Diners' Choice: Japanese restaurants in New York City

OpenTable

Updated October 05, 2024

Looking for restaurants with the best overall Japanese cuisine in New York City? You’re in the right place. Each month OpenTable analyzes more than 400,000 new diner reviews. We sort the results by category to help you discover new favorites. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

Yakiniku Toraji - Bowery

4.8

4.8 (11)

$50 and over

Japanese

Chinatown

About the restaurant

Toraji is a “yakiniku” style BBQ restaurant.

Since our first shop has been established in 1995 in Tokyo, Ebisu area, we came a long way.

Starting with “namuru” and “kimchi” Korean style steamed and pickeled vegetables, continuing with tongue, ribs and/or outside skirt, finishing with cold noodles or “pibimpab” Korean style mixed rice bowl. We are commited to provide you the “yakiniku” you want for the days you feel like having a “yakiniku”.

We as pros won`t do any compromise in terms of ingredients, taste or service, Toraji will continue to promote the right way the yakiniku culture, bringing taste, happiness and health to our customers.

Top review

Kumivip

Dined on Sep 21, 2024

I had a quick lunch with my kid at Toraji an and had a great experience. The service was top-notch with attentive and polite staff. The table was clean and the decor is minimum yet beautiful. The lunch set is good portion and fair quality. If they do well for lunch, their dinner menu must be better. Looking forward to come back with friends and family very soon to explore more dishes and their course menu. Highly recommend for anyone looking for a top-notch Japanese BBQ experience!

Tempura Matsui

4.9

4.9 (628)

$50 and over

Japanese

Midtown East

About the restaurant

Welcome to Tempura Matsui –A Michelin One Star–
Tempura Matsui invites you to experience the fine art of cooking tempura. Within a serene setting, guests have a seat at our counter or tables and can view the delicate preparation of lightly frying fresh fish and vegetables.
We only serve Omakase Dinner Course for $280 per person at 2 specific times Tuesdays through Saturdays between 5:30PM and 8PM.
Also, we serve a Lunch Course for $160 per person at 12 noon only on Fridays and Saturdays.
Open irregularly on Sundays.
Tempura Matsui is designed to emulate a Japanese cottage with warm woods, slate floors. A five-seat bar allows guests to wait for their seats while enjoying a glass of wine, sake, cocktail, or beer.
You may make a reservation one month ahead and any cancellations must be made 24 hours prior to the reservation to avoid a $100 charge per person.

Top review

Tonyvip

Dined 2 days ago

The closest you will ever come in New York to being in a tempura restaurant in Japan; the tempura and sake is first rate (and this restaurant would be at home in downtown Tokyo, trust me I’ve been to quite a few ! ). It’s not inexpensive, but it’s a great night out with a special friend !

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Experience

Matsutake mushrooms are now in season

Sushi of Gari 46

4.9

4.9 (1838)

$50 and over

Japanese

Theater District

About the restaurant

LUNCH Service Starting September 17th, 2024. We look forward to welcoming you for lunch soon!

For a decade founder Gari Sugio has run a sushi restaurant that is innovative in the way it serves sushi with both cold and warm ingredients, offering more than 130 varieties. Sushi of Gari 46 focuses primarily on serving Gari’s “Signature Omakase” Sushi dinner which shows off his expertise with marinated and spiced raw and slightly cooked ingredients, in addition to a menu of traditional Japanese dishes. The sake selection, by Gari Sugio, is one of the best in town along with a limited wine selection of fine wines.

Please note: Sushi Bar reservation is not available online. Please contact the restaurant directly.

Top review

Ron

Dined 7 days ago

Delicious food and attentive staff in traditional Japanese setting.

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Nami Nori - Williamsburg

4.9

4.9 (11)

$31 to $50

Japanese

Williamsburg

About the restaurant

Nami Nori is a casual, award. winning, temaki bar specializing in open-style sushi hand rolls. Our menu features signature temaki, including crunchy varieties, as well as takes on the classics and a special vegan section. The open-style temaki allows guests to enjoy a wide variety of flavors, in each fun-to-eat, visually tempting bite.

We also serve Japanese-inspired snacks and appetizers, along with a selection of beer, sake and wine, available on tap and by the bottle. Nami Nori is a casual yet elegant temaki bar offering guests a unique sushi dining experience in Williamsburg. Coming from the rarified Japanese restaurants in which they trained, partners Taka Sakaeda, Jihan Lee and Lisa Limb envisioned Nami Nori to be a more inclusive place that balances accessibility with a dedication to quality and creativity with a respect for traditional techniques.

Nami Nori is a place to share with friends, old and new.

Top review

Maureen

Dined 3 days ago

10/10 experience. Food is always so good and seems to always improve. Service is wonderful. Ambiance is always on point. Can't thank the staff enough!

Gyu-Kaku Japanese BBQ - Flushing, NY | Chinatown of Queens

4.8

4.8 (829)

$31 to $50

Japanese

Flushing

About the restaurant

Founded in Tokyo in 1996, Gyu-Kaku has become the world’s #1 Japanese BBQ brand! Thanks to our devoted fans we have reached over 700 locations worldwide. Each day, hundreds of thousands of people gather around the table-top smokeless grill, a centerpiece of our dining concept, enjoying selections of premium meats, just off the grill, and other freshly prepared foods from our kitchens, inspiring laughter, conversation, and a magical dining experience.

Our authentic yakiniku (grilled barbeque) dining experience crowns you the chef. Share a variety of delicious appetizers and premium cooked meats over a flaming grill, paired with Japanese sake, frosty cold beers, or other alcoholic and non-alcoholic options of your choice. We're the perfect spot to enjoy time with friends and family, organize an office party, or to spend quality time with your significant other!

Before you go, don't forget to taste our best-seller Harami Skirt Steak or Prime Kalbi Short Rib among other must-try dishes!

Top review

Helen

Dined on Oct 4, 2024

Yummy food and great service! Nice staff abd clean restaurant. Definitely worth it!

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Experience

Prix-Fixe Yakiniku Courses for Everyone!

Yakiniku Gen

4.8

4.8 (43)

$50 and over

Japanese

Midtown East

About the restaurant

Gen is a master in the area of business. We established "Gen" to spread and offer real Japanese BBQ.

Top review

Francisvip

Dined on Jul 14, 2024

The service was great. Harami, hatsu and grilled bibimbap were very delicious!! We would like to come back!

Nami Nori West Village

4.8

4.8 (16)

$31 to $50

Japanese

Greenwich Village

About the restaurant

Nami Nori is a casual, Japanese restaurant specializing in open-style temaki hand rolls, in the West Village. The menu features signature hand rolls, including crunchy varieties, as well as classic versions, and a special vegan section. Japanese-inspired snacks and desserts are also on offer. Beer, sake and wine are available both on tap and by the bottle.

Top review

EdwardA

Dined 4 days ago

Great hand rolls. Counter was a great experience and pace was perfect

Sushi of Gari - Upper East Side

4.8

4.8 (1024)

$50 and over

Japanese

Upper East Side

About the restaurant

Welcome to Sushi of Gari Upper East Side! This restaurant is the first restaurant specializing in the wonderful taste of Gari Signature Sushi. This restaurant is rather a small establishment, but we offer an amazing Sushi as well as many traditional Japanese dishes. In addition to many very fresh authentic Japanese Sushi, let us surprise you by Gari's originality: some area slightly cooked, or marinated, and served with a variety of home-made sauces or other delicacies which enhance the daily market's freshest seafood, many of which are from Japan especially for Sushi of Gari.

Please note: Sushi Bar reservation is not available online. Please contact the restaurant directly.

Top review

Soniavip

Dined on Oct 5, 2024

Sushi of Gari on the Upper East Side is outstanding and one of a kind. The food was fresh and delicious. There’s always creative additions to their menu which adds a beautiful touch to their recipes. Our server was beyond attentive and detailed with our dining experience. A comfortable relaxed atmosphere with fresh exquisite ingredients makes Sushi of Gari UES an excellent choice.

Fushimi - Bay Ridge

4.7

4.7 (193)

$50 and over

Japanese

Bay Ridge

About the restaurant

Come enjoy authentic Japanese cuisine in an ultra exclusive space. You will feel transported to a land of luxury with a menu of Modern Japanese cuisine.

Top review

Jessica

Dined on Sep 4, 2024

We sat at the bar and had so much fun! Robert, Janie and William were amazing as always. The sushi is always delicious, not to mention the lava cake...yum!

Blue Ribbon Sushi Bar & Grill - Financial District

4.8

4.8 (352)

$30 and under

Japanese

Financial District

About the restaurant

We serve Japanese seafood, hot entrees & signature fried chicken plated in a sophisticated atmosphere located at the corner of Maiden Lane and William Street, with a view of Louise Nevelson Plaza across from the Federal Reserve, our menu features expertly prepared traditional Japanese Sushi and Sashimi, and is complimented by signature entrees from our hot kitchen, including Grilled Skirt Steak, Oxtail Fried Rice, Steamed Lobster, Japanese A5 Wagyu, and our famous Blue Ribbon Fried Chicken. We are proud to offer a distinctive beverage program featuring Japanese imported beers, cocktails, sake and shochu and other cocktails.

Top review

Ruthvip

Dined on Oct 4, 2024

Thank you for the flexibility and quick service. The fried chicken is consistently VG. The oxtail fried rice is a VG idea.

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