Yong’s Nails

After trying out about 10 different places in the city, I stumbled upon this salon. They’re clean, so nice, do a meticulous job and also rush to help you put on your jacket and shoes. I know I’ll be coming back here if I ever move away from the Upper East Side.

I really like this place. Staff are really nice and they do really good job!

Have been going to this salon for over 3 years now. Went recently and will not be returning unfortunately. Went in around 2.30pm in the afternoon and during my mani/​pedi the salon got pretty busy. I told Leah I did not have time for ‘drying’ so please could she help me wrap my feet as soon as mani was completed. Tipped her generously and was then rushed to the drying station against my will as she jumped to the next customer. I am heavily pregnant and could not easily reach my feet to do it myself. I asked for help from other staff members (to no avail) and went back to Leah to ask for assistance but she said no she was busy. One lady gave me plastic and polish and disappeared straight back to her customer.
I have called in 3 days in a row to speak to a manager to complain about the treatment I received and each day told to call back the next day. There seems to be no manager at this salon or anyone who will take a message or even speak to me. I am really appalled by a) the treatment on the day and b) lack of management to deal with complaints from customers.

Great $ 20.00 deal for a mani/​pedi on the UES, but keep in mind that you get what you pay for.
Overall the staff was very kind and welcoming, although I found the woman who did my hands and feet to be a bit rough and the massage portion (usually my favorite part) to be short lived. Clean facility but nothing special to look at. Pedi lasted well over a week, but my nails chipped after 48 hours.
Definitely the place to go if you are in a hurry and strapped for cash. However, if you are seeking full on spa treatment, consider spending a bit more and looking elsewhere.

It’s now called cara nails and I was utterly disappointed. I could have done a better job myself without the rude service. I think it was just the person I got and it may have been a language barrier but she was very harsh and made me feel bad when I asked her to file it a certain way or repaint a spot that was underdone. There are many places better in the upper east side.

Called Cara nail now, wonderful and so nice ladies, do amazing job, I needed a gel mani and regular padi and I walked in 10 min before closing time and they welcomed me, lady who did my nail stayed later
Thank you you will always get a good tip when I am here

This place is now called Cara Nails and it is wonderful! I come here about 1 – 2 times a month for a gel Mani and Pedi. All of the ladies are amazing, friendly, and great at their job! :) They are always happy to meet my crazy requests! I would highly recommend to anyone in the area!

The manicurists are fine, but I’ve seen the management try to scam girls more than once. They’ll tag on fees and services when its time to pay, even if you did not ask for them. Watch the stoic business woman at the front desk, and you’ll see what I mean.
Personally I’d like to relax when I treat myself to a mani/​pedi, and would rather pay the extra buck or 2 at one of the dozen neighboring salons than to have to worry about, for lack of a better term, being in «good hands.»
Be smart ladies…

Good service. The price for a mani/​pedi is $ 22 which is really great, especially for the area.
It’s clean.

This place has a pretty good deal for mani/​pedi combo (in the UES) for $ 23.50 (incl tax). They have a lot of staff attending, so there were almost no wait when i walked in after work on a Friday evening. Alma was very attentive and was good and quick. I’ll come back for more soon

i love it here. i only come for mani, pedis and the ladies take their time and know you by name when you come as a regular. i started coming when my nails were in bad shape and i desperately needed a full set (gasp).
cindy did my fill-​ins and is lovely. now that i’m back to my regular manis, i’d recommend anyone.
the price is right, the place is clean, the people are nice. it’s all i need.

If I could, I would give Cara Nails (formerly Yong’s Nails) 2.5 stars. Here is why:
As of 4÷1÷2014 the mani-​pedi combo is $ 21.99 + tax. It was $ 5 extra for French whereas some other places were $ 3.
Why I knocked some stars off:
1.5 stars off for the fact that when I had my eyebrow wax, they DOUBLE-​DIPPED! I broke out in my eyebrow area afterwards due to unsanitary wax. They did a great job shaping my eyebrows but the gross factor wins.
Another star off because the nail tech did NOT get her tools from the sanitizing tray. The buffing board has definitely seen better days. In her defense though, she used rubbing alcohol right in front of me to sanitize her cuticle cutter, so it wasn’t all bad.
All in all, the nail tech did a very thorough job with my mani– pedi. I might go back in the future… but then again, while the tech was nice enough, there are so many other good nail places in the neighborhood that I will probably try another place before coming back here.

I went to Yong’s (now Cara’s) for a quick mani while my husband saw his dentist nearby. The sign on the door said they opened at 9:30, but they opened late-​around 10 to 10.
I asked for a gel manicure and selected a color from their uninspired selection. The tech cut my cuticles, and most of them were sore and one would not stop bleeding during the mani. She continued my mani, painting around the droplet of blood near my skin. A couple of days later and the cuticle skin is still sore/​peeling and some of the polish near the cuticles is peeling off. Usually, my gel manis last about a month with no issues.
The tech was nice enough, and the place seemed clean, but I will not be frequenting this establishment. I expected better.

Like the other reviews mentioned, this place has been renamed Cara Nails.
It was a $ 20 mani and pedi. So cheap, you say! Cuticles were a little bit of a mess, nails shaped unevenly, and bubbly polish resulted. Hard skin left on the heels along with a ticklish massage.
Still, it was $ 20, and they accept credit cards. To that end, it was an OK deal.

Great service. The technicians are always attentive and friendly. I never have to wait for service even after work hours.
There is nothing fancy about this salon. However, for an AMAZING $ 27 gel manicure, and $ 18 pedicure, you shouldn’t expect more.
If you want a clean, sanitary, relaxing and friendly go-​to UES nail salon, this is definitely the place. :)

So it was decent for a 20 + tax mani pedi.
I had gel nails on prior so they had to take those off prior to doing the mani. I usually so gel but I want to give my nails a break after this manicure and let them grow a bit.
Gel nails are awesome but terrible when it comes to removing them. When the lady was removing them, she did the whole foil thing which is what is supposed to be done, but after that, she literally started scrapping off my nails with her nails. You heard me. Scrapping them off with her fingernails.
Completely unsanitary, you’re killing my nails more. And again. That’s just gross. Why not use a buffer… Or a tool instead? No, she literally sat there scrapping at my nails.
I did the mani ad the pedi a the same time. And I know it’s awkward going from one side of the massage chair to the other, but still. She was pulling at my arm from the other side over and over again. Lovely.
When i went over to the mani station to finish up, I accidentally hit my baby toe on the inside of the table. Of course it had to be fixed except she didn’t out a top coat over it. What?
I know I came looking for a good deal and overall I love my mani nails, but still. Pedi? Was okay. I already have another toe chipped, that’s my fault.
Maybe I’ll come back again for just the mani?

This place has been renamed CARA NAILS.
I CANNOT say enough about this salon! It’s the best! The women are calm, sweet, kind and do an amazing job! And $ 20 for a mani+pedi CANNOT be beat! Just do not forget to bring cash for a tip, as they only accept cash tips.
And Alma is the best! I’ve never quite had a mani pedi like the one Alma gave me! She’s seriously amazing and attentive. The other ladies do a great job, as well.

Excellent excellent excellent my new spot! Thanks to the Unilocalers with great review that motivated me to go A+++

New owners & this place got even better! This place is now called CARA NAILS. SO clean and nice. Go to Alma for an amazing mani/​pedi!!! Still $ 20 for mani/​pedi everyday. Can’t be beat.

Not sure why this place is so highly rated… came here about two weekends ago and was surprised at the lackluster salon. Old nail polishes, most that were starting to clump. Woman that runs it seems to not care about her customers at all and just bosses around her employees.
Mani/​Pedi was very whatever. Woman scrapped my feet so hard I felt like I was going to bleed.
Has to be one of the worst salons I have been to in the city.