Franchia Teahouse & Restaurant
Categories: Vegetarian, Vegan, Korean, Asian Fusion [Edit]
Neighborhood: Manhattan/Murray Hill12 Park Ave
(between 34th St & 35th St)
New York, NY 10016 (212) 213-1001
- Nearest Transit:
33rd St-Park Ave (6)
Grand Central (4, 5, 6, 7, S)
34th St-6th Ave (B, D, F, V, N, Q, R, W)
- Price Range: $$
- Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
- Parking: Street
- Attire: Casual
- Good for Groups: Yes
- Good for Kids: Yes
- Takes Reservations: Yes
- Delivers: Yes
- Take-out: Yes
- Waiter Service: Yes
- Outdoor Seating: Yes
- Good for: Dinner
33 Reviews for Franchia Teahouse & Restaurant
I really didn't like this place. I found the prices to be very expensive (especially considering the portion sizes). The food was ok, not amazing and not bad either but I just don't think this place is worth it. I like Hangawi much better and do not recommend this place. I am still looking for good Vegan food in this neighborhood!
An ENTIRE vegan restaurant, just for ME?! Why, thank you!
How have I worked just 2 blocks away and never eaten here?
I had the Donburi, Iced Darjeeling Chai and a piece of cheesecake. The donburi was very satisfying - definitely comfort food. It was vegetables and soy meat in a brown sauce over rice. Adding the red hot sauce made it even better. I called in my order for pick-up and it was ready in 10 minutes.
The cheesecake was great actually, which surprised me as vegan cheesecake isn't usually that good.
The prices are high - but they are on Park Ave. I can't imagine how they afford the rent. Also, don't be intimidated by the place, it's very comfortable and they are friendly. Professional service but a casual lunch environment. Lovely outdoor seating as well.
If you're looking for a vegan lunch in the area - and haven't been here, definitely give it a try. There's quite a diverse menu, so I'm looking forward to trying the noodle dishes, the sushi and the apps next time.
UPDATE: I tried the sushi - and was very pleased. Not thrilled, mind you - but very pleased. I had the California Roll and the Crispy Tofu. It was very acceptable.
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The only thing worth going to Franchia for are the Kimchi Pancakes, the dumplings and the Tea of course....everything else is pure crap..very greasy...the waitstaff is very nice but also very slow..oh and did i mention while i was in there early one day they recieved a delivery for Hunts ketchup??? The only thing i could imgaine they use that for is the spaghetti and meatballs..just the thought makes me sick
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I was nervous when I heard Franchia was from the same owners of Hangawi because I wasn't a fan. Pleasantly surprised, some of the dishes weren't bad. The Mango Salad was refreshing and Eggplant & Mushroom Galore entree was pretty tasty. I wouldn't recommend the Crispy Yam Chips; they were too oily. I also wouldn't recommend the Avocado Bi Bim Bap; if you've had the real thing, you'll be really disappointed.
Overall, the decor is nice and the service is attentive, but the food isn't satisfying enough to justify the high prices.
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Franchia has comfortable seating outdoors but we chose to eat indoors due to its replication of what looked to me like a Japanese tea house. Suprisingly well done, the interior has track lighting and those bulbs I love where the filament shows through. Lots of small touches that made a big difference to me.
We each had the set menu - depending on your appetite at the time its definitely on the larger size but not big - the teas you get will do the extra filling up.
In the plate were dumplings, pancakes, sushi, meatballs, veggie wrap.
For Dessert: green tea ice cream and mochi, and a final tea. It was just under $30
Teas: I had a chrysenthemum tea, (menu stated it calms angry and frustrated emotions, for the ladies..), a darjeeling soy chai latte (excellent) and a green tea latte with soy cream (good not great). We were on our way to see Indiana Jones so had time to kill - hence all the drinks.
Service was friendly and patient if not a little too eager.
This is a multi tiered place, if you are bringing a date and hoping to profit by the romantic heights, come after 5pm when the upstairs is available.
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I really liked Franchia.
From the same owners of Hangawi, it is a welcoming oasis in the middle of a terribly arid section of Park Ave. cozy and welcoming, it was the perfect place to celebrate friendship. First time I came I had the tasting menu and even though I was not particularly impressed, I was satisfied enough... notable mention of my pumpkin soup, and the summer rolls with mango. The mojitos I ordered were blah (but hey, who orders mojito when here? I should have ordered soju) but the Lotus Flower green tea was really good, and the actual specialty of Franchia. They sport a latrge variety of teas, and will offer recommendations and refill your kettle endlessly during the night
The bean curd with kimchee was the highlight on my second visit, as well as the spicy kimchee dumplings (Yes I love kimchee)... this time I went for regular OB instead of alcohol.
One more thing that I've got to try is their rooms in the upper level, which has traditional style seating, and before I forget, the sorbet was delicious and they have a tempting array of other desserts at hand. Solid three and half leaning towards a perfect four.
Almost.
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I should be getting a lot more for my money. I got the Royal Tea Tray prefix which included the 1st picked Korean wild green tea. Entre: dumplings, pancakes, sushi, meatball, veggie wrap. Dessert: carrot cake and mochi, and a final tea. That is about $30.
The food was good, however not worth that much. It's nicely made and delicious, however the cost of the material, skills require for each dish, and creativity of the menu is not worth it. It would be worth the price if I was a vegan. There's not that many vegan restaurant, and certainly a vegan Korean restaurant is an oxymoron! I can get similarly delicious equivalent dishes with meat/seafood in it.
Tea is very disappointing. I found the 1st picked Korean wild green tea, not to be of great quality. Their brewing is also a problem. Temperature of water wasn't kept as hot as it should. Disappointed. They use the same type of Korean style brewing cup for Darjeeling tea as they do for Korean green tea. I don't feel like this is a true tea house for serious tea drinkers. However, they do have a varied selection of drinks.
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The restaurant is quaint, quiet, and would be perfect for a date. It almost made me want to grab the cutest young man off Park Avenue and pull him inside to dine with me. Alas, I'm not so bold.
I'm not usually one to care about decor or ambiance. Really, I'm all about the food. (Is it vegan? Is it tasty? If so, I'm all over it.) But at Franchia, the decor and atmosphere made the experience even more enjoyable.
The food was delicious. The pumpkin porridge was balanced and slightly sweet. Just the thing to warm me up after I'd been walking around all day. The vegetable dumplings were amazing. Surprisingly filling bits of deliciousness stuffed with cabbage, carrots, green onions, and tofu. I know they're a tea house, but I just had to try a Soju cocktail. They're well mixed and potent. I highly recommend the "kamasutra." If you're hankering for dessert, they have a lovely list of vegan friendly sweets.
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HINT: TAKE SOMEONE ON A DATE HERE, STAT.
One of the most beautifully laid-out restaurants (not to mention efficient use of limited space) that I've ever entered in my life, Franchia has multiple tiers of tables without sacrificing intimacy. I sat on the ground floor, right by the tea bar, with these beautiful translucent beige/pink/green patchwork wall hangings over my head and watched them dance around when my nose wasn't stuck in my book.
I was left alone by the waitstaff enough to get some reading done, and my food and ginseng tea came out surprisingly quick. The avocado bi bim bop is one of the best things that's hit my tongue in like ever, with tons of carrots, fried tofu slivers, cucumber, avocado, and peanut sauce that'll make your knees weak. I tried being classy and using the provided metal chopsticks, but I eventually had to become the vegan vacuum cleaner and scrape out the rest with a spoon. I woulda licked the fucking bowl clean if no one else had been around.
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I am not a vegetarian and still had a wonderful experience here. I especially enjoyed the spicy tuna rolls they were divine.(and to think they were veggy i mean I usually only enjoy real sushi) When you sit down make sure to take the time to look directly above you at the ceiling because they have some crazy inlay ed pattern and its gorgeous. As for the food it was all excellent the PortaBella mushroom main course dish was delectable.
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A modern, western (vegan) twist on traditional Korean cuisine. I'm a tea snob in my own, amateurish right, and their tea menu was quite impressive. My dining companion enjoyed his rose-infused green tea. Very fragrant and sexy.
Food is good. I suppose it was a bit strange for me since the Korean food I'm used to involves traditional spices and... meat. But I must say, I really enjoyed the "lobster" balls (wonder what they used as the vegan substitution of the "lobster"?)
Didn't care too much about sitting in the first level. Each time the front entrance door opened, I felt the arctic wind swooshing up the back of my head - a very unpleasant interruption to a charming dinner. Next time, I hope to be seated in the second or the third level.
Beautiful decor and ambiance. Attentive and friendly service. I'd like to return for tea (not so much the food). Overall, 3.5 stars.
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Fantastic tea house! I visited Franchia for lunch during the week, and it was nice and quiet. The food is great and the tea selection brilliant. I could sit in here all afternoon with a book and drink the 1st pick green tea...
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***3.5 Stars***
Franchia wears a lot of different hats, but wears them well. If you are in the mood for tea or vegetarian Korean food or sushi, this is a good place to visit. Franchia is more than just a restaurant, though. It offers tea workshops in the art of the Korean tea ceremony, a tea gift shop, a tea bar, and special packages for large parties.
The owners -- who also brought us Hangawi -- clearly paid attention to every detail of the design and decor of Franchia. This place has achieved its mission of being "a shrine to the true art of tea that transcends space and time." I really like the clean lines and Korean architecture inside, but Franchia lacks the warmth and intimacy of Cha-an.
The food is good, but not great. The sweet corn cilantro pancakes were tasty for $8.95, and the Thai noodles were filling for $9.95. I thought that the noodles could have been more flavorful, but appreciated how fresh the veggies were (especially in NYC in December). I also tried the Iced Darjeeling Sweet Chai Tealatta with soy whipped cream for $6.95. The tealatta was not that sweet. I drank it all, but it wasn't my favorite. I'll still come back for the hot teas in the future or bring some Splenda. The stand-out of my meal was the Carrot Cake for $7.00. The cake was moist, and the icing was perfect. I could eat a whole cake in one sitting if I didn't watch myself.
I was also intrigued by the dumplings and tofu items on the menu. Thankfully, Franchia has a Prix Fixe lunch and dinner menu ($26.95-29.95), as well as Tofu and Mushroom Lunch Boxes available to-go for $10.95.
For those of you who love tea but are not able to visit Franchia in person, you can purchase Korean green tea and many tea-related accoutrements (cups, kits, sets and accessories) online. I already have my eye on a very nice Korean ceramic 5 piece tea set for $44.95.
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I have to say that I really enjoyed this place!!!
Veggie sushi was great! :D Its nice to have some sushi for once that isn't just avocados hehe.
The plum tea....OMG!!! wow I want some of this to bring home with me!! It was like a juice, so sweet and perfect!
The scallion pancakes were very good too and the portion was totally enough for three or four.
I totally want to go back before we leave and have some of that tea again!!
And the decor here is simple and beautiful with the dark wood.
A beautiful, cozy dining room, delicious and healthy plates, and all kinds of teas with fussy but fun brewing instructions and complex flavors -- I do love Franchia.
Food highlights for me are the sweet corn cilantro pancakes, the meatballs, the tofu salad, and the summer rolls. In terms of tea I like the 1st and 3rd picked wild green tea.
The dinner prices are a bit much for poor artistic me, but I enjoy coming here on special occasions.
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I usually don't like vegan food, but I loved Franchia! They have an extensive tea menu with delicately flavored green, black and herbal teas that are supposed to be beneficial for your health. I had the sweet corn spinach porridge, which was more like a thick soup, but very delicious. It was hearty and slightly sweet from the corn, and didn't have any rice in it the way I expected porridge to be. The asian pear and mango salad was fresh, crunchy, citrusy, and quite satisfying. The dressing was delicious, and beautifully matched the flavors of the slices of fresh fruit on the salad. The kim chee tofu was also delicious, topped with a slightly spicy, slightly sweet red sauce, and served with a bowl of brown rice with a hint of sweetness and a small plate of cruncy, refreshing, spicy kim chee. Highly recommended!
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I should never get my hopes too high up, because they are usually let down. I had been wanting to go to Franchia for ages, and, while I found myself in a very peaceful, pretty atmosphere, was not too fond of the prices. My friend and I shared a mango and Asian pear salad, which was nice and light, and I followed it up with pumpkin noodles. For some reason, I thought the noodles contained pumpkin, rather than the dish consisting of regular noodles with a pumpkin sauce on it. It was pretty good though. One thing that irritated me was the lack of interest the waiters had in simple things like water, for instance. Oh well.
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A nice quiet vegetarian restaurant/tea house. My friend had the plum tea which I tried and I'm going back just for that tea. The atmosphere is low key but the tables are really close together so you can hear what everyone else says and I had to keep in mind I had to talk quietly as well. The room is set that the noise reverberates so it's not a place to have your most intimate conversations at. But overall, I liked the place and would go back.
Cute little place, beautifully set up and decorated. Their ceiling was immaculate. We had tea and dumplings, since we were there just got a snack and a drink. Excellent dumplings, and great tea, quick service. Try the citron iced tea or the lotus tea, though I'm sure everything else is good too. I actually wanted one of their smoothies, but they didn't have them today, so I decided to bump them down to a four star rating.
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Very interesting vegan Asian fusion restaurant. My coworkers and I sat outside, where the waiter seemed completely unwilling to refill our water glasses or offer any menu suggestions. My pad thai was really wet, but pretty good. The bimibap was spicy, yes, but lacked any flavor depth.
Let's be honest: I love meat. If I happy to venture into a vegan restaurant, I want to be wowed and satisfied sans animal. I left Franchia still feeling hungry, even after my platter of noodles that at $9 was too much for a lunch special.
The interior of Franchia is stunning, and I can imagine this place as some sort of moody hippie vegan wet dream. Too bad I'm too cynical. Too bad there's no meat.
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The menu is similar to Hangawi (the other vegan Korean restaurant - not sure if they're related) but I think Franchia might have more options. The tea menu here is impressive! I ordered the Royal Tea Tray (2 teas and a tray of appetizers). I'm no tea connoisseur, but the 1st pick Korean wild green tea was pleasantly aromatic and taste was mild. I liked it, but I think I prefer my green tea with more flavor. I had the Snow Dew herbal tea at the end. It was light, refreshing, and had a sweet sugary aftertaste. (I think Snow Dew might be Dong-Quai? Tasted like it! Yum.) On my appetizer plate, I enjoyed the vegetarian wrap the most. It had mock duck/chicken, avocado, vermicelli, fresh veggies, and a sweet soy sauce dip. Sweet corn cilantro pancakes were good too. Dessert was a green tea sorbet with coconut shavings, and mochi.
My friend ordered the Prixe-Fix which included soup/salad, 2 appetizers, entree, dessert and tea for $24.95. Good deal! She had the Tofu Stone Bowl RIce for the entree which was delicious (and fun - it was her first time ordering a stone bowl so she was very much entertained.)
Would definitely go back. I would choose Hangawi for the ambiance - maybe for a special occassion or when entertaining out of town guests. Franchia is more casual, more of a tea house feel. A nice place to catch up with friends over tea and animal-friendly food.
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Had a lovely time at a baby shower here yesterday. They reserved the beautiful second floor, a cool laid-back spot for a small get-together.
We sampled a series of vegetarian appetizers. I was impressed by the fake crab sushi, the saucy fake meatballs, and the sweet corn cilantro patties. My favorite though was the rich chocolate soy ice cream. I couldn't believe it was all vegan.
We were also served 'royal tea.' I got the plum, which was strong and sweet, and the chrysanthemum, which was fragrant and pleasantly refreshing. The tea menu amusingly said it would rid me of "anger and frustration." I wasn't mad to begin with, so I can't speak to its effectiveness. A fellow diner had the dandelion tea -- the menu claimed it would relieve gas! Too funny. As far as I could tell, she didn't burp or break wind the entire time, so it must have worked.
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A very interesting concept but it works. It's hard to believe this vegan Korean teahouse is in Manhattan but if you want to find a relaxing, peaceful place to take a break from the hectic everyday, come to Franchia. The food is good also. I enjoyed the sweet corn cilantro pancakes and the noodle soup the most.
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I'd go back, but i wouldn't eat dinner there. The portions were huge (I got the price fixed dinner for 24.99). I took home about90% of it. Next time, I would go back for a tea and share an appetizer with a friend. Hangawi is better for dinner. a cute place for a group of friends, or just tea for two.
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Okay, Korean people love two things:
1) Shared hatred of all other races.
2) Dead Barbecued Animal.
Am I right or am I RIGHT?! They love to eat tofu soup with squid and beef in it and talk shit about the Taiwanese. When I ate meat, I most identified with Korean people because I hate everyone and I loved some funky pork product. Since I am white and have no culture of my own, I had to latch on to different aspects of the World Community...it takes a village to raise THIS, bitches! Anyway, I liked to eat the fucking nastiest, dirtiest, most fucked up types of carcass...from tripe to pig's feet to beef bone wrapped in jelly fish and deep fried in baby's tears, I was all over the Korean Way Of Eating (K-Woe). I thought when I went vegan, I had to kiss my beloved delicious Korean food goodbye. Well, NO MORE. Francia Teahouse & Restaurant is like coming home to my (Korean) mother's womb. Faux-meat and spicy kimchi filled dumplings, Faux-meat and Avocado Bibimbap, Vegetarian Crispy Shrimp Donburi!
I mean this when I say, this transcended food for me. It became BOTH religious and sexual. I would discuss this further but it would definitely make you puke.
The service was fantastic, the tea selection comprehensive (including amazing tea milkshakes with vegan whipped cream!), and my company? Only the biggest misanthropic slut in town so all I can say is, I'm home.
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Ok so for someone who professes to be a hard-core carnivore, I am writing my second review of a vegetarian Korean restaurant. Whatever is this world coming to??
So I came here for a bachelorette party/bridal shower. Yeah they do this prix fixe tea menu which is quite nice. Franchia is beautiful and serene, and the tea selection is unsurpassed. That being said, Hangawi kicks Franchia's butt when it comes to the food. Most of the food here was kind of bland and over soyified (is that a word??). But you do get to keep your shoes on, for those of you with ugly toes. :P
This is the very first time I've enjoyed food at a vegan restaurant. They have created a serene atmosphere and also have outdoor seating in the summer. Try the wild chrysanthemum tea picked by monks. It will make your leg muscles relax!
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I love this place. Completely delicious vegan Korean (no, that's not an oxymoron), and a serene, relaxing space. Even carnivore friends have loved it when I've taken them there.
Service is a little slow, but fits the atmosphere. The different teas are great, and I could have the pae jun/pancakes and dumplings every day. I also can't resist the tofu stone rice bowl (yum!). And I so want someone to paint my ceiling like that.
The location is a bit odd, but worth detouring slightly upwards from Koreatown.
If you want a fancier meal, go to Hangawi--also delicious and completely relaxing.
This is a Vegan korean restaurant. Its very calm and serene inside and the food is quite good! Typically, Korean food is all about the meat so I was surprised to find a place that was vegan! I had the bi bim bap and it was so delicious. The chef will even make it with brown rice if you ask.
They also have an extensive tea selection that I didn't try but I will next time I go.
I left feeling so healthy, clean, and calm. It was like yoga for my stomach..if that makes any sense. I'll definitely go again!
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I went here on a date, so the atmosphere was lovely. Dimly lit, candles, and soothing music. The food was fair, although we didn't have Korean (sushi and dumplings). I suspect the Korean food is better. My chai was luke warm (what is it with luke warm soy drinks), but still nicely flavored. The service was a little slow on the up-take, but the food came quickly.
Vegan friendly!
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Gorgeous and chic teahouse in Murray Hill. Korean and other specialties which are very sensitive to vegan and non-dairy diets. The desserts taste so great, you would never know how healthy they really are... (chocolate cake and the carrot cake taste rich and yummy, even though they are soy-based). Everything is beautifully presented.
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great noodle dishes and tea selection, summer outdoor seating on park ave...indoor tiered seating makes for a feeling of privacy
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I loved this place. I have been telling everyone I know to give it a try. The food was excellent and the tea selection is out of control. The waiters really take pride in the teas and are more than happy to share some of the history. Good place for a casual date.
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