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    Kenka

    3.6 (1.8k reviews)
    ModerateSushi Bars, Japanese
    Closed • 5:00 pm - 3:00 am (Next day)

    Kenka Photos

    Business Info

    KENKA ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Very loud
    Casual
    Good for kids
    Outdoor seating

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    Recommended Reviews - Kenka

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    Natasha R.

    This is a really small spot that's pretty popular. Food is great and affordable. My husband loves this spot and has been coming here for almost 25 years. We have been coming here together almost 17 years. The staff here are always nice and friendly. Food is great and fresh. Everything is affordable. The only thing i would suggest is to remodel the place a bit, otherwise, no complaints.

    Tanin Don, Gyu Don, Apple Cider Beer
    Mindy L.

    I would definitely recommend this place if you're looking for a place to enjoy drinks and grab affordable food! Everything on the menu is super affordable and definitely enough to be filling! This place is very popular and known as a bar spot in east village. I only tried this Japanese apple cider beer and it was super good as well! The only downside is that it's super busy and packed and it gets a bit overwhelming since the space is pretty cramped.

    Maria R.

    They have really great prices for food and drinks. The service is good. The food was hot and fresh. I definitely recommend checking them out if you can at the end of the meal they give you cotton candy sugar to make in the machine. The oven was really flavorful and yummy.

    Chase F.

    Kenka was... Disappointing. The theming is greak, it really feels like you're in a Shoa era Iszika with period music playing from a horn speaker and giant daruma greeting you. But from the start, service was lacking. The seating process was chaotic at best. Our server took quite some time to take our order, and then never checked on us again. The food was disappointing. From the yakitori to katsu, nothing was particularly tasty with exception to our okinomyaki. It definitely feels like they had a great concept and then got lazy once they realized college age kids just want beer.

    David Jr R.

    This has been my go to place for some great authentic Japanese food for over 20 years. I came here with my wife on a Sunday after 5pm because that's when they open everyday and the place already had quite a few people but we were seated immediately. This place has such an authentic Japanese vibe with paintings and posters on the walls. You can see the chefs cooking in the kitchen which I always felt was a cool thing to see. I ordered what I usually get which is Onigiri(Japanese rice balls) and gyu don(beef and rice bowl with pickled ginger). My wife ordered the gyu don which is her favorite after I introduced it to her and pork pan seared gyoza. The service was great and quick. When I tell you we ordered the food and within 5 minutes we had our appetizers and 5 minutes later we had our gyu don. Super fast service. Food didn't disappoint as per usual to me. Also it is a very affordable place. The bill came out to roughly $60 for the 2 of us which is a steal. Love this place and will always come back here.

    Yakitori Combination
    Jaclyn P.

    If the rating was solely based on fun I'd give it 5 stars for the vibes and $8 pitchers!!!! Such a cool spot to hang out and chat and drink while feeling like you're at a lil restaurant in Tokyo. If you're really hungry I'd suggest eating beforehand as all our food came cold and a significant while after ordering. Some didn't come at all :( they also don't have ponzu so don't expect to dip your yakitori in it. The servers are nice but also in no hurry so just get ya pitchers and carry on with your conversation, cause you're gonna be there awhile. The cotton candy at the end is also so cool. Would recommend everyone to come here at least once just for the experience :)

    Nick N.

    This is the perfect place to bring tourists and out-of-towners. It's such a fun lively environment right under st marks. Definitely get the shu mai and a pitcher of Sapporo, definitely don't get the salmon sashimi. Good for a late night bite.

    Lina L.

    A pitcher of Sapporo for $8?? In Manhattan?? I genuinely thought it was a typo until it showed up at the table, cold, foamy, and glorious. I've paid more for a sad pour of beer at a concert, and this place out here serving entire pitchers like it's still 2010. The food is pretty good. Surprisingly flavorful, ridiculously affordable, and way better than it needs to be at this price point. We got a bunch of small plates and left full and happy. The vibe is chaotic. It's loud, it's cramped, and it's absolutely perfect for messy, cheap nights with friends. If you know, you know. And now you know. Bonus: you get cotton candy after your meal, which you can make outside!

    Sashimi deluxe
    Paul K.

    It was a 20 minute wait for 2 people on president's day weekend Sunday. It was my first time here, though I've been wanting to go because it was advertised as a cheap restaurant for drinks and food. The prices did not disappoint. Draft Japanese beers for $1.50, pitchers for $8, foods generally below $15. This place has some caveats that I was not made aware of until the time of: there is a 90 min time limit and they will bring you the check once the limit is up, limit of 2 $1.50 draft beers for each person (during the 90 mins), absolutely no seating until everyone in the party is present, no additions of people after being seated. That being said the food was surprisingly good for the price, but don't expect high-end restaurant grade food. I would definitely come again, highly recommended for cheap eats and drinks. The host that received us, Hiro, was very friendly.

    Em R.

    Came here for dinner last night with friends. There is a waiting list outside, the wait wasn't too bad. It was very busy, food did come out quick. Food and service were ok. I don't think there was a stand out dish for me, the yakitori combination plate was dry and tasteless, the squid was very rubbery, the onigiri didn't have a lot of salmon inside, the croquettes were average. Place is definitely affordable for big groups. Interesting decor. Don't think I'll be back.

    Colin C.

    I wanted to try this place so bad when I came to visit and I'm glad I did. Feels like a classic after-work spot in Japan with impeccable decor and ambiance and classic Japanese dishes that are hard to find such as okonomiyaki and takoyaki. With $1.50 draft Sapporos, I could see myself getting absolutely messy and belligerent here. The house cocktails were also great and priced well. I love a restaurant with a lot of small bites because I get to try as much as I can. The funniest part of the whole experience was our host who gave us so much attitude and was not nice at all but I kinda loved it. It added to the chaotic energy.

    squid legs
    Joann S.

    Good drinking place! Great ambiance. Cool decoration. Lively atmosphere. Not for a full meal.

    Bar
    Hank C.

    Cool Japan-centric theme with a weird dominatrix doll in a display area, and walls with weird decor, and crazy vintage Asian music and art and more at this izakaya spot, lots of small dishes to share and try - menu has a lot of pictures and items, and they're a bit old and falling apart. Stairs down - not sure this is handicap friendly at all. Tiny low ceiling, low light. Line can take a while with bigger parties - for 2, it was quick. Liked the miso ramen but it was salty. The pan-fried pork with kimchi was just right, not spicy. They were out of the whole squid; squid legs were a bit tasteless and rubbery as food goes. Tako wasabi was excellent, good size. Took forever and a day to get the agedashi tofu (came after our bill, actually). Cheap beer ($1.50!) and the sashimi Moriawase Deluxe was a nice sashimi and salad plate. Little cup of sugar for you to go out to the front and make a small cotton candy for yourself afterwards, too. Service - like I said, delayed dishes, hard to find someone to order from and the guy was better than the girl who was just not happy at being there, I think... but food was a fun mix of Japanese small bites. Will have to try the fried chicken and gyoza here next time. Food - great bites here and there. Service - meh. Cost - very reasonable. I'll be back!

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    The selections are many and all yummy. We've been here many times and the food does not disappoint.

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    Kenka Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Kenka

    Do you have a table that fits 7 to 8 people?

    Yes, they have some bigger tables in the back where they can combine and put you together - but it will take some time to wait on tables.

    Anyone know if there are fish and peanut allergy friendly things on the menu?

    Make sure you tell the server when you order. Last time we were there, they asked if there were any allergies

    How much is the beer tower? Does anyone know?

    About $30! They have $1.50 Sapporo's which come out to the better deal

    How busy is it on a Sunday during the summer at around 6-7pm when the restaurant first opens?

    It's not that busy but later during the night you'll be experiencing really long wait times depending on your group size, hope this helps!

    Do you have to be 21+?

    No, they ask if you will be drinking before they bring you to the table and check id but I went just for food

    Can this restaurant fit 11 people?

    It can but it would be tight. The tables and chairs are movable.

    Does ID matters if I dont drink?

    No. They check your ID at the door only if you say you'll be drinking.

    How can I make a reservation?

    You can't, it's first come first serve with a list to keep track of the waiting list

    View All 14 Questions

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    Momoya

    Momoya

    4.1(899 reviews)
    1.0 mi•Chelsea
    •$$

    I had been to Momoya on the Upper West Side before, but this was my first visit to the Chelsea…read morelocation. The atmosphere here was a bit more lively and crowded compared to the more relaxed vibe of the UWS spot. I enjoyed my meal even more this time around. I started with the beet salad, which was delicious and offered great value given the generous portion size. it featured sliced beets, arugula, goat cheese, and walnuts. I also had my eye on the hijiki soybean salad--which is a bit smaller and reportedly homemade--so I may try that next time, along with the warm mushroom salad which looked very tasty. The edamame was standard but served as a nice starter. For my main rolls, I chose the salmon avocado and the yellowtail scallion. Both were very fresh and definitely worth ordering again. The salmon avocado roll had a nice touch of sesame seeds on the rice, while the yellowtail scallion was prepared with the seaweed on the outside. My boyfriend's sushi entree looked excellent, so I am considering that or the sushi-sashimi combo for my next visit. The entrees provide a substantial amount of food, and I especially appreciate that they allow you to choose which roll comes with your meal.

    Honestly, I'm surprised this restaurant has a four-star rating. While the service was excellent,…read morethe food was consistently disappointing. We started with a lychee martini that tasted overwhelmingly of vodka, with barely any lychee flavor. Of the appetizers--the seaweed salad, cucumber salad, and edamame dumplings--the cucumber salad was the best. The seaweed salad tasted like a standard prepackaged version, while the dumplings had an unusual, unpleasant flavor and tasted as though they had come straight from the freezer. For our main dishes, we ordered the chicken teriyaki bento box and udon with tempura. The udon was acceptable, but the tempura was excessively oily, lacking the light, crisp texture you would expect. Even the chicken teriyaki was underwhelming; it tasted more like a reheated, prepared meal than something freshly cooked. The sushi was another letdown, with an odd flavor and appearance. The dynamite roll was especially disappointing, with an unpleasant texture and very little flavor beyond a touch of heat. The staff deserves credit for their attentive, friendly service, but unfortunately, that couldn't make up for the quality of the meal. We left feeling genuinely disappointed.

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    Momoya - Inside

    Inside

    Momoya - Chirashi Lunch

    Chirashi Lunch

    Momoya - Dessert

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    Dessert

    Sanyuu West

    Sanyuu West

    4.5(169 reviews)
    1.0 mi•Chelsea
    •$$$$

    After trying a dozen of sushi/omakase places in New York I can definitively the best I've had…read more The omakase at Sanyuu West is honestly unbeatable. Every single fish is very high quality I find many places like the skimp out on the less popular fish but not Sanyuu West. I think the omakase is also at a very good price for the quality and amount you get though I know it is more expensive than maybe the average omakase spot right now. I also find that other spots usually underdeliver. I wish I could save more detail but honestly I have nothing more to say other than the fact that Sanyuu Weat amazing. The restaurant itself is also more spacious than I expected. Besides the main bar there are two sitting areas near the window as well as seats lined up to the bathroom to make yourself comfortable two things that I think are a rare find now in many places. A lot of thought is put into this restaurant layout and I think you can tell. The service was also great I found myself never lacking in water or waiting too long for my next piece. In fact, I had started to apologize about drinking so much water because I felt like the hostess was constantly at my side refilling my cup and she just turned to me and said, "don't apologize. Drinking water is very important." So true!!!! I'm very picky abt my recommendations to friends, I'll review any place I go to and give my thoughts but a real recommendation? I only have around a dozen or so. And Sanyuu West is definitely now part of that dozen.

    price - $87 per person pre tax…read more food - 5/5 service - 5/5 ambiance - 5/5 I got the chance to try out Sanyuu West for my birthday and I had such an amazing time! from the moment I stepped into the restaurant, the waiters were super sweet and attentive to my friend and I. the courses kept coming out and each piece was super tender and bursting with flavor! my favorite was definitely the uni, toro, and wagyu on milk bread course! I love how the flavors mix so well together, I felt like I was in heaven! the service was amazing, like the never left my water cup empty!!! (props to them) the ambiance inside was also super calm and vibey. overall, I had such an amazing time and I would love to go again soon

    Photos
    Sanyuu West
    Sanyuu West - (@joeynht)

    (@joeynht)

    Sanyuu West - (@joeynht)

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    (@joeynht)

    Umami Sushi - Delicious coursed out hand rolls

    Umami Sushi

    4.3(289 reviews)
    0.8 mi•West Village
    •$$

    Stopped here for dinner on a Saturday on a whim and was so happy with our choice! We walked in and…read morewere seated right away. It is a really small place with around 6-8 tables so it probably gets busy at times and there may be a wait. One of the best parts of their menu here is that you can order sushi by the piece. My mom doesn't always have the biggest appetite so for her to be able to order only a few pieces instead of an entire roll was a huge plus! I had to crispy tuna rice appetizer and the dragon roll. Literally so good. I was seriously craving crispy rice and these were perfect. I would order this again and again. The sushi was fresh and taste great as well. Super glad we decided to come here!

    This evening we were going to a jazz club where a friend of our son works at, but they don't serve…read morefood, so we had to find a place in the area of where the club is at. Do of course I use Yelp to find something that catches my eye close by where we need to be. I found umami Sushi. We usually can't go wrong with Japanese food or sushi. We had no problems finding the place. The description said it was a small restaurant and as we entered the dining area was very small. Our hotel room was probably bigger. That doesn't bother me especially if we get there, there tables for us to sit comfortably. I also trust my judgment when I find a place that seems to be popular by the locals. The restaurant was empty when we arrived. We were the only ones there, but for some reason we bring good vibes to the places we eat because not too long after we placed our order, people started coming in, to the point that the small dining room was packed. I love Omakase style Service and what we ordered was a sashimi/sushi platter for three and two special rolls. I thought I got to choose the rolls but even that was chefs choice. I was just a bit worried that they would give us the cheap rolls like spicy tuna or California roll. The platter came out and it was beautifully prepared with a piece of sashimi for each of us and the rolls the chefs chose, ended up being two of my favorite rolls. The types of fish they selected were also great quality fish. We were lucky to have placed our order before the crowd came in our we might have had to wait a while because how they prepared it would have taken some time. The service was just right. Because they got busy right away, the waitress was forced to attend to everyone and couldn't really socialize with us. In fact when we finished our platter we were debating what we wanted for dessert but the waitress didn't even ask us and instead she just brought us the bill, so we said to ourselves, "I guess we're not having dessert here." So we paid the bill and gave an opportunity for someone else to take our table.

    Photos
    Umami Sushi
    Umami Sushi - Salmon handroll (least favorite)

    Salmon handroll (least favorite)

    Umami Sushi - Salmon carpaccio

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    Salmon carpaccio

    Kenka - sushi - Updated September 2026

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