You walk down a sketchy staircase off 35th with basically no signage and land in a basement that's…read morelouder than half of K-town one block over. That's the charm. Went tonight and the sushi was legitimately fresh, like actually fresh, not Midtown-lunch-counter fresh. Yellowtail carpaccio and the salmon tataki were the standouts, clean fish, no fridge taste. This is izakaya food though, so order like it: geso kara, aged tofu, gyoza, repeat. Frozen beer comes with that slushie foam cap they do in Tokyo and it keeps the pint cold to the last sip, which matters when the room is this warm and packed. Service is fast and a little chaotic. Prices are fair for the neighborhood, borderline cheap at lunch. Not a temple of sushi, but for a rowdy basement near Herald Square? Way better than it needs to be. Full by 6pm sharp. Come at 5 for the sake deal or book on Resy, the phone voicemail is always full.

I came here with friends for dinner and we had a great time! We got a reservation and were seated…read moreabout five minutes after checking in. Inside is dimly lit with a good amount of seating. The waiting area is a little cramped, but nothing outrageous. The food came about 15-30 minutes after ordering. Though it was a wait, the service was nice and they refilled our waters often. Each item was good, we all had a different favorite. The Tuna Crispy Rice was just the right amount of salty that paired well with the texture. The Kimchi Creamy Udon was also flavorful without being too heavy. The Yellowtail Carpaccio was bright and light, fish was neutral tasting. The Okonomiyaki was also good and very hot---we loved to dip pieces in the kimchi cream sauce! Overall we had a great time!

So so so good! I was missing Japan and craving udon and Raku really hit the spot. The karaage was…read moredelicious as well as the bacon. I think the bacon could be not everyone favorite cause it isn't exactly what you expect it's almost like BBQd bacon but I loved it and could've drank the sauce it came with. I got the wagyu hot udon and my husband got the ja ja cold udon and ate the whole thing! I also got shrimp tempura which was very good. I cannot wait to come back to Raku! We sat in a corner booth and the service was fast and reliable!

Raku - 342 E 6th St, NYC…read more One of my daughter's and my favorite udon spots in NYC! Our go-to is the wagyu beef udon and their lunch specials--chewy noodles, refreshing broth, yummy dipping sauces, and always delicious! Ordering is easy, and the service is fast and efficient. They take both credit cards and cash. Perfect for enjoying a delicious bowl of udon in NYC. Small space + limited seating, so don't expect much room to sit, and there can sometimes be a wait when it's busy. Reservations are available. Overall, definitely recommend Raku! A great little spot for a delicious udon fix in NYC. Go Violets!

Snagged a 5:15pm dinner with a friend - heard s lot of great things so was excited to try it…read more immediately we were seated with the mini sampler tomatoes and yuzu fizz - this set the vibes right because it was so delicious! we ordered the pork noodles, corn, yellowtail, and pork katsu which were all incredibly delicious!! the sauce with the katsu was so juicy - came with salt and wasabi!!! the noodles were my fav - savory but the sweet chili sauce was banging. pork mixed well and noodles cooked perfectly 10/10 recommend would come back

Have heard about this place a lot when they first opened…read more I knew they were most popular for their katsu dishes but my favorite was actually the ube tiramisu! First time having a ube dessert in NYC that's not too sweet and actually tasted like ube!

Raku was amazing!!…read more The service was amazing thank you to our server Boomerang!! We had a lovely time with the most delicious food

10,000 years of evolution and we've finally reached peak udon noodle form. The height of human…read morecraft. Literally the silkiest, smoothest, chewy yet soft noodles I have ever eaten. Niku and gyunan were divine. In the niku, they somehow managed to make the tripe and beef tendon immensely flavorful and tender without being heavy-handed. The fatty beef in the gyunan was crack with the sesame chili oil. The bonito base soup was somehow savory and full-bodied while also being sweet and light, so even though I was about to burst it didn't feel icky. Nothing to note in appetizer land besides the fact that I finally tried monkfish liver and it literally tasted like a salmon-flavored paté. Both surprised and relieved it tasted so normal. Despite the long wait time, it still felt relatively spacious inside, and even with just two people, we got our own booth!

Vibe/ambiance: local japanese Service: standard…read moreReservation: recommended Items ordered: collagen nabe pot was so flavorful - would definitely get this again scallion chicken skewers: slightly too salty sushi rolls were standard

When I called to change the time of our reservation, the woman on the phone was very friendly and…read morehappily accommodated my request. When we arrived, we were seated right away in a spacious booth. The food was very good overall. My favorite dish was definitely the spicy tuna crackers--they were delicious! The sushi was also very fresh and flavorful, although I felt it was a little over-sauced, which took away from the flavor of the sushi itself. Overall, we had a really nice meal and a great experience. I would definitely recommend this restaurant to others!

I love udon, and Raku definitely hits the spot. I also tried the soba pudding, which was equally…read moredelicious (would get again). This location is a bit difficult to find as there isn't a Raku sign outside. But the store is definitely there, just look for a door.

The restaurant itself is set up in a super cool way. A little unassuming as the entrance makes it…read moreseem like it's a cafe - but there's really a whole seating area in the back. There are private tables, but also long communal tables in the middle for smaller parties, which I think is really cool. This was probably the best miso soup and udon I've ever had. Super hearty and warm meal. If you're looking for something comforting, this is a solid choice to go with (and prices aren't too egregious for this nice setting).

Beyond the usual ramen and sushi--an incredible Japanese spot!…read more When friends suggest Japanese food, it's usually the same rotation of ramen, basic sushi, or curry. This place completely breaks the mold! The chefs here put genuine thought, balance, and incredible freshness into every single dish. The space is small and cozy--perfect for groups of 2 to 4--and our server, Alisa, was attentive, friendly, and never pushy. Here is a breakdown of what we ordered: Sake Flight & Sakura Mori: Smooth, light, and the perfect start to the evening. Ankimo (Monkfish Liver): Super innovative and a total standout compared to other spots. Paired brilliantly with the ponzu-wasabi-soy combination. Uni: Exceptionally fresh with that natural, clean sweetness you always hope for. Toro Tataki: Pure summer vibes! Beautifully fresh sashimi topped with the perfect crispiness. Scallop Roll: Fresh with a great bounce to the texture. Karaage: Fried to perfection--super crispy on the outside, incredibly juicy on the inside, and paired with a delicious house-made mustard dipping sauce. Age Tofu: Super soft texture with a wonderfully balanced flavor profile. Takoyaki: Generously packed with octopus. The sauce was a bit heavy-handed, but if you love takoyaki sauce like I do, it hits the spot! Pork Katsu Curry: Crispy, perfectly fried pork chop balanced out seamlessly by the rice and rich curry sauce. Kurobuta Sausage: More of a casual bar-style bite that felt a little out of place next to the other refined dishes, but saved by that great house mustard. Black Sesame Ice-Cream & Fried Sweet Potato Dessert: We usually skip dessert when we order this much food, but this combination was an incredible, must-order finish to the night! You can tell the kitchen takes immense pride in their craft. I can't wait to come back!

This Japanese restaurant has a good-sized menu, fast service, and a lively atmosphere--it was…read morepretty packed when we visited. Even with the crowd, the service was quick, and you can usually still find a seat at the bar. The food itself was a bit mediocre for me. The lemon salmon could have been much more moist and tender, as mine was a little dry. The green soba was good, and I enjoyed the salads as well. However, the curry and katsu didn't taste very authentic and were lacking the depth of flavor I usually expect from Japanese cuisine. Overall, it's a convenient place to stop by if you're already in the area, especially for the quick service and variety of menu options, but I wouldn't come specifically for the food.

The skewers were extremely juicy and delicious. My favorites were the galbi (beef short rib) and…read morechicken thigh. The Japanese sausage and chicken skin were also good. The eel rice bowl was also very good. Walked in on a Friday (holiday) at 5 PM with no wait, despite no slots available on Resy at the time.

Still the best in New York. Unique, flavorful chicken skin skewers among many things (see my…read morephotos), though somehow grilled chicken soft bone is a bit tasteless? Fast service. You can order a little and keep adding depending on how big or small each dish is. We came right at 5 pm when they opened. We didn't have a reservation, and after some fumbling they got us four seats at the bar (looking over grilling chefs at work). Not bad, though we were hoping for a table. Great decor and ambiance as always. Wish the grilled shrimps come with shell on, and with salt only (no sauce).

Came here a long time ago bc I heard how good their sushi sets are. If you are a sushi lover and…read morewant something homey you will definitely like Okonomi. It's nonfussy, and although not the cheapest sushi, it's definitely not super expensive/omakase level. It's a small space with a giant bar for seating and maybe a few tables - the owners are definitely passionate about Japanese cuisine and you can definitely feel that as you chat with them a bit. The menu is small, but dedicated to quality, and you will make your choice quite quickly. All the fish was fresh, large pieces, and really really clean tasting. The soup was delightful and paired wonderfully and everything was presented quite nicely. The grilled fish was also tasty and really tender.

I want to start this off with how I loved how laid back this spot is. It only seats about 15…read morepeople. Music was on very low. Was able to speak to my wife softly (love a restaurant that's quiet!) The server & cook were great. The waiter was kind and check on us in a timely manner. The food was amazing. Bigger portions would have been great, but I know that's not the kind of place this is.. so no complaints! Highly recommend this place for a date. We might have to come back again soon. Two thumbs all the way up!

This is my go-to restaurant for katsu in the city. Any katsu set you get will not go wrong. The…read morecrispiness of the katsu is just right, and you will not regret it, besides not picking another one. When it gets busy, there is usually a line waiting at the door, sometimes extending outside. If you have a reservation, you will not be seated until the whole party is there. One small note: if you are seated in the back, the cell service is really bad, but who needs their phone when you have good company and good food.

Food: This is one of the few places in NYC that does a traditional Japanese tonkatsu very well;…read moreit's not as good as Japan, but it's still very good. This restaurant offers a variety of Japanese katsu including pork loin, pork tenderloin, curries, seafood, and donburis as well as many appetizers, drinks, and desserts. We tried the miso pork loin and the half pork/half chicken curry katsu. Both were delicious, and very enjoyable. The katsu is very crispy and well made; the meat inside is very moist. For every entree, you have the option of choosing set A (miso soup with pork and vegetable, potato salad, shredded cabbage) or set B (miso soup and shredded cabbage). There was nothing special about the vegetable and pork soup and potato salad so I would recommend set B. At every table, there are a variety of condiments - salad dressing for the cabbage, spice powder, tonkatsu sauce, and soy sauce. I would definitely come back here if I am craving katsu. Service: Service was phenomenal. The restaurant was packed and very busy, but our server was still very attentive and always available if we needed something. Very friendly! Ambiance: The restaurant is not big but can accommodate both large and small groups. Space is a bit tight, but the seating is still comfortable. They have counter seating as well as tables in the back. During peak dinner time, there was a little bit of a wait and a line near the door; the place is very popular. Overall, I would highly recommend this restaurant if you are craving tonkatsu!