Posts
eggy
check out the hole-in-the-wall japanese restaurant konban for your next lunch date!
every dish is of superior quality, crafted with precision. but the cost is kinda high for the small servings... so make sure you’re not STARVING when you come!
we ordered the eggplant agebitashi ($16), tenderloin katsu ($17) with the “brunch add on” featuring miso soup, pickled cabbage, rice, & cabbage salad with black sesame dressing ($10).
the eggplant was so delicious because they fried the whole eggplant itself without any batter on the outside, making it super light & crispy! 🍆
the katsu was also impressively textured — the meat was cooked just right, neither too hard nor undercooked. the exterior was light & flaky, ensuring it didn't overshadow the meat. they had a truffle salt, which was actually so yummy to pair it with!
my fave thing on this menu was actually the black sesame dressing on the salad! it was such a new flavor to me & i would probably eat salad every day if i can have this dressing 🤤
the vibes were very simple & minimalistic (very ~zen~) so it’s ideal spot for a lunch or early dinner date!...More
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dkwak1004
December 24th
100/10 would recommend! This is place is worth the hype. It was so hard to reserve a seat at this restaurant but now I understand why. The flavors are so good.
List of foods we ate:
- Corn Rib
- Tenderloin (so good we ate 2 orders)
- Sabazushi (Mackerel Sushi)
- Uni Shari
- Niku Udon
- Mazemen
Dessert
- Corn Ice cream (shaped like a corn)
- Yuzu Coconut shaved sorbert (after the Mackerel this was good)
Sake - Bottle of Tengumai Yamahai Junmai...More
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mé
the actual breading on the katsu dishes were perfectly golden, crisp and not oily at all. the meats however, deserve their own spotlight. the tenderloin was incredibly tender, the ebi was plump and juicy with a natural sweetness whilst the menchi was surprisingly light and bouncy with bits of jalapeño mixed
in ❣️
the sides and condiments that came along contributed incredible depth of flavour. their katu sauce was sweet and tangy, the wasabi mayo was bright and with just a hint of spice and the truffle salt was my absolute favourite. flavourful, yet delicate it complimented each dish so well
#nyc #konban #tonkatsu #katsu #karaake...More
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Creampuffy
The interior decor of the restaurant is beautiful. You can overlook a small zen garden while you eat.
I was disappointed that they no longer served lunch sets. I saw online that they had lunch sets that were available only on weekends. There was one in particular that I wanted to try: it was a katsu lunch set that let you try both tenderloin and pork loin katsu. Sadly it seemed like it was a previous thing they offered. Instead, you could order the tenderloin / pork loin katsu and add on the brunch set ($10 extra) to get a set of rice, soup, pickled cabbage, and a cabbage salad with sesame dressing.
We ordered the tenderloin and the pork loin katsu and added on a brunch set to both. Food was served quickly. The katsu was absolutely perfect. It was marinated for two days and super flavorful. The outside coating is flakey and crispy like a tempura crust. The meat inside is still moist and you can see a little pink. It was so delicious especially with the different pairings they provide: truffle salt, wasabi, and tonkatsu sauce. My favorite was the wasabi and the tonkatsu sauce. Both cuts of meat were good but I think my favorite was the pork loin. Truly one of the best katsu I've had in nyc (or ever). It's good without feeling heavy or oily.
The brunch set: sesame dressing on the cabbage was good - not too heavy. Felt like a good salad dressing. The other stuff on the brunch stuff is just average nothing really to say about them. It's a bit pricey for $10 but you can't get rice separately so unless you just want to eat katsu which is fine.
The staff were also very attentive. My water was filled constantly. I love it because I drink a lot of water. Bathroom was also cute - no bidet tho.
Overall: I loved the katsu. So delicious! You have to come try it! ...More
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Ariel
Koban is a Japanese restaurant based in Seoul and it just opened in Manhattan couple months ago. It has already became very popular.
We booked three weeks ahead for a 9pm dinner, it was late but perfect time for Izakaya!
Katsu is the signature dish and a must order! I recommend the pork lion- the skin is very crispy and the meat is very juicy. Matched perfect with truffle salt.
The karaage is good as well, it’s a dish that will never go wrong.
I also enjoyed the eggplant agebitashi, a bit on the salty side but it’s good as an izakaya food as it helps you drink more :)
The rest are just OK. We had the scallop carpaccio, a bit bland for me and the Niku Don.
Overall, I like the food but maybe due to my high expectations, will not be return soon, but would recommend to try!...More
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