Sushi set - Solid 8 pc nigiri - $22 Yellowtail crudo - refreshing w/sweet citrus - $24 Umami Tobiko Clam Pasta - get it! - $14 Konban Corn ice cream - so cute & corn-y! It's a lovely little date night or intimate dinner experience. Quiet, clean, and sets a nice mood. The food, again, was good but with all the great Izakaya in NYC would I come again? Not sure. If you do, definitely order the corn items and the clam pasta!

Best Udon restaurant in New York…read more Raku's noodles are nice and springy nothing like what you can buy and their quality of noodle in general is off the charts. I've gone to multiple udon restaurants that claim handmade noodles but Raku is one of the only resaurants where I can taste that difference. Clean broth, high quality meat, good seasoning. I've gotten both the gyunan and wagyu and the wagyu was insanely melt in your mouth but the gyunan (which I think is a great base dish to get to know raku) was also incredibly tender and the meat prepared at the perfect temperature, you don't even need to splurge for the higher quality meat because their cooking elevates it. The sizing for the udon is generous and their karage is also one of the best I've had For the other appetizers, I've also had the agedashi tofu and ankimo (monkfish liver) which to be honest I think can be skips, not bad, well seasoned, and freshly fried but I think when you compare it to the noodles you might as well save room and skip the appetizers. The soho location is mid-sized with some five tables in front and other tables lining the hallway to the back with more space. The staff is very professional and the restaurant itself is nice and calm. A must-try spot in my opinion highly recommend

Last night's dinner was well worth the 1hr 15min wait! I stumbled upon Raku from my Yelp search of…read morenearby places and seeing the fantastic 4.6 star rating, I thought let's give it a try! This is my first time enjoying udon noodle soup in NYC so let's see what it has to offer and it did not disappoint! We sat at the large communal table in the back - VERY loud talking so would recommend a booth or the seating in front of the restaurant if you prefer a quieter dinner. My coworker ordered the Chikara (mochi with chicken hot udon) with a side of veggie tempura, this was recommended by our server. I ordered the Niku + spicy oil (most popular udon with beef short ribs and honeycomb tripe) with side order of shrimp tempura and sansai vegetables. Food came out quickly within 10 mins and was piping hot served in fun pots! This amount of food was more than enough for 2! I wanted to order gyoza but next time! Broth was savory, beef and tripe were both very tender, tempura was lightly battered and fried. The vegetables had a nice pickling, nice crispy. My coworker really enjoyed her mochi. I even tried a sip of her broth and it was so flavorful! Chicken was soft and juicy. This was my favorite dinner during our stay in NYC thus far, I can't wait to come back! Dinner ended up being $88 in total after tax which I think is a great deal. Highly recommend Raku for those wanting to try Japanese noodles, either hot or cold!

A day after a meal at Kimura is five stars all around. The stars soar beyond the restaurant into…read moreyour day! I promise you, but you'd have to try it to believe me. My friend visiting from CA and I were seated within 10 minutes of bursting in as soon as doors opened. Cozy, dark, and ambient is how Kimura feels. We were also escorted all the way to back of the restaurant in the second partition. Something about that made it feel even more intimate and special dining with my friend. We didn't have to yell at each other to converse, and had no problem hearing each other with nostalgic 70's hits blaring at an inoffensive level through speakers. Our yakitori was well marinated which had me thrilled. I hate an unflavored meat stick if anything. Also, the meats and seafood were just well grilled. Not too well done and not undercooked. Just right, which is what I like. My friend had a good time with his sashimi and sushi. Overall, I am satisfied with what Kimura had done for us. It definitely impressed my LA friend.

5.0 / 5.0 A place where you can enjoy authentic…read moreJapanese-style *motsu-nabe*. I arrived around 1:30 PM on a weekend, and the place was already packed! The dining area features tables for two and four, and there's an additional, prefab-style extension toward the back. It's climate-controlled, so it's perfectly comfortable even in that section! They also provide high chairs and cutlery for children. It's rare to find a place in New York that serves *motsu* . We ordered a portion for two, which was quite generous and absolutely delicious. You can add spicy or garlic-based dipping sauces, which change the flavor profile and make it even better. I recommend finishing your *motsu-nabe* with ramen. The staff are all kind and incredibly attentive. Plus, the restrooms are kept very clean‼ I imagine the other dishes on the menu are just as good.This is definitely a spot I'll want to visit again and again. ・ *motsu-nabe* for two

Absolutely changed chawanmushi and udon for me! Was introduced to Raku last time I was in town, had…read moreto come back for more!! This newer location was interesting. Although harder to spot and easy to walk past, the chic black exterior elevated this location. Behind the cafe and bar seating was the actual restaurant. With their 11th anniversary specials, this visit was phenomenal! What we got: - kohaku cocktail [5/5] ~ The cocktail was solid on its own. Sweet with some nuttiness from the sesame oil. But when paired with the toffee, the cocktail was on another level! Found myself snacking on the toffee more than the drink at times. - assorted seasonal appetizers [5/5] ~ -- maitake ohitashi (maitake and spinach) ~ super flavorful -- kamo rosu (seared duck breast) ~ soft, juicy, and super flavorful. came with a dab of horseradish mustard, that I ended up scraping off on another piece as it was too overpowering. -- satoimo (braised taro) ~ soft and fluffy, held together by flavor. - chawanmushi [6/5] ~ the LITERAL reason why I came back. Ordered first thing before looking at the menu, knowing this takes ~20-30 minutes to prepare. This bowl of steamed egg provides 5+ experiences in texture, flavor, and happiness. Each bite offers a newfound reason for me to come back again. Have yet to find a better chawanmushi comparable to this experience, not even in Japan. - chanpon udon [6/5] ~ THIS. THE TEXTURE. THE CHEW. THE SLURP. I was surprised by this bowl of udon. Both slightly rich, but heavy, this coated the strands of udon with every bite I took. Sadly, this was on the special 11th anniversary menu, and I pray that I will find this bowl of udon again the next time I return. - nabeyaki udon [5/5] ~ Very homey and cozy. With a lighter broth and various toppings, this was simple and easy on the stomach! Thicker udon, but a softer texture! All in all, I await the third time I come back the next time I'm in NYC!

Just to forewarn you, Raku (along with their other locations) doesn't have any signage, so it's a…read morebit difficult to find (it's just a black textured exterior), and there's also nowhere to wait for a seat. Just put your name down and wander around the area until they text you that your table is ready. Ordered the tantanmen, which was very rich and deep-flavored. The noodles are thinner (but still chewy) compared to the classic Raku udon, which they're known for, so I'd probably stick to the original next time. Strongly recommend the chicken karaage. Prices are about $20-30 per entree and the bathrooms and general interior is very clean.

Needed some small bites after work before going to a Broadway show and Sozai came up on my search…read more They were packed around 5:30 PM with the happy hour crowd so I was glad I made a reservation. Their reservations also book up quickly. I made my reservation a week before. We were seated in one of their booths which was cute, comfy, cozy, and clean. It was just my husband and i. They have good happy hour deals, but I don't remember how many dishes we ordered were on HH. We got the tako wasa, chicken karaage, kibinago, and mentaiko pasta. All were great! All my favorites and perfect for a quick dinner. Their menu is pretty extensive -- I wished we had more time to order a bunch of other dishes. Good portions for sharing. We were surprised we had some leftovers. Definitely a good spot for groups to order a bunch of tapas and mains. Service was good and the food and drinks came out within good timing. We'll definitely have to go another time when we're in the area with some friends and order a lot more. Can't wait to return.

Cozy and lively Japanese izakaya restaurant in Midtown offering a wide selection of quality…read moreJapanese cuisine. I started off with the Hotate Carpaccio ($18) - these Hokkaido scallops tasted fresh and delicious. The ikura (salmon roe) on top was a nice addition. For my main course, I got the Unagi Don ($34) - this was also very good, although nothing too out of the ordinary. I thought the price was slightly on the higher end. The portion size for this (and in general) is not particularly large, but still fine. The restaurant interior is quite narrow, which leads to a lively atmosphere that can get a bit noisy at times, though not too bad. It's decorated in a classic Japanese restaurant style with booth seating as well as bar seating. I was able to get a walk-in table on a Saturday night after just a brief ~15 min wait. The staff are friendly and the service speed is quick. Overall, I think Sozai is a great option for quality Japanese food in Midtown if you are craving any type of Japanese cuisine.

I was in the midtown area and stopped by Yakitori Totto for a quick lunch! The entrance indeed is a…read morelittle hidden but the door is behind the door to Azuma and take the stairs up to the second floor. Loved the more traditional izayaki vibes and I could smell/hear the grill as I walked in. The chicken meatball and the hanger steak were both very tasty, tender, and well-seasoned. I'm not a huge pork belly fan, but I was surprised at the ratio and how it wasnt overly fatty. The king oyster mushroom was kinda buttery in a delicious way and the shiitake was classic with a nice smokey-ness. The unagi don came with well-cooked eel. The accompanying tamago was very smooth and custard-y with a radiating miso flavor that I really enjoyed! Ratio of rice to ingredients was also great! The fried shishito peppers were tasty with the salt and lemon. Food came out quick and staff were polite. Haven't heard of this place until today and I look forward to going back!

This had been my favorite restaurant in NYC for decades. Every dish was perfectly grilled, each a…read moreunique delight, perfectly seasoned in its own way. There was traditionally an hour wait at least during prime meal time. People would sit in the chairs that lined the entry hallway because it was just that good. Over the years, I spent so many evenings sitting at the yakitori bar meeting other people who also had a deep love for this restaurant. When I came to NYC for a weeks visit, I'd often eat her three times even though there are so many great places to eat. Something happened over the past 5 or 6 years. Maybe it changed ownership? I should have known when I walked in to a restaurant that was half full. Some of the recipes of old favorites have changed. Most importantly, some of the skewers were tough, dry and over grilled. And everything was presented in the same way, and everything slathered in the same yakitori sauce instead of each dish arriving grilled to perfection and presenting itself as its own particular delight executed from the imagination of a chef who truly cared.

This was our second visit, and both times delivered a great meal. It is an intimate spot, and…read morewalking in on a weekday morning meant we had the place entirely to ourselves. Soft Japanese music played in the background, creating a calm, relaxing setting. They started us off with hot tea while we looked over the morning menu. Breakfast keeps things simple with a single set meal where you choose your fish, select how many vegetable sides you want, and add optional extras. Our cook was friendly and skilled at the counter. Our set included roasted cod, white rice, miso soup, tamagoyaki, tsukemono, and seasoned vegetables. Every single item tasted fresh and well-balanced. Between the quiet setting and the quality of the cooking, it was a standout morning.

Loved this place- classic Japanese breakfast with authentic experience and dishes. Everything was…read moreso good and service was so quick. Everything there venue and food was clean/amazing. Enjoyed fish breakfasts which was nice and refreshing as well as green matcha tea. All was soo good and strongly recommend

This restaurant is located in midtown Manhattan. The atmosphere is just like going to a local…read more Japanese restaurant in Tokyo. They have a simple menu. We had Berkshire pork loin set B, Queens set katsu set A, Manhattan set B. And an appetizer aged dashing tofu and tuna poke. Everything we ate was excellent. Price is reasonable. The Berkshire pork was extremely delicious and tender. On the Manhattan set, the 2 shrimp prawns was very big, juicy, crispy and cooked just right. On my Queens set, I had the fried chicken with pork lion. The spices on the pork lion and chicken was very flavorful and crispy. The only thing is service was slow. But overall, atmosphere was just like going back to Tokyo. I would go back there again.

This is my go-to restaurant for katsu in the city. Any katsu set you get will not go wrong. The…read morecrispiness of the katsu is just right, and you will not regret it, besides not picking another one. When it gets busy, there is usually a line waiting at the door, sometimes extending outside. If you have a reservation, you will not be seated until the whole party is there. One small note: if you are seated in the back, the cell service is really bad, but who needs their phone when you have good company and good food.