First time coming here came recommended from a friend to meetup for another friend from out of…read moretown. It was Sooo good! It's pretty convenient location right by midtown in the basement. It was right next to a favorite Korean restaurant of mine as well that I haven't been in a while. Very busy when we got there for a table of four. They said may take an hour but thankfully we were called in about 20 minutes and we were close by having a drink because we had 10 minutes before we lost our place. Got the garlic fried rice, the cold soba, chicken karage, a sushi roll, corn, skewers and the kimchi udon noodles. EVERYTHING was yummy & delicious! Definitely going to return.

While this place always has a line, it is for good reason - this place is a great ambience with…read moregood food at an affordable price (granted it is a bit loud)! My friend and I shared the kimchi cream udon and the pork katsudon. The kimchi cream udon was extremely rich, but I loved the pieces of shrimp in there, and it was the perfect amount of spiciness. The katsudon was alright, but nothing special. I will definitely come back for the price and convenience!

So so so good! I was missing Japan and craving udon and Raku really hit the spot. The karaage was…read moredelicious as well as the bacon. I think the bacon could be not everyone favorite cause it isn't exactly what you expect it's almost like BBQd bacon but I loved it and could've drank the sauce it came with. I got the wagyu hot udon and my husband got the ja ja cold udon and ate the whole thing! I also got shrimp tempura which was very good. I cannot wait to come back to Raku! We sat in a corner booth and the service was fast and reliable!

Raku - 342 E 6th St, NYC…read more One of my daughter's and my favorite udon spots in NYC! Our go-to is the wagyu beef udon and their lunch specials--chewy noodles, refreshing broth, yummy dipping sauces, and always delicious! Ordering is easy, and the service is fast and efficient. They take both credit cards and cash. Perfect for enjoying a delicious bowl of udon in NYC. Small space + limited seating, so don't expect much room to sit, and there can sometimes be a wait when it's busy. Reservations are available. Overall, definitely recommend Raku! A great little spot for a delicious udon fix in NYC. Go Violets!

YUM! I've had this place saved for a while, and made a reservation ahead of time for dinner on a…read moreFriday night. The inside is so well laid out and decorated, and the vibes are great. We got the corn ribs, pork tenderloin katsu, and the mackerel sushi. The corn came out first and omg - this is some of the best corn I have ever tasted. The seasoning on it is so perfect sweet savory and so addicting! Best item by far. The katsu was also perfectly crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, without feeling too greasy. It was quite a tiny portion but it's nyc lol. The only item we didn't love was the sushi - for me it was just a bit too much ginger and wasabi and since it was pressed it was already a part of the sushi so it was hard to separate. Overall though, this is a great spot for a nicer dinner!

Extremely disappointing experience. We arrived only 8 minutes early, in heavy rain, and were told…read moreto leave simply because we were early rather than being allowed to wait inside for a few minutes. The woman at the front desk was cold, dismissive, and appeared to lack basic hospitality and customer-service training. There was zero empathy and no effort to retain our reservation, so we cancelled and left. This reflects very poorly on the restaurant's front-of-house standards and management. Hospitality starts at the door -- and here, it failed immediately.

10,000 years of evolution and we've finally reached peak udon noodle form. The height of human…read morecraft. Literally the silkiest, smoothest, chewy yet soft noodles I have ever eaten. Niku and gyunan were divine. In the niku, they somehow managed to make the tripe and beef tendon immensely flavorful and tender without being heavy-handed. The fatty beef in the gyunan was crack with the sesame chili oil. The bonito base soup was somehow savory and full-bodied while also being sweet and light, so even though I was about to burst it didn't feel icky. Nothing to note in appetizer land besides the fact that I finally tried monkfish liver and it literally tasted like a salmon-flavored paté. Both surprised and relieved it tasted so normal. Despite the long wait time, it still felt relatively spacious inside, and even with just two people, we got our own booth!

Friend made a reservation for 4 on a Sunday night around 7 pm. Don't think you'll be able to walk…read morein during these busy weekends unless you have a rez.   We did have to wait a few minutes for our table and we were seated in the back (a little hot because we were near the kitchen)   I opted for the seasonal mushroom udon and the table got the 6 piece karaage and the spicy cucumber salad.   I don't know if I can continue justifying a $16 cucumber salad but the karaage was delicious.   I liked the mushroom udon and felt like the broth was very flavorful (only vegan upon request) but next time, I'd like to try the cold udon. Service was really good and they checked in on us a lot.

Vibe/ambiance: local japanese Service: standard…read moreReservation: recommended Items ordered: collagen nabe pot was so flavorful - would definitely get this again scallion chicken skewers: slightly too salty sushi rolls were standard

When I called to change the time of our reservation, the woman on the phone was very friendly and…read morehappily accommodated my request. When we arrived, we were seated right away in a spacious booth. The food was very good overall. My favorite dish was definitely the spicy tuna crackers--they were delicious! The sushi was also very fresh and flavorful, although I felt it was a little over-sauced, which took away from the flavor of the sushi itself. Overall, we had a really nice meal and a great experience. I would definitely recommend this restaurant to others!

A perfect spot for a comforting bowl of udon, but with a modern and elevated interior!…read more The weather was on the hotter side, so I opted for the cold udon with vegetable tempura, and it was a light and refreshing meal! The dipping sauce went well with the udon, and the tempura was light and crispy. The hojicha latte was also good, but I wish it was a little sweeter. A unique standout was the complimentary frozen grapes they gave at the end of the meal, it was surprisingly good for how simple it was. The interior was modern and sleek, it would be great for both a special or casual meal. The servers were also very nice and gave us recommendations. I would definitely come back the next time I'm in the city!

Came by late at night and they were packed! They showcase their desserts up front and most were…read moresold out, which to me was a good sign. I ordered the Nabeyaki hot udon and it came with shrimp tempura. Yum and very filling. We also got the chicken karaage and a meat eggplant appetizers. I wasn't a fan of either really. We also ordered the strawberry shortcake and chamomile mango mousse for dessert. Wish portion sizes were a bit bigger for sharing. Wasnt a fan of the chamomile mango one but liked the strawberry shortcake one. Service was quick and fast. We were seated in a booth and I'm glad we got that type of seating instead of the smaller tables where you can be quite close to another party.

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.

It was a surprisingly chilly evening this summer when I left an incredible production of Oh Mary!,…read morehungry, without a set dinner plan. Craving ramen, I discovered this place on Yelp and walked in asking for a table for 4. After about a 15 min wait, we were seated at a lovely booth. The menu featured almost too many items, kind of like a Japanese izakaya diner of sorts-- they had everything from ramen to donburi to sushi and izakaya classics. My partner felt like this was too many items to offer to possibly execute anything very well, so he was skeptical. We were hungry and ordered quite a bit of food, including fried squid legs, karaage, gyudon, veggie ramen, beef noole soup, and a scallop roll. The scallop roll was not very flavorful, and the karaage's pieces were too big. Otherwise, everything was pretty tasty, including the veggie ramen, which I found surprising. Food came out quickly and service was kind and not overbearing. Would totally recommend if you're in the area.

The skewers were extremely juicy and delicious. My favorites were the galbi (beef short rib) and…read morechicken thigh. The Japanese sausage and chicken skin were also good. The eel rice bowl was also very good. Walked in on a Friday (holiday) at 5 PM with no wait, despite no slots available on Resy at the time.

Thanks to Yelp reviewers I opted to try this place. Was not disappointed. As many note, it's hard…read moreto find (even more so now with construction next door that obscures its sign) and reservations are a very good idea. Space is tight, but the noise level was decent. And now for the food...many options to suit multiple tastes! Unagi and Pork negi pon were the best. Ebi was a little on the dry side and the "Japanese" sausage was not particularly distinctive. Totto hot sake is a nice dinner accompaniment. Service was good--friendly and available. Promising option for those in the midtown/broadway area. A nice aspect of the menu is that it is clearly marked for those w/ food allergies and they have a # of dishes that can be done GF.

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.

Came here a long time ago bc I heard how good their sushi sets are. If you are a sushi lover and…read morewant something homey you will definitely like Okonomi. It's nonfussy, and although not the cheapest sushi, it's definitely not super expensive/omakase level. It's a small space with a giant bar for seating and maybe a few tables - the owners are definitely passionate about Japanese cuisine and you can definitely feel that as you chat with them a bit. The menu is small, but dedicated to quality, and you will make your choice quite quickly. All the fish was fresh, large pieces, and really really clean tasting. The soup was delightful and paired wonderfully and everything was presented quite nicely. The grilled fish was also tasty and really tender.

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.