50 Best Japanese Restaurants in Brooklyn

“We had an amazing experience here this evening. The atmosphere was extremely relaxing and chill. The simple artistic decor creates a serene atmosphere. The food is delicious. We especially loved the beef tartar, duck, miso cod, milk bread, and shirt rib. Sticky toffee pudding was rich, but somewhat delicate. Cocktails were well balanced. Everyone was extremely attentive and the attention to detail made the entire experience one to cherish. I highly recommend this place. It's tucked away, but worth the trip. Looking forward to our next visit!“

“Excellent!!! Food, service, atmosphere 👍👍“

“Tasty, imaginative cocktails, great atmosphere, nice food.“

“Ordered the miso flatfish teishoku set with the eggplant and shiitake pickles. Every single piece of food was perfectly done. The fish was cooked so it was flaky and moist and had a great miso flavor. Each pickle was so juicy and had great texture. The cold sencha was also especially great.

I couldn’t fault a single thing about the food. My only complaint would be the price is fairly high for lunch, even for Brooklyn prices. That being said, in my opinion, you could taste the amount of care and attention that was put into each ingredient.

I would definitely recommend this place to Japanese food lovers. The food here was exceptional even compared to teishoku sets we’ve had in Tokyo.“

“This place is amazing! The staff is so great, and the food was incredibly fresh and delicious. Highly recommend if you're looking for Omakase in NYC/Brooklyn. Also have to recommend Chef Jack, he is the best!

Dietary restrictions: I avoided shellfish and it was no problem!“

“A very interesting menu. Great food and service. A must for every local and tourist.“

“Some of the best ramen we've ever had. Wish we could have tried them all!! Fantastic.“

“Lezzetli 👍 Güler yüzlü servis“

“Went inside on a whim and so glad we did. The handrolls were incredible. The fish was great quality and creativity was next level. Our favorites were the xo scallop (must get), tuna poke, salmon serrano, aka ebi, toro scallion, and spicy lobster. Not as big of a fan of cooked/fried fish in sushi, but tried the coconut shrimp and spicy crab dynamite due to the many recommendations, and thought they were just okay. Also didn’t think the caviar starter was anything special.“

“The space is clean and modern and staff are welcoming. The chef Anthony was super friendly knowledgeable! Fish are amazingly fresh rice was also really good. I grew up in Japan so I’m pretty familiar with sushi restaurants but even among those, Shota is one of my favorites!“

“Lovely food lovely variety of japanees food“

“Lovely! This was a perfect birthday dinner celebration. The staff is gracious an inviting from the second you ring the doorbell. The space is beautiful although the enclosed garden was a little bit hot. I'm glad it wasn't hot or out and I'm sure it would be perfectly cozy in the winter.

The food was beautifully presented, deeply delicious and thoroughly explained. Even the chawanmushi, which looks deceptively plain, was a delicate swirl of flavor layers.

We had 12 courses and never felt rushed.

Would highly recommend for a special occasion meal.

Plus, it's a nonprofit, so they're doing good work in the food world!“

“My partner found a hidden gem in Williamsburg. We tried the seasonal omakase set. The fish was fresh, each piece was delicious. Also, enjoyed that when each piece came out, the hostess would show us a photo of the fish we’re eating. Chef Leo is really knowledgeable with the food, so don’t be afraid to ask for information. Will definitely come back!“

“A lovely experience, we were a larger group so we were seated in a private room in the back - they have a great selection of sake and offer a sake pairing. The service was amazing and my favorite was the squab. Their menu is differently not for everyone and that goes with the price point. But a lovely meal nevertheless.“

“New places can be hit or misses these days. This one was a big hit. In order to succeed in that location you pretty much have to become a destination spot, and that requires another level skills. These guys got the experience and created something fun and different (for most NYC). Get the fried chicken, cabbage, steak, and spicy tuna on crispy rice. Full report on EatingwithZiggy[.com]“

“Went to celebrate my birthday and it was totally worth it!! Super fresh and great quality pieces! Will definitely be coming back soon! I was getting a little uncomfortable at the end due to the sitting but it’s definitely a nice experience and worth it. My only complaint is they don’t give you enough sheets of seaweed for each piece. They charge you a little extra when you order more….. but still ok and worth it at the end of the day. RUN don’t WALK“

“Beautiful spot, everything is so thoughtful from the ceramics hand made by the chef to the incredible soba. Subtle flavors that intertwine to create a light and delicious meal. Highly recommend the shio duck with housemade spicy chili paste. The tofu was also incredible, unlike any tofu I’ve ever tasted and much better.“

“Our waiter walked us through and explained everything to us as we are sushi novice. This was a well recommended place for sushi and sashimi and I highly recommend it!“

“Esta delicioso la comida ramen“

“Best Omakase I’ve ever had 😊“

“อาหารอร่อย สะอาด การบริการดี รวดเร็ว“

“Loved everything we had - karaage, tempura, chashudon and gyudon. Everything tasted fresh and was cooked well. The chashu had amazing flavor, and the rice was so good. I haven’t had well-cooked rice in a very, very long time. It was quite special!“

“Great Sushi, absolutely fantastic, well done guys.“

“By far one of my new favorite bars in the area. The drinks were perfect and you can tell they were made with expertise. Definitely get the miso wings while you’re here as well since those hit the spot. Looking forward to coming back soon to try out a few other drink options.“

“Chef Joe's menu was delicious. I don't usually enjoy traditional style omakase but I was happily convinced otherwise this time around. Definitely a more unique menu compared to another traditional style, Mido Omakase Rooman, yet not as traditional as Sushi Uesgui at Industry City. My boyfriend and I plan on returning.

The staff was attentive and it seemed like they were still in training - nothing wrong with that to me, we are all always learning.“

“Food was so authentic. It took me back to some of my favorite spots on St. Marks back when Japanese Restaurants were kind of hole in the wallish and actually owned and prepared by Japanese. Tonkatsu was super crispy and moist. Udon was clean with a true Japanese flavor not flavor packet garbage some restaurants are passing off these days. The curry udon was amazing. Chirashi was delicate, flavorful and fresh. Great staff. Loved it all. Will be back and soon.“

“Excellent Sushi ! Would highly recommend. Only wished they had Saki.“

“Omg this is probably the best place in all of NYC! Where do I even start? The service is 10/10. The bartender JC is amazing. I went for restaurant week with my cousin and we left wanting more. It hasn’t even been a week since we went and we are still thinking about the nigiri. I forgot the name but it’s the one piece with almonds and mushroom omg it was such an acquired taste. The drinks are phenomenal and neat. Everything paired beautifully. The only thing missing was the DJ but we were too busy enjoying our food and conversation. Very intimate space. We had the best seat in the house right across the chef. Deff coming back for more.“

“The service was great, I felt like I was attended to very closely by staff, yet given enough space to enjoy myself. The food was next level, my favorite was the uni wrapped in flounder. No need to make extra food plans after , you’ll definitely leave satisfied.

Great spot for a date or an important meeting. Checks all my boxes!

Edit: had some friends visit from the West Coast and was requested to show them “the spots.” Went back to try the hand-roll sets (having omakase twice a month will kill my wallet) and was pleasantly surprised that they do not skimp on the quality. Applause for keeping up the quality and good vibes Junsui.“

“This place is a gem. My partner and I went for happy hour, it was lovely! The staff is very attentive and intuitive, they were checking in on us and anticipated our needs before we even requested anything. The Tokyo banana was the star of the show, but the ramen, chicken wings, and the potatoes were epic! We will definitely be returning. Thank you.“

“Place is cozy food is great healthy choices🥙🥗🥘🍣“

“Best restaurant in the area by far! Always great service and inventive and flavorful menu, with always a nice surprise from Chef Jason. Go team Yoyo! Don't hesitate to give them some love, you will get plenty in return. I am a fan (obviously!).“

“FOOD FOR THE PEOPLE
(Read in voice of @japaneats)
This is no fancy restaurant. It’s your run of the mill local shop that resembles home-style cooking. And it’s great. [insert jokes]. Jokes aside, it’s a place you can eat often. The food isn’t too decadent and the bill certainly won’t break the bank either“

“How amazing! So nice and professional. Mai is an amazing server. Super clean and fresh“

“Had the best steak.. very tasty!“

“Food is amazing every time“

“This is our go-to sushi place. I spent most of my college years as a server at various sushi restaurants so I'm typically picker about the sushi and sashimi I order and I can attest to the quality and breadth of their selection. Their traditional Japanese appetizers like Hamachi-Kama are excellent as well. The staff are extremely welcoming of our young children (which not all restaurants in NYC are) and know them by name. Needless to say we hope Bushniwa is here for the long haul so we always have our favorite sushi spot!“

“This is a great restaurant and I highly recommend eating here“

“Oh my god! We had a great dinner at this place. The food was amazing, service was great and the place looks cool. It was our first time trying this place but we'll definitely go back. It will be in our favorite restaurant list for sure. I'm so happy to have this place in our neighborhood. it's just 20 min walk. Awesome!! We'll be a regular!“

“Friendly staff Nice food Not cheap though“

“Great! Fried oysters, beef roll, everything awesome!“

“My family and I love this spot. We’ve gone at least 3 times since last year. It has something for everyone, including my toddler who loves the ramen. The staff is friendly and the space is clean. Now that it is getting warm, we have the option of eating in the outdoor area at the back of the restaurant.“

“As a Japanese person, I have high standards about sushi. Let me tell you, Uotora is a hidden gem and the best sushi restaurant in NYC- you will get the same quality sushi as those $$$ sushi spots in Manhattan. I came here for my birthday and had the omakase. Can't wait to come again!“

“I tried the cold ramen at Wanpaku and it was such a unique experience—unlike anything I’ve had before! I expected it to be more like cold dipping soba, but it actually felt closer to a poke-style ramen with cuts of salmon, tuna, cucumber, octopus, ikura, etc; on top of ramen noodles and then you pour the sauce over the dish yourself — mixed with the radish, seafood/mint topping, it was really refreshing and flavorful.

The ingredients could have been a bit fresher, but overall I enjoyed the nice interior, the food was refreshing, and the staff were friendly and welcoming. Definitely worth trying the cold ramen for something different!“

“They want to make you happy, and do a lot to show it. Dishes we tried included the caviar dumplings (juicy, wonderfully contrasting flavors, fantastic sauce) short ribs (falliing-off-the- bone tender) and great hand rollls and unagi don. Things got a little busy, and they came up to apologize for unagi main dish being delayed, and plated a free roll. Not necessary, not sought, but appreciated. Even the synthetic maple tree, with its foliage forward orange leaves, looked great.“

“깔끔하고 깊은 맛이 좋았습니다.“

“Tuna cutting ceremony was a thrill in all respects… great staff here !“

“DON HALL and SOUTH BEACH MEDIA like Gen Japanese.“

“A friend recommended us to try it, so we came with 8 friends. We had reserved a table. When we walked in, we were surprised by how cozy and comfortable it was. If you want to chat with the chef, you can also choose a seat at the bar. Highly recommended! We will definitely come back soon“

“TLDR: If you like hambaggu - probably one of the best versions in New York. The catch is it's also one of the priciest. If you are a light eater and value quality - this is the place.

I came on the weekend because there's no way I wasn't going to try the NYC hambaggu shop. On the weekends they only sell the sets which are $35 and come with rice, a soup, pickles, sides and potato salad.

The patty is a 50/50 American/Japanese wagyu blend, you have the choice of three sauces. We got the demi-glace which was deliciously rich and velvety with a strong wine flavor. The grated daikon and ponzo was also tasty. We didn't get the pomodoro but I'd imagine it would be a bit brighter.

The patty is well-seasoned but the blend is a bit leaner than I'd expect. If you've tried Hikiniku to Come, this is juicy but not as fatty or soft.

The portion size was a bit small even for my wife who doesn't eat much. I found myself taking comically small bites so I didn't exhaust my patty too quickly.

The sides themselves were very tasty but I wish there was more of it. A la carte is supposedly served during the week. If I could have gotten an extra patty a la carte or larger portions of the sides - it might have been okay. Between two drinks and two sets, we spent around $100+ and left hungry.

It's early days so we'll see what happens. It also gets incredibly crowded so come early and its a small team so you'll wait a bit for your set too.“