i'm really surprised that this place still exists - especially on a main street in williamsburg where there is sooo many amazing asian restaurants around. my two guesses are that it's because it's the only really udon-centric spot in the neighborhood and that maybe it caters to a specific williamsburg crowd that maybe never had udon/asian food before (and maybe vegans bc they do have a veggie broth)?? i remember coming here and samurai papa's several times back in 2015-2107 and seriously don't rmember it being this bad!! bc wow.. this might have been the worst restaurant my bf and i have been to in the city and i dont say that lightly. i mean you can't taste bad, have bad drinks, be slow AND be expensive. you have to have at least one of the four at MINIMUM. look, i want to use my reviews for good and lift businesses up, not tear them down but i'm telling ya, 2/5 is GENEROUS. my bf and i got the pork gyoza, veg tempura and sukiyaki's each. pork gyoza 2/5: tasted like something you could get from the freezer section of target - not even an asian restaurant. you know how most places serve gyoza with the lace? the crispy skirt? well it had that skirt, but it was not crispy - it was straight soggy. how... veg tempura 3/5: super standard but the dipping sauce was good! i'll give them that! giving credit where credit is due and the shishito peppers were good! but it was just shishito peppers, mushrooms and sweet potatoes which i thought were a strange variety. sukiyaki 2/5: again, this was generous. salty but flavorless, the noodles had no chew, it felt overcooked. also the onsen egg it comes with? was RAW. i'm not talking a lil underdone, i mean RAW. it took us 30 min from the moment we sat down til the food came out. 30 min?!! we'd be asking for our checks at most other restaurants within 30 min. and somehow when the food came out, it was lukewarm? how did it take that long and not come out piping hot? what's going on back there? only good(?) thing is that portions are pretty big? but i'd rather have smaller portions with lower prices. how were the drinks also bad? my bf got the lychee martini that tasted like a lemon martini and the city pop(?) cucumber drink that tasted like cucumber water. his first drink came out after the appetizers - so think 30 min into us sitting down. the setting, as many other reviews mentioned, is communal with only a few booths and tables to the side and some seating in the back. it's tight and awkward and not very wheelchair accessible - i mention this bc there was a party of 4 that came after us that were squeezing past the seated patrons which is totally fine for us but i imagine was not very accommodating for them. if you've had any medicore japanese food before, i'd skip this place and look elsewhere - like anywhere else. if you're looking for good udon, heck, even mediocre udon, i'd skip this place and head into the city to tsurotontan in union square (only 2/3 stops on the L) or raku in EV or WV - trust me, it'd be worth the trek. only giving is 2 stars bc 1 star seems harsh and the food was subjectively edible AND our server was kind. but can't say the same about the hostess. read more

I've had Samurai Mama bookmarked as a place to visit for whenever I'm in Williamsburg, and going on a rainy day was the move since we wanted something hot and cozy. The main feature of the interior is a large communal dining table with some booths. The menu is great with many choices of appetizers, donburi, udon, ramen, and sushi. Great for eating with a group since there are so many options. My friend and I got the sukiyaki beef, kinokojil kake (mushrooms), and a set of the sushi tacos. The sushi tacos were good but not remarkable, despite how popular they seem. My favorite was the salmon! The udon was okay in terms of flavor, but the noodles don't compare to other restaurants like Raku. They're a bit thinner than what I'm used to for udon. The portion is quite generous, which is great. Overall, a good neighborhood spot when you're looking for Japanese food. I wouldn't travel out of my way for it though. read more

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This place continued my somewhat disappointing journey to find good Japanese food in Williamsburg. While there is a good variety of food, there are no really strong standouts. The food here can be best described as just okay. It hits the spot for Japanese food cravings, and even does those pancake style gyoza, but the actual taste is just so so. I would pass on the burger collaboration they're doing as that dish was quite a bit worst than the other options. read more

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It's good. Not great. The staff makes you feel rushed to order. Rushed to complete the transaction. Everything feels rushed. No one that works their smiles, especially the host. One sign that is telling is not seeing an Asian customers in an Asian restaurant read more

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Sitting at a giant Viking-like dining table was a new experience. I guess it makes use of the space effectively and encourages mingling, but I went on a date and the communal dining felt a bit awkward. It was still cool since the table was large enough that you still felt like you had your own space. The taco set was pretty worth imo. Def need ramen or apps to fill you up though. read more

My experience here was interesting. My friend and I had requested a booth and we were told at 5:30 PM that they would need it back by 7 since they had a reservation incoming. We both thought no problem an hour and a half is more than enough time for us to have some Ramen. We were mistaken. My friend ordered miso soup and sushi and I ordered Ramen. My friend spent the next hour waiting not just for her sushi but for her miso soup as well! Their reasoning was that the kitchen was backed up with all of the other orders but at the time we arrived there were only two other people dining in the restaurant so that was a bit confusing, however we brushed it off. My Ramen was brought out about 45 minutes before my friends food which I think is weird bc the norm is that you eat your meal together and not one person sit there and eat while the other person stares at them. Each time we inquired about the status of her order we were brushed off and when my friend said "can I at least get my miso soup?" the waitress said "sure" and walked away and we didn't see that soup for another 20 minutes. 15 minutes before 7 PM we were reminded that they would need the table -- so aside from being disappointed at the amount of time it took to get the food we were also disappointed that they thought it was fair to only give her 15 minutes to eat said food. Needless to say I definitely will not return to samurai mama. read more

Cute restaurant with a long communal table in the middle. There were multiple options for udon and fish on the menu. Staff was very nice. I got the mountain vegetables with udon. It was average. Definitely a solid bowel of udon. However, I went to Raku recently so it was definitely not as soft as Raku. If you are in the area, not a bad choice, but wouldn't go out of the way for it. read more

Samurai Mama - Japanese Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

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Dine in review Wait time: 10/10 - Was immediately sat down without a reservation at 6pm - I requested a booth and was so politely told yes but with an hour time limit as they had reservations for those, which I had no problem with as I was just happy to sit at a booth :) Food: 10:10 - I ordered the Fatty Mama Ramen and it was delicious!! I didn't think I could finish it but it was lift-the-bowl-slurping good! I asked for spicy oil and they were so nice to provide as much spice as I needed (I ended up needing 2 lol) - My boyfriend ordered the chicken (oyako) donburri and he also finished his entire bowl - not surprised tho (he always does) but was very happy with the flavor. Not sure if it was the egg/veggies or the entire dish, but it was very juicy! Great ginger essence to it for those ginger lovers Drinks: 10/10 - I ordered a red wine and really enjoyed it. It was wet with a hint of dryness and not overpowering at all. I thought it complimented my ramen and enhanced the flavors - My boyfriend ordered a Japanese wheat beer (unfortunately, I forgot the name) but it had a cute blue-ish label. It was fruit, refreshing and not too light. I think 5 or 5.5% abv. Would recommend to beer enthusiasts! read more

Samurai Mama - Fatty Mama Ramen - Japanese Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

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To be honest this is a very New York small restaurant . They promote community dining which is nice since I've never had that experience before. They have 2 private booths and a small private table in the corner if you want a little more intimacy but seems to be on a first come first served basis. We tried the spicy tuna roll which had a weird taste didn't really taste like much of tuna. Over all the rolls I'd give 4/10. We had noodles but we thought they were ramen but non the less the noodles were cold. The broth should have warmed it up but that was also lukewarm/cold. It was surprisingly filling but wouldn't try this restaurant again. Service was slow not sure why. People came after us but some how got theirs ramen and everything before us. Price wasn't bad about 130$ for the meal plus a bottle of presseco. Would I go back? Probably not. Would i recommend? No, there are plenty of restaurants on that strip that are the same so one of those might be a little better . read more

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This place is a bit of a while in the wall but what a gem. Fantastic sushi and cooked food. Service is also top notch. Highly recommend.

I chose this spot for a date night with my boyfriend and I must say it was pretty nice! I got the sushi set and he got a bowl of ramen, and we shared some karaage. His food (ramen) took forever to come out which was the only downfall. Ambiance is good so seats fill up pretty quickly. I would definitely recommend making a reservation beforehand! read more

Samurai Mama - Japanese Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

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Gyu don was just ok, I feel that it wasn't simmered as well in marinade so the flavor on the beef was just lacking. The udon had a flavorful broth. The sushi is what you would expect from most places, does the job but doesn't necessarily blow you away. For Williamsburg it does the job for Japanese food but if you're looking for that Japanese appetite if yours to be crushed with happiness you may not find it here all the time. It's a good restaurant otherwise and has seating on both sides of the block (outside for COVID-19 reasons). read more

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This restaurant is amazing! - Pork Gyoza: super flavorful with a nutty side sauce and crusty exterior, can't go wrong - Taco set: delicious sampler of nigiri wrapped in seaweed - Bara Chirashi: varying selection of fish with a contrasting yuzu flavor that I absolutely loved, the fish is also super fresh and the sushi rice is amazing - Lychee Martini: perfect for lychee lovers and those that prefer a sweeter cocktail Overall, we had a wonderful dinner and pleasant experience with the staff as well. It's very easy to make reservations online and food is unique. Will have to come back for udon or ramen next time! read more

Samurai Mama - Taco Set - Japanese Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

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Love this spot! It's a really warm and slightly romantic spot (because of the dim lighting). Food and service was fantastic. Here's why: My boyfriend and I had the sukiyaki udon, dipping noodles, sushi taco set, and drinks (lychee highball and yuzu iced tea drink, forgot to take a picture unfortunately). We started with the sushi taco set as our appetizer, and each taco is distinctly delicious!!! Each taco has either a hint of yuzu, avocado, or a tiny tweak with some ingredient added to it and it really enhances the taco taste. There is also no fishy taste to it, which is great because I can then taste each fish as it is. It comes with soy sauce and wasabi soy sauce to add on top. The noodles are handmade and all the broths have no MSG which really tells a lot about the restaurant wanting to cook quality food. The sukiyaki udon was delicious. It came with a poached egg on the side which is really thoughtful so that it doesn't cook in the udon and I can eat it whenever I want. The broth is light and flavorful. It has a sweet slight yuzu taste with its savory beef broth that blends so well with all the ingredients. The udon is cooked perfectly, chewy. My boyfriend had the dipping noodles with pork, which I tried a little bit of. It's also really delicious, the broth is richer than my udon, and has a stronger flavor. It sort of tastes like the brown sauce that you put on an omurice (if you know what I'm talking about). In terms of price point, it honestly is quite affordable and reasonably priced like $18 a bowl of udon and $21 for sushi taco set. Like for the quality of the food, price point, attentive service, and great vibes in the restaurant, it's great. I would love to come back again honestly. read more

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From the outside this place is a humble unsuspecting hole in the wall. Once you step inside it feels elevated but without being pretentious. The food is delicious and the staff were very friendly. If you're looking for comfort food in a cozy spot, Samurai Mama is the joint. read more

Came here on a recommendation from a couple friends. Made reservations for 7pm, got there a few minutes early and was greeted and seated immediately. When I got there, there was a good amount of open seats in the front dining area and they placed me in the back dining room which was small. Place is dark lit and rustic looking. The service was abysmal. Not sure why they'd place me in the small back room but I was trying to flag them down by waving my hands and I could see 3 waiters just chilling and talking amongst each other. I did this for a few minutes before getting up and asking to move to a different seat so they could actually see and serve me. What was ordered: 5pc taco set - good value and nice presentation but in my opinion I didn't taste much if any flavor in each "taco" Spicy bukkake Ramen - good and flavorful Niku tsukejil udon - a bit sweet of flavor in the broth. Next to no pork inside and ontop of that they didn't give me the dipping sauce... My overall experience of this place is bad. Terrible service and mediocre food. read more

Samurai Mama - The 5pc Taco set - Japanese Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

Excellent food at this little gem, the sushi is amazing as are many of the dishes I have had here, it gets a bit crazy at night even with a booking you can wait a fair time 20 mins in my case, I prefer lunch here, the deco is very cool modern Japanese style with some old artifacts. It's awesome go and try Samuri Mama I have been going for about 10 years read more

The food here is great. Most of the restaurant is seated at one long table, family style, which is annoying and i dont think its all that space efficient either. If you love Japanese food and hate privacy this place is the best. Otherwise its a sort of a compromise. read more

The taco set is a no fail for any sushi lover - def a must get. And do get the pork gyozas. Anddddd the chirashi! Oh, and the ramen is on point too! Perfect place to grab a no frills dinner with a friend or s/o. It's dimly lit for intimacy. Not the best place to have a group sesh since it's one long communal table (I mean, unless you want to scream amongst your fellow diners!). Diners ate pretty quick. Decently priced for Williamsburg. I'd come back again, esp if I was craving a bowl of ramen or udon - comfort food at its best. read more

Samurai Mama - Japanese Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

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I've been to Samurai Mama twice now. Admittedly, I always worry about the second visit to a restaurant I fall in love with at first try, but Samurai Mama only continued to impress me. The flavors here are simple yet executed to perfection--the key to real Japanese cuisine. The quality of the ingredients here is so impressive! My advice to someone dining here for the first time is to try something you wouldn't normally order at a Japanese restaurant. While gyoza, sushi and chicken karaage will always be delicious, trying something new at a place like Samurai Mama is the way to go because everything they do here, they do it right. A perfect example is how they execute their uni tacos; my boyfriend was not a lover of uni until he had them here. The balance of flavors from the beet-dyed yuzu radish with the freshness of the uni takes this straightforward dish to a whole new level! I cannot say enough about how each neighborhood needs a spot like this one--Samurai Mama is definitely our go-to when we're in Williamsburg! read more

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I'm always on the lookout for great ramen spots. I feel so fortunate to have find Samurai Mama using the Yelp app. I don't find myself in Williamsburg to often but fate would have it so this time. Samurai Mama is quite unassuming on the outside but the inside is quite nice. Once you enter, you will immediately see the extra long picnic style table for communal eating and the more cozy booths for a more intimate experience. Samurai has a very authenticity feel to it. The walls are adorned with beautiful Oriental art and the main table has decorations that add a tough of class. I ordered the spicy ramen with the ground beef and although I'm used to getting my broth already in the bowl, the flavor and toppings made for a wonderful experience. The waiter recommend that I try the Japanese house beer and I enjoyed that as well. The staff is very welcoming and I plan to return for dinner very soon. read more

Samurai Mama - Japanese Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

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I love here going so much! I'm a fan of the dim lighting and raw/grunge looking atmosphere. The waiters are always very friendly and accommodating. I would always make a reservation to this spot since it gets quite busy even on weekdays. It's THAT popular. These people are great at making consistent and delicious cocktails. My favorite has got to be the lychee martini because they actually use fresh lychee (you can even see the lychee bits swirling around your drink) unlike some other establishments. I always get their agadashi tofu since I'm a sucker for that dish. My other go-to appetizer will be the pork gyoza. It's got a nice subtle crunch to it and the dipping sauce is different from your regular gyoza dipping sauce but it's different in a GOOD way. I really enjoyed my kitsune udon as well. I ordered one shrimp tempera as a side and it was nice and crunchy. My only critique is that I wish the udon noodles were cooked for a bit longer as they were firmer than al denté. My friend got the seafood curry udon and she really digged it so highly recommend that if you like curry! Nonetheless, this is one of my go-to spots in Williamsburg. I can't wait to try their other dishes and cocktails!! read more

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This place is an ABSOLUTE GEM. I Yelped places in the area since we were going to watch a movie nearby. Ramen, or really any kind of soup at this point, sounded like a good idea since it was FREEZING out. They don't take reservations but we were able to hop on the Yelp Waitlist while we searched for parking. When we walked in, the hostess let us know there were a few people ahead of us so she escorted us to the waiting room in the back which I think was kinda cool and cozy. The bar was right outside the room so you could easily order drinks if you'd like to sip on something while you wait. We waited about 10 minutes there and were seated at the large dining table which I found to be very charming. The restaurant itself is nicely put together, dimly lit, and pretty spotless. We went over the menu and, in the meantime, spotted another couple sharing an udon bowl which was HUGE. We decided to do the same AND share an app. Good choice on our part. We ordered beers first - I went with the IPA that has notes of pear which was really refreshing. We then ordered the sushi taco app which was some of the best sushi I've ever had. I'd say in the top 3 I've ever eaten, actually. Bold statement, but so true. Every piece of fish was divine and melt-in-your-mouth good. We also settled on the Nikujil Kake Udon with pork belly and scallions. The pork was unbelievably tender and the broth was out of this world. It's served with citrus shavings on top which added a nice sweet kick to it. I picked out the mushrooms since I can't have them, but the udon was seriously a knockout. Aside from that, our waitress was super sweet and very helpful. Great service. I am so happy to find this place. I can't wait to come back and try more dishes! 5 stars well-deserved read more

Samurai Mama - Tacos! ($16) - Japanese Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

The food area is beyond amazing. The service is better than expected. The environment is very nice with music playing in the background.

Really enjoyed this spot. Cozy ambiance with several booths, bar, and giant roomy communal table. Came on a Tuesday evening around 8pm and there was no wait. There's a variety of appetizers, sushi, udon, and ramen. I split the fried garlic chicken and one of the sushi rolls. I enjoyed both. Fried chicken was pretty standard karrage, but definitely a good shareable. Sushi you can either choose "tacos" which look like hand rolls or just standard rolls. You get 3 different variations of soy sauce based on spiciness and pickled beets rather than ginger, which was really good. For my main I got the fatty mama ramen. The meat has a sweet flavor to it, rich broth, and fried garlic you can sprinkle on. Really delicious. Overall service was good as well. Also, for anyone like me who wasn't aware- the bukkake ramens are not soupy like the traditional ramen. I almost made the mistake of ordering one. read more

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Every time I've walked by I've thought about how interesting the exterior looks. It took a few minutes for us to get seated; I wasn't thrilled at how close all the parties sat to one another at the large central table. When we got the food it was all just subpar. The agedashi dofu was lacking in both the flavor and texture department. The sushi tacos were pretty unfulfilling as well, especially compared to many other hand roll places I've been to in the city. Lastly, the cocktails here were just alright. Overall, I just don't think it was worth the money. read more

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Looks from outside it doesn't look like Japanese restaurant but when I step inside I feel totally different. My friend and I get there around 8:45PM on Monday. There are 2 groups on the line ahead of us then we get our table around 9:10PM. Even there are only one waiter and one runner the service is very friendly and nice. We have Salmon Ikura, pork gyoza, side shrimp tempura, mama salad and a bottle of red wine. All are delicious and good quality. We stay until the restaurant close but they don't rush us to get out. Recommended! read more

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If you're interested in going here PLEAAAAASEEEEE make reservations before coming! If you call they will say walk in is accepted and they're right but they don't give you an estimate and the wait can be like 1.5 hours or longer depending on what time you get there! They close at 9:30 and stop taking orders at like 9:40 :( Anyways, since we only had 7 mins to order food, we quickly decided and they quickly made the food! Sushi Taco Set - super cute but nothing like fancy. They're the solid basic pieces of fish you would get in a sushi set - tuna, salmon, yellowtail, shrimp with the addition of the scallop! The scallop was really amazing! Everything else was a solid good. Rolls - they also just had basic rolls on the menu, it was a bit pricey in my opinion (avg $8 each) but I really wanted rolls!!! Nothing super special! Udon - the udon was a bit saltier than I would have liked, it's definitely a more savory broth! The noodles were nice and firm. The udon cooled down really quickly :( outdoor dining but it wasn't super hot to begin with, which was a little disappointing!!! Overall, it's a good place with solid good options. I'd come here again if my friends wanted to but that's it. read more

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great food great people and they expedited our order cuz i had an appointment. thanks!

My girlfriend and I came here to try out the ramen and the gyoza. Being locals in Williamsburg, we notice how busy this place usually gets so we decided to give it a try. Food: For appetizer we went with the sushi taco set ($17.00), pork gyoza dumpling (10.00), and of course the mama original ramen ($17.00). The ramen was average, but the sushi taco set was very fresh which I definitely enjoyed the most. Overall: The wait time is pretty average around 15 minutes+. They do outdoor dining and take out delivery as well. I will come back another time to try the Bara Chriashi! read more

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Solid sushi spot! Unfortunately I was not in the mood for udon but from what I saw on the menu I will definitely come back to try it. Sushi rolls were good and I really appreciated the pickled cabbage on the side as a substitute for ginger. Shrimp gyoza was fried perfectly with an interesting tonkatsu sauce on the side. read more

Samurai Mama - Salmon Avo and Spicy Tuna - Japanese Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

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MAMA! Enjoyed the vibe and enjoyed our very kind waiter. He honestly looked like a samurai with the luscious locks idk if that was on purpose or not but he was great. Loved the bukkake recommendation. God I love me some good bukkake. We were seated in the back and had to walk through the kitchen which I enjoyed. Sushi was alright it would fun if they spiced up the toppings. Classic hole in the wall, efficiently spaced fun, Williamsburg dinner spot. read more

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Came here for the first time and will definitely be back! We got the original ramen (there are two ramens on the menu that sound very similar but it seems like the difference is that the original is in a full broth - what the typical ramen you would expect - and the other is more of a dipping style in a concentrated broth). We also got the bara chirashi. Both were delicious and the service was great - the waiter was very attentive and good at walking through the menu. read more

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Just left this place a few hours ago and I already want to go back. I picked the Original Mama's ramen on the suggestion from my waiter and wasn't disappointed. The broth is rich and complex. It had a bunch of toppings so that I didn't feel like it was a rip off. I wasn't a fan of the pork belly in this Ramen but I picked off a few pieces I liked. I loved how they brought fried garlic on the side for you to decide how much you want to use. We sat at the communal table and for a bit I was worried it would get too crowded but we each had a seat open next to us the whole time so we really enjoyed ourselves. For drinks, I got the Green Tea souchu with tonic water with was refreshing. My friend got a lychee martini but told me afterwards that it really wasn't good and that she didn't want to finish it. I would stick with the souchu and the sake here. Wait staff was attentive but not annoying. Will definitely be coming back. read more

Samurai Mama - Japanese Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

I ordered the charasu from seeing the girls next to me eating it, which was absolutely a winner. I would get it again and again. Each bite was divine and the presentation was artistic. The servers are attentive, and the bartender is intriguing to watch with his long hair, gold nails and pleasing facial structure. Wish I could speak Japanese. read more

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Menu is misleading, food quality is subpar at best, I had a lunch special rice dish and it came with deep fried mostly oily dough with thinly sliced vegetables that you can barely see...Will not return again read more

10/10 no notes. Delicious udon, a delirously cool space, and a cautious staff that explains everything, even warning you away from some of their more exotic-sounding cocktails, which are actually all good. A great date spot, and they are open for lunch. Highly recommended. read more

Genuinely surprised about how good this place was. We ordered the Bara Chirashi bowl, Kitsune Udon, scallop tacos (basically hand rolls/temaki), and Hello Yellow roll. Topped it off with iced Yuzu ginger tea and we enjoyed our meal here. Highlights: - fish was extremely fresh - great selection of food and drink (gonna try the sake next time we're here) - prices weren't crazy and food had larger than average portions Could be better: - Udon broth was good, but there are many other places around the boroughs that is better - Service was great, however they seemed understaffed for how busy it was. They probably could've used another server or host to help with the rush. Overall the staff were super polite and courteous, ambiance was great, and sashimi, nigiri, and tacos/temaki were delicious. I'll definitely bring friends from out of town here! read more

Happy to stumble upon this place. Was busy but service was really great, attentive, and quick. This wasabi margarita was one of the most unique and delicious drinks I've ever had. The wasabi is great tasting REAL wasabi and the cucumber flavor is delicious. They also had real wasabi (not horseradish) mixed with soy(?) for the sushi rolls which I love. Rolls and noodles were both good prices. Egg was perfect. read more

Samurai Mama - Wasabi margarita - Japanese Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

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Cute spot for a date night or a dinner with friends. The ramen was flavorful and the karage was great! Came here for a New Years Eve dinner and was not disappointed at all! read more

Samurai Mama - Japanese Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

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