Essen Slow Fast Food in New York City

Used to live in the neighborhood and this was one of the few affordable places to eat. Great selection, clean facility and fast service.

Excellent choices of high quality food

cheap food, very delicious. Don't fret if it's busy, it is worth the wait. Service is typically good. The bill was good for what you get. Ambience reminds me of Colorado Springs area.

Ate here several times. Good quality food prepared fresh. Not cheap but the location is probably why.

This is a really OK place...super spacious, etc., as far as gnoshin' in the middle of the afternoon NYC ground. But it's a really superb place to grab a cup of coffee, pull up a seat and get some tinkering with goings-on of the day. It's got great light, is centrally located and the staff who run the counters , sling the grub, and take the orders are friendly, competent and hospitable---making one feel welcome is a really nice thing here in the bustle of NYC!!!

This is a must for anyone working in the city who needs a quick lunch. I recommend the brussel sprouts (if that's your thing if course)

I really loved their food. I always get fantastic customer service there. The place is clean and the cashiers are always helpful. Will visit here again.

I visit this place a lot since I work close by. I got to say their customer service is always fantastic and they keep the place well organized all the time. Prices are convenient and they serve generous portions.

Way too expensive and food is not even worth it. Cannot wait until Whole Foods comes in.

Small seat area usually fully packed. Their salad menu is good.

Pretty good place to grab something fast a lot of variety if you go early, but for the most is fresh food.

A wide variety of hot and cold food. Good food at that. Quick service at the registers. They didn't rush me out. I was there prime time,1:30 pm.

The food is really good, but poor service.

Their food is greaat and the service is good.

Good food, a little expensive, but clean and the food bar Always have a good variety with fast cashiers.

I remember when ‘Essen first opened....clean location, hot and fresh food, good value! Years later all holds true. Easy in and out and easy on the wallet too! Love it!!

Quality of food is very good and it's really fast. Can be bit overwhelming on your first visit. Very hectic and crowded, but stick with it

Excellent and fresh food, I loved the character this spot has, and the staff members were super friendly. Will surely eat here again.

in love the rice is by far the best i have ever tasted

Nice too bad. Does the job. Pricer then other options and charged taxes on top of marked prices so take note of that. Good selection overall.

Large Korean, soup, hot/cold buffet deli. Huge selection but best to dine mostly morning/afternoons. Good service, fast

BEWARE!! On more than one occasion, I unfortunately got to see my purchased meal again, later on, while saying that well known ancient "prayer" to the nearest possible toilet. Something is somehow very definitely contaminating their hot food buffet. I tried to report this problem to 311, but 311 was absolutely useless. Essen's prepackaged foods, soups, and drinks are all apparently safe, but something very wrong is happening to their steam heated food selections. You are paying for their steam heated food at your own risk!

Good is pretty good. Nice variety of just about everything to eat. I saw the guy who cleans the salad bar counter with a bushy/fluffy beard past his neckline. Thought beard wearing workers around food had to wear a net. Maybe just the cooks.

This place here has a variety of delicious entrees it's just awesome

Would absolutely recommend trying this place. Exceptional vibes, fresh food, excellent service. Great work.

A bit pricey but it's NEW YORK.Staff was helpful.Free WiFi for customers.I could enjoy my fruit salad selection with my coffee. I recommend it

Local food court that gets jammed during peak hours (morning and lunchtime). Checkout staff are exceedingly efficient at moving the line, but it can get cramped. Food is decent, but it's ridiculously expensive.

Love how there's a Essen Fast Slow Food near my work! Sometimes there is a long line but it does go by pretty quickly. The perks of fast food!! Also what I love about Essen Fast Slow Food is that their chicken tastes pretty fresh and crunchy too. Love their fries as well. If you want a great fast-casual quality chicken sandwich, this is the place to go!

Damn the teriyaki tofu is so delicious

Delicious food.

The food was not hot but there was a big selection for breakfast. Service people were helpful and friendly

Nice little buffet-style place.

Paid $10 for mostly rice and lettuce some mushrooms. Wouldn’t recommend it for vegans or vegetarians. The food I did eat was good enough

This is the chick FA next to Bryant park and once I ordered some chicken tenders here. Quick , tasty and cheap

Great variety of prepared foods, drinks, hot and cold buffet and made-to-order options. Something for everyone. Prices are standard for the area. Quick service at the cash register.

This place is awesome. You can get anything you wish for in lunch. Buffet prices are a tad steep but food is good. Recommended

Amazing food that seems to be fresh everyday and a good price just watch out the birds at Madison park like it too.

Good place for quick bite, plenty of choices, with decent prices for area.

They have so many kinds of food for lunch. They just don't have enough seats if you want to dine in and it can be crowded during lunch hours. You can also get discount if you work for New York Life.

Beware. On more than one occasion I got to see my selected meal again, while having to say that very well known ancient "prayer" to the nearest possible toilet. I do not know what it is, but something very wrong is happening to their steam heated food buffet. I tried to report this problem to 311, but 311 was absolutely useless. Essen's drinks, prepackaged snacks, and soups all appear to be safe, but there is definitely something extremely unfortunate that is happening to their hot food buffet selections. Be EXTREMELY CAREFUL if you decide to eat anything from the hot food buffet!!!

Always something decent to grab and go with here, but they are a little pricey $10.99 a lb for the hot food bar gets expensive quickly. The service is my main issue with thirs place... the guys in the build a salad bar are practically salad nazis with zero patience or interest in answering questions.Overall I am going to recommend if you're in a rush and really want a quick, hot meal that is edible.

Can't say I don't like essen (besides the one time I got food poisoning from their sushi that lasted for over a week) because you'll always find something you'll like in their broad selection of food. I wish they had more substantial vegan options.

This place is it! They have all my fave foods!

I was here because I am familiar with its other store by 6th Avenue and 23rd Street. I had my late lunch from their buffet plus a cold soda---all good!

Tried this place already with a friend and I am obsessed ever since. I liked the great character and fresh food and drinks. Fantastic work.

Very nice food - make your own selection of food for your meal.

The food is very tasty and less expensive. The beauty about this place is when you go there for launch you have hot oven fresh varieties to eat from the buffet. The place has this touch of class and opulence. It's family friendly with wheelchair accessible entrance for the differently able. This restaurant is also pretty close to the road and can be easily noticed from a vehicle in normal traffic. #WheelchairAccessible #OrientalCuisine #Manhattan #NewYork #FamilyFriendly #Food #Cozy #NYC #LetsGuide #LocalGuide

Excellent food and great variety!

Good food selection. Purchased something from the serving bar, which was $8.99 per pound. Paid for my meal and went to eat it at the park near by. I was a bit bothered that my meal was a bit high $17.00 especially since it was a small amount of it. So I decided to look at my receipt. Upsetting to noticed, I was charged $10.99 per pound as oppose to $8.99 which was advertised. So a bit of advice for anyone, make sure to CHECK YOUR RECEIPT FOR CORRECT AMOUNT charged.!!!!🙄