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KONBAN NYC

Updated

Phone: (917) 675-6070

Address: 311 WEST 17 STREET 10011

TLDR

Hidden gem w/ Zen garden vibes; addictive corn ribs & crispy katsu.

Reddit Sentiment for KONBAN NYC(based on 120 Reddit opinions)

12% Positive60% Neutral28% Negative

Achievements and Accolades

Achievement logo

Tags

japanese 65korean 56izakaya 3katsu 44rice 29tonkatsu 7View All

Neighborhoods

Chelsea

Instagram Posts References

Konban is highlighted as the user's favorite Tonkatsu restaurant located in Chelsea, New York City. The post visually features a variety of dishes, including a classic tonkatsu cutlet, a delicate beef or tuna tartare topped with uni, and a refreshing citrus-based crudo. It emphasizes Konban's expertise in Japanese comfort food, specifically the breaded pork cutlet.

Konban is highly recommended for its Mazeman and Tenderloin Katsu, offering a delightful Japanese dining experience.

Konban is a Japanese restaurant located in a hidden alleyway in Chelsea, New York City. The establishment is praised for its ambiance, described as a Zen garden and minimalist oasis, creating a tranquil dining environment. The overall experience is highly positive, with the food and atmosphere encouraging repeat visits.

Details

This Japanese restaurant, tucked away in a Chelsea alley, offers a tranquil dining experience reminiscent of a Zen garden. Critics rave about their signature dishes, particularly the addictive corn ribs and the perfectly crunchy tenderloin katsu. For those seeking a unique culinary adventure, the mazemen noodles with almond butter and spicy pork are a must-try.

Food Overview

Primarily Japanese cuisine with some fusion elements, featuring highly recommended dishes such as the addictive corn ribs (dusted in corn cheese powder), mazemen noodles with spicy pork and almond butter, and a crunchy tenderloin katsu. Some customers have noted a lack of rice and sides with certain dinner entrees, leading to dissatisfaction with portion sizes and value for money, though lunch sets may differ.

Highlights / Recommended

"Highly recommended dishes include the addictive corn ribs, mazemen noodles with spicy pork and almond butter, and the crunchy tenderloin katsu. The tsukemen and ebi katsu have also received positive mentions."

Mentioned Dishes:

  • katsu(3)
  • ebi katsu(2)
  • corn ribs(2)
  • tonkatsu(2)

Customer Sentiment

Overall positive, with many praising the unique ambiance and flavorful dishes like the corn ribs and katsu. However, a significant point of contention is the portion size and lack of rice served with certain dishes, particularly during dinner.

Reddit Opinions & Reviews

Top Reddit Posts About KONBAN NYC

A lengthy discussion where the original poster expresses extreme dissatisfaction with Konban, citing a lack of rice and sides with the katsu, and a ridiculously small portion size. Other commenters debate the restaurant's cuisine, portioning, and pricing, with many agreeing that the lack of rice for dinner is problematic.
This post highlights Konban for its highly recommended corn rib appetizer and corn ice cream dessert, with multiple users confirming their favorites.
Several commenters shared positive experiences at Konban, praising the delicious food and great flavors. Specific recommendations include the corn, tsukemen, and ebi katsu.
Konban is listed as a recommended Asian restaurant option for a dinner with a specific budget.
Konban is recommended as a good Japanese restaurant option in the West Village, with a note that reservations are generally easier to obtain.

Recent Reddit Mentions

From post: Dinner Recs Manhattan Midweek

"Konban is an Asian restaurant recommended for a dinner with a budget of $130pp tip and tax."

Neutral
Dec 10, 2025View Comment →

From post: Bestyour Favorite Chicken Katsu Curry In The City

"Konban is listed as a place to avoid."

Negative
Nov 6, 2025View Comment →

From post: My Wife Is Obsessed With Corn Any Recs

"The user highlighted Konban's corn ribs and corn ice cream as favorites from a corn crawl video."

Positive
Oct 29, 2025View Comment →

From post: My Wife Is Obsessed With Corn Any Recs

"Responding to a recommendation, the OP expressed thanks and stated these items look fantastic."

Positive
Oct 28, 2025View Comment →

From post: My Wife Is Obsessed With Corn Any Recs

"The user suggested Konban for its corn rib appetizer and corn ice cream dessert."

Positive
Oct 28, 2025View Comment →

From post: Browheres The Rice

"The commenter reiterates their frustration about Konban not serving rice for dinner, calling it 'tapas-style' and expressing dismay as they market themselves as katsu specialists."

Negative
Oct 13, 2025View Comment →

From post: Browheres The Rice

"The commenter reiterates their frustration about Konban not serving rice for dinner, calling it 'tapas-style' and expressing dismay as they market themselves as katsu specialists."

Negative
Oct 13, 2025View Comment →

From post: Browheres The Rice

"The commenter expresses shock and frustration that Konban would refuse to serve rice, especially when they would be willing to pay for it, and notes the inconsistency with Korean dining expectations."

Negative
Oct 13, 2025View Comment →

From post: Browheres The Rice

"The commenter expresses shock and frustration that Konban would refuse to serve rice, especially when they would be willing to pay for it, and notes the inconsistency with Korean dining expectations."

Negative
Oct 13, 2025View Comment →

From post: Browheres The Rice

"The commenter expresses disbelief that Konban would deny a request for rice, especially during dinner."

Neutral
Oct 13, 2025View Comment →

From post: Browheres The Rice

"The commenter expresses disbelief that Konban would deny a request for rice, especially during dinner."

Neutral
Oct 13, 2025View Comment →

From post: Browheres The Rice

"The commenter expressed annoyance with the prevalence of truffle flavoring in dishes."

Neutral
Oct 10, 2025View Comment →

From post: Browheres The Rice

"The commenter expressed annoyance with the prevalence of truffle flavoring in dishes."

Neutral
Oct 10, 2025View Comment →

From post: Browheres The Rice

"The commenter mentioned that rice might only be available during lunch, finding this policy strange."

Neutral
Oct 10, 2025View Comment →

From post: Browheres The Rice

"The commenter recommended Ichibantei as another solid choice for katsu, noting that they are open very late."

Positive
Oct 10, 2025View Comment →

From post: Browheres The Rice

"The commenter recommended Ichibantei as another solid choice for katsu, noting that they are open very late."

Positive
Oct 10, 2025View Comment →

From post: Browheres The Rice

"The commenter explained that Konban is an izakaya (small plates for sharing), and serving rice with the katsu would be pointless as it would prevent customers from ordering other dishes. They believe the dish in the picture and other items ordered made a sufficient meal without separate rice."

Neutral
Oct 10, 2025View Comment →

From post: Browheres The Rice

"In response to a user's sarcastic comment, this user doubled down on their previous statement about Reddit being generally smarter than the 'lowest common denominator'."

Neutral
Oct 9, 2025View Comment →

From post: Browheres The Rice

"This is a continuation of a debate about the intelligence of Reddit users."

Neutral
Oct 9, 2025View Comment →

From post: Browheres The Rice

"In response to a user's sarcastic comment, this user doubled down on their previous statement about Reddit being generally smarter than the 'lowest common denominator'."

Neutral
Oct 9, 2025View Comment →