The Asian-fusion restaurant Sei Less has become a Knicks hotspot.
Photos courtesy of Kaos Media
Few places in New York feel more electric right now than the area surrounding Madison Square Garden. With the Knicks making a deep playoff run, fans are packing Midtown before and after games. Among the hotspots embracing that energy is Sei Less, where owner Dara Mirjahangiry has intentionally positioned the restaurant at the intersection of food, sports and culture.
Since opening in 2022, Sei Less has emerged as a premier dining destination in the New York scene. Known for its fried rice and chicken satay, Sei Less also attracts celebrities, from Travis Scott and Ice Spice to French Montana and Fabolous, and past and present Knicks players like Carmelo Anthony, Karl Anthony Towns, and OG Anunoby. “We’ve cemented Sei Less as a cultural hotspot,” says Mirjahangiry.
“What we envisioned Sei Less to be is exactly what it is,” Mirjahangiry told amNewYork. The team intentionally set out to bring culture and food under one roof, and Sei Less truly embodies that vision.
New Yorkers quickly embraced Sei Less.“You can celebrate graduations, corporate parties, or even just a place for a night out with friends… It’s a place where people can come together with great food and celebrate in a vibrant environment,” says Mirjahangiry. “We’re coming off our fifth year, and right from the beginning, things took off. We opened up at the tail end of the pandemic, and there was a lot of pent-up demand for new venues,” he recounts. “It’s just something about the energy here that propelled us.”
Most people say that when something isn’t broken, you don’t fix it, but at Sei Less, innovation drives the culinary vision. During this momentous playoff season, the restaurant unveiled its new menu: baby lamb chops (its first take on lamb), tuna spoons, crab rangoons, golden lobster, and oxtail spring rolls. I previewed the menu; the baby lamb chops are so tender and juicy, but my favorite would have to be the tuna spoons. I’ve never had anything like it and have thought about the velvety taste profile since my visit!
Though Sei Less isn’t a sports bar, it has become the go-to spot for pre and post-game activities for the Knicks and fans alike. “What I’ve seen during this playoff run is that if you’re in the vicinity of Madison Square Garden, you feel the vibe and energy of the Knicks being in the playoffs…it’s an exciting time for Sei Less,” said Mirjahangiry. Mirjahangiry has been curating this vibe over the last couple of years, during the Knicks’ less-impressive playoff runs.
Sei Less welcomes food lovers and Knicks fans tonight for its Game 4 watch party as the New York Knicks take on the San Antonio Spurs. Sei Less truly has something for everybody, “we hit on all the categories,” said Mirjahangiry. Just steps away from The Garden, this is something you have to experience for yourself—because at Sei Less, we say less!
Sei Less is located at 156 W 38th St. For more information, visit seiless.com.
