Hanamizuki Cafe

Japanese restaurant · Chelsea

Hanamizuki Cafe

Japanese restaurant · Chelsea

4

143 W 29th St, New York, NY 10001

Photos

Hanamizuki Cafe by null
Hanamizuki Cafe by
Hanamizuki Cafe by Willa Moore
Hanamizuki Cafe by null
Hanamizuki Cafe by null
Hanamizuki Cafe by null
Hanamizuki Cafe by null
Hanamizuki Cafe by null
Hanamizuki Cafe by null
Hanamizuki Cafe by null
Hanamizuki Cafe by null
Hanamizuki Cafe by null
Hanamizuki Cafe by null
Hanamizuki Cafe by null
Hanamizuki Cafe by null
Hanamizuki Cafe by null
Hanamizuki Cafe by null
Hanamizuki Cafe by null
Hanamizuki Cafe by null
Hanamizuki Cafe by null
Hanamizuki Cafe by null
Hanamizuki Cafe by null
Hanamizuki Cafe by null
Hanamizuki Cafe by null
Hanamizuki Cafe by null
Hanamizuki Cafe by null
Hanamizuki Cafe by null
Hanamizuki Cafe by null
Hanamizuki Cafe by null
Hanamizuki Cafe by null
Hanamizuki Cafe by null
Hanamizuki Cafe by null
Hanamizuki Cafe by null
Hanamizuki Cafe by null
Hanamizuki Cafe by null
Hanamizuki Cafe by null
Hanamizuki Cafe by null
Hanamizuki Cafe by null
Hanamizuki Cafe by null
Hanamizuki Cafe by null
Hanamizuki Cafe by null
Hanamizuki Cafe by null
Hanamizuki Cafe by null
Hanamizuki Cafe by null

Highlights

Minimalist-chic café serving homey Japanese onigiri with eclectic fillings, warming miso soup, and matcha treats in a cozy, serene spot.  

Featured in The Infatuation
Featured in Grub Street

143 W 29th St, New York, NY 10001 Get directions

hanamizukinyc.com

$10–20 · Menu

Information

Static Map

143 W 29th St, New York, NY 10001 Get directions

+1 212 695 5533
hanamizukinyc.com

$10–20 · Menu

Features

payment credit card
Tap to pay
reservations

Last updated

Jul 30, 2025

Powered By

You might also like

Terms of Use • Privacy Policy • Cookie Policy
 © 2025 Postcard Technologies, Inc.
@infatuation

Hanamizuki Cafe - Review - Chelsea - New York - The Infatuation

"We first found Hanamizuki Cafe on West 29th after a particularly harrowing 10 minutes of dodging the tourists of Herald Square. At the time, their onigiri combo and steamy mug of miso soup brought us back to the realm of the living. And now we never get off the train at 34 St-Harlod Square station without seriously considering a stop. The mother and daughter who run the operation—which opened in 2012 and then closed during the pandemic before returning in 2024 in its original space—make all of the onigiri to order, wrapping seaweed around warm sushi rice around flaky salmon, or a dollop of mentaiko, and passing yours over the counter. Even if you've got somewhere to be, these fresh onigiri deserve a seat. So take five minutes to sit in the cafe-esque dining room while you sip your mug of miso in between bites. Food Rundown Onigiri Combo For $16, you’ll get to choose two onigiri, which come on a platter with miso soup and the daily side dishes—like slightly sweet tamagoyaki and goma-ae slick with sesame dressing. As for the onigiri, we like the grilled salmon with shiso, and the sukiyaki, which is blended with the rice so that each bite has shreds of sweet, soy sauce-laced beef and slivers of scallion." - Willa Moore

https://www.theinfatuation.com/new-york/reviews/hanamizuki-cafe
View Postcard for Hanamizuki Cafe
@onthegrid

"Hanamizuki Cafe, Flatiron by Anti/Anti. The Hanamizuki Cafe considers itself a “minimalist-chic cafe specializing in rice balls with eclectic fillings, plus miso soup.” We know it as that Japanese spot next door that seems to be a hair-removal/spa (in the back) and also somehow offers very solid coffee that you can grab in under 60 seconds if in a hurry. They have the best quick snack in the neighborhood, an assortment of bite-sized meat/veggie rice balls pre-made to go."

New York City
View Postcard for Hanamizuki Cafe
@spencertchen
View Postcard for Hanamizuki Cafe
@davidcho

Nice onigiri made by someone’s mom

Things I want to eat in New York
View Postcard for Hanamizuki Cafe

Wattanachai CH

Google
I came here with one mission dessert! 🍰 And it absolutely did not disappoint. Tried both the matcha crepe cake and the mango shaved ice and wow. The crepe cake was soft and rich with matcha flavor, perfectly balanced with the light whipped cream. The mango shaved ice was incredibly fluffy, almost snow-like, with a sweet mango sauce and juicy peach slices on top. So refreshing!

Ruby Chan

Google
The cutest Japanese café serving onigiri and kakigori, run by a lovely mother-and-daughter duo. It felt like stepping into a cozy scene from an anime. The matcha shaved ice, the drinks, the illustrated menu…everything was so charming and perfect for any matcha lover. It was pretty busy when I visited on the weekend, but they still greeted me with the kindest smiles and made me feel so welcome. ＊Matcha Shaved Ice $14.80 ＊Mango Shaved Ice $14.80 The best matcha kakigori I’ve had outside of Asia—especially impressive at this price point. Even the ice itself tasted like matcha/mango ice cream, not just plain ice with syrup. I loved the toppings: the matcha warabimochi and red bean were perfect complements. ＊Onigiri $5.50/pc (Musubi*, Mentaiko*, Sukiyaki, Salmon) A huge step up from store-bought onigiri. These rice balls were fresh, warm, and loaded with delicious toppings. The musubi and mentaiko were my top picks. It was actually my first time trying musubi, and the rice mixed with sun-dried tomatoes was such a great touch. ＊Mango Matcha Latte $6.75 ＊Strawberry Hojicha Latte $7.00 Reasonably priced for flavored matcha/hojicha! You could tell right away from the vibrant colors how rich the tea flavors were. I especially loved the housemade fruit syrup . Both drinks were great, but the hojicha stood out for me as it’s tough to find a good hojicha latte in nyc.

Minna Chiu

Google
A cute and quaint cafe tucked away from the hustle and bustle of NYC. My friend and I visited on a Saturday afternoon around 2:30pm and the place was packed! They do have seating and people generally don't loiter around after finishing their food so we were easily able to get a table after waiting in line (~10min wait) to order. We ordered their 2 onigiri with miso soup and a small side combo ($16, add $1 for certain onigiri). My friend got their ume onigiri and their salmon onigiri, while I ordered their mentaiko mayo cheese onigiri and shrimp tempura (add $1). These onigiri transported us back to Japan. The rice had the perfect texture and there was just enough filling inside. The flavors were also really good. The ume is definitely on the tart side (as it is in Japan), the shrimp tempura was fried to perfection, salmon was fresh and the mentaiko packed a spicy punch but paired perfectly with the shiso leaf! It was so good we ended up ordering a couple to go, and they were equally as delicious almost 8 hours after purchasing! Prices are reasonable and their onigiri are delicious! I'll definitely be back. Check out my foodsta @chiuventure for a closer look and more details of my dining experience here as well as other establishments in NYC and around the world!

Lauren Salazar

Google
I ordered the onigiri combo and matcha latte for lunch. The staff was so kind to not only tell me the crowd favorites but also the staff favorite which I love because I was looking to try something new. The restaurant is clean, COOL (temperature wise- so nice for the summer time), and welcoming! Onigiri Combo: The onigiri is a generous size! Mentaiko- great combo with the shiso leaf and kick of spice. Kinoko- mushroom flavor and actual mushroom chunks are so flavorful. Special shoutout to the miso soup that had tofu skin adding a nice texture. Carrot sesame seed and something else salad (sorry I don’t know the name) so refreshing and great crunch! Matcha: vibrant color- clean taste!

Alyza Alfonso

Google
The service and atmosphere was super good and it was such a cute cafe! I feel like the onigiri could be a bit better, as the seaweed was soft and a bit mushy but overall the taste was good. Also, the workers were super friendly and helped us when choosing what to get :))

Liz W

Google
April Fools on me; fell for aesthetics instead of authenticity. I know what onigiri is and that ratio to fillings is going to be more rice but this place is super skimpy. Please look at the menu pictures versus actual product. There was a whisper of salmon on top of mine with just radish inside. The unagi had no eel. I took it apart and could not find one piece (that dark spot was skin). This is how I itemized the set, drink is extra. Yuzu Peach Tea $5 - two tea bags and water Salmon $5.50 Unagi $6 Miso soup $3 Side $2.50 Tax $1.95 Total $23.95 For the same price I could’ve gotten a chirashi bowl full of fish or multiple pieces of onigiri (with sides and drink) from HMart or Dainobu. Those have a normal amount of filling to leave you satisfied. I personally will not come back or recommend given the value and quality, but to each their own. PS - they also need to do some cleaning where people are eating.

Pooja Chaudhary

Google
TLDR; super flavorful onigiri that are surprisingly filling. We picked up 2 onigiri a piece for the train ride to Philly and were worried that perhaps it wouldn’t be enough, but in spite of their small looking size, they are incredibly filling. They had run out of some of the ones we had originally wanted, so we ended up getting the ume, cheese okaka, kinoko and the karaage. They were all so yummy - both the ones with mushrooms as well as the karaage were incredibly flavorful. The ume onigiri is a bit on the sour end because of the pickled plum, which isn’t quite my thing. Service is pretty quick too - I waited probably 10ish minutes for my order to be ready at the most. The onigiri did carry well too - by the time we ate them two hours later, they were still intact and good to eat.

Kris Alva

Google
Such a cute little cafe! There were so many onigiri options to choose from it was hard on to decide on just one and they’re so very filling too. They’re absolutely fresh and delicious. I’m looking forward on coming back again and trying more flavors.
google avatar

Andrea C.

Yelp
I recently dined here and had an amazing experience! After trialing as a desserts shop for some time, they've returned to their roots as an onigiri shop, and I couldn't be happier. I got their lunch combo which included miso soup, sides, and 2 onigiris of your choice. I opted for the Hawaiian and Unagi, and both were delicious. The food was prepared and ready almost immediately. I also tried their iced matcha latte with oat milk, and it was SO good. It was smooth, tasty, and not too sweet. The cafe itself is adorable, clean, and simple with plenty of seating. There's also a restroom in the back. Overall, this is a nice spot to unwind and grab a quick lunch or snack--highly recommend!
google avatar

K M.

Yelp
I was looking for tea with a sweet so popped in. The server told me they had no sweet cakes or desserts which was a disappointment. The matcha I ordered was good albeit not very hot. I ordered a umeboshi onigiri to go that was wrapped in a piece of paper (did not cover the entire onigiri). When I ate it later, I found it good but the flavor did not linger. The decor was simple - others comment it is "cute", but that doesn't describe it. inside there were 2 other tables both dining on the onigiri combos and clearly had been chatting a while. Not a bad choice if you are in the area for tea.
google avatar

Sophia W.

Yelp
This is the cutest cafe! They have huge onigiri and the miso soup is so authentic. The combo set is a great deal. My favorite was the mentaiko onigiri. The staff are friendly, and you get the food right away. It feels cozy and warm inside the cafe.
google avatar

Mable C.

Yelp
Came here after all the hype on social media. A little bit disappointing honestly. I came a few hours before closing and many of the items were sold out already. I was able to try the salmon and yuzu tuna onigiris. Both were okay but not too much filling inside, compared to the ratio of rice. I did enjoy the freshness of the shiso leaf the bottom as it paired well with the fish. Previously this cafe also served lots of desserts and drinks so I was sad to hear that they decided to get rid of all of that. The bar seating wasn't too comfortable or inviting and decor was a little lacking. Sad to see all the charm being lost after seeing older pictures of this place.
google avatar

Alexis B.

Yelp
My friend and I were heading back to the train station to head home from a weekend in NYC last Sunday when we happened upon Hanamizuki Cafe. I had intended to get a snack for the train at the station but when I saw their sign outside, I changed up my plan and stepped inside. It was around 3pm on a Sunday, and the cafe was packed (I just avoided not hitting patrons with my large weekender bag), but the line to order was just a few people long. If you're not familiar with onigiri, it's a rice ball. Their sign outside says "It's Onigiri's Era," and I hope that's true, because onigiri are great (such a delicious but quick meal or snack). They're still harder to find outside in NYC (in the States, I mean), and I don't think I can find any easily in Baltimore (where I currently live). I wanted so many of them (they offer around 10 options, and a combo with two onigiri, a bowl of miso soup, and a veg side for $16), but decided on two: ume (pickled plum with dried shiso leaves) and cheese okaka (bonito flakes, mushroom, pickled radish, nori, and kewpie mayo). I loved both - different (ume more classic and simple) but both delicious. I stuck with vegetarian/pescatarian for my two onigiri on this visit, but their meat onigiri and fish-ier onigiri (the cheese okaka only has bonito in it with mushrooms featured more heavily, so it feels like a veg onigiri) looked amazing, too. This might become a tradition - pick up onigiri on the way to the train station! Very quick, delicious, and fun!
google avatar

Rachel W.

Yelp
Stopped by around 11:45am on a Monday, it was busy but not too packed, we were able to get a table for 4 easily. It is self service and self busking, order at the back at the register. The vibes are super cute! The salmon onigiri ($5.50) was pretty disappointing, it was not super flavorful and was a bit dry honestly. The shiso leaf overpowered the salmon as it was a bit bland. I would not recommend. The chicken karage ($6) was much better flavor wise, and there was a decent amount of chicken, but the chicken itself was no longer crispy at all, and I wish there was more mayo. If I were to come back, I would probably get this one again. Overall, pretty cute spot with not too bad prices, but definitely aren't the best onigiri in town.
google avatar

Michelle K.

Yelp
Although I'm not the biggest fan of the interior design, it's nice because there are a lot of seats available. I got one onigiri and a miso soup that came out right away. I loved the savory taste of the rice with the mushrooms, and the miso soup hits the spot on a cold winter's day.
google avatar

Danielle B.

Yelp
I wanted to like this place so much but I was so disappointed. Everything was subpar. We got the combo which came with 2 onigiri and miso soup and the sides of the day. Paid around $25 for what you see in the photo. The salmon onigiri only had a couple of flakes of salmon inside. Very sad. The miso soup tasted like it came out of a packet but that's fine. The veggie sides were not to my personal liking but maybe other people like them. The inari was wrapped in plastic and upon removing the plastic it was so wet and crumbling in my hands. The karaage onigiri I enjoyed but it was barely filled as well. I'm trying to understand what went wrong here, I had such high hopes for this cute spot and everything was a disappointment. :(
google avatar

Stephanie D.

Yelp
Tried four onigiris here. They were ready very quickly and pretty tasty. Cute little cafe with a few tables
google avatar

Sabrina H.

Yelp
I got the sukiyaki and unagi onigiris. It also came with miso soup and a side of edamame and egg. They gave us little trays to bring our food to our table, which made everything look very cute and aesthetic. The onigiris are made fresh after ordering and the meal set was a good combination.
google avatar

Iris C.

Yelp
This place was aesthetic as I remembered it! $16 for two onigiri, soup and sides is both filling and affordable, completely with friendly service! I think it's well worth it. It was a quaint space and going when it first opens at 11am allows for a serene meal time. When it's 11:30am, the crowd starts coming in. Food prep goes quickly. The miso soup and the kinoko mushroom onigiri is hearty and savory. This hole in the wall spot prides itself on authenticity, simplicity, and warmth.
google avatar

Vivian L.

Yelp
I came on the weekend for a late lunch, and it was very busy! There was a line to order, but it moved quickly. There is a decent amount of tables, but they are close together. You order at the counter, get a buzzer, and seat yourself. You can also order to go, which I did and it was very fast. I got 3 rice balls, the sukiyaki, kinoko, and hawaiian. The kinoko, 5 kinds of mushroom, was surprisingly my favorite. It was the most flavorful and had a decent ratio of mushroom to rice. The sukiyaki was sort of bland and did not have a lot of beef. The hawaiian one was also only okay, and I wasn't a huge fam of the sun dried tomatoes in the rice. They are a bit expensive at $5-6 for each rice ball. I would come back if I'm in the area and craving rice balls, but won't be a regular customer.
google avatar

Masha S.

Yelp
This place is very much open and also incredibly delicious. I came in with my coworkers for lunch and was greeted with the most serene little oasis in the heart of midtown. The vibe was definitely cute, pink and girly. We ordered the special which was two onigiri's, miso soup and a salad. It was the perfect amount of food and the presentation made for such a cozy lunch!They had so many flavors of onigiri to choose from so it was tough to decide but I'm looking forward to trying them all and picking my favorites. Definitely recommend this place to anyone who works around the area and is tired of overpriced salads and mid pizzas.

Samantha C.

Yelp
Cute place with tasty elevated onigiri. A lot of seating available. def coming back :)

Agasha I.

Yelp
this cafe is wonderful! such a calm and cute atmosphere with super friendly staff. the food was delicious and they have a great deal where you can get 2 onigiri, a miso soup and a seasonal side for $16!! i also got a matcha that was SO good. definitely stop by!
google avatar

Lingxiao C.

Yelp
Came here for a quick bite before a Rangers game. Really cute cafe that's clean and offers fruit-infused water. The food was underwhelming and pricey for what it was worth. The onigiri rice balls were on the smaller side, which really didn't bother me, but were also incredibly bland - I couldn't really tell which was which because both just tasted like slightly-oiled rice. I'm so used to the delicious onigiri with generous amount of fillings from Harper's Bread House that this just subpar in comparison. The two sides were so small - think dipping sauce/condiment cups instead of ramekins and tasted okay. The soup was the only thing that was good. Overall, nice environment and cute presentation if you're into Instagram. The dinner set is not worth it, and there are better places for onigiri like the one suggested above.
google avatar

Heejin P.

Yelp
Cute interior with your typical minimalist wood-y japanese vibe Came here for "dinner" - all they really have for sale are the rice balls. A set is $15 and you get two rice balls and miso soup and two "sides". The rice balls are incredibly small and you also have to pay $1 extra if you get a premium one. The flavors weren't all that great -- they just tasted healthy and didn't have much flavor to it. The miso soup was slightly sour..? And i didn't care for the sides (i got some sort of root vegetable and okra with a really sticky sesame paste). Overall wouldn't come back even if i had a strong rice ball craving..i'd rather make it at home
google avatar

Michelle R.

Yelp
Wandered in here solo for coffee/breakfast this morning. Cafe Hanamizuki (similar to the nail salon next door) is nestled into sort of an odd area in the floral district without much retail business, so you might not notice it if you weren't looking for it. I live nearby and probably passed it fifty times before seeing it. Once you're inside the ambience is freaking cute- I'd call it shabby chic with barely detectable notes of steampunk. There's also some kitschy upbeat nonsense-writing on the walls that involves staying "beau-eat-iful." They have lots of matcha beverages here, various teas, and hot and iced coffee (no espresso beverages, though). The iced coffee was quite good- I believe it's La Colombe. However, I am basically in love with the matcha roll cake, and will probably be pining for one again in about three days. I am a notorious matcha fiend and this thing did not disappoint- light and fluffy with enough matcha flavor and the right amount of sweetness. The coffee and matcha roll came to like $12, which is kiiiinda pricey, but when for me when it comes to matcha desserts, money is no object. (One of these days I'll go back and try the omusubi. Maybe. After I tire of the matcha roll. Which will take a while.)
google avatar

Ashley K.

Yelp
Visited here with a friend in the late afternoon and had an okay, but underwhelming experience. The café itself is very cute with thoughtful, decorative touches permeating the establishment, and it is decently crowded. While the service was not particularly memorable, and we felt the pricing was rather much for a small lunch meal, I thoroughly enjoyed and appreciated the easygoing atmosphere and aesthetic of the place and plating presentation. The food itself was not very filling and had a very light, bland taste to it--something felt lacking. My favorite part of my lunch combo was actually the canned matcha drink. The next time I am in the area, I will explore other options. However, if you are in need of a quick, simple lunch in the area and do not mind it being expensive, this place might be for you!
google avatar

Eunice C.

Yelp
Veryyyy cute and calming cafe. I arrived at 5:30 pm and saw their rice ball dishes. My eyes fell on the matcha cake roll and I was trapped. I ordered the matcha cake roll. No regrets! The theme is countryside-chique, decorated with tasteful dried flowers, along the off-white walls with pale green trims. The space has about 8 tables with pale green bench seating. They also have wall space for you to sit on the high stools. Great for groups to catch up and have a snack.
google avatar

Eunice K.

Yelp
I got the lunch special with my sister so it comes with two rolls or balls or whatever you call it, salad, and miso soup. Make sure you mix the miso soup to get the full flavor. We got the spam and unagi roll. We got one lunch special and the matcha roll cake. The spam musubi was sooooooo good. The rice had tomato in it which I thought was so unique. It really added to the flavor. The unagi was a little disappointing. I didn't see enough unagi. Everything tasted pretty healthy but who knows. The matcha roll cake was soooo good. I love the light roll cake and matcha cream. Mmmm~ It filled us up and was just enough but it is pricy because we paid about $27 for that. It filled us up for church but after an hour or so I got really hungry again. But I do think they use quality ingredients and I def want to try other things here. I love the aesthetic of the place.
google avatar

Lynn V.

Yelp
Nice ambiance and polite staff! Came here for lunch and got the lunch special with 2 omusubis with a side and soup for $15. I tried the unagi and Hawaiian. Unagi has the eel inside the middle and Hawaiian is similar to a spam masubi. They were a decent size. But the price is a bit high, about 5 bucks for each. But the combo is a good deal! It was a light lunch, but I was full. The staff was really pleasant and there were a lot of seating when I was there. Beautiful music in the background. Not much of a cafe shop as they had coffee from colombe and not really their own. Lots of tea options though. It was a good quiet place. Would recommend trying it.
google avatar

Bonnie G.

Yelp
This is a really soothing spot in an otherwise pretty crap area, with classical music, and twinkling lights, and white, worn-in furniture. It feels like an upstate cafe that just happens to be in the design district and sell rice balls. Now, to the rice balls. The beef one with scallions and burdock root is, by far, the best. Crunchy, hearty, just the right amount of oil, perfect. The unagi eel rice ball was just so-so - there is some kind of citrusy ingredient, I think the pickled pepper, that overpowers all other flavors, so it tastes like the rind of an orange. Next time, I'll try one of their matcha cookies and the mushroom-zucchini rice ball, along with the beef.
google avatar

Sylvia Y.

Yelp
Came here for a small lunch and got the kinoko and wakame omusubi along with a green tea roll cake. The omusubis were mixed well so I didn't feel like I was only eating rice with every bite. The green tea roll cake was fluffy and had a good amount of matcha flavor. The omusubis weren't huge, but I wasn't super hungry so this combo filled me up. A downside of this place is their bathroom is super janky. There's no lock so you have to flip a sign that says "occupied" and hope that a jerk doesn't barge in while you're peeing. Overall, I would be back for more omusubi and green tea cake rolls if I was in the area and wanted light bites.
google avatar

Lisa C.

Yelp
Cozy, welcoming environment with rustic elements. It's a great place to catch up with some friends in the afternoon or to do your work solo. I like that the cafe is on the smaller side (less crowded) and that the background music wasn't obnoxiously loud (easier to have a conversation or to focus on your work). There is free wifi (password is written on a post-it note next to the register). Seems like a popular place as several people came in throughout the day and waited in vain for a seat to open up. People seem to linger around here for a long time, so if you are hoping to sit down and eat, be sure to come early. I came in around 2ish on a weekend afternoon and there were a handful of empty seats. By the time I left (about 1.5 hours later), all seats were filled and people that were there before me still hadn't left yet. I tried two of their omusubi: - Sukiyaki (Japanese premium beef, burdock root, konjac and scallions). $3.95 - Cha-shu pork (Cha-shu pork, fried egg, scallion, and bamboo shoots). $3.95 They were decent, but would've preferred some more meat in them. Would like to come back to try their matcha cake.
google avatar

Taiyo O.

Yelp
It was about 1:30 PM. The high ceiling but felt cozy at the same time. The vibe is warm and comfortable. It is a coffee shop that also serves Japanese food. It is relaxing as a quiet cafe -- just having a cup of Matcha and sweets, with a laptop. I opted for lunch combo. The portion was perfect for me, two rice balls, two sides, and large bowl of miso soup. The soup was nice, not too salty and good amount of things inside, mostly tofu. The sides, okura with miso & sesame(?) and Kinbira gobo were good as any Japanese sides in a bento box. It is a perfect spot to catchup and spend a good time with your friends. I saw several of them, mostly girls, or couples. And some solo with a laptop. It is a charming place with a solid Japanese food. I will definitely come back to try for a tea with some sweets next time.
google avatar

Peggy W.

Yelp
3.5/5 I stopped by on a Sunday afternoon to catch up with friends. The space is incredibly spacious and a great place to catch up with friends. The coffee was cake roll was average at best. There were a few matcha drinks available, and the only espresso option was drip coffee. I was surprised that they didn't have any espresso options. The coffee was lukewarm and not very good for a ~$3.75 price tag. I tried a green tea cake roll (1 of 3 flavors) which was $7 and overpriced for what it was. It wasn't bad, but it was a pretty average pastry that you can get for much cheaper in the nearby K-town. I haven't had the lunch combo, but I'm definitely curious about it and may be back to try it. My friend tried one of the rice rolls and said it was pretty average. +No wifi
google avatar

Wen Na Z.

Yelp
After having this place bookmarked for almost a year, my friend and I finally stopped by Cafe Hanamizuki early this afternoon. The ambience is natural with a rustic feel and had lots of natural light coming in. We ordered 2 lunch combos ($13 each), which each came with your choice of 2 rice balls, a miso soup, a side dish, and a side of Japanese radish. For $0.50 or $0.75 extra, you can opt for premium rice balls, which my friend and I did. I got the Cha Shu and the Hawaiian rice ball with Tofu & Tofu miso soup and a side of glass noodles. All were super tasty! Also, the workers were nice and friendly! Note: -If you are a big eater, you might want to order more food as the portion size (rice balls and side dishes especially) is actually very small. The lunch combo is good if you're not too hungry or if you just want a snack. It most likely will not fill you up if you're on the hungrier side. -If you do opt for premium rice balls, between that, tax, and tip, the price does add up (we paid about $38 for 2 lunch combos). -Free WiFi available. I noticed the people around us seemed to be reading or studying.
google avatar

Mandy L.

Yelp
Came here to catch up with a friend Pros: - So beautiful inside - Very friendly employees - Plenty of tables, and they're clean - Relatively quiet so you can definitely get work done here but not a lot of plugs - Really good onigiri - extremely flavorful but really small Cons: - Very pricey
google avatar

Vignesh B.

Yelp
Try the matcha cake!! Ended up going here after seeing a picture on Yelp. The matcha cake - oh my God! It's like a bread pudding on the outside with creamy green tea ice cream wrapped inside. One of the best I've had. A little pricey but worth it. Also had the coffee which was not bad. Would def go again for the matcha cake :)
google avatar

Frannie Y.

Yelp
Such a cute little shop! I can't believe it took me so long to discover this shop. The decor is absolutely adorable. There are a good number of tables, and when I came on a Saturday around 4 pm, there were only a handful of people sitting around. I was bummed because there were only two types of onigiri left when I got there, and the guy in front of me ordered all three of the ones I wanted. I ended up getting the unagi one, which I didn't expect to like since I'm not a huge fan of unagi, but it was great! I'll definitely come back here at an earlier time so I can have more of a selection of the onigiri! There's also WiFi here if you want to do some work in a relaxing environment!
google avatar

Connie T.

Yelp
I had a sudden craving for rice balls and stumbled across this cute cafe while I was in the neighborhood. I came in on a Saturday afternoon and it was pretty empty inside. I ordered the lunch combo, which included a choice of two rice balls, a bowl of miso soup, a side dish and Japanese pickles. Since everything is pre-made, it is a good place for a quick meal. For my rice balls, I chose the Hawaiian and Suki-Yaki. They were both in the premium rice ball category and cost extra. The Hawaiian was pretty tasty and flavorful but I didn't like the Suki-Yaki. It tasted like a gyudon in a rice ball form with barely any beef. For my soup, I chose the Kinoko which I enjoyed. I really liked the tiny pieces of mushrooms on the bottom! The price is a bit high for the portion. Overall, I'm glad that I was able to give this place a try but I will probably not be back unless I wanted a quick snack, in which case I would just order the Hawaiian rice ball or the soup.
google avatar

Christopher S.

Yelp
Located near the Fashion Institute of Technology, if Etsy were to take the form of a Japanese cafe, this would be it. With white walls, terrariums, wooden shelves, pendant lights, the space oozes natural beauty and serenity. From the Japanese word for dogwood, this place reminds me of my travels to a Riokan (traditional Japanese inn) dining on kaiseki (multi-course meal using only the finest seasonal ingredients) in Hakone, Japan, only this would be simply be a light snack during a coffee/tea break. One has the choice of various lunch sets served on wooden trays involving a choice of 1)onigiri rice balls sprinkled with healthy indigenous ingredients such as Japanese plum, wakame-seaweed, bonito flakes, wild mushrooms, or sweet potato as well as their rendition on spam musubi 2)choice of four varieties of miso soup and 3) a side dish such as pickled okra or edamame and 4) a side of Japanese pickles. Coffee is brewed using beans from Philly-based La Colombe and tea is sourced from Paromi. A night menu is also available with small izayaka rice plates and small baked goods are artistically arranged near the counter. For the quantity of food, the price point is a bit high, but a small price to pay for a touch of tranquility and reinforce the importance of slowing down from the daily rush in the city.
google avatar

Daniel S.

Yelp
Cafe Hanamizuki is a delightful housewarming cafe that offers tea and light meals. The space is very warm and cozy. It's perfect for those who seek rest, a place to write, or catch up with friends. No loud music. Clean, quaint, and a place to rejuvenate. I ordered green tea latte and a dinner combo of rice balls, appetizer, salad, and soup. The green tea latte was dense with flavor and uplifting to drink. The rice balls were pre-made and displayed on the counter so I worried how long rice balls have been sitting, but they were fresh and delicious even though they were small. I didn't expect to feast on a heavy meal. The hawaiian and sweet potato were the highlights. There is no wifi in this cafe. I'd figure it's a good thing. Come not to eat, but rather to relax and enjoy a conversation with friends. This cafe is a hidden gem of peace and rest in a city that never sleeps.
google avatar

Grace Y.

Yelp
I've been here twice but only tried one thing, their matcha roll cake. It's over $7 after tax, which is really steep. That's the same price as Lady M! The cake is good, but not so mindblowingly good that it's worth that price. I like that there is plenty of seating though, so you can almost always find a seat.
google avatar

Carly L.

Yelp
The lunch combo is a steal, given the quality of the onigiri! Prior to this, I only had onigiri from the supermarket and I was amazed by the selection here. The combo was $15 and included 2 onigiri, 1 miso soup, a side of Japanese pickles, and a side of your choice. I had the tofu miso soup, sweet potato and unagi onigiri, and glass noodles.The unagi was my favorite; the eel was so flavorful and tender! The rice in all the onigiri was amazing, perfectly sticky and textured with other kinds of grains/seeds. I highly recommend the glass noodles as a side too. The meal looks small, but I was full! The cafe itself is beautiful, with tons of natural light. It would be a great spot to spend a few hours working in.
google avatar

Hana S.

Yelp
Growing up Japanese in the US meant my mom would pack my lunchboxes with onigiri, or rice balls as they're called in english. I got made fun of for having black (seaweed) covered rice in elementary and middle school, so it makes me happy to see a place like this have clientele of all backgrounds who obviously have accepted the type of food my peers did not back in the 90s/00s. I was excited to try this place because of those feelings. My friend and I came here for a snack and split the riceball combo, which comes with two balls, side of veggies (your choice), pickles and a miso soup. For the riceballs my friend chose unagi (eel), and the sweet potato. This came out to just around $15. For something that cost that much, there was really only one piece of eel in the unagi onigiri. It was underwhelming overall but good if you work in the area and need a light lunch.
google avatar

Christine C.

Yelp
Onigiri was very good. I had the blt miso soup and did not love it. I think overall its a great set meal. Friend had the meaty bowl and it was huge!!!
google avatar

Jennifer D.

Yelp
A cute cafe close to Penn station! Definitely the most aeathetically pleasing, wholesome, delicious spot in the area. The plant walls and art make it such a cute place to spend some time. We got a mushroom and spam rice ball - the last two remaining (it was around 6:30PM) and chose the miso soup with tofu and edamame as sides. The rice balls were cute and tasty, though a bit small. The soup was large and filling. Overall, definitely a bit pricey for the amount of food, but for a nice healthy meal before a train trip out of the city, it was perfect.
google avatar

Nicole T.

Yelp
The cutest little cafe for a quick and satisfying lunch. The service was really friendly and welcoming on a Wednesday at 1PM most of the seats were already taken and there was a few openings by the wall. Unfortunately they ran out of the adorable little desserts - so I did not get to try those. I'm always meh about eating alone but sitting along the wall made it a little more comfortable for me to have lunch by myself. The crowd seemed like a bunch of busy office worker type people as well so they were all eating alone too. I ordered the lunch special which was $10.50 and you get to pick from a row of cute little rice balls lined up and a variety of side dishes which included spinach and potato salad and japchae kind of noodle. They had some interesting miso soup flavors too. I got the tofu one and to-go'd the bacon lettuce tomato miso soup for my friend. The decor is beyond adorable. I could sit in there forever. They had succulents and cute plants that made the cafe seem home-y. Loved it! Also walking distance from my hotel.
google avatar

Soobin K.

Yelp
Cute little cafe! I got a sweet potato rice ball and the green tea roll cake. Both were not too sweet or salty, so I could probably eat five of each before feeling sick. Also because they were way smaller than expected. The staff was very friendly!
google avatar

Hyejo L.

Yelp
Maybe it's because a lot of my friends hyped this place up but I was pretty underwhelmed. There are a decent number of seats and wifi is provided so you could even get work done here if you want. It's also aesthetic so you can take a nice picture #forthegram My sister and I split the lunch combo which comes with 2 omusubi (we got sukiyaki and pork chashu), 2 veggie sides (you get to choose one--we chose spinach with miso dressing), and a miso soup of your choice (we chose tofu and tofu). Nothing was amazing, so for $15 I thought it was kinda pricey and not worth it. Service was also kinda eh... like it would have been nice if the person taking our order recommended something or told us what was popular since it was our first time here. I don't think I would come back here or recommend this place to anyone.
google avatar

Tina W.

Yelp
Cafe Hanamizuki is very close to the Chelsea district, where many people are stopping here for lunch because they offer cheap but delicious lunch. The owner decorated their cafe in a very warm and Japanese way - things are clear, in order but decorated with plants and flowers making you feel at home. Lunch: they have lunch special $11 including a soup, choice of small dish and 2(3?) rice balls. I had hawaiian and daily special rice ball with okura dish for veggie and a miso soup. I loved it. Not mention the rice ball is fulfilling, the flavor is right on point reminding me of some rice balls I ate at a really good restuarant few years ago. Service: they don;t charge for tip and it is very competitive to get a seat during lunch hours. The owner is very nice, and polite. Price: cheap. I will come back again!! P.S. Min $8 credit min. Their cookies are awesome as welll!!! 4 stars
google avatar

Samantha K.

Yelp
This place has a lovely calming atmosphere. It feels like such a lovely little respite from the hustle of the city, it's open and bright and warm even on the dreariest days! If you come here during the lunch hour expect a crowd! It fills up fast and people don't move too quickly through their meals (not that I blame them by any means). There is a great little lunch special that gets you two rice balls, a miso soup of your choice, their side of the day and pickles. It's a totally filling combo, and you get to try so many exciting flavors. The rice balls are obviously the star of the cafe. There's so many different flavors and they're all delicious. They do run out as the day wears on, but all the choices are pretty good so you can't really go wrong. The premium ones especially are great. I didn't love that miso was the only soup option, they do have 3-4 miso options but at the end of the day, miso is still miso. It's just not my favorite and wish there was just one other option or a small salad you could substitute. Lunch is right around $15 which is totally fair for the quality! Overall I definitely recommend!!
google avatar

ぽーん

Yelp
I am from Japan and I've been in the U.S for 7 months and I missed Japanese food so much. So I visited here with my friends, it was so tasty and just like actual Japanese food! It's worth to visit here.
google avatar

Tiff H.

Yelp
Cafe Hanamizuki was a nice surprise while desperately trying to find a good lunch restaurant en route to Levain. There aren't many restaurants in the area that pop out at you to grab a delicious bite, but thanks to Yelp, we stumbled upon this Japanese cafe. The restaurant is simple and clean, slightly hipster and modern. There is a great lunch combo available for a steal of a price! $10.50 for two rice balls, a veggie/side and choice of miso soup. I didn't even know there was more than one way to make miso soup. My sister and I weren't super hungry, so we decided to split a combo with an extra rice ball on the side. This may have been one of the cheapest lunches I've had in Manhattan. Ever. We ordered the unagi, cha shu pork, and the Hawaiian (spam). All were delicious, and the rice filled me up quickly. Some of the premium rice balls cost an extra $.50, such as the unagi. We got edamame and the classic tofu miso soup. I was extremely satisfied with my selection and can't complain about anything I had. I wish we had a place like this in Atlanta. From decor to the clean and simple food, Cafe Hanamizuki was a pretty perfect spot for a light lunch. If I'm ever in town again, I will definitely need to grab a dessert and tea.
google avatar

Jenny L.

Yelp
Hanamizuki Cafe is an aesthetic cafe in NYC. When you enter the cafe, you get to seat yourself down. There's music playing. It is very cozy, and is a nice place to get some work done and to catch up with friends. Plus, there's a bathroom at the back of the cafe. I came here with my friend for lunch before watching a movie. My friend got the Cha-Shu Pork Omusubi ($4.25) and Unagi Omusubi ($5.25). I, also, got the Cha-Shu Pork Omusubi and Suki-Yaki Omusubi ($4.25). The Cha-Shu Pork Omusubi was filled with cha-shu pork, fried egg, scallion, and bamboo shoots. The Unagi Omusubi was filled with unagi-eel, white sesame, and pickled san pepper that was wrapped with bamboo leaf. The Suki-Yaki Omusubi was filled with Japanese premium beef, burdock root, konjac, and scallions. The Cha-Shu Pork Omusubi and Suki-Yaki Omusubi were very small for the price and eating two rice balls did not fill my stomach. The cha-shu pork in the Cha-Shu Pork Omusubi was very dry and I preferred the Suki-Yaki Omusubi over the Cha-Shu Pork Omusubi. The Suki-Yaki Omusubi was flavorful.
google avatar

Christina C.

Yelp
One of my favorite cafes in all of NYC. The shop itself is a nice reprieve from the busy-ness of the city. Inside, there is plenty of seating and the interior is decorated so nicely. Lovely music in the background, and they have a small section of home/kitchen goods you can shop for near the cashier. The food is great, especially the lunch special combo where you can get 2 rice balls, a miso soup, and some sides. The whole combo is like a set meal you can typically find in Japan, and I like that it all comes on a small tray. The soup broth is phenomenal - so hearty and perfect for a cold day. The rice balls are delicious and there is plenty of filling. The size is also a great portion - 2 is enough for a good and not-overfilling lunch. I haven't had a chance to try their dessert, but I will be doing so next time I'm there!
google avatar

Anh T.

Yelp
It was alright. The rice balls were well seasoned but I wasn't blown away. I wish the cashier was a little more welcoming when we were trying to figure out what to order as it was our first visit to the cafe. We ended up getting the lunch combo set for $15 (a bit pricey tbh) which came with two rice balls (hawaiian and sukiyaki), tofu miso soup, and noodles. We also added an extra rice ball (cha-shu pork). The total came out to be around $21 for the lunch combo and extra rice ball because of the extra fees for the premium rice balls.