Vietnamese-inspired, constantly changing menu w/ punchy flavors. Tiny space, great for dates or solo dining.
Molly Fitzpatrick reviews Ha's Snack Bar, a tiny Lower East Side spot with huge Vietnamese-inspired flavors, perfect for a date night or solo dining.
This intimate Lower East Side spot, born from a popular Vietnamese pop-up, offers an exciting and constantly evolving menu. Expect inventive dishes bursting with fish sauce and chili, from crispy pastries to unique takes on classic flavors. It's a great choice for a date night or a solo adventure, though securing a table can be a challenge.
The menu at this restaurant is a highlight, featuring Vietnamese-inspired dishes with a focus on fresh, seasonal ingredients and bold flavors like fish sauce and chili. Standout items mentioned include tamarind butter snails, oysters with green chili, and a unique take on French onion soup. While most dishes receive high praise, some note that American-style desserts can be a miss.
"Highly recommended dishes include the tamarind butter snails, oysters with green chili, and the chicken liver pate on toast. The unique French onion soup with pho-like broth and the black pudding tartlet with kumquats are also notable."
Customers generally have a very positive sentiment towards the food, praising its creativity and bold flavors, though experiences with service and seating can be mixed.
Important Note
The restaurant is very small and seating can be cramped. Reservations are difficult to obtain, and some patrons report inconsistent service.
"Ha's Snack Bar (listed as Ha's) is recommended for appetizers, specifically mentioning onion soup, tartare or crudo, and pate on toast."
Positive"Ha's Snack Bar is suggested as a wine bar."
Neutral"Ha's Snack Bar is mentioned as one of the best restaurants in NYC currently, known for French cuisine with Vietnamese flavors."
Positive"The user recommends Ha's Snack Bar."
Positive"This user mentioned Ha's Snack Bar as a hot spot for Vietnamese food that requires mustering the mental strength to get into the line."
Neutral"The user's experience was neither great nor terrible. Service felt disorganized and rushed, though staff were generally friendly and corrected mistakes promptly. The food was tasty but unremarkable. They felt the hype surrounding the restaurant made it not worth the trouble."
Neutral"In contrast to others, this user had a very positive experience, calling the food the best they'd had all year and appreciating the frequently changing menu. They were impressed by the kitchen's efficiency given its small size. The service was also consistently great, with only one minor miss when certain staff were absent."
Positive"This user had a mixed experience, finding the servers to be cold and noting that some customers seemed to be regulars who could dine freely. While the menu changes frequently and the food was good, it wasn't mind-blowing. They were particularly disappointed with the American-style desserts, expecting more French-Vietnamese fusion flair."
Neutral"This user agreed that the service can be inconsistent, noting one server was very pleasant while another was gruff and forgetful. However, they found the food to be mostly great, with the appetizers being more interesting than the main courses."
Neutral"The user characterized the restaurant as serving 'gentrified fusion food' and suggested that people are more focused on securing reservations than enjoying the food or service, comparing it to 'influencer food'."
Negative"The user described their experience at the restaurant as the worst they've had in a long time."
Negative"The user found the food to be decent but not exceptional. They disliked the cramped seating, where patrons had to sit very close to each other, impacting their dining experience."
Neutral"The user asked for more details about a user's negative experience with the restaurant's food and service."
Neutral"The user stated that the service at the restaurant is terrible."
Negative"The user commented on the state of Vietnamese food in NYC, implying a need for improvement, which led to a discussion about whether Ha's Snack Bar qualifies as a Vietnamese restaurant."
Neutral"The user expressed a negative sentiment towards the restaurant."
Negative"This user found Ha's Snack Bar to be good, along with Cervo's, but did not like Jajaja."
Positive"Ha's Snack Bar was mentioned as a recommendation in the area."
Neutral"Ha's snack bar is mentioned as being pretty small."
Neutral
