NYC Japanese｜Long-Awaited but Disappointing Kimura 😔

This izakaya in the East Village has been on my list forever. Every time I wanted to try it, it was fully booked. Finally snagged a weekend spot with a friend visiting NYC—but sadly, it was a letdown. 🍴 Kimura They’re known for their hotpots, but we weren’t in the mood for sukiyaki that day, so we skipped them. 👅 Beef Tongue Slices – Not good ❌ Chewy, sinewy, a bit fatty, and bland. Even shichimi pepper couldn’t save it. 🥟 Gyoza – My friend said they were okay—typical izakaya level but a bit greasy. 🦐 Butter Sautéed Seafood & Mushroom – Shrimp, scallops, fish, squid, mushrooms, and spinach in miso butter sauce. Decent, not too heavy. 🍣 Kimura Roll – Their signature roll, served on foil and torched at the table. But the bottom burned, the flavor was weak, and eating it was messy (had to scoop with a spoon). 🦞 Hataka Lobster Roll – Even worse. Mostly rice with little lobster, bland seasoning—felt like a waste. Overall, the food was pretty mediocre. Maybe I missed out by not ordering their famous hotpot, but that’s no excuse for the other dishes being so underwhelming. Honestly, not sure why this place is so hyped. #NYCExploration #JapaneseCuisine #StudentFoodie #JapaneseFood #Foodie #NYCFood #NYC #Sukiyaki #NYCJapaneseFood #NYCStudent #FoodLife #Izakaya #NYCIzakaya #NYCLife #SushiSpot