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!“

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

“I had a truly excellent dining experience here. The pork teriyaki lunch special was tender, well seasoned and plated more elegantly than any lunch special I ever had before. The service was prompt and excellent and the hostess a wonderful person. This should be your go to place for Japanese Food in Forest Hills.“

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

“Fresh sushi, little place, quick service“

“Love this spot! It has become my go-to sushi place within Forest Hills. I have placed both small and big (like platters) orders with them. Their food is fresh and delicious, with plenty of options. Equally importantly, their service is always wonderful and prompt. Can't wait to have sushi from them again soon :)“

“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.“

“Came here for lunch with two friends. We all enjoyed ourselves and the food was very good. The only thing I would ask is that there should be a vegetarian bento box option. It was mildly annoying that I couldn't get any substitutes because I really do enjoy bento boxes.  However, there were other vegetarian options so all was not lost!“

“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.“

“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 👍👍“

“Good food and good service 👍“

“Beautiful atmosphere and delicious food! Came across this place and was not disappointed at all! Super good. Everything was a bit more expensive than my go-to place in Kips Bay but 100% worth it. The ramen was so good. Broth tasted amazing. Everything we got was perfect! Calamari, sushi all great.

I was a big fan of the seating area too. The paper cranes on the ceiling were a cool addition! Staff was also very nice. For a Saturday Lunch, there was no wait.“

“Wonderful and friendly staff. Delish food.“

“#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“

“NYC’s Most Beautiful Omakase — and yes, it tastes just as stunning as it looks.

Every course is a masterpiece of flavor and presentation — from delicate slices of premium fish to perfectly balanced bites that melt in your mouth. One of the most refined sushi experiences in the city.

14 Course + Wagyu Tasting Add-on
1 App | 10 Nigiris | 1 Monaka | 1 Handroll | 1 Dessert

Follow me @foodie.elite on IG and TikTok for more.“

“This is by far the best sushi restaurant we have been to, and I would dare say it’s better than some Michelin star places. Not only is each course extremely unique and full of flavor, from sea urchin, to Wagyu, the service is extremely attentive. The chef that was serving us has been preparing sushi for 30 years and it shows. We were so delighted by our experience - it was truly a huge highlight for us. Skip the hype restaurants and try Ishi instead. We will be back.“

“I highly recommend anyone reading this to come try! I wish I could give 10 stars. Make a resy. This was honestly one of the best dining omakase experiences!! But not only was the experience great, so was the food and drinks. Karina was very kind on explaining us the drink options, and finding us the perfect drink we would love. Her and the chef were also super kind on telling us every piece we were eating and where it was from. Alex was also such a great host. Always asking how everything was and also make great small talk, getting to know us. The food was such great quality also so it was well worth the omakase price. I also ordered their special which had Uni-Toro-Wagyu-HotateCaviar. It was DIVINE!!“

“This is a review specifically about the Ikura don. I love ikura so was super happy to see that they have ikura don on the menu! I also got the chirashi don, which was great. But as for the ikura... why is it so sweet? The ikura is marinated in a very SWEET sauce.... that I could hardly taste the special taste of the ikura itself. I just wanted to let the management know that that marinade sauce for the ikura is WAY too sweet!! Please highlight the taste of the ikura itself. 🙏🙏🙏“

“อาหารอร่อย สะอาด การบริการดี รวดเร็ว“

“This Thi restaurant in Brooklyn was so delicious if you like Thi give this a go. Wednesday 40% off wine. It'scalled Lingo. The food was so exciting and balanced flavors! Their bold original menu reflects a deep love of flavors as well as an educated chef who pulls off their amazing flavors. Can't recommend enough!“

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

“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 :)“

“Mikado sushi in Lexington Avenue is my favorite sushi spot for lunch! They have amazing specials including sushi rolls like Wagyu, spicy crab ans scallops! 4 rolls for $20! They also have hot food dishes. The prices are so great and what I love about this spot is the service. I highly recommend eating here. There is also a great selection of sake, cocktails and tea!“

“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.“

“A Hidden Gem in Brooklyn – Freshness, Creativity, and World-Class Wine

Luya Omakase and Wine Bar is a true standout — easily one of the best dining experiences I’ve had in Brooklyn. Every bite of the omakase menu bursts with freshness and balance. The fish is immaculate — you can taste the quality and care in every piece — and the chef’s creativity shines through with thoughtful flavor pairings that go well beyond the traditional. Each course feels like a small, artful surprise.

What truly sets Luya apart, though, is the wine program. The selection of natural wines is nothing short of incredible — bottles from China, Japan, North Carolina, France, Italy, and beyond — curated with intention and discovery in mind. It’s rare to see such a diverse and adventurous list executed this well.

Owner Irvin ties it all together. His passion and deep knowledge of wine elevate the entire experience — he doesn’t just pour; he guides you through each pairing, weaving stories and flavor notes that make every sip more meaningful.

Between the pristine ingredients, inventive omakase, and world-spanning natural wine list, Luya is a must-visit for anyone who loves food, wine, and genuine hospitality. An easy 5 stars.“

“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.“

“Very nice setting, cool bar! It gets a bit noisy inside, though. Addictive cabbage was good! Kaarage chicken was okay, the coating had too much seasoning on it for our taste. The wagyu beef dish as the star of the show. Sadly they were out of chocolate cake. Nice spot, friendly service, great menu!“

“DASHI OKUME is a hidden gem in Brooklyn! The moment you walk in, you’re greeted with the calming aroma of quality Japanese ingredients and a beautifully curated space that feels like a slice of Tokyo. The staff is incredibly knowledgeable and passionate about dashi, and they take the time to walk you through the different varieties and combinations based on your taste preferences.

The custom dashi blends are a game-changer—deep, umami-rich, and incredibly fresh. You can really taste the difference compared to store-bought broth. Whether you’re making miso soup, noodle dishes, or even just sipping it on its own, the flavor is next-level.

They also carry a great selection of premium Japanese pantry staples, and everything is presented with care and attention to detail. DASHI OKUME isn’t just a shop—it’s an experience. Highly recommend to anyone who loves Japanese cuisine or wants to elevate their home cooking!“

“Lovely place we enjoyed it it was very cool“

“Went to celebrate an anniversary and had an excellent experience! The food is fantastic, the space and ambience is really lovely, and the price point while expensive is commensurate with the dish construction and quality of ingredients you get (fish flown in from Japan that same day). We loved that the restaurant operates as a not-for-profit, donating proceeds to fight food waste. I’ll be recommending to friends for an upscale date night or a special celebration.“

“Had an amazing experience at Mido Omakase Room with my two friends! We were a party of three, and our host, Richard, made the evening unforgettable. He was super funny, welcoming, and really added to the overall vibe of the place. The food was top-notch—each course was a masterpiece and the flavors were spot on. The service was impeccable, with the staff making sure we had everything we needed. Highly recommend this place for anyone looking for a great omakase experience!
Will definitely be coming back!“

“Had a lovely omakase dinner. BYOB is the cherry on top. Chefs were knowledgeable and it’s definitely a fun date night spot. Favorite bites of the night were the hamachi appetizer with grape tomato and the unagi with foie gras. Already have recommended this to my friends!“

“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.“

“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.“

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

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

“My boyfriend secretly booked Ume for my birthday/our anniversary celebration, without even knowing I’d been dying to go.

The garden seating is beautiful despite being a bit too shiny. The whole ambiance is so zen and relaxing which makes it perfect for a special occasion.

Huge shoutout to the impeccable service: we were 30 minutes late stuck at traffic, but they still graciously held our table. They even surprised us with vanilla gelato with honey and kinako on the house, easily one of the most delicious scoops I’ve ever had.

＊Sushi Set $78 pp
It was such a fun and interactive experience making our own hand rolls from a sashimi platter. We loved being able to enjoy everything at our own pace, customizing each piece with a variety of dipping sauces and special salts. It really encouraged me to slow down, savor every bite, and fully appreciate each piece.

＊Literally Everything Don $60
We were greedy to try more so we got one more kaishindon. Expensive but you get what you pay for: uni, ikura, scallop, toro, a5 miyazaki wagyu, caviar, and more. Every bite was pure luxury and satisfying. I only hoped I could only get this don as I was too full after finishing the sushi set, but they require at least one sushi set per person.

＊King Salmon Nigiri
To be completely transparent, my bf found a small bone in his sashimi. He was given a completely new set, and they even treated us to king salmon nigiri. We really appreciated how proactive and thoughtful they were so it didn’t affect our overall experience at all.“

“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.“

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

“Went looking for sushi in the neighborhood and stumbled on this place.

Small unassuming shop with a few seats.

We (2) ordered three rolls (eel avocado / shrimp tempura/ spicy salmon) and the chirashi.

Everything came out presented very nicely - see photos

I was very impressed with both the quantity of food and the quality of the fish. Everything was very fresh.

The only thing I did not like was that the spicy salmon roll and these small crispy bits in them. This is likely a personal preference but I would maybe ask to have them prepare it without next time.

Price / value on this place is excellent.

We will be back and already recommended to friends“

“What an incredible night. We went for a birthday celebration. The food was absolutely transcendent. Each and every dish was perfectly curated with a sake with music with absolutely beautiful plating. It truly was a feast for the senses  the eyes the ears the taste buds. What an incredible night. Although there were only two of us who came in together we felt that we made 10 friends that we spent the evening with. The way that the host and the chefs engaged with all of us made the evening so much fun. I highly highly recommend the restaurant, the food and the entertainment. It was truly a night to remember!“

“This place gets better every time. And there is no better value omakase. The owner and staff are lovely and create a wonderfully happy environment perfectly juxtaposed with the precision of the cooking and plating. It's crazy that there's not more buzz about this place.“

“Please open wynwood Miami Florida next location very very very soon next location they want this please plan a location this year finding a location thanks please plan to find a location this year the sooner the better so you have the location ready to go please or next year start 2026 finding a location for Miami Florida next location wynwood“

“We went on a random weekday and had to wait in line for an hour to get in. But the food, music and atmosphere were all worth the wait. The music was amazing, very old school jazz with lots of improvisation. They have different artists every day so the experience is probably different. The music is not very loud and you can easily have a conversation. The menu is extensive, lots of interesting food and a separate section listing all their vegetarian options.“

“I went Secchu Yokota yesterday for my birthday. Secchu Yokota, was by far the best eating experience I've had in NYC in a very long time. This was my first Omakase experience and it was delightful. Thank you to the hostesses, Ari, the manager, Diamon, and the amazing Chef. We will definitely be back!“

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

“new fav place by home. cocktails were perfect. waitress with the lil nas x shirt was lovely. blonde shaggy hair dude was full of personality and so funny. u guys rock. will say that the sushi rice was pretty firm in the rolls but no complaints with the whole experience“