konban NYC

A Hidden Gem for Japanese Cuisine Lovers! Step into this unassuming restaurant, and you'll be pleasantly surprised by the cozy, warm atmosphere that awaits you. From the clean, minimal decor to the exceptional service, every detail contributes to a memorable dining experience. The menu offers a variety of unique, meticulously crafted dishes that set it apart from other Japanese restaurants. I highly recommend the Butter Scallops - the sauce is simply divine, and I couldn't resist finishing every last drop! The attentive and knowledgeable staff Nancy!!! provided spot-on recommendations, ensuring that every dish was a hit. I can't wait to return and explore more of their delicious offerings! If you're looking for an inviting atmosphere, mouthwatering cuisine, and outstanding service, this hidden gem should definitely be on your must-visit list!

I recently visited with a friend, and we had a great experience. The food was definitely above average, with each dish well-prepared and full of flavor. I highly recommend trying the corn, bronzino, and the tenderloin pork—it was absolutely perfect! The restaurant itself had a cozy and clean atmosphere, making it the great spot for a relaxing meal. The service was fantastic—friendly and attentive without being overbearing. We also ordered a couple of cocktails, and they were strong, just the way we like them! If you’re looking for good food, strong drinks, and a welcoming vibe, I’d definitely recommend this place.

Excellent katsu. Perfectly crispy. The fried shrimp was my favorite. The udon with beef was good overall. Piping hot but very small in portion. Good peppers and fried chicken, but the pork definitely was the winner!

My absolute favorite dish here is the corn rib. It's little sweet, salty, tangy, and cheesy. I just love the seasoning. The karaage is standard; I'd choose the pork katsu over it. The dry noodle is pretty good while udon is very basic. I wanted to try their truffle rice (dinner only) but they sold out :( Their corn dessert is chocolate cover with ice cream inside, would recommend trying.

Delicious food, impeccable and friendly service, clean and welcoming minimalist design, what more can you want from a restaurant? The corn ribs were next level as was the pork katsu and uni. I’m still dreaming about those noodles too! The whole staff was incredibly attentive and it really enhanced the experience. Great time all around.

One of the most amazing meals I’ve had in NYC in awhile. The dining area transports you straight to Japan. Konban has a small menu, my favorite dish was the Mazeman noodles, I still dream of eating of them. The Katsu is amazing as well, it comes with truffle salt and wasabi which really elevates the flavor. The only thing I would skip is the corn ice cream, it’s a bit gimmicky. The prices are reasonable, it’s just hard to get a reservation! 9/10

The food quality is excellent. The butter scallop was a memorable favorite. The pork and tenderloin katsu were good too. Vibes-wise, the spot is very sleek and cozy, perfect for as a date spot. Staff is attentive too.

I had lunch at Konban, and though it looked small from the outside, it turned out to be quite a cozy and inviting spot. I ordered the Chicken Karaage served with Black Pepper Mayo, along with a side of Corn Rib – both dishes were flavorful and satisfying. My companion went for the Tenderloin Katsu, which was perfectly cooked and delicious. The staff were friendly, and the service was impressively quick, making it a great spot for a relaxed but efficient lunch. I also noticed they offer a lunch set menu from Monday to Thursday, which I’ll definitely be trying on my next visit. Highly recommend for anyone looking for tasty food and great service!

Came here for dinner and made sure to get a reservation due to its popularity from blowing up TikTok. I would say that it is worth the hype if you make sure to order the right items and some things are not as worth the hype in my opinion. They start you off with a complimentary mini glass of a yuzu drink and a refreshing tomato snack that both are pretty tasty. In terms of food items, you can't go wrong with any of their katsu items. I got to try their pork and shrimp ones and which were my two favorite things that I ate that dinner. I think if I had to choose one I actually liked the shrimp one a tiny bit better, but ideally it would be nice to try both. I also tried their toro bap and corn ribs as appetizers which were not bad, but I think nothing too special. The only food item that I think is over hyped and wouldn't recommend ordering is their corn ice cream. It's cool looking from the outside, but the taste is pretty low quality. You can definitely tell that they pre-make it and leave it in the freezer because the ice cream has freezer burn. Overall though, I would recommend going to Konban and if I got to go back I would order the shrimp and pork Katsu again.

Mediocre restaurant at best. Stopped by for a "casual," anniversary dinner after spending the early part of the evening doing an activity. We wanted a place that was a little more elevated/sophisticated without breaking the bank. However, upon dining and throughout, there was absolutely no acknowledgement of our anniversary at all...even though it was marked in our reservation. First thing that stood out to me was that one of their hosts was in a poor mood and right off the bat that made me feel rather unwelcome. We waited for our reserved table to be ready in the over populated lobby. The "lobby" is cramped, smushed between a small kitchen opening where food is out to be bussed, a hallway to walk to the table area, and the podium in which you check in. The lack of room, the rain, and the poor attitude of one of the staff wasn't a great start. Secondly, is that their cocktails are very poorly balanced. We got The Soul and the Sayonara and were dissatisfied. The drinks were way too alcohol forward, so much so, that the accompanying ingredients felt like keywords, but more so afterthoughts. Usually after I request a different drink, it's accommodated, but the staff member responded that "once the drink is made, it's made," i.e. it's too late to do anything about it--absolutely no recommendations at to what to do whatsoever, (idk, water it down, add more juice or something?) which I thought was poor service relative to the more elevated vibes of the restaurant. I ended up just ordering the starter drink they gave they gave you ($14 for no alcohol). Thirdly, they charge $2 extra for some extra seaweed strips if you need more to go with your uni rice. The dish already itself is $30 and you have to pay even more for some squares of seaweed, which was pretty stingy in my opinion. A turn-off despite the rice being tasty. Corn ribs were good but they reminded me of elote without as much seasoning, tonkatsu was juicy but not as good as other places I've tried, peanut butter dan dan noodles were average. One thing I did love was their take on a unique dessert. The texture of the corn white chocolate shell was so satisfying to chew and crunch on. The corn ice cream was light, albeit still pretty hard from being frozen. I was hoping it would be at a good texture but it wasn't? For $160+ the meal lacked a lot. The service was mediocre, they didn't try to be hospitable by any means, and the food was average at best. For the price you could get a much better experience elsewhere, Theodora in BK for example--more intimate, friendly staff, delectable cocktails, unique dishes. I will not return here again unless a friend were to want to try it; there's a higher chance I would steer them towards another restaurant. Do better Konban!

Quaint izakaya-esque Japanese restaurant hidden in a building alley in Chelsea. I ordered the spinach udon, and we shared the corn ribs, shishito peppers and cucumber salad. The spinach udon would be a nurturing soup on a cold winter day. The corn ribs and shishitos were fine as bar snacks, although I feel like I've had more memorable renditions elsewhere in the city. The white chocolate-encased ice cream corn offered for dessert is definitely ambitious, although practically rather challenging to consume.

There was a lot of hype around this restaurant and other times I visited new york there were no reservations available to come visit. We got lucky this time that there was a slot for two around 9:30pm so decided on a late dinner! I love how they set the atmosphere just from the walk down to the front door with the garden and atmosphere of the entire restaurant felt traditionally inspired. It was raining when we came so i guess the rain sounds on the rock garden was a little cute. Staff was kind and quick! Biggest issue i have is how can katsu not come with rice :( Rice should have a cheaper regular option too, i think i would even enjoy the taste of regular rice over the truffle rice which was the only option. Corn ribs - actually better than i thought they would be! Weird to be eating corn not on a cob but also still on the middle hard part so you cant just eat all of it in one go but i think this played a big role in making this a super juicy burst in your mouth kernals! The seasoning reminds me of some korean snack i know but can't remember which but it was great and goes really well with the corn. I just wish i had something to enjoy with it lol. i also wish i can buy a smaller and cheaper portion of this. i probably wouldn't order this again if its only two people (and one who doesnt like corn much) but if theres a group we can split the price and amount i would definitely get it. 4/5 Tenderloin - this is softest and juiciest pork i've had and even taste on par with the ones i had in Japan! Super super yummy and i like that the fried part is on the lighter side too. 4.5/5 Pork loin - super soft as well but not as juicy as the tenderloin. Very solid and very yummy, better than most katsu's still. 4/5 Truffle rice - i wish the mushrooms were cooked more (or cooked, i cant really tell if they are or not). Tasted a bit weird. its a good enough portion to share for 1.5/5

YOOO I STILL DREAM ABOUT THIS KATSU!! The Pork Loin katsu omg everyone has to come here and try this, it is incredibly and magically tender like so light but crispy on the outside and literally so tender the meat melts in ur mouth on the inside. I would skip the Tenderloin tbh and just get 2 of the Pork Loin lol it's that good. Another favorite bite of mine was the Chestnut Tiramisu so perfectly sweet and creamy and so much chestnut just overall incredible Staff super friendly, and food comes out super quick Vibe: small but so so cute interior

I was really looking forward to trying this izakaya after hearing good reviews, but unfortunately left disappointed. The restaurant itself is cute with nice ambiance, but the food was okay at best. We started with the corn ribs and eggplant agebitashi. The corn was roasted and seasoned well, but really just tasted like elote without the mayo. The eggplant was not good, with no trace of a umami dashi or juicy eggplant. Instead it was like a soggy eggplant parmesan, we couldn't even tell the pork in the pork ragu was meat and the entire dish was completely flavorless. Not sure if they just happened to forget salt, but we ended up seasoning it ourselves with the truffle salt from the katsu. The bread was the best part. We finished off with the katsu, which was not bad but nothing special. I thought I would like the extra flaky crust, but it just crumbled everywhere and wasn't as good as normal katsu. Also no cabbage?? That's one of my favorite parts of katsu. The sauce was decent (also mixed this into the eggplant for some flavor lol), and the pork was tender at least. Overall don't get the hype. I'm allergic but heard the fish dishes are good, so maybe opt for that instead.

I really loved the corn ribs - they were perfectly, heavily seasoned. They also gave a delicious yuzu juice at the start of the meal with was refreshing. The mackerel sushi was good as was the beef udon. The beef was tendon and the broth was flavorful. The uni with rice was just alright. Overall, pricey food and small portions. Service was good and attentive. The ambiance and decor were warm and cozy.

Konban undeniably makes an exceptional katsu, but the rest of the menu left me desiring more, especially at dinner when the brunch add on option (add miso soup, cabbage salad, and rice for +$10) is not available to balance/complement the katsu. In fact, there isn't even an option to buy a bowl of white rice during dinner--the only option is the $13 truffle rice. Beside the katsu (ebi katsu, tenderloin (slightly smaller), and pork loin have all been excellent), here's what we've tried: + Branzino with mushroom ($26): Branzino is tender but the sauce + mushrooms were my favorite part. + Niku udon ($22): Soup was not remarkable but the fresh made-in-house udon had a nice texture. The mild flavor makes this a good choice for children (approved by my 4-year-old). But without rice, I definitely felt unfulfilled at dinner compared with my lunch visit, which had felt like a well-balanced meal with the add on option. Bottom line: Would recommend and return, BUT only for lunch.

This place was chefs kiss SO GOOD! Recently went to japan and I'd say this is comparable and so fresh and authentic. The inside of the restaurant also reminds me so much of japan and if I were in Ginza dining. It's such a cute little spot and I would highly recommend getting a reservation for this place. All our food was so fresh and filling. The flavors were immaculate and the service was amazing. Our server was very attentive and came by and made sure we were enjoying our food.

I've been wanting to try Konban for a while and finally got the chance to! A friend and I stopped in on a Monday, right at 5PM when they opened for dinner and had no problems getting a table. We got the corn ribs, tenderloin katsu, and mazemen. Everything was so delicious! Corn ribs were flavorful, katsu was moist and crisp, and mazemen was spicy and savory with nice bouncy noodles. My one gripe (which other reviewers have mentioned) is that there's no option to order a katsu meal set with white rice, miso soup, and salad at dinner time. You can order their truffle rice for $13 to fill your rice fix, but that just feels wrong. I honestly felt that not having white rice took away from the katsu experience. I definitely would have enjoyed it so much more as a traditional set meal like what they offer at lunch time. 4/5 stars for Konban because honestly even if the food tasted great, the portion sizes were small for the price and I left still feeling hungry. If you're wanting katsu that's just as good but guaranteed to be more filling and worth it for the price, I'd recommend going to Katsu-Hama instead!

Is it worth the hype? YES I kept seeing konban on my feed but was not sure how good katsu can be. Nonetheless we were able to snag a last minute reservation at night and it was truly worth every second. As soon as you walk in the ambiance is cozy and homey, a great place for a romantic night or casual enough to catch up with friends. We got corn ribs to share, I personally would skip this as it wasnt anything too special but def try if your a corn lover! We got both the pork katsus and they were cooked PERFECTLY and cRISP! Im not sure what they do differently, but the crust and tenderness is something to come back to. Alongside the truffle salt to dip in :). We also got the niku udon and mazemen- im biased when I say i think Raku has better classic udon BUT the mazemen was truly something else! The almond butter and slab of butter all mixed in quickly became our groups favorite. Last but not least GET THE CORN DESSERT! Not only is it super cute, but it replicates the texture of corn and is super interesting!

You're coming for the pork katsu but you are staying for the vibes and the banger after banger on the menu. I came here solo while traveling for work and the dining room was buzzing with people. You feel transported to Japan and in the first dining room there's a beautiful little garden to look at in the center. The food - truffle rice and pork katsu are a must. You are greeted with a little bowl with two Cherry tomatoes in a savory vinaigrette and a bubbly little non alcoholic drink. A delightful combo of sweet and savory. I started with the mackerel sushi, also a savory treat - it almost tasted like there was egg inside, with a nice little punch of wasabi. I went with the staple: pork katsu and I'm still freakin about it. They serve it with truffle salt, wasabi, and bbq sauce. Truth be told, it's perfect on its own but the truffle salt was a close second for me. The truffle rice is a great side option if you like truffle. My only regret is that I didn't have the room or company to split the udon noodles and the corn cob dessert. Will definitely be back for those. 12/10 recommend this place!

Overview: I can't say much because I don't eat katsu often but I would say Konban is one of the better katsu's I've had. Food: We ordered a bunch of dishes and the stand out dishes to me were the fried balls in this tomato/egg sauce, the sashimi, the pork katsu and the ebi katsu. We got the toro uni dish, the eggplant dish, the corn ribs and the menti/menta? katsu too. Service: The service was amazing and great and our waitress was super friendly. Loved the staff as they were so welcoming! Environment: Super busy, clean and the seat arrangements did not feel super crowded and tight. Would recommend this place!

Made reservations for this place for dinner - this was easy to do and didn't need to place days in advanced. I was excited to try this place but was quite disappointed. The food was mediocre. I wasn't wowed by anything. The food came fast which makes me think it was all premade and not exactly fresh. I wasn't amazed at all and will likely not come again.

Konban may have had one of the best pork katsus that I've had! A friend and I visited during the weekend and shared the pork loin katsu, corn ribs, mazemen, and corn ice cream. The corn ribs were delicious but it was a bit of a weird bite with the cob still attached. The katsu was perfectly crispy and tender, paired great with the wasabi and truffle salt on the side. I wasn't the biggest fan of the mazemen or the corn ice cream. The first few bites of the mazemen was great but I think the sauce is a bit too rich for my taste and it left a heavy coat on my tongue that wasn't the most pleasant. The corn ice cream tastes mainly of the white chocolate coating instead of the corn flavored creamy treat that I was expecting. It was a somewhat disappointing end to the otherwise great meal. I also greatly enjoyed the selection of mocktails that are offered. I ordered the apricot mule which was good but slightly too sweet for my liking. Konban definitely gets busy so I would strongly recommend getting a reservation if you are visiting during the weekend.

There was a looot of hype around this place, so I had to check it out. Service was meh-- we arrived a bit later than our reservation time, but we still had to wait quite a bit to get our table. We ordered 4 dishes to share between the two of us. - Pork loin katsu: 10/10 (super crispy and yummy. Nothing extraordinary, but still really good.) - Corn ribs: 8/10 (sweet and savory, but I wish the corn bone wasn't there-- it was a bit messy and difficult to eat. The corn tasted exactly like 꼬북칩 (Korean chips)) - Sushi: 2/10 (I'm surprised how bad the sushi here was, considering that the sushi in their sister restaurant domodomo is fantastic. The fish slices were fishy and the rice texture was too lumpy.) - Mazemen noodles: 10/10 (the highlight of the night. Loveddd the sauce and the noodles had the perfect texture.) Overall, loved some dishes, but some dishes were bleh-- it was a very mixed experience, but I'm glad I checked this place out!

Konban I just celebrated my wife's birthday, here, and had a great meal. We went on a Friday at lunch and enjoyed their full menu (which doesn't seem to be available for lunch Monday-Thursday). I was surprised to notice that the place is not super tiny and has more seats than I had expected. Pork loin: we were told that this is a less thick cut than the tenderloin. Either way, they do their katsu extremely well. Karaage: we got this for my 6-year old and she ate the whole thing. Nothing to write home about, but a solid option, especially if you're going with kids. Sabazushi (Mackerel sushi): heavenly. This dish is outstanding. The mackerel is delicious and the roll comes already with all you need inside. You don't need any sauce and it comes slightly warm. We should have doubled up! Konban corn ribs: I don't think you could get tired of these even if they brought you a bucketful. They're simply to die for! Butter scallop: only three small scallops, but man... the buttery nutty sauce is excellent! You'll love drowning the kale and mushrooms in it (and drink the rest when you're done with the solid food). Amazing dish. Niku udon: after reading so much about the broth of this udon dish, my expectations were high. However, I was a lil disappointed. The beet was super tender, but the broth wasn't very flavorful. I'd skip this next time. Mazemen: anytime you combine ragù sauce with butter you pretty much get a similar result. Yummy, but not as inventive as I had expected. I'd skip this too, unless you have never had Italian pork ragù in your life. Konban corn ice cream: you order this dessert for the presentation - which is truly memorable - and not for the actual quality of it. The ice cream itself wasn't memorable. Overall, you'll eat very well, here. Service is attentive and the food does hit a few home runs. On aside note, it's clear they're targeting a young hip crowd, but I don't get why they'd go as far as building a Japanese garden - that takes quite a few seats away from the floor - and at the same time blast western music. A turn off for me.

I've been wanting to come here for a while, and I'm so happy to say it lived up to the hype! Starting right from the first bite with the complimentary yuzu soda and tomatoes with yuzu cream, it was an absolutely perfect meal. We ordered the pork loin katsu, corn rib, and mazemen. The katsu was so crispy on the outside and so tender on the inside, and it paired perfectly with the tonkatsu sauce. I was afraid the corn ribs were going to be just an overhyped trend, but these were so flavorful! The mazemen was delicious too, and it wasn't too spicy. We were still hungry, so we ordered the menchi katsu. I have no idea how they get the inside to be so juicy, but I'm not going to question it. I didn't think it was spicy at all, which was perfectly fine with me. I like that their menu is limited, so I don't feel so overwhelmed with options. Everything is executed so well here; I think this is a great place to take people who are visiting nyc or really just anyone.

Such a treat! We went with a group of 4 and got to try our way through the menu. Service is great and staff are so friendly. We started with the shishito peppers, crudo, corn ribs, eggplant agebitashiand scallops. All were delicious but the corn ribs with the Doritos seasoning were amazing. The eggplant was out least favorite because it tasted more Italian, however it still had excellent flavor! We moved on to try the pork tenderloin and loin katsus, ebi katsu (shrimp), and mazeman noodles. All supersonic - the katsus were so crispy. Definitely worth trying. We ended the night with their corn ice cream and it was so refreshing and the chunks of corn in the ice cream were great!

A contemporary Japanese ambiance. You walk down a few steps to enter this establishment where reservations are highly encouraged. They usually have no more dinner availability the day of unless someone cancels. Clean, bright interior and a limited menu. All the portions are pretty small so it's great for sharing. For 2 people we ordered: 2 katsu: moreso to try the variety could go with one in the future. Lightly breaded, crispy and the pork itself wasn't overly dry. Branzino: The mushroom with the broth was delicious! Fish was also well cooked and flavorful. Yellowtail Crudo: Light and fresh but a little on the sweet side because of the yuzu. A great app though and would be perfect for warmer days. Corn rib: Must get. It has a popcorn aroma and it is grilled and flavored so well. Yuzu coconut shaved sorbet: Personally I think this is better than the corn ice cream (though the corn ice cream is aesthetic). The dessert is light and fruity and the perfect way to end a meal. Mazemen: Noodles were a good texture but nothing standout about it compared to the other dishes. Service is quick even when they get pretty busy.

I'd give Konban 3.5 stars. Th things that are good here -- the katsu, the corn ice cream, the miso butter sauce -- are really good. But the sushi is just OK and the scallops that came in that delicious butter sauce were dry and a little tough. The atmosphere and service are both very good.

Food 10/10 Nothing was a miss. Great $55 deal for a 730ml of sake and the branzino dish. Not too expensive and a great time. I particularly liked the corn ice cream-it looked just like a real corn on a cob. The mazemen also stood out, buttery and chewy. We also got the niku udon, tenderloin katsu, and mackerel sushi. Atmosphere 10/10 Very zen and peaceful interior, light wooden touches and warm tones. The restaurant was a lot bigger than I expected from the outside, and we got some booth seating near the very back of the restaurant. Service 9/10 Friendly and nice service

Came to Konban twice and both experiences were very impressive! I recommend making a reservation if possible, especially for dinner. My friend and I tried the yuzu sake, which was delicious. I also liked that they let us choose our own sake glasses. I have tried the tenderloin and pork loin. For someone who isn't too advanced in terms of katsus, both pieces were very tender and savory. I also like the truffle salt and katsu sauce provided. The wasabi is also a nice touch. For the other dishes, the mackarel sushi was really delicious, and I am not a huge fan of mackarel usually. The mazeman was pretty good, but the niku udon is to die for! The broth is so good, you won't want to share this dish but probably eat the whole thing yourself. If you must share (which I had to both times), it is suitable for up to 3 people to get a taste. The corn rib is very popular. I enjoyed it but personally don't love eating corn off the cob in these settings. It was very flavorful!

Wow! The tenderloin katsu was so tender and juicy yet crisp on the outside. The only thing is the portion wasn't huge - I think the one we ordered came with 4 pieces. Their sushi was also surprisingly super yummy! I loved the mackerel roll and we ended up ordering a sushi set to follow. The corn ribs were also good and light. We ended the night with a yuzu sorbet which was really citrusy and also pretty light! Overall yummy dinner!!

Konban is an izakaya-style restaurant located in Chelsea with a sophisticated vibe and wooden interior. They even have a zen courtyard garden smack in the middle. It is so calming to sit by the window and enjoy the meal with that view. My boyfriend took me there and the intimate atmosphere made it a perfect date night spot. Their tonkatsu, corn ribs and corn ice cream has taken the social media by storm. Every dish came in a small portion but exquisitely crafted. Even the complimentary starters (cherry tomato with yuzu cream cheese, yuzu sparkling drink) were memorable. The restaurant gets really packed on weekends. Make sure to get a res at least a week in advance to secure a table (it isn't as competitive as before!). ＊Katsu Tenderloin $15 *** I picked tenderloin instead of loin as I prefer my pork to be more meaty and less fatty. The tonkatsu sauce was thick, rich and sweet, easily my fav one among the three. Truffle salt was aromatic and addictive. Wasabi didn't really match well imo. ＊Sabazushi (Mackerel Sushi) $19 *** My first time trying Mackerel Sushi and this one blew my mind. The mackerel was melt-in-your-mouth tender. The ginger and shiso were appetizing and they added so much flavors to the sushi. I am still dreaming about it. ＊Konban Corn Rib $13 ** Everyone recommends corn ribs from konban. You won't be able to stop eating it after your first bite. The corn cheese powder tasted like doritos. ＊Eggplant Agebitashi $15 Served with toasted baguette slices, the eggplant agebitashi has a western spin with a mix of parmesan cheese and pork ragu sauce. ＊Mazemen $17 The mazemen was made of their housemade flat noodles, spicy pork, almond butter, scallion and butter. Thought it would taste like dan dan noodle but it was different. The texture was creamier and thicker. FYI I didn't get the viral corn ice cream at last. It looked cute but I heard from the other table that the white chocolate part was very sweet.

Went on a Saturday afternoon with a reservation and it was delightful!! Had just gotten back from my trip to Japan a few days prior to my visit, and I can confidently say that this Konban's katsu was better than most of the katsu I had in Tokyo....! So juicy, tender, and well seasoned. For me, going at brunch time (or now lunch, since they now have a lunch menu) is an absolute must because I need rice with my katsu, and it's apparently not available at dinner time. Next time, I'd pass on the corn ribs and corn ice cream, though. Neither were anything special. Service was really nice and the interior of the restaurant is sooo zen and lovely.

(Overall: A) - Konban is an innovative Japanese fusion restaurant that puts smart twists to classic favorites. I felt that their food is generally high quality with aesthetic pair to back them up. The restaurant is decorated intimately in a comforting manner, with staff that have great hospitality. Highly recommend. (Branzino: C) - The mushrooms carry this dish in flavor and seasoning, with a burst of saline umami. The fish balances the fried and flaky tenderness aspect well, but the white fish definitely needed some flavor enhancers beyond their soy brotj that may be far too light. I also feel like some color could serve as a dual purpose for a flavor enhancer and to make the dish less monotone. (Niku Udon: B) - The beef was tender and served in a light, comforting, and healing beef broth. The noodles looked homemade and were tender, although I had wished for a slightly larger portion. I felt that their presentation was a bit lacking as the original bowl did not highlight the udon nor the beef well. (Yuzu Coconut Sorbet: A+) - I loved the fine granularity of this shaved ice which adds some luscious texture. The blood orange pulp adds pleasanr color and texture in a way that makes this overall dessert look stunning, accompanied with the cute coconut bowl. -- Food: +1 Presentation: +1 Price: E Atmosphere: +1 Service: +1 Menu: +1 Overall: +5 A Insta/Beli/TikTok: @amei_eats

Went in on a snowy day, and it ended up being completely worth the trek. Service was great, everything came out super promptly. We were seated near a window that looks out onto a little garden feature which was really beautiful. Every single bite was incredible. The pork tenderloin katsu was easily the best katsu I've ever had and the truffle salt made it next level. The yellowtail crudo was refreshing and really balanced. The corn ribs were great, as were the scallops with greens, peas and maitake mushrooms. The corn ice cream was also super cute and was barely sweet which I love.

Friendly staff, fancy but comfortable ambience, and some of the best katsu in the city all come together at konban! Focusing on the katsu first, it's traditional in approach but excellently executed. The portions for the pork loin and tenderloin katsu were smaller than I would have liked, but I preferred them over the menchi katsu which was excellent in its own regard. The other dishes were all top notch as well, with the corn ribs standing out as a high and the sabazushi as a low. The noodles were cooked to perfection and the almond butter provided a creamy touch. For dessert, the corn ice cream was amazing and unique. The sweetness of the corn and the cold of the ice cream paired together way better than I'd expected. Overall, a great meal!

Konban feels super modern and gives me nostalgic japan vibes! The ambiance is minimalistic but still gives off sophisticated. We definitely overordered but would confidently reorder any of these items! The dishes are more tapa style so def share everything: 1. I especially like their niku udon and mazemen. The niku udon warms your soul on a cold day while the mazemen offers a more nutty and rich flavor. 2. I liked the tenderloin katsu but feel like it could've been a bit more moist. It is also pretty small in portion. 3. The corn rib was interesting but surprisingly addicting. 4. We also got the eggplant agebitashi, which was delicious but seemed kind of out of place on the menu as well as in our meal.

My absolute favorite dish here is the corn rib. It's little sweet, salty, tangy, and cheesy. I just love the seasoning. The karaage is standard; I'd choose the pork katsu over it. The dry noodle is pretty good while udon is very basic. I wanted to try their truffle rice (dinner only) but they sold out :( Their corn dessert is chocolate cover with ice cream inside, would recommend trying.

I loved the food and service here. Here's what we got among 3 people: - Pork katsu tenderloin - Branzino with mushroom - karaage - mazemen - mackerel sushi - corn ribs - corn ice cream I enjoyed everything, except could pass on the corn ribs.

Food 3.5, Vibes 4 | Pricier izakaya with nicer vibes for dinning in, known for its katsu cutlets. However, the star of the show are the other items, not the pork katsu: Maybe it's the pig itself or being frozen or whatever it is, it doesn't taste impressive for its price. I have eaten many katsu in Japan at this price range and over there you can taste a huge difference. I preferred the following instead: Corn Rib: Good seasoning and wish there are more on the plate. Sabazushi/Mackerel: Bigger pieces than your usual rolls. The mackerel itself doesn't taste fishy (the bad way). Corn Cob Ice Cream: Love the concept and corn as ice cream. The cob shell is hard to cut with the knife provided because it's frozen white chocolate-based. Staff are nice and friendly. They are helpful at the front and when serving. Good for a date place, not good if you're here to eat katsu because you won't get full and the quality is not on par with its price.

we dined here on a sunday night around 8pm and it was fairly packed. the service was great, wait staff was very attentive and helpful in informing us about the various dishes. the restaurant felt very cozy and warm (also in temperature lol) and it was really cool how there was a courtyard in the restaurant. it was especially pretty since it was snowing tonight. the food was pretty good, but honestly i wasn't super super wowed. i know the corn ribs were very hyped up and they were pretty good and unique. the mazemen was also pretty delicious but there wasn't a lot of pork. i liked the sabazushi a lot, it was really tasty and quite substantial. i also liked the truffle rice a lot, it wasn't a super in your face truffle flavor though, which some may prefer. lastly, i also thought the corn ice cream (ice korn) was unique and had a yummy corn flavor, i've never had corn ice cream before. overall, the food tasted pretty good, i really don't really have any complaints about that, but i do think the portions were generally pretty small for how much they costed. therefore, i'm glad i got to try and experience this restaurant, but i don't think i'd come back because i personally can't justify the price point.

Went to Konban for a double date hehe I've been wanting to try this spot for soooo long and we finally were able to get seats. The dishes were tasty but a bit pricey for the size. My favorite was tuna rice fish. The katsu is superrr juicy!!

Loved Konban!! The interior is so clean and beautiful, food & drinks were delicious, and the servers were extremely friendly! FOOD: Tomato Salad + Tea Drink (7/10) - Comes with a free starter. Extremely clean tasting and a great way to cleanse the palette before your meal. Scallop Carpaccio (8/10) - Really liked the freshness of this dish with the cucumbers and jalapenos Konban Corn Rib (6/10) - Interesting dish with super sweet corn, but personally not the biggest fan of the cheese powder Pork Loin Katsu (9/10) - Super super juicy pieces of pork and fried almost perfectly. Highly recommend! Mazemen (10/10) - Another amazing gem of a dish!! The almond butter makes the dish so insanely creamy, a must get when visiting. Konban Corn Ice Cream (7/10) - Usually not the biggest fan of sweets but this looked so interesting. Worth trying!

Came with some friends who've been dying to try their tonkatsu. And this place was great. We ordered a variety of dishes and each were amazing. The portions are on the smaller end and we wanted to try a bit of everything. We ordered their tenderloin & pork katsu (both were great and came with salt and wasabi!), mackerel sushi (was alright to me), corn ribs (which was delicious), Eggplant agebitashi (super good, which was a surprise), niku udon (it was alright) & their toro uni shari which was fresh. Their beverages were also delicious as well. Service was attentive and the food came out hot & fresh. Their seating was super cool and there were seats that looked into a zen garden. Definitely a great place to try!

Excellent katsu. Perfectly crispy. The fried shrimp was my favorite. The udon with beef was good overall. Piping hot but very small in portion. Good peppers and fried chicken, but the pork definitely was the winner!

Everything we got was SO good!!! We had a reservation and came here for dinner after work and were seated almost right away! service was pretty fast, everything we got had such good flavor and texture. We thought the corn ice cream was gonna be corn flavored but it was just normal vanilla ice cream with a white chocolate shell.

I've never visited Japan, but I can imagine this is what it's like. Everything about this place makes you feel like you've been transported out of NYC and into another world. I love the interior decoration and the little alcove in which we sat. The service was friendly and efficient and the food was mind blowing. I cannot recommend the Mazemen noodles enough - truly unlike anything I've ever tasted. The truffle rice was a good pairing with the tenderloin katsu (which has a buttery breading that melts in your mouth). The corn ribs are also a great starter and highly addictive. I wasn't obsessed with the mackerel sushi and would probably try another dish in its place if I were to return. Like others have said, the service is indeed very fast, but I didn't get any sense that the food had been premade. Everything was fresh and mouthwatering. Give it a try!

Wow wow wow. Decided to randomly walk in at 8pm on a Wednesday night and was pleasantly surprised there was no wait. Our server was Seayule and she was extremely attentive and sweet. I always appreciate swift and non-invasive service when dining out, the server and runners at Konban executed this very well. It was nice to feel like I didn't have to order a beverage with my meal, as this is typically part of the ordering spiel at most restaurants which can feel pushy. We were served an amuse bouche upon sitting, tomato with garlic cream cheese with a slight drizzle of vinaigrette. We ordered the pork tenderloin katsu, karaage, niku udon, mazemen and corn ice cream. Probably the best katsu I have ever ate! The breading was crispy and airy while the pork cutlet was incredibly moist and a well balanced tonkatsu sauce on the side. Both noodle dishes were very good. The beef udon soup had wide house made noodles with tender pieces of boneless short ribs in a chicken dashi with black garlic oil drizzled over top. The mazemen had spicy ground pork with an almond butter sauce, nutty without being too spicy. The corn ice cream had a hard outer white chocolate shell with icey almost sorbet like corn ice cream in the center. Such a delightful dining experience in a cozy restaurant. Already planning to go again to try their otsumami and yaki offerings.

Every dish was a hit and I actually think portions not too bad. ~5 dishes for two is perfect amount Drinks were good, recommend the seoul If you're filipino skip the corn ice cream. ONLY reason it's not 5 stars is because the service was a little slow. The overall design of the restaurant is very cozy.

I was sooo pleasantly suprised!! The ambiance here is wonderful and they start you off with a little yuzu drink/tomato & cream cheese app. Both were great! For 2 people, we shared 4 dishes which was plenty of food - Tenderloin Katsu, Konban Corn Rib, Shishito Pepper and Niku Udon. Honestly, I don't even think I can pick a favorite here. Everything felt fancy/high quality. The corn rib flavor was seriously so fire and I actually really loved how light the udon broth was. The meat melted in my mouth. For drink, I got the Sayonara which was delicious. 11/10 restaurant

The feel is cozy and intimate. The food is incredible; the menu is small and every item is well executed. The pork loin katsu is juicy with a crispy flakey coating; the only complaint is that it doesn't not come with rice or a cabbage salad, which is the norm for Japanese katsu. Sashimi set was well presented and the fish was fresh. Wasabi seemed like it was freshly grated. Konban corn rib is a must; absolutely amazing. The udon is delicious; great texture and flavor. The spinach udon is in a chicken based broth with dash. Works well with the fresh udon; I devoured the soup as well. The Mazemen is incredible; super savory with only a hint of spice. We tried both desserts; they were okay but nothing to rave about. Service is friendly and very attentive. Overall, excellent meal. Will be back.

I had a friend from out of town visiting me, and we'd spent our Friday exploring the "Elephant Migration" installation near Chelsea and the Meatpacking District, walking the Highline, and seeing some of the exhibitions at the Whitney. We were in the mood for sushi and pleasantly surprised to have seen Konban on Yelp when searching for options nearby. I love that the exterior was unassuming and even easy to miss. It felt like finding the entrance to a speakeasy and was a charming sanctuary within. From the moment you walk in the door, front house staff greet you and our server was so attentive. I wasn't prepared for just how incredible the food would be! We went for lunch, and everything tasted some fresh and flavorful. We ordered the assorted sashimi, mackerel sushi, and the scallops. I don't know what they put in the sauce with our scallops, but it was magical. Cocktails were also so on point! We loved this place so much that my friend and I just kept pausing throughout the door to recall just how memorable it was. I will definitely go back again and again!

Konban surprised me! I wasn't expecting that much from this restaurant since I saw some mixed reviews regarding their most "popular" dishes, but I enjoyed everything from the food, the service, and the restaurant design and ambiance. You feel like you're stepping into a restaurant in Japan when you enter. The bathroom was also super clean. Our server was so sweet and gave great recommendations. He also kept refilling our waters, which was appreciated. Now the food... - mackerel sushi (3/5): This was pretty lackluster and tasted/felt like a lot of rice. - ebi katsu (4/5): The prawns were huge, juicy, and flavorful. Pleasantly surprised by this dish and the different sauces it came with. - tenderloin (4.5/5): This was great - meat was tender and cooked perfectly. It was crispy without being overly breaded. - branzino with mushroom (4.5/5): This was my favorite out of all the dishes. Yes, it is a little one dimensional but the branzino, mushrooms, and sauce were all done perfectly. Would honestly come back just for this dish. - truffle rice (4/5): Loved this as a side to eat with the other dishes. Had great truffle flavor without it being too overpowering. I am so glad I decided to grab an available reservation last minute at Konban! Such a satisfying dinner.

Great place for a catch-up - love the peaceful ambience complete with a zen garden outside (so don't worry, you don't need to yell over loud music here). Highly recommend snagging a table here at the hottest Japanese izakaya in Chelsea to try the addictive corn ribs and slurp the creamy, nutty mazemen! Only thing I wouldn't get again is the corn ice cream dessert - it's pretty to look at but tbh didn't taste much like corn and felt too frozen when we got it.

Worth the hype. I've been here twice since they opened and each experience was excellent. The portions are not big so prepare to order a few dishes. I went with one other friend both times I ate here and we got at least 6-7 dishes and a dessert. Everything was consistently delicious so I would order whatever you're craving and want to try. The must on my list is probably the pork noodles and a katsu (I personally liked the one that was a bit more fatty).

We came here for the Lunch Hours and got a good amount of the sets from the menu, as well as the Corn Ribs and Corn Ice Cream. We'd heard a lot of good things about Konban, and everything we heard matched up. Each of the sets was comforting and filling, we left extremely full. It was definitely a bang for one's buck. The ice cream and corn ribs surprised me the most. I always knew corn ribs were a popular izakaya item, but the execution at Konban was fantastic. The corn ice cream also amazed me greatly and I would buy pints of it if I could. The service was amazing and our waiter was extremely friendly. He would check in on us often and the food came very quickly. Can't wait to come back to try more items!