Delicious food and good service in a beautifully decorated place! Kayak curry is so good. Love this place! read more

Benemon - Katsu Curry - Japanese Near Me - New York, New York

Are you kidding me. I just ordered the unagi don delivery and there is literally no effort from the restaurant to debone the fish before serving at all. Do not eat unagi don here unless you want your throat full of bones. read more

When the night started here, I was worried that I was going to have to end up giving this place a low rating. I walked in around 7:00 PM on a Wednesday night and the place was quite packed. I noticed a guy behind the bar, and two other people waiting tables. However, no one came to acknowledge me at the hostess stand. It felt like a long time after before someone finally came over to which I told her that I had a party of 7 tonight. She looked at me like I was crazy. While I understand the space is small, there are plenty of possibilities in getting the tables put together for 7 people. I told her I didn't mind waiting for a bit since our party wasn't all here yet anyway. She said that she'd call me if something opened up. At that point, we decided that it was maybe best to just go somewhere else, especially with how unlikely it seemed that we were going to get seated. However, it seemed that some of our party really preferred this option, so we ended up going back around 40 minutes later. Two other members of our party walked in to check on timing at which point they were having to wait to be acknowledged once more. I hope this isn't a regular occurrence (perhaps they were just short-staffed or busier than normal?) but I wouldn't really know. However, I noticed that a table of six had just sat down. Wait ... why had they been seated and I didn't get a call??? She had totally forgotten about me. This left me a bit ... -____- but whatever. One table was getting ready to go and the table beside them looked like they were almost done. We told her that we didn't mind taking the first table and waiting for the other party to leave. She finally agreed after we explained the logistics to her a few times. She told us that we should wait at the bar in the meantime. They took forever before they finally got up even though they had paid and then she told us that we could squeeze into the table of four but if we wanted to keep it, we had to order drinks or something now, that we couldn't just sit there, which made sense. The six of us squeezed in together and the servers were really kind about getting us extra chairs and apologizing for the tight space. We ended up ordering our first round of appetizers during this time since we didn't want drinks. Everything in the small plates menu looked so good so we ended up trying out several things. 1) Karaage Fried Chicken: Definitely one of my favorites of the night. We ended up getting a second plate because it was so good. The chicken was perfectly crispy but still extremely juicy on the inside. The spicy mayo that they give you for dipping was very complementary to it. Highly recommend! 2) Garlic Beef Steak: Just as delicious though the crispy rice patty that it came with was just okay. Nothing too special about it. 3) Salty Pork Belly: This was oddly my least favorite item of the night. Not that it was bad, but it wasn't anything really amazing. The waitress insisted that if we dip it in the sauce, it would be magical, but there wasn't anything terribly magical about it. Maybe it would have been better had we not also had so many other great things. 4) Scallops Aburi: We had to order two plates of this because there are only three on a plate. However, the scallops are very large and fresh. I realize now, though, that I'm not a big fan of shiso so I probably should have taken it out before eating it. I would say it's good but for the price, I probably would opt for something else next time. Once the appetizers were finished, the table next to us FINALLY left, so we were able to spread out as we ordered our main entrees. Truth be told, I probably could have just ordered another small plate and have been full, but of course I couldn't resist one of the donburis. Most of us ordered different bowls so I ended up getting to try a few of them. Personally, I ordered the katsu don which was really good. I love bowls in which the eggs are soft-cooked over the rice and the sauce is just perfectly savory and sweet. The katsu was tender and cooked to perfection. I also got to try the yakiniku don, shrimp and anago ten don, and chicken katsu curry. The yakiniku don was very flavorful and the beef was very good. It veered on the slightly saltier end and made me kind of thirsty. The shrimp and anago ten don is good if you like tempura. I don't think this one would be my go-to one to order. It's a bit heavier, and while the tempura is good, there's nothing that makes it stand out. The chicken katsu curry was really loved by many at the table. I thought it was good, but was still partial to the katsu don that I got. I asked my friend who got that what she would get if she were to come again, and she actually said she would stick to the curry (and she isn't a curry person), so there could definitely be something said about that! Friends all said they would go back. I'd be down to try a new place but can't seem to go wrong here. read more

I've been meaning to this restaurant for sooo long and I finally had the chance to taste what I have been missing out on. I came on a Thursday night around 7 PM and it wasn't crowded, only a few tables were occupied. The servers were extremely attentive and helpful. There was a lot of variety in the menu options, especially the appetizers. In all honesty, I went a little overboard on ordering.... but when does that not happen.. Food ordered for 2: Appetizers - 1. salted pork belly wow, talk about fatty pork belly with the touch of heaven sauce. The flavors of the appetizer complement each other so well. The portions were great too! 2. karaage chicken WOW, Ive had my fair share of karaage chicken but this is easily my top 5 kaarage chicken. A lot of restaurants tend to over fry the chicken and all you get is the fried flour. But THIS CHICKEN! The meat is so tender! 3. Scallops Very. Fresh. Much. Season. The wasabi and the sauce on the side makes the scallop come to together. Entrees Unagi Don - Never expected a big slab of eel to be presented to me but surprise! I'll need to walk this food baby off right now! read more

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Came with a friend and we tried the uma-tama don (eel rice dish) and it was delicious! It does have an extremely strong eel taste so if you're sensitive to that and you don't have a knack for fishy flavor, I would skip out on this. I personally enjoyed it though. We also ordered the tuna tataki, Black miso chicken, and fire tofu. Literally all so delicious, would 100% strongly recommend those small plates to everyone who visits. Be warned that they are small however! Also loved the vibe in this place- it was dimmed the perfect amount and was super chill. The waiters were extremely welcoming and super helpful about the menu. They also had a really great sake menu - my friend and I had the yuzu and for all you Asian people out there, it tastes very similar to the honey citron tea! Overall had a really positive and great experience and will definitely be making another trip here to try out the rest of the menu! read more

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I came by Benemon on a Sunday night for dinner with two friends. At 7pm, there was no wait and we got settled in right by the front door. The interior is very toasty due to the heating lamps by the door, which was appreciated after walking around outside in the cold wind. **SERVICE** The waiter had waters for us right away and were always prompt in taking care of us. Very friendly! **INTERIOR** Cozy and romantic. They've set up low-light bulbs on the ceiling and lamps on the walls to make for a more intimate dining experience. Wood floors and brick walls made the restaurant cozy and comfortable. While there was never a wait to get seated, the restaurant stayed mostly full throughout the night. The one bathroom is in the back and is nice and clean. **FOOD** For three people, we ordered 3 smaller plates and one yakiniku-don. I'd recommend getting maybe one or two plates more for a similar sized group, but we were saving room for dessert elsewhere. We got: - Kara-age Fried Chicken ($8): HANDS DOWN My favorite dish of the evening. Great texture on the outside, amazingly moist chicken on the inside, and paired with a spicy mayo sauce. - Salty Pork Belly ($9): Wow, you can really taste the smokiness of the pork belly with every bite, and my friend said the shishito peppers were delicious as well. - Tuna Tataki ($12): Sliced incredibly thin and served in tiny little squares, these made for a cute bite, but unfortunately, was my least favorite dish of the night. Nothing bad to say about it, but honestly, after a bite of the kara-age, my taste buds wanted nothing to do with the tuna. - Yakiniku Don ($15): Delicious! The marinade soaks into the rice below and makes for a wonderfully savory bite with the meat and scallions. **PRICE** Incredibly reasonable for the flavor you're getting. I'm not always a huge fan of tapas because it feels like they charge up the butt for tiny portions, but we all left satisfied. Each person paid less than $20 (including tip). read more

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I met up with my friend while I was in NY and he recommended we try Benemon. Small restaurant that seats about 30 people, in lovely tight quarters. We got the GARLIC BEEF STEAK which was a rare steak with a garlic sauce. SALTY PORK BELLY was probably the best dish for me because it paired super nice with their spicy black kaimi sauce. TUNA TATAKI was ok, but the sauce threw me off. I didn't really like the miso nuta sauce. SALMON CARPACCI was super fresh and was very well dressed with a lemon pepper dressing. First, second, and fourth are must try dishes and worth going back for. Maybe I've give this restaurant another go and see if I like it when I try other dishes. ENJOY! read more

The food was very nice. We enjoyed the interior. I just wish they had more choices on the menu for non-meat eaters.

We really wanted to like this place, but had some major flaws that didn't give us the experience we wanted. We don't eat out often after the pandemic, so when we do we want to make it count. Checking the reviews, we saw that the Uma Tama Don (basically eel with soft fried eggs over rice) was really popular and decided to get it. Unfortunately, it came out to be too sweet. We had this before at other establishments and we knew ahead of time that it's supposed to be a dish with a tad of sweetness so we knew how proper was supposed to taste like. However, the one we had here was so overpoweringly sweet, it felt like it should have been in the desserts category. When we got thru a quarter of the dish, we couldn't continue it anymore. It was surprising that none of the staff saw that as an issue. Not once were we asked how our food was. Even when we got the check and the dish was removed from the table, no one bothered to take that as a clue to ask why we the bowl was practically untouched. The extra star is for the karaage, since that was pretty fresh (tho still not as crunchy as we would have liked it). But an appetizer never should outshine the main entree, which was the case here. read more

I was incredibly excited to try this place because the food looked great, they had fun/unique cocktails, and I read a mountain of positive reviews. Not to mention a very classy interior, though on the smaller side. I can sincerely say that I am confused by the ample examples of happy customers, or the article written by a fan suggesting this place is good for a nice dinner where you spend under $20. I'm concerned this man doesn't eat enough, because they have many tapas plates, and they range from $12-$16, and one simply isn't enough. I'm assuming the person could be talking about the rice bowls? We didn't order one, so I can't comment on size, but they are $17-$29. I'll start with the drinks. I got the White Cloud cocktail. I'm a huge creamy drink fan, and the brown sugar closed the deal for me. I didn't taste brown sugar, or a pleasant cream, instead it was an odd flavor and I'm not sure how to explain it. I chugged my drink so it wouldn't go to waste, but it wasn't a fun time. My friend ordered the Await The Moon, another delicious sounding cocktail including pineapple infused sake, white chocolate, honey syrup, matcha and egg white. They may as well call it Murdered By Matcha because holy hell, that was the only thing we tasted. It was bitter, and surprisingly unsweet considering its ingredients. For dinner, we ordered the smoked pork belly, which was good, but I prefer thicker, melt in your mouth pork belly. They cut theirs into small, circular bite-sized bits. They weren't dry by any means, just firm, and not melt in your mouth savory. We also tried the baked salmon. I thought the sauce was a little bland, and it was the thing that made me want to try the salmon in the first place. The beef tataki was my favorite. Similar to the style of the pork belly, the beef was presented in small bite sized pieces, but packed a punch of flavor. Lastly, we tried the fried soft shell crab. I think it's unfair to blame this on the restaurant, but I will never eat another soft shell crab again. One bite was good, but the second one I had tasted bitter, and almost like what liver tastes like, but not quite. I can only assume I ate the center of the crab and got some innards or something. The crab was perfectly fried, so I think I just had a bad bite. Overall, I think the food is over-hyped based on what I tried, but I didn't try everything, so maybe I didn't pick the best options. Congrats if you have made it to the end of my novel of a review. I hope I was helpful in providing insight into my experience so you can make an educated decision on whether or not to try this place. read more

Great, now I found a new place to give all my money to that satisfies my Japanese comfort food cravings. *rolls eyes, expands belly. Atmosphere: Benemon is a cute, small and quaint restaurant in the east village. Doesn't hold many people, and they don't take reservations. Our party of four got there on a Saturday night around 6 (half an hour after dinner open) and were seated right away. I think I'll stick with this "go right when it opens" strategy from now on to avoid the wait. The place is dimly lit and can get loud once it's packed. Food: started with the tuna tataki and salted pork belly. The tuna tataki is plentiful, raw, and super tasty. I enjoyed the consistency of the outer crust area of the fish as well. The salted pork belly was not what i expected, but it tasted like straight up smoked brisket. It was different, but pretty delicious. I have been craving katsu curry for a long time, so I opted for the pork katsu curry. When it comes out, it looks like rice, some pieces of fried pork, and a heaping pile of curry. However, everything is portioned super well and each Ingredient was well-balanced. The pork was crispy and juicy, the rice was nice and soft, and the curry had just the right consistency and spice to it. It was pure perfection. Not bad at all for $15. Service: friendly. Easily now one of my favorite restaurants in the city. read more

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Would definitely recommend the fried soft shell crab and karaage. Curry tonkatsu don was good but portion was a bit small and beef tataki wasn't anything special. Still enjoyed it all though! Service was great. read more

Not exactly a light affair but quality food. Was able to walk in for 2 ppl on a weekday and get seated right away. Started off with a refreshing iced yuzu hoji tea in a classic tea cup. Tofu hijiki salad was tangy and perfect mix of textures. Absolutely loved it. We then got the scallops aburi (only 3 pieces), beef tataki (well marinated and came with refreshing vinaigrette type sauce). These apps were not very filling so we ended up getting 2 bowls (too much rice though). I loved the Tsukimi tori don but not the shrimp and eel tempura don. The former cane with mushrooms and glass noodles, which cut into the fattiness of the friend chicken. It also had a sweeter teriyaki sauce (perhaps a bit too sweet). The eel tempura was dry but other pieces of veggies and shrimp were well battered. Guess I learned my lesson that eel should not be fried. Overall if you're looking for a new Japanese comfort food place, this is it. The curry smelled really good and deserves a try next time. read more

Beat the crowd on a Friday night by arriving promptly at 6 PM. Grabbed a sake flight at the bar, and barely began sipping before we were shown to our table (score! managed to snag a 4 top by the window!) We also had the Ai No Hime (Princess of Love) sparkling sake - this is definitely a light sparkling girly drink. We ordered every small plate with exception of the salads (the guys were not having it) and the unagi don. This was perfect for our little group of four, even though we wished we had more space for a katsu curry. Gobo sticks: burdock root sticks in sesame oil - I did not like these at all, but that was due to my own misconception that these would be the Japanese version of fries, I was thinking something along the lines of yucca. This was more a chewy version of asparagus. The guys liked it enough though. Edamame Peperoncino: edamame in garlic, olive oil and chili flakes - just yum, we probably each could have polished our own bowls. We probably should have to balance out the meat we ate. Anchovy Fried Potatoes: so delicious - this should be a required snack at all bars! I pretty much ate 3 quarters of this dish, played the girl card and just snatched them all up. Tofu Fire: battered tofu in sweet chili sauce, it wasn't bad, it just made zero impression on me, I don't even remember eating this. I was distracted by the fried yummies. Kara-age: maybe I ignored the tofu because I was distracted by Japanese Fried chicken - dark meat fried and ready to be dipped in spicy mayo (licking my lips in fond memory) Salty Pork Belly: I've never met a pork belly that I didn't love, seriously. I mean, the flavor's in the fat, 'nuff said. Black Miso Chicken: mmm, it was good? I was distracted by fried chicken and pork belly - I have a one track mind. Beef Tataki: seared rare angus beef, daikon sprouts, seaweed, apple vinegar onion soy. The flavor on this was suprisingly light, in a good way. Garlic Beef Steak: 6 oz rare angus strip steak, crispy rice patty, savory garlic sauce - it's little, but it's delicious. I love that there is no option, you must eat quality steak rare! Shrimp Tempura: delicately battered shrimp, kabocha and string beans with green tea sea salt - this is my everything. I wish this was entree sized Scallops Aburi: Hokkaido scallop sashimi, shiso leaf, lemon, soy & ponzu sauce, maybe we hit an off day, this was slightly fishy to us. Soft Shell Crab: I'm not going to judge since I'm not a huge soft shell crab fan due to my own preferences, but it seemed fine. Creamy Baked Salmon - the quality was fine, but nothing memorable, the dish was overwhelmed by the refreshing salmon carpaccio. Tuna Tataki: can you ever go wrong with tuna tataki? Salmon Carpaccio: home-cured salmon, red onions, dill, mustard, lemon pepper dressing, and soy sauce-dashi glaze - so fresh and light that we had to order another plate for the table Unagi Don - generous serving of eel, it was a great way to end our tatps style meal. I recommend if you're doing a lot of the fried dishes, pair it with the iced yuzu hoji tea, it's very a refreshing foil for all the fried goodness. All in all, we left full, and will definitely return for some of the standouts - and to snag a katsu curry! read more

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The dishes that we had here ranged from 'very good' to 'destination food'. The two of us ordered three small plates and one donburi, which was enough food; we left sated but unstuffed. We ordered: -Tuna tataki (seared tuna, cajun spice, sweet miso-nuta sauce topped with scallions) - THIS. The cajun was a bit of a different flavor for a Japanese dish, but it worked extremely well. The sauce had a flavor reminiscent of a black pepper spiciness and the miso flavor was present as well. The tuna was tender and succulent. -Salty pork belly (smoked pork belly, shishito pepper, spicy black kaimi sauce)- Yes. The smokiness of the pork belly reminded me of a classic BBQ dish. The crust is subtly salty. You don't really need the sauce, but it has an excellent creaminess and a rich fish sauce flavor. -Oyako Don (grilled marinated dark meat chicken, shiitake mushrooms, onions, scallions, and eggs) - This had a nice, light dressing that tasted a bit like a sweet soy sauce. The rice was nice and sticky. -Kara-age fried chicken (fried chicken, spicy mayo, lemon) - The chicken was moist and tender, if ever-so-slightly chewy. The sauce was tangy and pretty spicy. We definitely enjoyed this, but it was a bit basic compared to the other dishes. The restaurant is tiny in the way that restaurants in the East Village/LES on sides streets are, which is to say it's charming, but best of luck to you if you'd like to squeeze out of your seat to hit up the bathroom. It was quite full at 8 pm on a Monday night, but we were lucky enough to get a seat right away. I'd say the only slight downside to our experience was that the place had a bit of a weird smell. I got used to it, though. read more

This is a super intimate spot that serves deeelicious Japanese food. I came here for dinner and, thankfully, there was no wait. It did get noticeably busier around 7 ish and there were groups of people waiting for a seat so definitely keep that in mind when you're planning to come here. My friend and I ended up ordering the: Kara-age fried chicken (5/5): Sooo juicy & perfectly fried. Comes with their homemade spicy mayo which really brings the whole dish together. Soft shell crab (4/5): I've never had soft shell crab before so I wasn't sure what to expect but it wasn't bad! It just kind of had a fishy taste to it which was a little off putting for me but my friend enjoyed it. Yakiniku don and Nanban don (5/5): Their don buri bowls are huge - excellent portions and the flavors of each bowl was on point. The steak especially in the Yakiniku was so tender & perfectly seasoned. All in all, definitely check this spot out if you're craving Japanese comfort food! read more

When it comes to safety restaurants, Benemon is definitely one that never disappoints. The wait time here is never long despite it being a not-so-big restaurant. Food always comes out pretty quick too. What we ordered: KARA-AGE FRIED CHICKEN - cunchy, crispy, piping hot but most of all, you had me at juicy dark meat. BEEF TATAKI - I'm usually hesitant about tataki because I hate raw meat but the Angus beef is more between a med-rare to rare here. Dip it in the spicy mayo that comes with the fried chicken and it literally tastes like a classy Big Mac, minus the bun. PORK KATSU CURRY - Initially, the curry seems overwhelming (like there's too much of it in comparison to the rice and pork but hot damn, that curry disappears somewhere quick. I recommend you just mix a bit of the curry with the rice at a time because I mixed it all together and it felt a teeny bit too salty for my liking. Other than that, the panko-ed pork was quite juicy and tender! read more

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This place hit the spot for my craving for Japanese comfort food. For the table, we got tuna tataki and pork belly appetizers. I ordered the una-tama don and pork katsu curry. Everything was delicious and the service was incredible. The only complaint I have is for the miso soup, which was a bit flavorless. read more

Benemon - Tuna Tataki and Salty Pork Belly - Japanese Near Me - New York, New York

My girlfriend and I were planning to come here like months ago, but was unable to make reservations for 2 as they only take reservations for a party group. Therefore, you have to wait or just come early, however keep in mind that there is not a lot of seating so be prepare to wait if you come here late. It actually very dark inside which creates a very romantic atmosphere so it is a nice place to have a date. Service: The waiter was very kind and know when to ask us when we are ready as we did not have to wave our arms for their attention. Food: we ordered the Tuna Tataki ($12) and the Nanban Don. THe Tuna Tataki was very good and a little chewy than I prefered but still the taste was good. The Nanban Don was very big that I felt like I could had just shared it with my girlfriend because I ended up forcing myself to finish it. It was very delicious, but I was just very full already. Overall: I would come here again when I can! read more

Benemon - Japanese Near Me - New York, New York

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Where to begin! I went with a friend for a quick lunch and what we got was a truly, complex delicious meal. Comfort food is the perfect way to describe this cuisine but don't be fooled - it's also got flavor, nuance and a high level of crafting. We ordered the tuna tataki appetizer which was perfectly seared and came with a decadent sauce that I would live in if I could. We also both got the Katsudon lunch set which was a smart decision. The main dish was just perfection. I'm not one for a runny egg but with the fried pork cutlet, it melded together into warm perfection. I'm also not one for fat in my meat but the cutlet was so excellently cooked, there was no chewiness to distract from the bite. It came with a nice miso soup, some lovely pickles and a small side of sweet beans that really built on the other flavors. The restaurant gets great light and the decor is simple and elegant. We went at a time of day when there weren't too many people so I'm not sure if the service is always so fast and attentive but our waiter was great! Always quick to refill our waters and got our food to us nice and quick. If you need a dose of warm and wonderful food with a touch of elegance, look no further. read more

Benemon - The Katsudon lunch seat with soup, the tuna tataki appetizer and a yuzu tea drink. - Japanese Near Me - New York, New York

This food here is to die for!!! Really intimate beautiful outside seating and you cannot order wrong here. The Unagi don, hot squid, black miso chicken, and tuna tataki were all ridiculous. So good. read more

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came here with my sister and her friends. my sister said it was highly rated and that there was limited amount of seating so we ran over as soon as it opened at 5pm. there is definitely limited seating but more than 6 - probably closer to 20? we were the first ones there but it definitely got more pack by the time we finished eating around 6. the staff is very attentive and knowledgeable. the restaurant is very stylish and fit the mood. the appetizer was okay... the tuna tasted like pizza haha, the chicken was nothing special, the steak was the best out of the 3. i personally got the pork katsu whereas my sister got eel donburi. they definitely give you the perfect amount where the price point meets the food quantity & quality. the drinks were delicious and one of the best cocktails i've had in awhile. overall, i recommend ! i personally don't think it's the best thing in the world but for the price and quality, it was definitely a hit! read more

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My boyfriend and I came here on a cold fall afternoon looking for warming comfort food. Benemon was the right place to go ! Not only did the atmosphere instantly relax me, but the service felt warm as well ! We both got the lunch sets, I the chicken, and my boyfriend the katsu and really enjoyed them ! The chicken had a really awesome marinade with an egg, mushrooms, sautéed onions, and warm rice. The dish was served with hot soup, and two small sides - the perfect meal ! We also ordered the green tea, which was very good ! The flavor was refreshing and it was served piping hot. We went around 2pm and were able to be seated right away ! Definitely a spot we will revisit soon ! read more

Benemon - Japanese Near Me - New York, New York

My party of 2 arrived around 6ish to avoid long lines. The place is small and intimate, so it's best for smaller groups. A nice twist on classic Japanese cuisine. We enjoyed the tapa style dishes. Fresh ingredients w great sauces. My fave was the Japanese tapas from the sea. Lightly torched raw Japanese Hokkaido Scallop Sashimi. Drizzled with ponzu and soy sauce. Delicate perfection. read more

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Wowowow! I totally chose this place on a whim, mostly because it was nearby and new. I was blown away by the food. Every single dish was delicious! We started with the black miso chicken and wow! My dining buddy and I were amazed by how delicious, flavorful and rich the sauce on this plate was. The black sesame is savory, and aromatic. The chicken was braised, so tender and juicy, with that added crunch of walnuts. Just wow. I really really wanted some rice to eat the sauce with. Maybe they can make this an option? This really stole the spotlight. We followed with Tsukimi Tori don and Yakiniku don. Both were really great. I've had Oyako don in many other places and the Tsukimi Tori don is a variant of the Oyako dish with more toppings and popcorn chicken instead! It was delicious. The dish leans on the sweet side, the simmered onions and chicken/rice. The yakiniku was simple and good too from what I remember but personally I'd pick the Tsukimi Tori simply for the breadth of tastes and flavors. Overall, the black miso chicken was the winner winner chicken dinner. I hope they make this into a rice dish :'( or can I order rice on the side? read more

Benemon - black sesame miso chicken - delicious! - Japanese Near Me - New York, New York

Cannot say better things about our experience here! We came on a Tuesday night around 6:30pm and were seated immediately. They have a great spacious outdoor seating. Our waitress was so attentive and nice! We started with tuna tataki and tofu fire which were both divine. I got the pork katsu and let me tell you this was the best katsu I've ever had outside of Japan. My sister got the chicken tempura donburi which was equally as delicious. Also COVID wise, the bathroom was sparkling and there were even toilet seat wipes provided for extra sanitation!! Above and beyond and can't wait to come back! read more

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Filling out-of-the-box Korean style curry, featuring deep fried pork fingers are your go-to here! A solid 3.5 but y'all know, Yelp doesn't allow for half star reviews. I tried the following: Salty Pork Belly: Just your average salty pork belly with a mayo-like dipping sauce on the side. Nothing special to report here and nothing mind blowing. Pork Katsu Curry: Yup, tastes like the curry my mom used to make from out of the box. It's good so I can't complain. It comes with pork fingers instead of your typical slab of fried pork so it is a bit easier to eat. Also note the pink ball is not a carrot, it's daicon. And yes, it's sour so don't think of putting it all in your mouth unless I mean that is you are into that. Dessert: Plum Wine- Man, I forgot the name. The dessert menu included a Black Sesame dessert or a dessert wine or sake. I think the one we got was $8 and definitely not worth the price tag considering the portion and taste. Overall, decent food and efficient service. Would I pay money to eat here again? Probably not. read more

Benemon - Pork Katsu Curry - Japanese Near Me - New York, New York

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Food is a 3.5, but they have some great sake selections here, bringing it up to a 4. Came here on a Saturday night. It was decently full, but still had some tables left. It's really dark and has a trendy upscale-casual vibe to it. Small plates are REALLY small. Chicken karaage was standard; pork belly was yummy. We also ordered a yakiniku and katsudon. Those were pretty tasty as well. I just thought that for standard Japanese food, it was overpriced. Sake selection is great. They had a lot I had never heard of. read more

Benemon - Japanese Near Me - New York, New York

This is a small restaurant near Alphabet City but this is a gem for sure. The menu isn't huge but the dishes satisfy the palate to the T! I got two appetizers and two entrees to share with my boyfriend. To be honest, the portion size was small but that is what they are know for - small plates. I got the pork belly and the Karage (which is very similar to fried chicken). It was amazing! The pork belly was thinly sliced and they provided a sauce that matched perfectly with the pork belly! The fried chicken was crispy and didn't leave an oily taste in your mouth! For entrees, we got a curry dish as well as a rich dish with popcorn chicken, onions, an egg. Once you pop the leaky egg and mix the rice with the other ingredients together, it was delicious! For the curry, it was very rich but I wasn't too fond of the beans in it. For the pricing, it was most likely in the two dollar sign range. To be honest, a bit pricey Judging for the amount that you get but the food was amazing in itself! read more

This place has great outdoor dining and also a great responsive staff. Their food is amazing for its price and had good portions. read more

Benemon - Seared Ahi Tuni - Japanese Near Me - New York, New York

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A casual hidden gem in the heart of East Village for Japanese comfort food. A true $$ place. I would be comfortable bringing someone here for a treat-yo-self meal as well as budget-minded friends, as the menu was split into pricier small plates and $15 large rice bowls and curries. Exposed brick and low lighting-- so low that the back corner we were wedged into felt a little overly romantic for a group of 4. Good vibe for a date though. The food is good. My boyfriend's scallops tasted a bit fishy to me (though he raved about them and said "you don't know anything about scallops!"); the salad was fresh but a little one-note. The rest of us had mushroom, popcorn chicken, and natto rice bowls. The portions are nice and big; the food was flavorful and nourishing. We all left happy but I wouldn't call anything we had outstanding. The word "dependable" comes to mind. Service was pretty good and reasonably quick. Our waiter warned a member of our party about the natto being stinky but we ended up just fine. It's nice to have a neighborhood place like this. Exciting sake menu. Hoping to work up the courage to stop in alone after work to enhance my sake knowledge. read more

Benemon - Tsukimi tori don - Japanese Near Me - New York, New York

A lovely cozy little spot for your comfort Japanese staples. Portion size is a bit big for one person ( I suspect this is an American standard not Japanese one haha) but that isn't something to complain about. Love the flavor profile of each condiments in the set, nothing felt redundant or overwhelming while compliment perfectly the main dish. Definitely worth a try if you're into more home cooked comfort Japanese meals. read more

Benemon - Katsu Curry - Japanese Near Me - New York, New York

Overall rating: A- My friend and I came here Wednesday at 6:30pm. It was dark, fairly quiet and empty. Service was good. We were seated at the table closest to the door so a bit awkward. Good place to have a conversation. Here's what I got: -SHRIMP & ANAGO TEN DON $17 (Deep fried airy and crispy shrimp, conger eel, kabocha, and eggplant tempura drizzled with our original savory tentsuyu sauce): The tempura were all really crispy and not too oily. Perfectly done. The eel was very fresh and you get 2 big pieces. I couldn't finish the last piece of will eel. It's a different texture than I'm used to from the eel in sushi rolls. A- -ICED YUZU-HOJI TEA $4 (Arnold Palmer-inspired Yuzu & Hoji tea blend): Delicious unique option if you're not drinking alcohol! Just wish the yuzu taste was stronger. A++ It was a nice relaxing dinner. We didn't feel rushed out after finishing our meal, which is rare these days. I'd come back here again! read more

The una tama don is actually amazing - and I don't even like eel that much. It's just a great combination of super tender eel, mushrooms, rice, onion, and sauce, savory but a little sweet. My boyfriend got the oyako don and that was good too. They have a wide range of dons (rice bowls) that are really great comfort foods that feel clean. Prices are not bad ($18 for the una tama don and $13 for oyako don). We also got the scallops, which were pretty good and fresh. We came on a Saturday night around 8pm, we were quoted a wait time of 30 mins but only waited about 15. They don't take reservations. The decor is really cute, with hanging lights from the ceiling. Great for a date or small group of friends. read more

Benemon - Una tama don - Japanese Near Me - New York, New York

We first ordered two apps and later found out the server had not put these in. Later on the server put in one app but had forgotten the other... needless to say the apps arrived after we had finished our mains. The karaage was piping hot (frozen?) and the pork belly was disappointing and not flavorful. The entrees were good but not memorable. We showed up at 545 PM on a Saturday and were the first ones there. When we left, the restaurant was still not full. read more

Benemon - Japanese Near Me - New York, New York

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Ohhh myyy goodness! Can't rave enough about this place. The food and ambience is fantastic. It has a very 'exclusive' vibe as you can't make resy for it. The food was so damn good, everything we ordered from the tuna tartar to the Eel rice bowl. So yummy! The ambiance is very cozy and romantic also! Great date night place. read more

Came here for my sister's birthday. The place is small and dark, it smelled like burning crayons. The food is alright, the staff is very attentive and informative. I ordered a chicken nanban, my sister ordered the eel bowl. My other sister and her boyfriend ordered a curry dish. We all liked my dish the best, the tangy nanban sauce balanced the chicken well. Skip the curry, and the yuzu tea. read more

Benemon - Chicken Nanban - Japanese Near Me - New York, New York

I've been wanting to go to this place for months. I unexpectedly finally was able to fulfill that desire tonight. And it was absolutely amazing. When you first walk in, you're able to take in the relaxing ambience and lose yourself in the dim lighting. If your significant other constantly asks you to take them to a romantic candlelit dinner, this is the place. This place felt like home. Before I talk about the food, I want to mention the service. The service was outstanding with the staff always being polite and attentive. Our water glasses would be empty and within three minutes, it would be refilled. This happened twice until they decided to just leave a pitcher of water for us at the table. This is what I call A+ service. Now, the reason why we were so thirsty ... blame it on the edamame. You should get it if you like your edamame flavorful and with just the right touch of spicy. We also ordered the scallops, which were pretty good too. They were juicy & mostly raw and came with a complimentary dual sauce for extra flavor. The main dish, however, was what earned this place this 5-star rating. Their unatama don, which is an eel egg bowl is literally one of the best things I've ever eaten. It was everything I ever wanted and more. The eel was tender and absorbent of the sauce they put and tasted especially good with the rice that soaked up the remainder of the sauce at the bottom of the bowl. The egg was soft and eating it in addition to the eel made it even more enticing. This is definitely one of the best donburi places I've been to so far and I'm definitely coming back during their lunch hours for more mouthwatering dishes Benemon has to offer. read more

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I randomly came across this restaurant en route to another restaurant, and I'm glad I did! I came here with two girlfriends on a Saturday night and the wait wasn't too bad despite the restaurant's small size. We ordered both the sparkling sakes to drink (bunny yuzu and the princess). To start, we got the tuna tataki. For mains, we got the chicken katsu curry and the una tama don. The drinks were really good, very light and refreshing. The tuna was excellent as well. We literally ate the whole thing in two minutes. The chicken katsu curry was also good. I would say my least favorite dish was the una tama don because the eel didn't taste fresh. Despite that, all the flavors were on point. Also, the service was really good! Our server was kind of awkward but he was nice. Overall, I'd come back again to try more of their sake. read more

Was craving some donburi and went to Benemon. They have such strange hours imo (5-10pm) but it's all good. Pay attention while you're walking because I almost walked right past it( they didn't have an obvious sign) The una tama don had nice meaty pieces of eel and was perfectly sweet with the sauce and caramelized onions. My friends aid the katsu don was really good but got soggy a little quickly because it was under the eggs. I also was surprised it didn't come with any miso soup or anything. The starters are really small plates but the potatoes and Brussels were delicious. I didn't really taste the anchovies, only Parmesan. I really like that the menus are on the side of each outdoor table because you can easily refer back to it, but it minimizes the amount of people touching it. The waitstaff is really sweet as well. If you are eating indoors you need to show proof of vaccination, but not if you're eating outdoors. Their menu isn't super expansive but they have a few good vegetarian options like vegetable curry! read more