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    Momokawa

    4.1 (276 reviews)
    Open 12:00 pm - 10:00 PM
    Updated over 3 months ago

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    MOMOKAWA ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Quiet
    Happy hour specials
    Good for groups

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    Recommended Reviews - Momokawa

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    Alan T.

    It's a cozy Japanese restaurant in the Upper East Side. I think this is my first time trying sukiyaki style hot pot. I got the beef and cooking it in soy sauce broth and then dipping it in a raw egg was extremely flavorful!

    Ted W.

    Momokawa is one of my favorite Japanese restaurants in NYC. The chef-owner holds a PhD in nutrition and offers fresh, health-conscious dishes rooted in traditional Japanese cuisine. Every plate reflects a perfect balance of flavor and wellness. Highly recommended.

    Chirashi Sushi
    Cyrus A.

    Momokawa was interesting. The dishes we tried tasted good, and the ingredients were fresh. I'm not sure the price point matches the experience overall, but to be fair, we went during lunch, so maybe it was a little more low key than a proper dinner. The Beef Sukiyaki Don was great, with lots of juicy slices of meat and a well-cooked egg topping a hearty bowl of rice. The Chirashi was nice, with fresh sashimi over some lightly-seasoned rice. The lunch special also came with udon, which can be served hot or cold. The udon were a nice consistency, and the broth tasted delicious, if not a bit too salty. One note -- the bathrooms here are a little gross. Again, for a fine dining price point, I'd expect a little better. But overall, a solid, slightly expensive option for good Japanese!

    a fork holding a piece of food
    Cherylin L.

    momokawa is an awesome upscale Japanese Restaurant. One of the best dishes you should try is their Sukiyaki, it was literally the best sukiyaki we had. Sukiyaki is essentially a hotpot but with a soy sauce based broth, it comes with assorted veggie and tofu. It is a great combo pair with the outstanding A5 MIYAZAKI RIB EYE. The beef is so tender in texture and has a buttery mouth feel. Dip into an organic egg for extra richness. The entire experience was fantastic with an excellent service. Featured MIYAZAKI BEEF for 2 Dashimaki Tamago Kani Su  Black COD

    Steak Gozen (wagyu)
    Gina L.

    Traditional sukiyaki in UES. Made a reservation for 2 for a Friday evening at 5pm - arrived and were seated immediately. We opted for the US Prime Beef Rib-eye sukiyaki for two, along with black cod miso and steak gozen (wagyu). Sukiyaki was good, cooked table-side with napa cabbage, mushrooms, and ramen noodles. Some tables have built-in stoves, while we had a portable induction stove. Once cooked, dip the various items in egg yolk for that extra richness. The flavors were simple but quality of ingredients was forthright. Black cod miso was good, and wagyu steak was tender, more necessary to supplement the meal in terms of quantity. Overall, very good quality sukiyaki, above average non-sukiyaki dishes, but pricey in terms of quantity.

    Miyazaki beef
    Trung T.

    Oh man this place was SO GOOD! The Miyazaki beef (above the wagyu) was the most tender beef we've ever eaten...and dipped in the raw egg was just pure perfection! Our waiter cooked and served our first couple of slices of the beef for us and then we were on our own the rest of the meal, but we were well taken care of. The size and spacing of the tables is a bit tight, but they do offer storage bins below your chair to save on space for coats/purses. Highly recommend this for an upscale dinner!!

    Beef Sukiyaki Don
    Alyssa C.

    Delicious place for sukiyaki, which is essentially hot pot but with a soy sauce-based broth in which they cook the meat and veggies in (vs the traditional bone based broth for hot pot). The broth/sauce is also very salty so it's meant for cooking not for drinking! First time I've had sukiyaki and it was very very flavorful and yummy. Also like nothing I've had before so will definitely return. Service was smooth, they have someone teach you how to cook the first slice of meat, and they were very attentive. Ambiance was cool too!

    One close is wagyu beef and the other is US prime, both are great.
    Charlie S.

    Had a dinner at Momokawa last night. For two of us, we had sukiyaki for 2 with an extra wagyu beef on top of US prime. This case we can enjoy difference of two different kind of beef to compare side by side. I wont write about the difference but both are different and both are good. With assorted veggies and tofu it makes great combination and this sauce taste exactly how it should. We even ordered extra veggies. There are many different many way to prepare sukiyaki in Japan but chef Mie prepared it just Tokyo way. We had two kinds of sake from Kubota and I think these sakes also are great match for sukiyaki and any Japanese dishes. With the servers close attention, our dinner experience last night was such great here in Momokawa. I now need to comeback for Shabu Shabu dinner that is another fall and winter delicacy. I really recommend their sukiyaki dinner everyone.

    House Salad and Miso Soup
    Ellie Z.

    Momokawa is a nice Japanese restaurant on the Upper East Side. It's a solid spot for lunch / din before hitting the Met (~20 min walk / ~15 min bus). They have a full Japanese menu, with omakase/sushi and sashimi, shabu shabu (hot pot), sukiyaki, and a la carte entrees. We chose to order a la carte to try more things: Appetizer of the Day - fried crispy dumpling wrapper with tofu inside (6/10): We ordered this on a whim when they explained to us the appetizer of the day, honestly would not recommend. The dish was pretty bland. Beef Sukiyaki Don w US Prime Ribeye (6.3/10): The entrees come with miso soup and salad which were great! I thought the sukiyaki don itself was average. The beef was slightly tough, there were 2 random pieces of tofu, and the flavors were very standard. I also felt like there was a bit too much rice for the amount of beef / onion that the bowl is topped with. (But maybe we should have ordered the rice bowl with wagyu beef for a less tough bite.) Nothing special. Sushi & Sashimi Combination (7.5/10): Good sushi/sashimi. This comes with 4 kinds of sashimi, 5 kinds of sushi, and 1/2 a tuna roll. I really enjoyed everything. Eel tasted good. Sashimi was definitely high quality--it was buttery/melt in your mouth Overall, I'm not rushing to come back here but service was friendly, and it's a cute/cozy space.

    Sliced Rib eyes and Wagyu sukiyaki, mix veggies
    Wendy G.

    Food was good, atmosphere is good. You can store your jackets/ tote bag in a basket that's underneath your chair.

    Sukiyaki (take-out)
    Sandy Y.

    Ordered and picked up the Sukiyaki for Two. To start off, everything is packaged very well - the prime rib was cut thin, laid on an aluminum pan, and was covered in a bag of ice to keep cold. A take-out container full of all the vegetables were well-packaged and plentiful. Eggs were plastic wrapped in a carton, soup base was packaged in a plastic container, and my choice of udon (or rice) was cooked and placed in a paper container. There were no instructions but it was very straight forward. End result was a delicious and plentiful pot of goodness that paired perfectly with the weather. Next time, will definitely eat in and enjoy this goodness in person at the resturant.

    Yellowtail shabu shabu
    Rebecca L.

    If you're looking for a feast that won't weigh you down, this is the place! The yellowtail is fresh and sashimi grade. You can eat them raw but they're so good slightly cook in the light dashi too. We ordered a side of wagyu on top and the meat was gloriously marbled but the broth still kept clear and drinkable. Make porridge with the soup at the end and I can't think of a more perfect meal. A perfect cool weather treat

    Agedashi tofu
    Diego D.

    Momokawa is a great upscale Japanese restaurant. The decoration is elegant and beautiful, there are some art pieces in the walls for sell. The service is good, some of the servers are very nice although others are a bit impatient. They made a small mess with the bill but ended up being all correct. I had a YUZU COCKTAIL which tasted good, pretty much like a yuzu juice, almost no alcohol. For three people, we started with JELLY FISH GHD (Amazing, its crispy and comes with a vinager sesame sauce with cucumber and shittake), ORGANIC AGEDASHI TOFU (comes in a delicious soy sauce and was really tasty, soft and juicy inside), ASSORTED SASHIMI (7 kinds of fish - scallops are hidden in the picture - It was really fresh and good quality), KAMO REISI (Breast duck with orange), DASHIMAKI TAMAGO (I could have skipped this one), BEEF SUKIYAKI DON with WAGYU (really tasty wagyu, soft boiled egg and some veggies over rice), EEL AVOCADO ROLL (a well done classic), TERIYAKI CHICKEN (chicken was good, served with some "bit hard" green beens and brocoli). I had the HOT ZENZAI for dessert but it was not really my thing, like a sweet bean soup. Although everything was quite good, I will definetely recommend trying the JELLY FISH, the AGEDASHI TOFU, and the BEEF SUKIYAKI. Everything was really fresh, the wasabi was high quality, and the sashimi and some other dishes come with miso soup and green salad. ESPAÑOL: Momokawa es un buen restaurante japonés exclusivo. La decoración es elegante y buena, hay algunas obras de arte en las paredes para vender. El servicio es bueno, algunos de los camareros son muy amables aunque otros son un poco impacientes. Hicieron un pequeño lío con la factura pero al final todo estaba correcto. Probé un CÓCTEL DE YUZU que sabía bien, aunque más bien como un zumo de yuzu, casi sin alcohol. Para tres personas, comenzamos con JELLY FISH GHD (Increíble, crujiente y viene con una salsa de vinagre de sésamo con pepino y setas shittake), TOFU AGEDASHI ORGÁNICO (viene en una salsa deliciosa y estaba muy sabroso, suave y jugoso por dentro), SURTIDO DE SASHIMI (7 tipos de pescado - las vieiras están escondidas en la imagen - Pescado muy fresco y de buena calidad), KAMO REISI (Pechuga de pato con naranja), DASHIMAKI TAMAGO (podría haberme saltado este), SUKIYAKI con WAGYU (wagyu muy sabroso, huevo blando cocido y algunas verduras sobre arroz), ROLLO DE ANGUILA Y AGUACATE (un clásico bien hecho), POLLO TERIYAKI (el pollo estaba bueno, servido con unas judías verdes "un poco duras" y brócoli). Tomé el ZENZAI caliente de postre pero no era mucho de mi gusto, como una sopa de alubias dulce. Aunque todo estaba bastante rico, yo definitivamente recomendaría probar la JELLY FISH, el AGEDASHI TOFU y el BEEF SUKIYAKI. Todo estaba muy fresco, el wasabi era de alta calidad y el sashimi y algunos otros platos vienen con sopa de miso y ensalada verde.

    Miyazaki Beef with raw egg - my favorite combination - super delicious

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    6 months ago

    This experience was wonderful. The vibe is so relaxing, classically Japanese in the middle of nyc. I'll be back for sure!

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    8 months ago

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    15 days ago

    Best Japanese food I've had in a long time. Terrific service and ambience as well. Can't wait to go back!

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    A neighborhood gem. Melts-in-your-mouth sushi, quick service, and has a homey feel (Ever seen Tokyo Diner?).

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    Page 1 of 7

    Momokawa Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Momokawa

    Are there speakers / is there music in the restaurant?

    Very quiet recorded music. Thank you

    How many servings of Miyazaki wag you should i order for two people?

    For 2ppl is usually enough!

    Could you eat sukiyaki when you come alone?

    yes

    View All 6 Questions

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    Momoya

    Momoya

    4.1(898 reviews)
    3.0 miChelsea
    $$

    I had been to Momoya on the Upper West Side before, but this was my first visit to the Chelsea…read morelocation. The atmosphere here was a bit more lively and crowded compared to the more relaxed vibe of the UWS spot. I enjoyed my meal even more this time around. I started with the beet salad, which was delicious and offered great value given the generous portion size. it featured sliced beets, arugula, goat cheese, and walnuts. I also had my eye on the hijiki soybean salad--which is a bit smaller and reportedly homemade--so I may try that next time, along with the warm mushroom salad which looked very tasty. The edamame was standard but served as a nice starter. For my main rolls, I chose the salmon avocado and the yellowtail scallion. Both were very fresh and definitely worth ordering again. The salmon avocado roll had a nice touch of sesame seeds on the rice, while the yellowtail scallion was prepared with the seaweed on the outside. My boyfriend's sushi entree looked excellent, so I am considering that or the sushi-sashimi combo for my next visit. The entrees provide a substantial amount of food, and I especially appreciate that they allow you to choose which roll comes with your meal.

    Delicious, fresh and flavorful sushi with a variety of rolls, sashimi and wine. Super fast service,…read morebeautiful ambiance and no wait for a spot at the bar. Would definitely go back to try more of the menu!

    Photos
    Momoya - Inside

    Inside

    Momoya - Chirashi Lunch

    Chirashi Lunch

    Momoya - Dessert

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    Dessert

    Sanyuu West

    Sanyuu West

    4.5(169 reviews)
    3.1 miChelsea
    $$$$

    After trying a dozen of sushi/omakase places in New York I can definitively the best I've had…read more The omakase at Sanyuu West is honestly unbeatable. Every single fish is very high quality I find many places like the skimp out on the less popular fish but not Sanyuu West. I think the omakase is also at a very good price for the quality and amount you get though I know it is more expensive than maybe the average omakase spot right now. I also find that other spots usually underdeliver. I wish I could save more detail but honestly I have nothing more to say other than the fact that Sanyuu Weat amazing. The restaurant itself is also more spacious than I expected. Besides the main bar there are two sitting areas near the window as well as seats lined up to the bathroom to make yourself comfortable two things that I think are a rare find now in many places. A lot of thought is put into this restaurant layout and I think you can tell. The service was also great I found myself never lacking in water or waiting too long for my next piece. In fact, I had started to apologize about drinking so much water because I felt like the hostess was constantly at my side refilling my cup and she just turned to me and said, "don't apologize. Drinking water is very important." So true!!!! I'm very picky abt my recommendations to friends, I'll review any place I go to and give my thoughts but a real recommendation? I only have around a dozen or so. And Sanyuu West is definitely now part of that dozen.

    price - $87 per person pre tax…read more food - 5/5 service - 5/5 ambiance - 5/5 I got the chance to try out Sanyuu West for my birthday and I had such an amazing time! from the moment I stepped into the restaurant, the waiters were super sweet and attentive to my friend and I. the courses kept coming out and each piece was super tender and bursting with flavor! my favorite was definitely the uni, toro, and wagyu on milk bread course! I love how the flavors mix so well together, I felt like I was in heaven! the service was amazing, like the never left my water cup empty!!! (props to them) the ambiance inside was also super calm and vibey. overall, I had such an amazing time and I would love to go again soon

    Photos
    Sanyuu West
    Sanyuu West - (@joeynht)

    (@joeynht)

    Sanyuu West - (@joeynht)

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    (@joeynht)

    Mikado

    Mikado

    4.4(208 reviews)
    3.2 miChelsea

    Unbelievable happy hour prices for beers, cocktails and food - as cheap as $1 for a bowl of…read moreedamame. Great portion size, the fish tacos were super tasty (comes with 3 per serving), the sushi is fresh and contains minimal rice in each roll.

    Reviewing location in Chelsea - The food is pretty good and there is definitely an existing…read morestandard leaning towards quality, but the service! Now, having said that although the food was decent, there were a couple of questionable choices in the overall presentation and plating and the sauces that accompany the black cod bento box I ordered, which did not actually come in a box. Everything is brought out piecemeal so you don't get an actual meal before you, but a lot of little plates brought out at different times, kinda like the Japanese equivalent of Tapas. We have been to this location twice, hoping the first time was a fluke, and trying to give them a chance only for the second time to be worse. The waitstaff is entirely disengaged from the customers. They rush you through the order process and don't explain any of the menu offerings, such as what is the difference between the different platter options. When they do come over, you are greeted with the sweetness and warmth of an unemotionally flat "What do you want?" After you get your food, no one comes over to refill water and cups are initially filled halfway with too much ice. No one comes over to remove plates afterward, and they definitely show no interest in finding out if you are enjoying your meal in the least. The booth we were sat at had not been cleaned after the last party's use so there was sauce all over, and it got on the back of my pants, which I later discovered while walking home...the joy. After eating comes the best part, they come over with these tablets outlining your check on the screen. Meanwhile, the tablets are strapped to their bodies the entire time. They don't allow you to scrutinize the charges in peace, no, they stand there impatiently for the duration either swerving from side to side of tapping their foot signaling discomfort that you're taking way too long. The funny part is the straps have clips to remove the tablets so it's not like it's impossible to leave the tablet and come back shortly. The whole process feels very rushed and pressurized for you to tip with one of the predetermined button selections, which start at 25%. Ummm, service sucked so no, we're definitely NOT starting there. I guess now we're both disappointed. Eventually, you get no paper receipt for your records even if you ask for it to be printed. And the whole time, the waitstaff is with you judging you on your tipping and not even being graceful enough to restrain their reaction. So no, not going back, and definitely would not recommend as a place to have a good time. Now, if you're looking for an uncomfortable experience served by someone that completely ignores you during your entire time there and expects an exorbitant tip to boot, then yes, this is the place for you!

    Photos
    Mikado - Indoor decor

    Indoor decor

    Mikado - Happy hour taco $5 comes with 3 tacos

    Happy hour taco $5 comes with 3 tacos

    Mikado - Inside large table

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    Inside large table

    Umami Sushi - Delicious coursed out hand rolls

    Umami Sushi

    4.3(289 reviews)
    3.4 miWest Village
    $$

    Stopped here for dinner on a Saturday on a whim and was so happy with our choice! We walked in and…read morewere seated right away. It is a really small place with around 6-8 tables so it probably gets busy at times and there may be a wait. One of the best parts of their menu here is that you can order sushi by the piece. My mom doesn't always have the biggest appetite so for her to be able to order only a few pieces instead of an entire roll was a huge plus! I had to crispy tuna rice appetizer and the dragon roll. Literally so good. I was seriously craving crispy rice and these were perfect. I would order this again and again. The sushi was fresh and taste great as well. Super glad we decided to come here!

    This evening we were going to a jazz club where a friend of our son works at, but they don't serve…read morefood, so we had to find a place in the area of where the club is at. Do of course I use Yelp to find something that catches my eye close by where we need to be. I found umami Sushi. We usually can't go wrong with Japanese food or sushi. We had no problems finding the place. The description said it was a small restaurant and as we entered the dining area was very small. Our hotel room was probably bigger. That doesn't bother me especially if we get there, there tables for us to sit comfortably. I also trust my judgment when I find a place that seems to be popular by the locals. The restaurant was empty when we arrived. We were the only ones there, but for some reason we bring good vibes to the places we eat because not too long after we placed our order, people started coming in, to the point that the small dining room was packed. I love Omakase style Service and what we ordered was a sashimi/sushi platter for three and two special rolls. I thought I got to choose the rolls but even that was chefs choice. I was just a bit worried that they would give us the cheap rolls like spicy tuna or California roll. The platter came out and it was beautifully prepared with a piece of sashimi for each of us and the rolls the chefs chose, ended up being two of my favorite rolls. The types of fish they selected were also great quality fish. We were lucky to have placed our order before the crowd came in our we might have had to wait a while because how they prepared it would have taken some time. The service was just right. Because they got busy right away, the waitress was forced to attend to everyone and couldn't really socialize with us. In fact when we finished our platter we were debating what we wanted for dessert but the waitress didn't even ask us and instead she just brought us the bill, so we said to ourselves, "I guess we're not having dessert here." So we paid the bill and gave an opportunity for someone else to take our table.

    Photos
    Umami Sushi
    Umami Sushi - Salmon handroll (least favorite)

    Salmon handroll (least favorite)

    Umami Sushi - Salmon carpaccio

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    Salmon carpaccio

    Momokawa - japanese - Updated September 2026

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