very overrated imo. maybe lunch is better but dinner was very mid. coming into it i think it was already doomed cuz i don't particularly like the idea of omurice since i don't rlly like eggs and i don't like sweet and savory meals. both the omurice and the napolitan spaghetti were sweet and savory and i just don't think i liked that they were overpoweringly sweet. the food was just not that good cuz i think really good food will taste good even if on paper i don't like it. the karaage was the only truly savory thing and that was my favorite part but considering the fact that this place is known for its omurice i don't think the karaage should be my favorite part of the meal. the food was overpriced for what it was since the spaghetti was like a bunch of random vegetables + eggs and sweet sauce and the omurice was an overcooked omelet + the sauce + onions and mushrooms. also i think the hype has died down since the restaurant was mostly empty. the service was good tho--the servers were very attentive and the food came fast. the service was probably the best part of this experience. this might also be because there were barely any people in the restaurant also their bathroom was very clean and had a toilet with a bidet so that's a win! read more

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I really loved this brunch place! The Japanese theme really shines through with the interior and of course the food. Definitely order the omurice! The eggs were super fluffy and flavorful, and the sauce was also really yummy. I really liked the berry hot cakes too- it wasn't too sweet which I appreciated. Overall satisfied my craving for brunch food + just a nice vibe inside! Would come back here again! read more

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Hi-Collar is a really cute Japanese cafe during the day and serves a variety of sweet and savory treats. I got: - Matcha hot cakes with azuki, chestnut compote, matcha ice cream, whipped cream, matcha crème anglaise - Original omurice - Japanese style omelette on top of tomato rice with chicken soboro - Egg sando on fluffy milk bread Everything was delicious, especially the egg sando. The interior design and vibes were so cute! read more

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Hi-Collar is a cute lunch spot to go with friends. Definitely make a reservation if possible to avoid potentially long wait times. Since we had a reservation, we were seated right when our entire party was there. We ordered the hayashi rice, katsu sandwich, and mixed berry hotcakes. All were tasty and well made. The environment is also cozy with some natural lighting and an open space. read more

Hi-Collar - Mixed berry hotcake, katsu sandwich, hayashi rice - Japanese Near Me - New York, New York

Delicious food. I loved the omurice because the hayashi meat sauce was meaty and slightly sweet. The fluffy omelet was silky, smooth, and nice on top of the white rice. Very warming and delicious. I also tried the hamburg steak which was underwhelming for me. The hamburg was as expected but the sauce was nothing special. I wouldn't get this one again. I want to come back for brunch, since I saw amazing pictures of toast and other dishes. I'd also reorder the omurice. Very good. Service was fast and attentive with all the waiters being very nice. Atmosphere is stellar with a japanese vibey feel to it. I also would love to come back for the live jazz days! read more

Ambiance was 10/10! I loved the homey decorations and the beautiful skylight in the middle of the room. I went here for a galentines and it was wonderful. The food itself was very good: I liked the spaghetti the best, I thought the omelette could be more flavorful. The cake was sooo beautiful and I loved all the details on it. It wasn't too sweet and it was a nice treat to end the meal. I loveddd the teas and the cups it came with. Such unique flavors; sweet Berry had a hint of caramel which I loved. We were given an hour time limit which made us rush a bit so I wish the time limit could be extended. I also wish we were given utensils for each dish so we wouldn't have to use our own to scoop. I also wish our plates were bigger! Was a bit of a mess to mix all the food together. read more

Very discrete entrance so can be easy to miss unless you look for it - the interior was gorgeous, though! The food was very expensive for what it was, being the meat sauce spaghetti and the pancakes ran us $50. The pancakes were spectacular, but I think the spaghetti was lacking flavor/the sauce did not stick to the noodles at all. The broth they gave us was free, which was nice, but it tasted just like Cup Noodle broth. read more

Hi-Collar - Japanese Near Me - New York, New York

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Definitely recommend getting the omurice! I wish that the egg was just slightly more runny since it didn't cut open nicely and glide over the rice but it was still very savory and tasty. Pancakes were a miss for my preference - it didn't have the jiggly, airy, moist consistency I was expecting. Tasted more cakey. read more

Hi-Collar - Omurice, pancakes - Japanese Near Me - New York, New York

Very pretty interior that would make for a great date spot, or a chic place to get food with friends! Definitely want to check out the bar area next time I come by. Got the hayashi omurice and the demi glacé on it was delicious. Omelette was so rich and runny inside, and everything combined was just savory, buttery, multi-textured goodness. If I could make this at home I would eat it everyday. read more

Hi-Collar - hayashi omurice - Japanese Near Me - New York, New York

went back to Hi-Collar for lunch and it was so much better!! i loved it more than the first time i had dinner here. the omurice was so delicious and not too overpowering with ketchup. the hayashi beef katsu rice was also tasty and had great flavor. it also came with a small soup that i really liked! sort of like a tasty bone broth. we finished off with a coffee jelly. the coffee jelly was sweetened well but had a sour flavor which was a bit off putting.. not sure if it's supposed to taste like that. but everything else was delish and service was amazing as always! ambiance was classy and elevated and refined. interior decor was beautiful and was sort of minimalist japanese~ omurice: 9/10 hayashi rice: 8/10 coffee jelly: 7/10 read more

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Came here for brunch and was glad we made a reservation because it was quite busy within just an hour of the restaurant opening. The inside is set up in a way where it's airy and light. I had the bon katsu curry and shared a green tea hot cake. I absolutely loved the potatoes that came with my curry, it was crispy and perfectly seasoned. The katsu was thick and nicely fried. The curry sauce was okay and kind of simple. The potatoes came out hot but the rest of my dish was like room temperature though. The side pickles added some sweetness. The green tea hot cake dish was really pretty. I could definitely taste the green tea. I was glad I tried the hot cake but it wasn't really for me, it was moist but really dense. The service was okay. read more

Hi-Collar - Bon katsu curry Omurice Green tea hot cake - Japanese Near Me - New York, New York

Hot cakes were okay. A bit expensive. The spaghetti was a bit too tangy for my taste. The Kat's was pretty good. Overall, everything was pretty good. read more

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During the day, Hi-Collar is a perfect place to get breakfast or brunch. They have both light fare and more savory options, like omurice and Japanese curry. Portions are pretty big too. The interior is very cozy while still having a lot to look at. They even have a koi pond in the middle of one of the rooms. Service was good. At night, the place turns more into a bar and the drinks are REALLY good. A lot of the drinks are unique and make good use of Japanese flavors like yuzu or miso. read more

Came here on a Saturday noon reservation with a friend. The overall experience was pretty tranquil and a nice reprieve from the bustle outside. Food overall was pretty good. The omurice was executed well. The rice below was fine/unmemorable, but I was here for the soft and fluffy egg. The green tea hotcakes came with a scoop of ice cream whose green tea flavor really punched through. The chestnut compote around the hotcakes didn't taste like much, and I wish they had added more red bean than just the small dollop. My friend also ordered two mugs of mediocre pour over coffee for $6 each, which was a sad deal Service was decent as well; the waiter replaced our small plates partway through and constantly kept our water filled. While I enjoyed what we ordered, I don't think either dish alone justified its price. Once you factor in the cute ambience and the service, I can better reason out this experience being worth it. I recommend Hi-Collar if you are willing to pay extra for the ambience and experience. read more

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The service was phenomenal!!! They squeezed us in on a Saturday night with no reservation. They really made you feel welcomed and special something that I can't say for a lot of places these days. the inside was gorgeous. It felt like I was right in Japan. The bartender deserves so much credit and a huge tip. We wanted to do a sake tasting so recommended sakes. She was very honest about them, which I appreciate it, they have really good sakes... expensive ones but you can really taste the difference and they're worth tasting. I know the food is traditional Japanese but was just OK for us, but that might be our pallet. This place is definitely worth going to. read more

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Came for dinner and felt like I was transported from NYC's hustle and bustle to a calm, classy haven. The interior's vintage charm and dim lighting, created an enchanting, old-world atmosphere - perfect for date night but also perfect for a calmer girls' night out. The service was great and our server was very attentive. The dinner menu was pages filled with different types of sake and alcohol - great for those who knew what to drink but overwhelming for those who didn't. We ended up ordering a bottle of barley shochu called Watanabe Mannenboshi which had an ABV of 25% and a strong barley tea aftertaste. For food, we ordered tuna tataki, age dashi tofu, tori karaage, tamago yaki, kawari tofu, and inaniwa udon. These were all small plates that paired well with the shochu but the one that stood out the most to us was the kawari tofu. I definitely need to come back when it is daytime to try their lunch menu's omurice and selection of teas/coffee! (TMI - I was very surprised to see a bidet in the restroom) read more

Hi-Collar - Tamago yaki (front), tuna tatami (back) - Japanese Near Me - New York, New York

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This place was super cute. It was definitely a more casual dining experience, but I love the cozy, wood ambiance that it had inside. Instantly we were greeted by a nice host at the door. We made an 11:30am reservation, but there was honestly no need to. It's totally up to you! My friend and I got: 1. Mixed berry pancakes (4/5): I loved the sauce that was on the pancakes. I enjoyed the fruits as they were very fresh. I just wished the sauce and whip cream were distributed evenly on the dish. The ice cream was a nice touch. Super good flavors! 2. Meat sauce pasta lunch (3/5): The flavors were more mellow. It was good, but I felt like the pasta was lacking sauce. I'm a sucker for a meal with multiple components, so I was happy that it had more than just pasta. It was a small portion of pasta though and the bread was a little confusing. The waiters and staff were very nice! No issues there. This is definitely a cute casual quick dining place if you're in LES NYC. read more

Hi-Collar - Mixed berry pancakes & meat sauce pasta - Japanese Near Me - New York, New York

I've been meaning to check out Hi-Collar for a while, as this Japanese cafe offers various coffees and teas, as well as omurice and katsu sandwiches. Unfortunately, this place left a bad taste in our mouths, as there was no acknowledgement or any type of a welcoming when we stepped inside; we waited for about 5 minutes or so, and whether this situation was due to inattentiveness or the lack of staff, we were more than ready to move on to our next destination. No dice, Hi-Collar. +no service read more

Hi-Collar - Japanese Near Me - New York, New York

Very yummy food! I love that they have lunch menu items, as well as cafe-style desserts. Katsu Hayashi: katsu was crispy, and the salty beef stew tasted delicious with the rice Green Tea Hot Cake: the cake was warm and fluffy, and paired well with the ice cream and fruit; lovely presentation as well The plates are all pretty large portions. The interior feels elegant, and I love the decorations in the dining room. The service was fast, and the staff were extremely friendly. read more

Hi-Collar - katsu hayashi - Japanese Near Me - New York, New York

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Been wanting to check out this place for so long after hearing so many good things about it! Came here on a Sunday for late lunch, and was able to get seated right away. Overall, thought the food was decent, but could potentially be better in some areas. 1. Hiyashi omurice: Omurice seemed to be one of the most popular dishes. I was a little disappointed that the omelette didn't ooze out when I cut it. Taste was great, but danji definitely does it better. 2. Japanese hot cakes mixed berry: thought they added way too much toppings, and may have been a bit on the sweet side, that potentially toook away from the taste of the hot cakes. 3. Katsu sandwich: this was really goood! Flavors were on point. They have a very extensive drinks menu, ranging from high balls, to cocktails and to sake flights. I really enjoyed the Negroni I had that used Japanese gin, sake vermouth and Campari. Had an edge compared to a classic Negroni! Would definitely come back again just to try out their other drinks! read more

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First entering you view a beautifully designed restaurant and a lovely atmosphere. The service was amazing overall hostesses we kind and quick to seat and the waiter was attentive and friendly. The food was another level of delicious started with a beef soup complimentary due to the unusually cool weather. Ordered a omurice and berry tea to start the omurice was delicious runny enough to bring pride to the name but also cooked enough not to make my stomach hurt the tea was naturally sweet and aromatic no need to add anything at all. To end I ordered a mixed fruit dando which to the season is banana and strawberry with a side of red bean paste which was a perfect addition to the sando. Over all 5 stars. read more

Hi-Collar - The Mix Fruits Sandwich - Japanese Near Me - New York, New York

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Warm and wonderful restaurant serving delicious well plated Japanese comfort food. The Hayashi Omurice had an incredible light, fluffy egg like a cloud floating over chewy, soft, short grain rice. It was complimented well with a savory stew with thinly sliced beef, mushrooms, onions. Enjoyed with a warm cup of their Batsuni siphon coffee, expertly made, with warm, rich tones rounds out a perfect brunch meal. The restaurant is a small Japanese oasis with soft lighting and neutral tones. Served by courteous staff who never rushed you. A perfect respite from hectic NYC. read more

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The hayashi omurice was so delicious and came with a little cup of beef consommé. It could've used a little more sauce for how much rice there was, but the flavour was really good and the texture of the egg was just so soft. The regular omurice was pretty ketchupy in flavor, and a little more one note, but pretty solid. The service was great, and it was pretty packed for Sunday brunch so I'd recommend making a reservation read more

Hi-Collar - Omurice - Japanese Near Me - New York, New York

Came for lunch on a Saturday and waited around 20 mins to sit down. The service was pretty fast for us & we were sat near the "bar" like area. The ambiance is really cute and nice and reminds me of Japan. However, the food is not good. We got the omurice & the Japanese spaghetti and both tasted like ketchup. You basically couldn't taste anything else. The omurice was rice with an egg on top drenched with a ketchup sauce and the taste was overwhelmingly ketchup strong. Same with the pasta. The portion size is also not big and we felt like we could've easily made the food ourselves and not paid the hefty price. My friend also got the Japanese pour over iced coffee & it was disappointing. Not worth the $8 price tag because it tasted pretty water down. Overall, people def come here bc it's a cute aesthetic but if you're looking for good Japanese food, this place ain't it. read more

Hi-Collar - Omurice - Japanese Near Me - New York, New York

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I really enjoyed my Napolean Spaghetti here. It was creamy, very filling, and had sausage and egg. The egg around the side of the dish was cooked perfectly. My friends got the chocolate banana hot cake (rated 4/5 stars - good but wouldn't get it again) and katsu hayashi rice which was starred on the menu (3.5 stars). The sauce in the katsu hayashi was surprisingly sweet. Overall, I really enjoyed my brunch here. It was also cool to see how they made the coffee, which I took a picture of. The Japanese interior decorating made this place feel very peaceful and quaint. read more

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We happened to pass by and went in, thankfully the wait time was about 30mins, which is short considering the spot. The food is a no brainer Japanese comfort meals. I'd love to go back for more of the food so I can try every single one of them. read more

Hi-Collar - Japanese Near Me - New York, New York

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This is a very busy restaurant, with a lot of people dining in. Staffs were friendly. we made reservations however we waited 40 mins to be seated. The staff compensated us with drinks on the house. The food were all delicious! Also order their teas! It comes in a glass tea pot. Green Tea hot cakes: very matchaful, highly recommended "Napolitan" Spaghetti: Asian fusion on spaghetti on top of egg Katsu Hayashi Rice: also very delicious has 2 katsu skewers with rice and stew. Overall would highly recommend, no wonder there's a long wait! read more

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Came back to Hi-Collar after a few years and saw that they completely redid the place and changed up the menu. Service - We were seated promptly without a reservation on Sunday right when they opened Ambiance - While it looks nice with the pond and ample seating area, I kind of preferred how it looked before. It was cozier and had a warmer vibe. Food - we ordered the omurice and the hayashi rice. Omurice (1.5/5) - I'm not sure why but the omurice really lacked flavor. They diluted the ketchup flavor of the rice and also of the sauce on the egg so it definitely lacked salt. I also could not find the chicken pieces that were supposed to be in the rice and was disappointed how they didn't add any thing else like peas to add another element to the dish. They did use a lot of egg so that was a somewhat reddening quality to this dish. Hayashi rice (5/5) - I really liked this and I'm glad this was on the menu! Not a lot of Japanese places have this on their menu. Flavor was good and on point l, and what was even better was the price was reasonable at $12! read more

Hi-Collar - Omurice and Hayashi Rice - Japanese Near Me - New York, New York

Come at 11:30am on the dot for a guaranteed table. Food is delicious, coffee is overpriced but didn't bleed my insides out. Good service if at a table and can get crowded on colder days during brunch. I was not impressed with the service first time I came here as individual. Not a fan of the hallway seating, everyone brushes past you. Haven't sat at the bar yet but it's a nicer vibe there. The omurice is a little too eggy, which I've never said about a dish before because I love eggs. I want to redeem my impression of this place so will come back! read more

Hi-Collar - coffee - Japanese Near Me - New York, New York

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The only unique part of this place is the omurice. The wait and hype is not really worth it. I wasn't particularly thrilled with the pancakes as they were too dense and not fluffy like I was hoping for. The omurice did surprise me a bit, however the eggs did not run when I cut it, but it was light and the sauce was very tasty. I'd only go back just if I was craving omurice. read more

Hi-Collar - Japanese Near Me - New York, New York

This is a very cozy and intimate setting to enjoy brunch! I went with a friend on a Sunday morning - definitely make reservations ahead of time - and we were promptly seated. We arrived right at 11 and were the only table for a few minutes but it fills up quick! By the time we left at 12, it was full! Their reservations are released about 4 weeks in advance, so plan accordingly! We ordered the katsu sando, omurice with demi glacé sauce, and the hotcakes with red bean topping. For drinks I ordered the hojicha and my friend got the house pour over. The food was very tasty however one thing to note is that the food can come out rather quickly, and some of our dishes were slightly colder by the time we got to them. I did notice other tables got their other dishes after they finished one, so I'm not sure about the differences in timing. We also would've opened our omurice sooner, but since we waited until we finished our katsu sando, the egg of the omurice didn't quite open as elegantly. The katsu sando is also very big! Not a bad thing, just not expected. Aside from that though everything is very tasty! We left feeling satisfied but not stuffed! read more

Hi-Collar - Omurice Hot cakes Katsu Sandwich - Japanese Near Me - New York, New York

Great little date spot with a high emphasis on drinks and drinking. The food did have some out of the dark heavy hitters including: Caesar salad, yep the caesar salad was a winner with charred elegance. Wagyu plate, if you like stir fry you're going to like this. Croquettes were decent. Fried oysters failed to wow the party as much as I wanted. Agedashi tofu was a solid dish. There was a huge party in the back that dominated half of dinner, but the friendly service and fast staff definitely made up for it. read more

I came here after seeing a reel of the fruit sandwiches but I've been dying to try the omurice. The omurice was fluffy and creamy. It tasted really good. I also had the Japanese iced coffee which was refreshing as well. I ordered the fruits sandwich but didn't eat it til the next day. The bread was a little dry but the inside was good otherwise. I'd prob try it again (the fruits sandwich, when fresh) and then order something else. The place itself was super cute! read more

Hi-Collar - Omurice - Japanese Near Me - New York, New York

My friend and I decided to walk in for brunch on Saturday, we got here a few minutes before they opened and joined the queue outside. We were seated in the main dining area which was beautifully decorated and made me feel like I was back in Japan. We ordered two dishes to share - the Omurice which was served over tomato rice and the Katsu Sandwich which came with egg salad and fingerling potatoes. The Omurice was underwhelming, the egg was made well, but it was literally just egg over tomato rice, I wish there were some sort of protein or other garnish to make this dish more interesting. The Katsu Sandwich was good, large portion of pork katsu served on a soft milk bread, some parts of the katsu were tough to eat, but otherwise tasty. The egg salad and fingerling potatoes were good. Service was nice and our food came out so fast! Very efficient spot for breakfast. read more

We came here for the first time to try the famous Japanese pancakes. I tried of Japanese pancakes at a different restaurant in the city, but I honestly like these more. I have never tried the pancakes in Japan, but these were pretty good. I liked her fluffy they were, and how they tasted vanilla rather than the other ones tasted like eggs. Inside the restaurant was really pretty I like the Decor it wasn't that busy when we came in we came right when they opened and they were able to give us a seat. I also got the Vietnamese coffee which I liked. It wasn't too sweet. The service was fast we were there at 11 and we were out of there by 12. With it taking us a while to order. I really enjoyed the Decor of the restaurant. The bathroom was also really clean which is nice in NYC. read more

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Tasty pancakes at Hi-Collar. We made a reservation for brunch two days ahead, but it seemed like there were still tables available for walk-in. The inside is very well done, with counter service & tables available for large groups. They definitely have the right look to the decor and ambience. Our waitress was nice and shared plenty of recommendations for the menu. The main downside was that each of our meals came out at completely different times, to the point where the first dish was completely cold by the time the last dish came out. Everyone else probably could have finished eating by the time I got my hot cakes. The hot cakes were good. I would not recommend the katsu sandwich. read more

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The service and atmosphere were really nice, no complaints there. But the food was kind of bland, and for the price, I wouldn't really recommend it. If you're curious about Japanese Western-style food, you could try it. I was still hungry after my meal, even after eating the strawberry sando. If I had to pick, the strawberry sando was the best of the three read more

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I assume it was like a fluffy pancake but it was actually just a soft cake. All of them came out great, nothing special. read more

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Got my Japanese comfort food cravings satisfied at Hi Collar, and the appetizers definitely left an impression!! I've only had cooked watercress, so I was really intrigued by the salad option. It interestingly combined sweet, savory, bitter, and creamy flavors. The watercress leaves were slightly bitter (almost like arugula) but were complemented by the tangerine pieces and ricotta cheese. The addition of fried anchovies added a layer of crispiness and savoriness. We couldn't stop eating it! The fried seafood platter was tasty, especially the croquettes! The croquettes were super crunchy on the outside, and very soft on the inside, almost like a seasoned cream soup. The fish, oyster, and shrimp were solid too. For mains, the yakisobi spaghetti and the japanese hamburger steak really hit the spot! Pasta was al dente, although it could have been cooked a tad longer per my preference. It was nevertheless mixed well with the sauce and had lots of veggies. The hamburger was tender with a generous amount of demi glaze. Got the comfort food vibes I was looking for! For drinks, the matcha gin fizz had a nice mix of herbal gin flavors with a slight bitter matcha taste. The highball could have used more lemon but pretty good. The location itself was spacious. Staff were polite. Lighting was dim for dinner. Had a great time overall! read more

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Cute eatery in East Village. Great vibes inside and is really calming. I love the interior design and it feels like you're being transported to another place. In terms of food, I don't think it's entirely special -- I think the omurice was decent, but not something that would blow you away. The katsu curry is really flavorful, but it's hard for me to justify the price for the experience. I'd probably come back to try their hot cakes or come during dinner time when their menu changes! Would love to see how this place changes during night time. read more

Hi-Collar - Japanese Near Me - New York, New York