a late-night yakitori counter where you pick your own skewers
Must-try: Ribeye skewers, Duck tongue, Flounder head
📍 36-17 Prince St, Flushing, NY 11354
West Village omakase from Jiro's most famous apprentice — 22 pieces of pure nigiri at the counter, from the chef who made NYC take sushi seriously
Must-try: 22-piece nigiri omakase, Counter seats (best view of the prep), Supplemental wagyu nigiri
📍 23 Commerce St, New York, NY 10014
Greenpoint izakaya in the old A/D/O space — yakitori, tonkatsu, and one of the best restaurant gardens in Brooklyn
Must-try: Karaage, Yakitori skewers, Japanese soufflé pancake
📍 171 Banker Street, Brooklyn, NY 11222
a Japanese coffee shop with colorful bento boxes and very light lunches
Must-try: Pork katsu bento, Chicken karaage bento, Egg sandwich
📍 64 Meserole Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11222
Two Michelin stars behind an unmarked Upper East Side door — a hinoki counter built in Japan and shipped over
Must-try: The full Edomae omakase, Aged tuna in three cuts, Anago at the close of the meal
📍 181 E 78th St, New York, NY 10075
Japanese in NoMad — 4.6 on Resy across 5,652 diner reviews
Must-try: Scallop uni carpaccio, Nori tofu, Cod roe cream udon
📍 118 Madison Ave, New York, NY 10016
a sandwich shop whose house-baked milk bread eats like a donut
Must-try: Pork tonkatsu sando, Ribbon fries, House milk bread
📍 29 Greenpoint Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11222
A Michelin-starred yakitori counter on West 53rd — binchotan charcoal and every part of the bird
Must-try: Omakase yakitori course, Tsukune with egg yolk, Chicken oyster
📍 362 W 53rd St, New York, NY 10019
A tiny York Avenue omakase counter — twenty seats, no menu, no à la carte, BYOB
Must-try: Nigiri omakase, Uni, Toro
📍 1372 York Ave, New York, NY 10021
a non-profit tea house doing thoughtful, relaxed Japanese fine dining
Must-try: Kaiseki courses, Potato dumpling with cheesecake filling, Tea service
📍 87 Lafayette Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11217
Park Slope omakase that has been the neighborhood's answer to Manhattan sushi prices for over a decade
Must-try: Omakase, Uni, Toro
📍 210 7th Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11215
a Japanese-inspired konbini making an incredible fried chicken katsu sandwich
Must-try: Spicy chicken katsu sandwich, Cauliflower katsu, Spam grilled cheese
📍 17-11 Grove St, Ridgewood, NY 11385
A hidden Japanese izakaya behind an unmarked door at the back of Walter's — dark, loud, and very good
Must-try: Uni toast, Tsukune, Japanese whisky
📍 166 Dekalb Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11217
a theme park with much better food, sake flights and tatami seating included
Must-try: Karaage, Yakitori sampler, Ramen
📍 141-26 Northern Blvd, Flushing, NY 11354
A Japanese izakaya and ramen shop in Hunters Point with a patio and a strong sake list
Must-try: Tonkotsu ramen, Karaage, Sake selection
📍 550 50th Ave, Long Island City, NY 11101
The tonkotsu that started New York's ramen decade — Akamaru Modern, pork buns, and a room that still roars
Must-try: Akamaru Modern, Hirata pork buns, Ippudo salad
📍 65 4th Ave, New York, NY 10003
The casual alternative on the block - high-quality fish without the reservation stress
Must-try: Nigiri, Sashimi, Brooklyn roll with kani salad
📍 331 Flatbush Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11217