HanGawi's all-vegan menu is based on mountain roots, greens, and grains that have comprised the staple diet of ancient Koreans. Enjoy vegetarian dumplings, tofu clay pot in ginger sauce, vermicelli delight, multi-grain rice, bean curd with kimchi and vegetables. Traditional teas, folk and zen music, decor filled with antiques and artifacts, a relaxed atmosphere of peace and refuge. Open Mon-Thu 5:00pm-9:30pm, Fri 5:00pm-10:00pm, Sat 1:00pm-10:00pm, Sun 1:00pm-9:30pm.
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12 E 32nd St (at Midtown East), New York City, New York, USA, 10016
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Last update on 29 Aug 2023 by geometric-noise
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182 Reviews
First Review by Stevie
slo0go
Points +1884
Beautiful Atmosphere - Edit
HanGawi has a wonderful ambiance. Once you enter, you must remove your shoes and walk into the restaurant. The restaurant is covered in beautiful wood, and the ceilings are painted in what seem to be traditional Korean designs (don't know how authentic it is, but it certainly is beautiful!). There are no chairs. You essentially sit on the floor. The are spaces in the floor, under the low tables, to put your feet. It's a bit hard for me to describe, but it is quite a unique experience. Just going to the restaurant is a treat!
Read moreYou can order a la carte or the pre fixe. I would definitely recommend ordering something with todok (some sort of mushroom). Many of the todok dishes are prepared in a way in which the texture closely resembles barbequed meat. It is quite delicious! I also really enjoyed the steamboat soup.
HanGawi is located in the heart of k-town, the strip of Korean bars and restaurants on 32nd Street. The sister restaurant, Franchia, is closeby, but the restaurants offer different menus, so you have to visit both! Franchia does not seem to offer any todok dishes, but their stone bowls, vegan sushi, and bibimbap are to die for. Both restaurants offered refreshing teas (both sweetened and unsweetened, cold and hot). Try the first picked for a real treat, if you like green tea.
Pros: Korean Tea, Todok, Ambiance
Guest
LocoVegano93
Points +26
Best vegan korean food - Edit
From the interior to the food to the drinks. Incredible authentic. Best all vegan korean food I ever had.
Read moreGuest
JohnFord
Points +48
Deeply charming and worth the trip. - Edit
The atmosphere and attitude of the place is something not often found in vegan restaurants. They make you feel as if they are honored to have you, and that every bite was prepared with strict attention to detail. We had the seasonal tasting menu and would recommend to anyone. Be prepared to take off your shoes before entering and to sit in a faux floor sat style (booths are built into the ground as most Americans probably would feel put out to actually sit on the floor in the traditional manner).
Read moreUpdated from previous review on 2024-03-10
Guest
allirae
Points +1313
Wonderful experience! - Edit
We really enjoyed dinner here. We tried quite a few things and definitely thought some weren’t worth trying but others were awesome! The experience/atmosphere in general is one of the best parts!
Read moreGuest
RavishingRavenous
Points +1690
Traditional Vegan Korean Restaurant - Edit
Very nice atmosphere, tables low to the ground like traditional korean restaurants. Food really solid. Would recommend it if you are craving Korean vegan food (which can be hard to find). There is also Franchia, sister restaurant nearby.
Read moreGuest
travel1A
Points +23
Menu & Venue a Charm - Edit
My 2 non-vegan, non-vegetarian friends enjoyed the meal and menu as much as I did! There was even a vegan menu specifically excluding onions and I was thrilled. Service was exceptional, the lichee mojitos delicious, even our table that didn’t require shoe removal was nice. What a treat!
Read moreGuest
StephanieLanger
Points +922
Excellent every time - Edit
I love coming here for the whole experience. The food is amazing, nice atmosphere, and friendly staff. This time we had the winter pre-fixe meal. Everything was delicious and we left feeling full.
Read morePros: Good quality food , Nice atmosphere , All vegan
Cons: Expensive
Guest
cfmata
Points +49
High quality option - Edit
If you’re looking for good vegan Korean food and don’t mind paying a bit extra then Hangawi is for you. We got the tofu skin kale dumplings, mushroom stew and tteokbokki and everything was excellent. The tteokbokki was our favorite. Portions are sizable. The restaurant interior is pretty cool, fair warning you may need to take off your shoes. This is a good option for a special occasion.
Read morePros: Tteokbokki 🤤
Guest
AlexDikelsky
Points +61
Great food! - Edit
We had fried dumplings, tofu cutlets, Korean pancakes and it was all great! One thing is that they serve some food with a flame under it so the building can get a bit warm
Read moreUpdated from previous review on 2023-12-26
Guest
Ricky123
Points +845
Felt like an authentic experience - Edit
Although not in Asia, every aspect felt authentic. The removal of shoes before being seated, the table setting and the friendly staff.
Read moreThe meal itself was incredible, and you forget that teh other side of the door is a busy NYC.
Guest
AliceTilles
Points +125
Incredible - Edit
Went here with a non-vegan and we both absolutely loved it. Everything was cooked perfectly, so many new flavors and textures for us. Homey cozy atmosphere. Just fantastic!!!!
Read morePros: food
Cons: hard to get reservation
Guest
ChynaCat
Points +332
Excellent - Edit
Everything is so well thought out, consistent, and delicious.
Read morePros: Environment, Staff, Good
Guest
EmdotAlice
Points +3573
Black truffle dumplings that taste like truffle! - Edit
Everything on the menu sounded good, so it was difficult to order. We finally decided on the Korean pancakes, black truffle dumplings, tofu steak and kimbap combo. It was more than plenty for 2 people. The black truffle dumplings were my favorite. They had great flavor and texture and were wrapped in tofu skin. The Korean pancakes came with kimchi, leek, and pumpkin pancakes and 3 dipping sauces. The kimchi and leek pancakes were very flavorful—the pumpkin was a little more subtle but still good. The tofu steak was crispy and delicious! The sauce and asparagus really made this dish. (We wish there was more asparagus!) I highly recommend the kimbap, especially the crispy mushroom ones, but they were all so good.
Read moreOverall we had a great experience and will likely visit here and Franchia on future trips. Next time we’d like to try a stone bowl bibimbap.
Guest
lulutmlnsn
Points +243
ridiculously delicious !! so so so yummy - Edit
i wish i cld give 6 stars ?!! so so delicious this was by far the best vegan restaurant ive been 2. such a nice experience overall from the moment we walked in !! i loved taking off my shoes loll it was so nice sitting on the mats as well !! i rly liked it all^^. so we started by getting the skewers and wow wht a start !! absolutely deliciousss !!! i had 2 of them loll !! then came the vermicelli noodles tht were totally perfect. i think they were my moms fav !! j so simple but so well done. aand then my mom got the eggplant in brown sauce 4 her main dish and she took 1 bite and her jaw actually dropped. she literally took my plate away from me and made me take from hers !! and rightfully so haha it was 1 of the best things ive ever tried. j so so so so soooo yummy. and finally 4 me i got the bulgogi bowl tht i loveddd !!!!!!! im literally obsessed i actually managed 2 eat the entire thing !! ofc a dinner so yummy means a yummy dessert !! i got the coconut mochi and i loved loved loved it. so fresh. so so soft and sweet and ahh im obsessed. the matcha cheesecake was so perfect as well !! so light and creamy and sugary !!! the matcha was v bitter as well which i think went so well w the sweetness of the cake^^. i cant even decide wht my fav was ... everything was perfect and i swear im gonna look 4ward 2 coming back every day !! i love hangawi im so glad i came it was worth every $ !! thx sm 4 the most delicious meal i think i may have ever had [ and not j vegan !! ]^^ thx sm all of u !! plz come here !!
Read morePros: ATMOSPHERE !!! i luved not wearing shoes^^, absolutely perfect incredible quality food, so genuine and j a rlly great experience
Guest
KateMuelling
Points +32
Delicious with BEAUTIFUL presentation - Edit
This place is incredible. Everything from the atmosphere to the presentation of each dish is clearly thought out and intentional. The food is delicious, and the unique wines add to the overall experience.
Read morePros: Excellent food, Great service, Relaxing atmosphere
Guest
Mattho
Points +62
Incredible - Edit
Where to begin? Having lived in Korea for three years, I'll say: this is as good as it gets! Food is absolutely outstanding. The vegan spin on crispy pork in sweet and sour sauce (탕수육) was the showstopper for us.
Read moreGuest
AllisonStorch
Points +44
Good food, drinks need work - Edit
Thoroughly enjoyed all the food but the cocktails were a big miss. First was overly sweet and my second tasted like water with food coloring
Read moreGuest
MarcusK
Points +1008
A must go whenever you are in NYC - Edit
I first visited Hangawi over 14 years ago and fell in love with it. It’s been a must go every time I’m in the Big Apple. Korean vegan restaurants are rare and so it’s a real treat to go here. It’s expensive and but all the food is traditional Korean food and there is an excellent selection of appetizers
Read morePros: Great appetizers , Very delicious , Traditional Korean food
Cons: Expensive , Small so you need to set reservations
Guest
crwilli
Points +239
A Spiritual Dining Experience - Edit
This place is amazing. The atmosphere is zen: shoes are left at the door, seating is on floor cushions, and calm music plays in the air. The food is creative, delicious, and reasonably priced ($22 entrée), and in particular, the stuffed mushrooms were some of the tastiest bites I’ve ever had.
Read moreUpdated from previous review on 2023-08-18
Guest
jessldx
Points +70
Truly Excellent - Edit
The best restaurant experience in New York by a landslide. All of the food is delicious and they have so many options that are near-impossible to find veganized anywhere else. Not to mention their impeccable wine selection. There’s a reason they’re usually booked solid with reservations, so make yours now.
Read moreUpdated from previous review on 2023-08-12
Pros: Flavorful and unique menu items, Wonderful ambiance
Cons: A bit pricey
Guest
vagovegano
Points +4799
An NYC vegan staple… - Edit
This is a must go every time I visit the city. Food is always amazing. I did the pre fixe with the wine pairing today which I couldn’t have been happier with. The chilled summer corn soup, the black truffle dumplings and the mushroom bibimbap with kimchi tofu were the best. I will certainly be coming back again.
Read moreUpdated from previous review on 2023-07-23
Pros: Great food , Nice ambience , Great service
Guest
CReese
Points +16
May favorite go-to in NYC - Edit
It’s just amazing!!! We tend to go here every time we’re in the city.
Read moreGuest
JemiB
Points +286
The perfect meal - Edit
We ordered around 12-15 dishes and they were all great! We loved their spicy stuffed aubergine, tofu ginger clay pot, and Korean pancakes platter, and the desserts (we had black sesame cake, mocha cake, and ice cream platter) were stunning.
Read moreIt’s a no-shoes restaurant😄
It’s expensive, but the quality of every dish was apparent.
Guest
AnitaH
Points +347
Incredible Korean vegan food at an all plant restaurant! - Edit
Went here to experience traditional seating with my kids. The ambiance and food did not disappoint. I was pleasantly surprised to find so many spicy dishes on the menu. Highly recommend the sake sampler, sushi sampler and ice cream platter!
Read morePros: All vegan Korean restaurant!, Great selection of spicy dishes , Incredible ice cream
Cons: Minimum spend amount was hard to meet with kids
Guest
lille_marille
Points +335
Amazing experience - Edit
I loved the atmosphere at HanGawi. It felt very authentic and like entering another world far away from the buzz of NYC. Having to take off your shoes at the entrance and being seated at low tables, the dim lighting and the quiet and calm atmosphere made the whole visit feel very special! Food and drinks were excellent and the staff was very friendly and attentive!
Read moreGuest
adalea
Points +992
Lovely vibes - Edit
I love this place! You take off your shoes when you come in and it’s so cute. I love their food and it’s all so good. Nothing served here is bad. :)))))) Would come back more often if it was cheaper !
Read moreGuest
Veganfoodie_liv
Points +845
Dumplings & Tofu Stew & Soju Mojito - Edit
Amazing veggie fried dumplings, the table next to be got them steamed, can’t wait to try that next time. Unfortunately the tofu stew was probably one of the worst I’ve had, and I’ve lived in Korea for a while. I recommend going for other options on the menu instead of this, I wish I read the reviews for it before ordering. Also, rice is not included so be sure to ask for it! Also it was quite expensive for such a small glass of soju, you’re better off getting the tastings or a bottle of any alcohol instead. But then again the soju mojito was so yummy! Definitely making it myself at home!
Read morePros: Amazing dumplings , Beautiful hanok style interior
Cons: Horrible tofu stew, Rice not included , Expensive for a small drink
Guest
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