I've been coming to Korin for years, and it never disappoints. I get my knives expertly sharpened here and have picked up knives, barware, tableware, and cookware -- everything is top quality. The shop in Tribeca has been around since 1982, and it's grown into one of the best spots for Japanese knives and kitchen gear in the city. They carry everything from affordable knives to high-end artisan blades, plus all the accessories you could need -- sharpening stones, knife bags, and more. They even offer repair and restoration services. Chefs and home cooks alike love Korin, and it's easy to see why: knowledgeable staff, incredible selection, and a focus on Japanese craftsmanship. If you cook at all, this place is a must-visit. read more

Beautiful store carrying luxurious Japanese kitchenware. My friend recommended I look at their soft rubber cutting boards because I was trying to purge my plastic ones. I wanted to order online but shipping was $20ish and the size board I wanted was never in stock. I was visiting and asked my friend to come here and this way I got to see it in person too. I got the mid sized board and it had a nice weight to it. I haven't used it yet but I felt like for a busy store I was able to get the help I needed. Ended up coming home with one of these cutting boards without paying shipping lol read more

Hello, folks. I am trying again. I had posted a review earlier. I was shocked it was removed, for not being my content. I figured it out, however: I once had a brief period when I thought I was using Yelp, my own account, but I had someone gotten onto the social platform using Google -- still not quite sure how that works. I wrote maybe a half dozen reviews with my gmail address, which I then transferred over to the right place. If I am violating rules, I am very sorry. I value participation here. But this is me. And I believe the below. I rarely say this: I wish I had spent more time in this store. Korin specializes in knives and kitchenware imported from Japan. I bought lots of stuff from them for my new apartment, when I moved to New York City. That was during the pandemic, so everything had to be shipped to an empty unit I didn't move into for nine months though I was paying rent. It worked out fine. They even worked with me on shipping time to deal with the complexity of having the doorman put the stuff into my place (I tipped). I resolved to visit. It took several years for me to get around to it. I went to pick up a santoku I bought from a flash sale, which I usually can resist. But it looked like a great deal. It was, for a beauty that I look forward to using. I'm an enthusiastic but incompetent cook; I won't say chef, even home chef. Japanese cuisine happens to be my favorite. Due to an appointment, I had only a moment to stop by, request the item on hold, pay, then leave. It was almost closing time. They had other customers there to attend to. The transaction went fine, and the clerks seemed to be people with interest in their wares, which is increasingly uncommon (due not to any person, but the structure of the consumer economy). Anyway, in the minute I had to look around, with the friendliness of folks there, I thought, well, I have to come back and browse. I look forward to doing that. Even with internet shopping, which they also accommodate, there is something about a boutique such as this, just being able to interact with people in a brick and mortar setting, and feeling good about a transaction that otherwise could be just about acquiring material goods. I had the sense they had an ethos, promoting what I believe in, a Japanese aesthetic. Thanks for reading. read more

Knife sharpening. Dropped off and picked up in person. Friendly service. Excellent communication. Great price. Two very nice Shun knives. Both came back incredibly sharp and all tiny nicks on the edge gone. Very pleased. About to bring a few more knives to them. read more

After seeing a few videos on YouTube about Korin, I finally decided to make a visit there. It was a truly wonderful experience the staff was very attentive and provided a wide variety recommendations! They were incredibly patient and allowed us to take our time even if they had their hands full! If you are looking for a quality knife or kitchenware I would highly recommend! read more

Jimena was amazing! she helped me out and was very nice! Needed a functional reasonably price chefs knife. Jimena was able to find exactly what I was looking for that was within my budget! She even signed me up for an industry discount! I will be coming here for all my cutlery needs! read more

I had a fast and efficient time shopping here at Korin thanks to the friendly and super helpful Amelia. Great customer service and the knives that I have bought are sleek and look very nice! Amelia was very informative and the laser engraving for the knives only took about 5 mins. Highly recommend shopping here at this location. read more

I have been shopping at Korin since 2006. Mostly as an enthusiast, sometimes for occupational reasons. I have had a blade sharpened by the Master too, once. Techniques to sharpen blade and use whetstones differ person to person. Korin is the kind of place which is instrumental and educational. I once forgot to order disposable materials (Teppo Gushi) for service and was overly glad that they were open at 9AM. Either as a "Prosumer", Industry Professional, or just an enthusiast: Korin is worth a visit. Their Whetstone collection is something Always worth browsing. read more

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The knife I purchased at Korin is so nice it might be the last chef's knife I'll ever need. They even offer sharpening services for just $15 per knife. They're running a very honest business too and not out to recommend you purchase anything you don't need. Before I knew that you had to really fork over quite a pretty penny for a high quality knife, I called asking about less expensive Chinese cleavers and they simply explained why they didn't carry many options of that knife style and where I could search for something in my price range, without ever pushing me to spend more. After visiting the store and speaking with very patient and knowledgeable staff about what I was looking for, I realized it would be worth it to spend a lot just once on a knife that would last me years, or even a lifetime, than to end up buying multiple lower quality knives. It's now been a few months using my chef's knife from Korin and it continues to making slicing and dicing a cinch. read more

Korin - Chinese cleaver - Kitchen & Bath Near Me - New York, New York

I ordered a set of ceramic ramen bowls. They came quickly and are lovely, and the two that broke on delivery were promptly replaced when I showed a picture of what happened. read more

The management at this location are incredibly disrespectful. I was sold the wrong items for my purpose that were also defective and the store refused any type of assistance or return. When I expressed disappointment in a reply I was simply ignored. There is no place for a store like this. It is much more efficient to do your own research online and order from a large retailer at a lower price and with after service. They have ZERO value to provide and shopping from them is like going back in time with bad service. read more

Purchased many knives and kitchenware from this store many times over the years and have always had a great experience!

This is a fabulous shop in the Tribeca area of NYC. Come here for many types of Japanese kitchen and tableware, barware, and grilleware all with a beautiful Japanese aesthetic. But really, the star of the show just might be their collection of knives many of which are traditional Japanese brands and are just simply works of useful kitchen art. What a gorgeous and spectacular array of knives for any possible food prep/cooking needs with the price points to match. But quality doesn't come cheap. Invest in good knives for your kitchen, take good care of them and you will have them for a lifetime and beyond. Korin also sells knife sharpening stones and other accessories. Other services include knife sharpening, knife repair and restoration, left-hand knife conversions and custom engraving. The store is in a long narrow space so watch your handbag and elbows. You could easily knock into some of the dinnerware and wreak havoc. There is so much to look at here from plates, bowls, matcha cups, teapots, platters, chopsticks and the like. I am an avid collector of dinnerware from new to vintage. I like being able to use different tableware for different things. I had my eye on a beautiful set of black dishes. These would make a dramatic presentation for a special dinner. I didn't buy them but they are clearly still on my mind. Maybe next time. Korin would be a great place to get a wedding or hostess gift for someone. There were a couple of serving bowls I wanted to buy but they didn't have the ones I wanted in stock. They asked if I wanted to buy the display items but didn't offer any discount on those. I personally think if you are willing to sell something that has been sitting on the shelf handled by probably hundreds of people, you might want to take at least a few percentage points off the price. I wasn't so desperate for the bowls so I just passed on them going home empty-handed. This of course, won't be the last time I visit Korin. Keep in mind that they ship. You can peruse their website but I think the real joy is visiting this pretty jewel-box of a store in fun Tribeca. read more

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Do not buy from this company. I ordered a saya from them and paid for 2 day shipping mind you, the shipping cost $40 on a $30 saya. They ignored my email and requested a refund. 2 months later, still no saya and no response. Terrible customer service. Shame on you Korin read more

You get what you pay for! Do not be tempted to get a less expensive knife. Korin will not sell you what you don't need or cannot use. This business practices very strong ethics and the customer service is second to none. You can buy items online, but the true experience is in the showroom. They will ask good assessment questions about what you are looking for and give you options for size and what kind of bevel for which you would be best suited. People often think they are sharpening their knives when they are simply honing their knives. Bring your knives here for proper and professional sharpening done by a skilled person. There is no machine that can replace this service. Beware of the $6 or $9 sharpening service. Korin will do it correctly. They also sell wonderful accessories like knife covers (the wooden ones are the best) and other kitchen items. Even if you don't buy something right away, it is good to go in talk to someone about the best knife for you so you know what to purchase when the time is right. For example, I went in when I was a pastry student. It was apparent that my knife skills would improve as my training went on. There was one knife that would be great for certain applications, however, it was just a little too sensitive for my skill level at that time. I had an 8 inch student model and that's a good knife on which to make mistakes because the blade can be repaired fairly easily (like chipping the bevel, etc) and you have to sport a few bandaids to learn how to respect your knife's space. About a year after graduation, I went back and looked at several knives, but the one that was shown to me by this wonderful saleswoman was the one I bought. She was absolutely right and that has been my best knife since! Since then, I have brought other people into the showroom to get the full experience. I have been a regular customer for 6 years and simply will not go anywhere else, even now that I live in the Boston area. read more

Nice little store in the age of disappearing retail. Great little gift ideas for under $20 or so, like small bowl sets and chopstix or small dispensers for soy sauce, etc. There are also some interesting table sized hibachi sets with small grills. They look very attractive and interesting for a person that might like to cook at home like this. I'm curious how they are fueled. They have a small upstairs that features unique aprons that wrap around a fit snug. Then there are the knives which are really the center piece of the store, with fancy designer blades. You'd need to know what you're looking for or the chef you're buying for but it's a really nice display. If you're in the area and looking for something for yourself or that special chef, pop in. It's worth a visit. read more

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Great place with superb customer service. Lilian always very helpfull with everything we need. the best in the business.. cheers for Korin. read more

Incredible service at Korin. I bought some sharpening stones and a knife sheath. The staff was helpful and prompt in ordering the items to be shipped to the store. I love their selection of beautiful bowl sets. Highly recommend stopping in. read more

I'd heard about Korin for a long time and have walked by it many times. Yet I was reluctant to enter due to my perception that it was hoity-toity. But my boyfriend chipped my beloved Chinese butcher knife so I needed it fixed pronto and went to Korin. Boy am I glad I did! The staff was incredibly nice and friendly. The blade was fixed within a business day and the quality was great. Best of all, the price was very reasonable! One might even say cheap considering the level of service. read more

In the old days, NYC was filled with small, quirky shops that had unique goods available nowhere else. There was an African goods store on 8th in the Village back when I was in college. My friend and I would start our Christmas shopping spree there so he could buy unique holiday cards. Throw in lost toy stores, one owner jewelry shops, bakeries and non-chain restaurants and the world has clearly changed. I think, not for the better. There are a few oldies around. McNulty on Christopher for coffee and tea - Fountain Pen Hospital on Warren to name just two. Happily, while visiting FPH, I saw Korin and popped in. This small store is a throw back to that niche emporium that finds an audience and services it well. Here they sell elegant Japanese style products from dinnerware to extremely high-end knives. The knife selection, displayed in museum-like cases, is mind boggling. Prices are not for the faint hearted. I saw tags with a lot of zeros! Some, naturally, are in the hundred dollar range but the top of the line sushi knives are much, much more. They also have an in-house knife sharpening service - which makes sense if you sell such serious cutlery. I watched a man slowly hone an edge on an expensive looking blade. He looked like he was straight from central casting ! I spoke to him (his English better than my Japanese) about sharpening as I have a keen interest in knives (pun intended). He said he studied sharpening at the foot of a 90 year old master. The tools he uses, he said, cost as much as some of the knives. Fascinating! While there, a chef came in with an abused Japanese knife he found in a restaurant kitchen and asked if they could bring it back to life. They said yes and the price was surprisingly low. Cool... They have classes, elegant wares and a friendly staff. Prices are equal to the quality, meaning fair. I went home with a small rice bowl and have had my AM cereal from it nearly every day. Please, shop here to help keep it in business. NYC needs more small exciting shops like this. The last thing we need is another chain store selling the same trash you can buy in Jersey! Recommended. read more

Korin - Master sharpener at work. - Kitchen & Bath Near Me - New York, New York

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I went there to Sharpning my knife. And their customer service is outstanding. I used to go the one in midtown, but they are not really nice. From now on, I'll go to Kōrin read more

We are frequent visitors & customers of Korin and we see it as a 5 Star Business because of their great selection of high quality Japanese Knives and other products. The service is always first class. Sadly, this was not the case this past Saturday evening. When we arrived, we were met at the door by an employee who informed us that they we're having a book signing. There was also a big party going on where the knife showcases are with food being served. The employee told us that we could look at the knives but only on one side of the knife area because the "party" & the food was on the other side. She also told us that they moved many of the knives from the "party" side showcase to the other side which was very confusing. We were not asked to partake in any of the festivities- other regular customers were left out as well. The employee was rushing us to look quickly at the knives and then left us for the party. Feeling very out of place, we decided to leave after 10 minutes. Very disappointing because we came in from the Island and my wife was going to treat me to a new knife to add to my collection for my Birthday! If the plan was to ignore "regular customers" while a book signing was going on, they should have shut down the store to "regular customers" & posted a notice on their website & made it "by invitation only" read more

Korin is kool. This Japanese kitchen shop in Tribeca is known for its expansive assortment of chef knives, but they also have a collection of gorgeous tableware. I picked up a stunning plate for a gift and was surprised at how reasonable the cost was. And there are bulk discounts, in case you are a restaurant or something. Korin also sells little cooking gadgets and doodads that are worth looking over too. The shop is small, and I recommend not lugging in multiple bags like I did. At least I didn't break anything, whew. The salespeople (there sure were a lot) were polite, patient, and helpful, assisting me when I eventually put on my "I need something from you now" face but otherwise leaving me to browse on my own. Visit http://www.korin.com/About/Our-Customers_2 to see some culinary schools, restaurants, and hotels that use Korin knives! read more

Quality store for the serious but without attitude. Top notch knife sharpening services.

It's a bit of a trek for me to get there and their hours are sometimes tricky to remember but if you want your knives sharpened perfectly this is the place to go. I am not a chef but this place came recommended to me by my friends who are chefs and they say, hands down, this is the place to go. I couldn't agree more. read more

Korin sells and service Japanese and high end western knives. I use some of their thin, razor sharp Knives for cutting ginourmous amounts of veggies for the yacht club where I work. The Europeon knives are just too thick and tend to be duller. I'm on my way to them to have my Knife kit touched up for the upcoming season. read more

I'm a banquet chef at a hotel in Philadelphia. I use my knives everyday and I absolutely love the knives bought from korin..best knives in my knife roll. They are incredibly sharp and easy to maintain. Korin has great sales people, amazing sharpening service, customer service and fast shipping , but it's incredibly frustrating that I have to pay more because I'm left handed..only complaint. read more

This review summarizes my experience with Korin Japanese Trading Company online services. My search for an authentic Japanese sushi knife led me to the Korin's website (www.korin.com). After several email exchanges and clarifications with an associate, I decided to purchase the "Korin Stain-Resistant Yanagi," a sushi knife. I also decided to purchase a two-sided sharpening stone as well as a wooden knife cover for the sushi knife. All items arrived well packaged and without any problems. I was very pleased with my order. About a week later I decided to buy two bento boxes with cover and divider. When I opened the package, I was not happy with the bento boxes. I contacted them to express my disappointment. I received a phone call from their supervisor, Wendy. She apologized and offered to send me two replacement bento boxes that meet my expectations, free of charge. I received the bento boxes and I was very satisfied and pleased. I am extremely pleased with my dealings with Korin Japanese Trading Company. It shows me that they do care about their customers and their satisfaction. In the past, I have dealt with other companies that their only objective is to make a profit. Korin is unlike those companies; they do care about customer satisfaction and customer's happiness with their products. They go out of their way to make sure the customer is completely happy. I cherish and appreciate that! To me Korin deserves the highest points that could be awarded for their customer service and quality of their products. I strongly recommend Korin!! read more

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Terrible service Went in to purchase a new knife and sharpen an old one. I received no service and when I inquired one of staff members she was VERY rude. Did not even lift her head from her tablet. I was left standing in the middle of the store for around 10 minutes until someone else walked in and was helped promptly. After this I decided to leave. I got home and called costumer service. They were no help. I will not shop here again. Beware of bad service. read more

Consistent, fantastic quality knives with quick shipment. Refreshing to buy from such a reliant business

I brought some knives in for sharpening and got them back with some very minor cosmetic problems. I was told to bring them back in and my gosh... best service ever. Vincent (special shout-out to you) and the entire Korin staff was very apologetic. They issued a refund and got my knives touched up and back into perfect condition. If you need your knives sharpened, Korin is the place to go. read more

Korin is an amazing place if your looking for the professional Japanese knives dinnerware and much much more. I am an avid amateur home chef and a huge foodie, and restaurant investor. With that said I was sent to Korin by a few renowned chefs here in NYC that I know and work with when I wanted a Yanagi knife for home. Its literally a candy store for professionals and home chefs! Furthermore, the staff couldn't of been more knowledgeable and helpful leading me in the right direction for all my needs. Wade spent nearly 2 hours with me helping and explaining all the complexities of such a knife from the steel to the handles etc.. Thank you Wade and the staff at Korin you definitely have a client for life! Darren read more

Fantastic customer service at Korin! I live in Alaska and doing business with Korin is a breeze. If there's a distance version of omotenashi, they have perfected it! Highly recommended!! read more

This store is so low key that I just found out this gem today after passing the same place for 2yrs! What a GEM! I am so happy - Japanese culinary and Japanese knives heaven! love all their beautiful knives, bowls, cups... Basically any cooking tool, any culinary stuff... I also bought a book of Japanese home recipes. I'll def come back! Staff is very friendly. Price is fair. read more

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My review is based upon the fact that I would gladly purchase from them, but have no way of doing so on line. The site will not allow me to check out without starting an account which is fine however the site won't allow me to set up an account. I tried in multiple browsers to no avail. Sad. All I want to do is give them my money. I attempted to use "contact us" but that also did not function. Crazy. read more

The store itself is great. It is very clean and has just about every knife you could think of. The service is great and they help you find the knife you need and the knife that fits right for you. However, we went to Korin to get a knife that we bought there sharpened and turned from a right handed knife to a left handed knife. They took our knife and a couple of days later we got an email telling us to pick up the knife because their knife sharpener was suddenly unavailable. They did not know when he would be back. This was back in very early October. To their credit, they gave two coupons to get the knives sharpened for free when they have a new knife sharpener. I would give this place a much better review except it is now the end of November and we are still left hanging. When are they getting a new knife sharpener? What even happened? One of the bonuses of shopping at Korin is their knife services, so why has there been no sharpener for so long? I would think at a store like this, especially one that seems to pride itself on service, this would be a priority. read more

Come to NYC every year for Anniversary. Last year found Korin and bought a fruit knife. Went back this year for recommendations on some basic culinary knives bought two. So knowledgeable. Beautiful Japanese pieces as well. Will be back next year! read more

I bought a Masamoto Sohontan Wa- Nakiri knife a couple of weeks ago. The shipping was very fast. I got it 3 days before it was expected. It is my first Japanese knife. It is one of the best knives I have in my arsenal. I am a home cook and love good knives. My husband was a meat cutter and taught me about good knives and how to take care of them. I saw this knife on a cooking program and decided to try it. As knives go I thought the value was really good with the 15% off. I have used that knife everyday since I got it. It is so nice and sharp. I am lefthanded and it fits in my hand perfectly. On a lot of their knives I noticed you can request lefthanded. That is rare and such a nice feature. I love it. The customer service was excellent. I did not find the website hard to navigate, This is considered a supplemental knife but I eat a lot of veggies and salads. This is now become a must have. I have let several of my friends use it and they all want one. Most have asked their spouses for it for a Christmas gift. I hope they get it. I will be buying more knives as I educate myself about the different ones. read more

if i ever get stabbed in the back again i would choose a korin sharpen knife. it would be a painless quick death up to the standards of any samurai even when performed with a kitchen knife. the wait is annoying as it can take up to a week to get them back. but back they are with the tremors of desolated tomatoes and doomed cucumbers reckoning their inevitable sharp demise. read more

"The wand chooses the wizard, Mr. Potter." The second I picked up the knife in Korin Japanese Trading, I knew we would be together forever. This is an amazing Japanese knife shop for those who are deep into knives... everyone in the store around me was a culinary student or worked at a restaurant. The showroom is wall-to-wall knives, and even though this is a pro store, the staff are so patient and helpful when I came in not knowing what types of knives I wanted. I came in with my fiancee to pick out some knives for our registry - Jack interviewed us about what kind of things we cook and how much time we wanted to spend taking care of the knives, then let us pick up many different types and brands to see how they felt. To be honest, you do probably want to do some research ahead of time, at least to know what models your current knives are and why you want different ones. And I did come to the store wanting to try a specific model, but Jack laid out a comparison that helped reinforce how much I liked the one I had in mind. Please do visit. read more