50 Best Japanese Restaurants near Forest Hills

“Another amazing dinner from Katsuno. Our favorite authentic Japanese restaurant in NYC came through for us once again, this time with take-out. Tonight we had the Tuna Avocado Salad, Nigiri Sushi, Pork Hirekatsu, and Tempura Udon. All served with a refreshing can of Funaguchi Kikusui Sake. Everything was fresh and delicious as always and served curbside in a safe no contact manner. Thank you Katsuno!“

“Wow. Simply delicious! If you’re looking for clean, fresh and a unique approach to Sushi and Japanese fare, please give this place a try. The owners are Peruvian and Japanese and that should say enough about their approach to their cuisine. Everything was fresh, the sushi, the teriyaki, the salad…. All delicious and memorable. I can’t say enough about how good the meal was and happy to be a fan of sushi again. Don’t hesitate. Give them a try!“

“Fresh sushi, little place, quick service“

“Enjoyed the hospitality and the food was very fresh. Thank u , mark and saeed“

“I have been coming since 2009, when this place first opened. It’s a small place, but it does look like a hole-in-the-wall spot. Normally, those are the best spots. It’s a very good place. Jen and everyone who works there is very friendly and accommodating. The sushi is outstanding. The place is a gem! I highly recommend it!“

“I’ve loved this place for years, but I just catered from them for the first time, and everything was perfect. The sushi was delicious, they kept the sushi with gluten in a separate container, they have party platters and party trays, and they sold me the perfect amount of food without being pressured to buy too much. The price was reasonable- actually incredible considering how delicious everything was, and everything came on time. I will definitely cater from them again.“

“We love this place. Been there twice on the last month. I had a wonderful and plentiful sashimi. The fish was very fresh and delicious. My wife had the eel. The atmosphere is casual but super friendly. It's BYOB! Highly recommend this restuarant.
My wife says she loves that there is NO music which makes it a peaceful space. She also appreciates that there is a roomy feeling. It's not overcrowded.“

“Lovely atmosphere, delicious and generous portions, and quality service“

“great atmosphere and service. The food was amazing!“

“Delicious fresh food and amazing drinks! Celebrated my friend’s bday there and we had a 12 course menu! Great atmosphere and the DJ was a great touch! Had a great time at Kaizen.“

“Very nice restaurant.
We were very hungry when we arrived, and the food did not disappoint.
We shared some spicy tuna sushi as a starter.
I had rice with chicken, perfectly cooked and well seasoned.
My wife ordered a beef ramen with noodles and corn, which was also excellent.

The place is very popular. The décor is simple but very charming.
I highly recommend this place.“

“Good food and good service 👍“

“Ended up here accidentally on a layover: Hands down, the best ramen I’ve ever had (springy, slurpy perfection), amazing cocktails (if you like gin the Japanese 75 is a must try!), and whatever the whipped cream, creme brûlée’d banana dessert was tasted like heaven. I even ordered another tonkotsu ramen to go (all the way to Florida) to bring back to my fiancé. They separated all of it, packaged it so it wouldn’t leak, and wrote directions on specific timing for heating up each item! Very impressive service. I’ll be back again!“

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

“#組長極力推薦 #響紐約可以食到呢個level嘅質素就已經算係禾地嘅福份 😆 😆#紐約食食 #omakasetempura #係我響紐約食過最好食嘅天婦羅“

“We went to Shogun Omakase in New York yesterday for lunch. My son loves sushi and it was his birthday present (our first time experiencing Omakase). We were blown away! Seriously the best sushi experience (and to be honest, one of our top restaurant experiences) ever. Chef Ryan was an amazing chef and artist, and provided top notch customer service. We highly recommend Chef Ryan and Shogun Omakase to anyone who loves sushi and appreciates fine cuisine. ❤️🎉“

“Walked into this place on a whim because the ratings were so good. I was not disappointed. Every piece of fish was super fresh and delicious. You could tell the chef was excited about his craft and very knowledgeable. The entire staff was very friendly and helpful as well. The chared otoro was a highlight as well as the engawa.

I was a little worried that it would be overpriced but I'd gladly pay again.“

“Wonderful and friendly staff. Delish food.“

“I usually don’t leave reviews, but Sushi Yolo definitely deserves one!

I decided to treat myself to celebrate the end of my doctorate program. It was a totally spontaneous decision, so I didn’t spend much time choosing a place. I opened Resy, typed “sushi midtown,” picked one of the top-rated spots, and honestly—I’m so glad I chose Sushi Yolo.

The food was great, but what really made the night special was Alex, the host. He was incredibly attentive and welcoming. I ended up having such a fun and meaningful conversation with him and another guest, Jerry—which is rare for me since I don’t usually talk to strangers. We talked about all kinds of things, and the vibe was just so easy and genuine.

Alex also kept pouring complimentary sake on the house, which was such a generous and thoughtful touch. This is one of those nights I’ll definitely remember—the atmosphere, the food, the conversations, and the company.

Thank you, Alex, for the amazing hospitality and real conversations. You and Jerry truly made my night.

I’ll definitely be back to this lovely restaurant soon.

Wishing you all the best on your journey with your husband!“

“The duck shio soba was very tasty. The broth was rich yet not too thick. The buckwheat sprouts add a great texture. Duck was a bit chewy though.

The black truffle curry soba was moderately spicy. The truffle really enhances the curry flavor and the sprouts as a great texture. The broth is rich, thick, and oily. Duck was a bit chewy though.“

“Really great sushi and great atmosphere, the staff were very friendly and it felt like having a meal with friends. The pieces you know will be great (toro, wagyu, etc.) were great but they also had the best scallop I’ve ever had with delicious black garlic. I’ll be back.“

“This place is very, very special. Having visited a lost count of Omakase counters in NYC, it’s often a real risk choosing a new one, even when you do the research and read a million reviews.

My wife and I took the risk on LUYA when taking a friend to dinner a couple weeks ago and it may have been our biggest surprise in NY dining in at least a few years. There are way too many things praise worthy at this place to list them all so I’ll highlight a few and let the rest speak for itself when you go try it…

- The staff is beyond top tier. Not only are they all friendly, kind, observant and attentive, but they’re also fun to be around! Never intrusive, never annoying, always the right amount of conversation.

- The fish is some of the best, and most outstandingly fresh I’ve ever had anywhere, not just in NY. The sourcing must be incredible because every single piece is truly punching WAY above its class in terms of price, taste, and presentation.

- The natural wine bar and perfectly curated selection of sake and Japanese spirits is such a welcome surprise. The cocktails are wonderful, and the bartender (somm??) is super knowledgeable about everything there.

Just come here, you won’t regret it. Best kept secret in the city.“

“Fantastic speakeasy sushi joint. Very small, no more than an handful of people may join the omasake style bar where 3 talented (and cool) chefs serve you the best crafted sushi you can get. Definitely going back soon.“

“Came for brunch and absolutely loved it!! Was so fun to show my parents (visiting from Tokyo) this innovative take on Japanese food :) particularly enjoyed the fresh salads and the miso pancake. The restaurant itself is so beautifully decorated and made for the perfect morning meal ~“

“อาหารอร่อย สะอาด การบริการดี รวดเร็ว“

“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.“

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

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

“Ramen is good ! Soup is good not so oily Yakitori good with Asahi Beeru !“

“How spoiled am I to have this little shop of delights a few blocks from my front door? Onigiri, Masubi, and Katsu o my. I’d advise coming hungry or bringing a friend the portions are generous and amazingly paired with a genuinely warm and welcoming staff. Also amazing merch, really can’t say enough positive things about my local mini mart :)“

“This place is a dashi store, but it also has a small restaurant (teishoku). Their variety of fish was great and you are able to choose your side dishes and a drink. Their tea was also so good. Strongly recommend if you like authentic japanese. They have an omakase too and I would be trying that when I am back in the area.“

“Party of eight and we all enjoyed everything we ate and drank. 👍 for the kitchen staff on doing everything perfect and quick. The staff was amazing and service was great. I highly recommend the burger 🍔. Will definitely go back.“

“I'll try to keep this to the point —

I gave Food/Service/Atmosphere 5 🌟 because they were on par for me. For a local spot, this really took me by surprise.

What I ordered:

Miso Soup:
Standard Miso Soup, nothing groundbreaking, but very tasty. Would have loved a tad more tofu & scallion, but that's just me.

Salmon Avocado Hand roll:
Not the hand roll I expected meaning it wasn't in the cone shape I'm familiar with, but it came presented like a taco with the seaweed as the shell. Salmon cuts were huge, and with great colour, avocado was bright & ripe, coupled with the perfect amount of rice. Everything tasted clean, and fresh.

Yellowtail Jalapeno Nigiri:
I messed up with this, originally I wanted a sushi roll, but my brain flubbed. Great mistake though, because the yellowtail was delicious, practically melted in my mouth, topped with a delicate cut of jalapeno on top.

Love Milk Tea:
Honestly, just a really delicious milk tea topped with osmanthus flower. It was light, refreshing, and not too sweet thankfully.

Wagyu Tataki:
Tataki is meant to be briefly seared on the outside, but the center remains raw. Was this seared to the degree I wanted? No. But, was it delicious? Yes. And the meat was incredibly tender, flavour of the sauces really complimented everything on the plate.

I finished off with a matcha cheesecake to go, I'm sure it'll be good.

With tip, I spent $67

Again, for a local spot in Richmond Hill/Kew Gardens, I was thoroughly impressed and satisfied. Personally, with slight adjustments, these folks would do great in midtown. I spent a little under what I would spend at a restaurant in the city, and got an incredibly satisfying meal, and left full.“

“So happy to have Mikado in the neighborhood!
Came for lunch over the weekend and had such a great experience. The hand roll set and the Super Bowl are a must. The portions were generous and the fish was incredibly fresh. Everything tasted amazing.
The decor is beautiful, the space feels clean and inviting, and the service was immaculate from start to finish.
Will definitely be ordering again and dining in soon. Highly recommend!“

“Lovely place we enjoyed it it was very cool“

“Enjoyed our meal.

I had several sushi options, some of the apps an a craft cocktail . All excellent. Server was extremely helpful. I cat rember the name of the app but it was a bakes rice item with sauceand it was amazing . It was on the happy hour list of Apps .

They do have “ plain “ rolls if you’d like they just are not listed on the menu.“

“Takumi Omakase is hands-down one of the best $89 experiences you can have in the LES. I came here with my best friend on a Monday night and every single one of the 15 courses was fresh, unique, and genuinely delicious.

The vibe is amazing too: great playlist, attentive staff, and the kind of sushi that makes you do a little happy food dance without realizing it. We also got a bottle of Dassai 39 which paired perfectly and made this random weeknight feel even more special.

Between the quality, the service, and the price point, this spot is an absolute gem. Can’t wait to come back!“

“Randomly decided to dine here before a show at Webster Hall. Every single thing we ordered was absolutely delicious. Teppen gyoza, kimchi beef fried rice, dynamite roll, and mango martini. Definitely plan on returning.“

“Ikigai delivers an intimate, high-end experience without the usual NYC chaos. My partner & I went for Valentines Dinner and loved it.

The room felt serene, the pacing was perfect, and each course was beautifully executed with clear intention. The not-for-profit mission adds real depth, and the service makes you feel genuinely cared for.
It's a Fort Greene date-night spot worth the splurge.“

“THE BEST BIRTHDAY DINNER WE’VE EVER HAD !!!❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥🇮🇩🇺🇸👍“

“The food here is incredible - some of the best Japanese food in Brooklyn. However, the service can be quite slow depending on the night and the menus are a bit complicated to understand at first. There is a lot going on in the menu and the formatting is not consistent which leads to a lot of back & forth when navigating the menu.

The first time I visited last year there were absolutely no issues and I had a fantastic experience. However when I visited again a few weeks ago, I had to wait over 20-30 minutes just to place my food order and another 15-20 minutes for the food to arrive (but this is understandable given it is a small kitchen dealing with many orders).

The restaurant was busy but there were still several empty tables, but there was only 1 server. The server helped me to my seat quickly, but then started cleaning and doing other random tasks and chatting with others for a long time before even coming to me to ask me what I would like to order. Maybe it was just busier night than usual or this server was a new hire, but it was quite frustrating having to sit and wait for so long before even getting to place my order. The server seemed to be more concerned with cleaning tables for potential customers (who did not even show up) instead of the paying customer waiting right in front of him for so long. I even saw another customer literally have to get up from her table and walk up to the server to ask him to come to their table and place their order.

Anyways, the food was still really incredible and I had no issues once it came out, but the server seems to have completely different priorities instead of the paying customers who are actually at the restaurant. Maybe if he had some more assistance or if I came on another slow night he would not be so unfocused. But to his credit, he was apologetic about the wait at the end once I paid my bill.

I would definitely recommend the food here (the Veg Croquette Curry, Fried Garlic Chicken, and Chilled Ramen were fantastic), but this is not a place for a casual dinner as you will likely spend over an hour here.“

“Our server timed every dish perfectly and explained each one very carefully. She was lovely. The sushi was amazing...we all swooned and cannot wait to return. The only disappointment,for two of us out of five, was the hand roll . It was very quiet, and a very lovely room. It is a resent to be missed!“

“Thank you to Sylvia and the rest of the Ume team for such an unforgettable experience. We will remember this (early) Valentine’s Day for years to come! The tasting menu was beautifully curated, and being able to experiment with different seasonings, and build your own perfect bite was unlike anything we’ve ever had.
From the moment you walk through the door you’re instructed to take your shoes off and wash your hands. You’re escorted past the chefs and you catch a glimpse of the delicious food coming your way. Even in the middle of winter, sitting in the courtyard is a perfect place to sit and enjoy your meal.
Our server, Sylvia, went above and beyond throughout our time there to make us feel welcomed and special. We were surprised by how kind, attentive and thoughtful our server was on numerous occasions.
We can’t wait to come back!!
-Marta and Ben“

“It was such an amazing experience from our welcome into the sit down and leaving. Not only was the food fantastic and the servers suggestions enigmatic, but they also had a heated fan directly pointed at us as we enjoyed our meal. My favorite server was Jenny. She was the kindest and sweetest person. I truly felt as if she enjoyed assisting in being kind to me.😚🫶🏿“

“Musha Sushi is such a great spot in Brooklyn! I came here recently and everything was super fresh and delicious. The sushi rolls were made perfectly — great texture, clean flavors, and the ingredients tasted high quality. The presentation was also beautiful and looked like something from a higher-end restaurant.

The staff was friendly and the place felt cozy and welcoming. Prices were very reasonable for the quality. If you’re in the area near Sterling Pl, this is definitely a sushi spot worth trying.

Highly recommend and I’ll be coming back again!

📍 Musha Sushi – 863 Sterling Pl, Brooklyn, NY 11216“

“Love this place! Excellent service, great food, wonderful environment! I’m going back. Love the moctels!!!!Great experience!“

“thanks for the fab service Rei!! amazing drinks and food“

“Great Omakase It will make you fell, that you are in Tokyo“

“Just go. Love this place.

“I think I’ve never had real wagyu before because that was amazing”
-Me (last time I was there)

I have not yet gone there without being blown away by one thing or another. It’s not exactly classic but I think the technique is solid.

Just go. I want this place to live on and thrive.“

“The food was excellent and absolutely delicious 🥰 It was the best soufflé pancake I’ve ever had. I also loved the presentation of the pancakes 🥹 Definitely try the omurice as well! Be prepared to wait 40 minutes to an hour if you don’t make a reservation 🥲 but it’s totally worth the wait 👍“