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    Wakuwaku

    3.4 (128 reviews)
    Open 12:00 pm - 2:30 PM, 5:00 PM - 8:30 PM

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    WAKUWAKU ATMOSPHERE

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    Moderate noise
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    Okosama Kids Meal Set
    Chris E.

    Good Japanese food and lots of space, but can be tricky to find inside Industry City. On a random Saturday evening after a group hangout with some friends, we decided to wing it with two of our friends and their kids. We had never been to this restaurant, nor even heard of it, but, after seeing the number of customers come in to dine, we felt extremely fortunate to have gotten a table at 5:30pm on a busy Saturday night. It seems a majority of folks reserved their tables, but we were lucky enough to have been seated immediately as walk-ins. Honestly, on the cold, early evening that it was, this was the PERFECT dinner spot. The restaurants layout was very interesting as there are some tables right by the entrance, then deeper into it. If you walk by the restrooms, there's a whole "modern" section of the restaurant that doesn't even seem like it's part of the restaurant. As for the menu, it was very diverse and quite overwhelming actually. There were numerous Japanese appetizers and entrees consisting of yakitori, vegetables, seafood, meats, noodles, deep-fried dishes - you name the Japanese dish, they had it. Unfortunately, I didn't get to try much of the food, other than what I ordered for myself, since our friends and their kids had their own foods and we had ours, so my review is mostly based on the atmosphere and this one entree, which was the Nabeyaki Udon. The udon came with shrimp tempura, chicken, shiitake, fish cake, chinese cabbage, green scallion and egg. Oddly, the shrimp tempura was fully immersed into the udon soup, so it was very soggy. My preference was to have it on the outside or only partially submerged to keep it crispy at least Nevertheless, the udon was good, especially on this cold, freezing evening. With all that was happening around with our kids and also conversing with our friends, it was sort of challenging to focus on what I was eating, but, one thing I can say is that it hit the spot! Everything was good, not much to complain about other than the soggy tempura. What we did love as well was that the restaurant offered a kids meal set (Okosama) for $10 for kids 5 and under. It included onigiri, vegetables, fruit, kurobuta sausage, chicken karaage and a dorayaki dessert, which my son absolutely DEVOURED. It was a nice hodgepodge of things so that we didn't have to think too much about what to order for our kids. If we're in the area, we would definitely love to give them another shot. Like I said, unfortunately, I didn't get to try enough foods to give a more well rounded review, but nothing about our experience, nor what I observed, would tell me anything other than the fact that this is restaurant that serves very, very good Japanese food that is well deserving of repeat trips.

    Sara W.

    We go to Japanese village a lot and I was always curious to get the sit down restaurant outside, so we decided to get Waku Waku. The staff was very friendly and courteous and the atmosphere in the restaurant was nice, and they had a sushi bar. My first choice was off of the sushi menu which eat unavailable to order when we went, so I ordered the salmon teriyaki. It was really delicious but I wish it came with some white rice. Still, it was cooked to be beautifully flaky and the sauce was very tasty. The dishes my partner ordered were more hit or miss, but we did also like the agedashi tofu!

    Salmon Ikura Mini Donburi Bowl.
    Cindy Z.

    After hanging around Industry City, we were looking for a spot to eat. We wanted a more intimate sit down meal instead of the food court, so ended up here. The space is nicely designed like if you're in Japan including tatami tables for big groups , which is pretty cool. The two of us were seated at the counter with a view of the open kitchen. The menu ranges from yakitori to sushi to bentos. I opted for the Mini Salmon Ikura Donburi ($16) while the boyfriend had the Chicken Katsu Cutlet ($12). The chicken came first and my boyfriend was already halfway down before the salmon came, which I found strange. Why would something that requires deep frying take longer than something that's raw? Anyways, the food is decent. Nothing amazing, nothing bad.

    Jessica L.

    Came here to try. My steak was done very well. Cooked well and the seasoning was pretty good. The miso was too salty so I skipped that. The salad dressing was good flavor but too much on the salad. The katsu was meh. But not a bad find

    Chicken wings
    Tiffany S.

    This is a nice place to sit down and eat in industry city, located right outside of Japan Village. The skewers and fish were pretty good but I've had better. The chicken wings also tasted good but was a bit too salty. My favorite was the salmon ikura mini don, I would come back just for this. The waitress was very nice but service is kind of slow on Saturday.

    Stuffed chicken wings
    Tony N.

    I've been to Wakuwaku a few times and always loved the food, so I brought friends for the first time--but the service was terrible. Our server (never introduced himself) was rude, snatched menus from our hands, and refused to accommodate a shrimp allergy with a simple substitution. He ignored us most of the night, took away our plates even though we were sharing food, and didn't seem to know how to use the card machine. The place was clearly understaffed, and the table next to us waited 20+ minutes just to pay. Great food, but the service completely ruined the experience.

    Linda C.

    Came here on a Wednesday evening at 5pm and it was empty. We asked to be seated in a private room & they said no since we don't have rvsp unless we pay extra but the restaurant was empty. We opted out of that. Since it's greater than 6ppl in our party they wouldn't split the check so it's an automatic 20% gratuity added. Horrible service, I was not happy at all. Food sizes was such small portion. Some of us ordered 2-4 things per person

    Chewy cold noodles
    Jo I.

    My family and I came here on our first visit to industry city. It was a cold day, and we were hoping for some hot food to warm us up. Unfortunately, the service was incredibly slow. It was clearly not a good sign that we were not only waiting for a table, but waiting for someone to come over to seat us (as per the sign) for a little over 8 minutes. The restaurant wasn't full either, but given that it was a weekend afternoon, perhaps they were short staffed. We wanted to order as soon as we sat down, given we'd had time to look at the menu while waiting in the front. Second bad sign, the first few things we wanted to order (notably, the pork belly & short ribs) they said they had no more of. I almost wish we were told this before even being seated. We quickly scan the menu to see what else to order, but we were now about 20 mins in, and haven't put our order in yet. A few things, our server had to run back to the kitchen mid-order to check if they still had stock. We settled on a cold ramen bowl, some yakitori, and a Waku waku Champon (a warm ramen soup dish with thin pork straps, seafood, veggies, and mushrooms). Our selections were okay, nothing to write home about. (Maybe by that time, I was slightly irritated and hungry.) The Yakitori was small for the price ($3-5 per bite-sized skewer), but that may be the cost of Izakayas these days. If you are watching your budget, be aware, the tab adds up quick.

    Chicken Teriyaki
    Johnny W.

    So our favorite has to be the chicken teriyaki and ribeye teriyaki! Both were incredibly savory and moist, cooked perfectly and paired beautifully with a fresh bowl of white rice. The ribeye at 28 bucks was pretty expensive, but definitely tasted amazing and cooked perfectly medium rare with a good portion of fat to lean ratio! The miso black cod was also incredibly delicious and soft, highly recommend it! Our least favorite has to be the udon, which came with an over cooked egg and soggy tempura; I think it would have been better if placed on the side instead of in the broth. The chicken skin skewer are our favorite yakitori at Wakuwaku hands down. Just like Anya in Spy x Family, this place will make you say "Wakuwaku!" c(:

    Chef's Choice Kushi-Age (5 skewers)
    Edwin S.

    Home to Japan Village, Industry City has your staple Japanese restaurants and stores; Wakuwaku is the Izakaya representation of Japanese cuisine here at the location. Taste: 3.5/5 Value for Money: 3.5/5 Ambience: 3.5/5 Service: 4/5 We had: 1) Saba Mackerel: Very salty and does not come with rice, recommend to have something to eat with (not for faint of heart) 2) kurobuta sausage: Like a sweet Asian sausage (adopted by Taiwanese sausage) great as a snack and with rice given the bold sweet flavours 3) Unagi Don: is what it sounds like, pieces of Eel on a bed of rice, rather standard 4) Seafood tempura: This one is a recommended item for those who like soft shell crab or want to try! 5) Nabeyaki udon: Good ol Udon, can't go wrong with this one here 6) Chef's choice of grill: I thought this would be a value play, not exactly given the choices, that said would recommend selecting the things you like! All in all, there's a lot of unpack here but you can't go wrong with the food when looking for a quick bite in the area!

    Garlic shrimp broccoli
    Shaji K.

    Was walking around Japan Village in Industry City, and this was one of the more spacious options for lunch. Separated as it's own restaurant to the side, this place offers plenty of seating and an extensive menu. After taking a couple seats at the bar, ordered the Saison they had in bottle ($13.50) as well as a sake ($10.50). Saiaon is not bad, tart and not too sour. The sake tasted like lemon drop shot; not bad. For food, ordered the Takowasa ($5) as a starter - a mix of wasabi and diced octopus. I like the wasabi mixture yet the octopus had a very firm+frozen taste. Main entree is the Garlic Shrimp & Broccoli ($12) - a generous portion of shrimp and broccoli swimming in a garlic sauce. Again, the shrimp didn't taste very fresh; the overall taste in the sauce was good however. Service is up and down. We got seated immediately but our entrees came at different times. Fine if in a pinch in the area.

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    4 years ago

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    4 years ago

    Excellent food! We loved the chicken yakatori and sashimi. The cocktails were also top notch - we will definitely be back.

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    Izakaya Fuku

    Izakaya Fuku

    4.4
    (396 reviews)
    8.6 mi
    $$
    Casual dining
    Kitchen open late

    I was craving carbonara and it was after midnight. I almost gave up hope thinking nothing would be…read moreopen and my cravings wouldn't go unfulfilled. But at last, as I searched on DoorDash I stumbled upon this glorious restaurant they call Izakaya Fuku. I was drawn to the adorable names for their sushi roll dishes like "Strawberry Fields" and their Italian Japanese fusion pasta dishes, "Creamy Mentaiko Bacon Pasta" with creamy mayonnaise, spicy cod roe and bacon like are you kidding me? It's a bummer I wasn't more hunger or that I didn't have more bucks in my wallet because I wanted all these dishes. And the Chirashi Don, god it looks so beautiful the way that it's arranged in the photos online. I finally decided on the carbonara. And I was drawn to the fact that it was udon based. Now, I've just been living in hawaii these past years so that Japanese twist on an Italian dish that I just love oh so much really brought me back to missing the islands and the Asian spins they had on cuisines. Now my food may have not come in a jiffy but for after midnight cravings I'd say it was well worth the wait. And my oh my the portion was huge!!!! I slurped that big boy up. It was SOOO delicious and savory. I love comfort food and this had me in carbonara heaven. I loved indulging into every single last bite. By the looks of the picture the restaurant looks lovely, I'd love to stop there and try it in person. Thank you. Thank you! My belly and my heart are very much satisfied.

    So this place is small and charming, dark and well I hate to say it (cus it sounds cliche now) but…read moreit's a vibe. For real. From the decor to the music to its surroundings. She's a gem. The service was attentive yet not pushy. Knowledgeable and hospitable without being extra. Just chill and on point overall. They definitely read the room and that's my favorite kind of service. The food: Chicken curry katsu! Perfection! Carbonara udon! Delightful! Black garlic ramen! Delicious! Whatever you choose I'm sure you will not be disappointed! Honestly. And tbh, literally because of that, we're headed back today! lol. Like for real no joke haha

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    Ika Teriyaki Don
    Ika Teriyaki Don
    Shio Saba Bento
    Shio Saba Bento
    Interior

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    Interior
    Konoha Yakitori Ramen and Sushi House

    Konoha Yakitori Ramen and Sushi House

    4.7
    (68 reviews)
    2.1 mi

    An absolute gem in South Park Slope!…read more We happened to be staying at a friend's place a few blocks away and was looking for something open on the later side with great food. We searched Yelp and came across Konoba Yakitori, and it absolutely hit the spot. My daughter and I loved our entire experience--everything from the food to the local neighborhood vibe to the incredibly friendly, attentive staff. Everything we ordered was fresh, cooked to perfection, and reasonably priced. We had the gyoza, edamame, Hamachi Lover, Ebi Shu Mai, and the $15 Beef Set (three beef skewers), accompanied by hot tea and Ramune. The beef skewers were a highlight--tender meat with seasoning that was spot-on. Warm, welcoming, prompt, and super efficient. The entire staff was friendly and accommodating, and our waiter was extremely helpful in guiding us through the menu. Top-tier service all around. The space is small and cozy with a simple, comfortable design. Seating is a bit tight and close to neighboring tables, but there's nothing wrong with being snug, rght? It gets busy, but customers tend to eat quickly, so even without reservations, the wait moves well. Most importantly, despite it being a intimate spot, we never felt rushed at all. It's simple, which is what makes it amazing. An incredible restaurant all around--I love this place and can't wait to return. Highly recommend!

    It's simple. Great service, food and ambiance…read more I love this place and can't wait to return. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

    Photos
    Interior
    Interior
    Smoked lamb chop yakatori--perfectly cooked with some char on the outside and perfectly juicy/tender inside.
    Smoked lamb chop yakatori--perfectly cooked with some char on the outside and perfectly juicy/tender inside.
    Konoha Yakitori Ramen and Sushi House

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    Monarch Izakaya Restaurant

    Monarch Izakaya Restaurant

    4.4
    (195 reviews)
    4.8 mi
    $$
    Vegetarian friendly
    Healthy dining

    My husband and I LOVE coming here! We had tickets to a midnight movie at Nitehawk, so we came here…read moreto eat dinner first. This was our third time coming here and definitely not our last. First of all, this place is consistently amazing. From the always pleasant employees to the delicious food. We have a fave spot in the corner that was open, but both servers recommended the balcony. We never sat there before and OMG it's such a cute and cozy spot! Almost felt like we were on vacay! And the FOOD!! The pics don't do the food enough justice. Chicken Karaage was possibly the best bite of chicken I've ever had! Crispy, flavorful, and comes with a fun aioli sauce. The chicken dumplings were cooked perfectly and the sauce was delicious - and I'm not even a big dumpling fan! The star of the show though was the pork belly steam buns. The pork had a light char that made the edges perfectly crispy. It was rich and fatty (in the best way) and the marinated cabbage gave it a nice fresh kick. The Yuzu lime pie was a great way to end the dinner. It was tart and creamy, while the graham cracker crust gave it a nice crunch. Can't wait to come back and continue to eat our way through the menu!

    TLDR: Come for the vibe cuz they have a cute little rooftop patio too, but the food was kinda mid…read more I'd be down to try again to get other dishes. I think they have live music sometimes too? Food: We ordered a bunch of tapas but nothing really stood out imo Service: our server was very nice

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    Monarch Izakaya Restaurant
    Monarch Izakaya Restaurant
    Monarch Theater Restaurant

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    Monarch Theater Restaurant
    Tora

    Tora

    4.5
    (64 reviews)
    5.5 mi

    Have been here a handful of times now and think it's pretty solid for the area! Have never been for…read moredinner so can only speak for the lunch vibe, but I have found the service to be great and the lighting is nice because there are floor to ceiling windows. The menu is pretty diverse with various appetizers, sushi, and also ramen/curry so your standard izakaya fare. One of my favorite dishes here has been the chirashi. The fish was very fresh and it's pretty affordable. I've only ever been here in groups of two and I probably would recommend it for smaller groups because the space itself is small and most of the tables are two-seaters if I recall correctly.

    Cuisine: 8 Service: 7…read moreDecor: 7 Value: 7 Overall: 8 Another Thai owned Japanese restaurant specializing in izakaya style cuisine in Bushwick. It's been open for a few years, so clearly it has a good enough formula to keep the neighborhood happy. I have been here once before, but returned last week after dining several meals at Tomoni in Jackson Heights. Apparently, the owners are friends. Nonetheless, I needed to make the comparison. After my first few bites of their Tora Don and Chirashi Don, it was clear that this restaurant has the better quality seafood. Each slice of sashimi had vibrant colors, clean taste, and the proper texture. Tomoni is not bad, but fall slightly short of this caliber. With that said, there is an even farther gap between their rice quality. Though Tora is very good, Tomoni produces nearly perfect texture and acidity for my taste buds. Other than the best omakase restaurants in NYC, Tomoni shines as one of the best versions of sushi rice in the five boroughs. Service is good and space is cute. If I have a craving for some decent Japanese food, I would drive 20 minutes here for a meal anytime.

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    Dining Area
    Dining Area
    Salmon Don
    Salmon Don
    Zaru Soba Chashudon Katsu Curry

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    Zaru Soba Chashudon Katsu Curry

    Wakuwaku - izakaya - Updated August 2026

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