Golden Diner, New York NY

It’s rare for a restaurant that’s plastered every where on TikTok to live up to the hype, but Golden Diner definitely does.

You’ve obviously heard about the pancakes and the chicken club but the whole menu is thoughtful and faithful to diner food while having meaningful creative touches. The Chili Crisp Wedge Salad was honestly one of the best salads we’ve had in a long time. Putting a grilled cheese with a tomato kimchi jiggae also really smart. The Thai Tea Tres Leches was stunningly good.

Make sure you’ve been dieting for a week before coming because the portions are huge and it’s a lot of carbs. But for a cheat meal this is well worth it.

Golden Diner brunch food was absolutely delicious! We visited at 10: 30 AM on a Sunday and waited for 30 minutes to get seated at the bar. We ordered the famous pancakes and added the berry compote. I was worried they would be too sweet when I saw they came with syrup and we asked the waitress if we could modify the pancakes and go light on the syrup and she advised us to keep them as is because most diners actually want more syrup so we kept as is. I’m so glad we listened to her recommendation, I don’t like overly sweet food and this was the perfect amount of sweetness. The pancakes left me speechless- 10/10!

We also ordered the soft scramble and the wings. Definitely recommend both! I can’t wait to come back here and try other items off the menu!

The best pancakes in the world. I wish someone would open a diner in Lafayette LA.and serve these pancakes. OMG! DELICIOUS!

Delicious diner food with a Japanese twist, very tasty first night in NYC, the katsu sandwich is huge and the burger was good, good service with very busy waiters who keep the small place moving fast. Would go back if I was still in NYC

OMG! The pancakes i literally cant stop thinking about it! I’m in awe.its like soft crust all over but then you cut the inside and its soo soft and buttery melts in your mouth insane. Dont get me started on the fried chicken. I am a new forever customer!

One of our favorite places to eat, and easily one of the best burgers in NYC. You have to try the pancakes. I don’t have as big of a sweet tooth so I left off the compote, but if you’re looking for a sweet treat, that’s your prerogative

I think it’s a little overhyped but worth a try if your wait isn’t too long. We waited 45 mins for Saturday brunch but once we were seated, other parties were waiting 1.5 hours. At that point I don’t think it’s worth it. Otherwise the food is okay, smaller portions though and very simple diner-style plating. The honey butter pancakes were the best and service was nice. The place itself is very small hence the long wait times. I probably wouldn’t come again since it was on the pricier side for the value

The attention from the staff was superb. You can see the food being made from the bar and that's a show in itself.
I'm not the biggest pancake fan but these were one of the tastiest things I ever tried. Huge portions so sharing is recomendación

DONT COME ON WEEKENDS! … GET A RESERVATION EVEN ON THE WEEKDAY.

I’d love to give this place 5 stars but I just can’t.
Let me tell you why!

I have been here multiple times In the past month and half when I discovered it.

The lady who does the reservations and seating in the front who I’m told is also the manager has not quite figured out how to deal with all the traffic since becoming viral.

Every time I have been there without a reservation and even on the weekday 10am -noon, I have had to wait for 30 minutes or more even without a line due to reserved tables. If there is a line forget about it.

Please imagine standing outside in the cold with no line, pregnant craving pancakes, and seeing 6 to 9 open tables visible to you inside and outside.

For them to tell you that the tables are reserved.

So you try to wait patiently only to watch those reserved tables sit mostly unfilled for a half an hour or more.

This is frustrating because 9 times out of 10 you could have been in and out or close to leaving.

After watching her seat another couple who came in after us with no reservation. I asked for the manager only to realize …

There is no use in complaining to the manager because it’s the same person causing the congestion.

I want to end by saying that the pancakes are the best pancakes I’ve had and the berry compote is a must! Even if you don’t normally like compote. The eggs and bacon are hit or miss, but aren’t a dealbreaker.

… Over all the Pancakes are worth the wait.even if you have to get it to go! …just don’t go hangry already for you will find yourself on an episode of boiling point!

I eventually just ordered to go because I was over it by this point…

Below is a video of the open tables as I waited inside after just ordering to go!

Of course at that point the host/manager comes in to tell me my table was ready!

All around not worth it whatsoever. Granted if this place wasn’t overhyped nor required a reservation for such mid food I feel it may actually be better. Think it’s the fact that they’re now “Known”…. Although that has absolutely nothing to do with Chicken Katsu Club that’s still dry even with 2 separate sauces on it. Punch tasted like sangria…. Pancake wasn’t horrible just not worth the hype… wings were good. Service was eh. No one took anything off our table till after the second time I asked for the bill. Just stay home cause coming here is a waste of time, money and excitement.

Loved the pancakes! Can see why they’re signature.very melt in your mouth with the amazing lemon syrup and hot melted butter.would love to try them again.the gochujang wings had a nice crispy cornstarch exterior that i loved.appreciated the lamps for the outdoor seating.

The pancakes were mid like they done drowned it in syrup and butter i was tryna eat it and its felt like i was eating apple sauce with oil in it.theyre good tho but it got mushy after 2 minutes.definitely overrated like an average tourist-y diner

The Costumer Service was great. The food Wasn’t so good. The Honey Butter Pancakes looked appealing but they don’t taste appealing. The pancakes tasted undercooked and the texture wasnt on point neither. The Korean Chicken wings were overbreaded and tasted like they were frozen and thrown in sauce. I wouldn’t recommend this place at all.

This place has only stellar reviews, but not many seem to mention what I ordered so I felt compelled to post something. The Mushroom Reuben Quesadilla was the best meat substitute I’ve ever ordered. Vegetarians can finally enjoy the magical flavor combo that is the Reuben. Service was great as well.

Regrettably, my experience with the chicken Katsu club sandwich at this esteemed establishment was marred by a disconcerting discovery—it was very raw. Although the management promptly reimbursed me for the culinary misstep, I found the absence of an accompanying gesture, such as an offer to replace the dish or a sincere apology with a superior alternative, rather disheartening. Given the elevated stature of this establishment, my expectations were met with considerable disappointment, leaving me disinclined to revisit.

This place is soooo good! Got the wings, tuna melt, and pancakes. Pancakes were some of the best I’ve ever had and the wings and melt were really good too! Can’t go wrong with food options. Don’t go during a popular brunch time or you’ll be waiting 1hr+, during an off time there doesn’t tend to be a wait.

I’ve been to golden diner 3x, sat inside twice and got takeaway once. The wait can be very long but the pancakes are worth it. I find it to be a little too loud and busy for me, but I had a great experience getting a to go order this weekend. I’ve also gotten the katsu sandwich and burger but the pancakes are the main reason I keep going back.

This place is Pancakes 10/10 Chicken Katsu Club 10/10 if you love classic diner food, Chinese food or fusion this place is a must.

Excellent food, great cute diner ambiance, but fills up quick so get there early in the weekends.

A nice asian-american fusion place. Interesting menu with interesting ideas. One waiter was awesome, another was grumpy. We sat outside so no real "atmosphere". Pancakes were delicious - especially the compote.