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Sake Bar Hagi
Category: Restaurants Japanese Japanese [Edit]
152 W 49th St(between 7th Ave & Avenue Of The Americas)
New York, NY 10019
Neighborhoods: Midtown West, Theater District
(212) 764-8549
- Nearest Transit:
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47 - 50 Sts - Rockefeller Ctr (B, D, F, M)
49 St (N, Q, R)
50 St (1, 2)
- Hours:
Mon-Sun 5:30 pm - 3 am
- Attire:
- Casual
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Late Night, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Loud
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- No
593 reviews for Sake Bar Hagi
Review Highlights
"Especially loved the pork belly, duck and chicken."
(in 100 reviews)
"This place is awesome, hidden away in times square."
(in 73 reviews)
"the yellowtail collar was exceptionally great as well."
(in 42 reviews)
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592 reviews in English
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Review from Jezzie X.
New York, NY
2/2/2012
Sake Bar Hagi is what I call an oasis in the tourist wasteland of Times Square. You walk down a set of shady stairs and into a cozy Japanese style room with a curved bar. The bartender/server is very friendly as he showed us a pair of seats at the bar. I didn't try the sake but I did try the wasabi pork dumplings, the eggplant in miso sauce and the lamb and chicken skewers. The meats were great, the wasabi pork had too much wasabi and the eggplant was literally oozing oil. I have no idea how anyone can eat the eggplant, especially since eggplant absorbs tons of oil while cooking.
Still, I had no regrets ordering what I did - the food was fun and obviously cooked well, just not to my taste. I'll keep on ordering and I'm sure I would hit on something spectacular in the future. There are tons of items to choose from too. My friend ordered a dessert and it was really big - definitely for sharing.
The place was packed almost to capacity on a late Tuesday night, so you can imagine how busy it would be on a weekend. Expect a wait, like I did the first time I came on a Friday night. It's hard to find a better place for drinking and eating and hanging out with friends before or after a movie/play in the area. -
Review from Holly T.
Flushing, NY
2/6/2012
Decent food, and prices aren't half bad. I ordered a bowl of tempura udon, which wasn't all that big, but it was fine because I also ordered a grilled fish roe rice ball. The rice ball I ordered was a little expensive (almost $5, whereas most places charge less than $3!), and it was a little dry for my taste. The tempura udon was good, but not unlike anything I've tasted before. The winner of the night was the ramen that my sister ordered. Oh my, everyone at the table started drooling as soon as it arrived because the smell permeated our immediate area. I ate some of the ramen, and let me tell you, that broth is HEAVEN. Though I could do without all the shredded ginger, I'd make an exception.
This place closes late. We were here until almost 3 a.m. on a Sunday night, and there were still plenty of people hanging around. -
Review from Cisco L.
Manhattan, NY
1/31/2012
Cool place. But food is overpriced and flavours are honestly nothing special :(. Place can get really busy but at least they call you on your mobile when your table is ready. Don't get that very often! Just not enough flavour or wow in the food selection. Does present itself as a hagi bar well though. Been 4 times now haven't felt compelled to go back since. Not unless a friend visits from out of town and describes a craving for 'Japanese tapas'. The place is definitely not boring though - hence the 3 stars. It has a vibe that is at least happening and popular if that's how you like to dine - and I do :) But I love food and flavour first and foremost - and I always leave the place feeling wanting.
Try it you haven't. Worth it for first timers and I'll let you be the judge as a returning customer.
* Busy and happening after work
* Food is not bargain-basement so don't rock up looking to stuff your face on a budget. So be prepared to live a little.
* Nothing is a 'wow' on the menu. I've tried almost all the dishes. Some are good - nothing is worth returning for
* Sake selection is good
* Can get busy - but they will call you on your mobile when your seat is ready. Winning!
* Service is friendly, not the most efficient (as a couple times I've had to wait for dishes longer than expected when it was busy), but can't complain either! -
Review from George C.
Manhattan, NY
2/8/2012
Hagi is one of my favorite spots for cheap Japanese food. The food is cheap and at a decent, I usually end up ordering about 10 dishes to share. And the selection of Sake and Souju is impressive. If you're on a budget, the Nigori Sake is pretty good for a low price.
The downside is that when it is busy, the servers could take some time to get to you, but the price is worth it. -
Review from Mitch W.
Updated - 1/23/2012 21 photos
Sake Bar Hagi now has 589 reviews! Happy Chinese New Year (Year of the Dragon)!
After our last visit over a year ago, we wanted to eat at Sake Bar Hagi for our only dinner in NYC this past weekend. We drove from Holyoke, MA to Manhattan earlier in the day, so we were hungry early. We arrived at SBH around 6pm and had to wait for about 10 minutes for a table. The service is quick and friendly.
We ordered:
- Uni sashimi special ($7)
- Yellowtail kama ($8)
- Tuna sashimi salad
- Salmon rice ball
- Soft shell crab
All of the food was excellent with my favorites being the Uni, Yellowtail, and Soft shell crab!
If it wasn't for yelp, you probably would overlook this underground restaurant because they don't have a very large sign out front and you can't see the restaurant from the street!
Xie Xie!!!Listed in: Japanese Favorites
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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12/28/2010
After 394 reviews, there's not too much more to say about Sake Bar Hagi.
I've had Japanese Izakaya a… Read more »
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Review from Food L.
West New York, NJ
2/4/2012
5 because i don't know any place that tops this one. I know Bourdain came here, but who cares, they didn't need him to get the official "it's great." Actually he didn't do me a favor by coming here...Now it's always packed!! Seriously though - Bourdain is the man! I'm a fan of him too!
Ok back to the review, has high quality food, great variety, great selection of alcohol, decent wait staff (defensive), and decent value (you are close to times square, it's supposed to be expensive). -
Review from Lisa B.
1/10/2012
Fried chicken skin - small but awesome
Squid skewers - is it possible to get squid an awesome texture?
Braised seaweed - oh yes...so gooood, sassy sauce
Monk fish liver - fun to try, but...um, I wouldn't get AGAIN
Shrimp balls - moist and delicious!
Spring rolls - so lovely and crispy
Salmon soup - mmmmmm, smoky
Everything is sharable. Fast and authentic. Under $15. My tongue was delighted!
The waitress came across a little brusque, but I think it was a language barrier combined with our fatigue. Next time, I'd like to try the larger dishes. Everything we got were small plates. -
Review from Teresa L.
1/8/2012
I chose this place based on the reviews, and came after work for happy hour and dinner with a friend. I put my name down on the list, and prepared myself for the long wait. While I was waiting, I went next door to the Irish pub and got a drink at their bar.
As for the dinner itself, nothing really popped out at me to make me want to come here again. Everything I ate at Sake Bar Hagi could have been ordered near St. Marks. What I do remember is having a fantastic peach sake. My friend and I finished the bottle.
If you're in the mood for Japanese food, I'd advise you to head down to the lower east. I really don't understand why everyone below me thinks this restaurant has THE BEST Japanese food. No, there are plenty of small Japanese venues scattered throughout the city that have just as good as food, and half the wait time. -
Review from Sung K.
Port Washington, NY
1/6/2012
seriously deserves a big shout out.
On a chilly night with my date, i ventured out to find what's rumored as one of the best sake bar/izakaya restaurant in the time square area. After finally finding this basement gem hidden under another japanese restaurant, i was definitely not disappointed.
Place was bit small, yet cozy and inviting regardless of the outer appearance. Noise level was loud enough and drinks were found on every single table. perfect sign for a good sake bar/izakaya place.
We sat down and ordered the cold peach sake to start. delicious. my date and i both loved it.
For the food, we ordered the octopus balls, okonomiyaki, and pan fried udon noodles with kimchi. octobus balls were crispy on the outside and very tender on the inside. well executed. Okonomiyaki had a tangy taste from the sauce but wasn't overpowering the overall taste of the dish. And finally, udon noodles with kimchi (with a side of mayo sauce).. u can't cook this wrong even if you tried.
overall, a great experience with something nice to drink. i highly recommend this place for a bar food/ few drink stop. -
Review from Elizabeth M.
Brooklyn, NY
1/7/2012 1 photo
Meh.... Maybe I would have enjoyed the food more if I was drunk?
I got there at about 6pm and waited 35-40 minutes for a table for 2, which wasn't too bad bc I thought it'd be longer. Btwn the 2 of us, we ordered 6 dishes but that was probably enough food for 3 people. The bill came out to ~$55 including tax and tip (no alcohol).
I didn't find the food very exciting or well made. Granted, it's just simple Japanese bar food but I was expecting a lot more from a restaurant with almost 600 reviews and 4/5 stars.
- DO NOT GET THE TAKOYAKI (octopus balls). They taste the ones you buy frozen from Mitsuwa. Nothing like the freshly made ones at Otafuku in the East Village (those are AMAZING!).
- The soft shell crab was small not as meaty as the ones offered at Chinese restaurants. I think the menu said it would be accompanied by a ponzu dipping sauce but it was just simple soy sauce.
- The fried gizzards were actually pretty good but it probably wasn't a great idea to share that huge heaping bowl btwn just 2 people.
- I was really expecting the mentai pasta to knock my socks off bc of all the reviews raving about it but I found it heavy, cheap tasting and overpriced (nearly $10).
- The $10 yakitori set that we ordered was decent but not amazing.
- My favorite dish was the wasabi octopus. It was the only thing we ordered that had a distinct flavor profile.
Overall, I was not impressed.
Long wait + cramped seating + mediocre food = not likely to return.
Weird side note: their bathroom is surprisingly spacious despite how cramped the restaurant is. -
Review from Jando S.
What was once one of the city's best kept secrets is now the premiere destination for Midtown Izakaya style Japanese fare. Despite the minimal signage, the crowds are still flocking here, causing high wait times even on week nights. And what's not to like? A tucked away basement location, affordable prices, delicious food, and even actual Japanese patrons!
First and foremost, this is a sake bar. The sake variety isn't super vast, but the prices are enough to keep groups of sake lovers happy and adequately quenched. Throw in the few TVs they have playing sports, and suddenly the place can get a bit lively. While their drinks are good and reasonably priced, an area Hagi excels in even more is their variety of kororo style izakaya dishes.
Though the prices have slowly crept up over the years, their edible offerings remains consistently tasty. Their pork okonomiyaki is easier to eat than the seafood version, a pan fried crispy stuffed pancake with a sweet miso glaze and constantly moving bento flakes. The hirabata sausages are juicy and delicious, even though they feel pricey at roughly a $1 each. Another winner is their mentai spaghetti, a creamy pasta concoction of fish roe and salmon bits, easily a must-order for each visit. Their octopus balls, or takoyaki are excellent, especially the fried version. Amongst the specials, the sashimi, fish jaw are worth a mention and even their homemade corn dog is worth a bite.
Considering the staff is on their toes and busy from the middle of dinner to the start of late night service, they're definitely a solid bunch. For folks who have to deal with customers who are polite for having waited 1.5 hours to eat here, they're pretty darn polite. Like any good high demand place, they'll call folks who leave their phone # on the waiting list and have a 5 minute ETA rule.
For a place that serves small portioned tapas and a near intolerable wait time (30 min-2 hours), it's hard to like the idea of eating here. Great food available late at night is not always an easy find, especially in the middle of Times Square. For that fact alone, Hagi not only gets 5 stars, it stands out amongst some of the best Izakayas in Manhattan -
Review from Kathy C.
Jacksonville, FL
Updated - 12/29/2011
Recently went back to NYC again with friends. There are six of us and we went to Sake Bar Hagi the night we landed in NYC, just couldn't wait. For a table of six, I expect to wait for a while (place was packed). I put down my name and one of the servers came out asking if we mind a smaller table since the larger tables will take longer. For good food? No problem. We told him we don't mind and we were seated within 20 min. Not bad.
This is his first time to NYC for one of our party of six, and I was afraid he wouldn't be used to the cramped seating and the somewhat 'exotic' food offered at Sake Bar Hagi. He LOVED it. He tried so many dishes but especially loved the beef tongue and chicken gizzards. We had such a blast that in our short 5 night trip, we were at Sake Bar Hagi no less than four times....
Still a must-visit for us when coming to NYC.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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10/19/2009
This is my new favorite post-broadway show spot! Like many reviewers said, this place is crowded,… Read more »
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Review from Wendy G.
1/4/2012 1 Check-in Here
Food is very mediocre, not to mention tight uncomfortable seating, and the noise level seriously raised my blood pressure.
I miss authentic izakaya in Japan! The only pro is the Japanese waiter was very kind.
But still I won't go back. -
Review from Mona L.
Updated - 1/3/2012
Still 4.5.
Took newbies here and they loved the food and the price! Even though there is always a wait, the great thing is that you can leave your number and wait for them to call you. There's plenty of bars and for tourists, plenty of sightseeing to kill time.
After coming here three times, my must trys are:
-octopus balls
-fried tofu
-eggplant with miso sause
-pork belly with picked turnips/greens over rice
Have yet to try their dessert but will some day very soon.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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9/1/2010
Yum, yum, yum! I give this place a solid 4.5.
Step inside and you can imagine yourself in Tokyo. The… Read more »
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Review from Jing Y.
Manhattan, NY
1/7/2012
I'm a little disappointed with my visit to Sake Bar Hagi because I've heard a lot of hype about it, so this was probably my 3rd try before getting a table without too long of a wait.
Compared to similar restaurants in the east village, I feel like their menu selection is fairly small, there's not too much variety. Also, none of the dishes we'd ordered were memorable. Also, while the service was good, they charged $1 for tartare sauce, which they prob should've had the courtesy of telling us before bringing it over!!!
It does have a decent ambiance, nice low key place to chill and drink with friends, but I don't think this place is worth the wait... -
Review from Brian T.
12/30/2011
Hagi is one of the coolest places in midtown to hang out late at night and eat delicious food. Extremely popular, there is almost always a lengthy wait for a table. But clearly, this favorite izakaya has earned its many loyal fans, and once you're in, you're in for a treat.
The staff does an impressive job keeping the beer and food flowing with good cheer, especially since it's the sort of place you might order a bunch of dishes, see how you feel, and probably order some more!
The yakitori is perfectly delicious (although the chicken meatballs don't hold a candle to Yakitori Totto's), the sashimi (particularly the uni, when they have it) are fresh and very generous for the price. The variety of snack foods is endless; Kara Age and Yellowtail Collar are reliably excellent.
I love the pasta dishes, particularly the Natto Pasta (spaghetti with funky natto, bonito flakes, and chrunchy little fishes) and the Spicy Cod Roe Pasta. The ramen is also perfectly respectable (a smaller bowl that you'd find at a real ramen joint).
I have found that the grilled clams tend to be pretty tough, and the white meat chicken (found in their stir-fried noodles and garlic chicken rice) is dry. But you can't go too wrong here.
Best of all, the prices are reasonable, and the kitchen is open blessedly late. Love it. -
Review from Isabel L.
Updated - 12/12/2011 2 Check-ins Here
not sure whether it was just a cold Monday night or it has been a while since i'v been here, but i was really disappointed with the food here I don't think I'll be back anytime soon.
Took a few friends here after ice skating at Bryant Park and I definitely hyped this place up and said it was like an izakaya in st. marks with much better food.
The Mentai ( cod roe) Fried rice was surprisingly bland tonight, the yellow tail collar was overcooked and the okonomiyaki had way too much dough and not enough seafood. Needless to say my friends thought this place was pretty blah
I used to endorse this place and recommend it as the ultimate times square eatery, i'm going to have to take that back till they get better :(1 Previous Review: Show all »
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9/2/2010
OMG.... from now on.. don't even try to invite me to those Izakaya places in st. marks cuz they… Read more »
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Review from Mike U.
Hollywood, FL
12/6/2011 1 Check-in Here
This small hidden place is deep downstairs next to a Ramen noodle place right next to good ol' Times Square.
Looking for sushi...Not so much!
This little restaurant that is located under ground has a bar area and tables around a small little space that has food that comes packed with yumminess.
This is where you can get all your favorite Japanese tapas that come directly from the kitchen nice and hot. They have a couple of Japanese beers on tap coming in a pitcher and a multitude of Sakes...my personal favorite is the Nigori, which is a sweet unfiltered sake that is sweet and tasty.
The menu is very helpful as it shows you many pictured items and they have some favorites.
I ended ordering like 12 items between 2 people and had a tremendous feast with a couple of sakes. Can't wait to go back. -
Review from avalon e.
Sunnyvale, CA
12/14/2011 1 Check-in Here
Boy was I tentative when we had to be buzzed in.
Location is TOO close to where the Peter Griffins and Homer Simpsons and King of the Hills (whats his name?) would hunt for the closest TGIFridays or Applebees.
We got seating at round 1045p Friday and the place was still full.
Loud, mix of gaijins plus a Lang Lang lookalike (he stood out!), thankfully they dont resemble too much the thousands of Peter Griffin clones on street level.
The party next to us cautioned that they ran out of a lot of specials,I was about to bail and and go elsewhere.
Katsuo tataki was exceptionally fresh. Yaki hamaguri was no chewing gum like many other places offer. Fried grass fish diakon salad was crispy and crunchy. Creamy crab croquette, while not stellar, was palatable.
Service was amazing efficient for a crazy busy and loud place.
Rock bottom prices a plus! Thumbs up. -
Review from C M.
Brooklyn, NY
11/29/2011
CURRY UDON! You so ka-wai-i!
Hagi is the bomb. Fantastic tasty foods abound!
We had the following:
-Smoked Mackerel (appetizer)--yum
-Tuna Sashimi
-Grilled Calamari
-Chicken Fry
-Teriyaki Udon
-two beers
The piece de resistance was certainly the curry udon. They served us a huge plate of it that filled me up for a couple meals (that's what she said). No really--three meals of spicy chicken and noodle goodness.
Again, my quality+Quantity argument prevails--high quality food at a very competitive price (all of the above for less than $60!)=success. Particularly as this is located in prime overpriced/underfed territory in Midtown, this should be a no-brainer if you actually enjoy Japanese food. -
Review from Shauna And Rob I.
Manhattan, NY
11/18/2011
This place is best experienced with a lot of friends. It allows you to order things that you're confident you'll love, AND things that you haven't had before and want to try but may not finish yourself- ex: fried chicken skin, frog legs, octopus eggs, beef tongue.
We shared like 11 or 12 dishes and it was wonderful. Just get tons of Yakitori as your foundation and you'll be easily satisfied and want to come back.
We ordered fast and the food came out fast. The only trade off is that they move you out fast, which I didn't appreciate because I was STUFFED! We actually got asked to leave by the waiter the minute we finished eating because there was a line outside. The decor was wooden and subdued, the place was in a small basement.
We ate like 6 gluttons and the bill was about $120ish. -
Review from Katie C.
Brooklyn, NY
1/15/2012
Amazing food and $10 pitcher of Sapporo in the theater district. I love the okonomiyaki.
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Review from Miles H.
Stamford, CT
12/22/2011
I finally came here!!! Fantastic food, always very busy and always packed so EXPECT to wait. Anyone who has any idea about this place knows that its tiny but the food is amazing. The fewer people you come with the more likely you will get a table, but still EXPECT to wait especially around dinner time. Amazing food, great price, especially in an area FULL of tourist traps!
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Review from Don G.
San Francisco, CA
11/16/2011
Even with over 500 Yelp reviews, it still feels like you're discovering an uncovered gem. I came here expecting some yummy sushi, but pleasantly surprised with the selection of tempura, yakitori, and lots of sake.
The eel tempura with citrus salt was crazy good. I want citrus salt with all seafood tempura going forward. What a delicious dish! -
Review from James S.
Manhattan, NY
12/13/2011
This is a great place, worthy of 4 stars for sure. I like the Japanese simplicity of the menu and food. My favorite is the raw tuna with ponju sauce. Service is great and crowd is mostly asians. They have a good selection of saki as well. Good service, but the wait is typically 20-40 minutes, so be prepared to wait to get a table. Definitely authentic.
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Review from Eric W.
Stamford, CT
11/20/2011
A lot of the reviews rave about this place, but I'm not sure why. My wife and I went here tonight and the first thing I noticed was that the menus smelled like urine (no joke) and there were fruit flies swarming around our table. Ok, whatever....chalk it up to the place being "authentic," and I'll let that slide, a little.
We ordered a few beers which were well priced, so that wasn't too bad. Other than that, the food was meh. We wanted a seaweed salad, but it was sold out, so we got a braised seaweed dish instead--it was ok, but pretty salty, but I didn't mind.
We also got this skewer dish (set A) which had a selection of meats on it, but they all pretty much tasted the same EXCEPT what was (as far as BOTH my wife and I were able to surmise) SUPPOSED to be quail eggs, but was just, in fact, fried garlic cloves....uhhhh?
We also got a few other lackluster dishes.
Overall, it was on the cheaper side, and I suppose if I was WASTED it might not seem so bad, but I wasn't, so it did seem so bad. Probably won't be going back. -
Review from Briandrea S.
San Jose, CA
11/4/2011
Ohh hagi, I love that I live in walking distance to you!
My favorite dishes are the fried gizzard and the wasabi octopus. I frequently crave these dishes and come back just for them. The wasabi octopus is cheaper here than at other places with yakitori.
it's always crowded, and if u go too late (2 am), they may be out of wasabi octopus! So make sure to go early! -
Review from eve a.
10/18/2011
My addiction to fame just overpowered my greed. yes, it is happening-I m sharing with you the spot which is so dear to my heart that I would marry it if it would be a person. Its a hidden gem right in the center of tourist infested Times Square. Tiny door leads you to the basement where you can see small room w low ceilings, bamboo windows and bare asphalt floor.
they serve authentic japanese food which japanese farmers, peasants and other common folks of Japan eat. No sushi-sashime and other fancy stuff.
Must have skate fish fins-great with unfiltered Nigori. Bonito sashimi w onions, chicken kara age, rice ball, okonimiyaki, beef tongue, short ribs, pork belly, quial eggs. Try their calpico peach sour drink-or buy for lady. Cuz its semi sweet and light (but very effective in terms of buzz) so she wont notice how she drank 5 of them. ;) great date spot-its not romantic,it just unique, tasty, and cheap.
useless TVs hooked to the walls and long wait are the only problems. they dont take reservations and most of the times you end up waiting for an hour for a table. worth every minute and penny spend. -
Review from Sandee L.
10/17/2011 1 Check-in Here
Sake Bar Hagi is a hidden gem! Everything here is phenomenal, and you really can't go wrong with anything you order. At the top of my list was the pork belly....crispy, bursting with flavor and just the right amount of fat in the mix.
You really are getting the most bang for your buck...this place is as inexpensive and reasonable as it gets for yakitori. The only downfall is the wait. No reservations, and of course, wherever there's awesome food and cheap eats, everyone's gonna want a piece of it. Be prepared to wait! -
Review from David N.
10/17/2011
All the different yakitori and the agedashi were great but a few of the other dishes fell flat. The yakisoba and grilled rice ball were throw away dishes.
It's good food for times square but probably not worth an extended wait. -
Review from Susie K.
9/15/2011
Delicious! And cheap. How AWESOME. Found this place by a random chance, thanks to you guys, and I had a great time there. Got a bottle of Orion with the food and I was happy for the rest of the night.
Personally wasn't a fan of their yakitori. The grilled pork belly is a MUST, and so is the ochazuke. Order a bowl of Tonkotsu ramen after you are slightly buzzed from the beer and your night is complete.
Get there a little early to avoid the line (around 5-5:30)! -
Review from laura s.
Manhattan, NY
12/9/2011
A friend introduced me to saki bar hagi, and I come back here often. The best part are the tapas. I like the fatty pork, cow tongue, and quail eggs. It's a nice place, but you sort of have to order a lot to fill up. They also have a large choice for sake. I had a white peach flavored one, which was very nice. However, there usually is a long wait, so get there early!
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Review from Swati R.
Manhattan, NY
12/24/2011
I came here with a group of friends a few weeks back and it is probably one of my favorites (plus this is two blocks away from my office so double win!!). The ambience is definately an izakaya den style and anticipate a wait for being seated. This little secret spot in the City is definately out. We had deep fried tofu and oysters, grilled yellowtail collar , pork belly and atka mackerel. And of course large Sake and a bottle of KanNoKo Shochu. Such a delight. When I have friends visiting town, this is definately a spot I will be taking them!
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Review from olivia s.
10/13/2011
Great place for the late night munchies. Awesome place to have great food w/ a drink or two. I love coming here w/ friends! Sweet place for people to chill & have a good time w/ company over food.
Most of the items are fairly good. I recommend the potato crochet, octopus balls & the spicy roe fried rice. The spaghetti is also really good... Something about their tomato sauce, yum! Hagi is A LOT better than most places in St. Mark's.
Place is usually packed & the seating is pretty tight so be prepared to squeeze! -
Review from Connie C.
9/9/2011 1 Check-in Here
The wait is longgg but worth it! Delicious cheap eats tapas style. You will NOT find sushi on their menu... possibly their specials board but not in their menu.
Break down-- I waited about an hour-1.5 outside.. and while I was doing so, watched some guy selling bootleg purses get arrested. Anyway, you walk downstairs to this small little restaurant packed full of people (even on a Sunday). We were seated at the bar where service was superb and attentive.
BEER- Very cold, very refreshing ESPECIALLY after being in the humid subways all day
POTATO CROQUETTE- this is one big mama jamma and it's alright...
SQUID RICE BALL THING-- yummm! Other than fried calamari, I haven't had the opportunity to try it but this was delishhh!
GRILLED RICE CAKE (triangular)- MMMM... the outside was crispy... very very yummy, it is DEF worth the grilling time.
SHRIMP SPRING ROLL-- these are not like fresh viet spring rolls, these are actually really really tiny fried shrimp spring rolls.. kinda like lumpia but with a different wrapping paper
SHRIMP TEMPURA ON A STICK-- yum..... perfect crisp... about 3 shrimps on one tempura battered stick... the spicy mayo was PERFECTLY spicy... Must try!
However, PLEASE remember, if u don't like small cramped spaces this restaurant might not be the right one for you. & They DONT take reservations so be ready to wait! -
Review from Luke T.
10/11/2011 1 Check-in Here
Was in NYC for a short weekend and Yelp helped me find this place around my hotel in Times Square.
If you are standing in line at the TKTS booth in Time Square, then this restaurant is about 3 minutes walk away.
Come early, and that means before 6:30 or be prepared to sit outside waiting forever.
Get the Hamachi Kama.. no idea what it is.. good.. just get it.. you will love it.
Get some sake.. Plenty of Jun Mai Dai Ginjo around.. ask for a dry Jun Mai Dai Ginjo.. no idea what this is.. good.. get 2.. you will learn to like it.. -
Review from Mario D.
Novato, CA
9/21/2011
I went here with a couple friends for my first izakaya expirence.
It was great. I don't even know what to say other than that. The food was tasty and there was a good variety. They had sake that fit most budgets, we had a $40 bottle and a $130 bottle.
Overall I was happy when I saw the check and didn't faint, although that might've been the sake at work.
I can't wait until I'm back in NY to go here again. -
Review from Darcy P.
Updated - 9/17/2011 4 photos
Dear Saki Bar Hagi,
Last night I had to wait. Not the normal 15 minutes (even though you say 40) but almost an hour and 1/2! Why is there a perfect speaking English kid who I don't think is of Asian decent of any kind working your table list? And why did he seem slightly slow and clueless?
My love for you runs deep so I will be nice and not hold this against you. This time. Next time I'm dropping a star.
You obsessed food lover,
DarcyListed in: Foodgasms- Yes Yes Yes!
2 Previous Reviews: Show all »
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8/24/2011
To me Hagi = Love. And oh what a love it is. Since my first delicious encounter here in May, I've… Read more »
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Review from Bill S.
New York, NY
12/12/2011
Found this place via Yelp and glad we did. Lively, cozy atmosphere; terrific food; quick service and a very good value. We spent $40, including 2 beers, on a satisfying light diner. Some things were better than others. Grilled calamari was ordinary, but thick slices of yellowtail shashimi and baked eggplant with miso sauce were outstanding. We will be back to work our way through the menu!
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Review from Wing L.
8/10/2011
Sandwiched between Sapparo and another Japanese restaurant, this place is hard to notice at first glance. Go downstairs and you will soon realize that it's a happening place. Claustrophobic? Might want to go outside and wait around because you will be squished like a sardine waiting in line for your name to be called.
Braved through the long wait? Good. This place is a comfy Japanese restaurant that specializes in small appetizer dishes to share amongst your party. Think Tapas, Japanese style.
You will not find rolls of sushi here. Gasps, yes, not all Japanese are sushi restaurants. The tapas are traditional Japanese fare and the portions are totally share-able. It's pretty cheap too, especially when shared amongst your party!
Selections that stood out? Teriyaki squid (oh so tender and tasty!) ) and one of my favorite was this cold dish of s chopped up octopus with wasabi seasoning. Chilled yet packs a wasabi-induced spice? I'm game. The yakitoris (skewers) were flavored well. The pan fried octopus balls were amazingly good; soft, juicy and flavorful; for a second, it takes me back to eating at some night market in Japan.
Lively ambiance, great food to share with great friends, and sake/beer.? Did I mention this place is pretty inexpensive, so order away. Life is good.Listed in: NYC eats around the world…
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