Black sesame is having a moment. On a recent trip to Seoul, I even saw it featured as a flavor of 약과, not to mention seeing black sesame lattes everywhere. But as far as I know, Ongi is the only establishment employing the ingredient as part of a dressing for a corporate "slop bowl." It's a phenomenal sauce, and helps make 온기 what I would deem to be the best of its genre in Midtown. A bit of the black sesame aioli is enough to get me to stomach a salad bowl with tofu for lunch. read more

Friday, May 1st 2026 Midtown East, NYC Sunny 68°F Full Flower Moon Where have I been for the past two years on my quest for really good Korean take-out, that I never noticed ONGI until today?! After a big day in the city, on an empty tummy, I needed fuel. Plus, I was hangry for KFC. However, I was low on energy to venture to my go-to places. As I was approaching the vicinity of GCT, I observed multitudes of people (mostly young yuppie types) entering a little door off of East 41st Street and Third Avenue that peaked my curiosity. Lo and Behold, I look up and think "Just what I am looking for this very moment. Thank you!" The rest is history. Now we have a great place to grab a fulfilling delicious, like grandma made, Korean meal to bring home and enjoy thoroughly. We will definitely return again and try more menu items. **Very similar ordering system relative to the Chipotle style. However, their model is extremely efficient and likable.** **Prices are reasonable. Place is very clean, modern. Servers are excellent, helpful, and very friendly ** Thank you so much! 매우 감사합니다 read more

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SOLID choice for lunch. Medium bowl is a perfect size, if you opt for the large bowl it's essentially 2 meals in one. Eaten here three times and each time I'm not disappointed, it's flavorful and I would say semi-healthy considering that you can opt for greens and there are veggie toppings. The sauces tend to be sweet/syrupy which I don't like but the spicy scallion sauce is top notch. Great lunch in midtown without breaking the bank. Pick up is easy and super quick. read more

Knew this place was going to be bad right off the bat. Walked in and took a quick look at the menu toppings assortment, looked at the kitchen staff and there was not one single Korean behind the counter. Food was barely palatable and not authentic whatsoever. Strong pass. read more

I will start off by saying that I am not a fan of Korean food... primarily, I absolutely despise kimchi. This was another office sponsored lunch and this place was recommended by one of my work pals who had gotten food from them. I went with a large custom bowl. I chose white rice, 2X spicy pork (on 2 of my work buds recommendation.... "It's GOOD" they said) and bulgogi + fixings which I can't remember. My main dislike was the kimchi flavor in the spicy pork followed by bits of rice that seemed undercooked (hard). My bowl's ingredients did not jive well together. I was not aware that the "spicy" on the pork would come from kimchi and my work friends said I just chose the wrong ingredients. Be that as it may, I still hated my bowl. Now, why am I giving them a 3 star rating...? 4 out of the 8 or 9 of us who ordered (and I spoke to; I don't know what the other 4-5 guys thought of their meal) said that their bowl/food was between good and great. I am not gonna write this place off our lunch rotation yet. One of the guys ordered japchae + shrimp and that looked and smelled pretty good. Would give it another shot. read more

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I stopped here for lunch and it was pretty good. I got the soy sauce fried chicken and some steamed pork dumplings. The chicken was tasty in the sauce it came with. It was a descent amount too. The dumplings were also very good. Soft flavorful and fresh. They have bowls aswell that I would like to try next. The service was fast and friendly and my food came quickly. Definitely coming back for more. read more

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I can't speak to the customer service or ambiance because I've never actually stepped in to the actual store. However, my wife has brought home ONGI for dinner many times so I'm well positioned to state unequivocally that the bowls are delicious AF. I love the variety of options you have and no matter your selections, you'll get a dish packed with deep, satisfying Asian-fusion flavors. The sauces really bring everything together. We usually get the sweet and spicy sauce and mhmmmm ... chef kiss. Given the area and quality, I think ONGI is a solid dining choice for the value and quality and deliciousness. read more

Wow, this was so good!!!! I was pleasantly surprised by how much I liked this and will definitely be back. I made my own bowl and I am normally quite indecisive but the staff was very patient with me. They let me try multiple sauces and ask many questions before I ordered. I created my own bowl with a mix of greens and rice. For my protein, I had both pork and scallops which were both delicious and complimented each other very well. There was a very good serving of protein in the bowl. The scallops were tiny in size but there were so many that I had one in almost every bite! For toppings, you can pick as many as you want which I basically did. I had the cucumbers, spicy peppers, cabbage slaw, kimchi cabbage, scallions, shallots, and seaweed. For my dressing, I got the kimchi aioli which the guy said was very popular and it reminded me of a spicy mayo. I paired it with the soy garlic and got them both on the side so I could play around with the flavors since it was my first time I also tried the sweet and spicy which was also tasty and reminded me of a sweet bbq type sauce. My bowl was exploding with flavor and I enjoyed every bite. I am so pleased with my experience and can't wait to come back! read more

ONGI - Korean Near Me - New York, New York

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Food was fresh and good portion. Overall the sauces are salty and probably not the healthiest. I liked the tofu. Pick up was super easy. read more

ONGI - Korean Near Me - New York, New York

I visited this location and I must say I was pleasantly surprised with how good the food was. The location is clean, and decor is simple. The staff were super friendly and helpful in selection process. Back to the food, it was really good for a lunch spot. I had the crispy soy garlic chicken and this thing was packed with flavor. The chicken was the right texture. The rice and corn mixed with pickled onions and cabbage packed so much punch. I will be back read more

ONGI - Crispy Soy Garlic Chicken - Korean Near Me - New York, New York

Honestly this is my favorite Korean brunch spot in midtown. Don't let the lines scare you during lunch time.m, they go by really fast. Service is always great and friendly. Ambiance, they have a few tables to sit in and they offer outlets too. They offer lemon & lime water and their condiments are always full. I would always get their custom bowls because of the different variety. My favorite one has to be their garlic shrimp and avocado. Everything is super fresh and they even have white kimchi which I was surprised about. Definitely a great addition to the neighborhood! read more

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If you are looking for a Korean version of Chipotle (with more options and even better quality), look no further than ONGI. This is one of my favorite quick service chains in the US; not only do they have great tasting food and TONS of customization options but they take allergies/intolerances seriously too. I always get my bowls to go, but you can eat them here too; they have a small eating area. Service is always super quick, and if you do have any ingredients you are concerned about, the staff is all knowledgeable. Prices are fairly reasonable for NYC. All in all, one of my favorite quick service spots in NYC! read more

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I had the pleasure of trying ONGI for the first time and the kimichi aioli chicken is fantastic. I'm definitely looking forward to trying other options on the menu. read more

ONGI - Kimichi aioli chicken bowl - Korean Near Me - New York, New York

Ordered a sesame tofu bowl here with light dressing and half brown rice and half greens and it was so light yet very satisfying and delicious. They do not skimp on the protein my bowl was loaded with tofu and lots of veggies. Love ONGI I will be ordering from here again! read more

For a $20 bowl, there was a tiny protein portion (maybe 1-2 bites worth). Flavor was decent but everything was drowned in spicy mayo. Pretty disappointing meal read more

ONGI - Spicy Jeyuk Pork - Korean Near Me - New York, New York

Food and service was great. Everything I added on the bowl was fresh and delicious. Glad I found this gem and will be coming often

Perfect place for a well priced and quick lunch in the city Reasonably priced for New York City - A 24 oz bowl is about $14 with tax You can customize a bowl or select a pre made bowl You get unlimited toppings on your bowl Recommend read more

ONGI - Menu - Korean Near Me - New York, New York

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Had for dinner - wasn't impressed. Service is good & an innovative menu system where you mark your choices with dry erase & hand it over! But the meal itself - didn't feel very tasty, like it was good enough but didn't leave me happy when done. Could have had more beef/veggies and less rice. read more

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one of my favorite spots in the city to grab a healthy, quick lunch or dinner with pescatarian options that aren't bland or overpriced! my favorite base is japchae topped with salmon & shrimp, let me just say it hits EVERYTIME. the sweet & spicy chicken bites are also delish, as well as the bao buns! you really can't miss with their custom korean lunch bowls of fabulous food! around lunch time it's packed, so order ahead if you're in a rush. read more

ONGI - Korean Near Me - New York, New York

If you're craving Korean food , fast casual style, Ongi is the place to visit! The food is fresh, filling, and feels healthy as it its a good mix of protein and veggies without a ton of oil or fried options. This time, I tried a combo of the bulgogi and the spicy pork. Both meats were tender, well cooked, and flavorful! I enjoyed the assortment of toppings as well, and discovered that I prefer regular kimchi to the white kimchi. Service was quick and efficient thanks to the white board cards used to order, and the seating area was clean and cutely decorated for the holiday season! Overall, a good spot! It is a bit more expensive than its similar large chain counterparts like chipotle or cava. read more

ONGI - build your own bowl with spicy pork - Korean Near Me - New York, New York

Grabbed lunch from here for the first time and what a pleasant surprise! This place has such an upscale vibe at casual prices. The service was efficient and friendly. The food was healthy and delicious as expected for good Korean food. Ordering was such a pleasure - using their dry erase markers on their picture card menus. It was so easy and even fun! I will come again! read more

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This is a great option for quick healthy lunch, just a typical Korean chipotle type of vibe. Nothing crazy

Great fast casual spot! Basically a Korean chipotle. All the proteins were great and all the sauces and flavors go well together. Staff were super friendly and helped me choose which ingredients would be best. read more

The food is very good, the service is quick, and the location is close to prime. It's off a side street of third so it can be missed but clearly many people have found this gem. Having banter with the workers the first time you go is a sign of a great work environment. Everything I ordered was delicious. If it want Manhattan prices and Manhattan location aka no parking and limited seating, it would be 5 stars. They even have a niesche seltzer water which I love! Shoutout 'something and nothing' brand. read more

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4 stars. Korean cava is how I would describe this place. You build your own bowl and you can get a healthy balance of items that all work well together. The portion size is decent and is just enough for a lunch without feeling too heavy. I would not recommend ordering their baos though. It is a bit on the pricey side and the size of it is pretty small. The flavor of the meat here is well seasoned and all of the veggies compliment the meat well. The service is generally pretty quick and there is ample seating inside. read more

ONGI - Korean Near Me - New York, New York

Korean style bowls which are satisfying for a quick lunch ! Easy to assemble and has good choice of proteins in the pre assembled bowls ! The spicy chicken and shrimp is my go to order here , if you are going for the custom bowls and have a big appetite go for the large bowls as the portions for the medium ones are a little less compared to similar joints !! My fav sauces are the spicy gochujang and kimchi aioli! read more

ONGI - Korean Near Me - New York, New York

Some of my coworkers ordered for pickup, and it was ready really quickly. But I wanted to order the food there to see the entire process from start to finish and to see how fast they are and their customer service. In order to order the food, one must order on this menu board with a marker, or you can order at the front by the register. But I did it on the order board so it can all be chosen and there won't be any mistakes. They have cutlery, paper bags, and flavored water at the front for free. The water was refreshing as one was minty and the other more tropical. If you would like to dine in, there's seating. Otherwise, there is take out. For food wise, I got the pork charred bun, medium bowl that comes with two proteins. For the base, I asked for the sushi rice and got everything in the bowl except the onions and nothing extra. Wish there was a bit more sauce they can add in the bowl. The spicy sauce wasn't spicy at all. I think it's catered to those who can't handle spice, but think they can. The bun was flavorful and delicious. Overall, I was satisfied with my meal, and I'll be back to try other proteins. read more

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We got bowls to go online and it was great that they were there when we arrived after our pick up time. The store is cute and organized. There is seating if you do want to stay and eat your food there. It is easy to order and the food is delicious. I definitely like this fast casual to go option. read more

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ONGI Is so soo delicious!!!!!!! I often order both take out and delivery and their food is always made with such love and fresh ingredients!! My personal favorite is the sesame tofu avo bowl (I add extra cabbage and they accomodate me) The soy garlic chicken bowl is also delicious as are the generous soy garlic chicken nugget chunks! Reasonably priced, fast, flavorful read more

ONGI - SESAME TOFU AVOCADO - Korean Near Me - New York, New York

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Such an innovative ordering system! I love that you just mark down on laminated paper what you want, and it's literally such an easy process. Pricing is extremely affordable and fair--for a bowl this large at a competing fast casual chain, it would probably cost you $20+. Not to mention, there are SO many ingredients that you can choose from and it seems like they're constantly adding new toppings/ingredients/sides. My co-workers and I stopped by to order bowls for lunch, and wow! I thought everything was really delicious. Lots of vegetables, protein, pickled vegetables, sauce, etc. I would come here all the time if I lived in the city. I would definitely come back again, and I highly recommend getting japchae AND rice. Such a delicious bowl! read more

Tried this place for the first time. It is Chipotle for Korean food. What's unique is they have laminated menus with dry erase markers for you to make your order. There are several menu bowls and then a wide a la carte selection. I chose to make my bowl and was impressed by the variety of choices. The place is attractive and the service is fast. I think I will need to try it again to make a better conclusion as it might have been my combination of choices. read more

ONGI - Korean Near Me - New York, New York

Stop by for a late lunch after all my doctor's appointments. It was new (new to me) and looked cool. Went in to try. It is a fast causal dining spot, seems like a cross between poke bowl style/or burrito salad style or restaurant but in Korean cuisine. Grab a menu and marker (erasable) and check off what you want and wait for it to be ready. The place was packed and I was able to snag the last available table space. The stool was too high for the table, so you have to hunch over (and I'm a short gal at 5'1" which made me question how other average size or taller folks can sit). But, moving to the bench side of the table was good height and I was able to eat my meal more comfortable. I didn't get a receipt (printed or email-- odd). I selected their signature bulgogi bowl for the favor and it comes with a poach egg. I selected noodles instead of rice. The red onion was very over-powering in flavor. I wish there was more vegetable in the dish. Lots of garnishes tho. Free water at the center island (paper bag, utensils, napkins, and the water station). It was decent and quick meal but nothing to rave about. Tried it and was good enough for a one time experience. Did enjoyed the poached egg as I do love yolky egg. read more

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What a great find in Midtown. Actually we were told about it, so thanks Mike. When I got here only a handful of ppl were here. By the time I got my to go order it was packed. A nice woman at the counter helped me order. They have menus with erasable markers to place your order. You can choose 2 proteins (I chose chicken and shrimp) All the toppings you want. You can choose 2 base items (I chose noodles and rice) They also have a lot of dressings. I also got a side of garlic chicken. The food here is delicious. The freshest ingredients are used The flavors are better than anywhere else I've tried. My bill was around $25 but the portions are very large ( I got a medium bowl) and I had leftovers. The restaurant is clean. The woman at the register and the woman who calls your name when the food is ready were very friendly. Will definitely go back. read more

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Loved how you order with a menu and marker. It's so easy to just hand it to the cashier and pay. They made the food pretty quickly. I got the korean BBQ salmon bowl, and it was soo delicious! I also came early lunchtime on a Tuesday, and it seemed like the popular corporate lunch spot. But makes sense if you want a quick and fulfilling bite. Staff was also super nice! read more

ONGI - Korean BBQ salmon bowl - Korean Near Me - New York, New York

ONGI is like a cross between a Chipotle and a Pokeworks. It's quick, yummy, and a convenient grab and go lunch place in midtown east. Their menu offers a selection of signature bowls, or you can also custom build your own. Their signature bowls are around $15 a pop, which isn't bad for Manhattan prices. Ordering online is simple and they have a pickup area near the entrance. So you can literally just walk in, grab your order, and walk out all within 15 seconds. My favorites are the savory bulgogi bowl or the BBQ pork kimchi bowl. read more

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Great concept and execution. Korean fast casual. Chipotle style assembly line. Other great additions to the menu. Definitely a place to put into regular rotation. read more

Honestly one of the best quick eats I've been to. Food was good as well as the price. Family recommended I try this place out. Customizable korean food bowls Ill have any day. Definitely try this spot out read more

More of a 4.5 rating! As far as quick grabs and go lunch places go, ONGI is a great option. I've been here twice now in one week, and I'll definitely keep coming back. They have signature bowls and build your own. I built my own bowl with the grilled shrimp and the kimchi aioli and kimchi add on. The quality of the ingredients is really good and all the flavors are delicious. If I'm being nit picky, the ambiance isn't anything to write home about and it's a bit crowded/awkward waiting for a bowl since it feels like your in everyone's way. It is a bit on the pricier side as well as far as bowls go, but neither of these factors will prevent me from coming back. Overall this is a great lunch addition to the neighborhood! read more

ONGI - Shrimp build your own bowl with kimchi and all the toppings - Korean Near Me - New York, New York

Simply put it's a chipotle style fast casual with Korean flavors. I got the bbq pork with kimchi bowl and it was pretty tasty. Only comment is the pork was a little overly sweet and put more kimchi in it if it's in the name of the dish. I ordered online and when I went to pick it up, it wasn't there. They remade my dish in a couple of minutes which was good. read more

ONGI - Korean Near Me - New York, New York

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Quick casual spot for a well balanced meal. I got the soy garlic chicken and the chicken itself was juicy and well portioned. They're a bit heavy on the sauce but overall thought this was a good meal to grab on the go. read more