50 Best Japanese Restaurants near Rockaway Park

“We love coming here. The service is always great. So is the food! Small and cozy. Conveniently located. It’s one of our favorites.“

“I ordered from E Sushi III on Uber Eats, and I was so impressed with how fast my food got to me. The delivery was super quick, and everything was still fresh when it arrived. The packaging was spot on—neat, secure, and no spills, even with the drinks I ordered. It’s clear they put effort into making sure everything stays in place and arrives in perfect condition.

Everything I ordered was on point and tasted amazing. From the sushi rolls to the appetizers, every bite was full of flavor, and you could tell the ingredients were fresh. The way everything was put together made it feel like I was dining in at the restaurant. The flavors were balanced just right, and it all went above and beyond what I expected.

I’m definitely ordering from E Sushi III again, and I can’t wait for my next meal. It’s rare to find a delivery experience that’s this smooth and satisfying from start to finish. Great job, E Sushi III! You’ve won me over. Keep up the awesome work—you’ve got a loyal customer here! ❤️❤️❤️“

“Layout/atmosphere*Three tablesFood/drink*Boneless spare ribs with pork fried rice - solid; sauce was sweet, little too much overall (amount on the meat); no bean sprouts but scrambled egg in fried rice (preferred that)*Egg drop soup - good*Egg roll - good“

“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. 🙏🙏🙏“

“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.“

“Last minute decided to make a reservation here , I’ve pretty much tried all the omakases in the area and while all are pretty good, I appreciate that LUYA has a cocktail and natural wine menu. Sometimes a girl is just not in the mood for plain sake. For $89, thought the menu was pretty good. Our chef was so engaging and checked on everyone constantly. Very nice interactions“

“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.“

“อาหารอร่อย สะอาด การบริการดี รวดเร็ว“

“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!“

“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.“

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

“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 :)“

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

“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“

“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.“

“Delicious udon in a chill environment. Good for hanging out or date lunch! You can have a conversation and hear each other.

I ordered a cold udon, and my noodles were a little bit al dente for my liking, but it was delicious otherwise.“

“Esta delicioso la comida ramen“

“Reservation Surprise For My Birthday Amazing Service Foid Was Delicious Everything Was Awesome Enjoy My Special Day So Happy Miyama Restaurant Was Our Choice Lilly Server Was The Best : Thank You“

“Some of the best ramen we've ever had. Wish we could have tried them all!! Fantastic.“

“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.“

“everything about this place is fantastic and the pho here is out of this world!! some of the best pho i’ve ever had.
ambience, food and service all exceeded expectations.
plenty of vegetarian & gluten free options, a great place for plant-based eaters.

perfect place for a delicious romantic date 😋🫶“

“FOOD FOR THE PEOPLE
(Read in voice of @japaneats)
This is no fancy restaurant. It’s your run of the mill local shop that resembles home-style cooking. And it’s great. [insert jokes]. Jokes aside, it’s a place you can eat often. The food isn’t too decadent and the bill certainly won’t break the bank either“

“A colleague recommended a different Ramen restaurant but the C rating made us look elsewhere. We found Konoha Yakitori Ramen and Sushi House and had a fabulous experience. We tried the lamb chops, beef grilled trio, the Tokyo Chicken Ramen and the Tan Tan. The broth was rich and flavorful and the added spice in the Tokyo Ramen was perfect. The portions are enough for leftovers. We will visit again.“

“Service is also very good, very patient attitude is also very good, we eat after also sent us ice cream really very nice“

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

“Lezzetli 👍 Güler yüzlü servis“

“Had the best steak.. very tasty!“

“Place is cozy food is great healthy choices🥙🥗🥘🍣“

“This place is a gem. My partner and I went for happy hour, it was lovely! The staff is very attentive and intuitive, they were checking in on us and anticipated our needs before we even requested anything. The Tokyo banana was the star of the show, but the ramen, chicken wings, and the potatoes were epic! We will definitely be returning. Thank you.“

“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!“

“The food is amazingly delicious. The staff is so friendly. I am totally going back“

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

“My friends and I visited this part of Brooklyn to come and try this place after browsing for sushi options in the area, and we were extremely pleased with our decision! The staff were SUPER sweet, and our drinks and food were amazing :) The decor was also very pretty! Would highly recommend!“

“Incredibly popular — and it’s easy to see why! Even though they were super busy with orders, everything was handled smoothly and professionally. My sushi arrived fresh, neatly packed, and absolutely delicious. You can tell they care about quality, even during a rush. Great food, great value, and totally worth the wait. Will definitely order again!“

“They have the best or 2nd best pork katsu and chicken kara-age that I’ve ever tried. All the food including the fish have been fresh. Love the onigiri. The rice is cooked perfectly with a pristine balance in flavor and stickiness. Just wish they were as large as the onigiri I had from 7/11 in Asia.“

“This casual izakaya was perfect for our friendly dinner. The food was fire and affordable, and their staff were friendly and attentive. The guy I went with who I was visiting moved into the neighborhood recently, and was very happy to find this spot and said he would be frequenting this place often. 🫶🏼“

“Went inside on a whim and so glad we did. The handrolls were incredible. The fish was great quality and creativity was next level. Our favorites were the xo scallop (must get), tuna poke, salmon serrano, aka ebi, toro scallion, and spicy lobster. Not as big of a fan of cooked/fried fish in sushi, but tried the coconut shrimp and spicy crab dynamite due to the many recommendations, and thought they were just okay. Also didn’t think the caviar starter was anything special.“

“It was very tasty , the sushi was very good and delicious also the Japanese soda was amazing .“

“Visited here on several occasion. Minimalist decor, dimly lit providing a cozy and intimate ambiance , cute for a date night without feeling over the top. We've had Dawa as our waitress couple times and she is very attentive and personable. Gave us great tips on what to order

The spicy yuzu margarita is my go to drink .Well balanced, strong, not too spicy which i liked. For food, I have really enjoyed their eel roll and salmon teriyaki. Recently tried their Omakase and it was very tasty . The sushi was so fresh, the salmon sashimi was melts in your mouth. The dragon roll was also a great addition. The portion was plentiful, felt very full by the last bite. Overall, really impressed by the quality of their sushi. I look forward to sampling the ramen on the menu since so many people have raved about it.“

“Good service , fresh sushi , best food quality around .“

“In a city where most Japanese cafes charge you $10 for an egg sandwich or a latte, it’s so nice to have an affordable yet authentic Japanese spot. Conohen is the one. I love the onigiris 🍙 are all handmade and the yakisoba is the flavor I remember from Japan. Their egg sandwich is only $6. The owner is very friendly and that’s what small businesses are about: making you feel welcomed and belonged.“

“Came here with my sister for lunch and had a wonderful. The cafe is so cute and the menu is quite extensive (there’s just so many options, you’ll have to come back!). Our waitress was the sweetest and answered any questions/concerns that we had. I got the hamachi don and my sister got the katsu. Both were delicious and the portions are filling! I will definitely come back.“

“Food is amazing every time“

“This is our go-to sushi place. I spent most of my college years as a server at various sushi restaurants so I'm typically picker about the sushi and sashimi I order and I can attest to the quality and breadth of their selection. Their traditional Japanese appetizers like Hamachi-Kama are excellent as well. The staff are extremely welcoming of our young children (which not all restaurants in NYC are) and know them by name. Needless to say we hope Bushniwa is here for the long haul so we always have our favorite sushi spot!“

“Oh my god! We had a great dinner at this place. The food was amazing, service was great and the place looks cool. It was our first time trying this place but we'll definitely go back. It will be in our favorite restaurant list for sure. I'm so happy to have this place in our neighborhood. it's just 20 min walk. Awesome!! We'll be a regular!“

“Friendly staff Nice food Not cheap though“

“It’s the best sushi place in ridgewood without a doubt by every metric imaginable. But please I’m begging for the love of nori, please stop blasting country music at all hours of every day. I want so badly to sit and enjoy my food but this music is making my spicy crab taste like baked beans and confederacy.“

“Expensive but it’s new York us cali people one order two pieces in NY one order one piece totally sucks“

“You guys are the best, delicious food and beautiful presentation 👍👍☺️☺️😋😋“

“The BEST dining experience of my life. I commend the chefs for being able to create an incredible experience out of a cuisine that emphasizes purity. They are truly masters of their craft, and it shines through with each and every bite. I also want to thank Brandon, and the entire staff, for delivering on just above and beyond service even for a Michelin star restaurant.

My full review of each aspect of the meal:

Food:
We booked the Gentei Omakase experience and loved every bite. I had very high expectations for the rice with how much they talk about it on the website, and even those expectations were exceeded. The rice is spectacular. When it comes to the fish, it was a wonderful mix of classics like Otoro, and an introduction to new favorites of mine like the Kinki. Each piece tastes delicious and came with the perfect amount of freshly grated wasabi. Understanding the selection was seasonal, the mix was just perfect. There were cuts of perfectly springy texture, melt-in-your-mouth buttery sweetness, and delicate umami flavor. I can’t really put into words how the food had changed my view of sushi forever. NOW, let me talk about the sake pairing. My sake experience was H-Mart sake, so maybe I’m not the expert. That said, this sake pairing has completely changed everything I thought sake could be. Brandon, our sake expert, was kind of enough to dumb down the explanations of all the sake to us, giving us a history lesson on each bottle and helping us learn tasting notes to look out for. I felt like it was like someone showing me a whole new world that I didn’t know existed. If you are reading this, best of luck on the exam next year! I want to thank you for making our evening so special.

Service:
I may not have the 20+ Michelin meals the other reviewer had, but of the few I have had, this one stands out as by far the best. They were able to blend together an intimate dining experience and a show. It was food with a little showmanship to curate to those who wanted pictures of every piece and those who wanted to just sit and eat. The chefs were attentive, asking questions on taste and consistently giving context to what we were eating. They gave a thorough explanation on the origins of the rice, and even gave context about seasonality of the fish. I felt like I was in a masterclass, being taught by two of the best to ever do it. Then the rest of the wait staff was just absolutely fantastic. They came by with phone rests, and even cleaned up small drops of sauce on the serving plate, to assure it did not compromise the flavor of the next piece. The level of attention was perfect without being over the top.

Atmosphere: Simple. Just the way it should be.“