A true NYC classic whose delicious house salad dressing is still the best ever, even in a new location. Just the memory of that dressing made me sit down and randomly write this review. I'm not even a salad person but it is GOOD! I'm just sad a place like Japonica doesn't exist in my new town. I grew up eating here and the staff are still as nice as ever, they even remember me after years away! The sushi and miso soup always hit the spot. A friend's parents even came here on their first date - it's that kind of memorable, special place for grownups and kids alike. Hope you try it out and thanks, Japonica, for the memories <3Kid-friendliness: When I was a kid they would give me and my friends these unique little shrimp-shaped lollipops after every meal. They also gave us those kid-friendly chopsticks that taught me how to deftly wield them.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Chicken Teriyaki Bento, Miso Soup, California Roll, Green Tea Ice Cream, Sushi Platter, Sashimi, Edamame, Salad
Kathleen D.
This used to be the best sushi place by far in Greenwich village. It is now hardly recognizable as the same place. The sushi is badly made, falls apart as soon as you touch it. The appetizer sushi portions are small at higher prices and the service is inattentive at best. The take out tastes as if the sushi were sitting around for an hour on counter. Miss the old japonica.
I had an incredibly upsetting experience here, the manager seated 4 drunk men next to me at the sushi bar , who wouldn’t stop screaming and being abusive - they did nothing. I sat and ate while being insulted and the manager ignored it - after finally moving them to their table , I complained and asked for compensation, a drink something to make up for the terrible experience and then the manager yelled at me. Seriously this was a staple / but this was beyond. The Sushi was expensive and mediocre at best .
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 3
Service: 1
Greg K.
I've been coming to Japonica since it opened in the mid to late 70's, and while their prices historically have been on the higher side, the food quality justified those prices. Sadly, that's no longer the case these past few years. Tonight, my father and I both had their $40 prix fixe bento boxes, and while the sushi was (just) OK, the other items were quite mediocre, particularly the mushy, tasteless veggie potstickers. My "mini unagi donburi" tasted like leftover little chunks from last weekend, recycled over a little bowl of rice with BBQ sauce. There were also a number of ambiguities in the menu that our server seemed to have difficulty explaining. After having given this place more than three chances to redeem themselves this past year, I think that we are going to move on in search of better Japanese fare in the Village.
Richard
Good ramen but the service was abysmal me and my friend were ignored multiple
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 1
Haru Kawa
This was a restaurant my family and I frequented in the 90s since we knew the Japanese owners. It is very nostalgic. Happy to see it’s still thriving in spite of all of changes in the neighborhood. I dine here when I’m in the NYU area for events and the sushi and sashimi pieces and assortment are still as superior as I remember it.It is very old school but that’s not always up peoples alley with all of these new trendy Japanese restaurants in nyc.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 4
Stuart G.
Very good longstanding traditional Japanese restaurant in west village/NYU area. Always busy. Extremely consistent and good, food and service. Comfortable, clean, orderly. An efficient retreat of a place.
Richard R.
Meh. mediocre sushi made out of good quality fish. Overpriced, there are many better choices. A shadow of its former self.
Vanessa Morfe
It was very good I went on Halloween with my brother and the service was great and the food also great It was a great
Nice, chill spot for reasonably priced sushi given the area. I would recommend this restaurant to someone looking for all of the above.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
cathy m.
Our favorite sushi place in Manhattan. It's been in business since the 70's they moved back to their original location a few years ago. I love their lunch special, it's a great deal for a bento box. Probably my favorite thing on the menu is the snow crab handroll on the special menu. Super high quality sushi and a nice menu
mushrat Imam
The service sucked, the sushi was alright. The price didn’t fit the menu and atmosphere. Very
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 3
Service: 1
Steve B.
Perennially reliable, informal Japanese dining option in Greenwich Village. Graceful transition from founder and long time operator to new owners.
Jon Y.
Been here a dozen times it used to be amazing but been slowly going down hill- prices have increased, portions and quality has decreased imho- is still better than average but there are better places given the cost -
A true NYC classic whose delicious house salad dressing is still the best ever, even in a new location. Just the memory of that dressing made me sit down and randomly write this review. I'm not even a salad person but it is GOOD! I'm just sad a place like Japonica doesn't exist in my new town. I grew up eating here and the staff are still as nice as ever, they even remember me after years away! The sushi and miso soup always hit the spot. A friend's parents even came here on their first date - it's that kind of memorable, special place for grownups and kids alike. Hope you try it out and thanks, Japonica, for the memories <3Kid-friendliness: When I was a kid they would give me and my friends these unique little shrimp-shaped lollipops after every meal. They also gave us those kid-friendly chopsticks that taught me how to deftly wield them.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Chicken Teriyaki Bento, Miso Soup, California Roll, Green Tea Ice Cream, Sushi Platter, Sashimi, Edamame, Salad
This used to be the best sushi place by far in Greenwich village. It is now hardly recognizable as the same place. The sushi is badly made, falls apart as soon as you touch it. The appetizer sushi portions are small at higher prices and the service is inattentive at best. The take out tastes as if the sushi were sitting around for an hour on counter. Miss the old japonica.
Best EVERYTHING ? ?
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Sake Sashimi, Pork Katsu, Chicken Teriyaki Bento, Rainbow Roll, Spider Roll, Miso Soup, California Roll, Green Tea Ice Cream, Sushi Platter, Sashimi, Ultra Sushi, Shrimp Tempura, Edamame, Sukiyaki, Tuna Pke w Avocado
I had an incredibly upsetting experience here, the manager seated 4 drunk men next to me at the sushi bar , who wouldn’t stop screaming and being abusive - they did nothing. I sat and ate while being insulted and the manager ignored it - after finally moving them to their table , I complained and asked for compensation, a drink something to make up for the terrible experience and then the manager yelled at me. Seriously this was a staple / but this was beyond. The Sushi was expensive and mediocre at best .
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 3
Service: 1
I've been coming to Japonica since it opened in the mid to late 70's, and while their prices historically have been on the higher side, the food quality justified those prices. Sadly, that's no longer the case these past few years. Tonight, my father and I both had their $40 prix fixe bento boxes, and while the sushi was (just) OK, the other items were quite mediocre, particularly the mushy, tasteless veggie potstickers. My "mini unagi donburi" tasted like leftover little chunks from last weekend, recycled over a little bowl of rice with BBQ sauce. There were also a number of ambiguities in the menu that our server seemed to have difficulty explaining. After having given this place more than three chances to redeem themselves this past year, I think that we are going to move on in search of better Japanese fare in the Village.
Good ramen but the service was abysmal me and my friend were ignored multiple
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 1
This was a restaurant my family and I frequented in the 90s since we knew the Japanese owners. It is very nostalgic. Happy to see it’s still thriving in spite of all of changes in the neighborhood. I dine here when I’m in the NYU area for events and the sushi and sashimi pieces and assortment are still as superior as I remember it.It is very old school but that’s not always up peoples alley with all of these new trendy Japanese restaurants in nyc.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 4
Very good longstanding traditional Japanese restaurant in west village/NYU area. Always busy. Extremely consistent and good, food and service. Comfortable, clean, orderly. An efficient retreat of a place.
Meh. mediocre sushi made out of good quality fish. Overpriced, there are many better choices. A shadow of its former self.
It was very good I went on Halloween with my brother and the service was great and the food also great It was a great
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Miso Soup, Japonica Invention
Restaurantji Recommends
Nice, chill spot for reasonably priced sushi given the area. I would recommend this restaurant to someone looking for all of the above.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Our favorite sushi place in Manhattan. It's been in business since the 70's they moved back to their original location a few years ago. I love their lunch special, it's a great deal for a bento box. Probably my favorite thing on the menu is the snow crab handroll on the special menu. Super high quality sushi and a nice menu
The service sucked, the sushi was alright. The price didn’t fit the menu and atmosphere. Very
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 3
Service: 1
Perennially reliable, informal Japanese dining option in Greenwich Village. Graceful transition from founder and long time operator to new owners.
Been here a dozen times it used to be amazing but been slowly going down hill- prices have increased, portions and quality has decreased imho- is still better than average but there are better places given the cost -