Kenka

I have been coming here for at least 10 years, you'll never have 5 star service here but you will always leave with a smile on your face after having a great time. Be prepared to wait, people start lining up for 30 mins before opening most days. First come, first serve and most people that come, come in big groups. Drinks are cheap, their house cold sake is pretty good. The beer flights are such a steal! For food, anything fried will be great, we always love to try something new, everyone orders one thing and we all share. Plates range from $5-$12 for most. I don't know if their kimchi is house made but I will go through at least 2 bowls myself. For ambiance, the decor looks like someone had an acid infused dream about Asia and decorated it as such. Do not bring your grandmother, she will be in shock

TL;DR Go for the izakaya ambiance. Prices are low, but quality isn't high. Order up and share plates/drinks.Kenka, located in NYC's East Village, is a pub serving both traditional and modern Japanese cuisine. While walking through St. Mark's Place, the crowd of people gathered at the entrance caught our eyes. We decided to give it a try! There's a clipboard at the front for you to write your name down on the waitlist. Weekends are PACKED, so be prepared.The first notable thing I have to say about this place is that the decor and ambiance are spot on. The entire restaurant is decorated head to toe in Japanese memorabilia. You will really feel like you were transported to an izakaya in Japan. It's loud, a bit rowdy, and very dark in there. Actually, a bit too dark because we were struggling to read the menu. It was also FREEEEEZING COLD... I don't know why they didn't have their heaters blasting on a 15 degree day. Wild.Anyway... we squinted our eyes in the dark as hard as we could to look through the menu. There's a large variety of dishes to choose from, ranging from street-style food to sushi to noodles to grilled meats to seafood to desserts and so on. They also have a full drinks menu with sake, beer, wine, ramune, and milk teas, so you can drink your heart away. Prices are SURPRISINGLY CHEAP! You can definitely order and share a bunch of items tapas style.We ordered:*Tonkatsu (pork cutlet) with curry and rice $9.50 - I was disappointed in this. The breading wasn't crispy or flaky enough and the pork wasn't that tender. I've had much better. The curry was good though; it had the right amount of sweet, savory, and spicy flavors. *Yakisoba (stir-fried noodles with pork, squid, vegetables) $8.50 - Skimpy portions of meat and too many vegetables for my liking. They chopped up the squid in pieces that were so small... The noodles were decent, but nothing to rave about.*Miso Ramen $9 - My +1 liked this and finished the whole bowl.*(2) Sake (Japanese rice wine) $9 each - We both got the Junmai sake. This was actually the highlight of the meal! It was strong and refreshing, but went down smoothly with a dry finish. Overall, the food was average and was just enough to fill our bellies when we were starving. The cheap prices made up for it.Service could have been improved. It took awhile for someone to come over to our table once we sat down. Our server didn't introduce himself and wasn't very attentive throughout the dinner. After we placed our initial order, we didn't see him until it was time for the check. I understand that they're super busy, but that doesn't excuse lackluster or poor service. When we got the check, we were also given small cups of these pink powder mixes. We had NO IDEA what this was... we even googled it lol. We wanted to wait and ask our server, but didn't want to be stuck waiting there in the cold restaurant any longer. It wasn't until I did my research later on... The pink powder they give you is a COTTON CANDY MIX! They have a machine at the front of the restaurant where you can make your own for free. That's such a cute idea and a sweet way to end a meal. I wish they would have just told us because we would never have figured it out. Oh well.

This place is unlike any place I have been (in a positive way). It's kind of like a fun cheap Japanese pub? There is a bit of sensory overload from the menu being so large, to the music, to the loudness of the customers. That being said- I loved it. Couple friends and I stopped in here for a little early dinner/pregame on before heading to a Liberty game. We got 2 pitchers of beer, and like 8 dishes to share, and the total came out to only $80! The food was just OK but got the job done. I did notice there was a line out the door on weekends so maybe try a weekday. Must try once for the experience and value not necessarily the food itself.

This is a cute funky Japanese restaurant in the heart of the east village in nyc. The fish was incredibly fresh melted in mouth so delicious. My hubby said the sea food noodle soup was fabulous season perfectly. Btw the price was right a bill was a bit under 100 bucks for the below dishes plus warm tea.

Went to catch up with friends and had a great time. An izakaya vibe, a little loud but it was expected with how large the space is. My focus will be on the food, though I have to say the decor gave raunchy 70s Japan, so think twice before bringing your mother. The food was mostly good but I have to address the burnt squid. Because the environment is fast pace expect things to be a little on the greasier side. The soup dishes were amazing especially on a cold day. I recommend all the rice dishes, takoyaki and gyoza as well. The warm sake was pleasantly nice, again for a cold day. At the end you get to make your own cotton candy, which was pretty cool. Beware of empty cups in the machine though. Probably should be cleaned out more often.

It's so difficult to find Japanese food for a good price in Manhattan, so Kenka is very special for that. Their menu has so many options, and everything is quite cheap.I had a katsu curry, and it was a huge plate, with delicious crispy katsu and a heaping side of rice. The atmosphere inside the restaurant is pretty rowdy, and there is usually a line during busy hours. The staff are extremely friendly. After you eat, they give you some sugar so you can make cotton candy yourself at the machine right outside the restaurant.I definitely recommend!

Great place with the real izakaya spirit with several options for an affordable price.The portions are not huge which will allow you to taste several meals.We shared the kaarage, oyakodon, saba and croquettes. Everything was deliciousWe had a great time ! Ideal to go out with friends for drinks

The restaurant is extremely loud, with blasting music and a packed crowd of young people, making it nearly impossible to have a conversation without shouting. The space is tight, with tiny tables and awkward seating arrangements. My group was seated slightly in the main walkway, which felt uncomfortable and added to the overall chaos. If you're someone who dislikes loud, crowded, and cramped environments, this place will likely overwhelm you. The dishes are cheap and decent, offering a variety of Japanese street food and izakaya-style bites. While nothing was particularly outstanding, the affordability makes it a good option for those on a budget. However, the dining experience was so uncomfortable that it overshadowed the food itself. Because this place is so close to NYU and other nearby colleges, Kenka seems to cater primarily to a younger crowd--think college students looking for a fun, rowdy night out with cheap drinks and food. If you're in that demographic, this might be your spot. While the food is affordable and decent, the overwhelming noise, cramped seating, and chaotic atmosphere made it a deeply uncomfortable experience for me. I wouldn't return, but I can see how it might appeal to younger diners who don't mind the loud, crowded vibe and are looking for a cheap night out.

This place is vibrant . I felt like I was in Japan again. Waiters and waitresses are super fast in giving out food. Definitely check out their bathroom before you leave. And also remember to take the pink sugar outside and make yourself a cotton candy for free. Keep the vibes going

Cheapest prices i've seen in NYC but don't expect high quality food. you get what you pay for. the ambiance is very interesting and unique and the service is good too.