This is a nice small Japanese convenience store. They sell a selection of onigiri and sushi in…read moretheir fridge section right when you walk in. The only thing I would be careful for is the ingredients bc if you have any sensitivities or allergies, then we may want to skip the "fresh" section, bc they do put preservatives to expand the shelf life, which is also why after 6pm, they do not have to discount their items as other Japanese grocers and convenience shops do. They do have a unique selection of flours, packaged soups, and chips. The prices were a bit higher though. Would we go back if we were in the area? Maybe... Pros: Clean Cute and unique selection of Japanese items Organized well Nice packaged rice, packaged tea, and chip section Cons: Expensive Fish freshness - maybe not Onigiri and sushi - rice preservatives = no go

staff is very nice. grab and go food is very overpriced for the quality, would recommend just…read moreordering takeout from a Japanese restaurant, better price for more food.

I had a wonderful experience. We got the Uni croquette and fried squid. I could have passed on the…read moreUni croquette. The fried squid appetizer was the stand out because it came with a delicious wasabi sauce. I also got the karaage udon which was great. The karaage wasn't too oily, but was still crunchy. Loved this little unassuming spot. We had the sweetest woman serve us. The weight was a little bit long because we showed up at the same time as another party, but it wasn't too bad.

I had stopped by this little hole in the wall a handful of times before stopping in several months…read moreago during a cold winter day. The place was pretty quiet, and the staff was friendly. To drink, I had a Hot Organic Super Matcha Tea for 4.95. It was alright tea, and I wish teas were included in the price point, as otherwise, this place feels pretty traditional. In terms of food, I only ordered from the seasonal menu, so I'm not sure how the rest of the dishes are, but from what I had, I would go back for a light traditional meal. My appetizer was the Dashimaki Tamago/だし巻まき卵たま, or sweet savory omelet with daikon for $6.98. This came with three pieces along with a little dollop of grated radish. The pieces had a light sweetness to them along with a bit of savoriness. They were juicy and a bit bouncy while maintaining some softness. This was standard and good. My main dish was the $19.98 Beef Tan Tan Udon, or ground sirloin beef, spicy broth, baby bok choy, kikurage mushroom, scallions, and sesame seeds. While I have preferred udon from spots like Raku, the udon had a mild chew to it, and they were still good. The broth had a mix of sweetness and spiciness with a nice depth of flavor. The vegetables inside tasted fresh, and the meat added some richness. This was good as well. I wouldn't recommend going out of your way to go here, but the food was good. If you're in the area and looking for no frills Japanese dining in a more comfortable atmosphere at pretty decent Midtown East prices, I would recommend this place.

We had a really delicious dinner at Sakagura. Some of the real highlights were:…read more- the cucumber salad - the eggplant, which was absolutely to die for - the black cod The Otoro sashimi was also really good. Definitely melt-in-your-mouth quality. The hot udon soup was fine but nothing too special. The hamachi was very good but be aware that it is the hamachi shoulder on the bone, not hamachi sashimi. I tried a sake that is made from red rice, which was really delicious, and my wife had a sauvignon blanc, which was also really good. This is a fun place to try a bunch of Japanese small plates in a nice setting where the tables are not too crowded and the noise level is very reasonable.

Beautiful decor and warm welcoming attentive service from the time we walked in to the moment we…read moreleft. We came for my friend's birthday, and it was a nice place to celebrate. The sake menu was quite extensive. The food was delectable - we had the octopus, eggplant, black cod and the Japanese friend chicken. The eggplant was amazing!! The portions were a bit small for the price. All in all, it was a very nice experience.

So much good food n things to try. We sampled appetizers, sushi, soba set, chirashi, and dessert…read moretoo! Really good service and so much good food!!!

Food: Average Service: Hurried…read more Ambiance: too dim The price of green tea at $8 each! I don't think this restaurant deserves a standing at this location which offers many authentic Japanese restaurant choices.

In a rare moment of vulnerability, I was breaking down to my big bro about the lack of quality…read moreKatsu in New York City. I got back from Japan 3 weeks ago, and the abundant access to high level Katsu ruined me. I can only equate it to growing up on Dominos Pizza, and then you have that first real quality brick oven pizza and you're like "oh there are really levels to this..." It takes a piece of your innocence that you will never get back. Big bro put a hand on my shoulder and said, "Lil Bro, I've already walked a mile in these shoes. We are going to Katsu-Hama." Next thing I know, we are on 47th street walking into what I can only describe as a wormhole straight to a restaurant in the bustling streets of Tokyo. We ordered the Berkshire Pork Loin Curry, with an extra cutlet each because we are big dawgs. Upon first bite, hope was restored. I could breath again. Beneath delicate crackles of the crisp golden shell, the pork was impossibly tender. The curry came in over the top with a gentle sweetness and depth to tie it all together. I hate to be a prisoner of the moment, but this was just as good, if not better, than any katsu I had in Japan. I've been 3 times in the past week, and Katsu-Hama is currently my favorite restaurant in New York City. SHOUTOUT TO MY BIG BRO! IG @johnny.novo Tiktok @jnov__ Substack @johnnynovo

A friend and I came in after work and we got exactly what we were looking for. This place is really…read moreno frills without sacrificing quality. We each ordered the Chicken Cutlet Curry (B Set) with Cabbage Salad and Miso Soup. This dish is so flavorful without feeling heavy and is large enough to take leftovers home. I would order this again! Took out a star because the place is small and the tables were a little sticky but we will definitely be back!

Arrived at 10:30pm on a Tuesday night and this place was still poppin, which goes to show just how…read moregood the food is here! We ordered the mentaiko pasta and the scallop and tuna carpaccios. All dishes were amazing, would order those over and over. Their ingredients are very fresh. We got seated at the bar within 20 minutes and the food came out relatively fast too. The place has a cute late night vibe. We also saw the actress Tessa Thompson eating here during our dinner, so even the celebrities think this place is the best!

Sozai is my favorite dinner spot for a few days now, the atmosphere and service is amazing. There…read morewere a few occasions I did not have any RSVP and I did not mind waiting as the place is packed. They told me I can sit at the bar, the menu is on a QR and just order - Keep in mind some items like Hamachi Kama sells out fast and I had to ask if that item is avail. Second best is the black cod (highly recommend) if Kama is out. Almost everything here is good, I had the ramen $20 - plenty of food for 1. Highly recommend.

There's a reason why people have willpower for the hours-long wait here on weekends. There are many…read morerestaurants with lines that I can't say are worth waiting on, but this restaurant is worth every minute and every ounce of energy left for the wait. I've taken a lot of friends here over the course of 10 years, and without fail, every one of them has walked out mindblown--and why wouldn't they?! The wait times have gotten better over the years (probably because people are waiting for the restaurant next door), but the food and drinks here are still top-notch. Staff is always great, and they all work so efficiently. I am generally a fan of izakayas, but there are very few that offer plates that are designed to be shareable, and this is one of the reasons the food here is so enjoyable in a small group setting. I am obviously biased and think they can do no wrong, but some of my staples that have stood the test of time: Kimchi cream udon, avocado tofu salad, salmon sashimi tacos, and the kani cream croquettes. I was so excited when they opened an outpost in Flushing years ago, but sadly it shuttered during COVID. It is definitely small and there is always going to be a wait, so don't be those people who come in with a huge group during prime time because they like to move (getting customers in and out) very fast.

I've been coming to Izakaya Mew for years and it's still great! The food is solid and the ambiance…read moreis that of a casual bar/izakaya. It can be a little tricky to find as it has a small door on the street level and is located down a flight of stairs on 35th. They have a variety of drinks such as frozen kirin beer and Japanese inspired cocktails. For food, they have a large variety of Japanese classics from sushi, skewers, fried dishes, and noodles/rice. My favorites here are the Omu Soba which has some tasty noodles inside and the salmon don which has some sashimi and sauce over rice!

Never even knew this place existed. As soon as we walked in, to my surprise, we were greeted with…read morecute decor, cozy atmosphere, and even live jazz band. For appetizer, We went adventurous and got the monkfish liver salad - first thought the portion is very small. But to my shock, the sauce is so delicious-- strong, vinegar-y, and spicy - my favorite flavors. Monkfish liver is fishy but very good. I ended up drinking the sauce Entrees: Braised rib massaman, as everyone recommends - best massaman I've ever had so far. Roti is crispy, perfect to go with the curry. seasonal mango branzino - fillets come off of the spine. surprisingly delicious! A little but not too sweet and also savory; again, strong flavor but it works. Better than I expected. E-san hotpot - light in consistency but flavorful dashi. Soup is very nice. Pad thai with salmon - only OK. Service was helpful too: constantly filling our waters, timely clearing dishes, even cooking the hotpot for us. Excellent thai restaurant. Will be back for sure.

This small Thai restaurant in Midtown East got packed so quickly! The inside is so floral and…read morevibrant and the menu is simple, highlighting some of their signature must-try dishes and classics.For drinks, we started with the My Summer and Thai Ice Tea. We liked both! The Crying Tiger steak was grilled really well, paired with a tangy dipping sauce. The Keaw Tod were like fried wontons. I did like the crunch but wish there was more filling and more than 6 pieces, so for $12.95, I'd pass on this one. The Short Rib Massaman is the star dish; a coconut curry with a big chunky piece of meat served with flaky roti bread. It was really flavorful and tender. The Salmon Clay Pot had nice fragrant garlic rice and a fresh salmon filet. However, the salmon rice tasted more Japanese than Thai. To end the meal, we got their delicious seasonal Mango Sticky Rice. The mangos were ripe and the rice was nice and chewy.