Izakaya Restaurants in Brooklyn, NY

“Visited Don Neo Fusion Restaurant and it was such a cute spot. All the food tasted delicious.
The staff were amazing—very friendly & attentive, which made the whole experience even better. I posted photos of what I ordered and everything was great. Definitely a place I’ll be coming back to.“

“Wow wow wow!!!! I was so blown away last night for a late dinner at around 8pm. It was super quiet inside only one table on the rooftop when I arrived. I ordered the KFC cauliflower wings and maiitake mushroom steamed buns and the special mazemen. Everything was SO flavorful I mean every single bite I took had flavor and I was so full from having three dishes to myself. The yuzu lemonade was also so good as well. I haven’t been back here in five years and now I’m going to come back on the regular. All the dishes were decently priced too not overpriced like the rest of the neighborhood, I love supporting local small businesses and can’t wait to come back and try the extensive brunch menu!!!“

“Went to TORA NYC recently and decided to order takeout, but even from that short experience the hospitality stood out. While we were waiting, they offered us water and were really welcoming, which already left a good impression. The space itself looks beautiful modern, intimate, and definitely feels like the kind of place that would make a really nice date spot.

We ordered three dishes: the Yokan Roll, Negichutoro Don, and Gyudon.

The Yokan Roll was a really nice example of how modern sushi rolls balance texture and richness. Inside was spicy salmon and cucumber, and it was topped with lightly seared salmon, mentaiko sauce, tempura flakes, and tobiko. The seared salmon added a gentle smokiness while still keeping that soft buttery texture salmon naturally has. The mentaiko sauce, made from seasoned pollock roe that’s widely used in Japanese cuisine, brought a creamy, briny umami flavor that paired really well with the fish. Tobiko added those signature little bursts of saltiness, and the tempura flakes gave a light crunch that balanced the richness of the sauce and salmon. It was a well constructed roll where each topping actually had a purpose.

We also got the Negichutoro Don, which had minced medium fatty bluefin tuna over rice. In sushi terminology, tuna is categorized by fat content akami being lean, chutoro the medium fatty section, and otoro the richest cut from the belly. Chutoro tends to be the sweet spot because it has enough fat to be buttery while still keeping that clean ocean flavor. The texture here was incredibly soft and almost melt-in-your-mouth. Negitoro as a dish traditionally mixes minced tuna with scallions, since the word “negi” literally means scallion. The tuna quality here was great and the texture was amazing, but I do think it could be elevated slightly. If the scallions were minced and mixed into the toro instead of sitting on top it would distribute the flavor more evenly. A little shredded nori could add some aroma from the sea, and honestly avocado would pair really nicely with the richness of the tuna.

The Gyudon was probably the most comforting dish we ordered. Gyudon has a long history in Japan and became popular in the late 19th century as a quick, affordable rice bowl. Thinly sliced beef is simmered in a sweet savory broth that’s very similar to sukiyaki sauce, usually made with soy sauce, mirin, sugar, and sometimes dashi. The beef absorbs that slightly sweet umami flavor as it cooks. Here it was served over rice with scallions, sesame seeds, and an onsen egg. Once everything was mixed together, the egg yolk coated the rice and beef and brought everything together. The sauce, beef, and egg created that rich silky texture that makes gyudon such a comforting dish.

Even though we only ordered takeout, that level of service was noticeable.

Overall the food was really good and thoughtfully prepared. The fish quality was great, the bowls were comforting, and the hospitality stood out even in a quick takeout experience. The restaurant itself looks like a really nice place to sit down and enjoy a meal, so we’ll definitely be coming back to dine in next time.“

“อาหารอร่อย สะอาด การบริการดี รวดเร็ว“

“I went there with six people.

It’s located in a trendy part of Brooklyn, and the restaurant has a really nice atmosphere. The staff who served our table were also very friendly.

As for the food, I was interested in okonomi fried potato and eringi karaage, but they weren’t anything special—just generally tasty. The garlic shrimp was probably the best dish, and the sushi rolls we ordered were also just average. I wasn’t particularly impressed with the desserts.

Since it’s in a trendy area, the prices aren’t exactly inexpensive.

Given the pleasant atmosphere, interior, and friendly staff, I think it’s a good spot for a casual date to enjoy a few drinks.“

“An amazing spot that brought me back to my time in Nagoya Japan. Lots of small bars that are tucked away under shopping centers and have the most inviting vibes and comforting food and this place delivers just that. The skewers are good and the beer is cold. Definitely come here if you can you wouldn’t want to miss out“

“This Cambodian-Japanese place is well crafted with very unique and classic dishes as someone who grew up in Japan. The vegetarian curry with katsu tofu was incredible and the Peri Peri tofu lunch set is delicious. Great service and well kept and run. Will go again because I have tried the vegetarian ramen before and it was amazing, diverse toppings and great umami flavor.

I went again and got the tofu katsu sando which was amazing.“

“Food is amazing every time“

“Came here with my sister for lunch and had a wonderful. The cafe is so cute and the menu is quite extensive (there’s just so many options, you’ll have to come back!). Our waitress was the sweetest and answered any questions/concerns that we had. I got the hamachi don and my sister got the katsu. Both were delicious and the portions are filling! I will definitely come back.“

“I stopped by this place recently and was really impressed. The restaurant is clean, well organized, and has a great vibe. The location is easy to find, which made it very convenient. The food tastes authentic and full of flavor, and you can tell they put care into the dishes. Overall, a great dining experience. I’ll definitely be back!“

“This is one of my favorite restaurants, not just in NYC, but ever. I used to live across the street and would go multiple times a week back when it was a sit-down restaurant (pre-pandemic). I've since moved away, but I always go out of my way to eat here whenever I come back to visit NYC. The owners and staff are always really nice; they care a lot about their customers and the community. They always remember me, even if it's been a year since I was last there. I'm not sure what's going on with the bad reviews, but I have never had a bad meal here one single time. MUST TRY: kara age, chicken katsu curry, garlic chili edamame. They also have a great selection of sake and Japanese snacks!“