When I found this place on yelp, it reminded me of Shokusai in Niseko, Japan, where I had eaten a delicious hanachirashi don for a decent price. Eric R. and I met my brother and his girlfriend here tonight since we leave NYC tomorrow. We started off with Kirin on draft while perusing the menus and the handwritten specials behind the bar. My brother ordered the special trout salmon don and added tuna and yellowtail plus he got the salmon skin salad piled high with bonito flakes. His girlfriend ordered the most popular, called three amigos. It had salmon, tuna, yellowtail, grilled salmon, and spicy tuna. Eric R. ordered the zuke ikura (marinated salmon roe) don with salmon and yellowtail and added tuna for $3. I ordered the uni don with yellowtail and salmon and added scallions. Immediately the hottest bowl of miso soup I have seen in the states was delivered with tofu skin in it, plus a small side of daikon-carrot pickles with konbu per person. The bowls arrived soon after. From my pictures, you can see how fresh and beautiful the seafood is! The service was stellar throughout - I asked for a side of ponzu which came out right away. We were given a last call warning but for some reason I interpreted that as alcohol related, so when the check dropped and I asked for yuzu sorbet, the server hesitated. Nevertheless the kitchen obliged and our bill was adjusted. Overall, I felt the price was incredibly reasonable for the large portions and high quality seafood. The atmosphere is very quaint and clean, and the service was great. I would definitely recommend this place and return. Itadakimasu! read more

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I came in on a weekday night after work and was seated right away at the bar. I noticed immediately that the decor is a bit strange but we came for the food and not the ambiance so we didn't mind at all. After hearing such great things about this place, I was excited to try their chirashi bowls. I ended up ordering the Uni don with salmon and Ikura. It came with miso soup which was perfect since it was a cold day outside and we were sitting near the door. When the food came, it looked amazing topped with more fish on the rice than I had anticipated. After my first bite, It was apparent that there was a bit too much vinegar in the rice. Also, the salmon was fresh but unfortunately the Uni tasted off. Some of the pieces were fine but as I kept eating, some of the pieces tasted like it was mixed with chemical products. I ended up picking at my food and ate all around the Uni. This was extremely disappointing because the Uni is what I specifically went there for in the first place. read more

Kaoru - Japanese Near Me - New York, New York

My friend and I got the spicy tuna and regular tuna rolls, along with a sweet potato fry special. The sweet potato Frieds were ok, the honey sauce was kind of interesting but the potato wasn't great. My friend loved her regular tuna rolls, and we both agreed the spicy tuna rolls were ok. This restaurant had a great, authentic feel, and it was super cute for a low key dinner. The service was good, nothing notable either way. read more

Kaoru is a Japanese restaurant located on 46th Street at 2nd Avenue in Manhattan. Japanese restaurant with a small facade, every time I come I see a lot of Japanese customers Kaoru is a small restaurant on 46th Street in Manhattan. 1: Sea urchin sashimi rice, must order every time I come. The sea urchin melts in the mouth, fresh with a hint of sweetness, salmon and tuna are very fresh, the following sushi rice mixed very delicious, usually do not eat rice, I will eat a lot of rice in one bite. 2: The taste of grilled eel is different from other stores so many sauce, but also very delicious taste, soft enclosure.Ssss 3: fried fish, crispy skin and tender, drizzled with some lemon juice, sour and salty taste, rich taste, but not eat a lot, a little greasy mouth. 4: fried beef patties also amazed me, crispy and juicy beef The meat patties were crispy and juicy, with a very fragrant taste and a rich, delicious flavor. 5: Egg eel sushi, avocado fresh shrimp sushi, tempura sushi were all delicious. The tempura sushi was all delicious. 6: I like to drink iced plum wine and hot sake, with salt boiled beans, listening to the music playing, feeling particularly relaxed and free. I feel very relaxed and at ease. read more

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This is my go to spot for some good Japanese cuisine in midtown Manhattan. The prices are excellent and the vibe is very laid-back. The staff is really friendly and accommodating. Overall the prices can't be beat for good quality sashimi and solid portions. I recommend the three amigos bowl. They've definitely earned a repeat customer. read more

SO YUMMY. This place is in a fairly non-descript part of Midtown but offers such an amazing Japanese food option to the surrounding population. I came with a few friends, one of which had already been here, and was pleasantly greeted by the front staff who seated us very quickly in the outdoor seating area. We were served warm miso soup (perfect for a cold-ish fall night!) and also started with a shared "hot pot" styled appetizer with different tasty ingredients boiling inside. We all opted for chirashi bowls which were served with large portions of delicious fatty fish topped over a bed of sushi rice. Great portions, amazing fish, and incredibly fair prices. What else could you ask for? We all each tried the 3 amigos which offered a solid variety of different tastings. We left very full and satisfied. I will certainly be back to try out more of the menu. Can't wait! read more

If you're looking for quantity for the $$, Kaoru definitely delivers with their bowls. I don't think you could go wrong with any of their options here. The bowls are HUGE, it's definitely bigger than I expected and they offer a lot of fish. I got the three amigos and was hoping that they can sub out the spicy tuna for salmon, but they only offered me more tuna. The fishes were solid, there were some pieces that felt chewier than others. It's a simple concept here, nothing too astounding for me. read more

Kaoru - Three amigos.. but subbed spicy tuna out for more tuna - Japanese Near Me - New York, New York

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Kaoru is such a hidden gem in Midtown. I was almost incredulous when I saw the prices for chirashi don (essentially sushi bowls). Three Amigos - I ordered a regular ($20) bowl that came loaded with rice and a bed of sashimi such as salmon, hamachi, and spicy tuna. The fish was unbelievably fresh, and I completely devoured my bowl. Yam Fries - We originally thought they would be reminiscent of sweet potato fries, but these are actually savory! Everything was perfect for when I dined here, and there really isn't much else needed to be said. They also have off-the-menu options displayed against the back of the bar, such as fatty tuna, squid, and fluke. I could easily see myself coming back repeatedly to try everything on their menu. It's a small, quiet restaurant that could be ideal from a first date to dinner with friends. read more

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4 stars for the Uni Don, which was generously loaded with uni and perfectly seasoned rice, not to mention large, fresh cuts of salmon and tuna. read more

This review is for delivery/takeout only. Overall a good option for Sashimi in midtown East Overall: 4/5 Portion: 4.5/5 Value: 4/5 Quality: 4/5 We got the Hokkaido Uni with choice of 2 proteins (Squid and Fluke) for $38, Uni with choice of 2 proteins (Hamachi and Fluke) for $30, and Bara Charashi ($25). The Hokkaido Uni was more buttery than the other Uni (probably local from Maine judging by the lower price point), although both were quite good. The portions were generous - lots of sashimi and rice. The quality of the fish was fairly fresh but the sushi rice left a bit to be desired in texture and quality. Although the prices were fairly high, I thought it was pretty fair for the portion size, particular for the Uni. Worth a try! read more

Kaoru - Bara Chirashi Don, Hokkaido Uni Don - Japanese Near Me - New York, New York

When you walk in and see Japanese waitresses, you know you've come to the right place They don't serve fancy-sliced fish but generous portions and fresh fish for reasonable price. If we lived in nyc this would be a regular sushi hangout but unfortunately we don't... will be back next time we're in town though! read more

Kaoru - Kaoru Kaisen Don - Japanese Near Me - New York, New York

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We were in the neighborhood and went for late lunch 3:30. Two of us got the 3 amigos dons and 2 of us got the chirashi dons. I didn't read menu carefully chirashi don was not what I expected, cubed tuna and cooked items, I'm used to chirashi with variety of sliced fish. The 3 amigos were covered with beautiful slices of fish. The miso soup was on par and green tea delicious. The server was helpful and professional. The amount of food was generous. The quality of rice was spot on and the fish was fresh. read more

Really good amount of fish! Fresh and delicious For the amount they charge, it's a lot of fish and super filling. The tuna bowl has different options of tuna, the peppered tuna was quite peppery. The Bara chirashi don was super flavorful because of the eel and the marinated ikura. I think I'd get this over the tuna bowl even though I love tuna. Great service, they wrote a cute note on the bag too! read more

Kaoru - Bara Chirashi Don - Japanese Near Me - New York, New York

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If you like fresh sashimi definitely check this place out. The quality is fresh, the price is good. There's not much to not like here! I've come here for both lunch and dinner. I always get the 3 amigos don. There's plenty of fish pieces and the freshness quality is always high. The fish is also flavored to pair well with just plain rice. Highly recommend. read more

Kaoru - 3 Amigos Don - Japanese Near Me - New York, New York

The green tea is great. With a sense of sweet, fresh, it is unique. The eel over rice has a decent portion. But it is very basic. It is simply 3 slices of eel on top of rice. I wish it comes with seaweed and less sauce. The smell of cooking is very strong. Though I appreciate my food is cooked on site, I have trouble with the cooking smell around me. It affects the smell of my food. read more

Best bang for your buck! I always get the Tres Amigos Regular bowl. It has plenty of tuna, salmon, yellowtail and minced spicy tuna on top of a heaping bowl of rice. For only $20 in nyc, that is an absolute steal. The only reason why I'm docking a star is because the two times I ate from here, there was a small piece of bone or something in the fish which kind of ruins the whole experience. If they fix that issue (hopefully, 3rd time's the charm), this place deserves something more than 5 stars. read more

Kaoru - Tres Amigos Bowl - Japanese Near Me - New York, New York

Fresh fish melts in your mouth. Authentic Japanese sushi bowl. Kaoru don is actually of good value. Try the eggplant appetizer read more

Kaoru - Ootoro don, with salmon and hamachi. - Japanese Near Me - New York, New York

The definition of a hole-in-the-wall. I went there for a late brunch on Sunday, and the restaurant is not packed at all! The ankimo (monkfish liver) was sooo freaking good! We also ordered otoro don and uni don. The ingredients were all very fresh. The sushi rice is perfectly made. Definitely an underrated restaurant. Give it a shot, you won't be disappointed! read more

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Decent - 3.5 stars. Great if you want a variety of Chirashi bowls to order from, relatively affordable prices, and if you're OK with fish that's not super fresh but not _not_ fresh. Pro-tip: If you can, try to sit-in. They don't provide miso soup for takeout so you end up paying more for less. Tsushima on 44th has fresher fish, although fewer chirashi bowl options. read more

Don't be confused this is not your run of the mill Japanese place. They don't serve any sushi or any of the typical items you would find on a japanese/american menu. The vibe in here is soothing with toned down decor. They have bar type seating as well as a few tables. There aren't a ton of items here but all you need to know is they do fresh seafood right. I went with the three amigos don over white rice. It had salmon, spicy tuna, and regular tuna. Think of this bowl as deconstructed sushi. All the ingredients are there but you can enjoy them separately. If you are looking for a unique authentic take on Japanese cuisine come here. Cool spot read more

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Went here after we couldn't get into wokuni. This was actually a great gem. My friend recommended it a while back bc she knows how much I love food in bowls and this place fits the bill! I got an ikura bowl with hamachi and tuna. The fish was so fresh and the rice was well flavored. I also had monkfish liver for the first time and it was delicious! Everything was delicious and the staff was friendly and courteous. Wouldn't mind returning here to try their other bowls. read more

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If you're looking for fresh, authentic Japanese food, this is the place for you. I love the decor and the vibe of this place- it took me back to the days when I used to visit Japan every couple years. I love the chirashi dons (raw seafood bowl). I highly recommend the uni (sea urchin). It's difficult to find places that serve food uni was I was very pleasantly surprised at how fresh and sweet the uni was here. Will definitely be back. read more

Kaoru - Ikura Don with Hokkaido uni - Japanese Near Me - New York, New York

Kaoru is easily one of NYC's best kept secrets. Finally got the chance to try out their three amigos bowl after months of having this spot bookmarked on Yelp. It did not disappoint!! For $15, you get an extremely generous amount of sashimi over a bed of rice. I even had fish left over after I finished the rice, which never happens! Service was impeccable and the ambience was cozy and relaxed. There was no live music when I visited and I think the pianist is only around during later hours. All in all, this spot is perfect for lovers of chirashi! I can't wait to bring all my friends back. read more

This place feels a bit over hyped to me. With that said the prices are pretty decent for the amount of fish and you do get to walk out with a full belly. I got the the uni don with tuna and salmon for $30 plus tip and tax. This also came with a miso soup. The uni was fresh but not the best I've had. The tuna and salmon were decent but a bit chewy. I didn't really like the way the sashimi were cut so they could use a bit more detail in this aspect. The rice was also pretty lumpy so I found myself having to break it up which was difficult if you didn't want to mush everything together. I'd definitely come back if I was craving cheap sushi and big portions! read more

Kaoru - Uni don with tuna and salmon - Japanese Near Me - New York, New York

This. Place. Is. So. Good! Definitely worth going to - and a place that I would want to come back to again! I got the Tres Amigos, which includes salmon, tuna, hamachi, spicy tuna, and yaki salmon. The portions are very generous, and the flavors were all very complimentary. Was a very solid meal that was very filling. read more

Kaoru - Tres Amigos - Japanese Near Me - New York, New York

Had the 3 amigos sushi takeout, was fresh, delicious and timely. Def coming back for more takeout and also a sit down.

Extraordinary. This is a NY classic. Fortunately it has not been renovated. It keeps all its charm. It serves exceptional don. The fish is always so fresh. Don't miss the pickles. I have never been at night, when it becomes a piano bar, but it is definitively in my to do list. read more

I came to Kaoru with a friend before seeing a show, so we got to the restaurant around 6pm. We got seated at the bar right away - it was pretty empty at first but filled up over the next hour. I ordered the Three Amigos Don - a combination of tuna, salmon, and hamachi over rice. I absolutely LOVED it. The flavors are simple and subtle and yet so incredibly satisfying. I'd read comments about how good their rice is, and after trying it I completely agree. The fish was super fresh and was served in a generous portion. Paired with a Sapporo, it was a perfect meal! I'd come back again and again to order the exact same thing. read more

Something New Yorkers take for granted is that there is soooo much good sushi. Even at the lesser known spots. Kind of empty when we strolled in for lunch. Loved the spicy tuna roll, the salmon avocado was decent. The sets of Rolls come with 2 rolls and a miso soup for $20. Not bad. Server was attentive. Definitely a good lunch sushi spot. read more

This is easily the worst sushi place I've ever been to (have been to countless across the states and Japan). I had decided to try it for take out since the place was less than a block away. Returned and opened within 5 minutes and was immediately hit by the aroma of spoiled fish. This fish was definitely not safe to eat. I would definitely recommend filing a report with the city if you have a similar experience. In retrospect, I probably should have taken a look at the restaurant instead of placing the order online. I've also gone ahead and attached a picture of the fish - it is visibly grey. I managed to find 2 fish scales in the brief time I was picking around the fish. read more

Kaoru - Japanese Near Me - New York, New York

Such a great place for affordable sushi in NYC. I got their uni don with yellowtail and salmon. The uni don comes with uni and you can select two selected fishes of your choice all for $25! With the amount of uni, I thought it was a steal! If two fishes aren't enough, you can add another for $3 so I got tuna as well. My husband got the three amigos $20 for a large. They were generous with the amount of fish. The quality was great and the price point was also great. I'd definitely come back when I'm back in the big city! read more

Kaoru - Uni don with yellowtail and salmon. Plus additional tuna for $3 :) - Japanese Near Me - New York, New York

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One of my favorite sushi/don places in the city!! For 40 dollars, you can get a bowl with a ton of delicious fresh uni, spicy tuna, and salmon. Truly the best bang for your buck and amazing food to bat. Part of me wants to gatekeep this place but it's just too good. read more

I am very sorry to write this review because I know times are tough and restaurants are struggling as we all (try to) survive Covid. That said, I hope it was just the shortage in global supply of foodstuffs, but it's hard to justify how Kaoru's kitchen could serve sashimi of that inedibility to customers. I just paid a visit tonight and it was not just maddening to pay that amount for inedible sashimi at a place that supposedly specializes in dons, i.e. Japanese rice bowls, but in some ways insulting that they think that can get away with it. All the sashimi was old. I ordered the Uni Hokkaido don which, per their menu setup, includes two other types of sashimi to your choice. I chose fluke and tuna. The uni from Hokkaido was, at least, verifiably from Hokkaido. It wasn't as fresh as more pristine places elsewhere in the city but as the don was $38 that was mostly fine though no one enjoys a mucous texture to any kind of uni unless it's intentional as a kappou dish. But... the tuna. It was very clearly old. The slice texture, which showed that it was neither recently sliced nor with a good blade, resulted in a tuna filet that was blanched halfway through but you could see the tuna fish's blood only in the other 50% closer to the bone. The fish, when it was a living, breathing animal, was neither killed well nor cut well. And that's a shame of an animal. In the mouth, it was dry and sandy. The coloring was very pale pink to a faint taint of deeper pink closer to the bone. The last time I ate such pale pink tuna was at a cheap happy hour where every serving was around $3. As for the fluke, same. I took one look and knew it wasn't fresh. The flesh was milky and cloudy and very clearly dry with that sandy overcoat. I put one gingerly in my mouth and had to wash it down with sake. The cut was amateur and there was clearly a lot of uncut tendon which you have to be careful with when it comes to fluke. Finally, the ikura which I paid $12 extra for. That was the worst part of it all because Kaoru had gotten rid of the actual ikura don because of supply chain issues, presumably. But the one scoop that you pay $12 for was not just unfresh but inedible. Each egg was sour and I tried 6 times on various parts of the oba leaf. The color was very pale orange. I only ate one slice each of the tuna and fluke, ate nothing other than around 6 eggs of the ikura, and dumped most of the rice because there was too much rice compared to the amount of fish. I left everything but the uni on the plate. To be honest, it was insulting. I paid close to full tip because I know that the restaurant industry is struggling but it was out of literal charity because I had to struggle to not say anything to the server. The sake was great!!! Though the cold stringed beans appetizer with sesame sauce was too sweet likely because they were trying to appeal to a more basic American palate although strangely most of the clientele was Asian. I think Kaoru needs to either figure out their business model and make the decision to either wait out the pandemic / global supply chain issue, or depress their prices. This was not a $38-worthy don. I have not been angry at a meal for a very long time but Kaoru revived that feeling. read more

Kaoru - Uni Hokkaido don with tune, fluke, and extra ikura. Note the paleness, especially of the tuna. - Japanese Near Me - New York, New York

Fantastic ambiance. Totally a hidden gem. The tartare was fantastic. Looking forward to coming back soon.

What a gem in Midtown E! I bookmarked Kaoru a few months ago after telling a friend that I was craving poke and asked her about her favorite poke place in our neighborhood. Obviously, Kaoru is not poke but it satisfies the poke craving! Came here for lunch on a Friday and was seated right away (come right when it opens because the restaurant fills up quickly!) I ordered the Uni Don and was surprised and excited to see a big pile of uni in the bowl. I added tuna and hamachi to the bowl. It's very filling and great deal for the $30 price. I even ate all the rice, which is rare. Will be back again soon and order takeout when I feel lazy. read more

The uni is always so good. I highly recommend trying this place out. The servers are excellent and the food is always extremely fast to come out. read more

Kaoru - The uni is always so good. Highly recommend - Japanese Near Me - New York, New York

Came here on a Friday night around 8PM, it is a cozy restaurant with a nice environment. Was excited for the live piano music, but unfortunately came an a time where there was no live music. The place looked very promising, but I feel as though I did not order the correct thing. I ordered the bara chirashi, which I did not really enjoy. It came with a miso soup. The portion was decently sized, but at around ~$20, I thought it was a bit pricey. The tamago inside the chirashi bowl was very salty and the saltiness really surprised me. The fish did not taste super fresh, I also did not like how the fish was diced so small. All in all, this was not a dish I would recommend. The service, however, was very fast and the server was great. I'd definitely give this place another try because I feel that they have better options and I'm sure there's a reason for the high rating on yelp. However, If solely based on the bara charashi, I would not come here again. Consider ordering something else! read more

Kaoru - Chirashi - Japanese Near Me - New York, New York

We always wanted to visit this place because so many of our friends recommended. Came here around 6 on Saturday and it was not very busy. We got the 3 amigos don & uni (+2 choice of your own) don. They were really good and fresh. I was swinging between madai & hamachi(yellowtail) and i was told that the difference is that hamachi is heavier. That's why i ended up getting madai. The portion were pretty big. The price is very reasonable depending on the amount and the quality of the fish. They also comes with complimentary miso soup. read more

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Stopped here after a visit to the Japan Society. Had the grilled amberjack collar, delicious and well served. Appreciated attention to masking by wait staff. Don't get to NY often but will definitely return when I'm able. read more

Finally found a dine-in sashimi counter that was worth the $30 price tag. Portions are big. If you have been to Japan and are missing good chirashi bowls, Kaguro has what you need. The bowl I ordered came with 1/2 a pound of uni, both a good and bad thing. Uni is best enjoyed in small doses. I was sadly unable to finish the last few bites. The maguro and hamachi that accompanied the uni were also delicious. As expected at the price point we paid. Comparatively, we have gone to lesser sashimi spots in Midtown that present themselves as quality restaurants but give much less by way of their sashimi dishes. Either in quality or in volume. And as a side note, if for some reason you like your sashimi with mayonnaise they also prepare more Americanized versions of their sashimi bowls for those that crave spicy ahi and California style sushi. But as a personal recommendation, do yourself a favor and ditch the sauce. You don't want to mask the taste of these premium cuts of sashimi. Each order comes with a side miso soup. Enjoy it best while it is piping hot. My only criticism would be of the rice. A bit too sour. read more

Kaoru - Uni Bowl with Maguro Tuna and Hamachi - Japanese Near Me - New York, New York