To sum it up, great Japanese homestyle (comforting) food at an uncomfortable price. The first thing you notice when you step inside is an odd smell. Luckily it goes away after a few minutes as you get used to it. It may be due to the fact that it's located below ground level. The decor however stays the same and seems like it has not changed since the early 90's. We arrived on a weekday evening at around 6pm with no reservations. The restaurant only had 1 table taken but they still directed us to the bar which was a tad annoying. By the time we left not all the tables were taken either. The one thing that was reassuring was that 9/10 customers was Japanese and they seemed like many regulars. At the bar, the bartender that served us food kept the drinks coming was very polite and efficient so no complaints there. I highly recommend the rice based shochu on the menu. It's very different than potato based ones - very clean and smooth. There was no food menu and no prices for the chef's course set meal so that was a bit out of the ordinary. I understand an omakase but to not let customers know the price was a bit odd. I understand for regulars that would be fine but for customers that have never been there, it would be nice to explain a few things. The dishes we had were as follows: Celery/pepper cold salad Hijiki Seaweed/Konyaku dish Sashimi pieces Tofu/Daikon simmered dish Roast chicken/Potato salad They were all really good homestyle dishes and portions were good but we were still hungry. They were healthy dishes too. Added 2 Ochazuke bowls in addition to the omakase sets. It was very good - salmon and ume. The bill for 2 of us was $150. We only had 3-4 drinks so I found the food a bit pricey given the style of food. The food was a homestyle type and comforting that is typical in many small mom and pop shops in Japan but it's nowhere near these prices. For the same price in NYC, you can some very good trendy Japanese food as well that is more flavorful. read more

Tsukushi has reopened!!! Thank god. It's been so long. If you remember the old location, the food is the same or better and the decor has only gotten better. If you have been here before, it's exactly what you expect. A traditional 和食屋、 Don't come here looking for sushi or cheap takeout. It's a fixed price omakase (おまかせ) menu But if you want an outstanding Japanese dining experience, then this is the place for you. Don't get scared if everyone's speaking Japanese, that's a sign that you are in the right place. The food is amazing. No menu and a fixed price. Put yourself is the chief's hands and enjoy. You can't go wrong here. Bring a date, bring your friends. Just don't miss out!!! 本物だよ！ read more

First, I'd like to say if you're not familiar with omakase or traditional Japanese fare, this place may throw you for a loop as it departs from traditional American table service. Omakase is chef's choice - there is no menu because you aren't choosing what you'll be eating, so if lack of control isn't your thing or you aren't fond of traditional Japanese cuisine, this might not be your thing. That said and done, what tsukushi offers is an authentic upscale izakaya experience - and the number of ex-pats in the place is a testament to this! Tsukushi has an almost non-descript entrance-I'd passed it many times and never gone in, wondering what it was. Open the door, step down and be greeted with 'Irasshaimase!' I was seated at the table innermost of the restaurant- please note ladies, the bathroom is just beyond the curtain. Before the meal I was presented with a steamed and lightly scented cloth to cleanse my hands. I chose a sake - though short, the list will not disappoint. The first dish was okra with bonito flakes in a teriyaki sauce, served cold. Okra usually isn't my taste, but it was crisp and the umami of the bonito was great with the okra, and the ponzu cut the viscosity. Second was marinated eggplant, which I didn't enjoy due to the soft texture. Third was steamed and salted edamame, pretty staple bar fare. Fourth was agedashi tofu in broth, my favorite by far. The outside was still slightly crispy from the fryer, and the inside was silky smooth and soft, the flavor of the ogden broth filling your mouth with every bite. Delish! Fifth was a crispy skinned mackerel , and last but not least was sashimi plate - mackerel, yellowtail and octopus. Extremely fresh, no soy sauce needed. After all that I was still peckish - the pudding was possibly the best flan I've ever had. Allegedly the menu is changed daily-Will definitely be going again! read more

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Authentic Japanese Omakase. Friendly, delicious and a great way to end the week. If you like authentic Japanese food (with no menu for the Omakase unitiated), this is an amazing choice. They are so proud of their food and with good reason. read more

It's a very Japanese style restaurant, quite and simple. Food quality is good. In my Omakase I don't like they give me two eggs in a day and the fat pork belly which are disappointed me a little bit. read more

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We dined here this past Saturday night while we were staying in Murray Hill. We initially planned on going to a ramen place in the East Village whose name everyone knows. My wife invoked a veto on that after reading some mixed Yelp reviews. "You know we are always disappointed with celebrity chef restaurants.", she said. She was right. We'd never really checked out any izakaya in NYC, so I turned to yelp to see what was in our neighborhood. Tsukushi was in the top few results. We were intrigued by the no-menu/omakase concept, as we're pretty adventurous eaters. I read a few of the reviews aloud and we were both sold. We were only a few blocks away, so we headed over, as it was already getting fairly late for dinner (by normal American standards anyway). The place evoked homey as all the reviews said it would. We were warmly greeted, and while most of the tables were empty at that moment, they were expecting a fairly large party presently. So they seated us at the bar. Neither of us had a problem with that. If I had to choose just one word to describe the food here, it would be "subtle". When you look at Japanese food culture from afar, subtlety is the one property that seems prominent. Subtlety of flavors, subtlety of presentation. This food experience was the epitome of subtlety. The female server behind the bar did her best to explain all of the dishes. She spoke decent English, but I know I missed a few things. I didn't want to ask her to repeat. I didn't take enough notes to cover the dishes we had in detail, but it doesn't matter. When you go, you'll probably get something different anyway. I will note that some native Japanese sat next to us at the bar and they were served a few different dishes than we were. Other Yelpers have mentioned that as well. No matter to us. It just means we have to go back and see where that next adventure takes us. Overall, this was a fantastic experience. We've had omakase by some amazing chefs at some great places in NYC and DC, but this is one we will never forget. I can't wait to come back and see what we get served. read more

Fantastic Omikasa!! Little known by locals. Mostly Japanese patrons coming in. I felt a little out of place but quickly became comfortable. The food is fantastic and I'm very happy they opened on my block. I really enjoyed my meal. Tip; this is a set price restaurant and includes tip. I gave a little more but here you know how much your going to spend up front which is a good thing. Highly recommended!! read more

So excited for my first visit here. Non-discript doorway and mysterious. Place had no windows so it was a bit warm & stuffy overall. Service is slow and the water service slower. The menu was a surprise at every course, lovely. All nice courses followed. The sushi is fresh. The presentations traditional & beautiful. the grilled Mackerel was wonderful. The rice dumplings were like a shu mai dumpling without the wheat skin. Very light & tasty. Food was stellar. Overall a wonderful dining journey through the eyes of the chef! Will return!! read more

This place is so hidden! It took my friend and I a while to locate the door to this place with no sign, just the name and address number on the black tarp canopy thing over the door. Honestly, it looked a bit scary/sketchy at first. When we opened the door, it was as if we were transported to Japan by walking down a few steps! It was so traditional and home-y feeling, very authentic, and I really enjoyed our time here. They're open late and start offering ramen after 10pm or 10:30pm. There's only one type of ramen - a house shoyu broth ramen. It wasn't too salty like a lot of the ramen I've had. We also got salmon and cod rod onigiris as well as the green tea mousse for dessert. It was light and delightful. We were quite full after and left very happy finding such a gem through a random hard to find door in midtown. I really like finding places like these. And you know it's good when there's a lot of Japanese businessmen in there. They are cash only so remember to bring some with you! I believe tip is also included in the total bill, or that's what our waitress told us so I assumed it was for everyone? Definitely check this place out for late night ramen! I heard their omakase is great too. read more

I've been here at least 4 times so far. I've never had a bad experience with a single dish here. There's no menu, it's Omakase style. Just sit and eat what you are served. This really is the absolute best Japanese home cooking restaurant in the city. I'd almost go so far as to say the best restaurant period. Definitely in my top 5. My first bit of advice is request an order of their edamame to start. Some of the best in the city. It's been too long for me to remember, but on my 2nd visit I asked them what made it so good and I believe the response was that they actually use slightly older pods than typical edamame, but I forgot the name for them. Most notable dishes I can remember having here: Pork belly and tomato salad Thin sliced beef tongue with spicy mustard Okara (pulp leftover from making tofu with minced vegs) Hijiki salad All their varieties of sashimi Kinpira Renkon At the end of 6-7 dishes they always ask if you are full or would like something else. They really take care of you here. Also, take note that in my experience they are completely open to requests for specific dishes. Just ask. They'll check if the chef has the required ingredients and is willing to make it. I've not been turned down yet. Water Refill Meter: solid 5/5 To be expected as A) this is an authentic Japanese restaurant...where constant refills are the norm and B) I almost always sit at the bar, so the wait staff is about a foot away. read more

Throw all your stuffy conventions of high-end Japanese (I'm talking about the koi fish ponds and two pieces of sushi costing 40$). What Tsukushi may lack in ambiance and lighting it makes up in authenticity. Everytime I come here I feel as though I'm leaving behind Murray Hill and entering into a typical izakaya of Japan. The seven course meal is refreshing and doesn't leave you with a food coma. read more

This place is really great! The food is simple and very skillfully prepared and the atmosphere is unique to say that least. Its a good place to go with just a few good friends and have long meal, drinking sake and enjoying every bite. I think it would also be good to heed the warning in this article: http://events.nytimes.com/2005/05/11/dining/reviews/11unde.html?ex=1176782400&en=73f3afcfea35ccfc&ei=5070 read more

My favorite authentic Japanese restaurant ever!! I love the hot somen offered at night after 10pm.

Tsukushi is a hidden gem. Our friend who's worked in some of the industry's top Japanese restaurants told us recently that many Japanese chefs go there. Always a good sign when other chefs eat there. I knew there was something special about this place. We decided to go back on this most recent trip to NYC. This place is about clean, simple, flavorful food. There are no menus - it's prix fix and you get about 5 courses - chef's choice. Really everything was just the way I remembered it - deliciously comforting. Depending on what the chef prepares for you, the price might various, but expect to pay about $60. So reasonable for a prix fix menu in NYC. Another thing I love about this place is the warm and friendly service. It's very non-pretentious, so all the attention is about the food. If you're adventurous and have time for a great dinner head to Tsukushi. You won't regret it. read more

Unmarked door with no windows, but there is a grey awning that has the name on the corner. Even though there's only about 30 seats including the bar area, there was only one woman manning the entire area. There were three other tables on a Friday night, and we were the only table that did not speak Japanese. No menu izakaya with very homey, no frills food. There were about five courses of appetizer style dishes, ending with these good sticky rice balls. At the end, you're presented with a menu in case you want anything else. We were still kind of hungry, so we each ordered the regular rice ball - I liked the plum. Perfectly good home-style cooking, but not exactly somewhere you'd take someone you want to impress. read more

I've heard really good things about Tsukushi so decided to stop by. Although the omakase is varied and is quite good. The seating is limited, with a half a dozen tables and half a dozen seats at the counter. We were sat at a table and started with mediocre service to begin with, but subsequently we were moved to the counter because a table of Japanese business men needed the space. In regards to service, it was very below average for an authentic Japanese restaurant. With little explanation of the courses and food, it is hard to call the meal omakase. The bill wasn't especially terrible, as I definitely had my fair share of alcohol (single handedly doubled the bill), and the gratuity was included. All in all, it was an average experience. I would have much rather gone to a decent izakaya. read more

Service was great, food was meh... too bland for my perhaps rather Americanized tastebuds. The food here is omakase right off the bat. They will ask if you have any allergies but that's it. We were served 6 dishes in total. We started with a cold dish of broccoli rabe cooked in some dashi and a side dish of edamame - nothing special. Then a cold noodle mixed with roe and flavored with sesame oil - this was delicious. Following that was a sesame tofu cooked agedashi style - interesting and tasty. Then sashimi - salmon, octopus and fluke - fresh and good. Followed by a piece of grilled fish - grilled nicely but nothing special. Then we finished with a dish of fatty pork belly cooked with konyakku and daikon - very light in spite of the fatty pork, but still, nothing special. The food came in small portions and all tasted very light - it is great if you are looking for a seriously lite meal. They do offer you other items at the end of your meal if you are still hungry - ramen being one of them. The place did seem very authentic though, the service staff were all Japanese and the clientele was mostly Japanese. I am guessing that this is very home-styled Japanese food. I would go back again because I am curious to try the ramen. However, overall I don't think I'd go out of my way to be back here any time soon. read more

Late night omakase, great spot once I fly in from the west coast and don't want to eat crappy airline food Try the great soju selection All their "kamas" are great, hamachi, salmon, snapper Can add supplementals at the end if you are still hungry, I never am.... read more

The closest to home cooking amongst Manhattan Japanese restaurants, menuless omakase tucked away downstairs behind a small black door, the 90% Japanese clientele explains its expected quality, often frequent diners. Been here four times so far and every experience unique Food (5/5): although it is omakase, don't be shy to name your favourites or definite no-nos to the chef beforehand; usually 3 cold dishes including sashimi - sometimes uni - and 3 warm; almost all dishes are very subtle and delicate in taste and fragrance -- plainly speaking, if you are into random teriyakis and routinely pour extra soy sauce and hot sauce on your Asian take-outs, then this place is not for you a. the definite star dish is grilled red snapper, tender with subtle creaminess with no aid from alien grease, the aroma of slightly caramelized soy sauce, grated daikon for refreshing, simple ingredients yet managed to moving perfection; cod is a good alternative too b. an appetizer consisting of shirataki, finely shredded veggies and lightly fried fish roe c. dessert: hojicha mousse, and milk pudding that comes in a tea cup ( desserts are not included in the 6-course ) d. other: limited sake selection, but acceptable given the fact that this is a cozy family styled place; if you are still hungry after the 6-course, try ochazuke Ambience (3.5/5) cozy, simple, great for conversations; sit by the bar if you'd like to occasionally watch the chef cook or chat, there's a simple but cute painting of tsukushi on the wall; food and containers were well paired with a touch of elegance Service (5/5) homey and warm; six months had lapsed since my first visit and the chef/owner remembered me on my second dining to my surprise read more

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The restaurant is barely marked and is very much a hidden gem! The interior is not great and the wood panels on the walls was described by Bjorn F. as "Reminding me of Norway in the 60's". It is very small and the whole restaurant is only about six tables and a bar. We were seated immediately and the restaurant was not very full. The meal started with cold noodles with a fish roe, which was lacking some flavor but was still very good, and edamame which is, you know edamame. We next had okra with a soy-sauce like sauce, which were not slimy and the sauce was very good. Next was Sashimi, which was, Yellowfin Tuna, Spanish Mackerel and Fluke, the fish was very fresh and yummy! Miso Broiled black cod was next and the sauce was amazing and the fish was so rich, kind of hard to eat with chopsticks though Oh My God the tofu... Its not actually tofu but it was so creamy and rich, so delicious, in the strong tasting broth, definitely the highlight of the meal! Lastly was a kind of potato and rice based soup with a rice cake, which was like comfort food, very warm and rich The food I ate, might not be the same that you will eat because they change what they serve each table. The Service: It was good, we got are food in good time and never had to wait a long time, they were fine with are ask to not serve a few of us meat that was not seafood. The Cost: This is definitely a splurge place, not cheap, but it is good for the amazing food you get! This place is great and I will try to make up a reason to celebrate to come back here. read more

No idea why people give this place such high marks. My wife called the place and the hostess said emphatically that reservations were a must for a Friday. OK, fair enough. When we came in at 7pm, the place was pretty dead. We got some shochu and the food started coming out. A course of sashimi which was OK but really nothing special. A small plate of chilled asparagus. OK. Then, I saw the chef pull out a white 3 gallon bucket from the fridge and put something into little bowls. It was for us -- Japanese potato salad! WTF? I expect this in East Village joints. But here? Really? I mean is this what people are raving about. It's then I realized I must have missed something--giving a secret handshake or looking more like a Japanese salaryman, which is kind of difficult for me since I'm 6'3, 225 lbs and look like an Eastern European peasant. We ate the omakase dishes but were still hungry. Now, I know that in many places like this, you don't come in to get full but either the portions were made for Japanese people or they put just enough food on a plate to call themselves a restaurant. Don't know but the waitress said that if were were still hungry, we can get some ramen. We ordered the ramen and I swear is tasted just like the stuff in the styrofoam cup in supermarkets -- which was good since we both love that stuff. By this time, Japanese businessmen came in but the place clearly was not full. Tables were still open. So, all in all, I think this place is not worth the time nor the money to visit unless you belong to a secret society that gets you the "real" dishes and not the silliness we got. I frequent a lot of Japanese restaurants and do a fair amount of Japanese cooking myself and neither the ingredients nor the service was impressive at all. Next time, I'll make my own Japanese potato salad, dammit. read more

Hidden gem in area and I dare say all of NYC. Once you go there, you will realize that there's no sign outside and there's no menu when you sit. When you look around, you notice almost all are Japanese patrons with the exception of a few. You get a six course meal (small-medium portons each) prepared by the chef at ~$10 per course. If you are still hungry after that, you can also order some ramen and curry rice dish for an extra charge. I'm a big fan of their pork belly dish, and i had this kind of noodle dish w/ fish roe that was also very tasty. Hard to recall exactly what the other dishes were but they were all quite good as well. And to top it off, you get one of my personal favorite sesame ice cream for desert :) Been here at least 3 times and plan to return. read more

An authentic Omakase Japanese restaurant in Mideast. Very nice food every plates they bring. Dedicated to cooking especially to fish. Service is wonderful. They are very careful about the timing to bring next dish to make it perfect temperature when it served. read more

If you are looking for standard sushi and rolls with tempura fried shrimp or crab, this is not your place. Tsukushi. It's like a time machine to someone's home in Japan during the 1970s. So much wood paneling. Japanese comfort food that seems to have a loyal following among japanese business men and embassy employees (which I suspect is a good sign). Very little english is spoken. read more

Yummy! A cozy little place, even though the decor is pretty horrible. It's almost a basement. But the food makes up for it. You just sit down and the food starts coming. I think there were 5 courses the night I was there, and they give you a menu if you want to order more after. All the dishes were pretty good. The sashimi and miso cod were delish! We also had a rice ball, ramen, and some dessert. No complaints on any of the food. read more

This place is perfect if you're here on business long term and can get the meal expensed. I say that because it's definitely a light, delicious, home style meal, but it's not worth the price out of your own pocket. I can get a much more exciting and delicious meal for 50 bucks. But if you're stuck here, away from home, this is perfect for getting away from the more in your face kind of restaurant meals. And I say all of this since I can get extremely similar food for free a bus ride away, so I feel really ripped off. The decor I didn't expect to be that great, nor do I usually care. But this almost felt like they were trying to look kind of sad. The posters on the walls were held up with scotch tape. The place also smelled a little strange. And most importantly, the food: Brussels Sprouts - roasted, topped with bonito, and some form of soy sauce on the bottom, which allowed for an unpleasant distribution of no to extreme saltiness. The brussels sprouts themselves were properly roasted, but nothing you can't do at home. Braised Eggplant - Two pieces of scored eggplant, braised in some sort of fatty meat stock, most likely pork, with a touch of soy. The eggplant melted in your mouth and I found it delicious since it tasted extremely similar to something my parents would make at home. However, it was served colder than room temperature, which I found to be not the most appropriate serving temperature for the perceived fattiness of the dish. Probably the best dish, but still not impressive. Sashimi - Uni, Fluke, Octopus. Nothing out of the ordinary. The uni tasted fresh, but more sea-like than I prefer. Fried Chicken Salad - My friend and I joked that they only gave this to us because they were out of fried chicken. Very small, but nicely fried, pieces of chicken on a few tomato chunks and mesclun mix. It was tasty but for omakase it was very much a lolwut are you serious kind of dish. Fried Mackerel - a sadly small whole fish. it tasted fresh? that's about it. Dumplings - steamed meatballs with sticky rice on the outside. Tasty, but my neighbor used to make this shit for us all the time. There was a Japanese pasta salad on the side, but that was like a waste of calories. I wouldn't rule out coming back, but it's not at the top of my revisit list. read more

I have no words to describe this place! It's absolutely amazing! Every time I come here I feel all the happiness come across my entire body! This ramen is incredibly delicious! It's served after 10.30pm but it's worth the wait! Don't expect a lot of stuff inside, this is typical Japanese ramen. Miso broth, half soft boiled egg, onion and two slice of pork. The portion is a little bit smaller than usual but it's just 10$. The ambience is really nice, quaint and small and warm, and the service is great, the waitress is so kind! This is a typical japanese pub and I strongly recommend this place for all the japanese-culture lovers! Been here a lot of times and more are yet to come!!! Thank you, thank you and thank you! For the way you make me feel when I eat this ramen!!!!! read more

Tsukushi - Ramen 10$ - Japanese Near Me - New York, New York

This place serves really great, authentic Japanese home cooking, without any pretentiousness or expense. I have traveled regularly to Japan since childhood because my grandfather grew up and lived in Japan, and this is very close to being real Japanese food. The style is omakase, and the chef just gives what he feels is good that day. The food is simple but pretty consistently great. There are about 6-7 courses, and the portions are quite big for an authentic Japanese spot. For those portions and the number of courses, the price for dinner is a huge bargain. Ordinarily, many places that label their courses "omakase" hike up the prices to over $100. At Tsukushi, you can only reach and go past $100 if you order a lot of drinks. The place can get a bit rowdy in the evenings because it is a popular after-work spot for Japanese people. Unfortunately, this place is closing soon. I am sad to see it go. read more

Love this place reminds me of Midnight diner show. Food is simple Japanese home cooking and delicious. Service is excellent. I can eat here every day. read more

Everyone sitting around us was speaking Japanese and the no-ordering concept was really exciting. Every new plate to come to the table was a delicious little surprise, with most being out-of-this-world good. The uni was so sweet, the hamachi so buttery, and there was a salad and chicken dish that was a perfect balance between acidic and savory. The atmosphere felt a little dive and a faint musty smell was a bit off-putting, but not enough to ruin the meal. If it weren't for that though, I'd probably give 5 stars. It was $36 dollars per person for 6 or seven very authentic dishes (I lost count), which seems like a good deal, but after drinks and dessert which are extra (and tip), it was about $60 a person, so be prepared. read more

A night where you feel proud to be a New Yorker. When you know this is an experience unique to your City. As everyone else has said, nondescript, wall-to-wall carpeting, paneled walled little hideaway. Menu was good - had some interesting things including a celery salad I would never have ordered if I read the description but tasted refreshing and perfect, same with the tofu and the finale of a macaroni salad? Anyway! Surprises await. This is comfort food but with happy little twists. Service is friendly and if they recognize you eat slowly will really keep the pacing with how you are progressing naturally. They do have alcohol here but you can BYOB for a corkage fee (I believe $15) and if you don't finish your bottle, they will keep it there for the future with a name tag! It is omakase and while the bill is itemized at the end of the night, you do not know what the total will be - seems like the average is about $40/pp, +/- $5. Even if you hit the high end (which just means a few better dishes), still a great deal for this experience, amount of food and attention to detail. I loved it here and cannot wait to come back and finish off our bottle of shochu. A really special New York place. read more

I didn't get a chance to review this last night due to my overwhelming meal. This is not a negative, I think overall the food was good. You must understand the audience this place caters to to appreciate. There is no menu, you get the chefs choice of 5-7 courses of light fare and frankly if you do not love all Japanese food beware. I really liked it all but it is very traditional Japanese in small portions for maximum combination of textures, flavor and depth. Also, you should plan to spend some time eating and drinking. Great for social and business groups who want to leisurely pace their food. I echo the sentiments of others who mentioned the difference in chef choices for audience. I did not get the same selection as chosen for the Japanese from Japan here on business. Overall, if you enjoy sampling things you have never tried this is great. I have eaten everything presented before due to my mothers home style cooking authentic from Japan, but otherwise many choices may be risky. I enjoyed the food, not the ambience as you really need to have the right frame of mind to sit through all the courses and enjoy the experience. I was just hungry and the food will satisfy that if you are ready to put in the time! read more

Super low-key (practically no sign) place that has a very distinct family feel once you are inside. The service is very subdued but polite. They only have omakase service before 10pm (I think). I was initially annoyed at this, but as it turned out, the food was extremely meticulously prepared, understated (as with the restaurant itself) but super tasty. Also, I would've appreciated upfront disclosure of the pricing, but I remember not being bothered by it in the end as it was much cheaper than I had expected based on the amount of food we got. A wonderful, quiet spot to unwind with friends over quality sake and snacks. PS. I did not try the ramen but heard good things from my friends. read more

I'm no ramen expert, so for what it's worth I really enjoyed my meal here. Tsukushi is definitely one of those "hidden" gems in NYC, especially in midtown.... And especially at 1am on a weekday! It's a very nice place, extremely quiet, open very late, and serves some great food. I was very happy to have found this place, rather than trek downtown or even worse, eat fast food (all that's open at that time). read more

Every time my husband and I go there if feels like coming home to your parents home.(and of course, way more than that!) Being from Japan, I do have a high standard and am always looking for a good place to hang out with good food. Also, especially after long hours of working, I'm not so interested in fancy setting where you feel you can't relax. Tsukushi is truly a place where real Japanese hangs out. I often see famous restaurant's owners. (Probably after they close their places) This says a lot. Mr. Hiko, the owner is an amazing person. He truly cares for everyone coming through the door. A big heart, humble and so much compassion- I bet lots of people would go there just to see him. Overall, love this place more than anything. Just went back last night to celebrate the end of the year and felt so good as walking out the door after such good food and conversation :) Thank you so so so much for being there for us!! read more

Best Japanese restaurant with real & freshest sashimi ever period! Hiko is a great chef, all dishes what he makes is so real!!! So, authentic and Japanese and delicious, I enjoy to eat in Tsukushi and always want to comeback when I have chance, for enjoy the nice Japanese affordable fresh fish. I love that place! Yammy read more

Please keep this place very low key,quiet, Hiko'san 100% trust. Don't recommend to noisy friends come to here ... I'm following him 3 decades... read more

The best healthiest "OMAKASE" japanese restaurant in the city. They serve you fresh healthy ingredients for your feeling of the day. They even make sure what you can't eat or allergic to any ingredients. Don't feel like having "OMAKASE"? Just order main course from ramen noodles to curry rice. Must make reservations and call them if you can't find them because it's like a hidden restaurant without a big sign. read more

Its always a sad day when one of your favorite restaurants loses to the hype. Tsukushi was one of those hole in the wall places that was close to the United Nations and on the East Side where all these business men would pile in after work. The food was always delicious bc the couple behind the counter worked feverishly to deliver what I thought was "a taste of home" to those from Japan. Unfortunately when I recently went back to claim my reserved bottle of iichiko, the place was more filled with young hipster non-Japanese folk and the food wasnt that great. When I got the bill, I was shocked. It was sooo over-priced and so not worth it. I'm so sorry Tsukushi, but you've lost to the hype and I must say my g'byes. :( read more

UPDATE 12/05/08: -Zuiki - see prior review -Tamago - see prior review -Sashimi 2pc/ea (fluke, kanpachi, octopus) -Pork belly salad - see prior review -Broiled cod - best thing ever, liked the fact that they didn't rely on the char of the meat and/or skin to bail them out, packed with flavor, crispy skin, oozing with natural fish oil, delish! -Corn chowder - with mushrooms, fried mochi on top, very good! -Black sesame ice cream - see prior review UPDATE 08/05/08: -Edamame - see earlier review -Broccoli Rabe - see earlier review -Tamago - 2pcs of sushi egg, big and fluffy, YUM! -Sashimi [fluke, hamachi, uni] - had the fluke and hamachi before, uni was spectacular..very sweet! -Pork intestine & sea cucumber stew - very hearty, intestine was super tender, sea cucumber was oceanic! -Miso black cod - see earlier review -Pork Belly w/ mac salad - sliced up w/ a side of mustard, fatty but delish! -Black Sesame ice cream - had to try this, tasted like sesame oil, very fragrant! pics: http://singles.meetup.com/1917/photos/411492/ UPDATE 07/24/08: My friend was raving about the beef tongue when he went back again so that piqued my curiosity. They def treat you better when you come in groups of 2 and sit at the bar. I would give this 8 stars if I could. Two men at the bar were American and the rest of the customers were Japanese (besides us). This time the experience was MIND-BLOWING! Finally got meat in my dishes..whew! Definitely coming here at least once every two weeks..yes it's THAT GOOD! Went back and had the following: -Zuiki with shaved bonito flakes - Beni-zuiki is the stalk of a type of potato but is packed with calcium and potassium, i think it is the stalk from a taro if I'm not mistaken...looks like and has the consistency of celery, crunchy but not aromatic, super refreshing with the dashi broth http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/fg20020707rl.html -Noodle made with yam potato and pink (cod?) roe - this was out of control..simple yet so packed with flavor - noodle was flavorless but soft and chewy, - i think the roe made this dish SING! -Sashimi [sardine, octopus, salmon] - 3pcs each, salmon was BETTER THAN MASA, octopus was very fresh, all white and super chewy, the sardine was strong but flavorful, not briny - a first for me -Chopped pork belly salad - freshly grilled, this was nothing short of amazing..this was the best grilled pork belly i've ever had! -Hamachi kama - quality shines here as well..perfectly grilled, chewy skin, ample portion -Beef tongue [with mac salad and mustard] - 4pcs of what was seemingly disgusting turned out to be the dish that stole the show - it was AWESOME! very complex in flavor, definitely a lot going on in that beef..in a good way..served w/ a side of super spicy yellow mustard and mac salad that is to die for (They kindly asked if still hungry..offered curry rice or fried rice bowl...) -Curry rice with pork bits - curry was a tad sweet, such a simple dish but yet so elegant Have to try the hijiki and black sesame ice cream next time. My friend swears by them. pics: http://www.meetup.com/teamfoodie/photos/404370/ read more