Delicious fusion Japanese and Italian spot. Most dishes were really good!!…read more - Unagi croissant ($15): 11/10, I REALLY liked this. DEF get!! Love unagi, and the croissant texture was good (not like bakery level but still good) - Hamachi carpaccio ($20): 6/10, the hamachi was fresh, but the flavors in this dish all clashed together - Corn ribs ($14): 10/10, so solid!! Tastes like elote - Brisket yakisoba ($22): 6/10, meh nothing outstanding but still yummy - Kamo miso pasta ($30): 7/10, the duck was soft, and the sauce was yummy. Noodle texture wasn't too hard. Prob wouldn't get again tho - Uni mentai pasta ($29): 11/10, I REALLY liked this. The sauce was yummy, and the uni, fish roe, and crab were fresh. Very creamy. Would def get again - Ribeye fried rice ($49): 6/10, meh. Super overpriced for what it is. Still good but not THAT good

Dinner here on a Saturday evening, highly recommend getting a reservation as the whole restaurant…read morewas busy. The food is pretty good, but also a bit expensive for the portion sizes. Flavor wise, the best dish we got were the brussels sprouts. The teapot also is very nice as well got free refills. The ramens were yummy but on the smaller side, and honestly worse than any other ramen places eg Ippudo. The portions here are definitely on the smaller side, but the food overall is decent, and the vibes are very lively and hip. Looking forward to trying other dishes off the menu next time!

Sometimes you just want a more traditional Japanese dining experience, and that's what draws me to…read moreOotoya. It's not bad at all--but it's also not my go-to Japanese spot. Food: 3/5 I was first introduced to Ootoya by my grandmother, who recommended their simple lunch sets like udon with rice and fish. The food itself is solid--fresh, comforting, and clearly made with care. That said, the value is where things get tricky. Most sets start around $20-$30, and once you add extras, the bill climbs quickly. It's very easy to end up spending well over $100 for a casual lunch for two, which makes it feel more like an occasional treat than a regular spot. Service: 4/5 Service is generally good and efficient. Everything feels freshly prepared and well organized, but there's not much that stands out beyond standard attentive service. Vibe: 4/5 The decor is one of the strongest parts of the experience. It feels like stepping into a traditional Japanese dining space--almost like a calm "time capsule" away from the city. It's a really nice atmosphere if you're looking for something more authentic and quiet. All in all, I don't dislike Ootoya at all--it's a pleasant, reliable experience. But because of the price point (especially with tips and add-ons), it doesn't end up being my first choice for Japanese food. I wouldn't rule it out, but I also wouldn't go out of my way for it when there are more affordable options in the city.

This was my 1st visit to their Times Square location and I also haven't been to Ootoya in a hot…read moreminute. I stopped by for a birthday lunch and was seated at the counter. QR codes on the table needed to be scanned to view the menu but I think they also had physical menus as well. The Yosenabe Teishoku set had a kombu broth with 3 different kinds of fish, pork slices, beef slice and udon noodles. Talk about a lot of food! The okra side that it came with had a sesame dressing which I wished they offered refills for. The salad was just okay for me, the dressing was a bit tart for me. The miso soup was also pretty good with 2 small pieces of tofu and a few pieces of wakame. The star of this whole meal was definitely the hot pot. The first fish had quite a lot of bones but the meat tasted clean and was tender and flaky. The salmon was also pretty tender and definitely not overcooked. The third I wasn't too partial with because of the slightly fishy taste. The beef was just okay for me as I enjoyed the pork a lot more. More than just a boiled taste, perhaps the pork was seasoned but it was my favorite part of the hot pot. With some udon noodles at the bottom of the hot pot and a giant bowl of rice, this set meal was definitely very filling. 2nd visit: I tried the Kaasan Ni set. Onions were stewed till soft and paired well with the egg and katsu pieces. Next time I'll have to give the beef sukiyaki a try.

I ordered the Box of Dreams, which arrives as 9 small donburi bowls in a wooden grid tray. Each…read morebowl holds a different topping over rice: salmon with ikura, tuna rose with cucumber, fatty tuna with caviar, scallop with citrus, unagi, uni, and more. Every component was fresh and distinct. This is not a gimmick. It is a focused, well executed format that lets you taste a range of fish without committing to one dish. The miso soup was clean and rich. The pickled ginger came undyed, pale and thinly sliced. The wasabi was real, not the green paste you get at most places. Hatsuhana pushes back against the omakase trend. They believe the customer should choose exactly what they want to eat. That philosophy shows. No pressure, no chef agenda. You order what you want. The fish quality is high. They air-lift deliveries of fresh fish frequently, and the kitchen cuts it with real skill. Would highly recommend this place!!

Delicious food and great service - what more could you ask for? We treated ourselves to the box of…read morefantasies and it was worth every penny. When it arrived, the waiter clearly explained each item, its origin, and provided his suggested order of which to start and end. We also ordered a bottle of sake to share and they were very diligent on filling our glasses up. We didnt even realize we drank the whole bottle until we were done! The staff was very welcoming and super attentive. Upon sitting, we were immediately greeted with a warm towel to clean our hands. I was perfectly satisfied after my meal - not overly stuffed, like you can sometimes get after sushi, but still full from the meal. This was a great find and I can't wait to come back!

We happened on this spot on the way to a show, and so happy we did. Such a cozy small dining room,…read moretastefully and simply designed. Everything was delicious! I had the classic Tonkatsu Ramen, with an egg - The pork ws seared and still so tender! The broth was very flavorful. My husband has a salmon rice bowl, and he loved it. He said the fish was cooked perfectly! We started with veggie gyoza, and they do them in a very interesting way. Very flat and all fried together. We were surprised when they brought them, but they were awesome! we were. fan of this style almost immediately! The waiter gently recommended the pork gyoza (his preference) but not everyone at the table eats meat, so we stayed with the vegetable. We really enjoyed our meal! everything was quick, the service was above and beyond, we would happily return!

I've been meaning to try this place for a while. I was seated right away when I came. Fortunately…read moreit wasn't busy. Service was quick and I didn't have to wait long for my food. The restaurant is a small cozy place that's great for a date night. The ramen itself was good. It wasn't very spicy despite me ordering the spicy beef ramen. However that's usually the case for all ramen places. The broth was delicious which I finished every last drop of. Again, the meal was very delicious. It wasn't a memorable bowl of ramen but I have no complaints. The ingredients were great and it had good flavor. It's definitely one of the better spots in the neighborhood. I could recommend this location for a date night over the other ramen establishments in the area. Again, there's no shortage of choices.

The staff was very welcoming, friendly and accommodating. I asked if they can make a sushi roll…read morefrom a menu of a sushi restaurant close to home, and they did! It was delicious!!

Had a great meal at this popular Japanese Hell's Kitchen hole in the wall. Food came out quickly…read moreand was fresh. The citrus salmon carpaccio was delicious. It was served with fresh micro greens and delicate vinaigrette. Next, I had the tri color sashimi. Generous cuts of salmon, red tuna, and yellowtail paired with fresh truffle mushrooms, jalapeño wasabi, and momofuko. Shiso leaves and edible flowers adorned the display, which I enjoyed wrapping with a yellowtail and scallion roll. The entire staff is friendly and attentive. Highly recommended!

The quality if sushi for $65 prix fixe in nyc is amazing. Totally beat all those I have tried for…read more$99. Just see the phots on nigiri to make the call. Ambience is a nice omakase seating but it is a bit of a rush. Finish the meal is about 60 min as in class omakase tradition. For most of you, get the $65 prix fixe as you will finish it ;)

I was really hoping to like Sendo, but they rank at the bottom of my $50 omakase spots in the city…read more For the price, they didn't match up with the variety of fish nor the preparation. I was expecting them to do more with the fish than just serve it as is. Something like complementary garnishes or in-house nikiri. The fish itself, maybe aging it or marinating it. I was ready to splurge a bit and order a la carte but nothing in the hokkaido set inspired me to try it again and my friend agreed - we wouldn't return for the food. Ambiance-wise, the interior is beautiful with intimate lighting and tight knit counter stool seating. The entrance is very hard to find as there isn't a sign out front (as far as I could tell), so you have to enter an unmarked door and go up a staircase where you will see a sign indicating you're in the right place. It feels a bit like trespassing, which can be fun depending on your vibe. It gets crowded fast, so arrive as close to opening time as possible. All of the seats were taken within 20 minutes of opening.

****DISCLAIMER WAIT OUTSIDE to be seated****…read more Ding ding took the number one spot for ramen! I can't wait to go back to this place to try something new! Every meal I had from the chicken baos to my ramen was jaw dropping. I wish I could just snap my fingers and have their ramen right in front of me. You know a soul is delicious when you don't have to add extra sauces or spices. It's a tight place so not the best for large parties. However the decorations and overall feel of the place is welcoming. I will say, the drinks too a bit long to come out and they were super expensive. One drink was $20 I believe. Which is more than the ramen itself haha I wouldn't go here for drinks cause you'll end up spending a ton of money. Save your thirst for somewhere else but bring the eats cause you'll love all the food !

AI summary for all those that need it. Its amazing,…read moreatmosphere is great. Staff great. Details for everyone else. Appetizer: Tori Karaage. We get this Appetizer everywhere we see it. This is hands done the best we have ever had. Sauces that come with it need to be saved for the main dish Ramen. You can thank me later! Ramen Kara Kin. Top 5 Ramen bowls Ive had to date. It says spicy, its pretty a medium spice level. Our daughter could enjoy it, broth was what really shined . Wife got the Curry Ramen. Different, but not in a bad way at all, the base was amazing flavor. The Crispy pork was perfect, I stole lots of that with just the curry as a drizzle over the top. Daughter had the Miso Ramen . Miso, you are thinking meh, plain. This is not that Miso, this miso base broth was extremely good. For the first time ever, our daughter drank all the miso before the noodles. Wish we could go there again as its our favorite Ramen place.

Absolute Cinema. I…read morecame here with my cousins late at night and WOW. The broth tasted amazing, and the noodles were even better. Gobbled that whole thing up in less than 20 minutes. If you live in NY or plan to come, you must try!!!! PS. They even have a whole congress to this place, expect the house research the flavors and the senates know the secret recipes

First and foremost, this place is quite pricey. This is definitely not an everyday meal--it's more…read moreof a splurge. One of the things I really liked about the restaurant is the individual booth concept. You order easily at the front, and once seating is available, they call you in. There's also a code board in the front room that lights up red or green to indicate whether seating is unavailable or available. Be prepared for a long wait, though. My party and I ended up waiting in the rain before we could get seated. That said, the food did not disappoint. The menu is pretty limited, so you don't have many options to choose from, especially if you're vegetarian. The noodles were cooked perfectly--chewy with a nice bounce. The broth was rich yet surprisingly light, and the pork was incredibly tender, practically melting in your mouth. The presentation is minimalist, which isn't necessarily a bad thing. However, considering the price, I would have liked to see more sides or additional options included with the meal. The individual booth setup is also an interesting experience. Since you have your own private space, nobody bothers you while you eat. When your food is ready, the blind in front of you is raised, your meal is handed to you, and then the curtain drops back down. Overall, it's a unique dining experience with delicious ramen, but the high price and long wait are definitely things to consider before visiting.