7 Exceptional NYC Restaurants For Japanese Food Buffs
(This article by Jenny Nguyen first appeared in ForbesLife. Click here to read the original)
You would have a hard time trying to convince me that any other city outside of Japan has better Japanese food than NYC does. This city is a veritable hotbed of incredible Japanese restaurants that span the spectrum of exceedingly authentic all the way to the most imaginative of culinary fusions. But one common thread shared between NYC’s most exceptional Japanese restaurants is a minute attention to detail and the ceremonious treatment of food when it comes to presentation and delivery.
For all the Japanese food buffs out there, we did some trawling through Melting Butter ”“ the online source for curated hotspots ”“ and whittled it down even further to this list of the 7 most exceptional Japanese restaurants in NYC.
1. Sakagura
Image via https://www.flickr.com/photos/vestergaard/7992922011
Enter via the lobby of a stark Midtown office-building, make your way into the basement and through to the restaurant’s expansive underground space, which is reminiscent of a secret garden. Food here is expertly prepared, but the real draw card is the imposing selection of more than 200 sakes making Sakagura the best source of sake in the city.
211 E 43rd St, New York, NY 10017
(212) 953-7253 |Â Make a Reservation
2. Brushstroke
Image via Brushstoke
Brushstroke is the restaurant of choice for times when you need to seriously impress. The collaboration between NYC fine dining legend David Bouley and Yoshiki Tsuji (who heads the Tsuji Culinary Institute in Japan) impresses before you even sit down.
Head chef, Isao Yamada creates show stopping Japanese haute cuisine dishes that form part of the multicourse Kaiseki menu. Kaiseki is the style of eating originated from the imperial courts of Kyoto and Brushstroke’s interpretation of it is utterly ethereal.
http://www.davidbouley.com/brushstroke-main/
30 Hudson St, New York, NY 10013
(212) 791-3771
3. Hi Collar
Image by Melting Butter
Hi-Collar is a no-details-spared Japanese eatery ”“ a Parisian-inspired cafe by day and sake bar by night. The space transforms when the barman stealthily slides the wall-to-wall cabinet door revealing the sake selection and concealing all evidence that it was once a coffeehouse.
The Fusion cuisine at Hi-Collar does not disappoint with its highly considered subtleties – there’s a mere flirtation with the idea of western cuisine (think al dente pasta with uni). Blaring Japanese jazz and smartly dressed staff gives you the feeling that you’ve stepped out of NYC right into the Japanese jazz age.
214 E 10th St, New York, NY 10003
(212) 777-7018
4. Bohemian
Image via Melting Butter
Bohemian pulls off the member’s only restaurant concept in a way that weeds out the scene-y side of Manhattan and keeps in the low-key New Yorkers who care more about the uniquely secluded dining experience and skillfully prepared Japanese fusion food. In any case, the fact that it used to be Andy Warhol and Jean-Michel Basquiat’s old painting digs is cool enough.
Getting in requires association with someone who’s already dined at Bohemian and is willing to give up the reservations number. But, if you’re savvy, resourceful and want it enough, you’ll figure out a way to get in (tip: Google won’t get you far).
5. Takashi
Image via https://www.flickr.com/photos/bloompy/
Takashi is an imaginative, slightly oddball restaurant situated in the West Village that specializes in Yakiniku, the Japanese BBQ style which has been heavily influenced by Korean cuisine.
On the menu you’ll find some rather exotic parts of the cow (Testicargot anyone?) but if buttery cuts of beef are more your thing – plenty of prime beef options are available for your BBQ’s disposal.
456 Hudson St, New York, NY 10014, United States
(212) 414-2929
6. Sobakoh
Image via https://www.flickr.com/photos/garrettziegler/
Walk into Sobakoh and you’ll instantly know you’re in good hands. Not only are about 50% of the patrons and 100% of the staff Japanese, but you can also see and feel that devoted Japanese sensibility everywhere from the service, the ingredients and even down to the table setting. Soothe your soul with the Kinoko Soba ”“ a combination of three different types of mushrooms with a clean, smoky broth.
309 E 5th St, New York, NY 10003
(212) 254-2244
7. Robataya
Image via Robataya
Stumble across Robataya in the midst of a sea of Japanese restaurants along 9th street and you’ll be rewarded with the mouth-watering smell of Japanese BBQ and all of the mind-blowing flavors that are about to entail.
Follow the waitress to your table and order the following things: Kamameshi with Salmon & Salmon Roe (a rice dish where the rice caramelizes to a crisp on the bottom edges of the hotpot) and from the grill order the pork spare ribs, sweet potato, Brussels sprouts and Portobello mushrooms. I promise you will leave very happy.
231 E 9th St, New York, NY 10003
(212) 979-9674
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