(212) 353-8866
113 Ludlow St 2nd Fl
New York,
NY
10002
40.7195
-73.9888
Neighborhoods: Lower East Side, Downtown
Hours:
Daily, 6pm-10pm
Last updated 4.11.12
Category:
What People Are Saying About Kuma Inn
Featured Review
Contributor
Contributor
The Scene – A tiny open kitchen overlooks the small, spare dining room of 30 or so seats. The often-harried staff can strike a dissonant chord with the intended laid-back sake-sipping vibe, but once the parade of food and drink starts arriving, all such concerns are banished. – – The Food – Dishes are small, intense bites composed from a Southeast Asian palette. The flavors tend toward vividness rather than subtlety: A salad trio of pickled vegetables sings with vinegar and salt; sauteed mushrooms are rich and savory. Delicate pork tonkatsu, fried to the point of…
Editor's Tips
- Know Before You Go:
- Even though dishes are inexpensive, they are small--the tab can escalate as more are ordered. It's cash only, so be sure to hit the ATM before dinner.
- What to Drink:
- A flight of three sakes is available for $15, offering a chance to compare varieties.
| ambiance | 100.0% positive |
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|---|---|---|
| dessert | 100.0% positive |
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| drinks | 100.0% positive |
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| food quality | 87.95999526977539% positive |
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| menu variety | 92.8600025177002% positive |
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| overall | 100.0% positive |
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| return potential | 100.0% positive |
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| service | 89.46999549865723% positive |
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| value | 66.66999816894531% positive |
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asian tapas equals awesome
by adamcorbs
the best thing about this place are the prices and the byob policy.
mussels, salmon, and white wine!
Big Disappointment ZERO STAR
by JasonMalfax
I was compelled to join citysearch to write my own review for this over-rated & overpriced pretentious Filipino Restaurant. I am Filipino who brought a FIlipino & a 'Caucasian' American friend. I was just appalled by the soggy lumpia shanghai, salty pancit bihon, very vinegary adobo sandwich and a tasting dessert that was far from Filipino. I'd rather go to Queens for more decent food & better value. I asked the waitress if the chef is a smoker; she said YES! That explains why the food were all salty. Filipino food is never served tapas-style. Kuma Inn did for profit. Don't get me wrong, I can cook what we ordered.
It was my first visit on Mar 11,2009 6:30 dinnertime, and will never go back.
- Pros: None ZERO STAR
- Cons: Salty, soggy food
Excellent Food....this place is a gem
by Spartacus2000
The food at Kuma Inn is excellent. Everything we ordered was very good. Definitely try the muscles and the brisket. The chinese sausage is delicious as well. Do not go without making reservations. The place is small and cannot handle walk-ins especially on weekends. You might get away with it on weekdays. Don't expect too much as far as ambience is concerned. The restaurant isn't exactly fancy but is quite intimate. It is also BYOB, thats another great reason to go. Overall the experience was excellent and I will defintely go back.
- Pros: Food, Service & BYOB
- Cons: Small, so may be turned away without a reservation, especially on weekends
Very Interesting mix of tapas
by nutbut303
Not an easy place to spot but we were able to find the place easily because we knew from a review that it was on the second floor and next to Suba. The place filled up quickly (on a Wedesday night!!) and the tapas were very well done. The chinese sausage with spicey dipping sauce + sticky rice was incredible. The pork-belly was another very savory dish paired with a yummy sauce. The coconut rice although was a side dish to supplement the food was yummy enough to be a main dish for us! The meal was very filling. Its a bit pricey for the ingredients but the flavor makes up for the inflated prices. BYOB is also a reason to go! You can bring your favorite wine or sake to pair up with the food. Note that there are corking fees!
- Pros: BYOB
- Cons: More pricey than expected
What a surprise!
by genjinyc
I was a little hesitant to try this place out after reading a couple of negative reviews but, I'm so glad that I did. If you've never been here, there are a few things you should know; It's small, hard to find, it's b.y.o. and cash only. My friends who had made a reservation for three had been warned ahead of time so we came prepared. When we arrived, we were seated at a corner table for 2 which was able to fit all 3 of us. It was a bit cozy but, comfy nonetheless. Our waiter promptly greeted us and opened our wine. After telling us the specials, we asked out him if there were things on the menu he could recommend. He immediately listed the most popular dishes on the menu as well as the specials and even told us his favorite dishes! We went for 6 of his recommendations and out of all of them, the Chinese sausage was definitely the best dish. He informed us that if there was one dish that we had to get on the menu, the sausage had to be it. We ended up getting 2! Throughout the whole meal, the staff frequently checked on our table, refilling our wine and water glasses, taking away empty plates, even changing our individual plates! I thought they only did that in fine dining restaurants! The food was great and the music was just as good. They played the most eclectic mix I've ever heard in a restaurant. From classic motown and old school, to the lastest indie, rock and hip hop! Who knew Kanye and the Killers would sound so good together while you ate at a restaurant! At the end of our meal, we asked our waiter who picks the music for the restaurant. I was surprised when he told us that it was actually his iPod that was playing! All in all, this was a cool and casual spot with great food, spot on service, and the best mix of music I've heard in any restaurant. I'll definitely be coming back soon!
- Pros: the food, the service, the music!
- Cons: it's small like your own apartment!
The Details on Kuma Inn
Place Categories:
- superb customer service
- really good thai place
- flat everything
- wonderful new restaurant
- big brawny meal
- very nice space
- favorite tuna tartare
- yummy chili sauce
- very tasty tonkatsu
- not very helpful waitress
- delicious dessert
- favorite kuma inn
- incredible chinese sausage
- favorite sake
- great small plates
- great first experience
- wonderful fun atmosphere
- great better value
- very tasty pork chop
- excellent quality food
- very savory chinese sausage dish
- savory asianinspired tapas
- knowledgable staff
- casual hot spot
- fun wellselected background music

