Forbidden City

(212) 598-0500

212 Avenue A (13th Street)
New York, NY 10009 40.729745 -73.980848

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Neighborhoods: Alphabet City, East Village, Downtown

fatbuddhabar.com

Hours:

Sun, Tue-Wed 5pm-3am

Fri-Sat 5pm-4am

Last updated 8.16.11

Category:

Restaurants

Payment Methods:

American Express, Visa, MasterCard

Cuisine:

Pan-Asian & Pacific Rim, Chinese

What People Are Saying About Forbidden City

The Owner

Forbidden City

Owner

Join us everyday for happy hour from 6-9 pm. $3 beers, $4 wine and $5 specialty cocktails. Delivery available till 1am. For birthdays and events email: paul@forbiddenNYC.comWednesday nights: join us at Forbidden City as rob flow spins his eclectic blend of rock/funk/hip hop and 80's. from 9-2 am. ladies get their first drinks freeThursday nights: DJ Reason and the IRT crew kick off the night with R&B and hip hop into the late hours of the night.Saturday nights: DJ Clay nice of Spin Dynasty brings his smooth blend of 80's hip hop and funk to the masses and gets the party going from 10 till…

Provided by CityGrid

Read more from the owner

Featured Review

Contributor

Contributor

The Scene – This sleek Asian lounge entices with soft lighting, sea-blue walls and niches filled with art and artifacts. An oblong bar dominates the lounge in front, where the welcoming owners keep the sake and liquor flowing. A laughing Buddha separates the bar-lounge from the comfortable, matter-of-fact dining area in back. – – The Food – The kitchen here whips up ample, greaseless portions of Asian tapas and dim sum for a mixed crowd. Preparations are minimalist and delicately flavored. Salt-dusted Atlantic salmon comes infused with lemongrass and ginger; aromatic…

ambiance
100.0% positive
  1. “romantic settings.”
  2. “great mixed crowd and atmosphere”
  3. “The employees were friendly and fun.”
  4. “the decor is warm yet sleek.”
  5. “The bartenders and the managers are really nice and the decor is very comfy and laid-back, all the while being trendy.”
  6. “The drinks are inexpensive, a trendy crowd frequents the place and the atmosphere is a laidback cool.”
  7. “It's a pretty nice and cozy place to chill with friends.”
  8. “Great food, fun atmosphere”
  9. “It has nice atmosphere, the bartender was friendly.”
  10. “Looking for a good date place or spot to have weekend fun.”
  11. “love this place-- it's a great bar-- fun, accomodating, and open till 4am!”
  12. “great atmosphere.”
drinks
95.64999580383301% positive
  1. “great place to have a drink or an app or pre-game before going out.”
  2. “yummy food and cocktails”
  3. “Great music, great food, great cocktails, and great service.”
  4. “love the drinks, esp lychee martini, and the food is also VERY good.”
  5. “Very nice waitreses(one with highlights, and the taller one too), when we had a lil problem with our order , they brought out these shots of apple tequila, without question to make up for the problem ,plus eventually they took the drinks of the tab, great”
  6. “The food was great, the beer was cold, and the service was prompt.”
  7. “Food & drinks here are excellent as well as friendly service.”
  8. “not so much for the food or the drinks; but the regular sunday night band is fantastic.”
  9. “They have great beers on tap along with an extensive cocktail list.”
  10. “love this place-- it's a great bar-- fun, accomodating, and open till 4am!”
  11. “the staff of fc are all super friendly, giving the bar a "cheers" like feeling.”
  12. “This almost hidden spot has asian fusion food and my girl loved the cocktails.”
  13. “bar/rest. hip/hop; drinks w/kung foo movie names; really cool.”
  14. “The drinks are inexpensive, a trendy crowd frequents the place and the atmosphere is a laidback cool.”
  15. “Cost - great dinner and many drinks, $60 pp”
  16. “The food is very tasty and a perfect compliment to the excellent cocktails that are unique to Forbidden City.”
  17. “the drinks are good, but the fact it's so crowded you can't really enjoy it.”
  18. “If you're not into those, they also have a full bar of "regular" liquors and some fantastic beers.”
  19. “They had my faivorite beer which gets me soooooooooo drunk :ASAHI, huge bottles”
  20. “Lychee martini was good also if you're into sweet cocktails.”
  21. “the place is good for a late night snack and with the bar being 'U' shaped, it's perfect to be checking out the good looking crowd and waitstaff, including the kind and cute owners.”
  22. “Their cocktails were unique too-I tried their green tea martini which tasted interesting.”
  23. “The drinks are amazing, the lychee martini, green tea, and mango are awesome.”
food quality
93.33000183105469% positive
  1. “I've had some downright bad service and I've had some good, but the food is what I come for at 2:30 in the morning.”
  2. “The seaweed salad was good too.”
  3. “Great music, great food, great cocktails, and great service.”
  4. “yummy food and cocktails”
  5. “The food is amazing.”
  6. “The food is decent but small portions so expect to order a lot.”
  7. “oh yeah, and the food was awesome too.”
  8. “STRONGLY recommend to try something other than typical menu items and go for the short ribs over rice, black cod, sea bass, or duck (there are two dishes that are great).”
  9. “The food is amazing, especially the king crab croquettes!”
  10. “great food and great people”
  11. “The food is great although it's more appropriate for snacking more than anything else.”
  12. “This almost hidden spot has asian fusion food and my girl loved the cocktails.”
  13. “The food is very tasty and a perfect compliment to the excellent cocktails that are unique to Forbidden City.”
  14. “ribeye steak was good but i'm not much of a meat eater.”
  15. “And its the perfect food for a bday party that was going to continue all night since they have mostly light dishes and a great selection of dumplings & apps.”
  16. “surprisingly the food was delish!”
  17. “great, great lychee martinis and the tapas style food is very good.”
  18. “not so much for the food or the drinks; but the regular sunday night band is fantastic.”
  19. “love the drinks, esp lychee martini, and the food is also VERY good.”
  20. “The food was great, the beer was cold, and the service was prompt.”
  21. “Not only is the scenery asthetically pleasing but the food is uncompromised even at 3am!”
  22. “lychee martini's are pretty yummy and so is the unfiltered saki give it a try if you havent already.”
  23. “We ate like pigs because the food was so good we couldn't stop ordering (smallish portions, but you just get to try more food, so it works out).”
  24. “the calamari was tasty, not too greasy.”
  25. “They were still serving us amazing food @4am.”
  26. “From the traditional samurai garb on display to the authentic untainted cuisine, this place is one of my favorite true new yorker spots.”
  27. “forbidden is perfect, no cover, excellent food, good looking crowd, friendly owners, great music, and one my favorite places in the city.”
  28. “liked their pork kakuni, spicy tuna hakozushi, jelly fish, ganmodoki, duck with scallions, etc.”
  29. “Great food, fun atmosphere”
  30. “The food is all good.”
menu variety
100.0% positive
  1. “They have great beers on tap along with an extensive cocktail list.”
  2. “They have an extensive sake menu as well and if you ask they will even let you taste it!”
  3. “And its the perfect food for a bday party that was going to continue all night since they have mostly light dishes and a great selection of dumplings & apps.”
  4. “STRONGLY recommend to try something other than typical menu items and go for the short ribs over rice, black cod, sea bass, or duck (there are two dishes that are great).”
  5. “The menu is always changing, depending on season, with the manager and staff always on the lookout for good, better, and best brands of sake.”
  6. “love the diverse crowd.”
  7. “recommend the dumplings and the sake menu.”
overall
100.0% positive
  1. “This is a great place to hang out with your friends.”
  2. “Looking for a good date place or spot to have weekend fun.”
  3. “It's a pretty nice and cozy place to chill with friends.”
  4. “great place to have a drink or an app or pre-game before going out.”
return potential
0.0% positive
  1. “forget the lame cover-charging lounges, i would definately come back here again!”
service
89.13000106811523% positive
  1. “forbidden is perfect, no cover, excellent food, good looking crowd, friendly owners, great music, and one my favorite places in the city.”
  2. “does get very crowded on the wknds but everyone is nice, friendly and usually good looking Also tho there is no dance floor, they play really good music!”
  3. “Great music, great food, great cocktails, and great service.”
  4. “great staff”
  5. “I've had some downright bad service and I've had some good, but the food is what I come for at 2:30 in the morning.”
  6. “Food & drinks here are excellent as well as friendly service.”
  7. “Prices are reasonable and service is quick.”
  8. “great food and great people”
  9. “The employees were friendly and fun.”
  10. “The bartenders and the managers are really nice and the decor is very comfy and laid-back, all the while being trendy.”
  11. “The food was great, the beer was cold, and the service was prompt.”
  12. “the staff of fc are all super friendly, giving the bar a "cheers" like feeling.”
  13. “Very nice waitreses(one with highlights, and the taller one too), when we had a lil problem with our order , they brought out these shots of apple tequila, without question to make up for the problem ,plus eventually they took the drinks of the tab, great”
  14. “I've become a fixture at this place b/c the owners and staff are so friendly and always having a good time.”
  15. “The service is impeccable.”
  16. “The staff are good looking, so is the mixed crowd.”
  17. “and v friendly staff.”
  18. “friendly patrons and staff- STAN's the MAN.”
  19. “This place is truly one of the last true spots that has its own unique flavor that people obviously love to taste.”
  20. “The Lychee Martini was "yum-yum" good, and the bartender was sooo nice and sweet.”
  21. “The menu is always changing, depending on season, with the manager and staff always on the lookout for good, better, and best brands of sake.”
  22. “Before we got our entrees, we asked the waitstaff if we could get seated in the dining area, since the prospects of having dinner with a bunch of people doing shots behind you isn't very pleasant.”
  23. “It has nice atmosphere, the bartender was friendly.”
value
83.33000183105469% positive
  1. “They had my faivorite beer which gets me soooooooooo drunk :ASAHI, huge bottles”
  2. “We ate like pigs because the food was so good we couldn't stop ordering (smallish portions, but you just get to try more food, so it works out).”
  3. “The drinks are inexpensive, a trendy crowd frequents the place and the atmosphere is a laidback cool.”
  4. “They have it by my house in these huge cans too ,so i was extra happy).”
  5. “As most of you are aware, birthday dinners get expensive.”
  6. “The food is decent but small portions so expect to order a lot.”
wait time
100.0% positive
  1. “Prices are reasonable and service is quick.”
5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

11/15/10

Fat Buddha isn't Forbidden City - Get it right CitySearch!!!

by djseoulnyc at Citysearch

After repeated attempts to let CitySearch know that this is a NEW venue under NEW management with NEW menu since mid August, they still haven't made the change.

Feel free to add a review of the new and improved space. Check Yelp or Menu Pages to see the updated information.

Thanks!

4 Star Rating: Recommended

01/31/10

Neighbordhood Gem

by Athena Chang , Citysearch Contributor at Citysearch

Honestly after knowing the bouncer here got shot right outside, I was a little deterred to come back here. However, that didn't seem to stop the crowd. I stepped in only to find a whole room packed with customers.

The DJ was playing 80s, 90s and current hip & hop and pop music. This is more a lounge than a dance club. Nobody was dancing, really. People were just drinking, chatting, and some of them eating. (They serve Asian cuisine)

This is a good venue for birthday parties and they have great Happy Hour daily. I just hope no more gunshots incident!

  • Pros: Good music, fun crowd
4 Star Rating: Recommended

05/22/08

Great food, fun atmosphere

by desieclipse at Citysearch

I've been to this place several times in the evening & once for a concert by a local band "Happy Fun Smile". I love coming here, but I especially loved it when HFS played because it was Japanese eclectic pop fusion & the energy was great. Food & drinks here are excellent as well as friendly service. It's a little tough to get their attention sometimes when you are at the bar because it's an immense bar space (considering the place is tiny). I definitely recommend sitting at the bar, as the tables are in the back and there's more energy up front. A great place to have a drink or an app or pre-game before going out. I recommend the dumplings and the sake menu.

  • Pros: upscale bar food, reasonably priced, neighborhood
  • Cons: small space, only 2 bartenders for immense oval bar
4 Star Rating: Recommended

01/07/08

Great Birthday Spot!

by holleratanerd at Citysearch

I had my 30th Bday party here in Dec. It was between Forbidden City and another asian influenced restaurant/lounge venue. The reason I chose FC, and so glad I did, was for 2 reasons:

1. Cost - great dinner and many drinks, $60 pp

2. Manager - Ron

As most of you are aware, birthday dinners get expensive. Not just the dinner, but primarily the drinking. And at most of these venues with fun cocktails the cocktails are $10 a pop or more... FC not withstanding... BUT... Ron (night mgr) worked with me on a HAPPY HOUR RATE on the cocktails for a few hours - $7 Stoli cocktails rather than $10!!! He was very accomodating and just reassured me that we would have a great time. And we absolutely did!

Plus the food was inexpensive and delish. And its the perfect food for a bday party that was going to continue all night since they have mostly light dishes and a great selection of dumplings & apps. MUST GET THE CALAMARI!

The venue itself is more restaurant/bar then restaurant/lounge with a casual fun asian decor and bar nightlife. They allowed us to have fun without being all pretenious and stuffy like I knew the other more upscale venue would be.

So that is why I'm SOOO GLAD we went with FC and I had an GREAT BDAY!

  • Pros: Price and Friendly Staff
  • Cons: Only 2 bathrooms and weekends are busy
4 Star Rating: Recommended

11/17/07

great staff

by iris_sky at Citysearch

first time coming there ,looked it up on the net ,great reviues ,wanted to try it..My friend loved the music as soon as we got in,had reservation so were seated promtly. I guess they are short on staff , it took a lil while for the food to come but it was delicious( the smoked duck,friend had a chicken salad ,!!!! i had the short ribs (liked it a lot ), just as someone mentioned ,portions are small but yummy).They had my faivorite beer which gets me soooooooooo drunk :ASAHI, huge bottles .They have it by my house in these huge cans too ,so i was extra happy). Very nice waitreses(one with highlights, and the taller one too), when we had a lil problem with our order , they brought out these shots of apple tequila, without question to make up for the problem ,plus eventually they took the drinks of the tab, great people that really know how to run a business( i want to say thank you guys!). Music was really good , a bit loud and thats exactly how i like it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!. atmosphere rocks ,small portions but goes well with liquoer .More of a bar than a restaurant and if you look at it like that be prepared to drink ~! good times.

  • Pros: everything
  • Cons: short on staff,but its ok

The Details on Forbidden City

Place Categories:

  • great tapas style food
  • great date place
  • great music
  • good esp lychee martini
  • friendly staff
  • great service
  • great fun atmosphere
  • loved cocktails
  • very good many drinks
  • good diverse crowd
  • great people
  • cold beers
  • better brands
  • recommend dumplings
  • fun employees
  • great spot
  • recommend sake menu
  • really nice bartender
  • love good sake
  • great lychee martinis
  • good ribeye steak
  • full bar
  • good seaweed salad
  • warm decor
  • friendly owners

Message from Forbidden City

  • happy hours everyday from 6-9
  • birthday and events
  • for events click below

Join us everyday for happy hour from 6-9 pm. $3 beers, $4 wine and $5 specialty cocktails. Delivery available till 1am. For birthdays and events email: paul@forbiddenNYC.com

Wednesday nights: join us at Forbidden City as rob flow spins his eclectic blend of rock/funk/hip hop and 80's. from 9-2 am. ladies get their first drinks free

Thursday nights: DJ Reason and the IRT crew kick off the night with R&B and hip hop into the late hours of the night.

Saturday nights: DJ Clay nice of Spin Dynasty brings his smooth blend of 80's hip hop and funk to the masses and gets the party going from 10 till close

Sunday nights: Neighborhood local and legend Ray Santiago and family gets the crowd dancing with his live afro cuban band from 9-12AM

Forbidden City