Torizaku

It's definitely a new hidden gem. We really like this new Japanese restaurant! The yakitori was very fresh and delicious, grilled to perfection. The drinks were also great and paired really well with the food. The atmosphere was cozy and comfortable, making it a perfect place to enjoy with friends. Highly recommended!

The chicken wings are absolutely AMAZING!!! The udon noodles are so creamy and tasty. We came with a party of 6 and everyone left super satisfied. The interior is stylish and welcoming, yet the prices are really affordable. Great food, great vibes. Definitely worth coming back. Highly recommend!

The store is decorated with wood ➕ warm yellow lights, and the atmosphere is particularly healing. It is not as noisy as other places in NY. Sitting down with friends to chat, eat some skewers, and drink some wine. I feel that the pressure of the whole day is gone✌️

Checked out this new izakaya in the West Village and really liked it. The skewers were juicy and well seasoned, with chicken oyster and knee cartilage being my favorites. Even the heart and artery skewers were tasty and clean. The bacon cream udon was rich but not too heavy, and the unagi rice and takoyaki were both filling. Drinks with real fruit pieces were refreshing, and the staff were super nice. Overall, it’s a cozy spot that I’d happily come back to!!

Found my new favorite izakaya in the West Village! I was hesitant at first when I saw some negative reviews, but my dining experience was really pleasant. They serve up 30+ kinds of skewers starting at just $4! The space is bright, open, and comfortable, where you can actually enjoy yakitori without walking out smelling like smoke in your hair or clothes. The menu covers a wide range of chicken, pork, beef, and veggie skewers, plus a solid lineup of appetizers, entrées (shoutout to the mentai udon!!), and a great beverage selection. It took some time for them to serve all the skewers, but we kept having some food on our table. The servers were friendly and answered our questions patiently. My favorite skewers: - Pork Jowl $8 - juicy with the perfect balance of fat and char. - Short Rib $11 - tender nd full of beefy flavor. - Pork Belly w Asparagus $8 - crispy edges with freshness from the asparagus. - Zucchini w Mentai Mayo $4.5 - juicy zucchini topped with mentai mayo (I should’ve got more). - Chicken Meatball $6 - delicious, I only wished it could come with raw egg yolk for dipping. ＊Ume-Infused Cherry Tomato $8 Seriously so addicting! The juicy tomatoes were soaked in a tangy pickled plum sauce. It tastes super refreshing and helps cut off the greasiness. Will totally order this again. ＊Creamy Cod Roe Udon $14 ＊Gyudon $16 Both were served with a raw egg yolk, and honestly I couldn’t decide which one I liked more. The portions were generous too, definitely enough to leave you feeling full! ＊Grilled Mackerel $14 The mackerel had charred, crispy skin, while the meat stayed tender. We were already full by the end but still cleaned the whole plate.

Torizaku is such a hidden gem in the West Village! If you’re looking for an authentic Japanese izakaya vibe in NYC, this is the spot. The wooden decor and warm lighting instantly transport you to Japan – cozy, casual, and perfect for after-work drinks. 🍺✨ The Happy Hour deal (Mon–Fri, 4–6 PM) is honestly unbeatable – only $16 for a Suntory draft beer and a yakitori set. The skewers are fantastic: juicy chicken wings (both salt and sauce are excellent), flavorful chicken meatballs, crispy chicken skin, and unique options like chicken thigh with yuzu kosho or tenderloin with wasabi. The short rib and pork jowl were tender and full of umami, while the pork belly wrapped asparagus was the perfect mix of fatty and fresh. Even the grilled shrimp, shiitake mushrooms, and eggplant were delicious. 🍢🔥 If you’re hungrier, try the Unaju (eel rice) or Yakitori Don – both are generous portions and satisfying. Service is friendly, the atmosphere feels authentic, and the food is consistently great. For $16, you really can’t find a better happy hour deal in Manhattan. Definitely adding this to my go-to list for drinks and casual dinners with friends! 🙌

The review is mostly for the yakitori. My overall sentiment is that this is a worth a try. However do not expect this to be omakase quality. Also price point is moderate (but it’s NY so everything is expensive). Overall the skewers were good, the proteins were of the right size / fair portion, they had a slight char, and the meat was juicy. A small criticism, I felt I had to add some salt to a few skewers, but there was a salt shaker on the table so it was a non issue. Also there seemed to be a good variety of skewers including veggies. We also had the drum wing and Saba. The drum wing was good, the Saba was okay. But traditionally Saba is served with daikon and not ginger. They just opened but service was prompt and quick, we didn’t have a reservation and managed to get seats quickly. The restaurant is loud so be prepared to shout abit when talking.

My friends and I had an incredible time at Torizaku this week, starting with the hospitality!! When I tell you their servers and staff are some of the nicest people, I mean it. The space is super cute and feels very intimate and cozy. The menu has a lot of items on it that you’ll want to try, so I recommend going here really hungry and even with several people, so you all can share and try everything, the way my friends and I did. Some of my favorite dishes were the mentaiko udon (creamy, delicious noodles and a table favorite - A MUST-ORDER), the seaweed salad (sooo flavorful and delish) the ume-infused cherry tomatoes (don’t sleep on these, they’re so refreshing), the grilled fish was made perfectly, the gyoza and the fried chicken (I beg of you, ORDER THIS). I know it sounds silly, but the fried chicken is PERFECTION and should NOT be missed! Sooo good we ordered like three rounds of them lol. I also really loved the French wine on the menu (can’t remember the name of it, but they’ll know it if you ask them). It was crisp, refreshing and delightful! I highly recommend this lovely place and honestly, if you just order my recommendations you’ll be full and so pleased! I can’t wait to return!

Ambiance: The space isn't large, but it feels open and comfortable, with a decent-sized bar seating area. The shop is clean, well-maintained, and has a cozy, inviting vibe. Service : I visited on a Friday night, and it was pretty busy. The skewers took a bit of time to come out since they're grilled to order but I didn't mind. The staff was friendly and attentive, checking in with us regularly. I was seated at the bar, and from a certain angle, I could watch the skewers being grilled. I couldn't resist sneaking a peek and the aroma was incredible. Food: The skewers were fantastic! I loved that they were served grilled to order. I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed the heart and gizzards. Usually it is not my go-to, but they were delicious here. A standout was the drum wing and it is absolutely a must-try. It's a bit pricier than the other skewers, but totally worth it. Juicy and tender on the inside, perfectly crispy on the outside. They definitely worked some magic on that one. The creamy roe udon was another favorite. It reminded me of a creamy carbonara I had in Korea. It was rich, savory, and perfectly balanced with bacon, roe, and an egg yolk on top. Lastly, the ume-marinated cherry tomato was a refreshing surprise. It had a sweet-tangy flavor that reminded me of Chinese ginger candy. It is such a fun little bite to end the meal.

Found my new favorite izakaya in the West Village! I was hesitant at first when I saw some negative reviews, but my dining experience was really pleasant. They serve up 30+ kinds of skewers starting at just $4! The space is bright, open, and comfortable, where you can actually enjoy yakitori without walking out smelling like smoke in your hair or clothes. The menu covers a wide range of chicken, pork, beef, and veggie skewers, plus a solid lineup of appetizers, entrées (shoutout to the mentai udon!!), and a great beverage selection. It took some time for them to serve all the skewers, but we kept having some food on our table. The servers were friendly and answered our questions patiently. My favorite skewers: - Pork Jowl $8 - juicy with the perfect balance of fat and char. - Short Rib $11 - tender nd full of beefy flavor. - Pork Belly w Asparagus $8 - crispy edges with freshness from the asparagus. - Zucchini w Mentai Mayo $4.5 - juicy zucchini topped with mentai mayo (I should've got more). - Chicken Meatball $6 - delicious, I only wished it could come with raw egg yolk for dipping. ＊Ume-Infused Cherry Tomato $8 Seriously so addicting! The juicy tomatoes were soaked in a tangy pickled plum sauce. It tastes super refreshing and helps cut off the greasiness. Will totally order this again. ＊Creamy Cod Roe Udon $14 ＊Gyudon $16 Both were served with a raw egg yolk, and honestly I couldn't decide which one I liked more. The portions were generous too, definitely enough to leave you feeling full! ＊Grilled Mackerel $14 The mackerel had charred, crispy skin, while the meat stayed tender. We were already full by the end but still cleaned the whole plate.

This new izakaya spot reallyimpressed me! The flavors of the salt seasoning and tare sauce on the chicken, meat, and pork skewers was so good. Torizaku also offers a variety of classic Japanese appetizers that are perfect tapa sizes to share with the table. This is everything my friend and I got: Strawberry Ume * Pork Gyoza * Takoyaki * Seaweed Salad * Drum Wing * Chicken Karaage * Squid Karaage * Miso Soup * Wing * Chicken Meatball * Thigh * Thigh with Scallion * Thigh with Yuzu Kosho * Breast * Breast with Scallion * Enoki with Pork Belly * Beef Short Rib * Beef * Gyu Don *Creamy Cod Roe Udon You have to try the creamy udon. It reminded me so much of a carbonara spaghetti but with an Asian twist. It was so addicting. Service and atmosphere was equally a 10/10!

Came here for dinner with some friends. The food was overall delicious I especially enjoyed the chicken thigh with scallion skewers. The interior is clean and well decorated. The service left much to be desired however. It took greater than 1h30mins for certain skewers to come out. Unfortunately, we had to leave before all the food came out since we were running late for another reservation. We asked for it to be packed in a to go box and yet again, they got the order wrong. The experience was regrettable since the food was so good.

A cozy meal with Torizaku If you want a japanese style meal that is conveniently located around washington square look no further than Torizaku. Of course their skewers were nothing less than delicious. They're savory and chewy and all around good. However, for me, the highlight was the creamy cod roe udon. This dish was smooth and creamy, the taste was really rich and the overall serving was very filling. I was able to pair this dish with the ume strawberry fizz which cut back on the delicacy of the noodles to offer a contrast of some subtle sour but really sweet notes of strawberry. Really good combo!

My friends and I had an incredible time at Torizaku this week, starting with the hospitality!! When I tell you their servers and staff are some of the nicest people, I mean it. The space is super cute and feels very intimate and cozy. The menu has a lot of items on it that you'll want to try, so I recommend going here really hungry and even with several people, so you all can share and try everything, the way my friends and I did. Some of my favorite dishes were the mentaiko udon (creamy, delicious noodles and a table favorite - A MUST-ORDER), the seaweed salad (sooo flavorful and delish) the ume-infused cherry tomatoes (don't sleep on these, they're so refreshing), the grilled fish was made perfectly, the gyoza and the fried chicken (I beg of you, ORDER THIS). I know it sounds silly, but the fried chicken is PERFECTION and should NOT be missed! Sooo good we ordered like three rounds of them lol. I also really loved the French wine on the menu (can't remember the name of it, but they'll know it if you ask them). It was crisp, refreshing and delightful! I highly recommend this lovely place and honestly, if you just order my recommendations you'll be full and so pleased! I can't wait to return!

My partner and I arrived for dinner quite hungry around 9pm and had a mixed experience. The yakitori and other kushiyaki itself was truly some of the best we'd had anywhere outside Japan. The grilled hamachi was excellent. Based on food alone we'd happily return. However, the rest of the experience left quite a bit to be desired. Upon arrival, despite having a confirmed reservation for a counter seat, we were seated at a table and told that was all that was available (the counter was, and remained, empty the entire time). Despite advertising reservations up to 10pm, we were told by 9:30 that it was "last call" for any orders. Most of our initial order hadn't even arrived by then, and slowly trickled in over the next 30 minutes. This is for skewers that realistically take a few minutes, tops, to cook. We ended up over-ordering under the time pressure. When we asked for another drink while food was still being delivered (the "last call" had been framed as for food), we were first told it was too late before the requested drink later appeared without apology. That umeshu (plum wine) was good, but also served in a Western-style wine glass, which simply isn't right (it should be in a rocks glass). A number of items were also mysteriously and seemingly randomly not available with one of either the tare or shio seasoning options. These are seasonings typically applied as cooking, and for items where both options would traditionally be available, so this didn't make sense. The menu is written in both English and Japanese, but the staff doesn't understand even the basic Japanese names for items they serve: asking for an order of "momo" (thigh) or "tsukune" (chicken meatballs) or "negima" (chicken + scallion) resulted in blank faces. This is like going to a sushi place and staff not knowing what "toro" or "uni" is, and reflects the seemingly poor overall training/quality of the staff. Finally, the value proposition was also very poor: the bacon and asparagus skewers, for example, contained two tiny pieces each for $8. In total, we spent close to $200 for a meal for two that would've cost $50 in Japan and $100 most places in the US. I'd love to say we'll be back because the skewers were legitimately great, but I don't think we will be given the service snafus and value proposition.

Really unfortunate because the food here was delicious but the service was not great. Food-wise - all of the skewers were very juicy and flavorful! Our favorites were the chicken + scallion and the mushroom. The udon was also delicious! Service-wise, it seemed like a lot of tables were waiting very long times for their food to come out and had several items come out incorrectly or missing. It took 30 minutes to get water (that we had to follow up with staff for) and almost 2 hours for our full order to come out. Our final items (zucchini skewers) came 40 min after the rest of our order and we also received an incorrect item. Not sure if this was an off day but would try to come back and give it another shot!

Incredible skewers! Loved the chicken meatball especially. Great happy hour deal, excited to come back soon

Really delicious food and super friendly service. Good vibes. Worth a visit, will definitely go back.