Beyond the usual ramen and sushi--an incredible Japanese spot! When friends suggest Japanese food, it's usually the same rotation of ramen, basic sushi, or curry. This place completely breaks the mold! The chefs here put genuine thought, balance, and incredible freshness into every single dish. The space is small and cozy--perfect for groups of 2 to 4--and our server, Alisa, was attentive, friendly, and never pushy. Here is a breakdown of what we ordered: Sake Flight & Sakura Mori: Smooth, light, and the perfect start to the evening. Ankimo (Monkfish Liver): Super innovative and a total standout compared to other spots. Paired brilliantly with the ponzu-wasabi-soy combination. Uni: Exceptionally fresh with that natural, clean sweetness you always hope for. Toro Tataki: Pure summer vibes! Beautifully fresh sashimi topped with the perfect crispiness. Scallop Roll: Fresh with a great bounce to the texture. Karaage: Fried to perfection--super crispy on the outside, incredibly juicy on the inside, and paired with a delicious house-made mustard dipping sauce. Age Tofu: Super soft texture with a wonderfully balanced flavor profile. Takoyaki: Generously packed with octopus. The sauce was a bit heavy-handed, but if you love takoyaki sauce like I do, it hits the spot! Pork Katsu Curry: Crispy, perfectly fried pork chop balanced out seamlessly by the rice and rich curry sauce. Kurobuta Sausage: More of a casual bar-style bite that felt a little out of place next to the other refined dishes, but saved by that great house mustard. Black Sesame Ice-Cream & Fried Sweet Potato Dessert: We usually skip dessert when we order this much food, but this combination was an incredible, must-order finish to the night! You can tell the kitchen takes immense pride in their craft. I can't wait to come back! read more

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Vibe/ambiance: clean, modern Izakaya Service: attentive Reservation: recommended Items ordered: Fav dish was hamachi crudo - v good flavor combo with light truffle flavor Salmon carpaccio was aight nothing too special here Kakuni is like hongshaorou. A bit dry but then very fatty Scallop yellowtail yuzu roll: 9/10 Udon: 9/10 Fried squid: 6.8/10 read more

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Large portions. The clam came with a LOT of clams. The fried pork with rice was excellent. Pasta and bacon looked small but was very filling. Great Japanese food here and it comes out insanely quickly. read more

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Cuisine: 7 Service: 8 Decor: 7 Value: 6 Overall: 7 Not a bad late night spot when craving some Japanese izakaya. The space is clean and nicely lit, but tables were somewhat tight. Service was very good and everyone was friendly. As for the food, it's not the best I have had for sure, but not too shabby either. However, prices were definitely on the higher side. A quick snack turned into a $120 bill after tax and tip. My favorite was probably parts of the Uni Hon Maguro Hara Don. Yes, the rice should be warmer and definitely seasoned better, but passable. The seafood was fresh, but the otoro and chutoro were a tad underwhelming. Hokkaido Uni should have been sweeter and creamier. Hamachi sashimi was fine, and so was the Ankimo (though I would have preferred it creamier). Unfortunately, the Sake Clam Miso was overcooked and not enjoyable. I would totally drink that slightly spicy clam broth like a shot though if they sold it that way. Lol Anyway, not on my top to return list, but I would certainly give it another go and try a few more items before making such a conclusion. read more

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This has been on my bookmark list for a while, so I'm glad I finally got to check it out. The restaurant is long, dimly lit, and has plenty of seating. I ordered the Sukiyaki Udon and the Okinawa No Kaze cocktail. Both were great! The staff was friendly and attentive throughout the meal. read more

Sozai - Izakaya Near Me - New York, New York

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On our very first day in New York, we had some time before taking the Statue of Liberty cruise. We originally had another restaurant in mind, but the timing did not work out, so we searched on Google and found Sozai Japanese Restaurant, which was supposed to be close to our hotel. Google said it was a 10-minute walk. But honestly... was that 10 minutes measured by someone running? It was an extremely hot day in New York, and my family and I were walking there, sweating like we were on a small survival mission. It felt more like 20 minutes or more. By the time we arrived, we were hot, tired, and very hungry. But the moment we opened the door, everything changed. The manager welcomed us with such a bright and warm smile. We told him we did not have a reservation, and he kindly said it was okay and seated us right away. That alone made us feel so much better. As soon as we sat down, we ordered cold beer and highballs. After walking in that heat, that first sip felt like pure happiness. It was exactly what we needed. My sister, my mom, and I each ordered different kinds of donburi, and my daughter ordered tonkatsu. When the food came out, I almost fainted -- in the best way possible. The rice was absolutely amazing. It was perfectly sticky, nutty, soft, and full of flavor. I know this may sound dramatic, but every grain of rice felt like it was dancing gently in my mouth. That was the moment I thought, "This is what good rice should taste like." A good donburi is not only about the toppings. The rice has to be right, and here, it was perfect. The sashimi was incredibly fresh. The texture, the flavor, the quality -- everything was excellent. Every bite made me think, "This place really knows what they are doing." My daughter's tonkatsu was also wonderful. She is a very picky eater, but she kept saying how soft, juicy, and delicious it was, especially with the sauce. When a picky child finishes everything quietly, that is the most honest review you can get. In the end, all four of us completely finished our bowls. Not a little bit. Completely. Clean. Empty. Happy. We told the manager how much we enjoyed the food, and our server was also very kind and explained everything so nicely. The food was excellent, but the warm service made the experience even more memorable. At first, we came here simply because the timing was awkward and it was near our hotel. But by the time we left, we knew we had found a place we would want to visit again. The long, hot walk was absolutely worth it. Sozai Japanese Restaurant gave our family a delicious and happy memory on our first day in New York. If I visit New York again, I will definitely come back. read more

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Very clean space with comfortable seating. Fried Squid legs - fried well, would order this if I were in the mood for it. Ube Fried potatoes - fried well with a nice sauce. Nothing out of the ordinary. Pork Katsu - okay, pork was a little dry. Probably would not order this again. Ton Toro Yaki - grilled pork neck. This was very tender and unique. I would order this again. Mentaiko pasta - sphaghetti with spicy cod roe and bacon. This was rich but very tasty. I think this is more of a side, not a main meal. Cold soba green tea - I really liked this for a hot summer day. The noodles were firm and topped with salmon and roe. Again it is more of a side dish and not a main entree. Wafu mushroom - sauteed sphagetti. I didn't really like this one, the flavor was off for me. Sukiyaki beef udon - this has great flavor and had a lot of accoutrements. I would order this again. Great place for quality food. I would return. read more

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Stumbled upon this modern Izakaya spot looking for dinner. I was seated at the bar as I ate alone. The space is dimly lit, with wooden interior and furniture, and concrete tabletops. I chose to get their Pork Katsu Curry Rice ($27), which overall tasted great. The Pork Katsu is a decent size and thick in the middle, which I would expect since this was very pricey for an unsophisticated dish. Curry was flavorful and pleasant to each with the pork and rice. Service overall was pretty standard. Could work on being a bit more attentive rather than chatting with one another or scrolling on a phone or smart watch. read more

Sozai - Pork Katsu Curry Rice - Izakaya Near Me - New York, New York

Sozai is my favorite dinner spot for a few days now, the atmosphere and service is amazing. There were a few occasions I did not have any RSVP and I did not mind waiting as the place is packed. They told me I can sit at the bar, the menu is on a QR and just order - Keep in mind some items like Hamachi Kama sells out fast and I had to ask if that item is avail. Second best is the black cod (highly recommend) if Kama is out. Almost everything here is good, I had the ramen $20 - plenty of food for 1. Highly recommend. read more

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Arrived at 10:30pm on a Tuesday night and this place was still poppin, which goes to show just how good the food is here! We ordered the mentaiko pasta and the scallop and tuna carpaccios. All dishes were amazing, would order those over and over. Their ingredients are very fresh. We got seated at the bar within 20 minutes and the food came out relatively fast too. The place has a cute late night vibe. We also saw the actress Tessa Thompson eating here during our dinner, so even the celebrities think this place is the best! read more

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Had reservations for 3 on a Tuesday afternoon, and were seated at a booth on the left hand side of the izakaya soon after we arrived. (There's regular tables on the right hand side and a bar in the back.) The food and drink menu is available through QR codes at the table. We selected 6 dishes and 3 desserts to share. The Ankimo came with three pieces of monkfish liver and scallions in a ponzu wasabi sauce. It was a nice start to the meal, with its creamy texture and rich flavor. The Age Tofu came with three cubes of fried tofu that had a slightly chewy exterior and a pillowy soft interior. The bonito flakes and dashi broth gave it a punch of flavor. It was my first time ever having Mentaiko Pasta, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. It was creamy and the spiciness of the cod roe sauce was subtle--it kind of creeps up on you after a few bites and gives the dish a little kick. I felt like the cod roe flavor shone through, and the bacon added another dimension to it. The Hotate Carpaccio came with 6 slices of Hokkaido scallops, ikura, and a mustard soy dressing. It was a delicate dish that I enjoyed, especially after the heavier Mentaiko. The Cold Soba Green Tea was my favorite dish. It was so refreshing. All the ingredients went very well together--the green tea noodles had a good bite, the salmon sashimi was very fresh, the ikura added a nice brininess when you pop them, and the dashi broth provided a nice backdrop to the dish. The sashimi in the Kaisen Don was fresh, and came with salmon, tuna, yellowtail, octopus, and ikura. The dessert menu is found at the end of the drinks menu. We got one of each dessert: the sweet potato balls with hojicha ice cream, cheesecake with yuzu sorbet, and black sesame ice cream with red beans. The sweet potato balls were SOOO GOOD--crispy exterior and chewy interior, with just the right touch of sweetness. The hojicha ice cream was so good. We regret not having ordered an extra set of the sweet potato balls. The cheesecake was a little dry, but had these little rice crispies on top that gave a nice textural change. The yuzu sorbet was a good palate cleanser. The black sesame ice cream was rich and creamy, and the red bean sauce added an extra layer of sweetness. Sozai is a great place to share a few dishes. I definitely want to come back to check out the lunch specials. read more

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3.5 stars The good: cold green tea soba with salmon and ikura. They used a cold dashi soy sauce based broth and it worked well where I may have to make this at home after a visit to Mitsuwa. Mentaiko don tasted good, but I have had better. Chicken karaage was cooked perfectly and had a delicious aioli with citrus. Tako wasa was fresh and good. HH until 6pm with $10 apps and highball drinks I liked the yuzu highball it was refreshing! The not so good: the fried squid legs and kibinago were both under seasoned. I usually love fried squid legs at all Japanese izakaya style restaurants but this one was really mediocre and I wouldn't order it again. Maybe even a touch more salt could do the trick for both. Also, the place was tight in seating and you may have to sit right next to others. Since there are many other Izakaya spots in the city, I think I can't give a full four stars. It's decent but I've also had better not far from here! read more

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Sozai is one of our favorite Japanese restaurants in Manhattan. The food is always fresh, flavorful, and beautifully prepared, and the drinks are just as good. The service is fast and friendly, making it a great spot for lunch or dinner. It does get a bit loud during peak hours, but that's because it's such a popular place. If you're looking for delicious Japanese food in Manhattan, Sozai is definitely worth a visit! read more

Sozai - Izakaya Near Me - New York, New York

it's an okay place for a quick lunch, but no more than that. Food is okay, service could be better

I was at this Izakaya while walking around a good while ago. They were pretty crowded, so I sat at the bar. The inside was a tad dim, and the bartender was friendly. To drink, I got a pretty reasonably priced highball, one of my typical drinks at izakayas. This was a Chu-Hi, or a highball made with shochu, and it was $14. For the same price or a buck more, there were also options made with whiskey, Toki whiskey, vodka plus yuzu, umeshu, or a paloma with tequila, umami, and grapefruit. Outside of highballs, there was also a pretty sizeable selection of cocktails, sake, and some other drinks, as is typical for an izakaya. My appetizer was the very tasty Hotate Carpaccio for $18, with Hokkaido scallop, ikura, and a mustard soy dressing. This had six relatively large scallop pieces, each topped with a couple of pieces of salmon, and some microgreens for presentation. It was good-quality scallops with a bit of sweetness and a firm texture. The ikura added a pop of fishiness, and the slightly salty and umami-forward soy dressing thankfully did not have too much mustard, which would have overpowered the remaining ingredients. I liked this and would recommend it. The other dish was the Mentaiko Pasta for $17, consisting of spaghetti mixed with creamy spicy cod roe and topped with bacon and seaweed. I have had this wafu pasta dish from a bunch of different places, and this version was alright. Some other spots have more mentaiko, but this spot went the other disappointing way, with the spicy mayo a bit stronger. Therefore, it was a bit less fishy than usual. The pasta was cooked decently, and the bits of bacon were nice and crunchy, but they made the already salty dish saltier. This was fine, but there are several other places where I would recommend this dish much more. The food here was pretty good. It's reasonably priced, at least for Midtown West, and certainly better than many other restaurants in the surrounding area. I would go back here and try some other dishes. read more

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The ambiance in this restaurant is so cute with the dim lights and intimate, minimalist design of the booths. Sunny working at the bar was so kind!! I had a really long jacket but the hooks were too low so my jacket would've dragged on the floor. I sat on it instead and he offered to hang my jacket up for me on the hooks near the front. Very attentive staff and the food came out super quick! The seafood is so so so fresh. I was most excited for the cold soba green tea and IT DID NOT DISAPPOINT!!!!!!! The soba was perfectly al dente and the thickness of each piece of salmon sashimi were perfect. The dashi broth was not excessively salty and I loved the addition of the wasabi. It gave a nice kick to each bite The hotate carpaccio was really good as well. I really liked the mustard soy dressing. I've recently been eating more scallops at different establishments and I'm blown away by the presentations each time!! The hamachi Kama is such a staple for me. I remember going to Japanese restaurants with my parents when I was younger and they would always get this. It tasted exactly like how I remember. It was grilled to perfection. The skin was so crispy. Squeeze a little bit of the lemon and add some radish, perfect bite I recommend making a resy, it was packed on a Friday night! They also have happy hour from 2-6pm, who doesn't love happy hour?????? read more

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Amazing ramen and fresh Japanese dishes at Sozai! The broth was rich and flavorful, noodles cooked perfectly, and the service was warm and friendly. Cozy atmosphere and definitely a spot I'd come back to again. read more

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Stopped by on a Saturday night without reservation and got seated right away! Host was really nice and service was speedy through the night. Food was excellent! Sake clam miso 10/10 every clam was cooked perfectly, except 1, didn't matter. Broth was delicious, sake flavor subtle, savory and a touch of spice. Very memorable dish. Cold soba green tea 10/10 soba cooked perfectly, salmon sashimi and roe was excellent. Pork katsu 10/10 perfectly cooked. read more

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Fabulous lunch for two adults and two children. Pricey but on par with similar Japanese places in NYC. Everything we ordered was excellent, albeit small portions. Rice was perfectly cooked and flavored, sashimi pieces were fresh, & service was pleasant. What we ordered: Aged tofu: four pieces of fried tofu with mochi batter in delicious soy based sauce Ika Geso: crispy, flaky, not at all greasy fried battered squid legs with creamy wasabi dipping sauce. Kaisen Don: salmon, tuna, tako (octopus) yellowtail, and ikura over a bowl of delicious rice. Ikura was so good! Sweet and fresh. We ended up ordering Ikura and Uni Don after trying the ikura! Cold Soba Green Tea Noodle: came with large pieces of fresh salmon sashimi. Soba had the perfect bite and chewiness. The broth was refreshing and sooo delicious! Sake Miso Clam: spicy broth!! Small clams. Not as good as other dishes we ordered. Hotate Yuzu Roll: scallops, yellowtail, yuzu gel. Very fresh but our favorite. Lacked flavor. Uni Ikura Don: sweet, burst in your mouth Ikura with four very small pieces of uni over perfect rice. Came with sheets of nori to wrap all the goodness in. Great meal! Will definitely be going back! read more

Quite unique experience. Dishes came out quick and food was delicious. Staff was attentive and good recommendations. Dessert was not too sweet which I prefer. read more

Sozai - Black sesame - Izakaya Near Me - New York, New York

Ambiance (5/5): The restaurant has dark lighting with private dining booths, bar seating, floor seating. The overall noise level was moderate but within the private booths it wasn't so bad. Service (4/5): We were immediately seated at our reservation time. We found it difficult to get attention when we needed it. The warm sake was not timed very well as we had to ask for it again when the food had already come out. However, the food came out fairly quickly and we were out of there within an hour. Spicy Tonkotsu Ramen (5/5): The broth was super rich with tons of flavor. I enjoyed the pork belly pieces which were large, tender, good blend of meat to fat. The ramen also had a handful of toppings including a half egg, dehydrated lotus root (cool!), mushrooms, green onions. I loved the bounce of the noodles as well. It also felt like a sizable portion. Spicy Tuna roll (3/5): Not a fan of the cut or flavor but my partner seemed to enjoy it. Curry Udon: I liked the taste of the curry udon which similarly had tons of flavor and large portion size. read more

Sozai - Spicy Ty - Izakaya Near Me - New York, New York

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This was my second time dining here, and unfortunately it didn't live up to my first visit. The much-hyped clams in miso broth were a letdown. The clams were overcooked, and the broth wasn't savory enough for our liking. The salmon donburi, cod dish, and sake were solid and definitely the highlights of the meal. That said, the experience was off to a bad start when the host immediately told us we had a one hour and thirty minute time limit for the table, which we did not appreciate. Overall, this visit was disappointing, and I won't be returning. read more

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Overview: Overall, the food was good! The interior and ambience is super cute as well. The service was really great too. Very attentive and kind. I would definitely recommend getting a reservation, as it seems to fill up super fast. We got there right before 5pm on a Saturday and by 5:30pm they were packed and people waiting. Definitely want to come back to try the other dishes! What was ordered: Crispy salmon skin salad, kakuni, crab croquette, lemon miso salmon, beef sukiyaki udon, dessert Stand outs: Crab croquette, crispy skin salad, kakuni, beef sukiyaki udon Would I come back/recommend: Yes - I would come back Yes - I would recommend read more

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Udon was really good! The sukiyaki was super flavorful and would def go back for it, only downside is it's a little pricey. Service was fast and ambiance is nice but a bit small inside. Had to wait for 15 min but it wasn't too bad. read more

Sozai - Sukiyaki Beef Udon - Izakaya Near Me - New York, New York

Stumbled into Sozai on a weekday night, and we were seated immediately. I love that there's tons of booths to make the restaurant feel so cozy and intimate. We ordered the hamachi miso roll, agedashi tofu, uni sushi, rk curry katsu rice, and miso black cod. Everything was so fresh and delicious. The standouts were for sure the hamachi miso roll and the katsu. Would definitely love to come back! read more

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Who says you can only have izakaya food at night? This place was totally buzzing during Sunday lunch! All the dishes were pretty small so we didn't feel that full afterwards. I really liked the fried potato balls + hojicha ice cream dessert. Definitely get that one if you go! read more

Sozai - Salmon Cold Soba Green Tea - Izakaya Near Me - New York, New York

We walked into sozai for an early dinner, and we were able to be seated at the bar. I got the raw tako appetizer, which had a strong wasabi fresh flavor. I love the texture and it was really well done and fresh. We also each got a Ramen my go to is always a tonkatsu broth which was amazing on a cold day. We also headed to a show right after and it was the perfect place to go before the theater. The ambience of the place was fantastic. I felt like I was being transported to Japan. I loved their cozy booths that they had. read more

Sozai - Izakaya Near Me - New York, New York

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Really enjoyed Sozai in midtown. Sushi was super fresh and they have interesting different izakaya dishes like green tea soba noodles, curries, fried rice etc. So many options to choose from. Will definitely come back next time we are in NYC. We all loved it. read more

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Second visit for Happy Hour! 4/5 Cocktails - Yuzu Highball and Gin Umeshu, very standard flavors. 5/5 Spicy Ebi Roll - we loved this! Crispy shrimp tempura, with generous tuna on top. The textural components added a great sensorial experience. Would definitely order again. 3/5 Mentaiko Pasta -- I was so excited to order this again because I enjoyed it so much during my last visit. Unfortunately, this time it was very salty and "fishy, but not in a good way" as my friend put it. The smokiness it had during my first visit wasnt there this time as well. Unsure I'd order again. read more

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Loved this hidden gem in midtown where you can find traditional as well as innovative Japanese dishes. We tried the salmon skin salad which was a first for me, tasted quite fresh and the salmon skin was crispy. Everything else we tried was also delicious and amazing. The service staff here are friendly and tentative. From ambiance perspective, I would say this is a cozy and bright spot, perfect for seeing friends, hanging out with family, or even a quick work lunch. read more

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We went on a Saturday without a reservation and were seated at the bar after about a 30 min wait. It gets busy so I recommend making a reservation. The ambience is dim and classy. I ordered the Wafu Mushroom Pasta. Maybe I ordered the wrong thing because the flavor were a bit too sweet and for a mushroom dish, there wasn't much mushroom flavor. It was more of an afterthought. We also got the grilled eggplant as an appetizer and that was very sweet. read more

Sozai - Wafu Mushroom - Izakaya Near Me - New York, New York

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This restaurant has been added to myself and coworkers' top 5 list for lunch orders. We ordered from here on Monday and everyone complimented their entree. Everything from here was delicious. I had the Lemon Miso Salmon and it was cooked to perfection. Definitely a unique entree because who wraps the salmon in potato slices like that? THAT IS GENIUS ! Other coworkers had the fatty tuna and compared it to their experience from Japan. Everybody said this is somewhere they would love to order from again in the near future. The prices for this place, on point, affordable for delicious, fulfilling entrees and gives them a reason to receive 5 stars. I will be ordering from this place and dining in soon with friends/family! Shoutout to Sozai for being a great restaurant with delicious entrees ! read more

Walked in without a reservation on a Monday and we were seated within 20 mins. Not pictured but we ordered both of the dinner sushi rolls which were tasty. The fried ube was a good appetizer, however there was not enough dipping sauce to go with the amount of fried ube we were given. Need to improve the sauce ratio. Oddly, there was a spaghetti and bacon dish on the menu, it was creamy with a little spice kick. Unexpected but surprisingly good like getting a parking ticket but realizing it's someone else's car. read more

Sozai - Ube Fried - Izakaya Near Me - New York, New York

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I enjoyed lunch at Sozai. It was really busy when I arrived so I had to wait for a table. I ordered the Sake Clams as an appetizer and the set meal of soup and katsu. Everything was tasty. Only thing that could be improved would be to make sure not to cook the katsu too long. The edges were overcooked and so I had to trim each piece and not eat the overcooked. Great service and I like the ambiance read more

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We stopped by here with our 2 kids after touring around New York. It was a bit late around 9pm but we were able to get a booth after 5 minutes. Drinks and food here were really good. The bowl I got was so good. Tuna was super fresh. Would definitely recommend this place and make reservations beforehand. read more

Sozai - Izakaya Near Me - New York, New York

My family and I dined here after a Broadway show. We were so hungry at that point, and this spot was conveniently close by. Service was pretty good. Our food came at varying times - one of us was half way done with her ramen bowl before my sukiyaki was served! Food was decent overall. My partner and his dad ordered katsudon bowls which were tasty. I wasn't a big fan of the shrimp tempura that came with the sukiyaki (which I asked to have on the side). The batter wasn't cooked all the way because it was mushy/not crispy in the middle. I'd rank it as a 3.7 if I could, but will round up to a 4 considering most of the food was good and it was good service even at 9-10pm on a week day. read more

Sozai - Sukiyaki Shrimp Udon - Izakaya Near Me - New York, New York

Expected to spend a lot of money in New York for a good meal on a Friday night, but $20 per ramen bowl this great was a steal for me! My group of 3 got really lucky stopping in at 5:15pm and was able to sit without a reservation, but 10 minutes after we sat there were people being told the bar was a 1 hour wait itself and the tables were booked up with reservations. Please make a reservation, I think I heard something about 2 weeks in advance when the host was talking to another party. Food: was craving ramen and definitely found the right spot for this! Spicy tonkotsu ramen was very flavorful and was not too spicy. The chashu miso had just the right amount of body in the broth without being too salty. 2 large, well-cooked pieces of pork and great toppings, notably the fried lotus piece. Takoyaki was delicious as well. Service: kind, efficient service and food came out quick! Sat down and left in less than 45 minutes including bathroom stops after dinner for my party of 3. Happy hour had a physical menu, and the normal menu was a QR code. Ambiance: there were approx. 8 booths seating 2-4 and a few tables seating up to 4, with a booth and another table up front to accommodate a party of 6-ish. There is bar seating as well. Lighting is dim. Calm environment, can hear your party just fine. 3 bathroom stalls that are very clean, 2 person sink is set outside of the bathroom stall. read more

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Sozai has been on my list for a while and I finally got to check it out! It definitely gets busy, so I'd recommend making a reservation. They also have a happy hour from 5-7 PM. Here's what I ordered: - Tako Wasa (raw octopus with wasabi): I liked this, but just a heads up--the wasabi is strong and can be overpowering. This is a personal preference! - Ankimo (monkfish liver): One of my favorites! Very fresh, rich, and delicious. Very fishy, but again personal preference! - Sake Clams: Light and tasty, and not spicy at all. - Ika Geso (fried squid legs): Crispy, though I didn't care for the wasabi sauce. Tartar would've worked better. Poor pairing... - Kaki Fry (fried oyster): Just okay--nothing special. Probably could've skipped this one. - Hamachi Crudo with truffle: So fresh and refreshing--absolutely loved it. - Salmon Carpaccio: A must order! The dressing was perfectly balanced and not overpowering. - Gyu Tan (grilled beef tongue): Usually a favorite of mine, but this was overcooked and way too chewy. Disappointing :( - Mentaiko Pasta: Flavor was good, but I wish they used udon instead of pasta. They were unable to accommodate. It also wasn't as creamy as I hoped. Slight letdown. - Black Sesame & Hojicha Ice Cream: A nice way to end the meal. Not too sweet. Definitely recommend it! Overall, Sozai is solid and I'd definitely come back to try more of their menu. That said, I'd skip the cocktails--they're weak and a bit boring. read more

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There were 7 of us looking for a nice place to have dinner and luckily this place had openings! We had a wonderful meal here, all the food we ordered was excellent. I so wanted to order more items just to try more dishes, but luckily I was able to see a lot of other people's orders on our table, and there were no misses, every dish was a winner. The ONLY downside to this place was the noise, it was extremely loud to a point where we had a hard time having a conversation and even hearing the staff. read more

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I was with my sister who recommended the place to me. We got a collection of plates: Salmon skin salad - crunchy and refreshing Eel rice bowl - shareable and tasty Beef tongue - tasted like beef, no complex texture Octopus sewers - tasty, individual pieces on a sewer The server was very knowledgeable on the menu and gave some recommendations. The food came out quickly. We were sitting in one of the side wooden tables sections. The way the space is curated to be a hall like, it's hard to hear the people at your table since there lots of sound and no place for it to go. Overall the food was delicious and definitely a place to check out. I would not bring groups of people due to the hard of hearing aspect. read more

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