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.“

“The food is exceptional here. Each time I've been here the sushi is tasty, the rolls are fresh and the tempura is crispy. The salmon teriyaki was light, flaky and sauced to perfection. The salmon sashimi is top tier and I could have 20 of these in one sitting. The white tuna and red snapper sashimi are also favorites. The sake and crazy salmon rolls were also really really good, the volcano roll wasn't my favorite. I love coming and trying new rolls each time. Its great value when doing the all you can eat option.

The service is great in the sense that you get really tasty and fresh food as soon as its ready. After ordering, our servers brought our items as they were ready and checked on us throughout to clear empty plates and bring more as we needed. They gave us time to eat/enjoy and we didn't feel rushed at any point. If busy then there might be a small wait to get their attention but other than that, I think they do a great job. Sometimes you'll see workers sitting at a table enjoying their lunch as well, but it doesn't bother me because they do such a great job behind the scenes.

The space is clean, tidy, and spacious. They have a selection of booths or tables to sit at. There is also a restroom for customers that is clean and convenient.

Overall a great experience and I'll be back again for the all you can eat option.“

“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“

“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.“

“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.“

“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.“

“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.“

“อาหารอร่อย สะอาด การบริการดี รวดเร็ว“

“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.“

“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 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.“

“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“

“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“

“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“

“Solid spot right by Barclays Center! I highly recommend their udon, since that's what they're known for. I DONT recommend the Salmon Don. It was very plain and it came with flavorless seaweed. It comes with a small dish of dipping soy sauce. While the portion size was plentiful, it was mostly tasteless.

On the other hand, I enjoyed the apps! The Yakitori Skewers, especially, were soft and melted in my mouth! The Salmon Tartare and Vegetable Tempura were also good.

Attentive + kind staff. Plenty of seating. Overall, great, convenient spot for a pre-Barclays meal.“

“The atmosphere was wonderful, the staff was very nice and tended to our table very well

The food was delicious, we ordered the Konoha Yakitori Mix as well as numerous other Yakitori skewers, as well as one of the ramens and Sushi deluxe, everything was prepared very well and came our in a reasonable time

I also highly recommend the Chu-Hi's, the fuji apple and peach drinks were both wonderful and I would definitely get them again“

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

“We wrapped up this foodie trip with Tonchin, and it truly lives up to the hype. We got in during happy hours so we got a couple oysters, a chashu rice ball, and 2 ramens: Spicy Tan Tan and Smoked Dashi. The foods were very delicious, ramen are both with tonkotsu broth, so if you are into Ichiran ramen, you will love it. The staff were also courteous; they sorted us out with a situation and we were happy about it. Definitely recommend to check out this location.“

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

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

“Esta delicioso la comida ramen“

“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“

“Small cozy spot with a relaxed atmosphere. You order at the bar and the service is quick and friendly. No alcohol, but the focus is clearly on the food. The menu is small but thoughtfully put together, and everything feels fresh. The handroll sushi is especially great and definitely worth trying. A nice casual place to stop by when you want quality sushi without the fuss.“

“Went here for Valentines day and the vibes were so great! Loved the food, and the atmosphere was superb (great lighting, beautiful table settings, and nice music). Great vegan/vegetarian options. And the staff were all so nice as well. Our server Kyle was so helpful and all of our food came out so quickly. The manager Angelica also came to check on our table and was very hospitable and kind. Amazing and innovative cocktails and delicious meal ending in a lovely dessert. Cannot recommend this restaurant more if you are looking for an excellent evening out in Bed-Stuy!“

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

“The outside is unassuming compared to the beautiful garden in the back. It’s a perfect spot for a date or a cozy dinner with friends. The drinks were all hits (I loved the lychee sunrise although it is very sweet). The banh xeo and bun bo hue are definitely the most worth ordering of what we got. I’d probably skip the lemongrass beef summer rolls and try some of the other ones. The only reason for 4 stars is because the service was slow to get our order in and we were waiting for awhile, but they are very kind!“

“such fresh and delicious sushi in a good quantity for a great price. i love to get the 40 piece tray- 5 rolls and 10 pieces of sushi for $50?? literally cannot beat it and best sushi in the neighborhood- definitely worth dining in but i recommend take out!“

“Had the best steak.. very tasty!“

“Lezzetli 👍 Güler yüzlü servis“

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

“everything was fresh and so good. the prices are absolutely amazing. me and my family of 4 got 6 appetizers to share, our own entrees, and 2 drinks each plus a glass of wine all for $154. our waiter was also very friendly and accommodating, he made jokes with us and was super patient. we are definitely going back. this place is the perfect size for solo dinning and small groups.“

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

“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.“

“Food is amazing every time“

“Beautiful spot, held my bridal proposal here and all the girls loved it. The food was amazing , the drinks were delicious and beautifully presented. Vibrant energy all around. Love the DJ playing live music. Would definitely recommend and will be coming back.“

“Cute space and you can tell they care about the food that comes out. Everything smells great and beautiful plating. In talking with the team it’s nice to hear it’s becoming more farm to table - you can definitely taste the difference from other places in the area. Loved the heirloom tomatoes dish- definitely feels like summer in a dish with the pink tangerines! (Pictured ) they also have a cool looking bar hidden in the back that was packed. Would highly recommend if you’re in the area - worth the visit 🙌🏼“

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

“I was intrigued by the high ratings of this restaurant and made a point to visit for a weeknight dinner. Having eaten there, I am puzzled. The service was attentive and quick. No notes there. The shop was a standard-issue corner restaurant, basically undifferentiated from the Mexican restaurant that was there years before. Not a place you’d select for ambiance or date night, but it was clean and well-lit. The food was quite average. I had the pork belly mazemen and agedashi tofu. My partner had seaweed salad, vegetarian roll and yellowtail roll. Of all these dishes, mazemen was the tastiest. The noodles were overcooked, but the pork and egg combo compensated. All the other dishes were unremarkable, poorly seasoned or weirdly textured. Fortunately, dishes are reasonably priced so our exploration did not set us back too much. Overall, it’s a fairly average neighborhood restaurant with moderate prices.“

“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!“

“I love Conohen and am so glad to have it in my neighborhood! It has saved me on so many days when I'm just too tired to make dinner and want something filling and tasty. Never underestimate the flavor of hot, fresh rice. I'd recommend the ikura spoon salmon onigiri and the veggie yakisoba.“

“i love yuzu!! i always order for delivery and am always satisfied. the person who takes my order over the phone is very sweet and makes sure to double check my order. i always tip because they deserve it! their dinner bento boxes are the best, a lot of food for an amazing price!! everything tastes wonderful, no complaints. i also ordered their mango mochi for the first time and loved it!! thank you yuzu!“

“Love Nami Nori and decided to spend Valentine's Day here with my husband. The food was outstanding as always but the service was absolutely terrible. Especially considering it was a special evening, the waiter's complete lack of care was really disappointing and certainly dampened the mood. He never once greeted us, asked how we were, and would just come over and stare at us and say “are you ready?” He never asked if we wanted to order more drinks. When I was listing the hand rolls I would like in my set (you pick 5), he got extremely frustrated because he missed some of them and was extremely rude and visibly annoyed when asking me to repeat them even though that's how most people order the rolls there. It was unfortunate that he was so unpleasant on a nice where many people are spending time with loved ones and celebrating Valentine's Day. Really disappointed in his service and desperately hope he is not my server next time I go.“

“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.“

“Excellent sushi at a reasonable price.
The quality is high and the service is friendly and welcoming.
It's essentially half the price of what you'd pay for the same top quality fish in Manhattan. It's delicious!“

“This is my new favorite sushi restaurant! I ordered the seaweed salad, clam soup, clear soup, vegetable Gyoza and 2 avocado rolls and 2 avocado cucumber rolls and they were all super fresh & delicious. The seaweed salads were nice crunchy and full of flavor, the clam soup was so soothing with lots of clams I might add, the clear soup had such tasty mushrooms inside, the veggie gyozas were in this pesto like wrapping that just went perfect with the vegetables that were packed inside. The rolls were crunchy snappy and fresh and Sashimi is cut to perfection. The staff was also most helpful and made you feel noticed. They were very good! Highly recommend this restaurant.“

“This place is delightful. All the food and drinks were not only delicious, but also interesting. We had a mushroom appetizer where you could grill the mushrooms yourself over a small grill and it was really fun. The staff are very nice and conversational- the waiter explained to us the history and traditions surrounding the mushrooms and gave us great advice on what drinks to pair them with. It wasn't busy at all when I had dinner there a few weeks ago so it's quiet and also quite beautiful inside. Would 100% come here again.“

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