歌志轩

Came in while wanting something fast, but not fast food in midtown. Was seated right away. Simple menu that offers anything you might want at a ramen restaurant. Wait staff were very friendly and fast. Very reasonably priced, and perfect portion sizes. The tonkotsu was delicious. Overall great experience and exactly what I wanted.

It’s a good find while exploring the city when craving for Japanese food. All food we had is quite authentic and delicious. They definitely look tempting. Love the spicy Tonkotsu, soup is rich and tasty, very fulfilling. Don is zesty too. Good place to dine in for delicious food and comfortable environment with lovely decor.

This place was fantastic. Great food and great service. I ate the Sukiyaki ($18) and it was delicious. The beef was the perfect thinness and texture. We split the spicy edamame appetizer which was pretty good too and the entrees came out pretty quickly before we were even done with the edamame. I wish they had dimmer lighting in here for a more welcoming and relaxing atmosphere but the interior of the restaurant in terms of decor is pretty cute, it’s just bright. I’d eat here again.

I had this spot bookmarked when my sister suggested it for a lunch before our Broadway show. It's a Japanese chain known for their dry ramen or abura soba, which are thicker noodles served with sauce. We got there just before 11:30 on a Sunday, when they open, and they were still setting up. It must be a popular place because there were a few other groups waiting with us, and as soon as the doors opened, they had a steady flow of people coming in. Since we weren't hungry enough to each order a bowl of noodles, we decided to order one, and a few other things to share. We had: -Kaki Fry (deep-fried oyster with egg tartar dipping sauce) - the oysters were good but I didn't care for the tartar sauce, which was really just like a mayo -Gyoza - we didn't realize these were deep-fried, especially since the menu didn't specify, and the picture showed pan-fried gyoza. Had we known it was deep-fried, we would have ordered something else, especially since we already had another fried appetizer. But, the filling was standard - fine but nothing to write home about -Roasted Beef Abura Soba (noodles with roasted beef, raw egg yolk, fried onion, scallion, yogurt, and Chaliapin sauce) - the menu says 'roasted' beef, but it's actually raw, which I liked. I was iffy about the yogurt at first but it turns out this made the dish, along with the sauce. It was the noodles creamy, which was nice against the raw beef and egg yolk. This was especially good with some white pepper and their (homemade?) chili oil -Homura Don (spicy minced pork, soft boiled egg, and scallion) - these are smaller portions, which was perfect for us since we just wanted to try it. It would have been my second option for the noodles. Unfortunately, I don't think we ordered the right one because the minced pork was dry and a little bland. The chili oil helped a little bit I would definitely come back for another roasted beef noodle, but I think that's the only thing I'd order.

My friend and I went to Kajiken around 1pm on a Friday. They don't take reservations for smaller parties, so try to go at an off-peak time if you do not want to wait. We happened to go after a holiday when it was pretty windy out, so we did not have to wait. By the time we finished eating around 2:30, the place had really cleared out. The interior has the Japanese decor that makes it seem like a bustling street stall. Since it was a Friday, my friend and I took advantage of their lunch special. We both had the abura soba; I had the original with takoyaki ($22.95) and my friend got the roasted beef with gyoza ($25.95). The special also comes with a drink, but they only offer soft drinks (my friend asked for tea, and they said no). A lunch special over $20 will always be pricey, but appropriate for midtown location. Everything tasted great and had nice flavor, though I don't have a comparison for the abura soba, since this was my first time trying it. It was heavy on the oil, which was my only critique of the dish. Service was mixed. It took a while for anyone to check in on us or offer a water refill. However, they didn't rush us at all, and we even had to flag them down for the bill. I'm sure if it was busier, they could've been more pushy to turn tables, but it was a nice gesture. Overall, I enjoyed Kajiken, and I would go back to try other things!