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.

We came on a weekday evening around 7pm and there was a short line down the stairs to get on the…read morewaitlist. It only took about 20 minutes to get a table. The environment was loud like a buzzing bar. The service was attentive, bringing out dishes and cleaning up the table throughout. I liked the texture of the salmon tataki and the wasabi cream was well-incorporated. The kimchi cream udon was delicious. I was literally licking the sauce off the plate because the sauce was so good! The okonomiyaki came on a sizzling skillet. The flavor of the dish was perfectly savory and made for some great bites.

Noted as one of New York's most popular ramen/udon spots, Raku has three locations around the…read morecity--each with a different menu. This location in EV is cozy and intimate. They are fairly strict with their dining time period as it is busy. Be sure to book a reservation. Their menu is fairly large with plenty of appetizers as well as hot and cold udon options (note: this is a udon spot, not ramen). I got their kanimaze (cold) and their tantan (hot) and both were delicious. The kanimaze was refreshing and full of flavor. And the tantan was rich, comforting, and warm. Their shrimp tempura and agedashi were also great. Lightly fried and not too greasy. Would love to come back to try their other options.

Came here because I accidentally booked the wrong location and the other two options didn't have…read moreavailability. It was a pleasant surprise to see that they expanded into the adjacent storefront. Now there's 4-5 booths and a bar table. The annex matches the interior design of their Soho and Midtown location and feels clean and spacious. Service was a bit slow from the hostess to the server. We ordered: small chicken tatsuta-age, niku udon, kamonan udon, assorted mushroom udon, green tea tiramisu, souffle fruit roll, soba pudding. Appreciate how big the chunks of meat are used for fried chicken. The exterior was a bit overfried but the interior stayed Broth and udon aligns with their Soho location which makes me more willing to come to this location moving forward. The assorted mushroom is seasonal. It's a nice lighter cleaner option but at the same time the mushrooms don't add much flavor. Kamonan is the duck which I chose because duck is a less common meat option around. I felt that the duck was a bit tough and bland yet also added too much oil into the clean broth (relatively to me). Niku is an OG but I haven't had it in a while. This time I was surprised how the marinate is light resulting in stronger meat flavor. I wish it would be more tender but it's alright. Desserts were more disappointing to me. I used to go to Patisserie Fouet frequently before they shut down the Union Square location. Green tea tiramisu had strong matcha soaks but I found the overall dessert to be a bit bland. The soaked sponge was a bit too wet too. Souffle fruit roll was huge, better to share with others especially after already eating savory food beforehand. I think it's intentional for the cake to be so dense. It came out really smooth but way too dense to feel like a dessert. I think I would eat this as breakfast instead. The raspberry sauce's tartness and punchiness is much needed otherwise I don't know if I can finish it. Soba pudding is my usual favorite and it stands up to the test of time. Still super smooth and with wheaty depth.

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

Highly anticipated meal, been seeing this on social media forever. Definitely need a reservation…read moreahead of time. Great ambiance for small groups or a date. For food- - Corn ribs: has an addictive dry rub on it, perfect with the lime squeeze. - Sabazushi: probably tied for first place in our meal. Mackerel slightly pickled and charred, very tasty. - Pork loin: got this bc it's fattier than Tenderloin. Could really taste the breadcrumbs and had amazing texture. Portion is a bit small though. These were just okay: - Mazemen: a little sweet for my liking. - Chicken karaage: almost too juicy? Not crispy at all - Corn ice cream: very small hint of corn, mostly tastes of white chocolate. A lot more affordable than we expected. Their famous dishes are very good but others are just alright.

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

Great place all around!…read more The service was great, they recommended stuff and suggested a way to order for the amount of people/what we wanted. It had a real izakaya feel to it with the decors and the lighting. The restaurant goes deep!! It was bigger than I imagined. And the food of course was delicious. We had grilled squid, cabbage salad, nabe, and mackerel. Everything hit the spot. They also have different sauces that make the dining experience fun! I'm glad I went here with my friends.

There's nothing that hits quite like Raku on a cold NY evening. Every udon dish I've tried here is…read moreexcellent. This time, I went with the seasonal mushroom udon - the mushroom variety was great, udon is chewy, and the broth is incredibly flavorful yet clean. The chicken tatsuta-age is crispy, super juicy, and full of flavor. I went solo so I was able to get seated pretty quickly. The inside is minimal, clean, lots of wood. It gets quite busy, but easy to stop by for a quick meal.

We came here for an early dinner on a Monday and were seated promptly…read more We tried the yuzu lemonade and it was super sweet and citrusy. I got the kaisen don ($33) but you DEFINITELY need to get the udon. I had a bite of my sister's and it was amazing! My sister got the mountain vegetable udon ($18). They are known for the udon which I didn't know. Also the portions are large. They have a variety of gorgeous, delicate looking desserts too! The inside is stylish and minimalist. The staff are super attentive and polite.

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!

Vibe/ambiance: clean, modern Izakaya Service: attentive…read moreReservation: recommended Items ordered: Fav dish was hamachi crudo - v good flavor combo with light truffle flavor Salmon carpaccio was aight nothing too special here Kakuni is like hongshaorou. A bit dry but then very fatty Scallop yellowtail yuzu roll: 9/10 Udon: 9/10 Fried squid: 6.8/10

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!