Tao

The story

Crafted with passion, served with love

A Space That Feels Unearthed

TAO Downtown occupies a subterranean, multi-level space in the heart of Chelsea — the first TAO venue where guests descend rather than ascend. Designed by the Rockwell Group, the room was conceived to feel as though it had existed for decades before being unearthed, its weathered brick walls hung with Chinese calligraphy murals and framed by a corridor of dragon scale-patterned screens. The effect is immediate: arrival here feels like discovery.

That sense of considered atmosphere extends to the wine program, which earned TAO Downtown the Wine Spectator Award of Excellence — recognition the restaurant has held since 2024, placing it among the world's best dining destinations for wine.

Japanese and Thai Cuisine, Taken Seriously

The menu draws from Japanese and Thai traditions with real ambition. Small plates range from Spicy Tuna Tartare on Crispy Rice with kabayaki sauce to a Crispy A5 Wagyu Truffle Pancake finished with truffle duxelles, hoisin, and salted egg yolk. The dim sum section alone spans a dozen preparations — from Thai Chili Lime Soup Dumplings filled with lobster and shrimp to Truffle Pork Wontons in a triple miso Parmigiano Reggiano broth, a pairing that captures the kitchen's willingness to push across borders.

Sushi and sashimi are treated with equal care. An omakase option invites the kitchen to guide the experience, while à la carte selections run from classic cuts — toro, uni, hamachi — to a Wagyu Tartare roll with Parmigiano Reggiano remoulade and cured duck egg. Tokyo Tacos offer a lighter, more playful entry point, with options like Dynamite Lobster with caviar and tobiko or Toro Caviar with wasabi soy.

From the Land, Sea, and Sky

Larger plates hold their own. From the sea, Miso Roasted Chilean Sea Bass arrives with assorted mushrooms and asparagus, while Crispy Coconut Black Bass comes with crying tiger sauce and a Thai mango salad — a dish that anchors the menu's Thai cuisine thread. From the land, A5 Japanese Wagyu Teppanyaki and a Parmigiano Reggiano Aged Wagyu Sirloin with heirloom tomato salad represent the kitchen at its most indulgent. Peking Duck, served for two, rounds out a menu that rewards sharing.

Beyond Dinner

Sunday brunch runs from 11AM to 3PM, and the "Harmonized for the Table" format brings together TAO's most iconic dishes in a communal format. Lucky Hour at the bar offers specialty-priced cocktails and bites. For private occasions, the space accommodates everything from intimate dinners to full venue takeovers, with a dedicated nightclub operating separately on the same footprint.