Little Kirin

Came here to try the pho sandwich and broth even though I am usually a noodle soup person, the idea of a dipping sandwich had my interest.

The location is pretty small with a 3 seat counter and three 2 seat tables. The workers were upbeat and friendly and the music was modern pop. It was empty when we came so we decided to eat there but many customers came in the time we were sitting.

I tried the pho sandwich without dipping it in the pho broth and it was okay. Dipping the sandwich into the broth made it great though and added so much more flavor, making it one of my favorite sandwiches ever. I definitely ended up drinking the leftover broth after finishing the sandwich and it was probably my favorite part of the meal. The loaded tots were flavorful and the braised pork add on made it even more filling. Half a sandwich and a small loaded tots was enough for 2 people to share.

Overall a great experience and I would definitely come back, seems more like a takeout place than a dine in one though.

My friend and I stopped by here for a quick lunch. I wasn't hungry since I already ate, but I did get to sample some of the food from my friend. We had The Pho Sandwich ($18.49) with Broth (+$3.49). First of all, this is pretty pricey and I wished that the broth wasn't an additional cost since you really need this to make it a pho sandwich. With that said, the sandwich is huge and probably enough for two to share comfortably. The braised beef is so tender with a kick of spice from the jalapeños. This sandwich was perfect with the broth to give it all that flavor and softness. I'm not usually into dipping sandwiches, but this one is something I'd get again.

The employees were super friendly and the spot is quaint for a quick bite. Lots of unique fusion food options to try out here.

4.5/10

So many words to say don't know where to begin!! Firstly the food was so goooood. I came after work on a completely empty stomach around 3pm and was so ready to eat. I got the salmon sandwich and it was really flavorful. I've never really had anything like it before but the salmon was went so well with the sauce and I loved the toastiness from the bread. I was super hungry but even when I finished half I was full but I'm not a quitter so I was able to finish the whole thing after a little more time. The price was around $18 which was a little steep for me but it was super worth it. My friend got a BBQ chicken bowl and he said it was really good too.

Most importantly, the staff was so kind!! There was a really nice tatted dude that was helping us and helped me get another bottle of a really good hot sauce they had. Right before we were leaving, they were doing something with a claw machine they had inside and offered us keychains for free. My friend and I were so excited and felt like little kids going through the cart of keychains and we eventually decided on 2 Pokémon ones. We were still talking about the whole experience on the train home and I'm going to be putting my snorlax on my office desk tomorrow as a little reminder of a happy time. It's the little things like these that make a food place so much more meaningful so thank you Little Kirin for that :)

This has only a couple of tables and is a more grab and go place. I tried the pho sandwich it was very good. The bread was a good balance of crispy and soft. Would get again my only complaint is I wish it had more sauce. Overall great staff and service

Came here this past weekend! Not a long wait to order.

I got the pho sandwich with the pho broth add on.

Very flavorful with each bite! The bread and all the fillings were good quality and were fresh to make.

Would highly recommend for a snack if you are in the area.

I was a tad tricked by the amazing reviews here. First this place is tiny and has no restroom. We ordered the braised pork as a salad. Why they charge an extra 1.95 for a little cabbage instead of bread is beyond me. The pork was good but the rest was just ok. It's not cheap either. Probably won't be back.

Heard the pho sandwich here was really good so I decided to give it a try.

Was it amazing? I don't think it was amazing like everyone says. It had a sweet taste to it which I didn't favor so much. The pho broth was good when the 2 were combined, but that sweet element really got me.

I feel like the sandwich should have a spicy aioli or some kind of sauce to mesh the flavors better together. The pho broth by itself was good, but it was also lacking a flavor element.

I eat pho a lot so comparing this sandwich to the flavor profile of pho soup was a little challenging. Maybe it used to be a better sandwich, I duno?

Also I feel the dipping broth should come with the sandwich and not an additional charge add on. It needs the broth.

Little Kirin has prime real estate on the perpetually hungry stretch of St Mark's Place, replacing a burrito joint I used to like. This spot, serving gastropub fare with an Asian twist is designed to soak up all the drinks you had the night prior. One bite of their loaded Kirin tots-- crispy tots piled with pickled red onions, aioli, and scallions-- and I was digging the place.

My partner dove into "The Hangover Cure"-- essentially a bacon egg and cheese with hashbrowns. Meanwhile, I attempted to undo Saturday night's damage with the salmon katsu bowl, the salmon battered and fried to a crisp, with crispy lotus chips on the side and some greens for good measure.

The place clearly caters to sidewalk diners and takeout crews, with only a couple of tables inside for casual, quick dining. Their prices are about what you'd expect for casual food on St Mark's Place. While this place replaced by beloved burrito joint, with strong flavors like the Kirin tots, they might claim the title for my favorite place to cure a hangover.

Korean fusion take out spot in east village. Service was super fast and the guys working were friendly.

Not gluten friendly as they use lots of soy sauce in their different marinades.

Vibe: 5/10 - there are a few seats, but it's largely a takeout spot
Service: 10/10 - get a rewards card :)
Value: 8/10

Pho sandwich: 7.25/10 - shocked that I didn't love this based on all of the positive reviews! I think pho beef tastes best in a bowl of pho broth
Grandma's braised pork sandwich: 8/10 - this was so flavorful!
Tots: 7.5/10 - nothing special but the sauces were good

Overall: 7.63/10 (3.81/5)