Iconic NYC diner w/ Korean-American fusion. Known for viral pancakes & katsu club. Expect a wait!
Golden Diner offers a unique blend of classic American diner fare with Korean and Asian influences, creating a memorable culinary experience. While famous for its fluffy, rich pancakes, the menu also features highly-praised items like the Chicken Katsu Club and Korean Fried Chicken Wings. Be prepared for potentially long waits, especially on weekends, as the restaurant is very popular and reservations are recommended.
Golden Diner is celebrated for its American diner classics infused with Korean and Asian flavors. The pancakes, especially the honey butter variety, are a standout, frequently described as fluffy, rich, and worth the hype, though some find them too sweet. Other highly recommended dishes include the Chicken Katsu Club, Korean Fried Chicken Wings, and the Chinatown egg sandwich. Some diners find other items, like the wings or certain sandwiches, to be less impressive or overrated.
"The Honey Butter Pancakes are a must-try, often described as incredible and worth the wait, especially with the berry compote. The Chicken Katsu Club and Korean Fried Chicken Wings are also highly recommended savory options."
Customers generally praise Golden Diner's creative diner fare, with particular acclaim for their pancakes and unique fusion dishes. However, many note that the extensive wait times can detract from the overall experience.
Important Note
Wait times can be extremely long, especially on weekends, with reports of waits up to 2-4 hours. Some find the pancakes too sweet or heavy, and certain other dishes are considered less remarkable.
"Golden Diner is listed among the reviewer's personal favorites, guaranteeing excellent food."
Positive"The user highly recommends Golden Diner for 'wow factor' food and suggests it offers a vibe and aesthetic on par with its culinary quality."
Positive"Golden Dinner was mentioned as a reference point for the type of restaurant desired, similar to Friedman's and Good Enough to Eat, implying a preference for casual, comfort-oriented dining."
Neutral"The commenter is excited about Golden Diner, noting that they and their companion spend a lot of time in Korea and would likely enjoy it."
Positive"The owner is Korean American and offers American diner food with a Korean American perspective. Their pancakes are a notable item."
Positive"For those interested in the Golden Diner pancake, the commenter suggests Golden Hof as an alternative. They offer a smaller pancake size which they preferred, and Golden Hof is also easier to reserve."
Neutral"The commenter found Golden Diner to be worth visiting, but only with a reservation and without a long wait. They noted it was relatively easy to get a table late at night for those who enjoy "breakfast for dinner.""
Positive"Golden Diner is considered worth visiting by the commenter."
Positive"Golden Diner was recommended by a user who also suggested other restaurants like Bungalow and Musaafer."
Positive"Golden Diner is suggested as a place where one can spend around $120 without alcohol, indicating it's not in the 'fancy' category but offers a good meal for a 10-year-old."
Neutral"The commenter felt Golden Diner is small and a bit pricey for the type of food. They also mentioned that reservations need to be made a month in advance, otherwise, expect a 1-2 hour wait for a walk-in."
Negative"The commenter recalls Golden Diner having tables so close that they had to be pulled out to access the bench seating, describing the situation as awful."
Negative"Golden Diner is kept on the list of recommendations as it is popular and very delicious."
Positive"The commenter mentions that one can get the "mind blowing pancakes" from Golden Diner without the associated long lines by visiting Golden Hof. The implication is that the pancakes are a noteworthy item from Golden Diner."
Positive"Golden Diner is recommended for its delicious tuna melt and pancakes, noting that tuna melts are hard to find outside the U.S."
Positive"Golden Diner is recommended as a breakfast option."
Positive"Golden Diner is recommended as a lunch option, but be prepared for a potential wait."
Positive"User recommended Golden Diner as a good option if considering Two Bridges and Chinatown."
Neutral"The original poster mentioned Golden Diner as a potential difficult-to-get-into restaurant for a gift card paired with a reservation."
Neutral
