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    TAO Downtown Restaurant

    3.6 (1.9k reviews)
    PriceyPan Asian
    Closed 5:00 pm - 1:00 am (Next day)
    Updated over 3 months ago

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    TAO DOWNTOWN RESTAURANT ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Trendy
    Upscale
    Good for groups

    Recommended Reviews - TAO Downtown Restaurant

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    Reviews With Photos

    Stadium seating
    Lor W.

    Bougie vibes on a Thursday evening! My bestie was in town, and we visited Tao for dinner. Lychee martinis and Asian delights abound! Reservations were relatively easy to score. She was raving about the Fish in Sand, which apparently she and I had at Tao in Vegas many moons ago (I did not recall). Given it was Vegas, my lack of memory was understandable. Well, we ordered it (again) NYC style and it was sensational. The textures and flavor were spot-on. We also enjoyed a Rainbow Roll, a Salmon Avocado Roll, and the Chicken Lollipops. It was the perfect amount of food considering we planned to bar-hop a bit afterward. It feels like a Saturday night here, regardless of the day of the week. The music is upbeat but not so loud that you're shouting. I appreciate a lounge-style DJ during dinner!

    Robin G.

    The ambiance setting is undeniable here. Very much city life vibes. From the music to the lighting and decor the atmosphere is just right. The food was decent. I definitely return.

    Crispy Lobster Sushi
    Evelyn A.

    Good atmosphere. I ordered the crispy lobster sushi and it was good. I also ordered the filet mignon cooked medium-well to perfection. The staff was very kind and accommodating and our server gave us great recommendations and help us take pictures!The drinks were 7/10 though For dessert we had the fortune cookie which was delicious!

    Sherri R.

    My wonderful husband, dear friend and I celebrated my birthday there. It was large but intimate. We were seated in nice location by the DJ on the main floor. Our server was very attentive to our needs. We ordered many different dishes, that were displayed beautifully. Each one was delicious and unique. I was mesmerized by their Durga goddess that stood before us. Displayed in many different designs and patterns throughout the night. We thoroughly enjoyed the food and ambiance there. We would definitely come back.

    Crispy Orange Chicken Hong Kong Fried Noodle
    Dameer K.

    "Parking" This is the best happy hour in the city in terms of vibes, food, drinks and ambience. And it' gets better, theirs always parking nearby

    Amy Y.

    I've heard a lot of great things about Tao from their night life to their delicious food and drinks. It may have been an off night for my friend and I when we came here for dinner. We had a reservation for a Wednesday night graduation celebration. Upon entering, were greeted and ushered promptly to our table. We took in the massive Buddha centerpiece and stared with awe at the iridescent lights that surrounded the statue. Having already ordered apps from another restaurant, we dove right into the entrees. We had an attentive waited who recommended my friend the "Big Apple Sour" ($20) which she thoroughly enjoyed. The disappointment came from the entrees that were served - everything from the vegetable fried rice ($22, not shown) to the drunken lobster pad thai ($38) to the beef mongolian ($58) was doused in oil that made the dishes difficult to enjoy. The beef mongolian had a strong sour/tart taste which overpowered the dish. I did like the blends of sweet and sour of the pad thai with a good amount of lobster pieces. Overall, I would give this place another try, perhaps opting for different sets of entrees.

    Lychee Martini
    Ebony C.

    Its been years since the last time I was at Tao. Dare is say over 7 years, maybe more. Well why not try an oldie but goodie! Instead of a full blown dinner we decided to go for their lucky hour. $11 cocktails which is almost non existent in nyc and $9 apps. We had the ruby red dragon and the lychee martini cocktails. For you vodka people you will enjoy. Me...it was okay. We shared the chicken, their take on guacamole w/ chili sauce, lobster wonton (for the seafood people), and chicken gyoza (not on LH menu). It was all very tasty. We sat in their lounge and it was dark moody. Great for date night or just hanging out w/ your people. I think I'll be back for lucky hr...its definitely a good bang for your buck.

    Alexis M.

    Tao at this location is in Chelsea section of Manhattan. Closest trains are A,C, E, & L - Still w/ in walking distance are the 2,3,1 trains, etc. & they serve different 14th Train Stations. Tao Downtown's NightClub was visited w/ two friends back in the Summertime to kick off my Birthday Weekend. Although I have heard that Tao has good Pan Asian Cuisine, my review is solely based on us visiting & enjoying party vibes via Tao Downtown's NightClub. We had a good time. After already going to a tasting & then an Art Exhibit Opening via Mriya Gallery, my friend contacted Tao to make a VIP Reservation. Before you know it, the three of us were going through the doors, got checked-in & was placed near one of the seated areas. Tao Downtown Staff are so friendly, & ensured that we were comfortable. Tao Downtown has beautiful decor including murals, cool lighting / fixtures, etc. The nightclub is downstairs & it was packed when we arrived. Everyone seemed to be having a good time & the DJ was playing great music. All throughout the night he played hip-hop, r&b, pop, reggae, Oldies But Goodies, current hits, etc. The drinks were good, the music was flowing & of course we danced until the last song was played - lol. Tao has clean bathrooms & it was appreciated that they were well- maintained throughout the evening. One can go to Tao Downtown's website to check out nightclub events. taogroup.com @taodowntown

    Sofyan S.

    Food (5/5): A bit pricy at $75 but for the quality that you get it's quite nice. We went for the brunch buffet which had a ton of options from dim sum, sushi, ramen, skewers, steak, seafood, chocolate fondue and tons of desserts. Absolutely amazing layout and set of options with the food being high quality. Service (5/5): Friendly service throughout and we had a great experience. We made a reservation and they promptly seated us with no issues. They cleared the plates when needed and answered questions. Ambiance (5/5): Top notch ambiance with elegant decor. You can definitely tell this is a high-end fancy place.

    Sushi
    Mona K.

    Best spot in the city for exceptional food late at night. The dessert was the star but it was honestly all better than I expected for dining after 10pm. And so spacious!

    Paul K.

    I went for the AYCE brunch on a Sunday. It was challenging to get a reservation for the brunch; we had to reserve almost 3 weeks out. There is a dress code so please check before going. The restaurant is beautiful, dimly lit and huge. The seating was slightly tight but was not a huge issue. The music was kind of loud in my opinion. The service was quite good with waiters checking to see if you needed a plate taken away and bringing water without being called. The glass of water they had served me was chipped and the staff had it replaced immediately and asked if I was OK. I was fine so there was no issue there and I appreciated that they prioritized my safety. The buffet had some interesting items like eggs bacon and cheese spring rolls and breakfast bao buns. I did find it odd that they didn't have soup options; they had 1 ramen station. They had some dimsum choices which was appreciated. The star of the brunch was definitely the raw bar. They had 3 types of Nigiri and sashimi and 4 or so types of sushi rolls with vegetarian options. They also had sizeables cocktail shrimps and oysters. Everything offered at the raw bar was fresh and did not taste fishy at all. I found that the raw bar, steak and dimsum were the most notable and bang for buck items, though my partner did enjoy the sliders. That said, the buffet is $75, and with tax and tip it will be closer to $100. If you are exclusively looking to eat sashimi and sushi you might be better off at a cheaper AYCE sushi place. The appeal for me would be the great looking venue and having a variety of Asian inspired options together with the raw bar. They brought out a complementary anniversary candle on a single strawberry with a chocolate decoration. I appreciated the gesture and the small size because there was enough dessert at the dessert station anyways. I want to give a huge thanks to the staff who let me in again after my meal was over because I had left something behind after having realized it more than an hour later. They looked around for it and even let me go to where I sat. I eventually found it near my seat on the ground and both the staff and myself were very relieved.

    Aj L.

    Still such an amazing resturant, ambiance is 10/10. Food still taste like everything !!! The price is a bit pricey, they do have an optional prefix menu for $68 per person, so that makes it pretty reasonable. Drinks are OK! I had a lychee martini for $22 The music is good, soft and calming The service was amazing, our waiter was such a GEM ( I asked for extra lychee on my drink and he got me 5!!!! ) his name is Alejandro I honestly can say this resturant truly do get better and better and I look forward to continue visiting Ps. The location is still super dark lol

    Tao Downtown is a very lovely restaurant with great ambience. The Sunday Brunch is $75 per person. The food is very nice and good quality with great customer service too. They have a nice Buddha statue that adds to the Atmosphere. Recommend this place as a celebration brunch venue.

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    TAO Downtown Restaurant Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - TAO Downtown Restaurant

    Looking for popular appetizers and entrees for dinner? thanks a lot !

    Do's: SPICY TUNA TARTARE ON CRISPY RICE… 

    Dress requirement? Maybe coming form a day of touring museums and FIDI

    Casual is perfectly fine.

    Do they have a happy hour?

    No. They never offer a happy hour

    Do they ask where you want to be seated or they just seat you?

    They didn't ask...but also my boyfriend asked them if we could be sated in a particular area

    Does "standard seating" = indoor?

    Yup!

    Is indoor dining available right now?

    Starting on Sunday, February 14th it will

    Are there height restrictions? I saw a post that said they were weird about height and I'm a 4'10" woman. I was planning on wearing booties.

    Do they have a separate area for big parties?

    My friend had a party there for like 50 ppl we were in a section upstairs toward the far end of the bar... I'm sure u have to make arrangements for it...

    Is their a age limit to sit down during afternoon hours & dine? Of course no alcohol.

    I don't think there is, but maybe call the restaurant and ask. We went with our 7 year old at around 9:30pm at night, there were no table reservations available so they sat us in the lounge area, they had no problem with us having a child at night.… 

    Does this place give you a free dessert for an anniversary with your significant other or will they charge for the dessert?

    They gave us free dessert for a birthday I celebrated with my best friend, so I'm sure they'll give it for an anniversary! Just make sure to specify on your reservation that you are celebrating a special event.

    Age to enter?

    Not for the restaurant nor lounge area. But for club 21 and over

    Would you recommend the giant fortune cookie dessert or the molten lava cake? I've seen about a thousand photos of the fortune cookie but NONE of the inside/filling! Is there a lot of filling? Is it good? Thank you!

    Personally, I think the fortune cookie is just extravagant. They serve it with some sparklers and will sing happy birthday. Although I have never tasted it, I believe it is more of a eye pleaser than appetizing but it's really an exciting treat. On… 

    What's the best area to seat at for a party of 8?

    They'll seat you guys downstairs unless you do a private setting

    Is this place good for birthday dinners?

    Definitely! Just make sure you make reservations well in advance.

    Is their a prefix menu for large parties?

    we had a group of 10 and did not have a prefix menu!!

    Is the restaurant strict with carding?

    I've never been asked when dining but play smart-- it's best to have it. You never know if someone's gonna ask.

    We are celebrating a birthday and want to bring our own champagne. Is that allowed? And if so what is the corkage fee?

    Not allowed

    How much do they charge when you bring your own cake?

    They brought her a plate with like 4 pieces of cake and add it to the bill but we didn't bring a cake for her and it was only 4 of us . So sorry I can't answer that question . But you will love it there and the food . Ambiance is amazing !!!!

    How is the parking near the restaurant?

    Worth trying your luck, especially once meters are off and parking is free (I think that's 6pm; unsure). I always find parking within a block radius of their front door, any day of the week-- yep, even Saturday and Sunday. The key is just swarming… 

    Are open toe shoes allowed?

    Yes

    View All 35 Questions

    ONGI

    ONGI

    4.5
    (57 reviews)
    1.1 mi
    $$

    Needed a quick but one that fills my soul type of lunch. ONGI popped up and I recalled my last…read moreexperience with them at another location, and felt this was perfect. The interior setup was a bit different than my first experience, and I might've done a door dash pick-up last time. The space felt clean and easy to navigate. My walkin experience was straightforward for Sunday lunch hour. No wait times. You walk in, pick up a menu and a marker, circle your base, protein, sauces, add-ins, hand it to the server at the counter and voila, it's done. It was filling and tasty at the same time. I had chosen two sauces but felt my proteins were seasoned and flavorful on their own, that this could be entirely skipped. The menu eliminates the decision making of you standing on line, deciding what you want to include in your bowl.

    Ordered lunch. But somehow they added a pork dumpling into my order.(they didn't wiped clean before…read moreputting the card back) Until I saw the cost of more expensive than usual. I asked what happens? This is within 10seconds of me paying, and they refuse to cancel the order or refund me. Staff attitude was poor. Never going there again. There are plenty of other better options. Very crowded area most of the time. not a single sorry or trying to help. Edit: while your response is reasonable, please note this is during rush hours with noisy background. Staff didn't wipe clean on the ordering card become my problem is not acceptable. I definitely missed the part where he mentioned the side, as a customer, I was trusting you guys enough to be only looking at the area I adding order. Being not able to make change after less than 10seconds of order shown how inflexible and how "pre made" they were.

    Photos
    Menu choices
    Menu choices
    ONGI
    ONGI

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    ONGI

    ONGI

    4.2
    (31 reviews)
    0.9 mi

    Customize your own bowl or pick from the suggested combinations. Ordering is easy and fast because…read moreyou do so by checking off your items on the laminated menu/choice cards . Take it to tje counter and pay and that's it. Very efficient . The food was very flavorful and the ingredients (veggies etc) very fresh and size appropriate for easy easy. We got 3 different bowls to go. They have free fruit/mint flavored water. Bags are available at the utensil counter for you to bag yout containers. I got my 3 bowls it was alreadypacked in a bag, the employee asked it I was going a long ways and offered me a larger bag (it was pouring outside) . I declined the bigger bag as I had a tote that could carry everything. I want to mention the service my son and I received here. The guys were genuinely friendly, warm and welcoming. On a day when I was already half soaked and cold little niceties are appreciated. From the moment we walked in the greeting was so warm, like come let's take care of you and feed you. A simple gesture more establishments need to extend, this is the first impression of service. The restaurant was clean, food was great and service top tier. When I got home and unpacked the bowls I saw that they had put rubber bands around each bowl to secure them and our sauces had been plastic wrapped so they wouldn't pop apart. Our dinner was prepared with true ONGI. My son has been back 3 times already, it's always a pleasurable experience. Greta job here.

    Always pass by & wanted to see what they buzz was about. Seems to have a lot of customers whenever…read moreI walk by. There's small seating area. You can order via a menu that you mark up with either customizing a bowl or pre-made bowls. I chose to customize my bowl. Liked how they let you chose 2 proteins. I chose the bulgogi and garlic shrimp with radish, kimchi and scallion. There are various sauces & you can choose 2 as well. I chose the Korean BBQ & sweet & spicy. The service is very quick. Meal came out nice and hot. Bulgogi was very well marinated and flavorful. Didn't taste much garlic for the shrimp. The bowl overall with the protein, toppings and sauce was good & I would order again to try different proteins. Really appreciated a hot meal on a gloomy, rainy Monday.

    Photos
    ONGI
    Custom Bowl (Medium)
    Custom Bowl (Medium)
    ONGI

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    TAO Downtown Restaurant - panasian - Updated July 2026

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