"When you step into this dark basement restaurant in Midtown East, you’ll feel like you’ve been transported to a sake den in the East Village. Try to snag one of the five seats that are less than a foot away from the grills. (There’s a thick glass partition so you won’t leave smelling like smoke.) The main reason to come is the yakitori, with most skewers around $4. Our favorites are the chicken thigh with scallions and the roe-filled smelt." - bryan kim, sonal shah, molly fitzpatrick, willa moore