The Izakaya NYC Introduce
In the heart of New York's vibrant East Village, The Izakaya NYC stands as a welcoming destination for those seeking an authentic and casual Japanese dining experience. This restaurant embodies the spirit of a traditional izakaya—a Japanese gastropub—where small, flavorful plates are meant to be shared over drinks in a relaxed setting. For New Yorkers in search of a cozy and trendy spot that offers a taste of true Japanese comfort food, The Izakaya NYC is a standout choice. It's the kind of place that feels like a hidden gem, where you can unwind and enjoy a meal that is both familiar and exciting.
The Izakaya NYC is particularly celebrated for its focus on comfort food, with a menu that features a wide range of hot and savory dishes. While some reviews mention that the menu leans heavily towards fried and rich foods, this is precisely what makes it a go-to spot for those craving hearty Japanese fare. Dishes like the Izakaya's Signature Chicken Nanban and the Agedashi Tofu are consistently praised for their "lightly fried exteriors" and "silky/juicy interiors," a testament to the kitchen's skill and attention to detail. This is a restaurant that excels at the basics, delivering classic izakaya staples with a polished, professional touch.
Beyond the food, the service at The Izakaya NYC is a key part of the experience. The staff is described by customers as "attentive and timely without being overbearing or too friendly," striking a perfect and professional balance. This understated yet effective service ensures that your dining experience is seamless and enjoyable. The fast service is a major highlight, making it a great option for lunch, a quick bite, or a late-night meal when you want delicious food without a long wait. The casual and cozy atmosphere, while small and narrow, is a classic New York City trait that adds to its authentic charm.
The Izakaya NYC is conveniently located at 326 E 6th St, New York, NY 10003, USA, in the East Village neighborhood. This central location makes it easily accessible for anyone in Manhattan and the surrounding areas. The area is well-served by public transportation, with multiple subway stops nearby, making it a breeze to get to. While parking can be challenging in this bustling part of the city, the convenience of public transit more than makes up for it. The restaurant’s setting, with its outdoor seating, adds a unique dimension to the dining experience, especially during the warmer months.
The restaurant accepts reservations, which are highly recommended for dinner, particularly for groups, to ensure a table in the cozy space. This planning is a key part of enjoying the experience, as it guarantees a spot without a long wait. While specific accessibility details were not fully available, the restaurant is a great spot for both solo diners and groups looking to share a meal. Its location and services are designed to cater to the fast-paced life of a New Yorker, making it a practical and enjoyable dining choice.
Services Offered:
- Dine-in, Takeout, and Delivery: The Izakaya NYC provides multiple ways to enjoy its menu, whether you prefer to sit down for a meal or enjoy it at home.
- Outdoor Seating: The option to dine outside is perfect for enjoying the vibrant atmosphere of the East Village.
- Lunch and Dinner Service: The restaurant is open for both lunch and dinner, catering to a wide range of schedules.
- Late-Night Food: A great option for a delicious meal late in the evening.
- Accepts Reservations: Securing a table is easy as the restaurant accepts reservations, which are recommended for dinner.
- Table Service: Enjoy attentive and balanced table service from the professional staff.
Features / Highlights:
- Fast Service: A key highlight for this busy city, ensuring that your food arrives promptly.
- Authentic Japanese Comfort Food: The menu is centered around classic and satisfying dishes like fried chicken, fried rice, and udon.
- Signature Fried Dishes: Dishes like the Agedashi Tofu and Chicken Nanban are celebrated for their perfectly light and crispy exteriors and juicy interiors.
- Attentive and Professional Staff: The service is described as well-balanced, attentive, and not overbearing.
- Cozy and Trendy Atmosphere: The intimate space creates a comfortable and cool setting for a meal.
- Small Plates for Sharing: The izakaya format encourages sharing, allowing diners to try a variety of dishes and flavors.
- Diverse Menu: While some dishes are fried, the menu also includes options like sashimi, grilled mackerel, and healthy offerings.
For all inquiries, reservations, or to place an order, you can contact The Izakaya NYC directly.
Address: 326 E 6th St, New York, NY 10003, USA
Phone: (646) 684-4411
What is worth choosing?
The Izakaya NYC is a compelling choice for New Yorkers for several reasons, starting with its dedicated focus on Japanese comfort food. In a city where many Japanese restaurants concentrate on sushi, this spot offers a welcome alternative with its emphasis on small plates, fried delights, and hearty rice and udon dishes. While some individual menu items may not be a perfect fit for every palate, the standout dishes are truly exceptional. The Agedashi Tofu and the Chicken Nanban are frequently highlighted as perfect examples of classic Japanese frying techniques—light, crispy, and incredibly flavorful.
The service is another major plus. Customers note that the staff is attentive and efficient, which is a significant factor in the bustling New York dining scene. This fast, well-balanced service ensures that your meal is both timely and pleasant, making it an excellent option for a lunch break or a pre-show dinner. The atmosphere, though small, is cozy and trendy, creating a comfortable environment that feels authentic to the izakaya experience. It's a place where you can relax and share a variety of dishes with friends without the formality of a full-scale restaurant.
The variety on the menu, from addictive cucumbers to rich fried rice dishes and fresh sashimi, allows for a diverse culinary journey. While the deep-fried miso eggplant may not have been a hit with all diners, the fact that dishes like the Salmon Sashimi are "very nice" and the fried chicken and tofu are "perfect" demonstrates the overall quality of the cuisine. For New Yorkers who are in the mood for a relaxed evening, great comfort food, and a chance to try a wide range of flavors, The Izakaya NYC is a solid and reliable option. It's a place that delivers on its promise of a delicious, casual, and enjoyable dining experience.
The Izakaya NYC Food & drink
Side
- White Rice $3.00
- Miso Soup $5.00
To Finish
- Sake Clams Vongole UDON $22.00
clams,red pepper,butter,shiso.
- Mushroom Garlic Butter Fried Rice $16.00
mushroom.garlic.butter fried rice,sesame,parmiglano cheese,scallon.
- Mentai Cream UDON $20.00
Splcy cod caviar,Milk.butter,shiso.
- YOKOHAMA Style Crab & Egg Fried Rice $30.00
Appetizers
- Sukiyaki $25.00
- Fried Scallop $21.00
- Grilled Mackerel $14.00
- Mapo Tofu $16.00
- UPSTATE Fried Chicken $16.00
- Sake Steamed Clam $18.00
- Salmon Mushroom In Foil $24.00
Served with miso in foil.
- Izakaya's Signature Chicken Nanban $17.00
chicken thighshomemade tartar sause on top.
- Japanese Style "Yakiniku" $24.00
- Mentaiko Omelette $10.00
Egg Omelette with Mentaiko Caviar.
- Ikura Omelete $16.00
Sashimi
- BONITO CARPPACIO $24.00
- Salmon Sashimi $24.00
8 slices of salmon.
- Scallop Sashimi $21.00
- Yellowtail Sashimi $24.00
8 slices of Yellowtail Sashimi.
Dessert
- Izakaya Pudding $8.00
caramel custard flan.
Tapas
- Addictive Cucumber $7.00
cucumber, homemade spicy sauce, sesame.
- Seaweed Tempura $11.00
homemade spicy oil on the side.
- Addictive Cabbage $7.00
cabbage, seaweed, sesame.
- Edamame $7.00
- Cold Tofu $10.00
tofu, eggplant, sesame, katsuobushi, shiso.
- Izakaya's Agedashi Tofu $11.00
potato, egg, carrot.
- Shishito Pepper With Garlic Butter $12.00
homemade soy sauce base katsuobushi, crushed sesame.
- Deep Fried Eggplant With Miso $12.00
eggplant, miso
The Izakaya NYC Details
Service options
- Outdoor seating
- Delivery
- Takeout
- Dine-in
Highlights
- Fast service
Popular for
- Lunch
- Dinner
- Solo dining
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible parking lot
Offerings
- Alcohol
- Beer
- Comfort food
- Hard liquor
- Late-night food
- Small plates
- Wine
Dining options
- Lunch
- Dinner
- Dessert
- Seating
- Table service
Amenities
- Restroom
Atmosphere
- Casual
- Cozy
- Trendy
Crowd
- Tourists
Planning
- Dinner reservations recommended
- Accepts reservations
Payments
- Credit cards
- Debit cards
- NFC mobile payments
- Credit cards
The Izakaya NYC Photos










The Izakaya NYC Location
The Izakaya NYC Reviews
The service staff was attentive and timely without being overbearing or too friendly. Very well balanced!On the other hand, the menu is a bit unbalanced, offering mostly fried and rich foods. That being said, we enjoyed most of what we ordered, except for the deep fried miso eggplant.They do a great job at frying lightly, as demonstrated by the delicately thin batter that coated the agedashi tofu and the chicken nanban. Both dishes were perfect: lightly fried exteriors, silky/juicy interiors, excellent broth/sauce. I especially loved the bonito flakes that topped the tofu.The salmon sashimi was also very nice. It was one of the few non-fried dishes on the menu, so I’m glad it worked out.Unfortunately, the deep fried miso eggplant was a miss. Firstly, a large amount of red miso was simply slathered over the surface, and it was overwhelmingly salty. In my opinion the miso should be a thin, liquified finishing glaze, usually some combination of miso, cooking sake and sugar to balance the salty and sweet. Secondly, I believe they used an Italian eggplant instead of a Japanese or Chinese eggplant, which resulted in a hard skin and tougher interior. When the smaller Asian eggplants are used for this dish, the skin sort of melts away in your mouth, as does the inside.Other than the eggplant, this Izakaya was a very nice experience. The service is understated in the best way and the portions are small, allowing us to try a few different flavor palettes without becoming too full. The interior decor is not my taste, but decor falls low on the totem pole for my evaluation of a restaurant, so I’d still come back here when I’m in the mood for fried Japanese comfort food.
August 27 · Kana HiguchiThe space is small and narrow with just benches and stools to sit on - par for the course given the area. Service was attentive and friendly. Food came out quickly.Overall, the food was underwhelming. We shared the omelet, Japanese eggplant with miso, chicken nanban, clams with ramen, and the salmon with mushrooms. We also had the grapefruit and calpico sours for drinks. There wasn’t any stand out dish in terms of flavor or execution. I think there are far better Izakayas in NYC given the price point.
July 30 · Yvonne meets FoodOverall experience was a bit lacking but the food was pretty good. Fried chicken was a generous portion and really enjoyed the ramen, very original taste. Unfortunately, the restaurant was freezing it seemed like the heat wasn't working at all. And our server wasn't very knowledgeable. Didn't have a clue about any of the wines or sake but gave us tastings so we could try ourselves. Seemed like it was his first few shifts but did make an effort. Might visit again if I were in the neighborhood but many other places I'd prefer to try first.
January 16 · maia lukeI love this place. I split the 3-4 person group meal, which had about 6 courses (including sesame oil cabbage, sesame oil pickled cucumbers, shishito peppers, fried smelt, salmon, yellowtail, scallops, lightly fried chicken, Yakiniku, miso salmon + shimeji mushroom bake, seafood ramen, hojicha pudding). The price has gone up a bit recently but I don’t even care tbh cuz this place always hits 🤌
February 20 · Luc MarrieThe portion is relatively small however very tasty! Eggplant is very salty so please be careful! The steam sake calm is suuuuuuper good which you definitely should try! The overall price is not cheap, please be careful if you just want to pick a quiet and easy talking place, it's to me more like a fine-dining japanese restaurant.
July 18 · 孫紹庭(Shao-Ting Sun)
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