🏮 New York Izakaya Experience

We’ve had this izakaya on our must-visit list for years and finally managed to get a reservation a week in advance. Previous attempts to walk in on Friday nights failed, so booking ahead is definitely the way to go! 😳 📍 Nonono, 118 Madison This Japanese spot near K-town is part of the Hands Hospitality group, which never disappoints. The ambiance is sleek, with dim lighting that’s perfect for a cozy gathering. It’s not too loud, making it ideal for a girls’ night out or a date. The specialty here is yakitori, with a wide range of options from regular chicken thighs to various offal. But the other dishes are just as impressive. The group’s menu is always beautifully curated, with a tapas-like style where each dish is reasonably priced but portion sizes are small. The low-carb northerner, who usually avoids noodles, surprisingly ordered the ramen, which is said to be a house specialty. The southerner, of course, went for the skewers! 🍢 Chicken Skewers We ordered chicken gizzards, hearts, and chicken oysters. The cooking was spot on, and the seasoning was perfect. The southerner loved the tender and juicy chicken oysters, while the northerner preferred the crispy and fragrant gizzards. 🍖 🍜 Signature Soy Ramen The pork bone and char siu were very tender. The northerner thought the noodles were good but found the broth a bit greasy, while the southerner thought it was delicious and finished it all. 🍜 🐂 Beef Tongue Curry Rice This was an interesting dish. The portion of beef tongue was decent and very tender. However, the curry flavor was quite ordinary for the southerner, who grew up eating curry. The northerner thought it was pretty good. 🍛 🫛 Vegetable Skewer Set Not the most visually appealing, but definitely tasty! 🍱 Next Time: I’m definitely trying the eel rice! Does anyone have any other hidden gem izakayas in New York? Let’s chat in the comments!👇 #NewYork 🌇