Restaurant in New York City, United States

53

Name: 53
Address: 53 W 53rd St, New York, NY 10019, New York City, US
Telephone: (646) 535-3994
Price range: $$$$

400Pearl Points

Precise pan-Asian; book early, dress accordingly.

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About 53

Chef Akmal Anuar's Pan-Asian restaurant next to MoMA delivers Chinese and Singaporean favorites with rare precision for Midtown. Black truffle soup dumplings and kung pao quail anchor an à la carte menu that spans lunch, dinner, weekend brunch, backed by a 450-bottle wine list. At $$$$, it's a polished, spacious room that justifies the price with execution and service depth.

Is 53 a New York City Asian restaurant worth considering at the $$$$ level? The verified essentials are straightforward: the cuisine is Asian, chef/owner Akmal Anuar is attached to the restaurant, the dress code is smart casual, the listed price tier is $$$$. Beyond that, the safest way to read 53 is as a polished New York City dining choice rather than as a page built around unverified signature dishes, beverage claims, or neighborhood hooks.

The Room and the Format

Verified recognition for 53 describes an upstairs bar and lounge as a preview of a glowing, expansive dining room below, with sweeping wood patterns. That gives the restaurant a more designed, occasion-ready feel than a bare-bones dining room, while still leaving some details unconfirmed. The confirmed dress code is smart casual. The verified hours include lunch service Monday through Friday from 11:45 AM to 2:30 PM, dinner Monday through Saturday, Sunday service from 12 to 3 PM and 5 to 10 PM. No tasting-menu requirement, seat count, bar seating policy, or detailed menu format is verified here, so plan around the published hours rather than assumptions about the format.

What Arrives at the Table

The verified cuisine for 53 is Asian, Akmal Anuar is the confirmed chef/owner. Specific dishes, dessert items, wine-list size, corkage, pairing staff, beverage-program details are not verified in the provided record, so they should not be treated as confirmed reasons to book. The most grounded expectation is a $$$$ Asian restaurant in New York City with a polished setting and smart-casual dress code. If you are choosing 53, choose it for that overall profile rather than for any unverified must-order item.

How It Fits Into New York City

At the $$$$ price level, 53 is best framed as a premium Asian restaurant in New York City. The verified facts do not support comparisons based on exact dishes, beverage depth, service structure, or room capacity. If you are comparing it with other dining in New York City, focus on the basics that are confirmed: cuisine, price tier, chef/owner, dress code, hours. For other New York City dining options, explore our full restaurants guide.

Booking and Timing

The verified hours are: Monday 11:45 AM–2:30 PM and 5–10 PM; Tuesday through Thursday 11:45 AM–2:30 PM and 5–11 PM; Friday 11:45 AM–2:30 PM and 5–10 PM; Saturday 5–10 PM; and Sunday 12–3 PM and 5–10 PM. Reservation lead times, walk-in availability, peak-demand patterns are not verified here, so check the restaurant’s current booking channel before planning around a specific time. For more options in the city, see our full New York City bars guide and our full New York City hotels guide.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is 53 worth the price?

53 is listed at $$$$, so it is a premium-priced Asian restaurant in New York City. Whether it is worth the spend depends on whether you want that combination of cuisine, price tier, smart-casual setting, chef/owner Akmal Anuar. Specific signature dishes, beverage depth, menu format are not verified here.

Is 53 good for solo dining?

Solo-dining details such as bar seating, full-menu availability at the bar, walk-in policy are not verified here. If you are dining alone, use the confirmed hours to choose a time and check the restaurant’s current reservation options before you go.

What should a first-timer know about 53?

First-timers should know the verified basics: 53 is an Asian restaurant in New York City from chef/owner Akmal Anuar, priced at $$$$, with a smart-casual dress code. Verified recognition describes an upstairs bar and lounge and a glowing, expansive dining room with sweeping wood patterns, but specific dishes and service formats are not confirmed here.

What should I order at 53?

Specific dishes are not verified in the provided record, so there is no confirmed must-order list here. Treat the cuisine as Asian and ask the restaurant for current recommendations when you book or arrive.

Is the tasting menu worth it at 53?

A tasting menu is not verified in the provided facts. Do not assume a tasting-menu format; check the restaurant’s current menu or reservation details before booking if that matters to you.

Is lunch or dinner better at 53?

53 has verified lunch hours Monday through Friday from 11:45 AM to 2:30 PM, plus Sunday 12–3 PM, verified dinner hours throughout the week. The better choice depends on your schedule; availability, atmosphere by service, menu differences are not verified here.

How far ahead should I book 53?

Reservation lead times are not verified in the provided facts. Check the restaurant’s current booking platform for availability, especially if you want a specific dinner time.

Location

53 W 53rd St, New York, NY 10019

New York City, United States

Compare 53

Comparing 53 to Alternatives

Venue	Cuisine	Price	Awards	Booking Difficulty
53	Asian	$$$$		Hard
OKO Rye	Asian	$$$		Unknown

Side-by-side comparison to help you decide where to book.

Also Consider

OKO Rye, Asian, $$$

Against OKO Rye in Rye, 53 offers a more expansive dining room and a wine program with significantly deeper bench strength. OKO sits at $$$ and delivers a tighter, more focused menu; 53 runs at $$$$ but gives you access to a 450-bottle list and a larger service team. If wine pairing matters to your meal, 53 has the edge. If you prefer a quieter suburban setting and a more intimate scale, OKO is the better pick.

For Midtown diners weighing 53 against other Asian-leaning restaurants in Manhattan, the comparison tilts on wine and room size. Few Pan-Asian spots in the neighborhood offer this level of sommelier support or this much physical space between tables. The price reflects that investment, expect to spend more here than at neighborhood spots like Mu Ramen or Joomak Banjum, but the polished service and wine list justify the gap.

If 53 is booked, & Sons Ham Bar offers a different format at a lower price point, though without the Pan-Asian focus. For a broader view of the city's dining landscape, consult our full New York City restaurants guide.