Benemon

FIREEE love this place. Fav place for unagi don. Prices are so good for the quality - Unagi don: 11/10, best unagi don, so tender, and everything is really flavorful. The egg was yummy too - Tuna tataki: 9/10, usually not the biggest fan of tuna or sashimi-like dishes, but this was yummy

I'd been wanting to try Japanese beef curry for months, and since I was on vacation in Manhattan, this restaurant popped up on the map and it was absolutely fantastic. The service was incredibly fast, the food was absolutely delicious, the prices were great, and the place is lovely. I'm already looking forward to my next trip to Manhattan so I can visit them again.

Major dining pet peeve: Restaurants that are stingy with AC on hot summer days. Come on, we all have electric bills to pay, and we all know how high they get from May to Sept. But no one wants to sweat like they're doing HIIT while trying to enjoy a plate of hot food. Oooo, weak pee in my gnocchi....tasty. Benemon is another stingy-with-AC restaurant. On a sweltering day with 251,000% humidity, the air conditioner was barely on, the fan was non-existent, and perhaps most insulting of all, they served us tepid, room temperature water. We had to ask for ice, which they (begrudgingly) gave in small cubes that melted instantly. The food was fine, but not worth the suffering. We started with Beef Carpaccio that was a bit too cooked for my liking, and Tuna Tataki likely drowned a painful death in the too-sweet miso-nut sauce. The Soft Shell Crab was pretty good, but I could've used more than six tiny legs. My Katsu Curry featured cute, sausage-shaped cutlets, but most of the dish was just sticky rice and gravy that I could've made myself. In attempt to avoid feeling feverish, I also got Yuzu Shiso Spritzer to wash everything down. It was fine, but if I hadn't desperately needed more ice than the staff wanted to give, I wouldn't have bothered ordering this. Not worth the sweat or the schlep.

Food was kinda hit or miss. The edamame, adegashi tofu, and soft shelled crab was good. The tuna takai pieces were small and over-sauced and looked nothing like the photos online. Service was good and the restaurant is located in a nice cozy spot.

Terrible food, very surprised by this. Service was good though. I got the katsu and they just douse the overcooked meat in mayo and other sauces. Rice not seasoned. App not impressive and also drowning in sauce. Drinks not memorable. I only came by word of mouth. Please don't spend money here.

Nice cozy Japanese restaurant with great service. The matcha cocktail and tuna tataki were delicious! Also tried the chicken and veggie donburi which were good, but not mindblowing. Would be curious to try the other menu items which may be better.

This a cute restaurant. Came on a Wednesday night and it was quite quiet. The appetizers were all really delicious. We ordered the pork belly , tuna tataki, and soft shell crab (this was my favourite). For mains we had the Katsu and una tama don (so much umamami and was creamy). The prices were very reasonable! We each got a different cocktail (high balls) and they were not bad. The staff was really attentive and was very accommodating with allergies. Would definitely come back again.

Wow ,what a cute little place ! Came here on a Spring Day with a friend. The exterior and interior of the restaurant are very charming looking like you are in Japan. They call this Japanese comfort food and I guess it's true. Get the Anchovy Fried Potatoes appetizer. Tasty and unexpected with Parmesan cheese . The Gobo sticks are earthy but I like trying something different and we enjoyed them . Tempura is crispy and good. The main star of the menu are rice bowls .My friend got the Oyako Don dark meat chicken and really enjoyed it. I got the eel and egg Una Tama Don and it was so delicious and satisfying. There's no dessert unfortunately but service is really fantastic. Chill soundtrack too. Also got a glass of the Yume No Kaori sake for $14 , it was bright and fresh just like the menu says. Perfect for the meal. Also don't be afraid to order the sake , it's not too strong and tastes great . My friend also had a draft Sapporo beer . Such a relaxing meal. Definitely recommended.

Current favorite restaurant in the city (2024). I've made reservations but can walk in too. Great ambiance. Have to get the anchovy fried potatoes. The Yakiniku Don and the Una-Tama Don are awesome. Overall a great date spot.

Benemon is one of my new favorite NYC restaurants. It's cozy, comforting, and nourishing, and most importantly... it doesn't require an arm and a leg to get a reservation! Tucked away in the East Village, this is a true hidden gem. For starters, we ordered the Soft Shell Crab and the Salty Pork Belly. The Salty Pork Belly was honestly one of my favorite bites of the night! It came served with blistered shishito peppers and a spicy black kaimi sauce. I'm not too sure what that is but I do know that I absolutely LOVED it. The fatty, smoky, juicy pork belly literally just melts in your mouth... and when it's dipped in the savory umami kaimi sauce-- wow!!!!! This is a must-get! I enjoyed the Soft Shell Crab but didn't find it as memorable (especially when compared to the pork belly). For our mains, we ordered the Una-Tama Don and the Katsu Curry with Chicken. I absolutely loved both. Japanese curry is always such a reliable and comforting meal. The curry was on the thinner side and didn't have any vegetables (ie carrots, potatoes, onions, etc.) that some Japanese curries have. The fried chicken katsu was also good! The Una-Tama Don is a bed of white rice with a deliciously melt-in-your-mouth eel, on top of a soft-cooked runny egg with onions and mushrooms. This dish was so savory and delicious and warming. I can't speak highly enough about it. I highly recommend this dish as well! The service was also kind, very patient with our slower eating speed, and attentive. The ambiance at dinner time was also very nice-- dimly lit lights, stone chopstick holders, etc. Also fun fact: they have happy hour daily from 5-7pm! If you are ever craving some comforting Japanese food in NYC, then definitely check out Benemon!

This intimate, cozy space was perfect for our Reservation of 16 people for our daughter's birthday! It's a beautiful space that's comfortably lit. We had two long tables and a cocktail table together for us and glad Happy Hour goes to 7pm! The staff were highly attentive and pleasant. We enjoyed the ginger shochu Highball specials and delicious draft beers! I had delicious Sousen sake and we ordered just about everything (small plates) starters including Kara-age chicken, black miso chicken (do not miss this! Get double!!), salty pork belly, and garlic beef steak (also get double!). Also ordered tuna tataki and squid and they were so good! I couldn't order a main, but everyone else did and enjoyed oyakodon, and katsu chicken and pork curry, perfectly sauced with fluffy egg, rice bowls as entrees. And the Tofu Hijiki salad was amazing. The only dish we all agreed we didn't enjoy much were the anchovy potatoes which felt needed more anchovy flavor and be crispier. On offer were matcha and red bean ice cream but we brought in our own birthday cake which we appreciated! Thank you for a wonderful evening for our family! We came here for a birthday celebration and left with a wonderful experience that would be hard to forget! Our daughter said, this was probably her best birthday celebration so far! Wish I took more photos of the food and drinks but we were so hungry and having a lot of fun being together we all missed the food pic opps, sorry! But, definitely don't miss this beautiful gem of a restaurant!

This place serves the homiest rice bowls. I've been here twice now and each time, I've really enjoyed the don's and appetizers. You can't go wrong with the options. Oyako don and Tsukimi Tori Don are my favorites, but I'm confident the flavor for everything is solid. This place also has a wonderful atmosphere and I would recommend coming here if you want a vibey, relaxing night.

I was walking across fourth Street and discovered this intimate gem. Everything about this place is meticulous yet relaxed. It's the perfect place to enjoy home spun yet artfully prepared Japanese food and drinks along with a nice conversation. The ambience is serene, but at no point does it feel stuffy. The service was attentive and warm.

Soooo good, innovative Japanese Izakaya home cooking. Everything was delicious. Loved the happy hour offerings especially sake+ beer combo. Anchovies Potatoes, Eel Rice Bowl, Tuna Tataki, Oyaka Don Chicken, Beef Curry, Kara-Age Chicken, Edamame Pepperincino all really tasty. I'll be back for sure

My friends and I tried this place for dinner. We shared the Tofu Fire which was yummy (a little hard to eat). For my main, I got the Katsu Curry which was sooo good. My only complaint was that they barely give you any curry sauce. We had to ask for additional sauce which they charged us for. When I think of Katsu Curry, I think like lathered in curry but I felt like I was trying to use the curry so sparingly. Other than that, still a good spot!

Benemon is a Japanese restaurant located on the Lower East Side. It's located a few blocks from the F train. The restaurant is a cozy place you can take your friends or a date to for a meal or sake based cocktails. I came here since it was my friend's birthday and appreciated the food they had to offer. The salty pork belly was soft and worked very well with the sauce. The tofu fire was a little spin on agedashi tofu, except it was thicker and created with a chili sauce. It had a slight kick to it but was not spicy at all, despite the name. The karaage was perfectly seasoned, and I liked the sauce that came with it, but eating it by itself was also delicious. For the entree, I chose the Yakiniku Don. It's basically a Gyudon, which is made from thinly sliced beef and created with a sweet soy sauce base. The portion was decent, and I had some leftovers to take home. Staff were friendly and checked up on us to see whether we needed anything many times. If I'm nearby, I would like to visit again to try the other dishes and cocktails they have to offer.

I've never felt more drawn to a dish on a menu than here at Benemon with the Una-tama don. Not just eel but eel and egg and onion and mushroom and rice?? Sign me up. I was so happy to receive that nice warm bowl, with a solid amount of eel. Every bite was perfect. I thought the portion was great, but some in my group would've preferred a bit more rice. Overall, great spot. I'm always craving donburi.

I came in here as a walk in on a Saturday evening with a party of 5. To my surprise this place is now taking reservations. But luckily we were able to be seated! I was recommended to come here by various friends, and this place did not disappoint! We ordered a few tapa styled dishes to start: - Beef Tataki - Tofu Hijiki Salad - Pork Belly - Chicken Kaarage - Shrimp Tempura And then we each ordered a donburi bowl! We shared the chicken and beef bowl. One of my friends got unagi bowl which he loved. All the tapas were really good! Highly recommend splitting a bunch of tapa dishes if you have the numbers! The donburi was good as well. We were so full towards the end struggling to finish the meal. Would come back here!

I ordered from this place ages ago and got the Uni Tama Don and remembered it being very tasty. More recently/several months ago, I stopped here one night. It was quiet with friendly service. I don't remember what I drank but I presume it was either shochu or sake. I started with the Black Miso Chicken for $15 consisting of broiled dark meat chicken in a savory black miso sauce, with crushed walnuts and black sesame, topped with scallions. The dish came out very hot and the portion was decent. The sauce is sweet with strong savory notes and the nuts added some crunch with the dish in general having a sesame and nutty flavor from the black miso. The chicken was flavorful. I would almost prefer if a karaage/fried chicken style was added as I think the sauce would make a good dip. My main was as last time, the Una-Tama (or Eel-Egg) Don for $21 consisting of marinated grilled eel, onions, shiitake mushrooms, scallions, and soft cooked eggs simmered in a rich soy sauce broth served over rice.The dish isn't the largest donburi I have had but there was enough. The egg had a soft texture and the sweet mixture between the egg, shiitake, and the rest reminded me of a slightly sweeter oyakodon which makes sense as the description is very similar to said other dish. There could have been more eel but the eel that was there was cooked nicely and it's essentially a $3 supplement over the normal oyakodon. Overall it was tasty. Solid little spot. Quaint with tasty good. Low 4/upper 3.

Absolutely fabulous! Benemon served up delicious Japanese food. Everything we ordered was just wonderful. The small interior is very intimate and well styled. The servers are very nice and our evening here was just perfect from start to finish. We ordered a number of small plates and entrees. I loved the Tofu Fire. It was so flavorful and cooked to perfection. The Black Miso Chicken was also among the favorite items of the table. The Edamame cooked in garlic and chili flakes had the most amazing aroma. For dinner, I ordered the Tsunami Tori Don. It was outstanding. I absolutely devoured it. Our group included Katsu Curry fans and they found the entree here to be among the best they have tried! Highly recommend this restaurant. For NYC, the prices were so reasonable. Overall, so good!!

We were a little disappointed . After reading the wonderful reviews, we thought the food would be way better. The food was OK but we dont plan to return. Also, the seating was not that comfortable

We visited Benemon over the weekend and really liked both the vibe and food. Benemon is located on the lower east side, and it's about a 10 minute walk from Washington Square Park. The neighborhood around the restaurant is really picturesque and I definitely would like to walk around there again the next time I have a chance. Since Benemon has great reviews online, we initially were worried about getting a table. But in the end it wasn't an issue at all. We arrived at around 5 pm and we're almost immediately seated. They even let us choose a larger table since foot traffic was relatively light when we came. Inside Benemon there are these very exotic looking lamps and the lighting creates a somewhat surreal atmosphere. The food was all very good. But I particularly liked the karaage and the tsukimi tori don, my main. All in all, Benemon was a great experience and I will definitely go again.

We stopped by on a rainy afternoon and could not have chosen a better place! The mood of the restaurant is perfect. A little dark but just the right amount for a meal. We got the black miso chicken this time, which was fantastic, but the karrage is amazing too. The katsu don is an amazing sweet salty savory and the unagi is huuuuge. 10/10 would always go again

I have to give this place a three. A couple hours later I kinda feel a bit sick, but it's not because of poisoning, it's just that there is a LOT of oil in the food. We got three small plates and two main plates for two people - I think it's too much. Size down because the heaviness will hit you later! The taste of this place is fine, it's solid, but I didn't like the texture of some foods (karaage and unagi) and and the slight fishiness of some of the foods (soft shell and unagi). I hate to question the maintenance of the foods, as the restaurant seems clean and well-organized. Maybe I was just unlucky with the proteins that were given by their provider. I did like the shrimp tempura, and I like that it came with a dipping salt and ponzu sauce. The chicken karaage was not really my thing. Inside the exterior was some fatty tissue/skin which was unpleasant to me. The soft shell crab kinda tasted funky, not what I am used to...like honestly the legs were fine, but the body of it tasted a bit funky. Like too seafoody and off, I wasn't sure what to make of it. The unagi don was not my favorite either. I've had eel preparations that are tender and soft, but this one was in comparison chewy, and it came out a bit lukewarm. I did not like the texture...but it looks gorgeous. The chicken katsu curry was my favorite, I really liked the sauce and the pickled veggie. I wasn't in love with the presentation though, I would have preferred a more traditional look (slices of chicken, not nuggets). Service was good, ambiance is lovely. I don't think I would come back though :( I hovered between a 3 and a 4 but I ultimately decided on a 3 because I don't see myself returning. I also don't live super close by though!

Had a very nice time at benemon. No reservations, but we were able to locate a table on a Saturday night at 7:30pm. Great spot to go to before hitting a night out on the town in east village or Noho. Nice ambiance. Waitress was nice but did not speak English well (was still able to help us quite a bit). We ordered the following: Tuna Tataki - a must get menu item. Insanely delicious flavor Black Miso Chicken Una Tama Don Yakiniku Don Await the Moon Sapporo

The Unagi Don was phenomenal! Maybe that's just me loving unagi but I loved it so much. Everyone else in our party loved their food as well. The appetizers fantastic. The Hot Squid, Beef Tataki, and Tuna Tataki were all so good and the perfect lead in to the later bowls. The service was great. We accidentally made a reservation for not enough people and the staff were very quick to figure out how to seat us. They were very kind and attentive with water. The atmosphere was really pleasant and comfortable. Perfect for the warm, cozy food that is served. Overall a great place. Highly recommend!

My new favorite Japanese place in NY. Delicious comfort food (love the curry) and tasty drinks. The waitstaff was prompt and friendly. Great location, the tall floor windows slide open so every seat feels like outside dining. Intimate for two friends catching up, and can host a table of 10 celebrating a milestone.

Wow ,what a cute little place ! Came here on a Spring Day with a friend. The exterior and interior of the restaurant are very charming looking like you are in Japan. They call this Japanese comfort food and I guess it's true. Get the Anchovy Fried Potatoes appetizer. Tasty and unexpected with Parmesan cheese . The Gobo sticks are earthy but I like trying something different and we enjoyed them . Tempura is crispy and good. The main star of the menu are rice bowls .My friend got the Oyako Don dark meat chicken and really enjoyed it. I got the eel and egg Una Tama Don and it was so delicious and satisfying. There's no dessert unfortunately but service is really fantastic. Chill soundtrack too. Also got a glass of the Yume No Kaori sake for $14 , it was bright and fresh just like the menu says. Perfect for the meal. Also don't be afraid to order the sake , it's not too strong and tastes great . My friend also had a draft Sapporo beer . Such a relaxing meal. Definitely recommended.

I was really missing the amazing Izakayas in Japan so decided to stop by (Thursday for dinner - no wait) this cute place I've passed by, do yourself a favor and stop by too!! Nomz: Started off with the karkage fried chicken and tuna tataki, finished with the pork katsu curry. The fried chicken came out nice and hot, perfectly fried and very flavorful, I really enjoyed eating it! The tuna, another masterpiece, plenty of pieces, delicious and the outside seasoning provided some spice and saltiness to it. The pork katsu was a bit overcooked, however the plentiful and delicious curry saved it. Drinks: You can get sake flights! My partner enjoyed some. I went for the warm sake per usual, did not disappoint! Service: Very good service, nice and courteous. Ambiance: Really cozy and cute inside, nicely lit, can see it being romantic for some, loved the lights at every tables with crystals around them. Nope or Dope: Dope! Would love to go back and try more food and sake, nomzzzz

This place is a great little spot with a nice vibe and have an extensive menu of sake. The tuna tataki was amazing and melty. Kaarage was well fried, and the soft shell crab was also a great dish to share. I think the Donburi was just average, but well priced and probably better to share. I would go here just for the apps and sake since there's a great selection.

So glad I found this place! They dont take reservations but we were able to get a table around 8 on a Friday. Service was very friendly and quick, and the ambiance inside is super cute. We ordered the baked Salmon, Karage, and Chicken Katsu Curry. Everything was DELICIOUS and came out piping hot. Will definitely need to come back to try to Unagi bowl (grilled eel). They also had a very fun and creative cocktail menu which I would be open to trying next time!

The vegetable curry was good. The ambiance inside is very nice and can be a little loud, so just be prepared for that (there is limited outdoor seating). The food came out very fast, which is good because there are no reservations so the turnaround time works since people are waiting. The vegan options are a few appetizers and the two entrees, one of which is the vegetable curry. It was good but nothing amazing. The staff was helpful and friendly and the overall experience was nice.

It's fine for what it is. Small, cozy restaurant with small-portioned, Japanese-home styled cooking. Servers were nice, but because of how small the restaurant is, I could hear their conversations about a friend of theirs etc. It's a fine restaurant, nothing wrong with it---just nothing special.

Interesting cocktails with welcoming and unfamiliar flavors. Oily yet deliciously flavored beef with rice. Not too fatty eel but a bit too sweet. I prefer dashi tofu but what they offer was an interesting take, the mushy/sticky fried tofu in sweet sticky sauce really peaked my tastebuds. The creamy salmon with some type of aioli which wasn't awful but far too much of was slopped on making it hard to enjoy the fish but if you push the slop aside the dish is quite tasty. Overall I'd definitely go back for the explosion of flavors and people watching (sit by the window:).

Great food, ambiance, and service! We ordered the fried chicken (nice and moist), unagi don, and pork katsu curry (our favorite!) We also had 2 of the sake flights, which were all nice and smooth served in a cute set. Highly recommend!

Great place with very good food and impressive service. We ordered: Tuna Tataki Beef Tataki Hot Squid Oyako Don Una-Tama Don. Everything was amazing. Highly recommend!

Got the tuna app and the pork Katsu. The curry is amazing and loved they made the Katsu individual fried fingers. Was really great.

Took my partner here for his birthday on a Tuesday and the vibe was great! Didn't have to wait for a table, and the ambience is very intimate and cozy with close-together tables, hanging lightbulbs with warm yellow light, and a brick wall. We ordered the spicy squid to start, which was tangy and spicy and fresh (5/5) and I got the una tama don (3/5) and he got the oyako don (4/5). The eel was too chewy and not soft like in sushi restaurants. The rice was a little too mushy and the overall dish too sweet. The food came out quite fast. Overall would recommend this place as a date spot, but have had better Japanese comfort food.

You don't see many Japanese restaurants that aren't either sushi joints or ramen houses. It's been years since I've been to a restaurant that only serves traditional Japanese entrees like donburi bowls and curries. The Fried Anchovy Potatoes were delicious. They are both garlicky and perfectly salty from the Parmesan and anchovies. I could have had more anchovy flavor, but I'd definitely recommend. It was so cold and rainy, so I ordered one of my favorite Japanese comfort foods. Oyakodon. It translates to "parent and child" because it contains eggs and chicken. Oyakodon is cooked in one pan where onions, chicken, and egg are simmered in an umami-rich, dashi-based sauce. It is then poured over a bowl of rice. It's a simple dish, but I love it. Benemon's did not disappoint. The Curry with Katsu Chicken is really good. Often times, restaurants serve pre breaded, prepackaged katsu chicken that has been frozen and then fried. Disappointing. Getting curry right is something many restaurants can do, but a really good katsu chicken is rare. I liked Benemon. It was authentic and the service was good.

The food was good, but it was a lot of fried options. I think we made the mistake of over doing it on ordering fried items, but every one of the waitress recommendations was a fried item. The octopus was good, and so were the pieces of Karage. Some of the better Karage we've had, but everything was just missing a little something. A nice touch of freshness to each dish would have gone a long way.

this is a cute cozy japanese spot with home style dishes. the servers were friendly. i love how there's an open air design where the indoor tables aren't separated by a wall to the outdoor seating in the summer. it was a nice way to enjoy the warm spring weather while staying cool inside. i got the popcorn chicken curry and it was filling! wish there was a bit more flavor to the popcorn chicken through seasoning but overall i'd come back especially since i think the prices are pretty decent for manhattan.

Highly recommend the una tama don if you are looking for a bowl of soul warming food! It's sweet, savory, warm, tender and just melts in your mouth! The egg, unagi, and shiitake mushroom are in perfect harmony. The curry katsu don is great if you are looking for a richer in your face flavor. Seared tuna tataki was perfection. Loved the Cajun spice seasonings on the sides - wished there was more cause we finished this so fast!!

The Tuna Tataki appetizer was tasty with its tangy sauce and tender tuna, but it was pretty small portion size. The Nanban Dan was also good, though a bit sweet. It's crispy tempura chicken with a Japanese mayo-like sauce over rice. Overall, it was a great experience, and I'd definitely go again.

I really love the unagi over rice bowl here. I think there are two, so if you're not sure which one to ask, just ask for the one with the bigger piece of unagi! I think the other dishes were all good, according to spec. Lots of fried karaage type dishes. The sake tasting is interesting, but I didn't really pick out any great sakes that I liked from the flight.

Had high hopes for Benemon but ultimately it was a bit of a letdown. Walked in around 6:20 on a weeknight and got a table for two immediately. The una-tama don was fantastic, but the karaage was kind of soggy - super unappealing, maybe it was laying out for a bit. Pork Katsu curry was decent, though again, the katsu itself could have been crispier. 3.5 stars.

Absolutely enjoyed Benemon! It is a small Japanese restaurant that we found last minute when I was craving Japanese curry. This restaurant was very cute. We tried their sake flight, beef tataki, chicken katsu curry and yakiniku Don. Everything was delicious. We both enjoyed the beef tataki, it had so much flavor and it was quite tender. The curry was so good just wish it had spice levels, none the less it was delicious! The yakiniku Don was a little sweet for my liking but still good. I would definitely keep this in mind next time I'm in New York!

Very scrumptious and clean food. Although I was a little disappointed it didn't have sushi, I realize it was a traditional Japanese restaurant that serves fried burdoch root, tuna tataki, and curry sauce. The decor is rustic and welcoming.

Good Japanese street food. Great choice of sakes. Quick an kind service staff. Reasonably priced.

Cute spot in east village! Cute interior ambience and the wait staff are all very friendly. There's a good amount of variety on the menu without it being overwhelming. I definitely recommend the nanban don and the garlic beef steak personally. The drinks taste and look great too but i believe they're all sake-based so be mindful of that.

Will drop some thoughts as well about Benemon, well I don't have photos but here it is. So, I was on Yelp, hunting for a place to satisfy my Japanese food craving, and I stumbled upon Benemon in Manhattan, New York. I'd seen some great reviews online and was initially worried about scoring a table, but it turned out to be a non-issue. Now, here's the tiny bummer: they didn't have miso soup, which is a must in Japanese cuisine. Kind of missed that. Also, noticed some reviews mentioning that the indoor temperature at Benemon can be a bit humid, especially in certain weather conditions. I have to agree; having some fans or air conditioning would have made the dining experience more comfortable. For me, comfort always comes first when dining out, so I'll give Benemon a 4/5 in this regard. For our appetizers, we dug into the Gomadare Salad and Gobo Sticks. Let me tell you, that salad with its sesame oil goodness was a hit, and those flash-fried Gobo Sticks were addictive. Moving on to the mains, we went for the Shrimp Tempura and Garlic Beef Steak. The tempura was crispy and delightful, and that beef steak was mouthwatering. Seriously, that garlic sauce was something special. But all in all, Benemon is a cool spot with delicious food and great service. If you're in the mood for some Japanese eats in Manhattan, give it a shot

I could not say more good things about this place! Everything I got was delicious and had soooo much flavor. For apps we got garlic beef, karaage and the black miso chicken. I would have loved to put a scoop of rice in the delicious sauce from the miso chicken. For an entrees I shared the Yakiniku don and katsu curry and both were so tasty. In the yakiniku don the beef was perfectly seared and had some crispy edges. I would definitely recommend this place!

East Village has a lot of good Japanese restaurants, and this place is one of them! I love the vibe as soon as I walked in. The indoor area is a small, but it creates an intimate setting; there is also outdoor seating! The beef tataki is one of the popular dishes here, and I definitely did not regret ordering it! It had really good texture and flavor (has much more flavor than it looks). The shrimp tempura was also so crispy and warm, but it was a bit bland. They do give you a side of salt (?) to dip it, and that was interesting because I was used to eating tempuras with soy sauce. The Una Tama Don was pretty hefty, and very flavorful. The flavor can get overbearing after couple bites, so I suggest having a drink or some side while eating it. But I was excited to eat the huge unagi pieces! Service was decent, our waiter did not really know the ingredients of the drinks and wasn't too helpful with the menu, but the rest of the waiters were very attentive and nice. Overall, decent food and ambiance!

Benemon in the east village serves tapas, donburi, and Japanese curry dishes. They do not take reservations on the weekend and we saw the reason why; by the peak dining hour customers were lining up for a seat! We started with small plates of tuna tataki; seared tuna with Cajun spice, sweet miso-nuta sauce, and smoked pork belly with shishito peppers served with spicy black kaimi sauce. Both dishes are delicious yet we commented that the sauce for the tataki has overpowered the main star which is the tuna. For our main entree, we shared Nanban Don; crispy chicken tempura glazed with Nanban sauce served over rice, and the tender stewed beef with savory curry served with rice. We found both dishes delicious and filling. This place serves solid Japanese comfort food. The outdoor dining added quaintness to the ambiance. With awesome customer service and price points, we will be back here!

20/10 im in tears thinking about her. This spot is now in my top 3 for Izakaya. Me and bf wanted to look for an izakaya but with a more romantic and chill ambiance versus a more lively one, and decided to try this place out. Completely blew us away. The drinks were creative and delicious. The food was INSANE! -Smoked Pork Belly: must get this, we ordered twice of this, absolutely delicious - smoky, tender -Anchovy Fried Potatoes: I always get potato when I visit iazakayas so of course I highly anticipated for how the dish would be like. Awesome- this potato was excellent, we also ordered twice lol -Beef tataki: not pictured but also very good, thinly sliced, well season, a little tangy -Miso chicken was ok I would highly recommend for a chill night/date night. Can't wait to visit again!

The food was amazing! Very tasty and a wonderful portion size. The server Ilene was great and knowledgeable and made some great food and drinks recommendations! The vibes were chill and the music was a vibe! Would def eat here again!

The aesthetics here is unreal!! Such a cute date spot. If you are looking for some Japanese comfort food, you have to come here! They have some really yummy donburi! I got the una-tama don and my boyfriend got the yakiniku. Both where so good! But I definitely love the una-tama more! If you love the fluffy egg and eel, you have to get the una-tama. The egg is so fluffy and soft and they give you the perfect amount of eel. The sauce broth is amazing and goes nicely on the rice. I also love the sake selection here! Highly recommend this place!

This was my second time at Benemon, and it lived up to its expectation. The food came out quickly and was so filling. The pricing is fair, and everything tasted fresh. We started off with the Gobo Sticks. Its not a common flavor, so it might not be a favorite for everyone, but I loved it. We then got the soft shell crab and spicy octopus. The crab tasted fresh and tasted great. The spicy octopus was just okay. It was spicy, but I felt like it was missing something, that OOMPH, you know? We ended with the Una Tama Don, and this also exceeded our expectations. It came out piping how and it was so flavorful. Yum!! Can't wait to come back here!