Izakaya MEW
“I ordered the Omu Soba which is basically an Omelet stuffed with Soba noodles and it was delicious.”
“My favorite dishes on the menu are:
-CREAMY KIMCHI UDON ($9.95)- hands down, my favorite dish on the whole menu.”
“There's a bar in the waiting area, so you can always order a cocktail, served in a mason jar, as you wait.”
Izakaya MEW
Take-out: Yes
Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
Good for Groups: Yes
Waiter Service: Yes
Caters: Yes
Price range.
$$ Price range $11-30
8 reviews
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Cozy place with BIG crowds and flavor!
I would say that even on a weekday, try to get to Izakaya MEW before 6. Contrary to the hours posted on Yelp, they are in fact open starting at 5:30PM (not 6) on weeknights. Beat the rush by coming as soon as they open and before the post-work groups arrive.
We had no wait for our group of 3 at 6PM on a Tuesday night, but the place filled up fast once we were seated. The 3 of us decided to start out with some cocktails, although sadly they aren't on the happy hour menu (HH runs 5:30-7PM). All of them were a hit and very affordable for Manhattan prices. At around $7-9 each, they ranged between pleasantly fruity and straight-up strong.
We shared the food family-style, and I will say, the bill added up fast. We were definitely stuffed, though, so I can't say it wasn't worth it. The variety and quality of the food justified the prices, though the quantity in some cases left a little to be desired. All our dishes other than the omu soba were quite small. I think the omu soba and 2 or 3 other dishes would be perfect for 3 people.
MEW is great in that it offers such a wide variety of options: there's sushi, ramen, fried foods, noodles, rice, and on and on. There's really something for everyone, and it's a good place to be adventurous. Of course, this wide range means that they can't do everything well, but I think they do a very good job with what they offer. Two standouts:
OMU SOBA ($11):
I had my doubts about this one, let me tell you…Yakisoba stuffed inside a giant omelette, finished with okonomiyaki toppings? But we got it, partly because we were tipsy and partly because it was supposed to be their "thing." Wow. Unlike anything I've had, very tasty, and very indulgent. There's something about the carb-y goodness of yakisoba combined with the MASSIVE fluffy omelette, mayo, and sweet/savory sauce that's so rich but so perfect. Mind you, I felt uncomfortably full after finishing this one, but it was worth it. Pretty simple, but great comfort food or food-to-soak-up-alcohol.
SALMON CARPACCIO ($10):
Basically thick-cut salmon sashimi drizzled with basil oil. This may have been my favorite dish of the night. Their fish quality was much higher than expected, and when I come back, I'll make sure to order more fish dishes.
Overall, a great place to go for a casual dinner with friends. I definitely want to come back!
Great lunch deal. This place is located at the basement next to a korean restaurant but it's easy to find. I got the tonkatshu ramen and the amount of noodles they gave was generous. Of decent quality but i wouldn't say it's the best ramen I've ever had. Cute restaurant with a pretty extensive lunch menu.
Mew special roll – best sushi roll I've ever had. Must try!
Kani salad croquette – sounded unique and I knew I had to try it! Best croquette I've ever had!
Fried squid legs – standard but tasty!
I think this place is too overrated, just like many other places in Ktown. We ordered salmon taco, yakiudon and creamy kimchi udon. Salmon tacos were delicious while there was not anything special about the two other dishes. Food portion is kinda small, so you probably will need to order 3-4 things for two people. Luckily price is right on point with the food portion, so you do not break your bank to get full here
Hidden from the city life is this amazing place with an elusive entrance. Once your inside, its a cozy ambiance, great for a group of friends or date night. Between three people, we ordered the tuna poke bowl, tuna carpaccio, and sushi/sashimi platter. The tuna poke bowl is delicious with fresh tuna as well as avocado and onions. Tuna carpaccio was not my favorite due to the creamy texture that I was not expecting. The sushi/sashimi platter was awesome. Once again, very fresh fish and great presentation. I also got the green tea and vanilla mochi ice cream. I love mochi ice cream and this did not disappoint.
Overall, I would definitely come back!
Where do I even begin?! This place will knock your socks off!!! The menu is basically a book and there are so many options! I suggest you get there early right when they open if you want to avoid the massive wait.
Sweet and sour ribs = fall off the bone tender and delicious
Ramen egg noodle thing= their specialty and amazing and delicious and so creative. Basically an omelet with noodles in it
Sushi rolls= yummy
Yellowtail carpaccio = delicious
Grilled squid= ehhh I would skip it, it was kinda salty
Red bean and black pepper icecream = party in my mouth!
Cannot wait to come back here and try other items on the menu. Seriously I could come here everyday just to try new things. It's also reasonably priced for what we got. Our bill ended up being only $33 a person (there were 2 of us)
Can this place be more packed than it already is everyday? Seriously expect a waiting time of at least half an hour to an hour before getting seated during weekdays. It's a hidden gem that, out-shadowed by a row of Korean restaurants, will take you a while to spot it if it's your first time trying to locate this place. Just remember to look for stairs leading to a basement then you'll have better luck with finding the place.
I highly recommend that you go with a group of friends so you can each order a few dishes to try a variety of good foods here because the place has SO MANY great options!!! You would seriously have the hardest time deciding what to order if you went by yourself. With all its foods reasonably priced, you feel so empowered to just have a feast without feeling betrayed by your wallet lol
We ordered two sushi rolls, octopus, and kimchee cheese noodles; everything was so gooood! I wish this place was closer to my work so I could come here for lunch special everyday.
MEW isn't quite in the heart of K-town, but I was really surprised to see a crowd of people standing and waiting on a Monday night. Our party of 4 eventually waited 45 mins before getting seated. At a glance, their menu looked daunting, with pages after pages of choices, ranging from sushi rolls, to yakitori, to even kalbi. Fair to say, they seemed to have brought the full Izakaya experience, plus more. We ended up trying a few representative dishes from each section and some others that were recommended by friends. Among the noteworthy, I really liked the karaage (fried chicken), which was tender and moisture thanks to having been freshly battered and fried.Their Japanese seafood items were also quite refreshing and all of the fish were really fresh. Now, being a jack-of-all-trade, MEW had a few misses on the night. My Yaki corn was clearly too dry, either because of the corn itself was dried out or it has been cooked for too long over the fire. Same went for the assorted yakitori, the meat seemed dry throughout and not at all moist as it should be. My pieces of the chicken were at least cut too large, which could have been part of the problem. So, have MEW outdone themselves with their wide array of menu items? I would like to think not. Despite the minor misses, what really mattered for me was the overall quality of food combined with an authentic pub-style experience. They have done a really job at balancing and managing both!