Friendly staffs and great sushi! I ordered the 3 amigos don small with extra fluke(+$5) It was a perfect size for those who are not too hungry, but will leave you satisfied. I wish it had little more salmon than tuna, but still delicious. the rice was seasoned really well. I sat outside for a dinner and it's located on the quieter side of the street, so I was able to enjoy my dinner and wind down after a long day. read more

I had an incredible takeout experience here on an early Wednesday evening. I was craving a delicious bowl of chirashi with Uni so I did some digging on Yelp. Kaoru was nearby and had some mixed reviews but I decided to give it a try anyways... and I'm so glad I did! The hamachi and salmon was extremely fresh and they were really generous with the uni portion, I was in sashimi heaven! If you're craving for uni and fresh fish, look no further! read more

Kaoru - Super fresh Uni Don (Hokkaido Japan) - Japanese Near Me - New York, New York

This restaurant specializes in sushi bowls and the ingredients are all very fresh! They also have many sushi rolls, appetizers, and drinks to choose from as well. I got Three Amigos Don and Karaage. The three amigos Don include salmon, tuna, hamachi, spicy salmon, and grilled tuna. A great bowl with a ton of fish! Karaage was crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. I have tried their uni Don before as well, but I think it was average. The other donburi bowls are great and well priced! The staff is attentive, and the interior is simple and with plenty of seating. They also have bar seating! A great place if you want donburi! read more

Kaoru - Three amigos - Japanese Near Me - New York, New York

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The food (see photo), service--very friendly, kind, and attentive, and quiet ambience--sparkling and beautiful WAS AND IS ALWAYS ABSOLUTELY AMAZING!!! This was our fourth time here--every visit to Kaoru makes our trip to NYC a holiday for sure. read more

Kaoru - Karou Kaison Don--A perfect rice bowl with five kinds of sushi, miso soup, and a Japanese potato salad that would rival Gramma's!!! - Japanese Near Me - New York, New York

The sushi was so fresh and they have nice options. The sushi was very delicious. They have stepped up during the crisis. The sushi options were excellent. It taste so good and I like the Karaage and Maguro Luxury Don. It taste so fresh. It has nice texture too. The service was fine not over the top not lacking anything. Prices were fair too. read more

Excellent sushi bowls ranging from the most simple to high end (otoro for $45). Good portions, good maki as well. read more

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I instantly feel like I'm transported back to Japan when I eat here. The fish is so amazing and fresh. The atmosphere is so cool too. The staff is always nice and very efficient. Always love coming to eat here for a quick bite. read more

Kaoru - Three 3 Amigos Don - Japanese Near Me - New York, New York

Easy to miss, but definitely a place to visit if you're a lover of Chirashi and want a good value for the area. Kaoru has a lot of options for customizable seafood donburi. The service is quick and the interior is cozy. I was seated at the bar and ordered a Three Amigos Don with added Madai which was extra. Overall I enjoyed it, the quality of the fish was great but there were definitely other places where I enjoyed it more (but considering the price it was good.) I would return again to try other offerings. read more

Kaoru - Bar seating - Japanese Near Me - New York, New York

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Solid sashimi rice bowls and Japanese fare, albeit pricey. The fried fish appetizer with pickled ginger was alright, and the dashi maki (Japanese omelette) was tasty, but I would try other appetizers next time. My uni don wasn't cheap ($40 not including the king salmon addition) but it came with a generous helping of uni and 2 other sashimi options. The king salmon was decent but not worth the $20 upcharge for the amount I got. The seafood was pretty fresh overall and prices are what one would expect in Manhattan. read more

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This place is the best place to eat and chill in the buzzing city. The service is awesome--the waiters are very polite and fast and the food is delicious. Truly authentic Japanese food in a classy environment! Recommend to take your first date, need a place to get away from the bubbling city atmosphere for just a drink, or hungry for some delicious food read more

Kaoru - three 3 Amigos Don and Chicken Karaage - Japanese Near Me - New York, New York

There's a reason KAORU has so many good reviews and stars on Yelp, fantastic fresh sashimi, large portions and good pricing. They offer deliveries on both Über Eats & Grub Hub, plus Take-out. Uni Don costs about $15 more than Three Amigos - which consists of three seafood choices over delicate cooked rice. I wanted Salmon (Sake) and Salmon Roe (Ikura) with the Uni order. Enough for both lunch and dinner today! Very filling. For now there's only outdoor dining due to Covid. Masks are enforced and hand sanitizer is supplied. My delicious order was take-away as to enjoy dining in the cozy warmth of my home on this chilly February afternoon. Plus got my 3 miles walk in. Yay! Please support your local small businesses. read more

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Interesting Japanese spot in midtown East. There is a lot of focus on bowls here which aren't my favorite, but they have uni as center piece of their menu which made me incredibly happy. This is a true Japanese spot. They aren't focusing on the American crowd which is shows. Service was good ... I have no complaints. Also, I'm not sure what happens here at night, but they have some type of music room in the back which wasn't open when we were there for lunch. Would have been interesting to see that in action (although I'm sure I'm too old for that scene) read more

I was first introduced to Kaoru a couple years back by a friend who lived local and would proudly tout this spot as one of his favourite local haunts. The food here has been consistent and is very reasonable given the price (not the best sushi I've had in the city, but pretty hard to beat at this price point) - I always go for the 'regular' size, which leaves me satisfied by the time I'm done. Each chirashi would come with a delicious bowl of complementary miso soup. Drafts of sapparro being $4 only is definitely an added bonus! Pre-pandemic, the restaurant also had nice live music on a couple of my visits, which I hope to experience again some day in the near future. read more

Kaoru - Regular 3 Amigos - Japanese Near Me - New York, New York

3.5/5 Stars. I have eaten at over 100 Japanese/sushi restaurants in NYC and I was honestly quite disappointed while I was dining here at Kaoru. Upon getting seated, they instantly wanted to put us next to quite a rowdy table, so when we asked if we could be seated somewhere apart and a bit more quiet, they gave us an annoyed face. I can tell that their service was not catered to people like me. But that was okay, I have heard great things about this place, and if the rest of the experience was up to par, then everything would have been fine. However, I was sorely disappointed once again when I received my order. I ordered the Uni Don with Salmon and Yellowtail. Upon receiving my dish, I was in awe about how poorly together the bowl looked. It looked like an apprentice/child put together my don. On top of that, the pieces of fish that they gave me looked like extremely poor cuts of fish, I was given the pieces of salmon that had absolutely no fat or marbling, so that wasn't ideal. The cuts of fish were also a lot smaller than what I'm used to in NYC, so this entire don was really hard to justify the $40 price tag. My friend got the Otoro Don, which looked slightly better than mine, but the cuts/quality of Otoro were not as good as they are supposed to be. However, the Hamachi Kama was at least really good and well-cooked, however it took 25 minutes to come out and I wish it came with the dipping sauce that the yellowtail neck often comes with. The dessert at the end was also pretty good though, the green tea ice cream tasted very authentic and well-potent. read more

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Bad service though. The waitresses tossed the menu onto the table and walked away without any words. read more

Kaoru - Japanese Near Me - New York, New York

It's a nice and intimate restaurant. The food was exactly what me and my friend was craving. We were able to substitute the rice with mixed greens. We ordered regular sized Maguro and it was generously sized. Next time, I may just get the small since we ordered appetizers. The vegetable tempura was perfectly fried and light. The karaage was also generously size. It may have been better bite sized. Overall meal was great. The place isn't too big thus get there early if you want a seat. read more

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If you're an avid sushi lover who lives for chirashi, you have got to visit Kaoru. The quality, portion, and price of the Chirashi bowls here is unheard of. They do have other sushi items and appetizers on their menu but from my yelp sleuthing I've gathered that Chirashi is their most popular item here. All the bowls are from $20-35 but they come in small and regular sizes. Sadly, they do not offer reservations so our party of 3 chanced a walk in for dinner on a Friday night. Surprisingly, it was not too busy, and we sat in their entrance nook while waiting for a table. We waited about 30 mins then settled for seats at the bar. Service was very friendly but as you've guessed, this review is about my obsession with their sushi bowls. They have a ton of different combinations, each one with at least 3 different types of fish. I was tempted to order the Uni one, but I settled for the 3 Amigos Don instead. For $22 I got a bowl topped with tuna, salmon, yellowtail, and spicy tuna. The fish was buttery smooth and fresh, and the portion was so large I even took some home for a small snack. Alternating bites of the different fish made me appreciate the distinct flavors of each even more. I love how Kaoru has managed to keep its prices reasonable even in these tough times and look forward to spreading the word about its incredible Chirashi. read more

Kaoru - Japanese Near Me - New York, New York

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Came here for their chirashi bowl with uni and it did not disappoint! I love uni and sashimi, but getting both of them at a reasonable price is almost impossible. The quality of the fish was great. I like how they let you choose your fish for the chirashi bowl (I got uni, salmon, and yellowtail and they were all delicious). This is a little out of the way but I would love to come back when I'm craving chirashi. read more

Kaoru - Japanese Near Me - New York, New York

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Let your inner chubby kid run free. I did. This place is a gem. The zuke ikura is so delicious! Try their Uni don too! read more

Kaoru - Miso soup - Japanese Near Me - New York, New York

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We had strong cravings for sashimi and came across their great reviews and took a short walk there for dinner. Got the three amigos & luxury chirashi bowls. & agedashi- all were fresh & delicious. The place is low key and had the feel of a neighborhood restaurant. The rice was perfect too. Definitely recommend. read more

Kaoru - Agedashi Tofu Maguro Luxury Don - Japanese Near Me - New York, New York

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Food is really good, high quality ingredients. Prices are a bit high. Came here to get take-out one night for dinner and it was a very easy efficient experience. I ordered the uni mixed fish bowl with rice and the monkfish liver. The uni mixed fish bowl was delicious, fish was of a high quality cut and very fresh, lots of rice on the bottom. The monkfish liver was a bit pricey $10, just a few piece of the liver, good quality but portion size is a bit small. Overall the quality is good, but do prepare to pay a bit. read more

Kaoru - Japanese Near Me - New York, New York

So good! I don't recommend a lot of sushi places in NYC but Kaoru never disappoints both in the quality of their fish, portion and price. I got the Kaoru Kaisen Don which was ~$24 while all my friends got the Uni Don for $35! We all agreed that this was a great pick for a Japanese dinner spot. Highly recommend! read more

Kaoru - Kaoru Kaisen Don - Japanese Near Me - New York, New York

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Such a great experience of friendly staff and great food in an intimate setting. The bowls were so delicious with the salmon melting in my mouth. The Sapporo was so cold and refreshing. Staff were friendly we chat about our culture (Japan and Jamaica) such a great experience, authentic style Japanese style sushi and dinning. read more

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Great value!!! This place is such a hidden gem in the city amongst so many sushi places. Their chirashi bowls / dons are filled with lots of sushi and at a great price too, around $20-30. I got the 3 amigos don and also tried some sake which was also delicious. The fish is good quality, don't be expecting omakase or anything but it's great for a regular meal! Come Again? Yes! Would be down to come again, would honestly come more often if the location was more convenient for me. read more

Kaoru - Japanese Near Me - New York, New York

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Kaoru is a solid spot for chirashi bowls in Manhattan! We were able to walk in around 8pm on a Monday to get 2 seats at the bar. I ordered a small Three Amigos, which had salmon, tuna, and a white fish. The tuna was prepared 2 separate ways (chirashi and spicy tuna) and the salmon as well (baked and raw). Most of the bowls come in small and regular sizes and the small had pretty generous portions as well! The fish came straight from the fish marked and tasted super fresh. Overall, great establishment! Will be coming back. Note: they knock off a small percentage if you pay cash!! Another note: they will be increasing their prices starting August 2022, which was very nice for them to note. read more

Kaoru - 3 Amigos Don - Japanese Near Me - New York, New York

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I got the toro don and added uni! Both items were really fresh and I can't wait to go back there. The location is by the United Nations, which was a bit surprising but hey, I'll travel for good food! read more

Kaoru - Japanese Near Me - New York, New York

Intimate setting with very authentic food. Unagi Don (Eel + Rice) was very filling and very delicious. Cooked quickly, not overly dry, and fresh eel. Staff were courteous and attentive. read more

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I loved my king salmon bowl with hamachi and tuna. It was delicious. I found it quite satiating. The portions are big and will fill you up...well at least I could hardly move after my meal. Another words, no complaints. I sincerely enjoyed my sashimi. The raw fish was super fresh and cut into large pieces. I liked the miso soup that accompanied my bowl and came at the right time! I walked in with my hubby around 12:30 pm and was able to get seats at the bar. They definitely check for vaccinations and your identification. I felt that it was very clean and relaxing in someone's home. I would return and recommend it to others. read more

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**TO GO REVIEW** Worth it? No Repeat? No Led by all these raving reviews, we opted for the Uni Don, Three Amigos The Ikura buoyancy and flavor just wasn't there. The Uni looked like it was sourced all over the place with differing ages. Some were slimy, others were delicious. The rice was disappointing and we ended up not even finishing it. Maybe I got spoiled by Boston/LA sushi dons but this was overpriced and overhyped. It's not great but not bad for the amount they give. The additional add-ons just weren't worth it. read more

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Solid sushi eatery. Not a great date place but a good local east side sit down place. Good sushi. Few places that doesn't overcharge a lot for Otoro tuna or King Salmon sashimi. Decor isn't the best but it's good for delicious sushi bowl. read more

Kaoru - Otoro tuna don with yellow tail and spicy tuna. - Japanese Near Me - New York, New York

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Wow I'm a big eater. And I could not even finish the 3 amigos don bowl. It had ALOT of fish. It was so good and fresh. It fed me for lunch, dinner, and then lunch and dinner the next day. I really liked how their rice is made. You can always judge a Japanese restaurant by how well their rice is made and taste. Yum. The rice and the fish were both excellent! I would order from here again! Tasty!! read more

Kaoru - 3 Amigos Don - Japanese Near Me - New York, New York

Great Japanese cuisine, great selection homemade dishes. Nice service. We liked fresh sushi and amazing tempura.

Went at around 3:30pm and there was plenty of seating; my friend and I decided to sit at the bar area. I had the regular sized three-amigos ($20), comes with a small miso soup, and the portion was more than generous, and there is also a "small" size option for $15. It was nice to come at this time because since the restaurant was not busy we did not feel rushed and took our time catching up. Our waitress was also accommodating enough to charge each of our order separately which was nice. read more

Kaoru - Japanese Near Me - New York, New York

Fresh Delicious Generous portion Not fake wasabi The large bowl is so worth. If you go, get the large it's only a couple dollar difference from the regular read more

We came here last night and it seemed pretty popular, but we were able to get seated immediately at the bar. I really liked the interior as it seemed very traditional and welcoming. The hot miso soup was delicious and got me ready to eat some sushi. I ordered a small Maguro Luxury Don which ended up being plenty of food even though I have a large appetite. One of my friends ordered a regular size, but it didn't really look much larger than what I ordered even though it cost $5 more. My other friend got 2 rolls of sushi which looked like even less food despite the higher price. The quality of fish was good, nothing spectacular, but definitely I could see people coming back as regulars. Make sure to bring cash if you want a slight discount over paying with credit card. read more

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So bad.... Rainy day thought gave myself a treat. Got Uni don, everyone mentioned the general portion but no, when I opened the box , it just looked sad. The fish isn't fresh.... Can't believe this is New York Japanese restaurant quality. I felt either their quality is terrible or they just did it to take out client. Too bad..I would never feel bad to spend money on quality sushi, but this is such a waste. And I had to order something else from different restaurant coz food left bad taste With $47 for this, is such a waste. read more

Uni don is out of this world. Lovely service, comfy decor, but the uni don is the star of the show. read more

Kaoru - Uni don with salmon and squid - Japanese Near Me - New York, New York

Totally underrated Japanese place in midtown east. I got the three amigos don which includes three different types of fish which are super fresh and big portions too! They have a small and a regular size. If you're pretty hungry I'd recommend getting the regular size which is what I got. The fish cakes were also yummy I've also ordered pick-up from here and it tastes the same. I could see myself coming here if I crave a good Japanese sashimi don. read more

Kaoru - Japanese Near Me - New York, New York

Decided to check this place out after yelp searching for uni don. We came during lunch time, so there were not too many people. I decided to check out uni don and unagi don here. First and foremost, as you can see all the photos posted by other yelpers, they really have good portion of food for the price I think. Uni don and unagi don are both around (~$30) and have good portion size that will make you full. The tuna was also well melted and prepared. If you crave good dons, come check this place out! You won't be disappointed. read more

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Excellent Service & very good ambiance Would definitely go there a few times/ year! A great Gari of tasty foods. Great music from the piano. Oldest Japanese piano bar innNYC. read more