While this place always has a line, it is for good reason - this place is a great ambience with…read moregood food at an affordable price (granted it is a bit loud)! My friend and I shared the kimchi cream udon and the pork katsudon. The kimchi cream udon was extremely rich, but I loved the pieces of shrimp in there, and it was the perfect amount of spiciness. The katsudon was alright, but nothing special. I will definitely come back for the price and convenience!

I came here with friends for dinner and we had a great time! We got a reservation and were seated…read moreabout five minutes after checking in. Inside is dimly lit with a good amount of seating. The waiting area is a little cramped, but nothing outrageous. The food came about 15-30 minutes after ordering. Though it was a wait, the service was nice and they refilled our waters often. Each item was good, we all had a different favorite. The Tuna Crispy Rice was just the right amount of salty that paired well with the texture. The Kimchi Creamy Udon was also flavorful without being too heavy. The Yellowtail Carpaccio was bright and light, fish was neutral tasting. The Okonomiyaki was also good and very hot---we loved to dip pieces in the kimchi cream sauce! Overall we had a great time!

So so so good! I was missing Japan and craving udon and Raku really hit the spot. The karaage was…read moredelicious as well as the bacon. I think the bacon could be not everyone favorite cause it isn't exactly what you expect it's almost like BBQd bacon but I loved it and could've drank the sauce it came with. I got the wagyu hot udon and my husband got the ja ja cold udon and ate the whole thing! I also got shrimp tempura which was very good. I cannot wait to come back to Raku! We sat in a corner booth and the service was fast and reliable!

Raku - 342 E 6th St, NYC…read more One of my daughter's and my favorite udon spots in NYC! Our go-to is the wagyu beef udon and their lunch specials--chewy noodles, refreshing broth, yummy dipping sauces, and always delicious! Ordering is easy, and the service is fast and efficient. They take both credit cards and cash. Perfect for enjoying a delicious bowl of udon in NYC. Small space + limited seating, so don't expect much room to sit, and there can sometimes be a wait when it's busy. Reservations are available. Overall, definitely recommend Raku! A great little spot for a delicious udon fix in NYC. Go Violets!

YUM! I've had this place saved for a while, and made a reservation ahead of time for dinner on a…read moreFriday night. The inside is so well laid out and decorated, and the vibes are great. We got the corn ribs, pork tenderloin katsu, and the mackerel sushi. The corn came out first and omg - this is some of the best corn I have ever tasted. The seasoning on it is so perfect sweet savory and so addicting! Best item by far. The katsu was also perfectly crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, without feeling too greasy. It was quite a tiny portion but it's nyc lol. The only item we didn't love was the sushi - for me it was just a bit too much ginger and wasabi and since it was pressed it was already a part of the sushi so it was hard to separate. Overall though, this is a great spot for a nicer dinner!

CORN RIBS where have you been my entire life?! Konban - you've lived up to the hype and then some…read more Everything we had was absolutely delicious. The curry wasn't the best I've had but our group of friends enjoyed our meal very much. From katsu, to scallops, to pasta - we were so impressed with the simplicity and execution of the dishes. Service was excellent. Decor was very minimalistic and Japanese. Would love to come back!

Raku was amazing!!…read more The service was amazing thank you to our server Boomerang!! We had a lovely time with the most delicious food

10,000 years of evolution and we've finally reached peak udon noodle form. The height of human…read morecraft. Literally the silkiest, smoothest, chewy yet soft noodles I have ever eaten. Niku and gyunan were divine. In the niku, they somehow managed to make the tripe and beef tendon immensely flavorful and tender without being heavy-handed. The fatty beef in the gyunan was crack with the sesame chili oil. The bonito base soup was somehow savory and full-bodied while also being sweet and light, so even though I was about to burst it didn't feel icky. Nothing to note in appetizer land besides the fact that I finally tried monkfish liver and it literally tasted like a salmon-flavored paté. Both surprised and relieved it tasted so normal. Despite the long wait time, it still felt relatively spacious inside, and even with just two people, we got our own booth!

Vibe/ambiance: local japanese Service: standard…read moreReservation: recommended Items ordered: collagen nabe pot was so flavorful - would definitely get this again scallion chicken skewers: slightly too salty sushi rolls were standard

When I called to change the time of our reservation, the woman on the phone was very friendly and…read morehappily accommodated my request. When we arrived, we were seated right away in a spacious booth. The food was very good overall. My favorite dish was definitely the spicy tuna crackers--they were delicious! The sushi was also very fresh and flavorful, although I felt it was a little over-sauced, which took away from the flavor of the sushi itself. Overall, we had a really nice meal and a great experience. I would definitely recommend this restaurant to others!

A perfect spot for a comforting bowl of udon, but with a modern and elevated interior!…read more The weather was on the hotter side, so I opted for the cold udon with vegetable tempura, and it was a light and refreshing meal! The dipping sauce went well with the udon, and the tempura was light and crispy. The hojicha latte was also good, but I wish it was a little sweeter. A unique standout was the complimentary frozen grapes they gave at the end of the meal, it was surprisingly good for how simple it was. The interior was modern and sleek, it would be great for both a special or casual meal. The servers were also very nice and gave us recommendations. I would definitely come back the next time I'm in the city!

Came by late at night and they were packed! They showcase their desserts up front and most were…read moresold out, which to me was a good sign. I ordered the Nabeyaki hot udon and it came with shrimp tempura. Yum and very filling. We also got the chicken karaage and a meat eggplant appetizers. I wasn't a fan of either really. We also ordered the strawberry shortcake and chamomile mango mousse for dessert. Wish portion sizes were a bit bigger for sharing. Wasnt a fan of the chamomile mango one but liked the strawberry shortcake one. Service was quick and fast. We were seated in a booth and I'm glad we got that type of seating instead of the smaller tables where you can be quite close to another party.

There are so many options for sushi/Japanese food in New York, you can't go wrong. After scrolling…read moreto find the perfect dinner spot, Sozai was it. The reviews, pictures made my choice easy. We arrived around 6-7pm on a Sunday night, and the place was full. We only waited a few minutes and decided to sit at the bar. The restaurant is dimly lit, plenty of space, clean. The ambiance was really nice. After looking at the menu, this isn't your ordinary sushi restaurant, there's a wide variety of Japanese dishes. We started with the sake clam miso. I love calms so it's a must. There were plenty of them, and the flavor was light. The broth had a hint of alcohol, which was nice. Then we had the sashimi salad. This was amazing. The sashimi were nicely, thinly cut, and marinated in dressing. The greens were a excellent compliment. This dish is a must. My wife got the ube fries, and she loved them. They were nicely fried. For our mains, she got the Uni Hon Maguro Hara Don. It's a combination of different sashimi over rice. WOW. The sashimi was so fresh, literally melts in your mouth. It was delicious. For my main, I went with the sukiyaki beef udon. I was still nursing a slight hangover so this was perfect. The broth was just what I needed, light but it healed my soul. There was plenty of beef in the bowl, and the udon noodles were great. The broth could've been a little hotter but overall it was fantastic. The service was excellent. The bartender was very friendly. We were so happy and satisfied with our choices. Everything exceeded our expectations. This was literally the perfect choice/meal. WOW.

This Japanese restaurant has a good-sized menu, fast service, and a lively atmosphere--it was…read morepretty packed when we visited. Even with the crowd, the service was quick, and you can usually still find a seat at the bar. The food itself was a bit mediocre for me. The lemon salmon could have been much more moist and tender, as mine was a little dry. The green soba was good, and I enjoyed the salads as well. However, the curry and katsu didn't taste very authentic and were lacking the depth of flavor I usually expect from Japanese cuisine. Overall, it's a convenient place to stop by if you're already in the area, especially for the quick service and variety of menu options, but I wouldn't come specifically for the food.

The skewers were extremely juicy and delicious. My favorites were the galbi (beef short rib) and…read morechicken thigh. The Japanese sausage and chicken skin were also good. The eel rice bowl was also very good. Walked in on a Friday (holiday) at 5 PM with no wait, despite no slots available on Resy at the time.

Still the best in New York. Unique, flavorful chicken skin skewers among many things (see my…read morephotos), though somehow grilled chicken soft bone is a bit tasteless? Fast service. You can order a little and keep adding depending on how big or small each dish is. We came right at 5 pm when they opened. We didn't have a reservation, and after some fumbling they got us four seats at the bar (looking over grilling chefs at work). Not bad, though we were hoping for a table. Great decor and ambiance as always. Wish the grilled shrimps come with shell on, and with salt only (no sauce).

This was our second visit, and both times delivered a great meal. It is an intimate spot, and…read morewalking in on a weekday morning meant we had the place entirely to ourselves. Soft Japanese music played in the background, creating a calm, relaxing setting. They started us off with hot tea while we looked over the morning menu. Breakfast keeps things simple with a single set meal where you choose your fish, select how many vegetable sides you want, and add optional extras. Our cook was friendly and skilled at the counter. Our set included roasted cod, white rice, miso soup, tamagoyaki, tsukemono, and seasoned vegetables. Every single item tasted fresh and well-balanced. Between the quiet setting and the quality of the cooking, it was a standout morning.

Came here a long time ago bc I heard how good their sushi sets are. If you are a sushi lover and…read morewant something homey you will definitely like Okonomi. It's nonfussy, and although not the cheapest sushi, it's definitely not super expensive/omakase level. It's a small space with a giant bar for seating and maybe a few tables - the owners are definitely passionate about Japanese cuisine and you can definitely feel that as you chat with them a bit. The menu is small, but dedicated to quality, and you will make your choice quite quickly. All the fish was fresh, large pieces, and really really clean tasting. The soup was delightful and paired wonderfully and everything was presented quite nicely. The grilled fish was also tasty and really tender.

This restaurant is located in midtown Manhattan. The atmosphere is just like going to a local…read more Japanese restaurant in Tokyo. They have a simple menu. We had Berkshire pork loin set B, Queens set katsu set A, Manhattan set B. And an appetizer aged dashing tofu and tuna poke. Everything we ate was excellent. Price is reasonable. The Berkshire pork was extremely delicious and tender. On the Manhattan set, the 2 shrimp prawns was very big, juicy, crispy and cooked just right. On my Queens set, I had the fried chicken with pork lion. The spices on the pork lion and chicken was very flavorful and crispy. The only thing is service was slow. But overall, atmosphere was just like going back to Tokyo. I would go back there again.

This is my go-to restaurant for katsu in the city. Any katsu set you get will not go wrong. The…read morecrispiness of the katsu is just right, and you will not regret it, besides not picking another one. When it gets busy, there is usually a line waiting at the door, sometimes extending outside. If you have a reservation, you will not be seated until the whole party is there. One small note: if you are seated in the back, the cell service is really bad, but who needs their phone when you have good company and good food.