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Nippon

3.9 (216 reviews)
Closed • Closed
Updated over 3 months ago

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NIPPON ATMOSPHERE

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Quiet
Good for kids
Good for groups

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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.

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!

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!

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5 years ago

Excellent one of the best Japonese restaurants . Been going for 12 years never desappointed !!!

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4 years ago

Very attentive service. Group dinner for business. Sashimi and soba noodle courses were a highlight.

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4 years ago

Very overpriced even for midtown. The Soba salads are great but everything else is average.

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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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Momoya

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4.1(898 reviews)
1.7 mi•Chelsea
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Delicious, fresh and flavorful sushi with a variety of rolls, sashimi and wine. Super fast service,…read morebeautiful ambiance and no wait for a spot at the bar. Would definitely go back to try more of the menu!

Honestly, I'm surprised this restaurant has a four-star rating. While the service was excellent,…read morethe food was consistently disappointing. We started with a lychee martini that tasted overwhelmingly of vodka, with barely any lychee flavor. Of the appetizers--the seaweed salad, cucumber salad, and edamame dumplings--the cucumber salad was the best. The seaweed salad tasted like a standard prepackaged version, while the dumplings had an unusual, unpleasant flavor and tasted as though they had come straight from the freezer. For our main dishes, we ordered the chicken teriyaki bento box and udon with tempura. The udon was acceptable, but the tempura was excessively oily, lacking the light, crisp texture you would expect. Even the chicken teriyaki was underwhelming; it tasted more like a reheated, prepared meal than something freshly cooked. The sushi was another letdown, with an odd flavor and appearance. The dynamite roll was especially disappointing, with an unpleasant texture and very little flavor beyond a touch of heat. The staff deserves credit for their attentive, friendly service, but unfortunately, that couldn't make up for the quality of the meal. We left feeling genuinely disappointed.

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Sanyuu West

Sanyuu West

4.5(170 reviews)
1.9 mi•Chelsea
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After trying a dozen of sushi/omakase places in New York I can definitively the best I've had…read more The omakase at Sanyuu West is honestly unbeatable. Every single fish is very high quality I find many places like the skimp out on the less popular fish but not Sanyuu West. I think the omakase is also at a very good price for the quality and amount you get though I know it is more expensive than maybe the average omakase spot right now. I also find that other spots usually underdeliver. I wish I could save more detail but honestly I have nothing more to say other than the fact that Sanyuu Weat amazing. The restaurant itself is also more spacious than I expected. Besides the main bar there are two sitting areas near the window as well as seats lined up to the bathroom to make yourself comfortable two things that I think are a rare find now in many places. A lot of thought is put into this restaurant layout and I think you can tell. The service was also great I found myself never lacking in water or waiting too long for my next piece. In fact, I had started to apologize about drinking so much water because I felt like the hostess was constantly at my side refilling my cup and she just turned to me and said, "don't apologize. Drinking water is very important." So true!!!! I'm very picky abt my recommendations to friends, I'll review any place I go to and give my thoughts but a real recommendation? I only have around a dozen or so. And Sanyuu West is definitely now part of that dozen.

price - $87 per person pre tax…read more food - 5/5 service - 5/5 ambiance - 5/5 I got the chance to try out Sanyuu West for my birthday and I had such an amazing time! from the moment I stepped into the restaurant, the waiters were super sweet and attentive to my friend and I. the courses kept coming out and each piece was super tender and bursting with flavor! my favorite was definitely the uni, toro, and wagyu on milk bread course! I love how the flavors mix so well together, I felt like I was in heaven! the service was amazing, like the never left my water cup empty!!! (props to them) the ambiance inside was also super calm and vibey. overall, I had such an amazing time and I would love to go again soon

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Sanyuu West
Sanyuu West - (@joeynht)

(@joeynht)

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Konban - Corn ice cream (@joeynht)

Konban

4.4(490 reviews)
1.9 mi•Chelsea

YUM! I've had this place saved for a while, and made a reservation ahead of time for dinner on a…read moreFriday night. The inside is so well laid out and decorated, and the vibes are great. We got the corn ribs, pork tenderloin katsu, and the mackerel sushi. The corn came out first and omg - this is some of the best corn I have ever tasted. The seasoning on it is so perfect sweet savory and so addicting! Best item by far. The katsu was also perfectly crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, without feeling too greasy. It was quite a tiny portion but it's nyc lol. The only item we didn't love was the sushi - for me it was just a bit too much ginger and wasabi and since it was pressed it was already a part of the sushi so it was hard to separate. Overall though, this is a great spot for a nicer dinner!

It was a good dining experience, but nothing to write home about. I'd give 3.5 and wouldn't…read moredissuade anyone from trying it and making their own opinion. For three people, we paid about $200ish and got: - 2 beers - $21 Ebi Katsu - good but basically prawn tempura with flakier coating - $ 15 Konban Corn ribs - YUM - $17 Karaage - good, standard Izakaya - $15 Shishito peppers - LOVE - $36 Sushi set - Solid 8 pc nigiri - $22 Yellowtail crudo - refreshing w/sweet citrus - $24 Umami Tobiko Clam Pasta - get it! - $14 Konban Corn ice cream - so cute & corn-y! It's a lovely little date night or intimate dinner experience. Quiet, clean, and sets a nice mood. The food, again, was good but with all the great Izakaya in NYC would I come again? Not sure. If you do, definitely order the corn items and the clam pasta!

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Konban - Restaurant interior

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Umami Sushi - Delicious coursed out hand rolls

Umami Sushi

4.3(289 reviews)
2.2 mi•West Village
•$$

Stopped here for dinner on a Saturday on a whim and was so happy with our choice! We walked in and…read morewere seated right away. It is a really small place with around 6-8 tables so it probably gets busy at times and there may be a wait. One of the best parts of their menu here is that you can order sushi by the piece. My mom doesn't always have the biggest appetite so for her to be able to order only a few pieces instead of an entire roll was a huge plus! I had to crispy tuna rice appetizer and the dragon roll. Literally so good. I was seriously craving crispy rice and these were perfect. I would order this again and again. The sushi was fresh and taste great as well. Super glad we decided to come here!

This evening we were going to a jazz club where a friend of our son works at, but they don't serve…read morefood, so we had to find a place in the area of where the club is at. Do of course I use Yelp to find something that catches my eye close by where we need to be. I found umami Sushi. We usually can't go wrong with Japanese food or sushi. We had no problems finding the place. The description said it was a small restaurant and as we entered the dining area was very small. Our hotel room was probably bigger. That doesn't bother me especially if we get there, there tables for us to sit comfortably. I also trust my judgment when I find a place that seems to be popular by the locals. The restaurant was empty when we arrived. We were the only ones there, but for some reason we bring good vibes to the places we eat because not too long after we placed our order, people started coming in, to the point that the small dining room was packed. I love Omakase style Service and what we ordered was a sashimi/sushi platter for three and two special rolls. I thought I got to choose the rolls but even that was chefs choice. I was just a bit worried that they would give us the cheap rolls like spicy tuna or California roll. The platter came out and it was beautifully prepared with a piece of sashimi for each of us and the rolls the chefs chose, ended up being two of my favorite rolls. The types of fish they selected were also great quality fish. We were lucky to have placed our order before the crowd came in our we might have had to wait a while because how they prepared it would have taken some time. The service was just right. Because they got busy right away, the waitress was forced to attend to everyone and couldn't really socialize with us. In fact when we finished our platter we were debating what we wanted for dessert but the waitress didn't even ask us and instead she just brought us the bill, so we said to ourselves, "I guess we're not having dessert here." So we paid the bill and gave an opportunity for someone else to take our table.

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Umami Sushi - Salmon handroll (least favorite)

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Nippon - sushi - Updated October 2026

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