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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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- Accepts credit cards
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Last update on 17 Aug 2026 by geometric-noise
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219 Reviews
First Review by Stevie
teafour2
Points +221
Great authentic atmosphere and very good food - Edit
When we arrived we weren't expecting the authentic experience we got:shoes off and very low seating/tables. But this and the service we got really added to the experience.
Read moreEverything was vegan. Everything tasted amazing. We had starters (Kimchi and mushroom pancakes), we had stone bowls (mine was avocado, rice, miso and vegetables) and some Korean cocktails. The portions were good, the service was good and the staff were helpful. We had an intimate romantic meal, but equally there were groups of friends having a decent chat.
We didn't make a reservation, but it was a Monday night. It wasn't cheap but the food and atmosphere was worth it.
Pros: authentic, tasty food, authentic atmonsphere, helpful staff
Guest
Deb-Deb-Veg
Points +21
Excellant! - Edit
This place is a unique gem within the city. The atmosphere is calm and relaxing, the food is creative, unique & made with Love. We ordered from the Prix Fixe menu and had the perfect amount of high-quality food served by a pleasant server. This is a lovely place and while it may seem pricey, you truly get what you pay for with this dining experience.
Read morePros: Very nice environment , Delicious food , Creative menu choices
Cons: I can not think of any
Guest
DanielAmaral
Points +697
very nice - Edit
after having some trouble trying to find it (it's located in a huge door with a hard-to-see sign), I wish I could experience it at least once a month. The place is very calm and the food is a minimalist experience. delicate flavors (or spicy ones).
Read moreMaybe the pumpkin soup could have more flavor, but everything else was really good. Give it a try!
Guest
Shanapotvin
Points +22
Wonderful! - Edit
What a wonderful place! Beautiful ambiance & very authentic, delicious food. We had vegans, Gluten free, and regular carnivores in our group and all were satisfied and enjoyed themselves. Waitstaff was very knowledgeable about all ingredients.
Read moreGuest
sriblet
Points +279
Great Food but not cheap - Edit
I went to Hangawi after hearing about it and it lived up to those expectations. The food was excellent and good portions. We ordered the fixed price Lunch for $22 each which was a good value. Otherwise, ordering straight off the menu a la carte could have been very expensive! The service was great from Jay our waiter and it was a very fun experience sitting on the floor without shoes. Would definitely come back.
Read morePros: Very good vegan Korean food, Nice atmosphere and interior
Cons: Expensive
Guest
MHC48
Points +207
Atmosphere and food subdued - Edit
HanGwai can be a lovely, quiet, dark restaurant with a traditional subdued and relaxing setting. But be warned, it can get crowded and noisy with overly rushed service even early on a Saturday evening.
Read moreThe food is a varied and tasty selection of nouveau Korean vegan dishes. It is quite expensive though for the food and portions and the tastes. For Korean food, it is on the bland side. You won't even get traditional banchan when you sit down.
If you go on a quiet night or afternoon it can be quite a lovely place to eat healthy food in a relaxing setting. Other times it's a rushed, bland expensive meal.
It's not uncommon but you should know that you will have to take your shoes off at the entrance before being seated which will be a low tables with recesses for your feet.
Pros: Different, Setting, Mostly imaginative Korean vegan
Cons: Expensive for what you get, Can be bland, Can be noisy, rushed.
Guest
slo0go
Points +2515
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
Worldvegkitchen
Points +1430
Best Korean food!! - Edit
I love Korean food, but understandably get a little nervous eating at Korean restaurants. Did you know kimchi is typically not vegetarian?? Eek! I'm just worried that fish essence is splashed throughout everything.
Read moreWorry not, this vegan Korean place is not only fish-free, but DELICIOUS! They were out of the fruit wines, but we enjoyed the kale broccoli salad (it was ok), the pumpkin pancakes (amazing), and the Avocado bibimbap (heavenly!).
The ambiance is amazing too - you have to take off your shoes and sit on the floor (they conveniently cut a hole in the floor so you are still sitting western style, but with appearance of sitting Korean style). Also our waiter was hilarious and I gave him a big tip.
I loved the experience of eating here! This place will set you back a pretty penny though, so maybe more appropriate for a special occasion. Worth it though!
Pros: Delicious Korean food and menu, Friendly waitstaff, Wonderful ambience
Cons: Pricey
Guest
Gyan Penrose-Kafka
Points +44
Wow! - Edit
Excellent food, lots of variety and great staff.
Read moreUpdated from previous review on Saturday April 12, 2014
Thinking back to my recent trip to NYC and HanGawi, I must say that the experience at this restaurant was the highlight of my time in the city.
From the presentation of the food to the attentiveness of the staff to the wonderful diversity of flavors, textures and aromas, HanGawi satisfied my every need.
My partner and I each ordered the Emperor's Tasting Menu, which consisted of multiple courses, with two different items for both the starter and the appetizer, an entré and dessert. While each of the portions was small, cummulatively, everything added up to a feeling of satiety, and a little bit left of the entré to take for later.
While the food very flavorful, it lacked the hotness I prefer, but they had an excellent homemade chili oil that added the right amount of kick.
Pros: Variety of flavors, Attentive staff, Ambience
Cons: Pricy
Guest
ParlaDharma
Points +38
Simply bliss! - Edit
The teas, the kimchi, dumplings, atmosphere, everything about this place is a class act. Haven't had a bad meal here.
Read moreGuest
sirhin
Points +161
Still Good but Pricey - Edit
I first visited Hangawi in Seoul. I lived there teaching English and as a vegetarian in Korea (who doesn't eat onion and garlic), this place was heaven. They also had the option of preparing everything without onion and garlic, as per the dietary restrictions of some Buddhists. Unfortunately, Hangawi in NYC does not offer this so our choices were limited, which seriously irked me. I had a huge craving for Kimchi Jjigae and I didn't want to make kimchi from scratch to make my own because then I would have to wait even longer. That was my major complaint, but I suppose opening in a Western city does involve some sacrifices to appeal to the locals. I had called ahead to make a reservation and I told the girl that we didn't eat onion or garlic. Her response was that we tell our waiter once we got there.
Read moreI originally wanted to come on Christmas, but they only offered the special Prix Fixe menu at $65 per person. I paid almost that much for a 15 course meal in Hangawi Korea... I wasn't going to pay that amount for only 7 courses. Plus, kimchi jjigae wasn't on the set course menu. I ended up going the day after for lunch. We arrived there right when it opened but it quickly filled up. We got the two lunch set menus and it was still delicious. They managed to make everything without onion and garlic and switched out the gochujang for the dolsot bibimbap with soy sauce and gochugaru instead. The thing was that they offered a smaller amount of side dishes (only 4) with the entree, of which we could only eat one (the spinach and mushroom). Fortunately, they gave us another small side of the S&M, but it would have been nice to just give us 4 sides of that, since we couldn't eat the others. However, the porridge was good and so was the ginseng salad (light, different, and refreshing). The dessert was a little disappointing - soy ice cream. I wanted something more Korean, but I suppose. It was still good - just not all that authentic. Not like ginseng salad is authentically Korean, but at least it was Korean themed.
All in all, still delicious and visually pleasing, though the options are less. The staff is helpful to an extent and still as expensive (more so) as always. A good place for a special occasion, but note that the portions are on the smaller side. I felt "just right" but I definitely could have eaten more (it may be because it was for lunch, but I remember being incredibly STUFFED in Seoul).
Pros: delicious & beautiful food, great decor/atmosphere
Cons: portions on the slightly smaller side, not as "authentic", no 100% onion/garlic free menu option
Guest
SonjaCPA
Points +5270
excellent prix fixe menu - Edit
We joined another couple for dinner here and we were all impressed. The decor is lovely as is the service. You leave your shoes at the door and proceed into the dining area. The seating is on the floor with space cut out for your legs underneath. I had the lychee wine and the guys shared an apple sake that was actually served inside apples. Two of us opted for the prix fixe menu (2 is the minimum), which was a good value considering the number of courses that came with it. The rest of the menu is large and the two other people selected the stuffed shiitakes, dumpling soup, sizzling mushrooms and a bibimbap bowl. All the food was excellent, especially the mushroom ones as well as the kale rolls on the prix fixe. It was one of our most enjoyable meals during our trip to NYC.
Read morePros: excellent food, great atmosphere, good service
Guest
ronitw
Points +942
A Must in NY - Edit
Love the Prix Fixe - more and more beautiful and superb items are brought to the table for our complete enjoyment. With sake to compliment the meal, this is an amazing culinary experience. Add the great service, the beauty of the place and the uniforms of the waiters for a perfect evening.
Read morePros: Great food, Beautiful environment, Great service
Guest
krissimi
Points +129
I have flown to NY just to eat here... - Edit
It's one of those gems I go to anytime I visit NYC. I order the Emperor's Tasting Menu Prix Fixe. I wish something like this was in Toronto. It's delicious and I LOVE the space. The last time I flew to NYC was for my birthday a couple years ago. I spent 24 hours in NYC with the main purpose to eat at HanGawi. I hope they are maintaining their awesome for when I visit again. I've been a few times already...
Read morePros: food and drink, atmosphere and service, location
Cons: i wish there was a HanGawi in Toronto
Guest
Oslo
Points +72
downhill - Edit
Hangawi used to be my favorite restaurant. The last couple times I've been there the food has been ok, not amazing like it used to be. Same price though.
Read moreGuest
vegified
Points +68
excellent! - Edit
this place is amazing. i've been raving about it for years. the food is all out-of-this-world great! my favorite was a dish in the clay pot with rice and veggies. so good! the service was great. my only problem is i can't convince my parents to come back because they don't like sitting on the floor. but it wouldn't be the same if we were at tables. i really love this place.
Read moreGuest
chorte23
Points +51
Try the Stone Bowl - Edit
A vegetarian friend recommended this restaurant, and I have been back multiple times since. Everything I've tried on the menu has been delicious. I particularly like the avocado stone bowl, though the spicy rice cakes and seasonal pumpkin pancakes are also excellent. The only downside is that it is pricey (though maybe not for NYC).
Read morePros: excellent food, healthy cuisine
Cons: expensive
Guest
t-bone123456
Points +52
Great place for a date/meeting - Edit
Beautiful food. Very delicate. Expensive-ish. Worth it. Feels like you are in a fancy eating den in Korea.
Read morePros: excellent food, friendly staff
Cons: pricey
Guest
bonhommesoleil
Points +50
Amazing experience - Edit
Hangawi is one of the most beautiful restaurants you will find. Traditional decor and service make for a unique dining experience. The food is delicious, especially the appetizers. Very nice cocktails too. Great place to take someone to impress!
Read moreGuest
Casey42
Points +24
Can't wait to go back - Edit
My boyfriend and I loved this place! I was hesitant to go based on some reviews I read that the food was bland, but I didn't find that to be true at all. We ordered the pre fixe menu and it was an excellent value. It was several delicious courses, one more outstanding than the next.
Read moreThe food vegetable based rather than centered around fake meat, which was a nice change. The taste of many of the dishes was light on the palate, but by no means bland.
We are literally waiting for the next warm day so we can take the path in and eat here again.
Pros: great food, attentive service, beautiful atmosphere
Guest
negnog
Points +32
wow. - Edit
the atmosphere is outstanding, details exquisite...food is creative, plated beautiful and very tasty...try the mountain root vegetables, they are incredible! a bit overpriced, but worth it. discretion between lunch hours online and at restaurant...we went there for lunch menu, but our waiter insisted we were there after lunch was over...
Read moreGuest
condekedar
Points +10371
Cool, unusual, delicious - Edit
For ambience and novelty-value alone, Hangawi stands apart. It's a completely different dining experience, with submerged seating (sans shoes). I found the prices to be low considering the atmosphere and the unusual nature of the food (vegan Korean joints aren't exactly common). All of the dishes were delicious, from the mushroom pancakes to the tofu stone pot. Their vegan cheesecake was also delectable. This is a great place to take a date or to simply eat healthy, tasty food in large portions.
Read morePros: Ambience, Prices, Unusual food
Guest
navski
Points +122
some of the best vegan food in town - Edit
A meal at HanGawi is an utterly refreshing experience. Food is delicious, atmosphere is beautiful, service is perfect. It's not cheap, but for that special dinner this is absolutely beautiful.
Read morePros: delicious food, beautiful atmosphere, perfect service
Cons: it's not cheap
Guest
vegantraveler
Points +123
So much Fun!! - Edit
I love Korean and this was truly a treat. I like how the restaurant was so traditional and authentic. Taking off my shoes kinda scared me at first but its actually really clean.. no foot fungus..j/k. I did not see Gwyneth Paltrow there but the food was so fab so I didn't notice. Totally go here if you are in NYC!! Rock on!
Read moreGuest
gr8vegan
Points +2357
wear nice socks! - Edit
This is a shoe's off hang your feet down into the floor place. Fun for large groups. Definitely go for the clay pot! Best thing on the menu.
Read moreGuest
myboyfriendisdead
Points +108
Great Food, Poor Service - Edit
The food here is good, but the service was not the best. Additionally they will sit you right next to another table even if the whole place is empty. I do not know if that bothers you or not, but when we asked to be moved to another table they refused.
Read morePros: exellent food
Cons: poor service
Guest
philjdomm
Points +945
Korean Fine Dining at its Best! - Edit
excellent!! love the decor and authentic atmosphere.
Read moreGuest
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