Surprisingly authentic as fresh. Prices aren't crazy for the area. Did not expect this for Time Square. Our server Farlarr treated us with first-class service. We come to TS for work every year and will be back next year but with a reservation next time. read more

Had a quick lunch here at Sozai, ordering an appetizer and entree each across a party of two. The entrees came with a miso soup which was actually way more substantial than what one might expect from the stereotypical Japanese restaurant. For appetizers we had the kurobuta sausage and agedashi tofu, both of which were pretty strong. My personal entree was the gyudon, which brought me back to the gyudon fast food restaurants that I loved in Toykyo (mmm Sukiya). You can say I really liked it! Service was fast and efficient, which makes sense for the lunch crowd. Most of the seating is booth structured, with plenty of privacy away from other parties. read more

Sozai - Pork Katsu Curry Rice - Izakaya Near Me - New York, New York

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Highly recommend getting reservations especially for dinner. I booked 2 weeks in advance and times were very limited. Once checked in we were seated promptly in a booth. We ordered the a bunch of food and we were stuffed. It was pricey but we felt it was worth it. Waitress was very nice as well. read more

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A great place for pre theater meal. Attentive service and yummy food. Yellowtail roll was really good along with all their sashimi pieces - very fresh and delicious. Agedashi tofu did not disappoint and edamame had a nice sauce. Companion really enjoyed their sukiyaki udon and toriage. Best dish was the salmon kama which was so tender and quite a large piece. Saba was ok and I'd say skip. read more

Sozai - Salmon kama, Age Tofu and Eda Wasa - Izakaya Near Me - New York, New York

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This is a very authentic Japanese restaurant located in Midtown. The menu is very extensive, with the typical izakaya dishes such as beef tongue (gyu tan), fried herring (kibinago), and braised pork belly (kakuni). Honestly, the appetizers were enough to fill me up. For entree, I would recommend the chirashi bowl with uni - all freshly prepared. The restaurant offered both booth seating and table seating. Unfortunately, our table for 4 was a bit crammed, where we were having a hard time finding spaces for dishes and drinks. So, request a booth if you prefer more spaces. Also, double-check with the servers when placing your orders. There was a little mix-up where we asked about a dish, but it was mistakenly added to our order. read more

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The perfect dinner on a cold winter evening with some great friends. We loved the decor and the booth setups, it was intimate and we could actually hear each other! The service was helpful and nice. We loved the tako wasa, takoyaki, shishito peppers and hamachi roll. My friends loved their pork katsu and my sukiyaki udon was delicious. The portion was quite large and I had trouble finishing it but I loved the flavors and sukiyaki. read more

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Great lunch in midtown! Food came out super fast. The spicy ramen & sukiyaki shrimp udon were both flavorful and satisfying on a cold day. Our server Farlarr was very attentive and friendly. read more

Sozai - Sukiyaki Shrimp Udon - Izakaya Near Me - New York, New York

We randomly pick this restaurant nearby Bryan Park on a weekday noon time. You cannot imagine it was fully booked! Fresh, special and kinda unique. Will be back and try more! read more

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Can I say this is a hidden gem? Especially being in a busy area with lots of touristy spots and restaurant chains. This izakaya stands out! The food was really delicious, and especially for the price point. One of the dishes ordered was the hamachi crudo and it was fantastic--super fresh and beautifully balanced. I especially loved the touch of truffle. I feel you can really judge the quality of a place by how they handle raw fish, and this dish definitely impressed me given the price. The ambience also felt super clean and put together. It was giving popular udon chain, Raku vibes. I'll definitely be back! read more

Sozai - Chashu Miso Ramen, Hamachi Crudo - Izakaya Near Me - New York, New York

Good food. Good ambiance. Good service. All what you expect from a nice Japanese spot competing in busy midtown. Highly recommend making a reservation. read more

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Service: 4.3/5 Food: 4.1/5 Price: $$$ ($30-50) Classic Japanese interior design with open small tables, semi private booths, or bar seating. More tables than I thought + steadily busy until almost closing time. Good service without being overly attentive. QR menus. Looked like a well-stocked bar with plenty of Japanese whisky. What I Ordered: - ube fries: nicely fried, a little tougher than regular fries - cold soba green tea: refreshing, small portion, overpriced at $22 for 4 pieces of salmon, gladly not too salty - mentaiko pasta: not spicy, creamy, small portion but the denseness fills me up, didn't really taste the cod roe read more

Sozai - Mentaiko Pasta, Cold Soba Green Tea - Izakaya Near Me - New York, New York

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I'd come back! They have an extensive menu and I was excited by most of it but just didn't have the stomach space for it. The things we got were: Unagi Don Spicy Tonkotsu Ramen Hotate Carpaccio All were solid! The unagi was doused in sauce if you care (but who doesn't love sauce?) read more

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The waiter was welcoming and helpful. The prices were on the high end, but so was the quality of the food. I will come back for the sukiyaki next time. read more

Sozai - Imperial Roll - Izakaya Near Me - New York, New York

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This is a small gem for authentic Japanese Katsu dishes. The crisp of the Katsu is fantastic and the ambiance felt very Japanese speakeasy or hidden street far vibe but service was very attentive. Sometimes it felt a little rushed but they were very busy so it was understandable to want the customers not to linger. They have happy hour too which is a bonus. The non alcoholic drinks are so fun too! read more

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My first time in NY and I was blessed to stay next to this restaurant. We decided to stop by to try it out and are we SO glad we did. Art was our server for both times and he had a great attitude and was always helpful. First visit for lunch we did the Ton Toro Yaki, hamachi miso roll, sake miso clams, katsu curry and beef sukiyaki udon. Lemmmeeee tell you... the pork was the most incredible dish I've had in a while. It was succulent, rich, marinated, and grilled to perfection. The hamachi miso roll was refreshing. The sake miso clams were delicious as well. I appreciated the chili they included as the dish needed it. The katsu curry was one of the best I've ever had. The pork was fried to perfection and the pickled ginger and housemade curry was everything I dreamed of. The sukiyaki udon was a bit sweeter than I like for sukiyaki but overall solid. We ended up visiting a second time for our last day. We ordered more things to try. The Ton Toro Yaki was not as good this time... it seemed inconsistent as this serving was dry. We ended up ordering another portion and that one was reminiscent of our first experience - fatty and delicious. The beef tongue was extremely disappointing unfortunately. I was eating some succulent grilled chunks of beef tongue but what came out were thin, dry, overcooked pieces. Pass on that 100%. The tako wasabi was delicious if you're able to enjoy slimy texture. The mentaiko fried rice was decent. You'll have to be okay with non-traditional fried rice. It ends up being more creamy than a traditional fried rice dish. The spicy ebi roll was delicious. The pork curry katsu was 10/10. I'm very happy that dish is consistent. The spicy tonkatsu ramen was amazing! Noodles were cooked perfectly. The scallop carpaccio can be skipped as well. It didn't leave a lasting impression. We also ended the meal with hot teas. The matcha and barley tea hit the spot. One thing I will say about this spot is that the ambiance is perfect. I've been to Japan many times and this place was the perfect hybrid of industrial mixed with traditional Japanese izakaya. It's like a modern Japanese restaurant. The earthenware was also beautiful. From the plates, to the bowls, to the tea cups. Everything felt authentic and heavy-weight which gave it a feeling of luxury. I'd highly recommend anyone to try this spot and experience a delectable meal you won't regret. It transported me back to Japan. read more

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Sozai always hits the spot!! They're definitely my go-to spot near Bryant Park/ Times Square for a vast menu and chill Izakaya ambiance. The staff is attentive and quick. We came on a Friday night and it was very packed around dinner time so I would definitely recommend you make a reservation ahead of time. The mentaiko pasta was small but delicious. The takoyaki was surprisingly really good compared to what we've had at other spots. The kaki fries (fried oysters) and roll always hit the spot. read more

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Very good food and service. A must do for sure. Closes for an hour or two in the afternoon before dinner service I believe. read more

Sozai - Hamachi Crudo - Izakaya Near Me - New York, New York

Sozai was a great find. I only tried the tuna, but it was excellent--fresh, flavorful, and beautifully prepared. Happy hour had solid prices, the service was attentive, and the vibe was relaxed yet stylish. I didn't try enough of the menu to give a full review, but based on the tuna alone, I'd recommend checking this spot out. read more

Sozai - Izakaya Near Me - New York, New York

I got the tonkotsu ramen. $20 It had all the standard elements. It was beautifully Instagrammable presented. Ice tea was legit matcha. Wish I had more people with me so I could've tried other things on the menu. Good place if you are just 1 person eating alone. Ate at the bar. Server checked in on me several times. Only complaints/suggestions: hooks for jackets, etc was a little high for short 5'3" me and would've liked more salad options e.g. simple salad not just salad as entree, and I like beef curry + veggies in the curry so would've liked to have that option, slightly healthier than katsu.. cool izakaya ambiance/decor. clean. read more

Sozai - delicious IGable tonkotsu ramen - Izakaya Near Me - New York, New York

Came here after a show and it was delicious. With no reservation, we sat at the bar. We got a number of small plates: The mussels in dynamite sauce was filling and delicious. Chicken kaarage was crispy and was seasoned well. The mentaiko pasta has a small kick, and the bacon provided a nice salty flavor. Lastly, my old-fashioned cocktail was super pleasant to sip on throughout the evening. I would love to sit in the booth next time since it looked super cozy and intimate but the bar was spacious and you get to see the bartenders make the cocktails. read more

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Def get a resy, this place gets busy!! the lighting is dim and set perfect for a night out trying delicious food. the service is so fast and attentive - constantly bringing us water and checking in on us. the food itself was amazing and came out super fast! the food itself was reasonably priced and we loved every dish. the sizing is a bit on the smaller end, but we didn't mind because that meant more food for us to try. for a group of 3 we ordered 6 dishes. we definitely recommend this spot!! read more

Sozai - Pork Katsu Curry Rice Mentaiko Pasta & Pork Belly - Izakaya Near Me - New York, New York

2.5/5. Had high hopes after seeing a good amount of social media content about this place, and was left somewhat disappointed. Insta foodies, hats off for the good marketing. I'll start off by saying the restaurant layout is pretty nice. Booths with coat hooks high above + well-lit bar seating. I got a booth with a friend and we had plenty of privacy. We were pretty excited by how extensive the menu was and ordered from various sections. The general quality of the seafood and meat we got was not great, and the dishes we ordered fell flat. Sake clam miso ($18) was good, no complaints. Probably the best dish we got. Make sure to sip the broth afterwards. Crab croquettes ($12) had tons of mayo and the mentaiko was not that apparent (nor was the crab). The cold soba green tea ($22) looked exciting but was just ok - no presence of green tea for me, and all the flavor came from the sauce which was dark and quite sweet. The hokkaido don ($36)... Please skip this. The uni was orange/brown, not fresh looking at all. There wasn't much seafood in the bowl and it was not worth it. The gyu tan ($17) was impressively bland and tough, like we were chewing for days. The accompanying yuzu kosho was a speck on the plate. Don't recommend. The hojicha ice cream with fried sweet potato balls was ok, but hojicha could have been stronger. Service was good and food came out relatively quickly. The concept of this place and the menu is nice, but the execution of the dishes makes me pretty hesitant to come back. The meal was quite expensive - $77 per person after tax and tip, and I know I could have had better for the same price elsewhere. read more

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Went here with a friend during happy hour and ordered many dishes. The ube fried was part of the happy hour, tasted flavorful and crispy. The Kakuni (pork belly) appetizer was cooked perfectly. The entire piece was extremely tinder and rich. Our sake clam miso was perfect for the cold weather, and came with much more clams than expected. It was hard to pick a favorite, but we think the Miso Black Cod was likely it. For drinks, happy hour selections were a bit pricey, and the house sake was only one small glass. I would definitely come back, and look forward to trying more dishes. read more

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Went for lunch and absolutely fell in love with this place. It's a small and cozy restaurant, very simply decorated but very modern looking and the food was amazing. The crab croquette was a bit too greasy for my taste but everything else was perfect. Each dish was packed with flavor. The hotate carpaccio which was light and citrusy, a perfect app. The mental pasta was perfectly creamy and delicious. My favorite was the miso black cod which was soft and well marinated. I can't wait to try other menu items. Great restaurant and great staff. Will definitely be back soon! read more

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Had a girl's weekend trip and tried this place for the first time. It's was my first, but will definitely not be my last! Atmosphere was very chill vibes. The servers were so kind. Their menu has a little bit of everything for everyone. Flavors were spot on and so fresh! The Ramen just made you cozy and warm inside. Definitely book a reservation. We were smart and did that ahead of time. And saw there was a long line behind us of walk-ins. Highly recommend! read more

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Foos hit the spot. Was craving the cold soba noodles...but the added salmon and roe really hit the spot. Service was great. Water bottle on table and they kept refilling our glasses. It's a cute spot that fills up fast. Came here to grab a bite to eat before a show. read more

Sozai - Cold Soba Green Tea - Izakaya Near Me - New York, New York

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we walked over here for dinner what seemed like a decent place based on other Yelp reviews. The restaurant is a small space with a few tables inside. A couple walked in before us without a reservation was informed there was a wait time to be seated. However, when we walked up the same lady greeted us and turned us away since we didn't have a reservation. Mind you, it was still early in the night for dinner. I noticed they had other tables open. It was disappointing she didn't offer us a waitlist option like the person in front of us without a reservation. We searched for another dinner option and found an amazing dinner spot not too far. read more

Had lunch here on a holiday so the lunch specials weren't available. Got the sashi mori ($45) and it was SO good! All the fish was so fresh and great quality. Would come back for other items next time! read more

Sozai - Izakaya Near Me - New York, New York

This restaurant takes you to Japan with its wonderful food and great atmosphere. The service was excellent - attentive and friendly. We had the hamachi, tonkatsu, tofu, karage chicken, and miso cod. All yummy! The drinks and the dessert were also great! Will return. read more

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mentaiko pasta was disappointing bc it was kinda sour and dry. takoyaki was good tho and filled with octopus. wanna come back and try their ramen ig. miso black cod was really good and soft and flavorful. would recommend that. service was good and ambiance is nice. it was pretty busy on a Thursday after 5pm so make sure to have a reservation or be ok with sitting at the bar read more

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Took a NY trip and this came out as my favorite spot of the entire trip! First dinner out and we went really like around 9-10pm, was very lively and great ambiance! A tiny spot overall but they sat us down very quickly! They have the bar area, some tables and these cute pods . I got the spicy tonkatsu ramen and it was so delicious, broth tasted so savory and not too spicy. The pork was very chewy and savory . Noodles were also very thin but great taste. I was addicted to it and wanted more and more. Seriously the best place and would def recommend this to anyone wanting to try an amazing ramen spot in NY read more

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We passed by this place a few times and decided to stop in after seeing the happy hour signs. It's a cute spot with some tables and bar/counter seating. They have a bunch of fried items and highballs on the happy hour menu. Fried kaki is always my fave and the ones here did not disappoint, perfectly juicy and crispy. The fried karage was also unique as it was rolled into a ball shape. It was nicely fried and really retained the heat. Carbonara was creamy with a nice portion of bacon. Highballs were refreshing. Service was great and quick. read more

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Sozai is a new Japanese Izakaya place in midtown with nice ambiance! My friend and I were able to walk in with no wait on a Thursday night, but the full party had to be present to get seated. There was a happy hour menu but the menu wasn't as extensive. Food came as they were ready, and they were pretty decent!! There were lots of clams in our sake clam miso, and the ube fried also came with a big portion. We loved the black miso cod the most as it was so flavorful and yummy! The age tofu came with 3 tofus, so we each ate one and shared the third into halves. I feel like the prices are a little high for what they are worth though. Service was good! They're attentive and very friendly. They bring the tap to pay machine when you are ready, which was convenient! read more

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Amazing and filling lunch special!! Came here on a weekday for lunch and was able to be seated right away at one of the booths. I can see this spot getting filled on the weekends though so would recommend making a reservation if you plan on coming at a busy time. I chose the spicy tonkatsu ramen for the lunch special. Was pleasantly surprised that the ramen had a kick to it!! The crispy lotus root on top was a very nice touch. They also give you a choice of miso soup or house salad-- I went with the miso soup. It had a lot of seaweed, tofu, and mushrooms. really good !! The ramen and miso soup left me happily stuffed. Solid spot. Would definitely come back again for the lunch special. That miso soup was so good!! read more

Sozai - Miso Soup - Izakaya Near Me - New York, New York

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Flavorful food, quick service when seated at the bar without a reservation on a weeknight during the holidays. Attentive staff. I would recommend ordering either the crab croquette or mentaiko pasta since both have the same creamy base (you should get both if you like the flavor) read more

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The BEST Tonkatsu ramen I've ever had in my life, point blank period. I walked in for a little solo date in the evening and was seated immediately at the bar. Sozai is the perfect place to go for either a cozy dinner or a small group gathering. The atmosphere feels casually luxurious, and it's easy to blend in if you're dropping in for a little solo date like I did. I had a bar seat and Art, who was working the bar, was absolutely phenomenal - he was extremely meticulous and careful with how he made the drinks, was extremely friendly with everyone, and checked in constantly, always offering to fill up my water or asking if I wanted to order anything else. I got the Fuyu no Sakura, which was a refreshing but strong sweet sakura flavored drink. I thought it was quite strong on its own but paired beautiful with the saltiness of the tonkotsu broth. The tonkotsu ramen was nothing short of delicious. The broth was definitely some of the best that I've ever had, and the pork belly was cooked to absolute perfection. I loved that the noodles were on the smaller end - they added a lot of balance to the overall heaviness of the broth as well as a more intricate detail to the visual appeal of the ramen. I absolutely love this experience and highly recommend everyone try it! read more

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Out of all the Japanese restaurants in NYC, I have to admit, this one is my favorite!! I loved every single dish and highly recommend the eggplant, scallop carpaccio, salmon soba, and katsu. I've been here countless times because the food never fails to impress and on top of that, the vibes are excellent! read more

Just okay... Food is pricey for the portions but I guess you are in midtown. The only thing that I would get again is the ramen as the noodles and soup seemed fresh and authentic. Everything else was lacking in either taste or quality. read more

Sozai - Izakaya Near Me - New York, New York

Found this little gem doing some exploring! Food was phenomenal and drinks were excellent! The pork katsu curry rice was 10/10. Super flavorful. I split it with my wife and I am still full. The wait went quick and I love the ambiance of the restaurant. Made me feel like I was in Japan! read more

Sozai - Okinawa matcha drink (left) Smokey forest meal drink (right) Pork Katsu Curry Rice + spicy salmon roll - Izakaya Near Me - New York, New York

Delicious and amazing service. Friendly and attentive. Obviously high quality ingredients. The attention to detail reflects a Japanese sensibility. Even enjoyed the cutlery, wooden spoons etc. Not cheat but worth the cost. read more

Sozai - Was miso soup - Izakaya Near Me - New York, New York

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