Are you looking for the best Japanese restaurants in NYC? If so, keep reading!
NYC is a city full of incredible food, and some of the best Japanese restaurants in NYC are amongst the top eateries in the entire city.
If you didn’t already know, there’s a real community of Japanese culture in NYC (check out our guide to Little Tokyo for more info), and there are more and more amazing Japanese restaurants in NYC popping up each month.
So, if you’re looking for the best Japanese restaurants in NYC, this list should give you plenty of epic choices to try. With everything from sushi and sashimi to miso soups and incredible curries!
If you love Japanese food, then this list will have somewhere you’ll adore trying!
So, let’s get into our list of the best Japanese restaurants in NYC…
Our top 15 best Japanese restaurants in NYC!
Mr. Taka Ramen
Known for its awesome ramen and traditional Japanese appetizers, Mr. Taka Ramen is one of the best Japanese restaurants in NYC that’s been enchanting diners for years.
Believe it or not, this humble ramen restaurant has earned a Michelin star, and you’ll be able to see why as soon as you have your first slurp of one of this spot’s coveted ramen bowls.
Whether you’d like to stay traditional with meat-based ramen or opt for a vegan alternative, you’ll find yourself coming back to this Japanese restaurant in NYC at least once before your trip comes to an end!
This is one of our top Japanese restaurants in NYC, for sure.
Sushi Nakazawa
Anyone with an impressive appetite should consider visiting the next spot on our list of the best Japanese restaurants in NYC.
Sushi Nakazawa is a must-visit in NYC if you’re looking for the best Japanese restaurants in NYC.
This place serves the omakase of famous Japanese chef Daisuke Nakazawa, and you can expect twenty courses to hit your table throughout the evening. That’s right, 20!
This restaurant was awarded a Michelin start in 2019, so you know the quality of each dish is outstanding.
It may be an expensive night out, but we’d say it’ll offer you a Japanese dining experience that you’ll never forget.
This is an absolutely wonderful choice for Japanese restaurants in NYC.
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Nami Nori
Next on our list of the best Japanese restaurants in NYC, it’s Nami Nori. When it comes to casual dining and a welcoming atmosphere, nowhere does it better than Nami Nori.
This place is a new addition to any list of Japanese restaurants in NYC, as it only opened in 2019.
However, since its inception, it has garnered a major local fanbase or dedicated diners and is always full.
The place doesn’t take many reservations, so you’ll probably see hungry New Yorkers trying to grab a seat every night!
If you’re not sure what to order once you’re seated, we’d say the temaki, hand rolls, or vegetable miso soup are all excellent choices.
Modern, warm, and full of character, this is one of the best Japanese restaurants in NYC that won’t disappoint.
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Shuko
If you’re on the hunt for upscale Japanese restaurants in NYC, then you’ll want to get yourself down to Shuko.
Famed for its omakase menu and compact appearance, this is one of the Japanese restaurants in NYC that’s always packed to the rafters.
This restaurant may be small, but chefs Nick Kim and Jimmy Lau have received several for their work, including three Michelin stars and a glowing review from the New York Times.
Expect traditional Japanese flavors and techniques at Shuko, along with luxury ingredients that will make the high price tag less difficult to swallow!
This is definitely one of the best Japanese restaurants in NYC.
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Sushi Noz
Located on New York’s buzzing Upper East Side, Sushi Noz is one of the Japanese restaurants in NYC that we just had to mention.
Like several of the other mentions on our list of the best Japanese restaurants in NYC, this place has been awarded a Michelin star, meaning you’ll get excellent quality food that is artfully presented.
Now, before you get too excited, we thought we’d mention that it’s very expensive to eat at Sushi Noz.
To eat at the Hinoki Counter and trial the restaurant’s finest tasting menu, you’ll have to fork out a staggering $395 per person.
Alternatively, you can check out the Ash Room for $225 per person. We get that this won’t be in everyone’s budget, but it’s a fantastic choice if you’re looking to splurge.
It’s a treat, but certainly one of the best Japanese restaurants in NYC.
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Sushi Ginza Onodera
Next on our list of the best Japanese restaurants in NYC, it’s Sushi Ginza Onodera.
If you happen to be heading to Bryant Park on your next trip to NYC, when not check out the wonderful Sushi Ginza Onodera?
Known for its high-end omakase menu, this is one of the high-end Japanese restaurants in NYC that perfectly balances a warm atmosphere with intense traditional flavors.
At the restaurant, you’ll find classic Edomae style sushi, along with hand rolls, Nigiri, and Negitoro.
Whatever you’re craving, this is one of the Japanese restaurants in NYC that aims to please.
Sushi Amane
Sushi Amane may have only been around since 2017, but since it opened it has become one of the most beloved Japanese restaurants in NYC.
The chef’s favorites menu here will set you back an eye-watering $200, but if you don’t have the budget to go all-out, you can still pick out an excellent tasting menu of your own from their impressive a la carte selection.
Whether you fancy wild-caught seafood dishes, different varieties of sushi, or a moreish miso soup, you’ll be able to try all that and more at this glorious choice for Japanese restaurants in NYC.
Uogashi
Another one of our favorite Japanese restaurants in NYC that features a killer omakase (otherwise known as a chef’s favorites menu) is Uogashi.
What we love about this eatery is the seating options available to guests; not only can you sit at regular tables for a more intimate experience, but you can get up close and personal with the chefs at their central, long sushi table!
Serving up everything from classic sushi rolls to izakaya dishes, there’s something for everyone at this Japanese restaurant in NYC.
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Sushi Yasuda
For the best Japanese fish dishes in the city, you can’t do much better than Sushi Yasuda. This place has long been considered one of the top Japanese restaurants in NYC.
You can order anything from the extensive a la carte menu, but if you have some cash to spare, we highly recommend checking out the popular chef’s choice menu.
It may be pricey at up to $250 per menu, but it’s well worth the additional cost.
If you’re a tuna fan, you’ll be pleased to know that there are over five different tuna varieties available – certainly more than you’d find at any of the other Japanese restaurants in NYC.
Whatever you fancy ordering, be sure to make a reservation in advance. This place can book up months ahead of time, so it’s rather essential!
This is a great pick for the best Japanese restaurants in NYC!
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Momoya
If you happen to be in the Chelsea area, then you need to check out the next place on our list of the best Japanese restaurants in NYC.
Momoya is something of a cult favorite around these parts, and it’s known by locals as an awesome place for casual sushi. Although the top thing up for grabs at Momoya is the chef’s choice menu, there’s everything from chicken teriyaki to incredible gyoza available.
Perfect for larger groups and anyone looking for a more relaxed evening in the city, this is one of the Japanese restaurants in NYC that we’ll always recommend.
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Sugarfish
You may be expecting a strange flavor profile to greet you at the door of Sugarfish, but rest assured, you won’t be forced to stomach sweet seafood at your visit to this awesome pick for Japanese restaurants in NYC.
A meal at Sugarfish will set you back anywhere from a measly $30 for a six-course tasting menu to around $70 for a ten-course extravaganza.
This place is famous for its umami-rich fish, and it offers it at prices that even budget-conscious New Yorkers and tourists can get on board with.
Whether you’re up for sashimi or some gorgeous nigiri, this is one of the best Japanese restaurants in NYC to eat your fill.
Best Japanese restaurants in NYC: Kosaka
A meal at Kosaka doesn’t come cheap, but it’s certainly one of the best Japanese restaurants in NYC for those looking for an amazing night out.
Run by famous chef Yoshihiko Kousaka, this restaurant treats diners to plates of sashimi, hand rolls, soups, and desserts.
If you’d like to sample several dishes, we recommend opting for the $195 taster menu that runs at the main four tables in the restaurant.
With a huge variety of dishes and excellent photo opportunities on offer (seriously, the presentation at this place is next level!), we feel Kosaka deserves a prized spot on our list of the best Japanese restaurants in NYC.
Nakamura
One of our favorite Japanese restaurants in NYC is Nakamura. This noodle bar may be small, but don’t count it out just yet!
Run by famous ramen chef Shigetoshi Nakamura (hence the name of the restaurant!), this incredible ramen stop brings authentic Japanese flavor stateside.
Although you can order plenty of meaty varieties, we highly recommend trying the famous Vegan Truffle Miso.
Always cooked and seasoned to perfection, it’s a veritable vegan dream! Another brilliant choice for the best Japanese restaurants in NYC.
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Jin Ramen
Those on the hunt for the best Japanese restaurants in NYC that serve up unbeatable ramen should stop by this top-rated eatery.
Cheap and cheerful, Jin Ramen is the place to be in Harlem if you’re looking for a warming bowl of ramen that ticks all the right boxes when it comes to flavor.
Its most popular location is in Harlem’s uptown area, but there’s also a Jin Ramen tucked away on Manhattan’s Upper West Side for city slickers to check out after a hard day at the office.
With everything from coconut curry to braised pork belly ramen on the menu, there’s a dish here for every palate.
This is definitely one of our top Japanese restaurants in NYC.
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Zenkichi
Zenkichi is one of the best Japanese restaurants in NYC for anyone who’s on the hunt for a date-night spot.
Packed with interesting dishes like Nagoya Teba Wings, Sweet Duck Salad, and their infamous chocolate pudding for dessert, there’s enough delicious fare on this restaurant’s menu to justify seconds.
As well as being delicious, everything at Zenkichi is also impeccably presented, making it one of the most Instagrammable Japanese restaurants in NYC.
We hope this list of the best Japanese restaurants in NYC has given you plenty of inspiration!
Which one of these Japanese restaurants in NYC will you try first? Let us know!
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