Very rare do I give big stars for a chain type restaurant. My wife & I had an incredible time @ TAO Downtown! All the rating stars fully checked! The ambiance! The service! The food! The drinks! Absolutely wonderful and zero complaints! I highly recommend TAO downtown NYC!!

+4

Lana Rivera

This place is fabulous our experience was awesome! Definitely recommend making reservations. We had a larger party was able to accommodate during the week. The venue it self is a reason to visit, I will let the picture speak to the venue. I really should of took more pieces of the food. We ordered a great variety and all was good. They have a DJ playing music and was it a wide selection actually didnt make sense it went from disco to pop to Taylor Swift to hip hop to slow songs, idk? I guess something for everyone? Prices were reasonable.

+4

Tao Restaurant offers a delightful culinary experience. The sashimi and steak are of exceptional quality, showcasing premium flavors and perfect execution. The ramen, with its rich broth and perfectly cooked noodles, is a must-try.

+6

Katrina

Delicious and fun, worth the hype, definitely recommend. Atmosphere was unique and awesome; sunken dining room with tables down the stairs facing a large statue with projector lights. Food was great, enjoyed every dish from sea, land, and sky. Sea bass skewers were amazing, absolutely incredible. Spicy tuna was good, sized appropriate, rice was cold though. Shrimp tempura roll was awesome, shrimp tempura was placed on top and the batter was prefect, crispy but airy and never oily. Blue fin tuna roll was also a favorite, smooth and light. Pork buns were yummy, fluffy and meat was cooked perfectly. Enjoyed the dumpling platter but couldn't tell which was which. Rice, lo mein, orange chicken, and Mongolian beef all were very very good, feel like you can't go wrong with any dish you choose. Buon Appetito, Piatto Pulito 😋

+6

frances mercado

Came here for my mom’s birthday. We came with no reservation on a Friday and they were able to accommodate us at 5pm. But I highly recommend doing a reservation. Food was really good and worth it! We ordered mostly family style dishes to share. Filet Mignon and Bao Buns are probably my favorite. Lovely dark ambiance. You would not expect it from the outside. However I have to give one less star because our server did not introduce herself and did not walk us through the menu (most especially I told her it was our first time) It was not busy but it seemed like she was not happy to be there. Otherwise, great experience!

+4

I absolutely love coming to TAO Downtown for dinner with my girls. It’s one of our favorite spots for a fun, elevated night out. We usually order a variety of sharables and enjoy trying different dishes together, the kitchen menu offers such a great selection that there’s always something exciting to choose from. The service has always been professional, which makes the whole experience feel seamless. The atmosphere is truly special. No matter where you sit, you have an amazing view of the iconic statue, which adds such a dramatic and beautiful touch to the space. It’s also a dream location for photos: the lighting and design make every corner feel Instagram-worthy. After dinner, we often head to the nightclub. The vibe there really depends on the DJ of course, sometimes it’s incredible, other nights it can be hit or miss. It does tend to get very crowded, sometimes to the point where you almost expect someone to spill their drink. But overall, TAO Downtown remains one of our go-to places for a glamorous dinner experience paired with a fun night out.

+2

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Elegant, Vibrant, and Unforgettable Dining Experience TAO Downtown New York is the perfect blend of sophistication, energy, and exceptional cuisine. From the moment you walk in, you’re greeted with an atmosphere that feels both luxurious and inviting — the grand interiors, ambient lighting, and stunning Asian-inspired décor create a truly captivating setting. The ambience is upscale yet comfortable, ideal for a special night out or an elegant dinner with friends. The music and mood lighting add a touch of glamour without being overwhelming. Every dish was beautifully presented and full of flavor — from the appetizers to the mains, each bite felt thoughtfully crafted and perfectly balanced. The service was professional, attentive, and added to the overall refined experience. TAO Downtown isn’t just a restaurant — it’s an experience. Elegant, lively, and consistently delicious. Highly recommend for anyone looking to enjoy a memorable evening in New York City.

+4

Lei R

I visited TAO Downtown for my friend’s birthday with her family, and the experience was unforgettable. I tried the orange chicken with rice, a California roll, and a Shirley Temple, all of which were delicious and beautifully presented. The ambiance was stunning with cultural art pieces on the walls, the towering Buddha was breathtaking, and a projector light occasionally changed the scenery over the statue. The interior and exterior were elegant, the lighting was perfect, and the music set a relaxing yet lively mood. Despite the restaurant being crowded, the service was excellent, our waiter was friendly, and the food arrived quickly. What made the experience truly memorable was the combination of the visual display and the appetizing well-prepared dishes. Dining at TAO Downtown made me feel exuberant, relaxed, and delighted by every detail.

+1

A-may-zing place! I'm resorting to made up words as it was a mind blowing experience for me - the ambiance, the superbly interesting decor, the cavernous interior, none of these were in my expectations, even after having done a quick scan through previous google reviews. Now, inexpensive - this place is not. But it did give our large group an evening to remember. The drinks were good, the gastropub-esque presentations on every dish were a feast to the eyes, and the flavor and perfection of the dishes were an equally impressive feast to the palate. Stand-out dishes included the sushi/sashimi omakase, the bone marrow fried rice, the cod on stick, the roast duck, and the wagyu sliced steak. The dessert tower was a perfect end to our feast.

+6

BuenaJay

My first time eating here was on 7/03/25, around 530pm; no reservation was needed but if you are planning on a later time make sure to make reservations. Approaching the entrance you are greeting by 2 red double doors that leads into a dimly lit foyer; this is where the true vastness and beauty of Tao will take a hold of you. When checking in with the hostess staff, you will be brought around the corner to thee best view/seating setup you can have for a dining experience. We sat on the couples seat on the stairs which added to the new experience for us. Our waiter (forgive me as I’m bad with names) was so pleasant and friendly to talk to. He walked us through the menu and was very sympathetic to my girlfriend’s allergies, suggesting dishes she can eat. I ordered the drunken lobster noodle dish and my girlfriend ordered a few appetizers because she wanted “finger” foods. Everything came out fast, fresh and very delicious. On top of the food I ordered the Lychee martini, some of the best I’ve tried. It was fresh, flavorful and pretty strong (bonus). Overall I would highly recommend coming here around the time they open for a more intimate/peaceful experience. A little later in the evening it will be much more lively and the atmosphere will be energetic. Thank you Tao for a great experience.

+5

Tan Tang

Had a friends gathering a party of seven dinner here with reservation. It’s a popular place as almost full house. The atmosphere is fantastic with amazing decorations and music. Friendly and attentive server is a plus. Dishes portion generally not big for sharing but it’s a great dinning experience.

Asha _

I went to TAO while visiting my friend in NYC. The food was good, but I wouldn’t recommend it if you’re looking for good quality asian food. I saw yakitori on the menu and was excited to order it until the waiter told me that none of the yakitori items contain chicken. Not sure who made this menu, but the literal definition of yakitori is grilled chicken skewers, so that was disappointing. We ended up ordering the orange chicken, vegetable fried rice, and garlic green bean tempura. The portions were fairly large and all of our dishes were decent, but not mind blowingly good considering the prices. The atmosphere of the restaurant itself was fun and moody and was pleasant to sit in, but the quality of your service is completely dependent on who is waiting on your table. Our server was very sweet and kind when we sat down and told us to ask her any questions we had about the menu. We ended up switching tables and unfortunately our new server was incredibly rude and got annoyed when I asked her a question about the menu. The table next to us had a very friendly and talkative server, so take that as you will. Overall, I would recommend for special occasions for vibes, drinks, and decent food.

Faruk Canatar

Spent new year’s eve. Our reservation was at the lounge section. Food was fast, amazing and delicious. Lounge music for the night was very poor. Especially live violin over the dj music was nonsense. Violinist was scratching the ears. It was unnecessary for the night. But over all performance was 👏👏👏

I was skeptical about the sizes of the plates, but portions sizes were great. You'll definitely spend a pretty penny here so be ready! There are mostly kids that come here...in their 20s...but great atmosphere. We made reservations for 2 and got seated faily quickly. The only bad part as you can see i was seated where there is a huge column and missed out on the atmosphere during the meal. I would say...dont waste money on drinks here just get food. There are many more places around to get cheaper drinks.

+3

Girish Gudi

The spread at the bottomless Sunday brunch was great with live counters, sushi and desserts. Probably >40 food selections and good quality. Amazing decor and ambience. The place did get a bit crowded and busy

Amazing ambience!!! Really enjoyed this meal overall. Started off with tiki blossom cocktail which was perfect!! The karaage chicken was just like chicken nuggets nothing like karage at all. The chicken dim sums were soft and tasty, and the filling was nicely seasoned—perfect with the dipping sauce. Macao chicken was the standout for me: super tender, flavorful, and very satisfying. Everything felt well made and comforting. Would definitely come back for this again. 😊

Mahesh Goenka

We had a highly disappointing service experience at Tao today. First the server comes to our table ask for any drinks. It was a Sunday night and we were not in mood for any drinks so we just opted for water. As soon as she heard no drinks she was visibly upset. Not going into too many details once we placed order she did not check even after food arrived once to see if we wanted anything else or water refills. We had to ask someone else to come get her. At the end same story. We waited 20mins for our check before we called manager to sort it. The manager comped us by taking couple of times off the bill. As far as food goes it was quite good specially the vegan dumplings and the spicy vegetable fried rice.

Lee Takeshi

Stepping into Tao Downtown is like entering a dream, the architecture is breathtaking, with those massive Buddhas, ethereal lighting, and an overall vibe that’s pure magic. It’s the kind of place that makes you feel like you’re in a high-end fantasy world, perfect for a special night out or killer photos. The food, though? The presentations are absolutely beautiful… think artfully plated dim sum and crispy rice that look like they belong in a gallery. But once you dig in, it’s not that great. The flavors fall flat, everything tastes underwhelming and generic, especially for the steep prices. Service was efficient, but it couldn’t elevate the meh menu. Solid for the scene, but if you’re chasing culinary highs, look elsewhere. Atmosphere carries this one to a three-star save.

I went here for my birthday The orange chicken tasted like it was boiled then thrown in the microwave. The bao buns were spicy even though I was told they weren't. The best thing was the shrimp dumplings and the seafood rice. The lighting in here is really dim and hard to capture photos wouldn't return

Emmanuel Osei

Extremely Disappointing Experience at TAO Downtown My girlfriend and I visited TAO Downtown NYC expecting quality service and food, but the experience was very disappointing. After being seated, we waited 15–20 minutes without a waiter coming to our table. I eventually had to get up and ask who our waiter was, at which point a manager named Sarah came over, gave us water, and took our order. Our appetizer came out in a reasonable time, but our entrées never arrived for over 30 minutes. At that point, we told the manager we no longer wanted the food and wished to leave. Even then, we still paid for the food to-go to avoid being difficult. When we got home, the food was cold, and the rice that was included was clearly the burnt bottom portion of the rice, which is completely unacceptable—especially for a restaurant with TAO’s reputation. This was supposed to be a nice night out and instead felt disorganized and disrespectful. I hope management takes this feedback seriously and improves both service and quality control.