50 Best Japanese Restaurants in New York

“We were celebrating a birthday with a group of six and the food was absolutely delicious! My personal favorites were the Soy Butter Bigoli, Mochi Bombolocini, Scallop, Rigatoni, and the Apple Pie. Most of the food was amazing. The service was fantastic – everyone was so attentive, helpful, and friendly. The atmosphere is super relaxed. I really loved the Umami in the Kenmare cocktail.“

“Wonderful and friendly staff. Delish food.“

“A great menu with each dish and skewer perfectly cooked. Great char and amazing flavour from the grill. It would have been good to see a wider variety of skewers and accompaniments as they were mostly chicken and very simple.
I was a little disappointed that the meatball skewer was not served with an onsen egg.
The wonton soup was unique and had a silky texture. Loved how the menu finished with a comforting bowl of ramen and a smooth caramel purin.
Staff were attentive and welcoming. Overall a fantastic experience!“

“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.“

“Más que un restaurante, es una experiencia!“

“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!“

“Absolutely amazing food was delicious and the attention of the staff unique.“

“phenomenal experience, so much delicious food & a beautiful mix of flavours - highly recommend. A lot better than a lot of other 3 star restaurants I’ve been to! Everything is unique and watching the chefs at the counter is an amazing experience.“

“Second to none! The ingredients are fresh and chef skills are world class.“

“The best homemade udon in town , strongly recommended“

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

“Great food and a great vibe! I got Dr. Clark’s Choice and it was worth EVERY PENNY! I couldn’t recommend this place more! The Sashimi was incredible as well as the Scallop Risotto and Basque Cheesecake. I really wish I had pictures to post, but I ate my food before I could take any. The portions were also EXTREMELY generous for the price.“

“The meal is fast, the food is delicious, and the links are elegant and warm.“

“Before I start my review I just want to add a tidbit about actually finding Kono. It's in a dimly lit, long, but narrow corridor, similar to streets you might find in Japan. If you think you found it you're probably right. It took me a minute to venture down this little alley.

Let's start with the atmosphere, it was a small venue but despite that you could easily have your own conversations. If you're sitting on the side like myself, you're in for the pleasure of watching them prepare all the food over the charcoal grill. Who doesn't love dinner and a show.

All of the food was fantastic and midway through you can even order some Alla carte items that may have not been on the chefs selection for that experience. Everything was cooked and seasoned to perfection. I really appreciated they also took the time to explain each cut and which seasoning or none may go with it.

All of the staff were not only friendly but just very professional and helpful. The hostess at the front was also extremely kind and friendly.

I would totally recommend this spot for a date, taking a client, or even just solo dining. Truly a hidden gem, I'm shocked this flew under my radar for so long.“

“A very warm and friendly atmosphere. The food was quite proper and delicious. Since the weather was great, the fact that there was only a fan inside and no air conditioning didn’t bother me at all. I prefer fresh air over AC anyway. The service was very calm and they nicely provided information about extras you could get without being pushy. In my opinion, it’s a very good choice for having decent, tasty food“

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

“Perfect Food, Great Service, Nice Atmosphere“

“Everything was exceptional - the service, the atmosphere, the attention to detail, and of course, the food. Three of us had the Chef’s omakase experience, and it was like watching mesmerizing performance art. A fantastic experience all around.“

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

“Hole in the wall sushi spot. It’s a small and cozy spot in the LES. The size allows you to enjoy the food and chefs on a personal level. I also genuinely have not had fresher fish than here, every piece was mind blowing, the fact that it’s only $68 for 12 pieces! I’m so impressed and I truly can’t recommend it enough. Better than any Michelin I’ve ever had! Also if you love uni like I do, it’s a must.“

“Awesome Delicious Sushi, I can’t believe how quick they prepared and delivered our food...“

“Amazing experience at Sushi Yasuda! My chef Moriyama from Kagoshima prefecture was perfect, a typical Kyushu man with a great personality and spectacular at serving up delicious sushi. My server Tsuzumi from Okinawa prefecure was also very attentive and did a fantastic job making sure we had everything that we needed. The whole team was amazing, I’ve eaten sushi in every corner of the world, including Japan, and I can safely say that Sushi Yasuda is up there with the best! Thank you again.“

“Had such a wonderful dinner at Hirohisa — definitely one of the most memorable omakase experiences I’ve had in New York. The food was absolutely delicious, with every course made from fresh, seasonal ingredients that really stood out. You can tell how much thought and care went into the preparation.

The plating was simple but beautiful, and the dishes they used added a special touch to the whole experience. What really made the night stand out, though, was the service — both the chef and staff were so friendly, warm, and attentive. It felt personal in the best way.

I’ve also been for lunch and loved it just as much — the quality and attention to detail are always there. Hirohisa has always been my favorite Japanese restaurant in the city, and this visit just reminded me why. Can’t wait to go back.“

“Absolutely loved our experience yesterday. The basic omakase was delicious at $38, no hidden charges, and staff were lovely. Only slightly minor quibble was everything seemed a bit rushed and a little less peaceful than other places I've been to, but fair enough at that price. I was also a bit surprised at the rudeness of a customer talking on her phone when the staff were trying to engage her. That's not the restaurant's fault but maybe worth having a sign about using phones less and being in the moment more?!“

“Creative, fresh and delicious.“

“Haven’t eaten this well since I was last actually in Japan late 2019 before you know what! Loved the Korean flavoured belly pork.“

“Just awesome. Fast. Efficient. Great.“

“Shion does have excellent dishes - the two kinds of uni alone are worth the price. Honestly I am kind of tired of everywhere serving omakase because after a while it just becomes a flex as to the quality of fish the chef can get their hands on. Have I had better? Sure. Better and cheaper? Absolutely. But Shion does care about his dishes and definitely has the experience.“

“Great Service and the foods was delicious. Will come back here again.“

“#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“

“Sushi Nakazawa is an unforgettable experience. The sushi is flawless — fresh, delicate, and prepared with incredible skill and precision. Every piece feels like a work of art. The chefs are engaging and passionate, and the service is smooth and attentive without being overbearing. The space is elegant yet relaxed, making the whole meal feel special from start to finish. Truly one of the best sushi experiences in the city.“

“Was visiting my godchild and she wanted to eat here. The staff was amazing as was the ramen. Cozy and cool. We went for lunch on a Saturday and we were seated right away. I would definitely go 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!!“

“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.“

“Chefs Isaac, Ivan, Kathlin and server Daniel all played a part in making our anniversary dinner one for the books! Loved the ambience, loved the view and the omakase was so good even the palate cleansing ginger deserves a shoutout (delicate like apple slices); but the highlight for me was the octopus + orange in greek yogurt sauce. I knew it’d be delicious, didn’t know it’d leave me speechless“

“We had an absolutely fantastic experience at Fushimi Restaurant! The food was delicious, from the appetizers we ordered to our main course. Each dish was expertly prepared and bursting with flavor. We also enjoyed a couple of drinks, which perfectly complemented our meal. What truly made our visit exceptional was the incredible service provided by our waitress, Ohmie. She was attentive, friendly, and made sure we had everything we needed throughout the evening. Her warm demeanor and professionalism truly elevated our dining experience. We strongly recommend Fushimi Restaurant, especially because of the outstanding service we received from Ohmie. We’ll definitely be back!“

“The food was rich and flavorful. Some of the best eel, it was very tender. The sweet potato roll was crunchy and had so much flavor. The broth in the Ramen and Miso soup was not salty like most places and had a taste that complemented the dish.

The crunchy rice roll was the only dish that was average. It smelled much better than it tasted. The tuna and salmon tasted great but the actual fried portion on the rice was overpowering.“

“came in for a late night bite and some drinks. ordered appetizers, food came quickly and was beyond superb. very minor communication issue among the server that was working and our table, which meant we didn’t get informed that the kitchen was closing (closed by the time we spoke to our server). we hadn’t ordered main food yet, so were frustrated and brought it to the manager’s attention. he immediately corrected the issue and went above and beyond to ensure our visit was great. would highly recommend this establishment to anyone looking for very reasonably priced, excellent food.“

“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.“

“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!“

“Just awesome. Fast. Efficient. Great.“

“Presentation of sushi and appetizers were superb and the staff was exceptionally pleasant and professional-it will be our new go to spot when we come back into NY“

“Sushi onakase Shinzo best“

“You feel welcome once you step into this place. Service is top notch. 12 course dishes are all with very fresh ingredients and very delicious. I would say their Modern Kaiseki is very good even compare to those you find in Tokyo or Osaka. Last, if you are into Sake, you have to try their pairing and the staff their are very knowledgeable on what they pick.“

“Every dish shows attention to flavor details. The staff made sure I wasn't overlooked and answered inquiries with sincere interest. We discovered new favorite dishes!! The kitchen selects obviously fresh, seasonal components. The spot is perfectly positioned and we plan to visit again.“

“Not too bad“

“Had a very nice dinner here in an intimate and beautiful setting! It was my first time trying shabu omakase; they cooked the meat in front of us and placed each piece on our plate like sushi omakase. While the cooking is the fun part of shabu shabu and I would’ve liked to control the degree to which the meat was cooked (it wasn’t equal and I kept receiving the more raw piece), it was also pleasant to watch. The pace was a bit too fast for me, because we were the only party in the restaurant. It would’ve been better had they paced it like a full house instead of cooking the next as soon as the previous piece was gone from the plate. (I just kept half a piece on my plate so we wouldn’t get the next one so quickly.)

We got yuzu sake and umeshu in the beginning as refreshments, then got sake for the course which paired well with the heavy meat. The A5 wagyu truly melted in my mouth, but I personally preferred the wagyu after the first bite bc it was less fatty. The whole course might be a bit too much of meat after meat, especially if you’re a smaller person (I couldn’t eat any more after 5-6 slices). Better pacing might have helped with this, or maybe it’s just a lot.

At any rate I was happy by the end of the night and it was quite memorable. Just make sure you can stomach everything or bring someone who can take their portion as well as yours.“

“Service is excellent. Staff are all friendly, attentive, and courteous.

Food: Grilled black cod with red miso is yummy. Otoro is a bit disappointing. It is a bit chewy. Scallop, uni and eels are fantastic. Handroll is disappointing too. The seaweed wrap is not crunchy and the bottom part is moisted.“

“This is a 2nd floor Japanese-Thai speakeasy in Alphabet City where the food menu leans toward Japan while the drinks are Thai-inspired with the menu designed by veteran NYC bartender and Phetchaboon native Sayparn. Her and her partners opened 11 Tigers in 2022 (year of the tiger which symbolizes success). The staff do an excellent job of mixing food and entertainment.“

“This Taikun Sushi gives you exactly what its name suggests. The taste experience is remarkable. I've never been disappointed by what I've ordered and they give you just enough. Workers here always display welcoming attitudes. We're excited to explore more food options.“