May's Ku E Ban

(212) 533-8448

121 2nd Ave
New York, NY 10003 40.7283 -73.9881

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Neighborhoods: East Village, Downtown

Price:

$

Last updated 10.17.11

Category:

Restaurants

Payment Methods:

American Express, Visa, MasterCard

Restaurant Special Features:

Group Dining

Cuisine:

Japanese, Sushi

What People Are Saying About May's Ku E Ban

Featured Review

Contributor

Contributor

This no-frills Japanese restaurant off the St Marks drag already boasts a modestly-priced menu, but also features half-price sushi nights.

ambiance
100.0% positive
  1. “The low-key atmosphere is nice when you just want to hang out with a couple of friends and catch up.”
food quality
62.5% positive
  1. “Actually, I think it is the very best value sushi in NYC -- good quality sushi, for such a good price.”
  2. “the rolls are poorly rolled, the service isn't very good, and the fish doesn't taste too fresh.”
  3. “Trust me, I've had seaweed salad MANY times and can discern bad seaweed from good.”
  4. “The food is terrible as is the service.”
  5. “That's the only reason i eat here but when i really want fresh sushi i go to "SUI" down on Spring street.”
  6. “Good sushi for such cheap price”
  7. “sushi is not fresh at all.”
  8. “Average sushi with terrible service.”
  9. “guess you do get what you pay for (They have a big 50% off sushi deal daily).”
  10. “The menu seemed reasonable and the lunch deal for half off sushi was tempting.”
  11. “fish was fresh and delicious.”
  12. “There are plenty of authentic japanese restaurants in the Village; this is not one of them.”
  13. “We have never had any bad deal - the sushi we have had is always very good - big platters dragon roll spider rolls all good.”
  14. “The Scorpion Roll was pretty tasty, as was the Manhattan Roll.”
  15. “Go expecting the slow service and sushi for very little money.”
  16. “Nice and tasty Japanese food”
  17. “Though, one thing I feel they need to improve is the service, which is very slow and sometimes no adjusted to the competitiveness of a growing and demanding business like the food service.”
  18. “cheap prices don't make up for genuinely bad food”
  19. “In my humble opinion and particularly because I have visited Japan and South-East Asia several times I am a fan of the exquisiteness, resourcefulness and meticulous attention to details of this delectable and scrumptious worldwide popular cuisine.”
  20. “Their food, however, is decent.”
  21. “If you're looking for a place that has decent sushi, but won't gouge your pockets.”
  22. “Like most reviewers noted, Sushi Park ONLY wants your money by delivering subpar food and service.”
  23. “the sushi is almost always tasty although like the other reviewers I always doubt the freshness.”
  24. “Their sushi is fresh and their dollar menu is great!”
  25. “always go expecting a good price, but never expecting great sushi.”
  26. “Good sushi on a budget”
  27. “horrible service but a good sushi deal”
  28. “For instance, the Teriyaki (salmon and beef) are extremely flavorful and cooked in such rich tasty sauce that really invite you to savor them”
  29. “but just because i went with 7 people, the $14 suddenly became $25 and we ended up paying about $15 each for very bad sushi.”
  30. “The sushi is bad.”
  31. “five people, three huge platters of sashimi/sushi (includes miso&salad), four large specialty rolls, two appitizers, one extra miso, and”
  32. “May's is a good sushi restaurant especially when you're on a budget.”
  33. “normally go for the Bento Box and I order one or two appetizers including sushi salmon.”
  34. “If you're not looking for a fancy sushi restaurant, but have a craving for sushi, Sushi Park wouldn't be a bad bet.”
  35. “The sushi is not very authentic.”
  36. “Sushi making is not only a sharp knife and a rice cooker it is a TRUE skill”
menu variety
100.0% positive
  1. “Their sushi is fresh and their dollar menu is great!”
  2. “The menu seemed reasonable and the lunch deal for half off sushi was tempting.”
overall
66.66999816894531% positive
  1. “Not that this is a primary factor in rating a restaurant, but even though not all Japanese-owned Sushi places are good, I have yet been to a Korean-owned Sushi place that is good (Jeollado, Sandobe are all mediocre):”
  2. “We are not New Yorkers, just work here and hang sometimes - but when we are out on the weekend, this is a great place to meet up with friends.”
service
18.420000076293945% positive
  1. “but just because i went with 7 people, the $14 suddenly became $25 and we ended up paying about $15 each for very bad sushi.”
  2. “the worst experience I remember is being KICKED OUT by the manager because I brought one friend who wasn?”
  3. “service is extremely bad.”
  4. “the rolls are poorly rolled, the service isn't very good, and the fish doesn't taste too fresh.”
  5. “Sushi Park makes really good Sushi but their service was extremely bad.”
  6. “The service is very bad.”
  7. “five people, three huge platters of sashimi/sushi (includes miso&salad), four large specialty rolls, two appitizers, one extra miso, and”
  8. “Waitstaff was rude and unwilling to make a substitution or refund when we made it clear that we found it unacceptable.”
  9. “Absolutely ridiculous, frustrating service.”
  10. “The food is terrible as is the service.”
  11. “service was slow, but we weren't looking to be rushed.”
  12. “The poor waiter went to speak to the boss and returned telling us substituting is not an option.”
  13. “Food was good but service was bad!”
  14. “Average sushi with terrible service.”
  15. “horrible service but a good sushi deal”
  16. “Like most reviewers noted, Sushi Park ONLY wants your money by delivering subpar food and service.”
  17. “Go expecting the slow service and sushi for very little money.”
  18. “But the wait staff was friendly and did and ok job.”
  19. “Though, one thing I feel they need to improve is the service, which is very slow and sometimes no adjusted to the competitiveness of a growing and demanding business like the food service.”
value
59.089999198913574% positive
  1. “always go expecting a good price, but never expecting great sushi.”
  2. “cheap prices don't make up for genuinely bad food”
  3. “Like most reviewers noted, Sushi Park ONLY wants your money by delivering subpar food and service.”
  4. “Actually, I think it is the very best value sushi in NYC -- good quality sushi, for such a good price.”
  5. “Go expecting the slow service and sushi for very little money.”
  6. “five people, three huge platters of sashimi/sushi (includes miso&salad), four large specialty rolls, two appitizers, one extra miso, and”
  7. “Good sushi for such cheap price”
  8. “Moral of the story: You get what you pay for - If I would have paid full price”
  9. “tell you is that every one in your party must order at least 7 dollars to even eat there and they?”
  10. “That really satisfy my huge appetite.”
  11. “Their sushi is fresh and their dollar menu is great!”
wait time
0.0% positive
  1. “Though, one thing I feel they need to improve is the service, which is very slow and sometimes no adjusted to the competitiveness of a growing and demanding business like the food service.”
  2. “service was slow, but we weren't looking to be rushed.”
  3. “Go expecting the slow service and sushi for very little money.”
1 Star Rating: Poor

01/25/12

NEVER AGAIN. EAT HERE AT YOUR OWN RISK...

by JohnAndrewD at Citysearch

VERY RUDE, SLOW SERVICE,CONDESCENDING ATTITUDES.

Ordered a bunch of stuff, waited 35 minutes for edamame and miso soup. The rest of the meal was ok but total time from start to finish was 2 hours - def. not a quick meal.

I had to stand up and shout, as several servers ignored me. When they finally decided to come over, I asked for the check and some water. They were quick to run my card but STOOD THERE AND WATCHED ME SIGN THE BILL. I deliberately wrote zero tip because I intended to leave cash - even though the service sucked. The server immediately asked me to hand him the signed receipt and said, "UMM, I THINK YOU FORGOT TO GIVE US A TIP..."

I was shocked! Not only did he EXPECT a tip, he didn't even give me an opportunity to get cash out of my pocket or even get the boxes for my leftovers... I asked for the manager and his response was, "WELL, DID YOU LEAVE THE TIP ON THE TABLE THEN?"

A 2 hour dinner service for discount, mediocre sushi and a horror of a checkout experience.

TIP: if you eat here, be sure to leave the tip on the table BEFORE you order your food.

3 Star Rating: Average

09/08/10

Happy Hours' treat!

by Crystal215 at Citysearch

Mon-Thu special $1 sushi are amazing offer, even there is a min. order, it's still very affordable! The service is so-so. But for the price we pay, it's still good choice for its value!

3 Star Rating: Average

06/21/10

Sushi on a Bargain

by Athena Chang , Citysearch Contributor at Citysearch

Want to get decent sushi on a budget? May's Place is great when you don't want to spend too much to enjoy sushi. At least 70% off the items on their sushi menu is part of the 50% deal. So, you pretty much could have 3 rolls for less than $20.

Don't get me wrong; you won't get 5 star sushi but it is much better than some fake Chinese sushi places. They also have other Japanese dishes on the menu.

We got an order of the gyoza as well but it is over-fried. Sushi wise, it is pretty fresh and their rolls are great. Try the Dragon roll combo and their eel sushi.

  • Pros: Inexpensive Sushi is possible
  • Cons: Gyoza is overfried
4 Star Rating: Recommended

11/18/09

Good sushi on a budget

by D916S at Citysearch

May's is a good sushi restaurant especially when you're on a budget. Their sushi is fresh and their dollar menu is great! The food comes out fast, yet it's really hard to get your check!

  • Pros: Good sushi on a budget
  • Cons: slow at bringing the check
1 Star Rating: Poor

12/17/08

You get what you pay for.

by SashimiGuy at Citysearch

This is by far the worst sushi establishment I have ever eaten at. The signs outside lure you in for 50% sashimi and sushi but what you really get is below average everything (tea, salad, sushi, sashimi, korean dishes, and service...).

My companion ordered the bulgogi, it tasted horrible and I ordered a sushi/sashimi combo. Bad Choice. The sashimi was too salty and the sushi rolls rice was rock hard (recycled?). Whenever I pass this establishment I always smile and see what patrons have been lured into this fly trap.

I'm not a picky eater but 50% HA, THEY SHOULD PAY YOU TO EAT AT THIS PLACE.

  • Pros: Interior design of the restaurant is nice
  • Cons: Everything other than the design of the restaurant

The Details on May's Ku E Ban

Place Categories:

  • slow service
  • good value sushi
  • very bad sushi
  • nice japanese food
  • favorite koreanowned sushi place
  • delicious fish
  • good price
  • subpar food
  • unwilling waitstaff
  • big sushi restaurant
  • delectable worldwide popular cuisine
  • great dollar menu
  • very inviting environment
  • worst experience
  • poor waiter
  • enjoy sushi park
  • friendly wait staff
  • nice lowkey atmosphere
  • order dollars
  • all good spider rolls
  • all mediocre sandobe
  • huge appetite
  • recommend dragon roll
  • not sharp knife
  • huge platters