Visit Date: June 13, 2014 Came here on a lunch date with my friend Janell. The atmosphere of the restaurant is deceptive and classy. When you see the restaurant from the outside you think it's really tiny, once you walk in though you see a lot of spice, nice wood tables, casual but elegant atmosphere. I had the aged tofu, vegetable tempura, miso soup and a salad. (The salad and miso soup came with the lunch special). I was impressed with everything I ate, everything was fresh and tasted just as you would expect it to taste. Just a heads up aged tofu is a little slimy. I think it's great but if you don't like eating anything slimy don't eat the aged tofu. The wait staff was friendly and helpful. They actually have an afternoon break (which I've seen other sushi places do) so they are open from 11ish to 2:30 than take a break and don't open again until dinner. Despite the fact that they were closing for the afternoon they didn't kick us out of the restaurant or force us to wrap up quickly. read more

Disclaimer!!!: I first ate here 10 years ago. I sat at the closest window to the entrance walkway, with four other people. We got the biggest boat they had, oysters, apps, salads, soups, etc! I LOVED IT, yet did not return till almost two years later as I didn't know its name, or where it was! That being said, I have no idea how I never put a review on here, I've reviewed the other locations this place owns (roslyn, hauppauge) but somehow must have missed my crown jewel. I have also eaten at the combination of all three at least 50 times through the years. My favorite is Babylon, then Hauppauge, then Roslyn. Listen, unless you are unable to be impressed, or have no common sense whatsoever, this place is an excellent establishment. You have to check it out, its my favorite on LI. read more

Return Visit: Took my son out for sushi at Kotobuki. I'd been there a couple of years back and loved the food and service. We ordered several of the sushi rolls. By far our favorite was the Spicy Crab roll. We liked it so much, we ordered another one! The Fire Island roll was pretty good as well and the Spicy Tuna was excellent. Service was very well handled and the rolls were delivered promptly. There were always wait staff around, filling waters, clearing plates, but they weren't intrusive at all. One warning: If you have a gluten or wheat related intolerance/allergy, make sure you order your rolls without the panic crumbs. They were included in a couple of the rolls we ordered, but we didn't remember seeing them listed on the menu. the waiter was very gracious and took the roll back and delivered us another one. This was some of the best sushi I have had in the area. Original review: I absolutely loved this place. We were sat the minute we arrived (during the dinner hour). The waitress was very attentive and helpful, although she had a little trouble with English. My guest ordered the Sushi/Sashimi sampler and I ordered a Bento Box. The sampler had about 20 pieces of fish on it and came with soup, salad and rice. The Bento was equally huge and server with the same. The food was very fresh, nicely presented, reasonably priced and the portions were large. We could have split either of the meals and had enough food. Top it off with a Saporo and it was a well rounded meal. I will absolutely return. Only downside was it was a little loud as almost all of the tables were full. read more

Kotobuki is definitely one of the better Japanese restaurants I've been to. I keep coming back, even if it is a bit out of the way for me. I used to live in Japan so, believe me, I've had a lot of sushi in my lifetime.... but this is some of the freshest fish and best quality sushi in New York. Definitely worth the visit. Full disclosure: I normally am not a fan of the very inventive and Americanized sushi rolls and prefer something a little more simple and straightforward so I haven't tried the more creative and "out there" dishes here. But the actual quality of their fish is so high that even the more simple sushi and sashimi is delicious. My favorites are the half futomaki with no rice and the shogun roll with no mayo. The seaweed salad is also amazing and unlike the typical prepacked seaweed salads you get at most Japanese restaurants. I'll come back again and again. read more

See all

This is the most amazing sushi spot I have ever been to! The sushi is always so fresh and so tasty. My boyfriend and I come here at least once a week. So good, you will not regret going here. Our favorite spot! read more

Jointed their waitlist through Yelp which indicated a 5-15 minute wait. When we arrived we were told they don't use the waitlist feature and would be a 45 minute wait. The host was not apologetic at all. read more

Kotobuki Restaurant - Japanese Near Me - Babylon, New York

We normally go to the Roslyn location and decided to try out this location since it is closer to home. Glad we did! Same quality food and the service was spot on! They were very accommodating to our baby as well seating us in a location that she would not be bumped into at all. read more

Bad food, got sick for 4 days. Different chiefs, Sushi for 3 wasn't even close to being what it was. Yoshi you should take a look a your Babylon store. read more

All I can say is this place is amazing. I wish I could give it 10 stars. Food is unbelievable.

After hearing a ton of talk from friends we decided to give this a run. The food was good and the service was fine. However the place is very small and we were practically sitting with another couple. We could hear their entire conversation easily, and I'm sure they could hear ours. The decor looks more like a take out restaurant with a few tables and the good food isn't worth my discomfort of sitting on the person's lap next to me. I'd much rather go to Mitsui in Bayshore, better food, better ambiance, and no forced intimacy lol. read more

About an 30 minute wait but that's expected for the top Japanese restaurant around town. I've been coming here for years & never had a complaint about my food. The sushi is always fresh and so delicious. YUM!! Highlight dish for me tonight was the Torched Toro w/ scallions & honey-chili sauce. Simply divine and left me craving for more!! read more

Kotobuki Restaurant - Torched Toro w/ scallions & honey-chill sauce - Japanese Near Me - Babylon, New York

Amazing service, workers are very prompt and knowledgeable and the sushi and sashimi was excellent and we will definitely be back for more soon! read more

We love Kotobuki. I have actually never physically been there but we order from there often and the sashimi is super fresh and delightful. Never unsatisfied with them. I am very happy that we found a place close enough for delivery that is as fresh as this. read more

Great sushi and sashimi. I'm always torn between aji and kotobuki. It always comes down to, do I want sushi ?- kotobuki. Do I want a roll?- aji. Every time I have been here the sushi has been on point. The salmon is so tender that it's like butter. The salmon avocado salad is my favorite. The last time I came here I had the oyster appetizer, they were ridiculous!! I think that they will be added to my staple order. read more

Consistent. That's how I'd describe Kotobuki. I have yet to be the slightest bit disappointed by this establishment. Whether it's take out or dine in, they always manage to make the food delicious. Every other place like this one, including one not far from it, all taste and feel the same. Kotobuki manages to be a cut above the rest! read more

One of the best restaurants in town! The service, food, and ambience is all top notch. Can't recommend it enough!

Will never eat here again! Went for dinner. Service was horrible. Left a tip accordingly and waitress stopped us at the door to ask for a bigger tip. When I asked to speak to management they defended her. Find a better restaurant to eat at! read more

I don't give 5 stars unless the place and the service were excellent. I don't give 4 stars unless the food was excellent. This place was unfortunately, none of the above. I'm an epic raw fish eater and when I visit the sushi restaurants, I don't just look for a great taste but a great atmosphere (of Asia). Here are the break-downs. 1. Food - Of course, I start with the food because that's the reason I am here. I don't eat any food but raw fish - they call it sashmi. Fish is fresh but not the freshest I tasted. Also, the texture and taste were average. Overall, about barely 4 stars. 2. Atmosphere - Dark seems to be a theme for kotobuki branches and this one wasn't an exception. I can't help but notice there are no waitresses, only waiters, also in dark uniforms. This dark theme doesn't help to make food attractive and I'm not so sure why they chose to go dark. Apparently there are a lot more women customers than men. Seatings are too close with the strangers (rather cluttered), so you have no privacy whatsoever. I can see the purpose of this is to have customers to eat quick and leave for the next to fill in. Tables are mostly for two people. I've been to Japan and it felt nothing like it, as a matter of fact, any place in Asia. I felt like I am in somewhere low level restaurant in SoHo, in Manhattan. Remember, this isn't it (not even close) and this is Babylon. Overall, 2 stars. 3. Service - There is really none. Again, they seem to be experts getting customers in and out as fast as they can, that I give them credit for, because as soon as we sat down, we somehow wanted to eat and leave the place as quick as we could. It just felt right to do so somehow. I don't know why. Because the place wasn't that busy. There were many empty seats when we came in and when we were leaving. There were actually more waiters and sushi makers than the actual customers if I remember correctly. Overall 3 stars. PS - This place seems to be adult only. Nothing about it welcomes kids. Also, not so friendly for elderlies, either. Because they want you to order, eat and get out quickly. If I'm over 50, I'd consider other places (and there are plenty of other places to go). This definitely is for young people who would not mind spending decent money. But still, not the place for them to chat around. If you have less than an hour to eat and you're alone or with a partner and are in your 20's or 30's, this is the place to go. You will eat a decent raw fish and do that in time. By the way, is Kotobuki a fast sushi food chain? If so, I suggest a drive-thru. Maybe there is one and I missed it, because it was dark. Lol. read more

I've always been a huge fan of Kotobuki. Their fish is some of the freshest and highest quality around, and their service is exceptional. I visited recently and had a nice quiet lunch. Without the feel of being rushed, I was first served my miso soup (a touch saltier than normal, but still tasty), followed by salad w ginger dressing (definitely the best ginger dressing around w fresh grated ginger and perfectly balanced), and then my sashimi lunch...10 pcs of sashimi, a little salmon carpaccio, and a small version of the UFO roll...no rice, all fresh, super delicious, and plated beautifully. No sake for this lunch, but rather a few mugs of green tea to complete my afternoon...oh, and the best part...all of that for $16!!! One of the best lunch specials around...one of the best sushi places altogether! I will continue my patronage to Kotobuki because of how wonderful the staff is, and how delicious the sushi always is!!! read more

Kotobuki Restaurant - Sashimi Lunch Plate - Japanese Near Me - Babylon, New York

We enjoyed our meal. The service was friendly, the ginger dressing was amazing, the edamame was cooked perfectly and the appetizer was a unique asparagus wrapped in a shrimp tempura batter topped with a garlic butter sauce. We had a shrimp teriyaki that came out sizzling, the American Dream and the Rainbow #3. it was a great night out!! read more

Came to this Babylon location since the Hauppauge spot would've been packed out for the night. Fortunately, the sushi here is on par with the other location. Absolutely fantastic, super fresh and great texture and taste. The dining room is a bit dark, bare and cramped here but you'll be too busy enjoying the fish. Service is fine and prices are a bit high but you're paying for quality. Try to come early because it is packed. Definitely recommended if you're seriously into great sushi. read more

See all

What can i say i never liked sushi until eating here, i love the tuna pizza.. its all fresh and restaurants are always very clean. Awesome

The BEST sushi in babylon!! Kotobuki has been our main spot to eat sushi for the past 10 years. Ever since i was a little kid i've been in love with the food. The first thing that got me hooked was the eel roll and i ate that same roll for 6 years until i started to try more. Now i can't think of one bad time i've bet had kotobuki i've been going there for my birthday every year and the employees make the experience better by being helpful and very kind. The rolls I have to get when I go are the Eel roll and one spider roll. The desserts are also so tasty!! Can't wait to keep coming back!! read more

Great place to eat sushi everything is always fresh and delicious I highly recommend it to you sushi lovers out there I've been eating sushi for over 45 years now and this is my favorite place read more

Superb place to get your sushi-fix. The sushi is always yummy and fresh. The service is excellent. The only negative I have to say is the seating can be somewhat tight and cramped. But when you have great food and service, that can easily be forgiven. Pro-tips: -Salmon/Tuna Carpaccio appetizer = amazing -The 'Grinch' roll is fantastic -They do not take reservations, so if you plan on going on a Friday/Saturday night, go on the earlier side as it can get crowded. read more

Normally love this place, but tonight just ruined my whole experience. Spent $80 on delivery, seaweed salad was disgusting. Also ordered rolls which were okay and miso soup which I gagged because of how awful the seaweed tasted and made the soup taste. The only good thing about it was the ginger on the side. Extremely disappointed. read more

I would've given this five stars because the food is sooo good but the wait is RIDICULOUS. you should definitely eat here but don't when you're starving! read more

I will never go back to this Resturant again!! Crab salad was nauseating with too much mayo Chilean sea bass had butter or oil that made me sick all night - said it came with hearty vegetables had two slices of carrot! Atmosphere sucked Waiter never smiled , service sucked Place was packed honestly do not get it !!! read more

Hands down my favorite place to get sushi! Not only does it have the perfect location on Deer Park Avenue in the babylon village, but the food is perfection. They offer everything from salads, hot cooked meals, sushi rolls, and desserts. If you are looking to have a drink, I HIGHLY recommend the plum saki wine. Tastes more like a wine then saki, but is an interesting blend of the two. One glass is sure to take the edge off of things!! The only downside to Kotobuki is the size of the restaurant. The place is very small and does not offer guests much privacy while eating. Tables are seperated just enough to walk between. There is an option to sit in a booth or at the sushi bar. This place is a must try!!! read more

Some of the best sashimi dishes I've had in a while. The white tuna crudo is a great appetizer, layered with rice wine vinegar, light olive oil, thinly sliced onions and scallions. The flavors meld beautifully together. The tuna belly and white tuna sashimi were delicious as well. It's worth the trip to come here to eat the white tuna crudo. read more

Tuesday night, 7 pm and Kotobuki is packed. I can almost understand... Pleasant room, great service, and very good menu. And then came the food... Sushi was wonderful - a really good start. But then followed soup which was ordinary and a salad with a horrible ginger dressing. My wife had never met a piece of salmon she didn't like until this meal. Mushy and strange looking, she was actually afraid to eat more than a bite or two. I had the "Kotobuki Special Steak" which was cooked properly but was as mealy as a piece of liver. So, perhaps we ordered the wrong things. But with so many other Japanese restaurants serving really good food perhaps it is time for Kotobuki to get their act back together. read more

This place is decent. For a suburban sushi restaurant, they have a pretty neat interior (in a tiny space). It's definitely not worth the wait and if you value elbow room, you might as well just order it take away. But, I do like the sushi. And they do try to accommodate you as quickly as possible. I think I was completely enamored of it the first couple of times I've gone, but now that I'm over it, I can see that you can get comparable sushi elsewhere (Sumou in Bay Shore is just as good) without the hassle of waiting. One good think about Kotobuki is that it's close to Argyle and Mary Carroll's so if you're planning on getting a drink first, you can put your name on the list and go sit at the bar down the street. read more

Another place that if you come late, you miss all of the waiting and pretty much have the place to yourself. Which is what happened last night. Came by around 9 and just made it. We had the place to ourself which made it even more awesome for a date night. The server was very friendly and helpful to newbies. We ordered chicken teriyaki and chicken kobayaki. They came with miso soup and salad. All delicious and perfect size portions. We also ordered a crunchy tuna roll and a tuna babylon roll along with 2 orders of tuna sashimi. These were very tasty and very fresh! If I were to make it back out here again, I would stick to the sushi/sashimi and rolls considering how fresh and flavorful everything was. read more

Very unhappy with the order that we received tonight. They were supposed to text us when the order was ready, they did not. When we picked up the order we asked for additional soy sauce and were told "no". They said they had already given us enough for the food that we ordered. They did not give us enough. Ordered crunchy, spicy tuna rolls, they were not spicy and they were not crunchy. Plain tuna rolls they gave us. Order "hole in one" for $19.50. It was small, bland and was nothing like the description. Not sure if it was even what we ordered. read more

This is our favorite sushi place . I love that they know us and always please us . The sushi is delicious , and their kitchen is quite good too . I really have not had a bad meal here . You will like it. The sushi is fresh and plentiful, sushi for 1 really can be for 2. The sea bass is very nice too. The sashimi salad is a great appetizer for the table, or for a meal. I love to have lunch there too, ask for the lunch special, its usually good. you gotta have the rock&roll #4, a little pricey but worth it!! Have their spicy mayo too to dip those delicious rolls!!! read more

Kotobuki Babylon just canceled my take out order after delaying it for an hour. Second time this happened. GO TO MASA IN BABYLON. They are respectful and delicious and I'm sorry I strayed tonight. BAN KOTOBUKI! read more

To be honest, when I hear a lot of hype about a restaurant, I'm usually skeptical about whether or not it is actually as good as everyone says. Kotobuki: you are everything I hoped you would be. I was actually a little surprised about how basic the decor is one you get inside. Still a step above your average sushi restaurant, it is clean and functional. The rolls and the unique combinations they offer are outstanding! I'll go back again.. on a Tuesday when it isn't quite so packed. read more

Far and away my favorite sushi restaurant. Service is sometimes just okay. Be prepared to wait a very very long time for a table (even sometimes during the week) but DEFINITELY worth the wait. The sushi is always fresh and the combinations are great. K-Mac sliders are a great appetizer. They come two sliders to an order and I've often eaten these as my main meal for lunch instead of just an appetizer. The fried oysters are good too Roll wise I love the caterpillar remix and hole-in-1. Kotobuki does not disappoint! read more

Excellent Japanese place, we loved the food and the service.

Worst experience. I honestly eat sushi at least once a week and I know what tuna is supposed to taste like/look like. Tuna should never be diced in a fashion where it looks like regurgitated food. Unfortunately that wasn't even the worst part. The Tuna roll was also warm ... in a bad way. The place is obnoxiously loud, cramped and always crowded. Definitely not worth the wait, time or money. Arata's in Syosset will remain a favorite after this horrid experience. read more