The place was kinda exotic. Japanese interior design with loud pop music. I would sit at the bar next time rather than the dining area. The bar seems nice for single visit too. And highly recommend to ☕️coffee lovers. For food, basically, I avoided dishes that I found negative reviews here. (Katsu sando..) And.. it worked! I had to say nothing really unique, like a family restaurant in Japan, but it was kinda the style that you might miss it later in a sudden. We had hayashi omurice as main dish. I wouldn’t say the stew was perfect, kinda salty, but definitely close to “real” Japanese taste. On the other hand, omelette was PERFECT. Nice thin layer holding it together, as you cut it, the egg ran down and beautifully cover the rice. For dessert, I would recommend 🥞hot cake! We had original one, 2 pieces with ice cream, citrus butter, and some raisin granola. If compared with other places serving pancake with same prices, I think their portion was small. But still delicious and I want to try the green tea one next time! Last for drinks, we had one ☕️siphon black coffee and the kiwi grapefruit ade. (For coffee, you got many special coffee beans to choose!) Both of us were satisfied with the drinks! Although, pricy.

Disappointed by the food, drinks, and service here. Eggs on the cream and demi-glace omurice were over cooked so you wouldn’t see the running egg effect. Sauces were a bit blend. Katsu Sandwich was the best among all the savory dishes. No matter hot or cold Siphon coffee they were very water down… tasting sort of like diluted coffee… we’ve waited for our drinks and dishes for more than twenty minutes. Even when we reached out to the waitress, they were not so responsive and put on impatient faces. There are many positive reviews of this restaurant but I’m not a huge fan of this dining experience

Been a long time fan of Hi-Collar at their original location, so I was excited to try out their new spot. We went for both brunch and dinner (they now have a full dinner menu with cocktails). Brunch retains their usual menu with siphon coffee, and their counter space near the entrance harkins back to their original bar seating at their old location. Great experience and service that brings back old memories. Their dinner service is new, with a full menu of traditional dishes like hamburg steak, karaage, corquettes, age dashi tofu, and more. While solid quality and flavor, it did lack some originality that would make it a standout. However, the cocktails were amazing, and the happy hour Yamazaki pour is a steal. Lastly, service was a bit slow and disorganized, and it took a while to get everything out.

Omurice is a must-try! The omelette above is super fluffy and melts inside my mouth, also I found something interesting~the Omurice looks like a giant sushi from the side! So cute! The Katsu Sando is also in good quality! I love this place!

We had a lovely brunch here. There was a 40ish minute wait since we didn’t have reservations but host was very kind and friendly and brought us water while we were waiting. We had the omurice and it was incredible. The sauce and katsu were delightful. We also got some beautiful hotcakes. They were delicious. The sauces and adornment incredible. They were not as light and fluffy as I was anticipating but still incredible.

The service is really letting the whole experience down. Our omurice (egg on rice as in the photo) and pork sandwich took a shocking 40 minutes to arrive (and when we arrive most tables around us are wrapping up already as we were seated 1:20pm). When we reach out to our waitress (who was also the only waitress/hostess) about it after drinking water for 30+ minutes, she said ‘5 more minutes’ without any explanation. We were pretty sure there must’ve been some negligence in the kitchen/ordering because food around us seemed to have arrive fairly quickly, except for our table. However, our waitress made no attempt to provide any explanation, or offer any remedy. The food wasn’t bad, but again I don’t know whether that’s from waiting empty stomach for so long. Do not recommend and would not come back again.

this has been on my to go list for the longest time! got the chance to go for brunch this weekend, ordered the omurice, green tea pancakes, and their katsu hayashi rice! all were amazing, our favorite had to be the omurice - perfectly made. will definitely come back again! one of my fav japanese brunch place in nyc :-).

Yummiest hot cakes! But the syphoned coffee takes home the crown. Both flavors worked well. Cozy interiors especially in the winter. Would come back here for more.

Beautiful and delicious food, efficient service and wonderful ambiance. My group of friends made a reservation for 8. Unfortunately upon being seated, we were told we would only have an hour. For our group size, this made everything feel rushed and hard to enjoy the food and company. It's understandable that they need to be able to keep business flowing, but they should have more flexibility. Each dish was beautifully plated and their menu has a wide spectrum of sweet and savory dishes. All the different teas were flavorful and just the right temperature. Other than being rushed, the service was good and efficient. Pricing felt reasonable too.

One of a kind Japanese brunch place. If you have never tried Japanese brunch before, this is the place to go. They have a very well selected menu to help you choose. All the dishes I ordered were absolutely tasty. And they have this iconic Japanese flavor to them. I personally would recommend their pork sandwiches!

I came specifically for the siphon coffee and hot cakes on a Saturday afternoon with no wait but disappointedly did not find them exceptional. We also ordered yuzu sour cocktail and omurice with demi-glaze (beef broth), where the cocktail redeemed some quality for the place. It was the right balance of tartness and it felt refreshing. The hot cakes were as dense as regular cakes and lack the fluffiness that other reviewers described. The butter had lemon zest which made the cake lemony, it's good for those who like citrus flavor. The additional sausage was boiled or microwaved like an afterthought. The siphon was okay, didn't taste the floral or fruity notes the description had for the bean and made me wonder if pour over would have been a better choice. The omurice was also okay, eggs were buttery and soft with rice. I have never been at their old locations and don't know if the move affected their quality. The service was mediocre at best. There was no question on how the customers want their coffee, as if it is assume I want it black. I would give the place one more try, but otherwise can find better alternatives with good service in the area.

Bigger space doesn't mean better. Huge disappointment. I hesitated to write this review, because it used to be our favorite place in NYC, back in the days, when the restaurant was smaller and you had to line up outside waiting. Last time we've been here in the end of December 2019, and then the Covid happened; so we were extremely excited to be back in September 2021. The restaurant got spacious and decorated well, very pleasant to an eye; although there's still only one bathroom, and everything else just got worse. You have to wait to be seated, you have to waited for the menus, for someone to take an order, for the food to be cooked and delivered to your table LUKEWARM. Back in the "old" place one lady behind the bar was making 4 to 6 coffees at the time, meanwhile assisting with other drinks and needs; obviously it wasn't the typical American service, but it was friendly enough, very efficient and professional. During the last visit we were the only people at the bar, had to wait for the coffee, and even the beer to be put in front of us; never got asked if we want anything else. The food took ridiculous 40ish minutes to make, wasn't even hot when got delivered, presentation was poor, half plated half in plastic cups. The food runner looked completely lost and unsure what he's delivering. We asked for - Demi-glace omurice - got one with the ketchup; ($13-$15) - the Katsu sandwich had to sad pieces of pork with huge chunk of fat, extremely dry, lacked any flavor; ($16) - the hot cakes were barely warm, not fluffy at all, dense and saggy at the same time (tasted like regular pancake mix that you can get in any supermarket); ($12 + extra toppings available for extra $) - the pork sausages were neither good, or bad, just eh. ($10 for 5 pcs) - the siphon coffee was bitter. ($6.8 + $1 or $2 extra for certain beans) Overall, if you have a lot of time to waste and pay regular prices for low quality food, this will be a perfect spot. This place used to be starred on my map, now it's moving to "NO" list; It was so bad, that I realize I don't want to give a second chance. I also attached some photos from 2019 that I found on my phone for comparison.

I LOVE this place! Their new location is so beautiful and I'm really glad they survived the pandemic because the staff and food are amazing! Yuki is the best! I highly recommend the shrimp shumai, pancakes, tamago sandwich, and the Beans on the Rocks cocktail! Their coffees are great too!

Food was great! The Caesar salad was surprisingly good and the agedashi tofu was amazing. The food is majority small plates so plan to share the food. Some of their menu items are in rotation so we weren't able to get the omurice or the sandwiches. Food is slightly pricey but this place seems more upscale with a focus on their drinks so it us understandable.

That was an interesting experience. Siphon coffee was good, I just imagined it to be a little bit stronger in taste. Hot cakes were nice too, I recommend getting them with strawberries and whipped cream.

Hi-Collar is a cute cafe to grab a bite to eat. Definitely too busy on a weekend to grab a quick bite or to stay and chat for while. The food was yummy and the drinks were delicious. The Viet Ice Coffee was slightly sweet and very smooth. The hot cakes were a little dense, but were very well balanced in terms of flavor. I really like the subtle hint of orange. The omurice was a little bland and probably could've used a little more seasoning or demi-glace. I would probably order it without the katsu on top if I were to get it again.

We came here twice in one day, so that’s enough of a seal of approval for me to return every time I’m in NYC. Top tier Vietnamese coffee and cocktails. The tomago sandwich, for it’s simplicity, was flavorful and fulfilling. The staff is also very welcoming and friendly.

The food was great. Especially the omurice with original sauce. It had the perfect amount of salt and savoriness. It’s the perfect way to warm up and fill your stomach before doing the tests if your errands. It was a more expensive breakfast/brunch but that’s only because of all the items I got. Each menu item individually is moderately priced. I went alone so I was placed on the bar counter. Though the place seemed busy, I had a 3 minute wait time even with no reservation. The staff were so nice and amazing. They made sure my experience was lovely and had my food out quickly.

Hi-Collar is both a wonderful morning coffee spot and warm evening cocktail bar. Both times I came, I sat at the bar, which has a cozy atmosphere. Your coffee is skillfully made in front of you by the bartenders. Part of the experience for me is watching and knowing your beverage is made with care and properly. The evening bartenders are incredibly friendly and their cocktails are delicious. Omurice and Pancakes were so good

I think the staff was trying hard but there was an air of controlled chaos. The poor guy making coffees was super busy. Our coffee was good and the Japanese coffee shop vibe was cool but it all got lost somehow. Been to many coffee shops in Japan and this wasn’t that. Almost though. Maybe I’ll try again post pandemic.

Where have I been this whole time?! Amazing brunch spot for Japanese brunch. The menu is great, albeit there were limited options. Nonetheless, the service was great and the dishes and drinks were wonderful. Will most definitely be back.

Was excited to finally get to check this place out. Right off the bat, their brussel sprouts and romaine salad were delicious. We also ordered udon and hamburg steak. The portion of each dish is small so keep that in mind. Although tge romaine salad was huge. All the food was a bit salty for me. Guess that was the only downside. Overall the server was so nice. And we were lucky to get the seat right away without making a reservation. Try romaine salad and brussel sprouts for real! You won't regret!

Atmosphere was very nice and service was good too. The food left a lot to be desired though. Hayashi and curry, which tastes a bit weird, were barely warm. The kushi katsu was pretty chewy and very small for the price. Tonkatsu was also sorta small and dry as well. White rice and the omurice omelette were cooked well. The hayashi also tasted pleasantly stewy (red wine, tomato paste, etc). Matcha hotcakes were good, still pretty expensive for what it is though. Overall, not worth my money. Sadly, I've had better at fast food joints in Japan for much much less.

Service is lovely here. The interior space is cozy and beautiful. Food came fast, pancakes and omurice were delicious. We had siphoned coffee for the first time, so I have noooo idea how it’s supposed to taste. We were such coffee nubbs but it was pretty cool seeing how it was served. The pancakes came with a lot of “stuff”. Some sliced fruit, ice cream, freshly whipped cream, matcha drizzle, and granola sprinkled around. It didn’t look that filling but I felt super full towards the end.

I don’t get the hype about this place. We came here for lunch and ordered the rice dish, the spaghetti, and the katsu sandwich. None of the dishes are anything to write home about. The spaghetti especially was actually terrible IMO- my husband said it felt like it was made by a 10 year old: really really sweet like it was basically mixed with a ton of ketchup. The rice was decent, and the sandwich average. We also ordered the kiwi drink and it too was on the sweet end but also very bland at the same time. For what it was worth, quite an expensive meal at 80 total. The ambience was quite nice. I’d go for a coffee there but not for the food again.

The ambiance towards the back of the restaurant was amazing, the food was delicious (pancakes, omurice, siphoned coffee) but above all, the service was remarkable. I accidentally spilled my coffee all over my pancakes and they immediately offered to remake the entire dish for me. Very happy with the experience.

Food was good and fair for the price but the service was quite appalling. We made a reservation so we didn’t have to wait for a table. But from the moment we sat down all the way until we paid the bill, the staff would constantly come over to our table and reach over our food to adjust the thermostat. It was at least 5 times during our entire meal and were not able to enjoy the experience. On top of that, some of the cutlery that was provided was still dirty and had food specs on them, specifically the spork.

Came for the omurice but was disappointed it wasn't offered for on the dinner menu. If you're looking to get the omurice, make sure to book a reservation in-advance for lunch, as they do not take orders for take-out. Stayed for dinner menu and was pleasantly surprised by the hamburger steak. The gravy was delicious and rich. However, the other dinner menu items were small and pricey, but still really delicious.

A delicious brunch experience. We arrived at noon without a reservation but were able to sit at the counter right away. We had a pour over iced coffee, katsu sandwich (flavorful sauce with moist pork that was not chewy or hard to eat), the Omurice(omelette on rice - eggs perfectly soft on top of fluffy, seasoned rice), and original thick hotcakes (cloudy goodness with brown sugar ice cream, orange butter, and syrup). All were great with the last two being the best and items that stood out the most. Excited to come back at night to see those offerings.

My wife's and I favorite go to spot in NYC. The food never disappoints, the new location is spacious, and every staff there is super nice and helpful. Definitely get the omurice and chicken cutlet and their pancakes, the orange butter is to die for.

The coffee here is phenomenal! We got The Yeison blend in Siphon form and Hana in pour over. Both were top tier. And the Omurice were quite good as well (we got original and Demi-glace). My main critique is that the service is not the best. Often times our server would forget to explain something or forget the milk that we asked for. It’s not a deal breaker but definitely something we noticed.

Great experience at Hi Collar! Amazing tea and coffee selection, and dishes. The omurice was Delicious! Highly recommend if you are looking for a lounge/relaxed brunch option with a Japanese touch!

We went for lunch on a Monday afternoon! There was no wait and we got seated at a table pretty quick. The service was great and the waiters were attentive. The portions are a bit small for the price but had great flavor! We got the pancakes, the Katsu sandwich, and the omurice. All pretty great choices! The pancakes were really fluffy and the sandwich had a thick slab of meat. Only complaint was that there were only two pancakes on the dish but it was still good! Would recommend getting it with strawberries.

We got the hayashi omurice and the bon katsu curry and both were delicious, especially the omurice. We also got the green tea hot cake for dessert and loved it. The service was good and the food arrived really quickly. Overall it was a really nice experience :)