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

I went for a business lunch with two people and the restaurant is located in the hotel downstairs. All the staff in the restaurants are in kimono and are very Japanese-y. It's quiet and great for business lunch/dinner. They have Business lunch menu and it's pre-fix, each of them $34. I also got the dessert of the tea jelly, which is really good. Highly recommend it. read more

Best Nabeyaki Udon I have ever had in my entire life hands down. I lived across the street on 38th, and this place was my retreat. It feels a little bit like a restaurant in a Japanese dept. store, but you definitely don't feel like you are in NYC anymore. I had to go back to NYC to have this again, and I finally figured out the secret ingredient that I just couldn't place. They put yuzu in the Nabe. Not yuzu kosho....just plain yuzu. I think it is a citrus kind of fruit or something. It gives it this zip which is just unreal. They also have great spicy hamachi rolls, where the spice is real jalapeno and not some crappy shiracha. This is about the only restaurant that I have to visit when I come to NYC. read more

It pains me to write this review, but since I have come here twice for Kaiseki, the second for the full version, my opinion is now confirmed. It's not worth $170. I don't think the chef puts his full effort into either the food or the presentation. One of the courses was literally a block of tofu and cabbage and three kinds of mushrooms. I could do that myself when I was 12 years old. The stock was nothing special either. I would recommend Sugiyama or Kyo Ya as alternatives. read more

We tried three kinds of kaiseki, special, cold soba and sushi (main dish). I think the sushi one is the best and then special. Cold soba is very hard to chew. The Sashimi is good, but rest of them are very so so. I think the food is overpriced but the environment is nice and quiet. Good to try but would not return. read more

I had a business lunch here yesterday and was completely blown away by the restaurant. First of all, I never would have thought such a place existed in the basement of a hotel. You walk down the stairs and you feel like you have been transported to Japan. All of the waitstaff is dressed in very pretty kimonos and the service is very good. I had the multi-course Hakubai lunch set which come with a bunch of small kaiseki dishes. Some of my favorites were the steam monkfish liver with yuzu sauce, miso glazed mackerel (I think), and the steamed egg custard with crab meat. Each course was perfectly presented on beautiful dishes. The flavors were light, clean, and complimented each other well, definitely following the Japanese umami principals. Even though each course was only about 2 bites, I did feel full at the end of the meal because there were about 8 small dishes and a bowl of rice. Overall, if this place wasn't so pricy I would definitely be dining there more. I guess I will just have to get myself invited back to the restaurant by my client! read more

What a ridiculous rip off...We went for the Kaiseki special, which cost us an embarrasing amount of money. But it was a special occasion, so we went for it. Suffice it to say the "main course" was a tiny bowl of rice with salmon bits mixed in. Don't go. Not even if you have all the money in the world. What a bummer. read more

I came here completely by chance with a good friend who used to live in Japan (we both love Japan and its culture)... we first went to the off-lobby bar, and I was struck by the quality of the service and reminded of what it feels like to stay in a small-ish, decent Western hotel in a big city in the East (Tokyo, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Beijing)... And so we decided to "try out" to the restaurant, without our having any knowledge of what it was. So you descend the stairs and enter another world. The two of us were absolutely struck by how much it felt like Japan. We were the only Westeners there, and so to us it felt like we ourselves were on a business trip in Tokyo - and the memories of being there just flooded back. Great food, incredible service (unparalled), and just the remarkable aspect of being transported elsewhere: Just walking off NY street, opening a door - and there's another world beyond it: Magical. The kaiseki is similar to what you'd get staying in a top notch ryokan - the presentation amazing, the flavors subtle and refined, the pacing... Most great Japanese restaurants in western cities are edited for the customers, adjusted to their palette, and tend to be focused on innovation. This one declares the greatness of the traditions, even before Westerners "discovered" them and bagan coveting them; before Westerners co-opted the judgement system of what is "good" Japanese. I've been to Masa, Sasabune, Yasuda...(I wouldn't even rank Nobu amongst those, which although nice, is actually fusion). All top notch, and worthy of their praise... But this one felt like the real thing...even if the reference point is of a good, decent, "above average" restaurant in Tokyo... It's authenticity, even in its "average-ness"/lack of pretense, makes it utterly transporting. It is a bit like Masa, very quiet and serene... But due to the formal dress and manners of the waitresses (female only), the traditional decor, and the general serenity - it actually feels like being in Tokyo. I love even the aspect in Tokyo, in parts, of a 30 year time warp...not cutting edge, just maintaining traditions. Can't wait to go back, because I don't get to Tokyo as much as I'd like... read more

I could never afford to have a full meal here(thanks to my boss), but this is a place you feel like you're visiting Japan. Freshest ingredient, meal prepared with dashi that warms up your heart(sounds weird but that's how you actually feel) and THE Japanese service you could expect in Japan. (It's what's called 'omotenashi'. The politest manner to welcome guests) read more

A OK Meal, nice and quiet restaurant

Love when they have deals for the prix fixe. Everything is expertly prepared and carefully served. There are so many courses, and you will definitely be full. The servers are very polite and deliberate. Always a very enjoyable meal. read more

Really excellent little japanese place under the Kitano Hotel. Feels like many of the upscale izakaya japanese restaurants in this area but one step up in quality, for sure. Reminded me of a more traditional but less exciting version of Ootoya though. Don't get me wrong the food is amazing, but the menu (lunch sets available) options are really lackluster--nothing particularly special or even 1% from the ordinary. As such, my dad and I had the beef teriyaki and tonkatsu. I mean its the best beef teriyaki and pork tonkatsu I've ever had, but was hoping for something more exciting. Servers are dressed in complete traditional japanese garb, which added a nice touch. Service is attentive, polite, and speedy as usual, yay! read more

I went here for a business lunch. I had the "Lady Lunch Set" and was delighted with every dish that came out. Food was masterfully prepared, presented, and very authentic. Also, I loved the ambiance. read more

Wanted to love it, but thought it was just alright, especially for the hefty price. Maybe it was just our lunch choices. Also extremely quiet, and odd vibe. Service and quality of food was top notch though! The people there are so pleasant and kind. read more

Authentic japanese food with actual japanese staff. Went on a sat night and it was empty, but the food was great. I got the kobe beef course. The dishes they brought out before the kobe beef were not your typical side dishes you get just anyhere. Snail, infused tofu, a delicious mushroom and spinach salad were some of the things part of the course meal. The sashimi served as part of the course was top notch, included were 2 pieces of the fatty tuna (toro) which is expensive by itself. The only reason its getting 4 stars instead of the 5 is that they place the kobe beef slices on the stoneware before bringing it out to you. I had to rush pull the pieces off the stoneware to avoid overcooking it. Overall a great place if you're looking for more than just sushi and sashimi and not on a tight budget. read more

Downstairs inside The Kitano Hotel, this is a very upscale Japanese Restaurant, very expensive but highest quality food and service is Excellent as expected with proper Japanese food. read more

Out of 10,000 Japanese sushi places, you find about 10 that is authentic. This is one. Not too much publicity on this, no crazy Facebook post from friends on this one. Very nice restaurant in the basement of a Japanese hotel. Very good and high quality. Note: mixed of people in here but a lot are either customers of the hotel or high rollers in the area. read more

Wow! I really had a great experience at this place. We had the Okonomi Kaiseki, and it was a really good decision. This was a sort of pre-fixe, but really a combination of 4 courses with all their main dishes incorporated into each of the courses. They were served in tiny little bowls of single serving and the flavors were very unique. and the presentation was adorable. I chose the sushi entree, and they had the best fresh mackerel and fatty tuna served in the sushi. The green tea ice cream with red bean sauce was the best green tea ice cream ever. Definitely a place worth going to, just for the food experience - even though the service and ambiance were impeccable. I have lived so close to this place for over 4 years and cannot believe I have never been to it before. read more

One of the freshest sushi ever and I've been to many in the city. Their tuna and uni ranked especially high on my list, with the tuna having an especially unique texture and the uni was so sweet, I wished I had room for more. Both my friend and I ordered the assorted sushi deluxe of both sashimi and sushi, one amazing tuna roll (great proportion for one person as well). We were blown away. Service was great, too. Definitely will come back. read more

I went there for lunch, and tried the lady lunch box. It's very cute and I guess every girl will love it. The food is high quality, which can be largely told through their tofu and sashimi. Most of the guests are Japanese. Great atmosphere and service too. read more

I LOVE THIS PLACE! I actually bought 3 travelzoo vouchers (2 dinner for 2 and 1 omakase), I was impressed all 3 times. The food is amazing and fresh. Presentation is excellent. Service is great. I just wish they will have more deals in the future since the prices are on the high end. read more

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This place is crazy if they think their Omakase menu is worth $170. I give it three stars primarily because of the excessive price. That being said, their sushi is of reliably good quality. The one item on the menu that I absolutely loved and would strongly recommend to you is their grilled Washu beef. A little odd that their best item is not sushi, but the Washu really is tasty. If you don't mind overpaying, then Hakubai is a good choice, but otherwise there are tons of other sushi options in New York. read more

Japanese people have a saying, "you eat with your eyes, not with your mouth." Such was the 6 course meal we'd recently had. Eating kai-seki dinner is really about the premiere dining experience, not about stuffing yourself. The presentation was absolutely delightful, and service was excellent. Felt rich and pampered throughout the dining experience. This place is as Japanese as it gets, felt like went back to Tokyo/Kyoto, and back. read more

We were here on Wednesday evening prior to Thanksgiving. We were a party of 9, staying in the hotel, we all love Japanese food, and it had good ratings so we decided to give it a try. Big mistake. Food, service and ambiance were all lacking. The food ranged from bland to OK and was horribly overpriced given the quality. I ordered miso-glazed black cod; pretty standard dish and usually delicious. It was overcooked and I make it better at home. My husband had sushi which was fine but nothing special; my son's beef dish was the best, though again a bit bland. It was difficult for our vegetarian to order as even the noodle dishes were made with fish stock--though at least the server warned us. She ordered tamago (omelette) which was tasteless and so tiny that even though she ordered a side of rice (none can with anything) she had to go get something else for dinner later. Our cousins asked for just rice and a fried egg for their child and were told the kitchen couldn't make it. The food came out very slowly, particularly the two beef dishes; it took about 45 minutes for one and over an hour for another. Inexplicably the cod arrived long before the sushi. Meanwhile, water glasses were never refilled, no apologies were made, and we noticed other diners received their food much more promptly. Perhaps because they appeared to be Japanese? To top off the evening, even though they were not crowded, they seated us all the way in the back in a stiflingly hot area -- everyone was sweating. Highlight of the meal was the sake, which was delicious and served in a beautiful sake set. read more

Don't waste your time here.... many players for Japanese food out there. Will not go back. Food: average Service: excellent read more

It was overpriced for what was a bland meal. The California rolls were some of the worst that I have eaten. The sushi was fresh, but the atmosphere was dull. Would not rush to go back. There are just too many other better choices in NY for good Japanese food. I chose it for the location. read more

Overall, ok food that is overpriced in a sterile setting with inattentive service. I went for lunch with a colleague. Food is traditional Japanese and was interesting but I didn't love it. The bento boxes are very pricey for what they offer - range from $36 - $55. We got the $40 one and I don't see why it should've been so much. I will say the raw fish was of great quality and the whole box was a bit more refined than something you would get at a regular Japanese place but again, overpriced. It was ok to try once but I wouldnt go back. Service was inattentive. Maybe it's because we are white and everyone else was Japanese or maybe it's b/c they are in a hotel and they just dont care. We had to ask for water several times, had to keep them from taken our half eaten food (they brought the courses in a big rush but the place was half empty), then I had to chase them for the check. They didn't check on us once after bringing the main tray of dishes. I expected at least the service to be good at those prices but not at all. Plenty of better places in midtown if you are going to spend that kind of money on lunch. read more

So like many other people who have posted, we too purchased a coupon through Travelzoo. I love traditional Japanese food so I thought this would be an amazing value given the huge discount from the $170 pp cost. Furthermore our anniversary was coming up so I thought what the hell, why not. Unfortunately, the experience fell well below my expectations. First off, the space has not been renovated since the Japanese began investing in New York in the 80's. The lights are bright and romance factor very low. Think of a nicer version of your corner sushi joint. They first sat us at a four top, but then I said that I prefer to sit at a two top considering that it was obvious that we were two, not four. Our first course 100% came out of the fridge pre-made. The plate was ice cold and the food was literally tasteless. The second course was no better. My wife started to feel sick, so I helped her finish her plate. We started laughing hysterically because we were so underwhelmed. I think she said it tasted like airplane food and I said that it was like Japanese hospital food. The sushi entree was a B+; not bad, but like others have said, i have had better at almost any dedicated sushi restaurant in NYC. When the ice cream came out, the jelly garnish was frozen to the ice cream bottom which made it obvious that it too was pre-made and was sitting in a freezer before we arrived. What I'm most shocked about was that they actually get away with charging people $170 PP for this meal. Easily one of the worst meals I've had in the city for a long time. With tip and tax, we paid $260 which would have gone a lot further at Babbo! Its pretty obvious that with the place half empty, it survives merely because the owner is the hotel, thus there is no rent payment. Therefore, it just needs to break even in order to provide a service to the rest of the property. Now I just wish they asked me how my meal was when we got the check, so that i did not have to report all this online. Service: A- Food: B- Value: C+ read more

Quiet and very traditional restaurant. High quality food that pays attention to detail. The service is also perfectly attentive.

My friend and I went there for New Year's "OSECHI" corse menu for dinner. The food was good, and the service is great. The place is on the downstairs of the hotel, so there is no window. Decor felt a little outdated, but the plates they use for the food were great. Food is good. The corse was more than enough and the waitress came by often (but not too often where you want them to leave you alone) to fill my tea. I gave 4 stars just because the guy at the door to take your name was a little rude. He ignored us for about 3 minutes, and started calling people's name to take them to their seating. We just stood there in front of him. He didn't even say "Just a moment please" or anything. He didn't even take our coats, so the waitress had to apologize to us for not taking our coats. I would totally go back there for the food and the service, and hopefully the front guy who was rude won't be there. read more

Portions were very small considering the high prices. After spending nearly $200 we were still hungry. There was little ambience as the restaurant was nearly deserted. In a city with so many excellent choices this restaurant is a big disappointment. Service though was excellent in contrast to the food. As a final aside, weird smelling bathroom. read more

Ordered the Okonomi Kaiseki, and really wanted to like this place - I had high hopes for it after reading the reviews. The service was great; however, the food was only ok, and definitely not worth $120/person. read more

I am not exaggerating when I say that it was the best Japanese meal I've ever had! The unfortunate part was that we got there later in the evening, and they had run out of a couple of their special items (including uni, our favourite). We ordered their bluefin toro (special item), assorted sashimi, chiwanmushi, kanpachi kama (special), and rice with broth. My parents did not like the kama that much, but I thought it was yummy. The sashimi was excellent. Fish was super fresh and high quality. I specified that we didn't want tako or saba, and they accommodated. The bluefin toro was great, but too bad it had some connective tissue within the cut. The service was excellent, and we were seated in this cozy secluded area. The only thing was that I wish their food came a little faster. I highly recommend this place!! It was SOO MUCH better than Sushi Yasuda, which was mediocre, overhyped, and overpriced. read more

We celebrated my birthday here with another couple as each of us had a Travel Zoo coupon. Each couple was entitled to 3 appetizers, 2: main courses, desserts and drinks. The physical surroundings were unremarkable- no linen tablecloth but cloth napkins. Food was served on a pretty plastic round tray. There was a lack of decorations - but traditional Japanese paper wall dividers in a minimalist style. Service was top notch and appropriately responsive. We had sake (both a hot and cold) and beer for our beverages - all good tasting. Our appetizers included tuna, duck, edamame (not a smart choice as cheapest appetizer at $6) and pork. Small portions but delicious. Our main courses included sushi ($40 without coupon) and one filet mignon. Again, smaller portions but each serving was tasty. Desserts varied from red beans on ice cream to tea and coffee creams. Not as impressive as the rest of the meal. In all we had a lovely time - were able to relax and enjoy good food with excellent service. In the end, the cost without the coupon is unreasonable. But thank goodness we had two. read more

Good place but a little bit overpriced. They obviously use the premium raw materials, however, their way of cooking is a little bit not up to the standard that this price level japanese restaurant should be offering. read more

I attend a trade show in New York every May and my annual treat while there is dinner at Hakubai. I've been to Japan and dined at some of its finest restaurants and there is no question in my mind regarding Hakubai's authenticity and excellence. For those who find it pricey I'm wondering by whose standards; in my experience it's what I'd expect. The service is ultra-charming. In the ten years I've been dining there the same waitress has (unbelievably) remembered me and served my table. I don't know what restaurant in the world would remember a diner year after year during a single annual visit. Amazing. read more

My husband and I used a Travelzoo coupon for our dinner last night. After dining here, I would not recommend even with the coupon and definitely would not without it The food was good but nowhere close to impressive (taste and presentation-wise) - think better-than-mediocre hotel dining. The dining room is quite open and somewhat dated - ambiance is a notch below the food. I may have been more generous in my review were it not for the fact that they do not include a bowl of rice nor a bowl of soup with dinner (regardless of whether or not one is using a coupon). C'mon! At a Japanese restaurant that charges a rack rate of $35 for a 6oz piece of steak and $27 for the usual tempura assortment, I expect to get a bowl of rice and miso soup! We ordered it a la carte ($2 for a bowl of white rice and $4 for the soup). read more

Simple but elegant setting. Excellent sushi and Excellent service. Maybe not the best sushi I've ever had (just the plain selection of rolls) but the quality of fish was superb - you get what you pay for... read more

Eat everything. its all worth the money, even as expensive as it is. Go for lunch; Their special are very good. Desserts come with and are also really nice. You can't go wrong. read more

Grilled wagyu beef was amazing. Sashimi was a little pricey for a selection that is relatively common. Ambience was fantastic.