great little gem in the middle of warehouses in greenpoint bk. went here for a late brunch and it was well worth the walk over the bridge from LIC to BK. small japanese inspired cafe. they dont have your traditional brunch menu but the food is great. We ordered turkey sandwich on ciabatta bread and the teriyaki pork on ciabetta bread. and both were very tasty. i also ordered the grape vinegar healthy drink and it tasted weird it at first but it is actually pretty good! they have a broad selection of teas to choose from and they are not expensive at all. only downside about this place is that they close early. (4pm) i would definitely go back here to try a tea beverage and to order a breakfast dish if i can get there before 11am. read more

Ashbox - teriyaki pork on ciabatta - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

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I am glad that the place found its niche - unique food and great tea - after years of comfort coffee shop fare. Ashbox offers wonderful teas, delicious (yet healthy) salads and sandwiches, inigiri and other Japanese thingies and amazing green tea cookies. Everything is freshly made and quality of ingredients - consistently excellent. I come to Ashbox when I want to relax as much as have a nice meal. The place is really one of its kind, with lazy moving ceiling fan, giant windows looking at a landscape from "Last Picture Show" (kind of) and very eclectic low soundtrack (!). I haven't tried their coffee. read more

I am fan of their Rice Balls. I think it is the best in NYC. Compared to what you can find in Japanese grocery stores like Sunrise Mart, they are made fresh, they use half brown (Haiga) rice and far better. I also like their salads, they come in 2 sizes and you can get large for under $8 and they are huge. read more

Nice Japanese cafe at the tip of Greenpoint. They offer quick lunch options (bagels, sandwiches, rice bowls, rice balls, etc) and daily lunch specials. Cash only! read more

Asian comfort food! Get the soupy rice, it tastes like a blanket wrapped around you on a snowy day.

Very cute and cozy place! Good coffee, good service, affordable prices. It's a perfect place to work/study as they have tons of seatings with accessible outlets. I went on a Friday afternoon so can't say how busy it is on weekends. The only reason it's not 5 stars is because they don't have wifi. read more

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Delicious and the owner is a sweetheart ! A great lunch or breakfast spot - go support if you live nearby !!

Ashbox is a simple, nice cafe. It offers breakfast, lunch, sandwiches, avocado happy rice, and beverages. They are good and the price is reasonable. The staff is friendly. Everything is solid there. read more

Ashbox - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

Good prices, great food at this neighborhood spot. The lunch specials are good. I love the egg salad, Ashbox salad, and the rice rolls.

Excellent food! When they are open for business. I feel like they need better business hours. The tea selection is great. Very fresh. The rice balls are fantastic and reasonably priced. The smoked salmon bagel is better than most Jewish delis. Much better than Franlkel's in Greenpoint. Environment is great. They always have pleasant music. I just wish they were a little more laptop - friendly. There is no Wi-Fi. But I understand. They don't want freelancers sitting there all day. read more

Ashbox is THE BEST restaurant in the city! I know that is a big claim, but really - the wonderful menu, the delicious food so thoughtfully prepared, and the amazing prices - you just can't find anything comparable, anywhere in NYC. An avocado salmon roll and an avocado kelp roll for $3.50 each makes a perfect little lunch - for $7! Just about everything they serve is delicious - and special. The atmosphere is quiet and relaxing and the staff are top notch. I love this spot. I noticed that a few people gave bad reviews bc there is no wifi, no cards, or they don't like the hours. These are the other great things about Ashbox. They long ago got rid of wifi bc they did not want their tables filled with solo laptop drones melting into their chairs next to an empty coffee cup. Good call. I don't know why other restaurants and cafes allow this - unless they are desperate enough for $5 - $10 to have someone taking up a nice table for 2 hours. Cash only is a reasonable choice for a business who does not care to pay thousands of dollars in fees to a servicing company. As for the hours - closed at 6pm and closed on Sundays - this is why Ashbox is so good. I wish they were open on Sunday, too. But Yoko, the owner, only wants to be open when she can be there. And she probably wants to have a sane life. She cooks the great food and plans the daily specials. Hopefully folks like Magdalena and Gabi have found other places that have wifi and take cards. read more

Delicious and calm ambiance. A coffee/tea shop with great simple food. Good value too. Sandwiches, seaweed wraps, soups, and salads.

I think this place is more for locals. I am working on a project at the Greenpoint Manufacturing and Design Center and when I called to see about getting lunch to go for 10 people I was told first they are not hiring??? and second that they have "regulars" and can not accommodate anybody else. I think I was talking to the owner as well. Anyway, the conversation left me feeling belittled and brushed off so I am taking my business elsewhere. Too bad as well because I am at the GMDC pretty frequently, so who knows If I could have become a "regular". read more

One of the worst and rudest places I have ever been to!! Me and some folks were working in the area and needed a place to warm up a bit (we were working outside). After buying a load of coffees and snacks, we were then told by the owner that we were not welcomed and that we had to leave since we were taking up too much room?!? I understand wanting room for your regulars but the place was empty?!? So I guess the motto of the place is "spend your money here BUT after that, unless I like you, get the hell out". I guess it's all about catering to her "exclusive" clientele and the rest can be swept out like trash!! read more

Overpriced. I was disappointed when I ordered the turkey, avocado sandwich. For $10- I got a sandwich that literally had two very thin slices of deli meat on it, with greens and bit of avocado on it. Also, the time I waited for this sandwich doesn't make sense, considering there wasn't much to it. read more

Amy S from Scarsdale: You're right, this place is for locals. That's a very good thing in a world of Starbucks and big box sameness. So you couldn't get lunch for 10 on the fly? I believe it. Have you seen the size of the kitchen? The owner you spoke with (Yoko), wanted to make sure she had food for her lunchtime regulars. That's one of the reasons that they're regulars. She looks after them and they support her. It's a kind of old school mom and pop customer service that is quickly disappearing in this country. I'm glad she said "no" to your order of 10 and pissed you off. The flip side of that is that 10 of her regulars got what they have come to expect and she made them happy. Maybe if you were a regular before you asked for something that she wasn't prepared for, she would have made a special effort for you. Actually, knowing her, I know that she would have. The fact that she couldn't throw together lunch for an extra unplanned 10 people is what makes this place a gem. The fact that you don't get that is what makes you the type of person who is going to eventually turn Greenpoint into the East Village. The best thing about this place is that it is so uncontrived in a city of wannabe eclectic places. The lamps are kind of fugly and the milk fridge is bizarre and clunky when thermos containers would be fine. The decor isn't great or overly though out. It's that casual REALNESS that makes it a rarity. p.s. Amy, Workers at GMDC already support the bulk of her business. Someone from the GMDC made the tables with cats carved on them. We know Yoko and the people who live upstairs who own the building. Yoko lives across the street. We knew her husband when he was alive and used to hangout at the cafe all day. Next time, maybe you should bring lunch for your crew down from Scarsdale or call Domino's. read more

Sweet little cafe at the end of Manhattan Avenue. Cute decor, nice little bites, surprising ingredients. The tea selection is wonderful. It's not a place I'd go out of my way for, but the nice thing about this place is that the atmosphere is pleasant and relaxed enough to have a meeting and not be blasted out with loud music or a big crowd or be interrupted ten thousand times by the wait staff. read more

i'd venture to guess that you'll never come here unless you live north of greenpoint ave. or if you live slightly south of greenpoint ave. and want to get away from it all. this place is in the middle of nowhere. but only 3 blocks from our apartment. so i guess we live on the outskirts of nowhere? anyhoo...it's a really cute coffeshop with wifi and some light Japanese-tinged? fare. i don't drink coffee so i had a cup of earl grey to go. it was piping hot and good. very nice little spot in north greenpoint. you can grab a cup and stroll down to the utterly unpolluted, pristine Newtown Creek. you may even see dolphins. read more

This is a classic Yelp review in which I go NO PLEASE DON'T COME HERE PLEASE because it's so quiet and quaint and makes you escape very briefly to a Japanese country cafe or something similar (do those exist??) and they have good tea and once again it is QUIET and very unlike most establishments in the neighborhood. So, while the selfishness in me wants to give it 1 star so it can stay the way it is, I know mom&pa's need all the support they can get. Drink your tea at Ashbox. read more

Pretty much the perfect coffeeshop. In fact, I'm writing this review from Ashbox. Free wireless, good coffee, appropriate musical selections, slightly dented furniture, sun drenched/rain drenched/open. Very cute, unpretentious, rarely too full to get a seat. Secluded location by the Pulaski. Highly recommended. read more

this is a beautiful, wonderful little cafe. If i could i would take it with me to every neighborhood I move to. Sadly its at the butt end of greenpoint, and far far far away from any reliable mode of transport. I eat the salmon rice balls and the lunch specials and anything and everything they have to offer. In the winter their vinegar and ginger infusions kept me alive and well. And the house made tofu too. and the muffins too. the women who work there are lovely and attentive too. read more

wow. amazing. small and cozy without feeling overcrowded. i wish my apartment looked the way this place does inside- warm, light and breezy. indescribably delicious food, not terribly expensive, delicious coffee. all of this in a tiny corner on the edge of the world (or at least the edge of greenpoint) that feels like somewhere else entirely. wonderful. read more

I found this place on yelp. Went there with bf. We ordered 2 salads, half a sandwich and 2 glasses of tea. We wanted to pay by card and they told us it is an only cash restaurant. My bf went to pick up some cash and I stayed at the place. If it was a smart business they would have prepared my food, or at least the drink I ordered! I was very hungry and got very upset. I think there is no trust for clients here. If there was trust and respect, they would have offered to prepare my food and let my bf pay when he arrived back. Instead they started to prepare the food when my bf payed. No trust. No respect. We won't return here. read more

Food was great, prices were reasonable, no one was annoying - What else could one dream of in Greenpoint? (eh, actually a few people and some tourists who walked in and walked out, but it wasn't that busy so I just shook it off). I'm glad there are little nooks like this, which could allow for low rent and places like this to open. read more

I joined yelp to review ashbox, that's how much I love it and I completely agree with the "perfect coffee shop" comment below. Although there are many wonderful coffee shops in the area of North Greenpoint, this is by far my favorite. The coffee is great, the homemade miso soup with homemade tofu is delicious, the atmosphere is warm and inviting, it is a wonderful space for either relaxing or getting work done because the music is the perfect volume, usually classical, light streams through the front windows during the morning and afternoon. Visit and enjoy! read more

Easily one of the best lunch joints in north brooklyn. And healthy too! Nyum nyum nyummmmmm!!!!

I feel the need to write this even though everyone has already made it clear that this is a tiny shiny bright spot full of idiosyncrasy and delight. It makes me feel like I'm in a Miyazaki film. People read the newspaper over tea while listening to French jazz music. All of the women working wear little bonnets with flowers. The onigiri and miso soup made my heart melt. I'm happier just remembering it. read more

This place was such a surprise when I was moving furniture out of my cousin's loft at 1205 I went in here and was soooo delighted to find it is a run by 2 Japanese women who make the most delicious tofu salad and rice balls. I was sitting there after having eaten my meal and contemplated getting another order of the same thing. The salad dressing was homemade and so completely good the rice balls were excellent. I am driving over here from Park Slope again and again just to eat here. I love that end corner of Manhattan Ave. Totally cool joint and the nicest people ever who run/own it and they wear cool hats with flowers. The bathroom has a clever sliding door with a gorgeous brass latch. LOVE this place! read more

The sandwiches and iced teas are perfect warm weather food. Very relaxing atmosphere. Tucked away from the busier parts of Greenpoint. The service is very friendly and they wear flower hats. read more

I think for starters, I ordered the wrong thing. The pork sandwich was not too good. It was bland and too much mayo. The rice ball was great and I think this place probably excels at Japanese stuff. However, the biggest downfall was that this lovely spot didn't have wifi! So sad. I had to leave immediately! read more

It's official: Greenpoint is the headquarters of wonderful, adorable cafes in Brooklyn. Ashbox is a little hideaway, tucked into the warehouses below the Pulaski Bridge. I had the very simple, very good egg salad sandwich. The egg salad was mixed with corn and peas, and the whole wheat bread was really hearty. I could have stayed here all day, but I wanted to check out another place nearby. I loved the mismatched chairs and calm music. Definitely recommended. read more

I miss living in Greenpoint and I miss my weekend morning walks to Ashbox. I crave the homemade green tea cookies. I can't think of one bad dish I've had, and I always try something new. It seemed like mother son dynamic and that is what really made it feel so cozy. Oh, they also carry my favorite brand cold teas. read more

I had the lunch special (teriyaki pork sandwich) and my girlfriend had a salmon rice ball with seaweed, tea and a small salad. Generally we agreed the food wad good but not great, although she loved the rice ball. read more

Me and my gf love this place for breakfast. It a simple place but the food have great taste and very healthy.we came here for breakfast very often just to relax. NYC is a very busy city so people you all need a break and to relax yourself. .. :-) read more

This is a great place to bring your computer and appetite. Free Wi-Fi! Amazing sandwiches! Delicious coffee! Class-A joint.

Sweetest lil' 'ol spot there ever was. So cozy, so warm. You could stay and drink tea until y'all grow a beard in there. Ladies too!

I came because Yelp said there was free wifi but there's not.. So in-spite of that, they don't accept cards so that makes things even more interesting. I love the atmosphere. The bell on the door makes it feel especially fun. They have comp water as well as milk and sugar you can add yourself once you get your coffee. The restroom is actually really cool. Wifi and card acceptance would make it 5 stars in my opinion. read more

Very cute interior, great place to read or work, food is cheap (basic Japanese diner fare)

great neighborhood spot with fresh, unique food. everything is made to order and delicious! highly recommend if you're looking for a quick comforting bite to eat. read more

Delightful in so many ways. From the moderately priced coffee to the perfectly seasoned rice to the mini-fridge for keeping milk cold, things at Ashbox simply make sense. It's a great spot to enjoy the peace and quiet of Greenpoint's northern edge. read more