In my opinion, way overhyped and way overpriced. I paid $14 and change for what was basically a bowl of sushi rice topped with a couple pieces of salmon and half of a small avocado, and I ended up having to take my meal to a nearby park because all of the 6 stools inside were taken. The logistics of the storefront was a mess as well, with no designated 'pick up' spot so that everyone waiting for their poke bowls was in the way of other people who were trying to order. On to the food. I believe that all of the poke bowl toppings are pre-selected, as I didn't see any option to "make your own". I ordered the regular-sized wasabi ponzu salmon poke bowl, although the hostess mentioned that the first option on the menu (Sichuan chili salmon?) was the most popular because I don't tend to like cream-based poke sauces. The salmon was well seasoned, but definitely nothing to rave about, and while the sushi rice was tasty, it felt a bit too warm to have been served with the raw fish. I most definitely won't be making my way back to this part of town just for poke. read more

Chikarashi - Japanese Near Me - New York, New York

OK, first things first, it's more Chirashi than Poke but who cares since it was f'in awesome!!! I really liked this place a lot, it's a rather small fast casual lunch spot with a few seats at the counter. I really liked our poke, but it really did feel like a Chirashi but with Poke toppings, that would explain the name of the restaurant. It's only been open two weeks now and the head chef was the Executive Chef at Neta, so that would explain the Chirashi connection. Check hours before you go since they close at 4pm. They just updated their hours to close at 7pm. The food: Ponzu Salmon- Scottish Salmon, Wasabi Ponzu, Shiso, Avocado, Tobiko, Shichimi. The rice was excellent, it was nice and warm but the best part of the rice was that it was well seasoned. I was very happy with the poke, I say it was better than my previous favorite, Sons of Thunder. I really loved the freshness of the salmon and the underlying hint of Shiso throughout. I really liked the fish with the avocado, Ponzu, the rice and the Japanese seasoning, all the flavors really made sense and I say they have set the bar for Poke in NY. https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=wCaNTJZPFYMBrsgnTwkRLw&userid=Y_iTTjKvV5hLy-880SZzlA Pineapple Dole Whip- I really have no frame of reference since I have yet to have it at Disney or Hawaii but I liked it. It was nice and refreshing and there was a good Dole pineapple flavor. https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=FaxVhPxl8ddlKVSpkmMfdw&userid=Y_iTTjKvV5hLy-880SZzlA read more

Chikarashi - Pineapple Dole Whip - Japanese Near Me - New York, New York

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Besides the yummy garlic chips, I really wasn't a fan of this tuna poke bowl. It was swamped in seaweed salad, so every bite - no matter the amount of tuna, rice or avocado - tasted like seawed. The whole dish was way too overpowering and the portion was tiny for such a high price. If you want fresh poke that tastes just like it's from Hawaii for the same price, you've got to head to Raw MKT. It's new, just opened in Greenwich Village, and their bowls have far more flavor, balance and pure deliciousness. Fish is marinated overnight! read more

Chikarashi - Seaweed salad overpowered this poke bowl - not worth the price at all. - Japanese Near Me - New York, New York

It was one of the best poke I have ever eaten in NYC, and I have eaten poke in Hawaii before so I can compare. The food & service exceeded my expectations. My husband & I ordered: 1) Seared Toro Suji w/ avocado, 2) Wasabi Mayo Tuna w/ avocado, 3) Creamed Soda, and 4) Dole Whip. WOOOOOOW the quality & taste was truly unbelievable! As a person that rarely likes to eat raw fish/sashimi (fear of the fishiness), the sauce & ingredients mixed w/ the tuna made me want to eat another bowl (no fishy smell at all). That was how delicious it was! Even though it was a bit pricey, you get what you paid for - quality & freshness (everything is made to order -- they cut off pieces of fresh tuna & grate wasabi from the Japanese horseradish). My husband enjoyed both of the bowls (order large if you are a big eater), but his favorite was the wasabi mayo tuna one which I also agree on. The wasabi mayo tuna bowl was much more refreshing. Dole whip was similar to the ones sold at Dole's Plantation in Oahu, Hawaii (but a little bit more creamier) but taste is about the same. I have waited long since visiting Hawaii a few years ago for someone to open a shop that sells poke & dole whip, and Chikarashi fulfilled that wish. Now I wish someone would make hawaiian styled garlic shrimp & sell hawaiian shaved ice. Maybe a few more years, someone may fulfill that. P.S - Staff was helpful & very friendly. Limited seating on the left side. For those wanting to get froyos - besides dole whip, they also have mango & rasperry now. **Now they sell dole whip float - Highly recommend it! So good just like hawaii & disney world! PPS - On random Saturdays, they have a uni bowl which is off their menu. You have to follow them on facebook or instagram to see if they sell it that day. Highly recommended!! Truly amazing! I will continue to come here, and try the other bowls. read more

Chikarashi - Dole whip and cream soda -delicious!! - Japanese Near Me - New York, New York

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The poké craze continues in NYC, this time with Chikarashi in Chinatown, which also happens to be the best one so far. They are still in soft open mode, which can often mean disorganized employees and subpar food, but that is definitely not the case here. All it means is that the seating isn't complete yet and that they don't have finalized menus printed, but the part that really matters is that the food is prepared quickly and perfectly. The chef formerly worked at Neta and Masa, which immediately shows in the high quality of the ingredients and the execution of the bowls. Described on the menu as "Chirashi Poké Bowls", they come in regular size, for $13 or $14 each, or large for $2 more. There are currently five options, plus a limited availability toro bowl. I tried two bowls, which were both super refreshing ad full of flavor. The first was the Wasabi-Goma Tuna ($16 for large), which had plenty of bluefin tuna, avocado, and some garlic chips on top that added some nice crunch. The second one may have been even better - the Sichuan/Sansho Chili Salmon ($15), with a really addictive Sansho mayo that had some slight kick. In both bowls though, you could also really notice how good the warm rice was, which made me want to completely finish both. It's really nice too how simple the menu is, so you aren't overwhelmed with all these different steps as at most fast casual places (pick a bowl, pick a protein, pick a sauce, pick a topping, etc.). Here you just trust the chef with the combinations and he doesn't disappoint. This a is a refreshingly lighter, healthy alternative for a quick lunch in the area. I'll definitely be back again to try some of the other bowls. read more

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Amazing taste. I got the sampler and it was delicious. It had 3 smaller sized bowls that came with it. The only downfall is you can't take the sampler to-go. I wanted to try the dole whip but did not have enough time in order to catch a train in time. The tastes and condiments in each of the bowls go so well together. The sampler included three of their most popular bowls. The quality is simply amazing as well. Well worth it. read more

Newest addition to the poke scene here in NYC, glad it has opened up in an area that isn't getting much of the poke action here in Manhattan haha. It's located on Canal St in Chinatown, so it's pretty easy to get to once you get off the NQR/6. The storefront is super simplistic, with just a bar top and no seats/tables or decorations (which I love). They don't offer a buffet style poke selection like the rest of the poke spots, but rather curated combos they've already come up with in two sizes. The bf and I decided to try out two different poke bowls in size large. That, and two drinks came out to $40, which is extremely steep in my opinion for something so casual. I think they need to reconsider their prices or else it'll lower the chances of returning customers (or at least stop people from coming very often). The portions are also not large enough to justify those prices... With all that said, the bowls were good and really fresh. These are the two we ordered: Sichuan/Sansho Chili Salmon (Scottish Salmon, Sichuan/Sansho Mayonnaise, Furikake, Kyuri, Shoyu Daikon, Panko): This came highly recommended by the staff - this was definitely my favorite out of the two...although I couldn't really taste the sichuan/sansho, I loved the panko on top, since it was a good contrast to the soft textures of the salmon. I would have loved it if it were spicier. Wasabi-Goma Tuna (Bluefin Tuna, Wasabi-Goma Shoyu, Nori, Hijiki, Avocado, Garlic Chips): This was pretty average...also not sure if I was supposed to taste wasabi, but I tasted none. The garlic chips were a nice topping, but didn't give the crunch I was expecting. Maybe with such high prices, I had much higher expectations for something a little more special? I would come again, but maybe not for a while (or if I feel like splurging!). read more

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Poke - the biggest food trend in NYC this year. My husband and I had been wanting to join in the poke bowl craze - but with limited time in the city and needed commute/wait in line? We waited and waited - finally Chikarashi opened nearby! We came way too late on our visit - both of their tuna options had already sold out! Initially I was ready to walk out after learning of the limited options, but after witnessing and hearing the owner taking his time explaining the entire the menu to us, I felt somewhat guilty and stuck around. My husband and I shared the large seared toro and ponzu salmon rice bowl. Instead of chipotle style assembly, our bowls were made to order. It didn't take long before we received our order however. After our initial bite, we finally understand what the craze was all about! The seared toro was beautifully cooked. The ponzu salmon was light and refreshing. Along with the added crunches, fresh greens, and fluffy rice - every bite was heavenly! Overall - Chikarashi's poke bowls are the epiphany of what poke bowls should be! Although we would love to return to try the entire menu, we were a bit turned off by the price. $20 plus tax for the seared toro? $15 plus tax for the salmon? Probably can't afford to have this for lunch every day. Nevertheless, we recommend all poke lovers to give Chikarashi a try! read more

Chikarashi - Sealed toro tuna $19 - Japanese Near Me - New York, New York

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A tiny place that you can easily miss on the busy streets of Chinatown. Especially when it's located on canal street with all the cars and traffic!. When you do find your way here, you'll be presented with a nicely modern space that seems very clean. You'll have dine in seating in the form of table tops. Wasn't that comfortable for me but I'm assuming majority of the business is to go anyway. Started with the cute lucky cat drink, which is basically a Japanese version of ginger ale. Skip it, not worth the price. I ended up getting their Sichuan chili salmon bowl and it was not bad! It was tasty, the size large I ordered kept me full and the fish tasted fresh. The rice was also a good texture but I do have a few things I'd like to point out about this dish. They overdose on the "spicy mayo" sauce and the bowl that they serve this in has the rice sticking to it for dear life. You'll have to scrape it off to finish your meal. Keep in mind they have specials and "premium" items on the menu that'll run you well over $25. Overall, I liked the menu, it was priced OK - city.....would I come back? Maybe... nothing that knocked my socks off. read more

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I'm sorry, it's way too salty. I've had a long couple of weeks so I decided to treat myself to something "good" (I thought pricey meant good) and perhaps that will help with my mood. Did it help? I don't think so, I'm way too dehydrated now after eating an extremely salty bowl. I was passing by and saw a "Today's Special" menu with pictures on it, the pictures looked good so I ordered something from the special: A Smoked Sawara Bowl for $16.99, $18.50 after tax. It consists of Smoked Spanish Mackerel, Mizuna, Daikon Oroshi, and Miso Vinaigrette. There's no other words to describe the food other than "it is way too salty!" And I'm going to need 5 gallons of water after this review. The portion was small for the price, but maybe they'll say "it's price to quality not quantity." Okay the quality of the food has been overpowered by the strong taste of salt. Quality is non-existent here. I feel bad for writing a negative review again about this place but it is what it is. I didn't like it the first time I was here which was 7 months ago, thought I'd give it another chance, NOPE! read more

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Here's how much I love Chikarashi: I recently served on a jury at the nearby courthouse, and I honestly hoped that the trial would drag on longer than expected so I could keep eating here for lunch every day. Why did I wish that the wheels of justice would spin slowly? Because, silly, this is poke bowl perfection. Every element is on point: Seafood that's fresh af, produce that's crisp and vibrant, rice that's warm and slightly sticky. Crucially, for my preferences, the bowls are predesigned and done so with restraint, so you can order quickly and also avoid the temptation of adding a bazillion toppings. The chic, minimalist ambiance seals the deal -- you feel like you're having an actual meal, not just some quick calories in a fast-casual joint. I dined at Chikarashi three straight days during the trial, and I only craved it more as the days passed by. In fact, I'm wishing I had a bowl right now, when I'm miles away, and when the trial has, sadly, come to an end. read more

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Cute little poke spot in the middle of the Canal St madness. The menu has a decent variety of bowls to choose from, but don't allow a "make your own" bowl. Quality is good and they take their time crafting the bowl so it's quite pretty. Portion-wise, it's a bit small with a heavy hand on the rice so I felt like I was filling up on just rice. But taste-wise, the bowl is yummy! Also don't forget their dole pineapple soft serve! Great spot for lunch! read more

Popped my poke cherry at Chikarashi a couple months back as it is located within walking distance of my work place. I can definitely see the hype and it's truly worth it. I ordered the gomashoyutuna bowl to go, trekked back to work and only wish I dined in! The tuna was super fresh and seasoned well. Rice was perfect texture and the mix of seaweed plus avocado was the best! Minus one star because I wish for takeout orders if they could place the garlic chips and seaweed flakes on the side (they got really soggy and wasn't was crispy when I got back to the office). read more

Chikarashi - Japanese Near Me - New York, New York

I like Chikarashi a lot, but I think I prefer Sons of Thunder, which seems to be the minority opinion. I've had the Ponzu Salmon and Goma Shoyu Tuna, both of which were good, but I preferred the Tuna. I wasn't a big fan of the avocado in either, which wasn't broken up and was even a little stiff still, but the rest (the fish, rice, etc) was really good. Both items are also pretty expensive for what you get (especially the Tuna) -- I get that it's a fairly expensive class of food, and this is as "high end" as fast food poke gets, but I still find it to be a bit high. One other thing worth noting -- they only give you chopsticks by default. I asked for a spoon, as tacky as that is, but it made it a lot easier to eat the food. (They don't have forks.) read more

Chikarashi - Goma Shoyu Tuna - Japanese Near Me - New York, New York

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Great Poke place and it's in a convenient location in Chinatown! If you can't tell already, I love sashimi and poke! I walked in on a Sunday for a late lunch. The cashier was super nice and explained the whole menu. I had decided to go with the Goyu Shoyu Tuna with blue fin toro ($17.99) Their fish was fresh and I like that their sauce was light and they didn't add a ton of sauce like pokeworks and gotham poke. Chef Lim was very nice and offered me and other patrons a piece of salmon sashimi. Super nice of him! I also got to sample their pineapple dole. It was my first time trying the dole whip and it sort of tasted like pineapple froyo but nonetheless very yummy. read more

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The poke was ok, not spectacular. Kind of tasted underwhelming. Overall I had higher expectations from this place because my friends recommended but just didn't hit the spot for me. read more

Chikarashi - Ponzu Salmon - Japanese Near Me - New York, New York

I have literally experienced better poke. I came here to meet friends and even before meeting them I held high expectations for this place. For one, I was craving poke. - I ordered the Ponzu Salmon Bowl: Atlantic Salmon, Wasabi Ponzu, Shiso, Avocado, Tobiko. Although I was hesitant to order this because of the Wasabi Ponzu, I was assured it was a really light taste of wasabi. Although it was light, I didn't like the poke bowl. The rice was too mushy and overcooked. There wasn't a proper ratio of fish and toppings to the rice. In the end, I was left with mushy rice to finish. read more

This place is still in trial phase mode. I really like the idea of fresh fish daily, that is a nice concept that they let you know right off the bat. I got the chili salmon bowl: The price is I guess average for pokebowls in NYC (albeit much more expensive than LA), 16$ and change for a large. Not sure how this price point will do with the competing restaurants in the area that are selling faaaaar below 16$ per dish. Portions were on the smaller end, there was a decent amount of fish in there and then the rest was just rice and other toppings. I definitely felt like I could've done something else and just been about full. Taste. It was on the salty side and I am not sure how I felt about the rice being so hot. It kindve gave me the feeling that the fish was almost cooked and didn't have that light/fresh taste that pokebowls are supposed to have. Staff and cleanliness, everyone seemed to be working hard getting the food pumped out pretty quickly and the person taking orders was very knowledgeable about the menu. The owner I think was there as well helping serve patrons coming in. The space is small with a few counter seats but overall probably the cleanest spot on Canal. read more

Chikarashi - Salmon chili - Japanese Near Me - New York, New York

This is one of my favorite poke spots. Each bowl is expertly prepared by the chef. The restaurant maintains consistent quality and fresh ingredients. The ratio of poke to rice is balanced. I love the Salmon Ponzu bowl. The eel/unagi bowl is also very good. The dole whip is delicious! They have expanded their menu to include more grilled fish and vegetarian options. read more

Chikarashi - Ponzu salmon bowl - Japanese Near Me - New York, New York

Only place in Chinatown who makes a nice dole whip. The store looks welcoming enough and clean.

Food is Delicious!!! I haven't been in NYC in two years, so I figured let me grab a bite from here because their food is prepared so well. read more

Chikarashi - Roasted Cod!!! - Japanese Near Me - New York, New York

Looking for a healthy lunch, I stopped here with my mom, and really enjoyed all the yummy menu options! When you walk in, you order at the counter and wait for the staff to call your name. I ended up splitting the large portion of the ponzu salmon bowl which was just enough for the both of us. It had salmon, ponzu, shiso, avocado, tobiko, and fried shallots. Overall, the bowl was a solid choice, and I thought all the components were necessary and complimented each other. This is the first place I've been where everything is preset, and the bowl you choose is all that's in the bowl. I wish there was an option to add additional toppings like tuna or another fish for a few extra dollars. If you're in Chinatown and looking for fresh fish, Chikarashi hits the spot. read more

Chikarashi - Ponzu Salmon bowl - everything was delicious! - Japanese Near Me - New York, New York

I really wanted to like this place but it was such a disappointment. For a place that serves rice daily in their dishes the rice tasted old and dry. Also, there was more rice than fish. The fish was okay, didn't taste very fresh but it was edible. I did enjoy the avocado, they gave half of one and it was perfectly ripe. Other than those things, the service great just wish the food was better read more

Chikarashi - Japanese Near Me - New York, New York

I love that Poke bowls are catching on in the East Coast! This trendy place recently opened and I was so excited to try it out! The interior is sleek and simple with one long bar table for a handful of customers to eat at. Since we came at an off time, there was no wait and a few seat available. I ordered the Goma Shoyu Tuna bowl and a water. The tuna was so fresh!!! It was just melting in my mouth YUM! I love poke because it seems so simple, but there is so much flavor involved. There is no doubt about it that the food here is amazing. My only thing is the price point seems a little high, with a regular bowl + water totaling $17. I may be back if I want to splurge :) read more

Chikarashi - Goma Shoyu Tuna bowl - Japanese Near Me - New York, New York

Hey yo. I came here during their soft opening and a few times after that. The interior has an open kitchen - I actually saw them slicing up a huge tuna fish shipment that came in on a Wednesday! The seating area consists of stools with counter tops. I can say with conviction that Chikarashi is the real deal when it comes to poké. Chef Michael Jong Lim's take on poké is with a chirashi-style angle. The bowls are masterfully crafted with different preset styles so that the decisions are made for you. Chomped: 1. Sichuan Chili Salmon - nice heat from the sansho mayo 2. Goma Shoyu Tuna - great symphony of flavors I would eat here more often if the price of these items weren't so high. I feel having a $15+ lunch here is among the priciest in terms of location and food type. However, I feel Chikarashi is among the best poké places in the city, so it is well worth the treat, for now. read more

Chikarashi - Sichuan Chili Salmon - Japanese Near Me - New York, New York

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I love their food. Don't get me wrong. But the guy who takes the order is sooo not flexible. You can't substitute anything. I asked for cucumber instead of avocado and he said he can't do that. That he can't substitute anything. Come on cucumber is cheaper too. Not asking for more expensive item. read more

This is a cute little place tucked away in plain site along Canal Street. I came here for the dole whip I reserved via phone. The staff is very nice & knowledgeable about their menu, I had the dole whip in the pineapple and my husband had the dole whip twist. The dessert was refreshing and dairy free. It is perfect for a summer or warm spring day. If you want the dole whip in a pineapple, I suggest you call and reserve one in advance. read more

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I went on a run from East Village to Chinatown tonight and wanted something healthy-ish once I finished. Chikarashi definitely fit the bill. For $14 (well, $20 with tax, tip, and an unfortunate bottled water), I feasted on poke. The place is small, with maybe 15 bar-style seats and counter ordering. Very fast casual but not unattractive. No bathrooms that I could see. I ordered the ponzu salmon, and it was ready under 5 minutes later. A pretty dish, with gorgeous chunks of salmon, big avocado slices, green curls of shiso, and a generous sprinkling of tobiko. The ingredients worked really well together. Loved those gently pickled cucumbers. The sushi rice was warm and had the perfect texture. The regular size is actually quite filling. One star off solely because they refused to give me tap water, forcing me to buy a bottled water. Water is a human right, y'all. However, this is likely the best poke I've had in New York, so I'll be back for a different bowl and some Dole Whip. read more

Chikarashi - Ponzu Salmon - Japanese Near Me - New York, New York

Unlike the majority of the poké spots cropping up, Chikarashi presents a carefully curated menu - you won't find any Chipotle style counter or customizable options here. But don't worry - everything sounds great and the menu includes toppings far more creative than usual. For my first visit, I went with the Sichuan Chili Salmon. The rice is by far the best rice I've had in any poké bowl. The short grains are well seasoned, slightly sweet in a nod to the chirashi bowls from which Chikarashi borrows part of its name. The rice has been properly washed, and the grains don't clump together in sticky masses. It comes at the perfect temperature - hot enough that it stays warm throughout your entire meal, yet not so much that it warms up your fish. In the Sichuan Chili, furikake and "katsuo panko" (a mix of katsuoboshi - bonito flakes - and panko crumbs) adds a savory and crunchy element to the rice. The choice of sichuan chili sauce to make a spicy mayo instead of the standard sriracha is what makes Chikarashi really stand out. That stuff is absolutely addictive and adding mayo to it only makes it better. It's a really creative twist on spicy mayo and you can bet I'll be trying it at home! Shoyu daikon adds a crunch, but they seemed a tad overseasoned (too salty) to be the refreshing bite that was necessary to balance out the fatty salmon and mayonnaise. The bowl felt a but heavy and I thought it would've benefited from something light and crunchy like masago or cucumber slices. Pricewise, Chikarashi isn't exactly cheap. The prices definitely translate into better quality (even the wooden chopsticks are probably the nicest disposable chopsticks I've ever had), but still, that $15 price tag still hurts and is going to keep me from coming too often. read more

Chikarashi - Sichuan Chili Salmon - Japanese Near Me - New York, New York

I really liked the Sichuan Chili Salmon bowl. Fish was super fresh and marinated perfectly with the sauce. It tasted more like sweet chili sauce, definitely not the real spicy Sichuan hot sauce. The place is small with very limited stools. Given the fast food like interior and small portions, the price is too high. Tasty but not worth frequent visits. read more

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$18 for a disgusting browning avocado. First time here and never coming back. I took it to go and when I sat down to eat I was greeted by my avocado suffering from an STD. It was brown from all angles, how did they miss this? How little did this staff care to dump this in there in an $18 bowl. If that is the level of ingredients they are okay serving, I can only imagine the quality of fish. I threw the avocado out and tried to eat the rest. It was bland, barely taste the ponzu and 65% of the bowl is rice. Maybe the biggest rip off in Chinatown and that's saying something. Don't come here, so many better places to eat close by. read more

Chikarashi - Where is the quality control, it looks like my avocado has an STD - Japanese Near Me - New York, New York

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3.5, an average experience. I ordered the ponzu salmon and it was your typical New York poke bowl, albeit a little bit more on the pricier side (12.99 for a regular). Salmon tasted fresh and toppings were all right. My quip with this place is that you can't customize your own bowl, they only have preset options. What really brought us down here was the pineapple dole whip. Unfortunately, they ran out of the cute lil baby pineapples they serve it in, but it was still good and tasted very similar to the dole whip at Disney. read more

Chikarashi - Ponzu salmon - Japanese Near Me - New York, New York

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Both quantity and diversity of toppings was severely limited compared to other poke places in the city at a similar if not lower price point. Ponzu sauce in the ponzu salmon bowl was very salty without any depth or complexity past soy sauce straight from the bottle. The bowl was 60% rice, 20% protein, and 20% other toppings (cucumber, avocado, masago). Considering how much I paid, I was very disappointed. I also did not see any options to switch the white rice for brown rice and switching for greens cost an additional $0.50. Service and the space were nice, but I don't plan to come back. read more

Chikarashi - Ponzu Salmon - Japanese Near Me - New York, New York

So good! Came in on a Saturday around 6p with no wait which is always nice. Got the Sichuan salmon bowl with added avocado. Was worried it'd be too spicy, but it was just right! I've only been to other poké spots where they scoop in a bunch of stuff. This one is made in a semi behind the scenes kitchen with limited ingredients. Girl at the register was nice and friendly and took our orders and delivered the meals to where we were sitting pretty quickly. They also have Dole whip! Would come back to try the Dole whip and other bowls. read more

Chikarashi - Sichuan salmon bowl, very good! - Japanese Near Me - New York, New York

This restaurant is pretty small with limited amount of seats. The service was good and I placed and received my order relatively fast. I ordered the seared toro suji. It was delicious. The fish was very fresh. The portion was good for me. However, it was expensive. read more

The pineapple dole whip float is amazing! Super tasty but if you don't want pineapple juice, then save yourself the extra $1 and go for the regular pineapple dole whip. Like another poster said, I'm disappointed mine didn't come in a cute little pineapple but don't let that deter you from getting it! I loved the design of the place as it drew from the elements of Japanese minimalism, but I think it's pretty difficult to get seating during busy hours since the place isn't big. I'll come back to get the poke next time :) read more

Chikarashi - Pineapple dole whip float for $5. - Japanese Near Me - New York, New York

Chikarashi is my favorite poke eatery. I look forward to each time I come. It's not a customizable joint, like most poke places are. But each bowl is so well crafted! The interior design of the place is so cute--minimalistic, but chic. FOOD: the rice is SOO well cooked. Perfect moisture and texture. Honestly, the foundation is done right. The fish is fresh and the portion is generous. I got the Ponzu Salmon this time, and I am not a huge fan of cucumbers, but the crunch is refreshing and a great balance. The sauce is not overwhelming, but it is very evenly spread. I would get it again. I can't wait to try something else next time! Last time, my friend got the dole whip, and I remember it being very creamy. TIP: You can ask for chili oil (which is soo yummy)! I like to mix it with my leftover rice at the end. read more

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Not a fan of this place at all - I had high hopes going into the restaurant reading all the raves about this place but the only thing I got out of this restaurant was disappointment. The bowls are expensive for the quality and amount of food they serve. I wouldn't mind paying a premium to get myself some good poke, but this place was a disappointment. First off, upon walking into the restaurant, we get hit with this salty fish smell right away. It just smelled really..dirty! Then we ordered our bowls and asked for take out, expecting it to be too big (usually a regular bowl of poke anywhere in New York ends up being too big for me) But to my surprise I was able to finish it, and still feel hungry. They gave BARELY any fish. If I mixed the bowl, the fish would've vanished in the pool of rice. I ordered: Wasabi Mayo Tuna Bluefin Tuna, Wasabi Mayonnaise, Shichimi, Shoyu Daikon Man, the fish was not fresh, came out hot (I never had poke with HOT fish?) and it tasted so bland. Go to poketeria people. This place is overpriced, overhyped, and so not worth it. read more

Chikarashi - Japanese Near Me - New York, New York

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This was the first in Chinatown at the start of the poké wave and still the best. I always go for the wasabi mayo tuna and opt for the large. For an extra couple of dollars, you can get double the fish. The ingredients are always fresh and I've never had to question the fish like I've done at other places in Chinatown. The dole whip/float is also great in the summer time, especially for the walk back to the office in the summer heat. Cons: sometimes the line goes out the door and service tends to be a bit slow. I've called ahead in the last for pickup which usually solves that issue but had to pay with a credit card over the phone. It also runs on the pricier side, spending slightly over $20 for lunch. read more

Chikarashi - Wasabi mayo tuna - Japanese Near Me - New York, New York

A little less than impressed. I've been hearing lots of good reviews for this so I finally decided to try it out. I ordered the Ponzu Salmon bowl in Large for $15.49, and honestly very disappointed at the size of it. The bowl itself was small, and the portions barely filled up 2/3 of the bowl. It was mostly just greens, with maybe like 10 cubes of salmon and some avocado and cucumber. I am a tiny girl and I normally never finish my orders but I finished the whole thing and still felt hungry. For the price paid, definitely not worth it. It also didn't come with any sauce on the side, so i did add my own soy sauce (the ponzu sauce itself wasn't flavorful enough for me). I really wanted to like this place but its just mediocre. For the price paid, I expect better quality, more filling and a better flavor profile. This would be something I'd eat but probably wouldn't come back for. read more

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