KEI (Izakaya and Ramen)

Reviews

• SK

  Susie Kim

  2 days ago
  5.0
  Service and ambiance are elite. The food is also wonderful, if you’re able to spend a liiiittle more than the usual, but I think it’s worth it. Very clean and balanced flavors, overall solid menu - whatever you order will be more than satisfying and filling (I don’t mean STUFFED, I mean properly portion controlled so you’re not in a food coma after your meal). The staff is lovely every single time. I’ve visited about 4 times now and it’s a trusted favorite go-to spot in Chelsea. Sadly I don’t drink, but my husband says they have some of the best cocktails in the area (well balanced flavors). Agedashi tofu is a staple. Any of the fish apps are a must (I’m partial to the ceviche and miso cod) Wagyu ramen is the ramen pick. Eel rice bowl if you want rice!
• DJ

  Desiree Jones

  Apr 16, 2026
  5.0
  I’d been wanting to come here for some time, and I’m so glad I finally did. Everything I ordered was absolutely delicious, but the salmon appetizer was a standout. The atmosphere was warm and inviting, making the whole experience even more enjoyable. Everyone, from the hostess to the waiters, were incredibly kind and attentive. They recommended most of my meal, and everything was spectacular. I’ll definitely be back!
• JL

  Josephine Lee

  Apr 8, 2026
  2.0
  Sigh. Of course in Manhattan, an izakaya--which should be a casual, affordable spot to grab an easy bite or sip--is an overpriced, over-upscaled affair where cocktails cost (*checks notes*)....$20+.....and Happy Hour fries are still $8 for a tiny plate. Such was the case with KEI. We actually came here for their $40 three-bowl ramen flight--and I wish we'd just gone to a better ramen spot and paid full price for one bowl each. We got the Tonkotsu, Wagyu Miso Ramen and Fried Chicken Tantan (mazemen)--and they were in that order of tolerability. Meaning, the Tonkotsu was fine but forgettable. The Wagyu (a laughable $34 at full price) was wayyyyy too salty, and had very little actual 'gyu. And the Tantan was just plain gross--a waste of a decently breaded piece of chicken tossed in a gross concoction of peanut butter and sesame paste. The combo didn't work, and we actually ended up mixing the broth from the Wagyu with the Tantan, just to try to salvage both bowls. Aside from the aforementioned overpriced fries (they weren't even seasoned in any way), we also split the Salmon Carpaccio, which was the only decent part of our meal. Nice decor, if you like your casual watering holes to evoke Michelin memories. I don't. There aren't many real, authentic izakayas in Manhattan, but I'll stick to those few rather than....whatever Kei is.
• JM

  Jackson May

  Apr 4, 2026
  3.0
  Good tonkotsu ramen and wontonmen. We had the crab croquettes and mentaiko udon, which were good to start. Overall the food were okay. Not good enough for a return trip. The croquettes were too runny in the center. I give that a 2/5. The mentaiko udon needed more cod roe and the baccon was way over cooked and it was dry. This was 2/5. I've made better ones at home. The tonkotsu ramen was pretty good. But the prk was not that tender. The flavor was here. The noodles were portions. The egg add on was $3!!! Which we didn't do. I give this a 3/5. The wontonmen was probably the best dish we had. Different types of noodles, thicker. The broth was light and savory. The wontons were quite good and meaty. 4/5. Service was on point. Spacey interior. Music not too loud.
• JZ

  Joanna Z

  Mar 28, 2026
  1.0
  Overall, my party was extremely let down by our experience at KEI. Our party of 4, even with a reservation, there were no tables available upon arriving. After our orders were taken, we waited a total of 1 hr 25 mins for just bowls of ramen. During this time, there were 2 occasions when the waiter came by our table with the wrong orders. We complained to 2 separate staff members that we had not received our food, despite tables around us receiving theirs. Within our party or 4, half of us received our orders while the other half sat waiting an additional 40 mins for their orders. Given the total cost of our meals, we definitely expected a better experience, or at least the bare minimum. The bowl of ramen I received was clearly a rush order, with about 1 ladle of broth. I wish I had something positive to contribute because we had such high hopes before visiting. Edited to respond to owner: I appreciate the written apology and understand that forgotten or mixed-up orders can happen during busy hours. However, the difference between a quality restaurant and a subpar one is the remediation offered to a customer when mistakes affect their experience. Unfortunately, no remediation was offered to my party during the 2 hours we sat at our table, despite the many opportunities when we raised our concerns with the wait staff. For this reason, I felt it necessary to leave a 1 star review.