50 Best Japanese Restaurants in Brooklyn

“Everything about this restaurant is excellent. The sake selection is both delicious and educational and the staff are great gurus. I’ve been for the brunch, dinner and the duck dinner all three have been outstanding and I always get the vegan soft serve for dessert which a server promised would not taste weird and, in fact, tasted like some of the best soft serve I have ever had and now I crave it. The space is big and austere and well designed but still somehow cozy. This place knows how to be a great and iconic NYC restaurant in food, drink and vibes but somehow also feels like the staff is having you over for dinner and nerding out of how much you’re going to enjoy the food. At brunch get the pancake. At dinner get the skewers and any vegetable possible.“

“a truly excellent meal that was the highlight of our evening. Sophisticated enough for a beautiful date but casual enough to have a genuine, enjoyable time. I'll be thinking about the Uni Crispy Rice for many days. my only gripe was that the menu is a QR code, needing to use our phones. In an environment like this I would've preferred to not have my phone out at any point, but I will definitely be returning!“

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

“Really loved this experience
The shop that shares the name and the space is full of high quality kitchen goods that are attractive and appealing
The food is also top quality and delicious if you like this healthy Japanese fish diet. We had mackerel, salmon And one other Japanese specialty fish..
They were all great, but the salmon was tender and succulent with delicious flavor (more than the others imo).
They don't start preparing your dish until you air so be aware.
True Japanese experience
You won't be disappointed.“

“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.“

“A nice little Japanese bar. The food menu is quite small and pricey (tonkatsu is $39, karaage $17), but the cocktails are delicious, and the atmosphere and service are great. Happy hour items seem far less expensive (pork belly over rice is $12, karaage $9), so I’ll try to go during HH next time.

Vegetarian options: Vegetable curry, vegan ramen.“

“Minimal, bright and welcoming hand roll joint. This place never disappoints. They have delicious animals and the service is always excellent. This particular location has a lunch special with the West Village location does not have. Best hand rolls out there!“

“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“

“The dinner, with its wide range of dishes and flavors, was great. My friend and I were there for a summer menu and much of the offerings had a Mediterranean influence - a pleasant surprise. The staff was very hospitable and the decor and Japanese chef's-table/counter seating arrangement were well executed. When I return to the City with my spouse, I will certainly try to make reservations ?.“

“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!“

“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]“

“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.“

“First time here and it was amazing!! First - the ambiance is nice. It’s very cute inside, you take your shoes off and sit on cushions on the ground. It feels very calm and relaxed. Second - the fish is really fresh and the concept is fun. It was cool to experiment with the different salts and make our own handrolls. Every piece was delicious. You also get soup, and they have good drink options as well. Third - great service! Our server checked on us multiple times. He was helpful regarding the menu. He even asked if we were celebrating something special and brought a dessert with a candle! We will definitely be back and I can’t recommend this place more.“

“Esta delicioso la comida ramen“

“This is my new favorite place. The staff is SO nice and the sushi is really great. Some of the best in not only Brooklyn but Manhattan too. It’s inexpensive. My only wishlist item is that they’d add signature rolls but either way, this place is awesome.“

“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.“

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

“This place gets A+ in every way. Service, wait staff, decor, food. Not even the slightest negative word. My first time here, I was blown away. The food is beyond amazing. Every morsel. Each dish has its own unique taste & experience. LOVE“

“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.“

“I cannot recommend Ikigai enough for the amazing food, beautiful ambiance and thoughtful service. Chef Rafal’s dishes are masterpieces, and you can tell each dish was created with so much attentiveness and love. Every dish was wonderful, but I was especially impressed how dishes that I normally don’t enjoy (like mackerel) were transformed into being a dish that I really enjoyed!“

“The food served at Tonchin Brooklyn is excellent and I appreciate the attention to detail from the food on the table to the atmosphere of the restaurant.

We got:
•smoked dashi ramen (phenomenally well-crafted broth, tobiko topping was fun, smoked fish oil was such a nice touch), appreciate the detail of nori sheet not submerged in the broth so it won't get soggy)
•+ original dashi salad (holy smokes the dressing and the flavors were really really tasty, I would definitely get this again)
•pizza ramen (was looking forward to trying this the most and it did not disappoint, savory notes, crispy guanciale was a nice touch)

Service was pleasant - they were attentive to refilling our water glasses. I was the first customer to use one of the restroom stalls and they even folded the toilet paper roll.

I would love to come back again and highly recommend anyone to try out the menu items I mentioned! The pizza ramen is a sleeper hit - give it a try!!“

“Food is amazing every time“

“Baristas are incredibly kind just wasn’t as wow’ed by breakfast burrito as other reviewers. The egg was fluffy which I did enjoy and the presentation was cute with the addition of a couple pieces of fruit. Have not tried a drink yet though so I’ll be back!“

“Japanese curry is one of my favorite foods and I feel like it’s hard to get it just right - but A-un does! Their curry is the perfect thickness and spice level, and they give you plenty so you are’t left with more rice than curry. Seriously, the best I’ve had in NY and at a great price point with excellent service and ambience! Definitely returning.“

“Osamu San - you are the greatest sushi man on the planet. I love this place. I’ve been coming here since I was 18 years old and we owned a restaurant across the street (castillo de jagua). Hands down the best sushi I’ve had outside of Japan.Love you osamu San!!!!!!- kojiro“

“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.“

“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!).“

“Ramen was excellent. So savory and delicious, it's rare you can feel the broth very tasty. I barely finish my ramen but that day bowl was empty. I loved the experience and hoping to come back. My fiance got a chicken dish, can't remember the name but it was actually good as well. They do know how to cook!“

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

“I brought a group of 6 guys here and we enjoyed all the food. This is a lovely place.

More importantly, the people who work here are kind. I tripped down the stairs next door and was bleeding from a deep cut in my hand. Someone who works here - I think he said his name was Ben? - immediately rushed outside, helped me pick up my things, pulled me into the restaurant's washroom, and dressed my wound. I couldn't believe it. Thank you so much for your kindness.“

“I always like coming here, the place is always a vibe with friendly staff. The soft shell crab was amazing crispy, tender, and bursting with flavor. The sushi is fresh, and the ramen hits the spot every time. I wish they had different broths like chicken or beef.
That said, the drink menu could definitely use some more options. It’d be awesome to see a wider selection of wines to pair with the food, plus some more fun cocktails to mix things up. Overall, The Trad Room is a great place to grab a tasty meal, but a better drink lineup would make it even better.“

“Had the best steak.. very tasty!“

“Food was not bad, not amazing. The service felt so rushed. Our waiter asked us to order as soon as we arrived because “it would take around 30 minutes to have the food ready”. The food came out basically right after we ordered. She the was rushing us out with the check/desert.

I dont think I would come here again.“

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

“I live around the corner and had such a lovely time here, I will absolutely be coming back. The rolls, especially eel, were delicious, and so was the Green tea tiramisu for dessert. Also had great sake, and all this was for a reasonable price and in a beautiful setting. Our host, Akbar, was so incredibly kind, hospitable, and clearly cares a lot about the quality of food and service. Bushniwa really feels like a rare gem.“

“My husband and I were visiting friends in Brooklyn and they live a couple blocks from Uotora. We had never been to New York and were super excited to try omakase. Holy sh*t, that was one of the best meals we've ever had! Everything from food to service to atmosphere was amazing. Thanks for showing these Golden, Colorado people a ridiculously good meal.“

“We’ve been coming to Wanpaku for years (our my kid is obsessed with their ramen and asks for it weekly). The restaurant is super clean and cozy (and kid friendly with a great happy hour). We always have the best service - accommodating, polite and friendly. Tonight we ordered delivery and there was a small error on our order (first time we’ve dealt with a mistake from them in all the times we’ve been). When I called, they immediately remedied the situation and went above and beyond to make sure we were satisfied. This kind of customer service will keep me and my family coming back to Wanpaku again and again. The ramen is delicious and usually our go-to but all the items we’ve tried have always been great also.“

“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.“

“Friendly staff Nice food Not cheap though“

“깔끔하고 깊은 맛이 좋았습니다.“

“Had the pleasure of dining at this Omakase restaurant, and it was truly an unforgettable experience. The chef’s mastery was evident in every course, presenting beautifully crafted dishes with the freshest ingredients. Each bite was a new flavor journey, blending traditional techniques with innovative touches. The intimate atmosphere and attentive service made it feel like a personal, curated experience. If you're looking for an exceptional Omakase that truly respects the art of sushi, this place is a must-try!“

“$14.70-Mentaiko cream udon 10/10 very creamy& can taste the mentaiko, sadly it was a  small portion
$12.86- Mushroom cream udon 8/10 strong  mushroom flavor, wasn’t as creamy as the mentaiko
$15.61-Spicy miso udon 5/10 the soup was a  bit salty, taste like home made ramen pack
Total: $47.00“

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

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