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Ha's Snack Bar
Master Critic Reviews (3 Lists)
Ha's Snack Bar
8.5
Ha’s Snack Bar turns a tiny Broome Street wine bar into a Vietnamese-leaning chef’s counter where a chalkboard menu of seafood, offal, and vegetable plates is sequenced into a loose tasting. Born from the Ha’s Đặc Biệt pop-up, it feels like sitting inside a traveling chef’s table, with dishes landing directly from the open kitchen to the narrow bar.
Must-Try Dishes:
Snails with tamarind butter, Oysters with green chili dressing, Seasonal onion soup or mussel toast
Scores:
Value: 7.8
Service: 8.4
Consistency: 8
Food Quality: 9
Atmosphere: 6.9
Cultural Relevance: 8.3
What makes it special: A 24-seat Vietnamese-inspired wine bar where the chalkboard menu becomes a personalized snack tasting.
Who should go: Adventurous diners who like tight spaces and bold flavors.
When to visit: Line up before opening to claim early bar seats.
What to order: Tamarind snails, oysters with green chili, whatever’s newest on the board.
Insider tip: Order in waves and ask the team to build a progression like a mini tasting menu.
Logistics & Planning
Parking: Street parking on Broome Street is limited; expect to circle. Best to use nearby paid garages on Essex or Allen.
Dress code: Smart casual. Most guests lean stylish but relaxed—jeans are fine, elevated tops encouraged.
Noise level: Moderate to lively. You can hold a conversation, but the bar-style layout and music keep the energy high.
Weekend wait: Expect a 45–75 minute wait if you’re not in the first seating; the room fills instantly at open.
Weekday lunch: No lunch service; evenings only, with shorter waits early week.
Dietary Options
Vegetarian options: Some options depending on the chalkboard menu—usually 1–2 composed vegetable dishes.
Vegan options: Limited and inconsistent; the menu leans heavily on seafood and butter-based preparations.
Gluten-free options: Several dishes can be gluten-free, but cross-contact is likely given the tiny prep space—ask the team.
Good to Know
Is this good for a first date? Yes if your date enjoys adventurous eating and intimate bar seating. The tight space and chef interaction make it memorable but not ideal for shy or private diners.
Can I get a table without a reservation? There are no formal reservations. Arrive 15–20 minutes before opening to secure the first seating; walk-ins later in the night rely on turnover and can face long waits.
Is it kid-friendly? No. The space is tiny, seating is at a bar counter, and the menu skews adventurous. Best suited for adults and seasoned diners.
Best For
Better for: More experimental and pop-up–style than most chef’s counters in the neighborhood, with a constantly shifting chalkboard and intimate interaction with the team.
Skip if: You want comfortable seating, predictable menus, or a quiet meal—larger tasting-menu restaurants offer more space and formality.
Ha's Snack Bar
8.4
Ha’s Snack Bar is a tiny Vietnamese- and French-inspired wine bar where a frequently changing menu riffs on seasonal produce, seafood, and offal. Born from a long-running pop-up, the Broome Street space now channels that energy into a concise list of snacks and small plates built for sharing.
Must-Try Dishes:
Snails with Garlic & Tamarind Butter, Oysters with Green Chili, Ha’s Onion Soup
Scores:
Value: 7.5
Service: 8.3
Consistency: 8.3
Food Quality: 8.9
Atmosphere: 6.8
Cultural Relevance: 7.8
What makes it special: A seasonally changing snack bar where Vietnamese flavors meet French wine-bar energy.
Who should go: Adventurous eaters who like small plates, natural wine, and tight rooms.
When to visit: Later evenings for the full buzz; early if you want a quicker seat.
What to order: Snails with tamarind butter, oysters with green chili, onion soup.
Insider tip: Menus change often, so ask the team which seasonal plates are can’t-miss that night.
Logistics & Planning
Parking: Street parking on Broome and surrounding LES blocks is limited, especially after 6pm; no valet or nearby garage partnerships.
Dress code: Smart casual with a creative edge; jeans are fine, but most diners lean stylish and downtown-polished.
Noise level: Moderate to lively; conversation is possible but expect a hum of music and bar chatter during peak hours.
Weekend wait: 30–60 minutes for walk-ins depending on party size; counter seats turn faster.
Weekday lunch: Closed for lunch; early weekday dinners rarely have a wait if you arrive before peak hours.
Dietary Options
Vegetarian options: Moderate—usually 2–3 vegetable-forward dishes, but not a fully vegetarian menu.
Vegan options: Limited—some vegetable plates can be adjusted, but core dishes rely on butter, fish sauce, or seafood.
Gluten-free options: Decent selection—several small plates are naturally gluten-free, but no dedicated prep space.
Good to Know
Is this good for a first date? Yes—its intimate, dimly lit room and seasonal small plates make it feel personal and conversational, especially if you sit at the bar.
Can I get a table without a reservation? Often yes—Ha’s takes walk-ins and the small space turns quickly, but weekend nights fill up. Arrive early or be ready for a short wait at nearby bars.
Is it kid-friendly? Not ideal—tight seating, a wine-bar format, and a menu geared toward adventurous adults make it better suited to teens or older.
Best For
Better for: Seasonal, playful Vietnamese–French plates in a cozy, personality-driven space that encourages bar snacking and natural-wine exploration.
Skip if: You need large-group seating, traditional entrées, very quiet dining rooms, or extensive vegan/gluten-free options.
Ha's Snack Bar
8.7
Ha’s Snack Bar is a 24-seat Vietnamese-leaning wine bar from the Ha’s Đặc Biệt pop-up team, serving a tightly edited, ever-changing menu of snack-size plates built to be ordered in waves. Guests typically progress through seafood, offal, and vegetable dishes, turning the chalkboard menu into a loose, multi-course tasting.
Must-Try Dishes:
Snails in tamarind butter, Mussel toast with herbs and aioli, Seasonal crudo or scallop dish with fish sauce and chiles
Scores:
Value: 6.8
Service: 8.4
Consistency: 8.3
Food Quality: 9.1
Atmosphere: 8.8
Cultural Relevance: 8.5
What makes it special: A pop-up-turned-permanent wine bar where Vietnamese- and French-influenced small plates are sequenced into a high-energy snack tasting.
Who should go: Seasoned restaurant-goers chasing inventive small plates and natural wine.
When to visit: Line up before opening to make the first seating at the bar.
What to order: Build a progression with snails in tamarind butter, mussel toast, and whatever seafood crudo is on the board.
Insider tip: Reservations are scarce; showing up 30–40 minutes before opening dramatically improves your odds for the first wave of seats.
Logistics & Planning
Parking: Street parking only; availability is limited after 6pm on Broome and surrounding blocks. Plan extra time or use a nearby garage on Chrystie or Allen.
Dress code: Smart casual; most guests lean stylish but relaxed. Jeans are common, but polished layers fit best in the tight room.
Noise level: Moderate to lively; you can hold a conversation at the bar, but peak hours bring energetic background noise.
Weekend wait: Expect 45–75 minutes if you miss the first seating; lining up pre-opening is the safest strategy.
Weekday lunch: Not applicable; the restaurant operates dinner-only.
Dietary Options
Vegetarian options: Some options, typically 2–3 vegetable-forward plates depending on the chalkboard menu.
Vegan options: Limited; most dishes use butter, fish sauce, or dairy, so vegan diners should ask staff for guidance.
Gluten-free options: Several dishes are naturally gluten-free, but not all. No dedicated prep area, so cross-contact is possible.
Good to Know
Is this good for a first date? Yes—especially for someone who enjoys adventurous eating and wine. The intimate bar setup and fast-moving plates create a fun, conversational flow, though the room can get lively.
Can I get a table without a reservation? Yes, but only by lining up early. Arriving 30–40 minutes before opening drastically improves your chances at the first seating; walk-ins later in the evening face significant waits.
Is it kid-friendly? Not ideal. The space is small, the pacing is quick, and the menu leans adventurous. Suitable only for older teens comfortable with tasting-style dining.
Best For
Better for: Best for adventurous, seafood-leaning small plates and a casual, energetic tasting progression without the structure of a formal prix fixe.
Skip if: Skip if you need a quiet room, predictable menus, or extensive vegetarian/vegan options. Consider alternatives with larger dining rooms or more traditional tasting formats.