I'm really sorry to say this but I'm so disappointed by Kenka. Every time I walk by, there's always a huge line out the door so I knew that I had to try it out. We came at around 5:45 and were easily able to grab a table for 4 which was great. The inside decoration is actually insane - it's like the peak of a specific sub-culture in Japan all crammed into one place. Honestly I would recommend going just to be in the vibes. However, the food was very mediocre to say the least. - Okonomiyaki - I think this was also one of the better things to order as I did appreciate the thick cut pancake filled with lettuce. - Chawanmushi - I think this was the biggest disappointment of the night. It tasted like the egg was steamed in water and the mushrooms were just chopped in there with no flavor. - Green Apple Soda - The soda was interesting and definitely very alcoholic and artificially-flavored. - Tantan Ramen - This ramen tasted a bit like it came out from the frozen food aisle but I will say that unfortunately this was one of the better things of the night. The quantity was quite big compared to the other dishes we recieved. - Gyoza - The gyozas here felt like they got some frozen dumplings with very thick dough and pan-fried them. It didn't feel like anything special. - Yakitori - We got the huge plate of yakitori and honestly none of them were good. They were all a bit cold with no flavor. We also ordered a lot more but unfortunately I cannot remember them anymore. Go for the vibes and not the food. Honestly one visit is enough. read more

Ate here saturday night, so the place was extremely crowded. They have a clipboard where you can write down your name as a reservation, but honestly just stay near the front door and pay attention when an employee comes out to ask for anyone waiting for a table and you'll find that the projected wait time is a lot shorter (people leave/don't pay attention and wander off sometimes). If it's at a busier time, it'll be slow to get your food and/or check, but understandable given the very high customer density. The food itself was good and very filling. The omurice had very flavorful fried rice, although the amount of ketchup/mayonnaise on top was a bit too much. The size of the dish was a bit smaller than expected, but still sufficient for a medium-sized meal. The madon yaki (okonomiyaki with pan-fried noodles) was significantly larger than expected. I would recommend either sharing with some friends or being prepared to take out some leftovers. Skimpy on the meat a bit- perhaps the okonomiyaki has better mileage- but still had good chew to the pieces that were there. Cheap prices, especially for NYC. Do note that the decorations have sexual elements (for example, there's a naked female mannequin tied up with rope), so probably not a place you want to take children. read more

Kenka - Madon yaki - Sushi Bars Near Me - New York, New York

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This place is unlike any place I have been (in a positive way). It's kind of like a fun cheap Japanese pub? There is a bit of sensory overload from the menu being so large, to the music, to the loudness of the customers. That being said- I loved it. Couple friends and I stopped in here for a little early dinner/pregame on before heading to a Liberty game. We got 2 pitchers of beer, and like 8 dishes to share, and the total came out to only $80! The food was just OK but got the job done. I did notice there was a line out the door on weekends so maybe try a weekday. Must try once for the experience and value not necessarily the food itself. read more

Kenka was a super fun place to eat but I strongly advise you to get there at least 20 minutes before opening and writing down your name to save your spot! It's a very popular spot on St. Mark's from what I learned and it gets busy even before it's opened. My friend and I had been walking around and I remembered that this place was popular so we went to check it out. We had no idea how lucky we were to get there early and write our name down because it got so crowded outside it was actually hard to walk. We got seated within minutes and I believe you get an hour or two time limit to eat and order. My main takeaways are that the menu is huge and can be a bit overwhelming in trying to decide what to eat. However, there were so many options that were cheaper than compared to other places and it got me excited to try multiple items. We ordered many dishes and I would definitely go back for more of their sashimi! It was one of my favorites. The grilled mackerel was cooked perfectly but make sure to eat slow and carefully as there are bones. The udon was surprisingly sweet and I loved it! I think this place was really fun to eat at and they have so much to try. There's a lot of Japanese classics and I think that you really can't go wrong with what you get. read more

Kenka - Sushi Bars Near Me - New York, New York

Funky and incredibly mediocre is how I would describe my experience at Kenka. They are clearly pushing sake and beer while I fear the food takes a back seat. Somehow my bill was $100 for two of us and none of dishes we got were memorable. The skewer sampler was bland and frankly we only ate three of the skewers that were on the plate. The octopus was rubber and the chicken was cold. The Okonomyaki didn't seem to be cooked all the way through but was the flavor was ok. The ramen was good but it was basically an opening price offering so you shouldn't expect anything more. I probably won't return which is a shame cause if the food was good, I'd bring everyone to this funky spot. read more

I love this place. I always get two items from the menu because it's so cheap for what you get. The ambience is also super unique in a way that I think is cool, but I could see certain people not liking it. The service is normal on average but sometimes it takes a while for one person in my party to get their food after we all have ours. read more

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Mediocre food but so affordable vs other spots in NYC. I can see why this would be a happening spot for college students on a budget looking for a fun vibe. There's lots of interesting decor all throughout the restaurant that are more on the NSFW side, so this also might not be a spot you want to come to with younger kids! It's an izakaya, so food is small in portion-size and expected to be shared. We got a few diff dishes like karaage, omurice, yakitori, etc. and everything was decent but not great. We got around 2-3 dishes per person and we're pretty full by the end. Service was pretty fast and we never felt like we were just waiting around. I've seen lines extend so long for this restaurant before, but we came over the summer when presumably the college students were off so it was extremely empty. read more

Kenka - omurice - Sushi Bars Near Me - New York, New York

My seat by the wall smelled like piss, the whole restaurant gave off a piss smell so if you have a problem with smells and eating, then I suggest skipping this place. Aside from that ... MY LEFT LEG WAS COVERED IN FLEA BITES WHEN I LEFT! 12 bites to be exact. Not sure what the heck is going on with the hygiene and cleanliness there but this place AINT IT. Food was pretty on par with a Japanese Izakaya in Japan. Ordered okonomiyaki, takoyaki, yakitori and onigiri. Wouldn't go back, the smell of pee while I ate ruined my appetite and WHAT THE HECK IS GOING ON WITH THE FLEAS read more

Kenka - Sushi Bars Near Me - New York, New York

I came here with a friend on a Wednesday night for dinner. It was super busy, but there was no wait. We ordered quite a few things, including kimchi, a salad, fried chicken skewers, okonomiyaki, takoyaki, and potato croquettes, which were all delicious and came out relatively fast. Definitely not the cleanest-- there are always flies buzzing around-- but it's worth it once in a while. read more

Cheap drinks which was nice. Food was mid at best, but that's ok since it's mostly a bar-style restaurant. My 3 star comes from the fact that one of the waitresses gave a bit of attitude when we asked to order additional items after paying, which may have been a customer error, but regardless we are giving them service and money, so I don't really see the problem. read more

Cheapest prices i've seen in NYC but don't expect high quality food. you get what you pay for. the ambiance is very interesting and unique and the service is good too. read more

Kenka - Omurice and Takoyaki and French Fries - Sushi Bars Near Me - New York, New York

You'll immediately notice this Japanese spot if you find yourself in St. Marks as long lines form to get in. For years, the hype existed and for good reason. Prices are dirt cheap and the ambiance is quite great. It's one of those packed, loud restaurants where your seat is most likely touching someone else's seat behind you and the bathrooms are filled with graffiti akin to a dive bar, yet it totally works. We came here at 10:40pm on a Friday night and were lucky to get seated after a 5 minute wait. Yes, even at almost 11pm people are lining up, trying to eat at this place. The kitchen closes at 11pm, so our server was quick to get our orders and serve our food. - Shio Shake: For $6.50 in 2024, this large cut of salmon is a total steal. Salmon was light on the salt, but the grated daikon and lemon elevated each bite and the skin tasted great. - Oyako Don: Another steal for $6.50. Chicken and egg over rice is your classic Japanese comfort meal with the rice perfectly sweet and the chicken cut in large chunks. Amazed by the quality considering the prices. - Takoyaki: Classic Japanese street snack with all the right ingredients. Generous serving of bonito flakes, Takoyaki sauce, and pickled red ginger. The diced octopus inside the batter is always a great treat. Goes well with your $8 pitcher of Sapporo and is perfect for sharing (6 balls). This spot is great for a night out with friends and the food is surprisingly high quality at insanely low prices. You get cotton candy powder with your bill, if you'd like to make cotton candy right outside, but as you may have guessed already, there's also a line for access to the free cotton candy machine. read more

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Yes this place is loud with their decor and menu. But I love it. It's the best and most affordable izakaya I've been to. The items you see in the pictures only totaled to around $50. You don't have to worry about breaking the bank here. Plus, they give you the fun option of making your own cotton candy. I wasn't very successful but it's fun. Also if you're very disturbed by the decor, I think you can be asked to be seated elsewhere. It wasn't hard to get seating. The only thing I dislike is the bathrooms because they're binary. I did wish they had less graffiti or more interesting graffiti I don't commonly see. The service was pleasant and the food came out quickly with the exception to the buttered hotates. Those and the onigiri wasn't my favorites. But the rest are amazing. It's the first time I enjoyed the chazuke and for a while I was worried I started disliking chazuke before I came here. Also the staff is very personable and they offer excellent recommendations. read more

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I've been to kenka so many times now and it's always a great place to go for cheap Japanese bar food. Don't come here if you're expecting a fancy izakaya and drinks. Its also very loud and they have sirens going but that's part of their aesthetics. They offer cheap beer and cheap food to match. While the food is cheap, it doesn't mean the dishes are bad. Everything I've had so far tastes similar to what I've had at other basic Japanese restaurants but a fraction of the price. If you go i recommend the Niku udon, cream croquettes and karagge. The okonomiyaki and takoyaki are both good too and I alternate between them depending what I feel that day. They hav a huge menu so im sure some things are a miss, but the prices arent too bad to try things if youre curious. Their eel over rice was the one dish I didn't like so far because it was pretty bland and was mushy on top of mushy for $18. Their curry udon tastes like the packaged udon which isn't a bad thing but take that for what it is. They get pretty crowded as the night goes on and I get why since you can get 5 dishes and literally only pay $20 split between 2 people which is rare these days. read more

The restaurant is extremely loud, with blasting music and a packed crowd of young people, making it nearly impossible to have a conversation without shouting. The space is tight, with tiny tables and awkward seating arrangements. My group was seated slightly in the main walkway, which felt uncomfortable and added to the overall chaos. If you're someone who dislikes loud, crowded, and cramped environments, this place will likely overwhelm you. The dishes are cheap and decent, offering a variety of Japanese street food and izakaya-style bites. While nothing was particularly outstanding, the affordability makes it a good option for those on a budget. However, the dining experience was so uncomfortable that it overshadowed the food itself. Because this place is so close to NYU and other nearby colleges, Kenka seems to cater primarily to a younger crowd--think college students looking for a fun, rowdy night out with cheap drinks and food. If you're in that demographic, this might be your spot. While the food is affordable and decent, the overwhelming noise, cramped seating, and chaotic atmosphere made it a deeply uncomfortable experience for me. I wouldn't return, but I can see how it might appeal to younger diners who don't mind the loud, crowded vibe and are looking for a cheap night out. read more

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I first heard about KENKA from a friend who couldn't stop raving about the $1.50 beers. Naturally, I had to check it out for myself. Arriving around 5pm when they open, it's quite easy to get seated, but be warned - as the evening progresses, the place fills up quickly and the wait can get quite long. I was immediately taken by the fun and quirky interior. The decorations are fascinating and eclectic, adding a unique charm to the dining experience. The menu is massive and just as visually stimulating, offering a visual feast before you even place your order. And yes, the beer is indeed as cheap as promised. At $1.50, it's a steal. The food is also cheap, good, and plentiful, making it easy to indulge in a variety of dishes without breaking the bank. Beware, though - you'll likely want to stay here for a long time, soaking in the atmosphere and enjoying the drinks. However, they do have a 90-minute seating limit, so plan your visit accordingly. And a heads-up about the bathrooms: they are quite "interesting," adding yet another quirky element to the KENKA experience. Unfortunately I don't have any photos to post in this review as I have such a good time inside I always forget to capture the moment! read more

Everything from the food, service and ambience is amazing. Will definitely come here again read more

Food 10/10 For the price, this gem in St. Marks Place completely blew my mind away. We ordered a whole table of different dishes, from ramen noodles to udon, fish cakes, edamame, pig feet, and warm yuzu sake. Everything was less than $10, and that ramen may be the best I've had in NYC. The broth was super flavorful and umami. Everything was super unique and makes me want to go to Japan again even more. Actually such good food at an amazing price point, I would come back if I get the chance! Atmosphere 8/10 Very quirky interior design, it definitely is an experience you have to check out yourself. The seats are a little low and small though, so it wasn't the most comfortable, but I think the concept is super cool and vibey. Service 8/10 Solid service, nothing to complain about. We were very lucky to have come super early, around 5pm, so there was no wait and we were seated immediately. read more

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This spot is perfect for a budget-friendly pregame. Most entrees and drinks are under $10, which is practically unheard of in NYC. Located in the heart of the East Village, it's super convenient for restaurant and bar hopping after grabbing a quick bite at Kenka. The interior really transports you to Japan, and the vibes are overall great. I've been here twice this month because I wanted to try more from the menu. The cocktails and highballs - a must. However, I wouldn't recommend the pork belly hotpot--it was lacking in flavor, and the broth was way too light for my taste. The tuna tartare was also a letdown. It didn't taste fresh and was pretty bland. All in all, this place is great for the vibes and as a cheap spot to grab drinks. The food is pretty much what you'd expect for the price. The curry is something I'll definitely be ordering again! read more

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The restaurant is pretty dark and a bit warm. The atmosphere is very interesting, a lot of sexual decor and even a brightly lit room showcasing a tied up mannequin. I would say they are not known for their services. We had to ask for water on multiple occasions before someone came to refill our cups. The food was pretty good. The portions are pretty large, and the price was very affordable. I ordered the karaage, Yakitori, and katsudon. 1. Karaage: crispy but lacked any flavor 2. Takitori: good chicken, not the most tender, there was a bite but still would get again. 3. Katsudon: it came with a lot of rice, but the dish was pretty authentic. read more

Kenka - Yakitori - Sushi Bars Near Me - New York, New York

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Japanese street food with a really cool vibe! It's really popular so the waiting time is appreciated 20-30 mins around a Friday night (7pm) The price of the food is really students friendly and the portion is on a smaller side. Would come back for sure! read more

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Always fun coming here although it def isn't as welcoming as it used to be. Fried frog is amazing but the fact that we have to look at their complex menu on our phone while being rushed was off putting. Still gets 5 stars as it's still a nostalgic place for me read more

The meal had moments that stood out as special. Amazing food, great service, and extremely friendly staff! This represents the peak of service quality. Every item we selected was fresh, flavorful and showed cooking expertise. All things considered, service was good and I'll return. read more

Haven't been here in a few years, but it hasn't changed a bit (except for the price ofc, #inflation). I think it's still very affordable compared to most places. And I think it's a great place to visit for a quick meal. I went at 5 pm Fri right when it opened because when I was here a few years ago, even for a single person, there was a long wait later in the evening. I was seated immediately, and I stayed for about an hour, and by the time I left, there were still plenty of seats. The vibe is great. It's like the ancient izakaya vibe, and they play old enka style music in the restaurant. I had the yakiniku don and the okonomoyaki. For the price, the portion is quite good. The yakiniku don is pretty bland, but there is good amount of meat. The okonomoyaki was soggy, but I didn't quite mind that. The taste of food is definitely not the best in the world, but I would still come here for the cheap food. read more

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This place is amazing. The service is whatever and it's cramped. You get what you pay for, it's st marks. Tourist trap for sure but for regulars it's been a staple for years. Wide selection al a carte, and it never misses on flavor town. I got two of these pork bowls and a pitcher of Sapporo and let left happy as a clam. My only complaint is the tiny bathroom but you can't beat city hall. Thanks for the grub guys!!! read more

Kenka - Pork noodle - Sushi Bars Near Me - New York, New York

This place is vibrant . I felt like I was in Japan again. Waiters and waitresses are super fast in giving out food. Definitely check out their bathroom before you leave. And also remember to take the pink sugar outside and make yourself a cotton candy for free. Keep the vibes going read more

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Got a whole variety of food for my table of 7. Included in the pics are the yakitori platter, okonomiyaki, tako wasabi, monkfish liver, croquettes, karage, and tuna bowl. Like the vibes, like a real Izakaya but "interesting" exhibit towards the back. Food comes out in very small portions but justified by the price. Favorites were tako wasabi, takoyaki, and the croquettes. All the food come out in paper plates which sucks. Overall the food was alright, they missed our orders a few times but they were super busy so understandable. Would recommend coming earlier before the restaurant opens to guarantee a spot, lots of people were waiting as well. Tip: the takoyaki comes with one filled with wasabi so it's like roulette- was a hit with my friends and we did it 3 times read more

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wow this place is fire. i always walk past this place but i never go. when my friend was like let's meet up here i was like sure and searched it up and i was like omg this is the moving mannequin place. we came quite late. like 45 minutes before closing but they sat us down right away. we got this vitamin c tonic which was good and everything here was lowkey dirt cheap. my friend got sushi and i got okonomiyaki cuz i was craving it and the last time i had it was like in little tokyo like three years ago. but it was good. service was quick and they were nice. we yapped and it was nice to finally talk to someone for the first time even though we have known about each other for a bit. we walked around and i think we got dessert i lowkey forgot. but we went back to my school and i gave them a tour and we ate dessert at my dining hall. how fun! read more

Kenka - Okonomiyaki - Sushi Bars Near Me - New York, New York

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After my girlfriend and I came back from our trip to Japan we were finding ourselves in a predicament. We missed the Japanese izakaya so my gf being the detective she is she found Kenka and let me tell you. The ambiance and food to the service it resembles and brings back to that day I first went into a izakaya. Such a great find!! There are more than small eats I saw on the menu you can get a full meal too good ramen and donburis. Will be coming back read more

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You best believe I will not be stepping foot here again! I remember not liking it here as a college student, but my stance still stands, if not, vividly why now. We came here for the beer and vibes really. Beer we got, but vibes? Not our type of vibes. My friend wanted to check this place out after hearing about it, but immediately no when she sat down and was met with a disturbing female sex doll she was creeped out by the whole time we were there. Not to mention the music/mix of weird sounds they were playing throughout. We got the Flavored Beer ($14) and tried Yuzu and I don't even remember what other flavors. They all still tasted like beer in the end. After trying the beers, we were going to leave, and they even presented our bill and everything. But a worker then came over and said we had to spend a certain amount per person? I have never heard of such an absurd scam of a policy from a food place before. Water continuously spills and drips all over us from their slanted tables, but she still presented us with new menus to make us stay. So in the end, we were forced to order their trash food. The pictures speak for themselves when I said they gave us burnt fried chicken and the fishiest tasting squid. You could have your judgement for liking the ambiance, but the food? I am judging hard if you actually enjoy it! read more

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I came here with friends to eat late night food. We shared the sashimi moriawase which was good but some of the sashimi felt cold (icy). The skewers were good, and the okonomiyaki was fine. The place feels like a Japanese izakaya vibe. read more

Kenka - Sashimi Moriawase - Sushi Bars Near Me - New York, New York

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Kenka changed my life. If it is a rainy day in East Village and you are in a mood. Go to Kenka. Get the omurice. Bask in the sound of sirens and Japanese propaganda. Order some ice cream mochi and share it with a friend. Give them the bigger piece. read more

An earthworm crawled up from under my plate while I was eating! Needless to say we didn't pay for this meal but I am shocked and appalled. Never going back here again. Still nauseous from this experience. read more

Kenka - Earthworm at Kenka - Sushi Bars Near Me - New York, New York

Kenka is a popular cheap spot in St. Mark's place. Seats are hard to get there especially for our party of 4. You put your name with your table size on a clipboard to join a waitlist. We ended up waiting next door in a bar to wait out the line. Notably, their food seems to be a little smaller than the last time I went pre-pandemic, but their large menu and the vibes still hit the spot for us. Note catching a waitress or waiter can be hard given how busy they are. We got a ton of small dishes ranging from yakisoba, takoyaki, omurice, oden, tuna, Japanese chicken to an Asahi beer tower. The yakisoba was much better than the mentai yakisoba (mentai/cold roe was a little disappointing). The takoyaki is a classic. The Oden and its soup was also pretty refreshing! At the end of the meal, they give you some cotton candy powder to make cotton candy outside with their Japanese cotton candy machine which is always a delight after a Kenka meal. Overall, a great spot to eat and chat with your party if you don't mind the wait or plan for the wait! read more

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Food and service was highly disappointing. Service was rude and slow. We kept getting dismissed when we were ready to order our food. After we ordered, the food took 30 minutes to come out and everyone in our group of 8 was missing an order for another 45 minutes. They didn't even give us water either until we requested it. Not to mention, we ordered pork katsu and it came out RAW. They offered to take it back and cook it again and it came back STILL RAW. was still pink inside. So finally, they decided to make a new one all together. And guess what? RAW AGAIN! Sorry, once is understandable but 3 times? Oh and their miso ramen was like straight up beach water. It was the saltiest and most disgusting ramen ever. Yes, my stomach did start hurting as I was eating here. read more

Kenka - Sushi Bars Near Me - New York, New York

Been here a million times and I love the katsu curry. It's not fancy and there will be things you don't love the taste of but it is so cheap. It's loud and crazy and such an experience. The line however is always really long but you just give your name and chill with your friends outside. read more

This highly popular place the St Marks hallmark seems to have taken a decline. Everyone comes for the cheap food and drinks because it's CHEAP! But you get what you pay for. We ordered sake and Ika Mura, Takoyaki, and age dashi. Ika was horrible, not even grilled, def frozen, defrosted and seared. Takoyaki was standard. Age dashi was also alright, food was not a winner here and I didn't see anything I liked. The decor of the place is great, all sorts of anime and weird sex stuff. My friend said it's a college bar and you expect to get what you paid for. I would not come again. read more

- my fave place to get ramen in nyc!! i've been here like 10 times lol - staff is friendly and helpful - service can take a while, but this place is REALLY popular so it's understandble. if you go on a weekday there's usually no wait, but if you go on a weekend you'll have to wait for about 30 mins-1 hr, and then the food takes quite a while to come out. - love the vibes of this place, it's very interesting and a niche hole in the wall. - seating is a bit cramped and not that accessible if you have a wheelchair - cheap alcohol - a bit loud inside, also they have a random siren that goes off like every 20 minutes lmao - bdsm room in the corner - can get cold as hell in the winter lol, they sat us by the door one time when it was like 20° F out and there was no heater by us so we were extremely cold haha - green apple soda (an alcholic drink) is literally my go to and for those of you who don't like the taste of alcohol, like myself, this is perfect. i literally never taste the alcohol and it gets me a bit buzzed - free cotton candy you can make once you leave! read more

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Memorable dinner. Such fun atmosphere and satisfying food! Very long wait to get in for a group of 6 but in all a Great deal. The drinks were perfect. Must be ok with loud noise and music to eat here, the noise doesn't stop. The music is fun and unique read more

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Kenka used to be a fun and quirky Japanese restaurant in the East Village. I've been going here for years and was always my go-to spot to take people in NYC to show them what East Village had to offer. The menu consists of a variety of Japanese small dishes and beer at unheard of affordable prices. The atmosphere is lively and colorful, with lanterns, posters, and cotton candy machines decorating the place. The menu features items like okonomiyaki, ramen, takoyaki, yakitori, omurice, gyoza, and more. The food used to be delicious and tasty and was all around a great atmosphere. Something has changed in the past year though. I took a friend out here in February and the service was slow, rude, and food was flavourless. I thought it was just a bad day for them until I came back this month with a different friend. It was laughably worse off. We had to ask for water 6 times before we got it and 30% of our orders never made it to our table. We had to ask the staff to remove it from the tab completely. Something's changed here, and I don't think it's just the staff being overworked. I think management is running the place into the ground via reduced menu offerings, rising prices, and refusing to hire more staff (there's literally 1 server for the entire restaurant, no wonder they're slow, rude, and are visibly stressed). I want to support this business but unfortunately I can no longer stand by this once great hallmark of St Marks. read more

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