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Nippon

3.9 (216 reviews)
Closed • 11:30 am - 2:15 pm, 5:15 PM - 9:15 PM
Updated over 3 months ago

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NIPPON ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Quiet
Good for groups
Good for kids

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Recommended Reviews - Nippon

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Jocelyn L.

Came for restaurant week and for $60 you choose from a prefix menu of an appetizer, entree, and dessert which is a great deal. We got to try a bunch of stuff on their menu (soba noodles, eggplant, sukiyaki, sushi, ice cream, and jello), all of which were amazing. We added the miso cod and it was so perfect and buttery. The staff was very attentive and nice. They made sure our tea and water glasses were filled at all times. It wasn't crowded when we booked our reservation for 6:30pm on a weeknight but it did get crowded shortly after. I recommend reservations.

Room
David R.

Restaurant Nippon -- A Midtown Institution That Earns It There are restaurants that coast on their history and restaurants that actually deserve it. After finally making it to Restaurant Nippon on East 52nd Street -- open since 1963 and one of the most storied Japanese restaurants in New York City -- I'm happy to report it falls firmly in the latter camp. We kicked things off with a Suntory Draft -- the perfect way to settle in and set the tone for a Japanese lunch. Cold, crisp, and exactly right. We started with the Beef Negimayaki appetizer, and it's as good as its reputation -- this is the dish they invented here, and you can tell. The thinly sliced beef wrapped around scallions is simple, elegant, and completely satisfying. From there we moved into the Nippon Original Beef Curry, which was rich and deeply flavored -- more refined than your typical Japanese curry, with a complexity that felt distinctly their own. The Spicy Tuna Roll was fresh and well-balanced, and the Salmon Teriyaki was exactly what you want it to be -- a reliable, beautifully executed classic. Dessert was a three-way situation: Green Tea Ice Cream, Red Bean Paste, and Lychee Sorbet. No complaints there -- a perfect light finish to a satisfying lunch. Will I be back? Without question. Next time I want to explore the soba -- Nippon is credited with introducing authentic ni-hachi buckwheat soba to New York City, and that's not something you skip twice. And if they offer fugu à la carte, I'll be ordering it without hesitation. Not many places in Manhattan give you that opportunity, and this feels like exactly the right room to try it.

Fugu, I'm still yelping so a satisfied customer here
Nick C.

One of the main reasons I went to NYC was to try Fugu(puffer fish). Understandably pricy but it was an experience. Ended up also ordering the Omakase and each piece didn't disappoint. I'm from LA and I'd say it beats out sushi gen. Service was wonderful too as we were served and instructed by a nice lady. Expect an expensive meal but unrivaled taste and experience.

Mozzarella Agedashi
Eliza L.

Ordered: -Agedashi Mozzarella -Beef Tataki -Chicken Soba Salad -NYer Omakase special -Beef Curry -Green Tea and Vanilla Ice Cream All the dishes were so fresh and delicious. Our favorite order was the omakase special. The ambience feels like you're eating a home cooked meal. Angela was also the best server and made sure to check in on us often. She made great food and drink suggestions. Would highly recommend going here and getting seated in one of their cute private dining rooms. It is a nice escape from the hustle and bustle of other Manhattan restaurants.

Agedashi Tofu

One of the best Japanese places I've been! Food is very authentic, their seasonal appetizer is great. Service and ambiance were just as good, definitely recommend!

Came here with my Japanese friend and learned that it is the oldest Japanese restaurant in NY. The prices are on the high side. I had the large sukiyaki which was nice. It might ne enough for 2 people eating normal size lunch

Chicken Karaage

Beautiful and elegant dinner in the traditional Japanese fashion. I went for restaurant week and was very impressed with the portions and value. Typically I understand it may be more expensive, but I think I will return. It is quite quiet in the early evening, and becomes busier as the night moves on. I recommend it!

Emily G.

Fugu sashimi: Tender and flaky, you can't get enough of it! Each portion comes with fish meat and skin. We ordered a half portion and then an extra full portion Fugu nabe: The waiter was so good at cooking, he even made us a tea puffed rice with the leftover fish broth after we finished the fish! Matsutake grilled & tempura: the fat matsutake mushroom ‍ made into tempura with a bite of sauce! The grilled version has the aroma of pine needles Unaju: also the best eel rice I've had in NYC! It has a fresh charcoal grilled flavor and the eel meat is very filling! Call ahead and make a reservation if you want to eat puffer fish They also have a special puffer fish kaiseki!

Always great to dine here. We love their private room. We had sashimi, tempura lunch. Delicious. Brought my 3 years old and it was wonderful having a room to ourselves.

Omakase
Nathaniel P.

Bottom line: do not come here for omakase. Wanted to introduce the omakase experience to my partner for Valentine's Day. Unfortunately, I don't think it was a proper introduction. The sushi came out all in one plate which I've never had before, but I accepted it as a precaution for covid-19. I wasn't too bothered by the fact that the sushi rice was pretty cold, I was more bothered by the tough cuts of fish - I had to spit out part of the yellowtail sushi because it felt like a bone or scale. The uni I had did not taste fresh or of the sea, it didn't taste like uni at all and I also decided not to consume it. I am not a nit picky diner, but for the cost of omakase we did not get the same attention to detail or flavor that excites omakase lovers. I'm open to come here again and try anything else but the sushi. Three stars for friendly, quick service and pretty interior.

Sukiyaki - L
Sawako Y.

Nippon is an authentic Japanese restaurant, where you can enjoy a decent meal with attentive service in a delightful atmosphere. There is a slight disconnect between the food/drinks and menu prices--it's pricey for what you get and you're paying more for the overall experience. We ordered: - Yellowtail & Scallion Roll ($9+) - Tempura - S ($18+) - Sukiyaki - L ($39+) Including a Sake carafe (over $30+) and a glass of plum wine, our bill came to nearly $150 for 2. So it's not your everyday restaurant, unless you can afford it. The service and atmosphere, however, were wonderful. We'd arrived nearly 30 min early for our reservation, but the staff was very welcoming and seated us right away. They had prepared an intimate, spacious dining area for us inside, which was sectioned off. We were able to enjoy your meal in a lovely, peaceful setting, undisturbed by other customers. Especially in NYC where space is a luxury, this was a huge plus. When ordering, they were knowledgeable and helpful in explaining the portions of the (S) and (L) options: - Tempura (S) comes with 2 pieces of shrimp, 1 white fish and 4 vegetables. - Sukiyaki (L) comes with 5 pieces of meat with vegetables and tofu. The food was great overall, but not sure the prices matched the quantity / quality: - The Sushi roll was nice, but nothing out of the ordinary. I did like the authentic flavor of the nori (seaweed wrap), though. - The Tempura assortment, we enjoyed, especially with the delicious dipping sauce with grated radish mixed in. The vegetables were quite small, though, with bite-sized pieces of asparagus, okra, baby corn and shiitake mushroom. - The Sukiyaki broth was on the sweeter side but was very tasty, giving the handmade tofu and other vegetables in the pot great flavor. The white rice that came with it was also what you would find in a typical home in Japan. The meat, however, was too firm for sukiyaki, and it didn't come with raw eggs, which I would normally dip sukiyaki in. I would recommend this place if you're looking for a nice, intimate meal with your family or for a business setting, where you can enjoy your meal in a calm atmosphere with attentive service.

Eggplant appetizer
Heena D.

Came here for dinner on a Saturday evening and we were able to get seating! Place was pretty crowded - decor is very traditional Japanese with side rooms that can be reserved for larger parties and a more authentic experience (removing shoes and lowered table). The sakes are all great - we tried two different kinds and they were both top notch. As a vegetarian I was worried I wouldn't have much options but they have a ton of different offerings and are very accommodating. For appetizers we ordered a few items from the front page which seemed to be their specials: the eggplant app (flash fried eggplant) and a soy dumping. The eggplant was phenomenal, soy dumping that forgot to bring till the end of meal, but was great too. Others at the table got the mozzarella agedashi (unfortunately no vegetarian) and the chicken karage and said they were really good. For my entree I got the tan tan tan sukeman and they were able to make it vegetarian with soy protein. It was the star of the meal. The broth was incredibly rich and savory In general portions are pretty small so keep that in mind as a few at the table needed to order additional sushi to their entree Overall had a great time would recommend!

Green Tea Tiramisu
Chris P.

I have been wanting to eat at this historic restaurant for the longest time. This restuarant would get booked in an instant during restaurant week. I decided to eat indoors with a friend from high school. Service was top notch as more than one server came to our table to check in on us. Staff especially the women wore masks and face shields and gloves when serving food. Our server was Indian but he was very knowledgeable and offered recommendations because we were overwhelmed. However I knew that I wanted their pioneered beef Negimayaki and Fruits An-Mitsu dessert. Both of us got the appetizer version of the Beef Negimayaki ($17) and omg it puts all the beef Negimayaki that I have ordered at other restaurants to shame. The beef melts in your month (I know the beef quality is not comparable to wagyu) and for people who never had wagyu this is the dish to get. We shared the tempura ($28) which hit the spot for both of us. My friend washed down her meal with oolong tea ($4) and I had to try to their non alcoholic beer ($10) which was perfect for the tempura. We ordered the dessert and I had to get the Fruits An-mitsu ($11) and Green Tea Tiramisu ($12) which were both beautifully presented. The desserts were unique and definitely a must get. I mentioned to the staff that it was my friend's birthday and they provided her with free sundae and a song from the staff. When we were there their sushi bar was still closed due to the restrictions. I would return to try their tasting menu and the Matsui curry!

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6 months ago

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11 months ago

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1 year ago

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8 months ago

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8 months ago

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9 months ago

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1 year ago

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8 months ago

Incredible! Food outstanding, service impeccable. Our family LOVES this place! We come here often.

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4 months ago

Great food (I had the udon and edamame), service, and ambiance (felt like a restaurant that could actually be in Japan)!

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2 years ago

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6 years ago

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3 years ago

Fantastic food from start to finish!! The service was Five Star and the ambiance was Zen. I couldn't have asked for more. Thank you Nippon!

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3 years ago

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7 years ago

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8 years ago

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Nippon Reviews in Other Languages

Ask the Community - Nippon

Are they doing restaurant week?

Dear Paul G, Yes! We are offering restaurant week.

Do they serve GF options like Tamari soy?

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Sakagura

Sakagura

4.2(2k reviews)
0.4 mi•Midtown East
•$$$$

Food: 4/5 Service bumped it to a 5/5 because all of the…read morestaffs were so friendly. From the moment we walked in to us finding the bathroom and waving anyone down for our requests. We got the fish carpaccio to start and it was pretty good! It tasted like what I expected from the description. The miso soup was also good, not too salty and slightly different than your trusty takeout sushi spot. I got the dashi omelette and it was a little sweet and savory. It paired nicely with the radish. I got the cold, plum udon. Which was refreshing and a bit sour from the plums. The broth was sippable since it wasn't too salty. My friend got the mushroom cold soba and it came with mashed yam. This dish tasted more like what I was expecting since the sourness of my dish kinda was unexpected, but I still enjoyed it! My friend also got a drink and it was SO strong. I think they're serious about their drinks here I didn't see any mocktails or cocktails. They gave us black sesame ice cream on the house since her drinks came out later than expected, which was really nice! I'm not a black sesame fan, but this place's ice cream was good! You're able to chew on the black sesame's bits and pieces in there. Overall, I do think they nail Japanese food, it's supposed to be simple and clean. So if you're looking for creative and big umami flavors, that's not going to be this place. But if you want authentic, Japanese food, this is the place!

This is one of the best izakaya restaurants in Manhattan, and it keeps bringing me back time after…read moretime. The moment you walk in, you're instantly transported to Japan. The décor features light natural wood and bamboo, creating a warm, authentic atmosphere, with an impressive collection of sake lining the wall. The food is outstanding. We started with the seasonal soft-shell crab, which was incredibly fresh and fried to perfection. The daily sashimi special was exceptionally fresh, and the salad was light and refreshing. The must-order Wagyu beef, served on a hot stone, simply melted in our mouths and was unforgettable. Every dish was beautifully prepared, and I enjoyed every single bite. The impeccable service was the icing on the cake. The staff was attentive throughout our meal, making sure we had everything we needed without ever being intrusive. I absolutely loved the entire dining experience and can't wait to come back again!

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Izakaya Futago

Izakaya Futago

4.2(19 reviews)
0.5 mi•Midtown East

Soba was clean, refreshing. Tempura was fried just right…read more The eel rice (unaju) was huge (though it should be, for the price). It tasted good, though I wouldn't say it was mind blowing. We both liked the soba and tempura more. The servers were great, especially the guy who welcomed us and walked us to a quieter part of the restaurant since our baby was sleeping.

Cuisine: 7 Service: 6…read moreDecor: 7 Value: 4 Overall: 6 I am mixed about my feelings toward this restaurant. After two visits, I have enjoyed certain items, but also disappointed by others. The inconsistency in their quality leaves me a bit unsure. On top of that, their prices are relatively high. I have easily spent over $120 each visit (two people each time) without having a full meal. The items I enjoyed the most were the Oyster Emerald (8/10) for $28 and Kama Yaki Hamachi (8/10) for $23. Both are quite expensive compared to other izakaya restaurants I frequent. The Yammy Uzura (7.5/10) was very good as well. On the mediocre side, the Hamachi Carpaccio (7/10) lacked the flavors I expected. Also, most of the Sushi Spoon (6/10) I have tried are underwhelming. Quality of the rice is inferior to what I am accustomed to and definitely not worth the price. The Hokkaido Uni was $18 for that one small bite. On the negative side, their tiny portion of Fried Chicken Nanban (6/10) was nothing special and costs $21. Furthermore, the few Yakitori (5/10) skewers I have tried were somewhat dry and lacked flavor. In addition, I am really not a fan of their Agedashi Tofu (3/10), which has a goopy and slimy texture that felt off putting. Ultimately, I find some of the food here good enough to come back for, but not at these prices. Both times I left felt like I overpaid. Therefore, I don't see myself returning to this izakaya.

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Izakaya Futago - Interior

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Age Dashi Tofu and marinated quail eggs

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Sozai

Sozai

4.3(186 reviews)
0.5 mi•Midtown West

Needed some small bites after work before going to a Broadway show and Sozai came up on my search…read more They were packed around 5:30 PM with the happy hour crowd so I was glad I made a reservation. Their reservations also book up quickly. I made my reservation a week before. We were seated in one of their booths which was cute, comfy, cozy, and clean. It was just my husband and i. They have good happy hour deals, but I don't remember how many dishes we ordered were on HH. We got the tako wasa, chicken karaage, kibinago, and mentaiko pasta. All were great! All my favorites and perfect for a quick dinner. Their menu is pretty extensive -- I wished we had more time to order a bunch of other dishes. Good portions for sharing. We were surprised we had some leftovers. Definitely a good spot for groups to order a bunch of tapas and mains. Service was good and the food and drinks came out within good timing. We'll definitely have to go another time when we're in the area with some friends and order a lot more. Can't wait to return.

It was a surprisingly chilly evening this summer when I left an incredible production of Oh Mary!,…read morehungry, without a set dinner plan. Craving ramen, I discovered this place on Yelp and walked in asking for a table for 4. After about a 15 min wait, we were seated at a lovely booth. The menu featured almost too many items, kind of like a Japanese izakaya diner of sorts-- they had everything from ramen to donburi to sushi and izakaya classics. My partner felt like this was too many items to offer to possibly execute anything very well, so he was skeptical. We were hungry and ordered quite a bit of food, including fried squid legs, karaage, gyudon, veggie ramen, beef noole soup, and a scallop roll. The scallop roll was not very flavorful, and the karaage's pieces were too big. Otherwise, everything was pretty tasty, including the veggie ramen, which I found surprising. Food came out quickly and service was kind and not overbearing. Would totally recommend if you're in the area.

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Sozai - Bar area

Bar area

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Nippon - sushi - Updated October 2026

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