We came to Hakubai on a Travelzoo coupon sometime last year. It is inside the Kitano Hotel downstairs. It is kind of hidden so people won't know about the restaurant unless they stayed at the hotel. It is a cute Japanese restaurant that reminds me of Japan. It seems like a very authentic place. The customer service is also pretty good. It is an expensive place if you don't come here with a coupon. The coupon was worth it. I remember the food being pretty good and decent. More authentic and not like the items you would normally find at an American Japanese restaurant. And I appreciate that. It doesn't feel like you're going to a typical Japanese restaurant. I did notice a lot of people were there too. It seems like they're doing well. read more

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Love their sushi kaiseki. Everything was done perfectly. The only compliant is that we didn't get to sit inside the room cuz the room is for 3+ ppl. read more

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3.5 stars... Can't believe I haven't posted a review on Hakubai.. I bought a travelzoo deal.. 89 dollars, omakase meal with sake pairing for 2.. A day before the reservation.. Someone called me and said that they need the voucher printed out.. if not they will not accept the offer.. what?? We all have i phones/smart phones with "APP".. I thought we can redeem through your phone.. but oh well... at least they told me.. it's a small little intimate restaurant located in the Kitano Hotel.. The original value of the omakase is 200 dollars so I expected something outstanding.. We started of with a cold sake.. It was poured and serve over a wine glass.. So I took it as wine.. lol.. it was refreshing and very smooth to drink.. A little after the sake was served.. the first course came.. 1) 5 amuse.. (something like that).. based on the picture I have and my memory.. we had some tofu, duck, eggplant.. (oh well you can see it from the pic I posted).. I came here 4-5 months ago.. All I remember was the amuse was great.. you can finish 1 plate with probably 2 bites.. It's always great to taste it.. better than having the same thing.. right? 2) tofu egg with crab meat.. the tofu was warm.. and yes they do have crab meat in it.. it just tasted like the regular tofu egg that I can get it from the regular japanese store 3) Sashimi.. Yes the sashimi was FRESH.. but no offense tho.. I got better sushi from cheaper store and it's still fresh.. with the money I paid.. I expected to get a "better" quality of sashimi and "bigger".. I guess the more money you paid the smaller portion you will get.. lol.. that's why they have 5-7 courses.. You have 2 pieces of toni, white tuna.. and I don't remember.. 4) Fried crab meat.. the crab meat was interesting.. something was stuffed inside.. and deep fried it.. it's not oily and it's pretty good.. 5) unagi, shrimp entree on some noodles... came with miso soup.. something.. good.. but not worth the price 6) dessert.. Vanilla ice-cream and red bean paste.. seriously??? it's the cheapest dessert I have ever had.. I can get a scoop of vanilla ice-cream in the groceries store.. and a can of red bean paste.. Ish.. 2nd sake was served warm.. It was serve together with the 3-4 meal.. I rated overall experience to be great.. Service was nice.. but seriously.. I don't think I will pay the original 200 dollars for it.. It's not worth it.. with the amount that I paid.. I rather pay a little more to go to a better sushi place for omakase.. If you really do want a japanese tasting experience.. read more

hakubai - The omakase experience! - Japanese Near Me - New York, New York

This restaurant was in a Japanese hotel. It's underground so expect no cell phone signal. The food was slightly above average (3.5 star). I really liked the dessert, which included a Japanese style sticky cake, a sesame ice cream, and a coffee jelly. The waitress was very polite but the food was served pretty slow. read more

As previous reviewers before me...I came upon this deal through the TravleZoo deal. I will say that the appetizers were good...I had the egg custard with crab meat, fried tofu and a mix of jelly fish and seaweed salad. I eat out a lot and tend to go to a lot of Asian restaurants so in comparison these were okay and for the price of the deal..very good. The entree is where my slight disappointment came. Since this was a Japanese restaurant I have to admit I was looking forward to having their sushi. I ordered the assorted sushi dish...which was listed for $40 dollars. When the dish came I must say I was disappointed to the point of being a little shocked. Yes the presentation was nice but the sushi itself was not. There were around 10 pieces and a California Roll. If go to a Japanese restaurant and order chef choice sushi....I wouldn't expect to get a California Roll of all things on my dish. The other pieces I got were Salmon, Tuna Fluke....nothing exciting or special. The Salmon piece was so large, reminded me of Korean sushi. The flavor was okay...It was nothing that I couldn't get at any sushi place with a $ 1 a piece sushi. My partner had Japanese Steak which was good. The desert was original something, I have not had before was the coffee jelly with vanilla ice scream. Overall it was a nice experience for the price of the deal. At the end of the meal, they expect you to tip on the full price of the meal which they list at $198...considering they deal was only $80...that seems steep. On the other hand I don't think the food I had was in anyway worth $198. In my opinion if you are advertising through such a venue and expect return service, I wouldn't be serving California rolls on a chef choice sushi dish that you charge $40 for. On the other hand they had a nice choice of noodles and rice dishes at very reasonable prices which I do want to try..So overall experience okay for the deal I got...not for what they charge. read more

This is one of the best japanese restaurant in New York! Its pricey but the fish quality is unbeatable! The sashimi was so fresh, and the grilled black cod literally tasted like butter! Love love love! Desserts are also good but simple, nothing too special. read more

hakubai - Japanese Near Me - New York, New York

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In my mind, the experience at Hakubai is similar to that of dining in a moderately priced Tokyo establishment, which is to say relatively high end in the US. The Hakkaisan meal was courtesy of a Travelzoo deal for 2 at just $89. It's unfortunate that the Kitano sited Hakubai in the basement as it's not readily clear where to go once through the lobby. However, this subterranean location may also contribute to the quiet nature of the dining, as well as the smartly placed partitions between every 4 or so tables. To start, we received a bountiful tray of amuse-bouches that included cod liver, tofu, greens, roe, and more. Then we had 3 rounds of appetizers that included fried brown rice mochi; assorted sashimi that included amberjack, tuna, and scallop; akadashi miso soup; an entree of chirashi and then dessert (creamy coffee jello and green tea ice cream). Along the way we had two pairings of sake - hot and cold, both delicious. The whole thing was an adventure of the senses - service was impeccable and authentic, food was delightful and new, presentation was clean and sharp, and the bill was just right. read more

Easily my favorite Kaiseki in the city and currently my all-out favorite restaurant in the city if you want to drop $100+ on a meal. This is the most pleasant surprise as I wasn't really expecting much coming into the meal. Located in the basement of the muted, but beautiful Kitano Hotel in Midtown East, Hakubai is an absolute must for special occasions. I hesitate in posting a review only because I want to keep this place all for myself...but that'd be doing a disservice to the wonderful food and amazing service we experienced here. They are currently offering a seasonal "Summer Specialty" Okonomi Kaiseki menu that hovers around $100-120 depending on which main entree you pick. Given that many omakase places in the city easily cost $100 and up, this is ABSOLUTELY more worthwhile and way the hell more satisfying and filling. Good sushi/sashimi is obviously very good, but I find the exorbitant price points in the city laughable, especially when you know a $240 omakase isn't going to be 3x better than the $80 right down the street. Anyway-- here's the menu: Appetizer: Corn tofu topped with salmon roe, wasabi and dashi soup Light, bright, and vinegary, this dish wakes you right up Then comes a little 5-piece appetizer set that are all essentially bite size but beautifully done, and it consists of: 1. Deep fried tilefish in vinaigrette sauce: dope and generous portions of tilefish. 2. Green vegetable and deep fried tofu in dashi broth: reminiscent of the very first appetizer, I definitely appreciated how savory this one was. 3. Simmer chilled eggplant: oh-so-good eggplant that had just the right texture. 4. Steamed scallop and edamame with grated daikon: not for everyone because of the daikon, but this was some pretty decent scallop. 5. Asparagus marinated in sesame and vinegar sauce: I could eat this sauce with everything. Everything. First course: Clear soup of conger eel and vegetable Sounds much simpler than it is, but it is primarily a clear soup with general strips of eel that helps to clean your palate following the 5-cup appetizer you just finished. Second course: Assorted sashimi of the day-- varies given what fish they have on hand but we had a mixture of butterfish, mackerel, tuna, snapper, yellowjack and something else that I forgot. Generous cuts and delicious. Third course: Grilled Iberico pork, teriyaki squid and chilled steamed egg custard sea bream soup Good lord, both the pork and squid were decadent and perfectly done. The squid wasn't overly chewy at all and had just the right amount of crisp. Fourth course: Crab, Jellyfish, and cucumber marinated in vinegar Wasn't too impressed with this one, especially given the meager crab portion, but it was doable. Main course: Choose from-- prime beef, assorted sushi, tempura, or soba noodles with shrimp tempura I had the beef and my gf had the assorted sushi. The beef portions could've been bigger but beef doesn't get much better than that. The sushi portion was quite large and would totally order again. I would also happily come back and try the tempura as several others in the dining room ordered it. Dessert varies by day but on this particular one we had three--count them, three-- to sample. One consisted of that clear jelly topped with matcha powder bathed in a honey sauce. Another was a sesame ice cream, and the last was a jelly with fruit in it. This dessert would easily go for $15-18 in any other restaurant. Overall, I can't recommend this place enough and will definitely be coming back in the near future. read more

I went here for a special dinner. I can't speak on the prices as I was treated to dinner and everything was ordered for the table. The hospitality was wonderful. The staff were all dressed in traditional Japanese clothing. The tables are all separated into separate, more intimate rooms. We had warm sake with dinner and it was very smooth. I'm usually not a sake fan but I had never had it warm before. It was much better than cold or room temperature sake. All of the food we tried was delicious. We had the dumplings, octopus(one of my favorites), pork, fried chicken, miso soup, tempura, cod (amazing!), sesame ice cream, and green tea ice cream. We had some other dishes but I can't remember. I tried the sesame ice cream just to try something new and I would definitely order it again. It was different but good. read more

This place really is a hidden gem. Many people in the US don't like to eat at hotels but that mentality is drastically different in Asia. You walk in and feel like you walked into Japan. I would not go here for atmosphere or the decor. The restaurant is located in the basement of the hotel. 90% of the times I've been there the space has been relatively empty but on the rare occasion there are a few locals. The waitresses are dressed in traditional dress and the foods really good, simple, authentic. If you want a quite and authentic place this is it. read more

Hakubai is a pretty traditional Japanese restaurant. It's somewhat decieiving as you walk through the Kintano Hotel Lobby to get here, but it's worth it if you want to experience some authentic Japanese flavors. Appetizers: Sesame Tofu - clean, simple flavors. Really delicate. I liked the nutty sauce and the wasabi on the top Grilled Pork - Pork Belly sesrved on a sizzling plate with ground radish. My favortie dish of the night! Egg custard with Crab and mochi- interesting dish. Again, for simple, delicate flavors. I enjoyed it! Entrees: Japanese Style Steak - tender and flavorful. My husband loved it! Sushi Assortment- hmmmm thsi is the one FAIL for me. The sushi was good and fresh, but the assortment was regular and nothing stood out in my mind. Desserts: Original Tea Jelly served with fruits, red bean, and condensed milk - very sweet and very delicious. Cream Tea Jelly- the original tea jelly with whip cream and a custard. Delicious! VIBE: lots of business dinners happening on the Saturday night when we got there. It's a pricey place, but doesn't feel too stuffy. 3 stars only becuase the price was really too high for me and while my husband's food was good, the sushi left me craving something more... You can blame the pop sushi culture in America for shoving tastes of crunchy tuna and dynamite rolls down my mouth for years and making feel like the sushi at Habukai was too bland and simple for me. read more

I went here for a jazz show and the venue was nice. You had to spend 15 bucks to watch the show for free. Drinks were about 10-12 which basically means you have to buy 2 to watch a show which comes around to $30 a person. Their Japanese menu stops at 10pm or a little earlier so the good appetizers and sushi rolls are not available for shows. Appetizers were standard bar food but at 15-20 bucks per item. Overall: I would not return here unless there was a show I really wanted to see. Also I gave the waitress a 10 to give me change so I could give her a cash tip. She takes my cash and doesn't give me change. read more

Took the opportunity to celebrate our Wedding Anniversary and Hakubai did NOT disappoint. We booked our Reservation thru #OpenTable and highly recommend pre-ordering the Weekend Special Dinner Course. The detailed, delicious 4 Course Meal with Dessert is a must (Authentic/Traditional) Japanese fine dining establishment to visit and share those special moments.. #ThePlaceToBe read more

hakubai - Steamed Lobster Salad with Sesame Dressing. Fish of the Day - Duck Breast - Japanese Near Me - New York, New York

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I had some pretty high hopes for this place and they were partially met. This is a very traditional Japanese place with traditional foods. The service was impeccable and the ladies in kimonos were very nice. We got the summer kaiseki menu with steak. Everything was very soft spoken and light; the ingredients were definitely top notch quality. It was perhaps too soft spoken, it all felt lacking in spirit and soul. It's definitely more of a business lunch/dinner place because the food is fancy and expensive but doesn't try to be the main affair. Do not do a treat yo self and hang with friends meal here. read more

My first 4$$$$ restaurant. I actually bought a Travelzoo coupon, which was an awesome deal $89 for a $200 meal. But you had to have a paper copy of your voucher, which I obviously remembered to print out but forgot to bring causing trouble when we got seated. None the less we did get seated. It's a fairly quiet place, low ceiling, tables are near one another so you might get to evesdrop, and they have very simple but japanese-que decor. There was cold sake & hot sake with the food. The cold sake came first. Smelled dry, but was pretty okay. The hot sake was sweeter. The appetizers. I apoligize, I don't remember the names. The duck was my favorite. It was sided with chopped onions and a little big of mustard. It looked medium rare, but was super tender and full of juice. The veggies was very flavorful; not too salty or sweet. The tofu was also another one of my favorites; silky soft and smooth. It was topped with fish eggs and had sweet syrup around it, very refreshing and unique. The 4th apetizer was suppose to be bamboo soot, but they didn't have any so we had eggplant instead. It was okay. Our second dish came in a little ceramic mini pot. Super cute! It was steamed egg with crab meat and rice mocha. REALLY GOOD! I made steamed egg before...but seriously...how do they make it so smooth and silky. Next was sashimi. I was a tap disappointed because I've had better fish than theirs. Then it was the deep fried crab. Very well made and meaty. For such a small dish you wouldn't expect it to be packed with meat, but it was. it came with a sweet sauce and a tempura okra. The rice & miso soup were next. This is when i started getting full. The sake kicking in. Soup was warm and very well made (no msg). I liked the shrimp and beef with the sticky rice. Lastly was dessert. ice cream with coffee jello. The coffee jello was hidden under the milk. It's in a little cup. But I'm not a normal coffee drinker, so it was quite bitter to me. The ice cream wasn't anything special. I felt like it was the kirkland brand ice cream, the ones you get from coscto. Not that there's anything wrong with that but that ice cream has a very unique taste and tasted a lot like it. Overall, I had an excellent experience but probably won't be going back read more

Hakubai is one of New York's hidden gems. It is located in the lower level of the prestigious Kitano hotel on Park avenue and 38th street. There is a small display by the hotel's entrance showing the restaurant's menu but that's all you are going to see. Enter through the hotel lobby and take the elevator to the lower lever (button is already marked: Japanese Restaurant) I highly recommend making a reservation. If you never tried the Kaiseki or the Chef's Selection and you are feeling adventures you should experience this culinary art. They do require 24 to 48 hours of advance notice to prepare this meal. They will ask you for any food allergies and dislikes so chef can select the season's best ingredients to prepare your meal. As I said you may want to be adventures about this meal because some of the ingredients are pretty foreign to the Westerns but they are all prepares masterfully, served flawless and they all taste great. Kaiseki menus range from $85 to $170 depending on the number of courses and the type of ingredients. I have been fortunate enough to experience chef Yukihiro Sato's creations at Hakubai twice so far and both times I was ecstatic about the authenticity and quality of the meal. For those who are not so adventures they also offer an A la carte menu where you can order sushi, sashimi, rolls, appetizers, main courses and desserts. At my last visit couple next to us choose the cook-your-own kobe beef shabu shabu which looked amazing. They also offer the hot-rock grilled version of the kobe beef at your table. They tend to serve an Asian clientèle similar to the hotel upstairs. All of restaurant's servers are dressed in the traditional kimonos and they all seem to be from Japan. There are four tatami rooms for private parties from four to twelve people in size. You can enjoy from a well selected sake menu as well as beer and wine. If you are in the mood for a stronger drink then you can visit the Bar Lounge in the mezzanine of the hotel before or after your meal. They are also known for their Jazz performances. You can check the performance schedule and buy tickets at their web site: http://www.kitano.com/menu_list.php?cid=425 Also check out the restaurant's web site for their lunch and dinner specials. They are currently running one of the best lunch deals in NYC. http://www.kitano.com/menu_list.php?cid=423 Full lunch and dinner menus courtesy of MenuPages: http://nymag.com/listings/restaurant/hakubai/menus/dinner.html read more

Located in the very classically Japanese Kitano Hotel, Hakubai is a high end Kaiseki restaurant. Full Japanese staff and pretty formal service, it's great for client entertaining. The a la carte menu is much more affordable, as is the lunch - which are all excellent. Everything is seasonal - recently had matsutake mushrooms (classic fall item) to go with the amazing shabu shabu. Business lunch options are great also - with a mix of little dishes / sashimi/ sushi in the most amazing bento box you'll ever have. Service, presentation are all great. Since it's pretty formal and quiet here, it's better suited for client entertaining. They also have private rooms which you can reserve for even more formal dining. Great spot and great way to introduce a splurgy formal Japanese cuisine to foodie clients or friends. read more

Wow! We have been talking about going here for a while, so glad we did. We will be back! We split the tuna, and premium sushi. The fish was so fresh it melts in your mouth. Large assortments of wine and sake. Cute restaurant,located in the Kitano hotel. read more

Hakubai is an amazingly good Japanese restaurant that has the unfortunate luck of being located in the basement of a hotel that nobody's heard of, in a neighborhood known more for its senior citizen population than its culinary offerings. Like many others, I was drawn here by the Travelzoo deal, which is a good value, though far from dirt cheap. The food quality was indistinguishable from what you'd expect to have in Tokyo, though I'm sure many diners will complain of the small portion sizes. There are a couple of Western-style dishes on the menu (mostly in the form of steak), though I'd probably steer clear of them and focus on more traditional dishes, like the chawanmushi (steamed egg), aigamo (simmered duck breast), buta kakuni, and gindara (silver cod). I had the chirashi and found it adequate, though I would never pay the full retail price of $32. The space itself is very typical of moderate/upscale restaurants in Tokyo, with bright lighting and muted colors. The dining room is relatively small and on the quiet side, so Hakubai isn't exactly well-suited for loud groups. Unfortunately, we were seated about 20 feet away from a awkward middle-aged couple who were there on their first Match.com date and we heard all the details in painful clarity. read more

Wonderful service, terrific sushi. We had the chirashi platter. It was just divinely prepared. read more

Was a little disappointed w this dinner last night as we all had great expectations before coming here. First, they never let my gf know that you have to order your kaiseki and omakase the day before so we were left w the a la carte choices. And I think the 25 cents donated to a lunch for children in underdeveloped countries is a shame bc they charge $10.25 for the Chawanmushi, really? You can't afford to donate at least $1? It was a shock to see that on the menu! The food was all very mediocre so I don't think it warrant the hype as now there are so many more creative Japanese restaurants out there read more

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We found this place on Google maps, so happy we decided to check it out. The sushi was freshly made, we loved the the warm sake but wished it was a little warmer. I highly recommend this place for anyone visiting midtown Manhattan and loves sushi read more

hakubai - Japanese Near Me - New York, New York

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While the food was acceptable, the prices were way off base for what was served. Whatever they are going for at this hotel, it is missing its mark. I was there for a business lunch. The restaurant is too expensive and the ambiance is very sterile. Each setting at the table includes cheap plastic trays. When someone at the table received their plate of sushi, the plate didn't even FIT on the awkward plastic tray. What purpose did it serve? Instead of the server removing the tray, they placed the plate of sushi on an angle. It was just odd and quite frankly: stupid. Hakubai tried to offer an authentic Japanese experience, but this place fell short in so many ways. The menu is as lackluster as the service. read more

Best Japanese food I have ever had in America hands down!!! Definitely worth ever single dollar spent. The tuna roll just melted in your mouth... Same with the salmon nigiri. And the beer teriyaki was to die for. I ate there yesterday and I'm already thinking about when I can go back! read more

hakubai - Beef teriyaki, pork cutlets, tuna roll and salmon nigiri. - Japanese Near Me - New York, New York

This place is really for the Japanese businessman who happens to be staying at the hotel and is price insensitive. We used to come here quite regularly because it was the best thing going in the immediate neighborhood but now that we moved to midtown, there isn't much that is drawing us back. It is an above-average neighborhood sushi place that is traditionalist and is not one of those nonsense fusion places with cream cheese rolls, but it is not a destination restaurant. Presentation is fastidiously neat with a lot of attention to detail, the fish is of course fresh, and the service is perfunctory and efficient. There is really nothing to complain about but at the same time it is also a bit soulless. As for the price - some things are ok but others like the $4 rice ball for instance just makes no sense at all. We usually have the chirashi here and for no good reason there is about a 20-30% premium here versus even the midtown sushi restaurants like Sushiden, Hatsuhana, or even Sushi Ann. read more

Glad we had a bargain for this place because it is overrated. The food is good but not out of this world. Pork belly = good indeed. Good service. That's it. For the same type of restaurant I would recommend Sakagura http://is.gd/JJifSd anytime. read more

Came here on a travel zoo voucher for 2 ppl which included a omakase kaiseiki & 2 small bottles of sake! The ambiance was very simple Japanese style with wood paneling to partition off sections of the restaurant. It was very clean and very comfortable. My only gripe was the distance that the table created from your dining companion. The food was extremely well presented that was of quality, freshness, & a nice balance of taste. I would absolutely return for the sushi! It was heavenly. read more

Very traditional Japanese atmosphere with excellent service and presentation. Food is something special. I was trying to find something wrong but I couldn't :) I will defiantly come back. read more

Bought the travelzoo coupon which was an extraordinary deal for this restaurant. The place is very authentic japanese. The appetizers were amazing. The steak was amazing. The sushi platter has uni as well as a roe sushi on it. Uni usually is $9 a piece at any reputable sushi place and while the platter was not HUGE it was very good. Deserts were also very traditional japanese. The warm saki was great also. All in all the deal was amazing. I would have given this restaurant 5 stars if this was their normal price. I am not sure if it would be worth double the price of the coupon. The portion sizes were not small. I am not sure why people are posting that. Sure, it is not like TGI Fridays potions but fairly good size for an upscale restaurant. The amount of food served was perfect for 2 people. You wont leave there hungry ... and you wont leave there wishing you didnt eat so much. That is part of the dining experience for most upscale restaurants prix fixe take this into account. Japanese and French restaurants typically will have a smaller portion than an american burger joint. Summary while I would not pay full price for this meal it was a very authentic japanese dining experience right in midtown. The decor was authentic, the service was good, the food was exceptional quality, full price would seem expensive. The travelszoo deal was a great opportunity to eat at a wonderful hidden gem. read more

Great experience. I came here for my third anniversary with my wife. I requested a private area, a room if possible. They didn't have a room, but they actually blocked off a section of the restaurant for my wife and I. That was a very nice gesture. The server was very attentive, but not intrusive, and explained each dish in detail. While each dish is small, you'll definitely be full by the end of this meal. Such a great assortment of dishes, from sashimi samplers to wagyu slices. This is the first time I've had kaiseki in NYC, and I'll definitely be back again. read more

Seriously? I'm the first person to write a review for this place? I've been coming here for 15 plus years. It's amazing. My wife is Japanese. I'm a quarter. I've lived in Japan... I don't think you can find a more legit traditional style Japanese restaurant in Manhattan. The nabe yaki udon here awesome. read more

The Kaiseki cuisine I had here was very delicious. The manager explained how it involves your five senses: It was completely about the beautiful presentation, visually, the phenomenal high quality taste, the sound when you bite into the crunchy to the sound of drinking up the soup, and the smell of the delicious variety of food, and aroma from the sake, to touching the beautiful dining ware and food. We had 6 courses paired with draft sake that was brought in from Japan and not available in the United States. Got to eat communally with people in the restaurant industry. Mostly Japanese diners that kept the sake flowing. Really fun, really great service, and of course a great meal. read more

Very expensive but definitely worth it. It is definitely an authentic Japanese experience. When we had dinner here in July we were the only non-Japanese people here but don't let that intimidate you. The service is fantastic and the waitresses are eager to explain the dishes. Some would call the decorating and the feel of the place "sad" but I would call it "elegant" and "austere". This isn't a place that you and some buddies throw back a few, joke loudly and eat like you haven't ever eaten anything. Absolutely everything is delicious. I have never had such fresh fish (or such well prepared ones) in my life. My husband says the beef is the best he has ever tasted, and he is very picky and not the type of person to say such things lightly. If we're ever in NYC again, we'd like to come back and try the sushi. read more

Amazing japanese restaurant that is versatile (not just a sushi bar) but also kaiseki, sushi and sashimi, and homey items like shabu shabu, soba, udon. The chawamushi here is a highlight, huge portions with generous pieces of crab and chicken. The daily assorted sashimi is insane (menu indicates $42 for threw kinds). When it came, it was three different times kinds of fish each on three different plates. It was at least 2 cuts each of over than 10 different kinda. Amazing and what a steal. This is easily a plate that other high end japanese restaurant will charge for +$100. To toro, scallops and uni were standouts. The chef was very generous with uni portions (definitely Hokkaido uni) and quality is again better than the average kind you will get at high end restaurants. read more

hakubai - Assorted sashimi ($42) plus 2 orders of uni - Japanese Near Me - New York, New York

This is a great place to go if you would like: Authentic yet not crazy Japanese food, somewhat easy for everyone for the eye and pallet. Beautiful and classy decor, quiet and zen environment Great sophisticated services from experienced Japanese staff I love going there for relaxing lunch, it runs from upper $20s to..i think $60. Sushi can run very pricy if not chosen wisely :) But i love the coffee jello as dessert, and food wise, shabushabu, business lunch, sashimi set is my fav..! read more

I am glad my boyfriend and I discovered this gem of a restaurant, comfortably nestled in the basement of The Kitano, New York's only Japanese-owned hotel. This fact alone is a strong indicator of the cuisine's authenticity, as it will have to pass muster among the many Japanese patrons of this hotel. The ingredients are fresh and of high quality. The price tag is a little steep to make this a regular haunt - the establishment seems to be more designed for business travelers. However, the overall dining experience is pleasant, with traditional, harmonious Japanese decor that soothes the eye and gracious servers that put you at ease. We ordered the goma tofu or sesame tofu as an appetizer. It was tasty and unique - topped with a dollop of fresh, simultaneously spicy and sweet wasabi and a splash of soy sauce, the tofu was more chewy and nutty than your typical soybean-based tofu. I love sesame, so I am a little biased. That said, I recommend you try it here! Goma tofu is hard to find in New York. My boyfriend ordered the nabeyaki udon which was a comforting, steaming bath of udon noodles, poached egg, vegetables, and shrimp tempura. I, in the mood for yoshoku, ordered the pork tonkatsu. The tonkatsu was crispy on the outside and juicy and tender on the inside, with a dollop of yellow mustard and a house tonkatsu sauce that tasted fresh and satisfyingly familiar. It was accompanied by the typical accompaniments of shredded cabbage, and some cherry tomatoes, broccoli, and cucumber slices. You have to ask for rice separately, but they will not charge you for it. At the end of the meal, I was quite full but had to take a quick peek at the dessert menu. Other than the cream anmitsu (a traditional Japanese dessert of agar jelly, fruit, ice cream, and sweet red bean paste), the dessert menu mostly featured ice cream and variations thereof. Perhaps next time, at a company-sponsored dinner ... My ultimate verdict: The food is good, but expensive. From a glance at the menu, you'll see the sushi/sashimi options can fetch up to $80 per person, and the various kaiseki courses are even more costly - expect to spend between $100-200. (We didn't spend that much, but it was a little more than expected.) In short, pay attention to the prices before ordering so that you are not surprised. Expect to have a full, distended belly and a lighter wallet at the end of the meal! read more

I love Hakubai so much I'm sorry the web is now hip to it. Who needs to go there to find out you can't even get a spot with the sushi chef? ;-) Seriously, this place is the best japanese restaurant in NYC, and we don't need anyone else lining up to eat the outstanding sashimi!!! read more

Went here for the first time yesterday. There's a great selection of typical Japanese food, and the set menus are a good value. I had the Gochiso bento box which gives you a good variety of sashimi, braised beef, tempura, pickled vegetables, and miso soup. Presentation, taste, and volume were spot on. Honestly though, I felt that the decor and atmosphere was a bit disappointing. Considering the prices, and the fact that the restaurant is located in a Japanese hotel, I expected it to have a more authentic Japanese feel than it had. read more

Opus one 2010 is only $320 for such a place? Incredibly and amazingly reasonable price!

Not quite sure where the negative reviews are coming from. I've been a patron here for a few years. If you want boring rolls made up by your general sushi joint catering to American tastes, this is not the place for you. You come here to order the authentic small dishes served in beautiful dish ware. The service here is attentive and courteous and prompt. The ambiance is nice and quiet. I don't know about you, but if you see the other patrons are Japanese, it is a good sign. Skip the typical california rolls at other places and come here and taste what authenthic Japanese food is all about. read more