Sozai Japanese Restaurant (Izakaya Ramen)

Was going to make a reservation, but at 6:30 the only options were after 9:30, so we walked up on a whim tonight. Came in, greeted pleasantly, and gave my phone # for a 30 min wait. We agreed and walked down the street. My sister said we should head back not even 5 minutes later, we walk in, and they offer us a table which will be occupied in an hour by a reservation. Incredible reception from our hosts. We already knew it was going to be delicious, but holy moly. We got the Kurobuta sausage, pork Katsu, garlic fried rice, spicy tuna roll, and karaage. My sister got a cocktail (the Okinawa no kaze). Every single item of food was delectable. So many different flavors and tailored to each bite. She loved the cocktail and it was a perfect balance of unique flavors as well. To make things even more comfortable and wonderful, the service continued to be attentive and warm and we couldn’t have picked a better place tonight. Thank you for true hospitality 🥰

It was my first time dining here, and I was truly impressed! The food exceeded my expectations. I ordered the chicken karaage curry rice, and it’s honestly the best I’ve had so far perfectly crispy, flavorful, and comforting. The hojicha ice cream with sweet potato balls was such a unique and delicious dessert, a must-try! Our server, Art, was friendly, attentive, and gave excellent recommendations that made the experience even better. I’ll definitely be coming back!

(We did reserve a spot here, do recommend) Lunch karaage curry set with miso soup - The karaage pieces were huge, super juicy on the inside with a crisp outside. I really liked the small pickled sides on the side of the plate, it cut through the richness really well and made the whole bowl even more addictive with rice. Miso black cod - i saw a lot of customers ordering this dish! came with a bowl of rice and was done really nicely. The fish was tender and flaky with that classic sweet miso glaze, not overly salty. Simple but well executed, and it pairs perfectly with plain rice.✅✅✅ Mentaiko - this was also ordered by lots of people! spaghetti with creamy spicy cod roe and lots of bacon felt almost like a carbonara, but even creamier.✅✅ (Our server was super friendly! We stayed there rlly long and kept drinking water, but she was super nice 😊!)

❤️ Overview: Overall, the food was good! The interior and ambience is super cute as well. The service was really great too. Very attentive and kind. I would definitely recommend getting a reservation, as it seems to fill up super fast. We got there right before 5pm on a Saturday and by 5:30pm they were packed and people waiting. Definitely want to come back to try the other dishes! ❤️What was ordered: 2 cocktails, Crispy salmon skin salad, kakuni, crab croquette, lemon miso salmon, beef sukiyaki udon, dessert ❤️Stand outs: Crab croquette, crispy skin salad, kakuni, beef sukiyaki udon ❤️Would I come back/recommend: Yes - I would come back Yes - I would recommend

This place has yummy japanese dishes and excellent cocktails. We sit at the bar, and the bartender, Chaya, she is friendly and fun. Highly recommended the miso black cod, silky smooth texture and flavorful. And don’t forget the dessert, blacke sesame with red bean, this is perfect combination ever. We will be back again soon for sure

Excellent food and great service. Place was crowded so make sure to make a reservation. Had to wait an hour for table but is worth the wait. Crab croquette was crispy and taste great. Sake kama was grilled to perfection, soft and moist on the inside. Tonkotsu ramen tasted great, soup was full of umami and noodles was springy. Staff were very attentive and friendly. Truly enjoyed my visit.

Amazing food! No worlds to describe The flavours we just had. 200% recommended. We were lucky to get a table without reservation but definitely reserve is you can in advance, you don’t want to miss the opportunity to try it. Our server Chaya was so friendly and made really good recommendations.

Everything was incredible! Palm was knowledgeable and patient even though I walked in 5 minutes before closing (I know, I know…) I cannot recommend the hotate yuzu roll more. It’s super refreshing and just perfect. The mugi sour is also a 10/10 and paired so well with my meal.

I got the tonkotsu ramen. $20 It had all the standard elements. It was beautifully Instagrammable presented. Ice tea was legit matcha. Wish I had more people with me so I could've tried other things on the menu. Good place if you are just 1 person eating alone. Ate at the bar. Server checked in on me several times. Only complaints/suggestions: hooks for jackets, etc was a little high for short 5'3" me and would've liked more salad options e.g. simple salad not just salad as entree, and I like beef curry + veggies in the curry so would've liked to have that option, slightly healthier than katsu.. cool izakaya ambiance/decor. clean.

Walked in without a reservation on a Monday and we were seated within 20 mins. Not pictured but we ordered both of the dinner sushi rolls which were tasty. The fried ube was a good appetizer, however there was not enough dipping sauce to go with the amount of fried ube we were given. Need to improve the sauce ratio. Oddly, there was a spaghetti and bacon dish on the menu, it was creamy with a little spice kick. Unexpected but surprisingly good like getting a parking ticket but realizing it's someone else's car.

I enjoyed lunch at Sozai. It was really busy when I arrived so I had to wait for a table. I ordered the Sake Clams as an appetizer and the set meal of soup and katsu. Everything was tasty. Only thing that could be improved would be to make sure not to cook the katsu too long. The edges were overcooked and so I had to trim each piece and not eat the overcooked. Great service and I like the ambiance

A great place for pre theater meal. Attentive service and yummy food. Yellowtail roll was really good along with all their sashimi pieces - very fresh and delicious. Agedashi tofu did not disappoint and edamame had a nice sauce. Companion really enjoyed their sukiyaki udon and toriage. Best dish was the salmon kama which was so tender and quite a large piece. Saba was ok and I'd say skip.

We stopped by here with our 2 kids after touring around New York. It was a bit late around 9pm but we were able to get a booth after 5 minutes. Drinks and food here were really good. The bowl I got was so good. Tuna was super fresh. Would definitely recommend this place and make reservations beforehand.

Great lunch in midtown! Food came out super fast. The spicy ramen & sukiyaki shrimp udon were both flavorful and satisfying on a cold day. Our server Farlarr was very attentive and friendly.

Expected to spend a lot of money in New York for a good meal on a Friday night, but $20 per ramen bowl this great was a steal for me! My group of 3 got really lucky stopping in at 5:15pm and was able to sit without a reservation, but 10 minutes after we sat there were people being told the bar was a 1 hour wait itself and the tables were booked up with reservations. Please make a reservation, I think I heard something about 2 weeks in advance when the host was talking to another party. Food: was craving ramen and definitely found the right spot for this! Spicy tonkotsu ramen was very flavorful and was not too spicy. The chashu miso had just the right amount of body in the broth without being too salty. 2 large, well-cooked pieces of pork and great toppings, notably the fried lotus piece. Takoyaki was delicious as well. Service: kind, efficient service and food came out quick! Sat down and left in less than 45 minutes including bathroom stops after dinner for my party of 3. Happy hour had a physical menu, and the normal menu was a QR code. Ambiance: there were approx. 8 booths seating 2-4 and a few tables seating up to 4, with a booth and another table up front to accommodate a party of 6-ish. There is bar seating as well. Lighting is dim. Calm environment, can hear your party just fine. 3 bathroom stalls that are very clean, 2 person sink is set outside of the bathroom stall.

Sozai has been on my list for a while and I finally got to check it out! It definitely gets busy, so I'd recommend making a reservation. They also have a happy hour from 5-7 PM. Here's what I ordered: - Tako Wasa (raw octopus with wasabi): I liked this, but just a heads up--the wasabi is strong and can be overpowering. This is a personal preference! - Ankimo (monkfish liver): One of my favorites! Very fresh, rich, and delicious. Very fishy, but again personal preference! - Sake Clams: Light and tasty, and not spicy at all. - Ika Geso (fried squid legs): Crispy, though I didn't care for the wasabi sauce. Tartar would've worked better. Poor pairing... - Kaki Fry (fried oyster): Just okay--nothing special. Probably could've skipped this one. - Hamachi Crudo with truffle: So fresh and refreshing--absolutely loved it. - Salmon Carpaccio: A must order! The dressing was perfectly balanced and not overpowering. - Gyu Tan (grilled beef tongue): Usually a favorite of mine, but this was overcooked and way too chewy. Disappointing :( - Mentaiko Pasta: Flavor was good, but I wish they used udon instead of pasta. They were unable to accommodate. It also wasn't as creamy as I hoped. Slight letdown. - Black Sesame & Hojicha Ice Cream: A nice way to end the meal. Not too sweet. Definitely recommend it! Overall, Sozai is solid and I'd definitely come back to try more of their menu. That said, I'd skip the cocktails--they're weak and a bit boring.

There were 7 of us looking for a nice place to have dinner and luckily this place had openings! We had a wonderful meal here, all the food we ordered was excellent. I so wanted to order more items just to try more dishes, but luckily I was able to see a lot of other people's orders on our table, and there were no misses, every dish was a winner. The ONLY downside to this place was the noise, it was extremely loud to a point where we had a hard time having a conversation and even hearing the staff.

This is a small gem for authentic Japanese Katsu dishes. The crisp of the Katsu is fantastic and the ambiance felt very Japanese speakeasy or hidden street far vibe but service was very attentive. Sometimes it felt a little rushed but they were very busy so it was understandable to want the customers not to linger. They have happy hour too which is a bonus. The non alcoholic drinks are so fun too!

My family and I dined here after a Broadway show. We were so hungry at that point, and this spot was conveniently close by. Service was pretty good. Our food came at varying times - one of us was half way done with her ramen bowl before my sukiyaki was served! Food was decent overall. My partner and his dad ordered katsudon bowls which were tasty. I wasn't a big fan of the shrimp tempura that came with the sukiyaki (which I asked to have on the side). The batter wasn't cooked all the way because it was mushy/not crispy in the middle. I'd rank it as a 3.7 if I could, but will round up to a 4 considering most of the food was good and it was good service even at 9-10pm on a week day.

I was with my sister who recommended the place to me. We got a collection of plates: Salmon skin salad - crunchy and refreshing Eel rice bowl - shareable and tasty Beef tongue - tasted like beef, no complex texture Octopus sewers - tasty, individual pieces on a sewer The server was very knowledgeable on the menu and gave some recommendations. The food came out quickly. We were sitting in one of the side wooden tables sections. The way the space is curated to be a hall like, it's hard to hear the people at your table since there lots of sound and no place for it to go. Overall the food was delicious and definitely a place to check out. I would not bring groups of people due to the hard of hearing aspect.

My first time in NY and I was blessed to stay next to this restaurant. We decided to stop by to try it out and are we SO glad we did. Art was our server for both times and he had a great attitude and was always helpful. First visit for lunch we did the Ton Toro Yaki, hamachi miso roll, sake miso clams, katsu curry and beef sukiyaki udon. Lemmmeeee tell you... the pork was the most incredible dish I've had in a while. It was succulent, rich, marinated, and grilled to perfection. The hamachi miso roll was refreshing. The sake miso clams were delicious as well. I appreciated the chili they included as the dish needed it. The katsu curry was one of the best I've ever had. The pork was fried to perfection and the pickled ginger and housemade curry was everything I dreamed of. The sukiyaki udon was a bit sweeter than I like for sukiyaki but overall solid. We ended up visiting a second time for our last day. We ordered more things to try. The Ton Toro Yaki was not as good this time... it seemed inconsistent as this serving was dry. We ended up ordering another portion and that one was reminiscent of our first experience - fatty and delicious. The beef tongue was extremely disappointing unfortunately. I was eating some succulent grilled chunks of beef tongue but what came out were thin, dry, overcooked pieces. Pass on that 100%. The tako wasabi was delicious if you're able to enjoy slimy texture. The mentaiko fried rice was decent. You'll have to be okay with non-traditional fried rice. It ends up being more creamy than a traditional fried rice dish. The spicy ebi roll was delicious. The pork curry katsu was 10/10. I'm very happy that dish is consistent. The spicy tonkatsu ramen was amazing! Noodles were cooked perfectly. The scallop carpaccio can be skipped as well. It didn't leave a lasting impression. We also ended the meal with hot teas. The matcha and barley tea hit the spot. One thing I will say about this spot is that the ambiance is perfect. I've been to Japan many times and this place was the perfect hybrid of industrial mixed with traditional Japanese izakaya. It's like a modern Japanese restaurant. The earthenware was also beautiful. From the plates, to the bowls, to the tea cups. Everything felt authentic and heavy-weight which gave it a feeling of luxury. I'd highly recommend anyone to try this spot and experience a delectable meal you won't regret. It transported me back to Japan.

Sozai always hits the spot!! They're definitely my go-to spot near Bryant Park/ Times Square for a vast menu and chill Izakaya ambiance. The staff is attentive and quick. We came on a Friday night and it was very packed around dinner time so I would definitely recommend you make a reservation ahead of time. The mentaiko pasta was small but delicious. The takoyaki was surprisingly really good compared to what we've had at other spots. The kaki fries (fried oysters) and roll always hit the spot.

I've been wanting to try Sozai for a while and I FINALLY came! This place did not disappoint at all! Drinks were delicious and the yuzu vodka highball was SO refreshing! The soba green tea with sashimi salmon on top was SO good. The tako wasa definitely cleared my friend's sinuses. The ambiance of the place was bright and clean, I can definitely see this as a date spot. But a great spot for just everyday dining or even special occasions. Our waitress/ server Farlarr was super duper nice and attentive. Always checked up on us if the food was good, ready to take our orders and always had a keen eye on cleaning the dishes and refilling our water cups. Come check out Sozai when u can!! Definitely a cute spot!

It's a cute restaurant with plenty of seating. The staff was great and friendly. We didn't have a reservation but they accommodated us and informed us that happy hour was still on. We picked a couple of items from the happy hour menu. The tofu appetizer was great. The miso salmon was delicious but the portion was very, very small. The spicy Ramon was wonderful and spicy. The baos were disappointing. The pork tasted good but the baos were rubbery, like they were warmed up with a microwave, not fresh.

Had a quick lunch here at Sozai, ordering an appetizer and entree each across a party of two. The entrees came with a miso soup which was actually way more substantial than what one might expect from the stereotypical Japanese restaurant. For appetizers we had the kurobuta sausage and agedashi tofu, both of which were pretty strong. My personal entree was the gyudon, which brought me back to the gyudon fast food restaurants that I loved in Toykyo (mmm Sukiya). You can say I really liked it! Service was fast and efficient, which makes sense for the lunch crowd. Most of the seating is booth structured, with plenty of privacy away from other parties.

Japanese izakaya- food was just ok... Here is what we ordered: - sake clam miso (one of their most popular dishes, while the soup is very flavorful, it doesn't really soak into the clams - pork belly (very hard and chewy, and not tender and soft like typical pork belly dishes -beef tongue is decent, but very chewy as well (almost hard to chew). Feels a bit overcooked - black cod is the best out of the ones we ordered, but feel like one can't really screw miso black cod up... Portions are quite small!

The BEST Tonkatsu ramen I've ever had in my life, point blank period. I walked in for a little solo date in the evening and was seated immediately at the bar. Sozai is the perfect place to go for either a cozy dinner or a small group gathering. The atmosphere feels casually luxurious, and it's easy to blend in if you're dropping in for a little solo date like I did. I had a bar seat and Art, who was working the bar, was absolutely phenomenal - he was extremely meticulous and careful with how he made the drinks, was extremely friendly with everyone, and checked in constantly, always offering to fill up my water or asking if I wanted to order anything else. I got the Fuyu no Sakura, which was a refreshing but strong sweet sakura flavored drink. I thought it was quite strong on its own but paired beautiful with the saltiness of the tonkotsu broth. The tonkotsu ramen was nothing short of delicious. The broth was definitely some of the best that I've ever had, and the pork belly was cooked to absolute perfection. I loved that the noodles were on the smaller end - they added a lot of balance to the overall heaviness of the broth as well as a more intricate detail to the visual appeal of the ramen. I absolutely love this experience and highly recommend everyone try it!

Can I say this is a hidden gem? Especially being in a busy area with lots of touristy spots and restaurant chains. This izakaya stands out! The food was really delicious, and especially for the price point. One of the dishes ordered was the hamachi crudo and it was fantastic--super fresh and beautifully balanced. I especially loved the touch of truffle. I feel you can really judge the quality of a place by how they handle raw fish, and this dish definitely impressed me given the price. The ambience also felt super clean and put together. It was giving popular udon chain, Raku vibes. I'll definitely be back!

This is a very authentic Japanese restaurant located in Midtown. The menu is very extensive, with the typical izakaya dishes such as beef tongue (gyu tan), fried herring (kibinago), and braised pork belly (kakuni). Honestly, the appetizers were enough to fill me up. For entree, I would recommend the chirashi bowl with uni - all freshly prepared. The restaurant offered both booth seating and table seating. Unfortunately, our table for 4 was a bit crammed, where we were having a hard time finding spaces for dishes and drinks. So, request a booth if you prefer more spaces. Also, double-check with the servers when placing your orders. There was a little mix-up where we asked about a dish, but it was mistakenly added to our order.

Saw this place first on social media, and was intrigued enough to come visit. Glad a made it here for a meal -- casual izakaya vibes, great food and drinks! We visited around 8:30pm on a weeknight, service was extremely fast! 5/5 Mentaiko Pasta -- must order! Smokiness from the bacon, creaminess from the sauce makes this dish come together great! Definitely one of the better mentaiko pastas you can order in the city. 4.5/5 Sashimi Salad 4.5/5 Hamachi Crudo 4/5 Gin Umeshu

Service: 4.3/5 Food: 4.1/5 Price: $$$ ($30-50) Classic Japanese interior design with open small tables, semi private booths, or bar seating. More tables than I thought + steadily busy until almost closing time. Good service without being overly attentive. QR menus. Looked like a well-stocked bar with plenty of Japanese whisky. What I Ordered: - ube fries: nicely fried, a little tougher than regular fries - cold soba green tea: refreshing, small portion, overpriced at $22 for 4 pieces of salmon, gladly not too salty - mentaiko pasta: not spicy, creamy, small portion but the denseness fills me up, didn't really taste the cod roe

Def get a resy, this place gets busy!! the lighting is dim and set perfect for a night out trying delicious food. the service is so fast and attentive - constantly bringing us water and checking in on us. the food itself was amazing and came out super fast! the food itself was reasonably priced and we loved every dish. the sizing is a bit on the smaller end, but we didn't mind because that meant more food for us to try. for a group of 3 we ordered 6 dishes. we definitely recommend this spot!!

I'd come back! They have an extensive menu and I was excited by most of it but just didn't have the stomach space for it. The things we got were: Unagi Don Spicy Tonkotsu Ramen Hotate Carpaccio All were solid! The unagi was doused in sauce if you care (but who doesn't love sauce?)

Foos hit the spot. Was craving the cold soba noodles...but the added salmon and roe really hit the spot. Service was great. Water bottle on table and they kept refilling our glasses. It's a cute spot that fills up fast. Came here to grab a bite to eat before a show.

we walked over here for dinner what seemed like a decent place based on other Yelp reviews. The restaurant is a small space with a few tables inside. A couple walked in before us without a reservation was informed there was a wait time to be seated. However, when we walked up the same lady greeted us and turned us away since we didn't have a reservation. Mind you, it was still early in the night for dinner. I noticed they had other tables open. It was disappointing she didn't offer us a waitlist option like the person in front of us without a reservation. We searched for another dinner option and found an amazing dinner spot not too far.

Had lunch here on a holiday so the lunch specials weren't available. Got the sashi mori ($45) and it was SO good! All the fish was so fresh and great quality. Would come back for other items next time!

Came here after a show and it was delicious. With no reservation, we sat at the bar. We got a number of small plates: The mussels in dynamite sauce was filling and delicious. Chicken kaarage was crispy and was seasoned well. The mentaiko pasta has a small kick, and the bacon provided a nice salty flavor. Lastly, my old-fashioned cocktail was super pleasant to sip on throughout the evening. I would love to sit in the booth next time since it looked super cozy and intimate but the bar was spacious and you get to see the bartenders make the cocktails.

2.5/5. Had high hopes after seeing a good amount of social media content about this place, and was left somewhat disappointed. Insta foodies, hats off for the good marketing. I'll start off by saying the restaurant layout is pretty nice. Booths with coat hooks high above + well-lit bar seating. I got a booth with a friend and we had plenty of privacy. We were pretty excited by how extensive the menu was and ordered from various sections. The general quality of the seafood and meat we got was not great, and the dishes we ordered fell flat. Sake clam miso ($18) was good, no complaints. Probably the best dish we got. Make sure to sip the broth afterwards. Crab croquettes ($12) had tons of mayo and the mentaiko was not that apparent (nor was the crab). The cold soba green tea ($22) looked exciting but was just ok - no presence of green tea for me, and all the flavor came from the sauce which was dark and quite sweet. The hokkaido don ($36)... Please skip this. The uni was orange/brown, not fresh looking at all. There wasn't much seafood in the bowl and it was not worth it. The gyu tan ($17) was impressively bland and tough, like we were chewing for days. The accompanying yuzu kosho was a speck on the plate. Don't recommend. The hojicha ice cream with fried sweet potato balls was ok, but hojicha could have been stronger. Service was good and food came out relatively quickly. The concept of this place and the menu is nice, but the execution of the dishes makes me pretty hesitant to come back. The meal was quite expensive - $77 per person after tax and tip, and I know I could have had better for the same price elsewhere.

Went for lunch and absolutely fell in love with this place. It's a small and cozy restaurant, very simply decorated but very modern looking and the food was amazing. The crab croquette was a bit too greasy for my taste but everything else was perfect. Each dish was packed with flavor. The hotate carpaccio which was light and citrusy, a perfect app. The mental pasta was perfectly creamy and delicious. My favorite was the miso black cod which was soft and well marinated. I can't wait to try other menu items. Great restaurant and great staff. Will definitely be back soon!

Went here with a friend during happy hour and ordered many dishes. The ube fried was part of the happy hour, tasted flavorful and crispy. The Kakuni (pork belly) appetizer was cooked perfectly. The entire piece was extremely tinder and rich. Our sake clam miso was perfect for the cold weather, and came with much more clams than expected. It was hard to pick a favorite, but we think the Miso Black Cod was likely it. For drinks, happy hour selections were a bit pricey, and the house sake was only one small glass. I would definitely come back, and look forward to trying more dishes.

This is such a cute place. The service was super fast and the restaurant ambiance is amazing. So pretty and aesthetic. The food was so delicious, we devoured it.

This restaurant takes you to Japan with its wonderful food and great atmosphere. The service was excellent - attentive and friendly. We had the hamachi, tonkatsu, tofu, karage chicken, and miso cod. All yummy! The drinks and the dessert were also great! Will return.

Sozai was a great find. I only tried the tuna, but it was excellent--fresh, flavorful, and beautifully prepared. Happy hour had solid prices, the service was attentive, and the vibe was relaxed yet stylish. I didn't try enough of the menu to give a full review, but based on the tuna alone, I'd recommend checking this spot out.

What a hidden gem in Midtown! The premium sake was outstanding, and the cocktails were equally impressive. I ordered the saba rice set--the mackerel was perfectly grilled, and the rice, topped with sesame and bonito flakes, was so flavorful that I had to ask the server if they used authentic Japanese rice, known for its sweet, dense texture. I can't wait to come back and try more of their mouthwatering dishes!

I had been craving warm ramen and Sozai delivered. The Tonkatsu Ramen broth was deep and rich with flavor. We had a private booth that was very cozy and intimate. The ambiance is very modern yet warm. Our server Farlarr was so attentive that my water cup never was empty and never once did I have to look for her. I'm looking forward to my next visit

Took a NY trip and this came out as my favorite spot of the entire trip! First dinner out and we went really like around 9-10pm, was very lively and great ambiance! A tiny spot overall but they sat us down very quickly! They have the bar area, some tables and these cute pods . I got the spicy tonkatsu ramen and it was so delicious, broth tasted so savory and not too spicy. The pork was very chewy and savory . Noodles were also very thin but great taste. I was addicted to it and wanted more and more. Seriously the best place and would def recommend this to anyone wanting to try an amazing ramen spot in NY

Sozai is a new Japanese Izakaya place in midtown with nice ambiance! My friend and I were able to walk in with no wait on a Thursday night, but the full party had to be present to get seated. There was a happy hour menu but the menu wasn't as extensive. Food came as they were ready, and they were pretty decent!! There were lots of clams in our sake clam miso, and the ube fried also came with a big portion. We loved the black miso cod the most as it was so flavorful and yummy! The age tofu came with 3 tofus, so we each ate one and shared the third into halves. I feel like the prices are a little high for what they are worth though. Service was good! They're attentive and very friendly. They bring the tap to pay machine when you are ready, which was convenient!

Amazing and filling lunch special!! Came here on a weekday for lunch and was able to be seated right away at one of the booths. I can see this spot getting filled on the weekends though so would recommend making a reservation if you plan on coming at a busy time. I chose the spicy tonkatsu ramen for the lunch special. Was pleasantly surprised that the ramen had a kick to it!! The crispy lotus root on top was a very nice touch. They also give you a choice of miso soup or house salad-- I went with the miso soup. It had a lot of seaweed, tofu, and mushrooms. really good !! The ramen and miso soup left me happily stuffed. Solid spot. Would definitely come back again for the lunch special. That miso soup was so good!!

We passed by this place a few times and decided to stop in after seeing the happy hour signs. It's a cute spot with some tables and bar/counter seating. They have a bunch of fried items and highballs on the happy hour menu. Fried kaki is always my fave and the ones here did not disappoint, perfectly juicy and crispy. The fried karage was also unique as it was rolled into a ball shape. It was nicely fried and really retained the heat. Carbonara was creamy with a nice portion of bacon. Highballs were refreshing. Service was great and quick.

We haven't even finished our meal yet, it I felted compelled to start this review. I'm gonna get to eating and leave this short and sweet - Come here. You won't regret it. What we ordered: Sake Don Grilled Hamachi Collar Grilled Eggplant Spicy Tonkotsu Omugi Sour Cocktail I wish I could eat here every day.

Just okay... Food is pricey for the portions but I guess you are in midtown. The only thing that I would get again is the ramen as the noodles and soup seemed fresh and authentic. Everything else was lacking in either taste or quality.

The reception at the check in counter was so rude. I couldn't enjoy the dinner because of the way he greets their customers. I will never go again.

Stopped in here for lunch on a Saturday before a Broadway show. Our timing was perfect since some bigger groups came in a little after us. There's a steady flow of customers, but the seating is a little limited and primarily for parties of 4 or less. Menus were QR scans, but you ordered with real wait staff (I detest ordering on a tablet or phone) who were able to accommodate requests/allergies. Choosing what to order was really hard because it all looked great! I was particularly impressed with the selection of offal. My beef tongue appetizer was thinly cut and quite juicy. The thinness was essential since otherwise this was a little chewy. The real wasabi was an excellent complement. For the entree, I got chicken livers, which were served with a lot of wild garlic scapes and a bowl of rice. It was all cooked well, though I would say the pieces of liver were a little too big. My husband got ube fries (tasty and perfectly fried) and tonkatsu ramen, which he said was the best ramen he's had in a while. He got the iced green tea, which was concentrated in flavor, while I got a yuzu beer that was fine. Even though we were hungry, I'd say an appetizer + entree was almost too much food for lunch. Almost... ;-)

Came here on a busy December weekend with a reservation thankfully because the line is long! So make sure you make your reservations! The place is super tiny and cramped like most NY restaurants but they had nice booths which I appreciated. There are hooks up above you to hang your coat. No space for a stroller if you were to bring a baby just FYI. Unfortunately not the most family-friendly place to bring a one year old but we made do and just held her in my lap because there are no high chairs or booster seats. But I guess it is a Izakaya and that's not a place to take a baby. Our waitress was a bit impatient and didn't have the best attitude when she heard us wrong and ordered us the wrong food. Thankfully though all of us including the baby enjoyed the food. Baby especially loved the tonkotsu ramen noodles and went crazy with the noodles. Broth was super flavorful and not too salty. We ordered the kaarage and takoyaki which were all good. The Wafu mushroom pasta was really good but I thought it was a tad bit salty. Katusdon was cooked perfectly. Overall, a solid place that I would come to again if I was in the area.

A new Japanese izakaya place and a nice addition to the midtown food scene. We stopped by for dinner on a weekday. It was fairly busy inside but we were able to get seated without a wait. We ordered the karaage, agedashi tofu, mentaiko pasta, gyudon, and the eggplant. I can't say anything really blew my mind, but every dish was solid - though we all did find the eggplant way too sweet. Overall though this is a great place to stop by if you're in the area after work!

Sadly was a bit disappointed in the quality of the fish (sashimi in the Kaisen Don), and wasn't a fan of the Mentaiko pasta or the tomato crab salad (it had too much potato and the tomato was dry and hard). However, we really enjoyed the clam miso soup and the fried oysters, which were massive. The monkfish liver and uni weren't bad but not as good as I usually expect. At the price point, sadly not sure I would return.

We had a reservation on a Tuesday evening, but it was surprisingly quiet. The restaurant itself is clean and bright, and our server was friendly. Happy hour lasts until 6pm, so we tried a few drinks--including a Paloma and a yuzu highball--both were tasty at $12 each. We also ordered fried oysters (my personal favorite), fried octopus legs, and fried ube. While I enjoyed the flavors, I felt the menu leaned too heavily on fried items overall. Additionally, the hamachi tasted a bit fishy, and the clams didn't seem very fresh. A bit more variety and freshness would elevate the experience even further.