It was a wonderful experience, with minimal decor that stood on its own with the 2D art. The 15-course omakase started with a simple course, and each sushi was mouthwatering and melt-in-your-mouth, with some of the fattiest sushi you don't normally taste in a regular sushi restaurant. There was also an egg custard dish that was a little hot with a simple taste and it was so delicious, I would recommend this place again, the service was outstanding considering others were trying out the omakase style as well. There are also two concept restaurants in this one address. The Japanese as well as the Korean. read more

Sadly, a pretty bad Japanese place. I feel bad saying that - the service was friendly. The food was just oh so average. The best bit was the cucumber salad. The carpaccio came in a baby poop colored sauce (so unappetizing) and the salmon didn't seem fresh and the avocado was hard. The agedashi tasted too sweet. The Okonomiyaki wasn't bad, probably one of the better dishes. The hand rolls were nothing special. Not outrageously expensive, but then again, it did feel like a wasted meal. The interior is cool but don't want to eat that food again. Sorry, wouldn't recommend. read more

Shirokuro - Interiors - Japanese Near Me - New York, New York

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We went for the 15-course omakase on what happened to be a really rainy, miserable day. The restaurant was pretty empty when we arrived, with only one other couple at the counter, and eventually two more tables came in. I understand why people rave about the decor and the interesting walls, but personally, the whole place felt cold and somewhat dirty to me. Overall, the fish was fresh, and there were definitely some highlights, especially with a few of the pairings. However, the overuse of the "seaweed sauce," which honestly tasted more like eel sauce, became repetitive. I also felt that the fish was sliced far too thin, throwing off the fish-to-rice ratio. There was simply not enough fish and way too much rice. The chawanmushi was well cooked, but I'll never understand the decision to put two tiny pieces of chopped-up, overcooked shrimp at the bottom. If you're not going to use one small-to-medium shrimp, I'd honestly rather they leave the shrimp out altogether than serve two sad little pieces. The cocktail was also a disappointment. It was way too sweet, and the candied lime garnish was completely hard and inedible. I don't know if it was supposed to be that way, but it was practically impossible to eat. What bothered me even more was that our server never once asked how the drink was or why I wasn't drinking it. It was sitting there practically untouched, and he didn't seem to care at all. You can't really say he didn't notice when there were only six people in the entire restaurant. All of that aside, what really put a damper on the evening, besides arriving completely soaked from the rain, was needing to use the bathroom. When I went in, someone had clearly blown up the toilet and it had been left that way. It was absolutely disgusting and completely ruined my appetite. Even thinking about it now makes me want to puke in my mouth. I will say, I'm glad we used Groupon for this experience because if I had paid full price, I probably would have been even more pissed. There were some good elements to the omakase, but overall, this is definitely not an experience I'm eager to repeat. read more

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Great dinner at Shirokuru recently. Loved the decor, very creative and unique. The food was classic Japanese. Really enjoyed the spicy tuna dish and brussel sprouts. Pricing was reasonable, left quite full! Overall great spot for a casual dinner in the east village! read more

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Went during the week around 6. It wasnt busy when I sat down but by the time I was leaving it was. The watermelon drink was really good i tried to order 2 different ones but was given the same which was fine. The food was really good I did the omakase tasting and enjoyed all of rhe courses. Service was also great, fast and friendly. The decorations was fun. Its a cool vibe. read more

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I did the 3 rolls for $33 deal and I got the Spicy Salmon Roll, Spicy Tuna Roll, and Spicy Yellowtail Roll. There are 6 pieces per roll but they're pretty big pieces and the fish was very fresh and filling. The service was very quick and attentive. I got my sushi in under 10 minutes after ordering! It's very spacious inside and they have bar seating, specifically for their omakase experience. Since I just did their regular menu (not the omakase) I sat at a table. Their interior design is very 2D/3D black and white themed which is very unique. read more

Shirokuro - Spicy Salmon Roll Spicy Tuna Roll Spicy Yellowtail Roll - Japanese Near Me - New York, New York

I came here because I got a Groupon deal for their omakase. Overall - it was a good experience. The sushi chef was very nice/friendly, very accommodating to our fish preferences, and even gave us a few extra rolls! The ambiance was very different and unique. The sushi was just okay - the fish was not the freshest quality that I've had and the pieces were not super unique or special. My least favorite was the appetizer - the flavors just fell flat and didn't taste super fresh. I did enjoy that our deal included a drink - so we ordered the sake carafe (large) and it was really good and the perfect amount for our meal. Not sure I'd be back any time soon since there are so many other better omakase options in nyc. But I did appreciate the sushi chef's service/friendliness - I would come back for the service. read more

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Enrique's service and sushi combinations were fantastic! Thanks for a wonderful experience. read more

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Unfortunately wasn't the best experience. The fish were not fresh at all, flavorless on their own and drowning in overly sweet sauces to mask the lack of freshness. The knife work leaves a lot to be desired. The shrimp in the chawanmushi felt bullet hard. The oyster tasted funky and like it had something rotten on it. Honestly felt nauseous by end of the meal. The walls are hand drawn, which was cool I guess. The chef was nice and attentive. The prices for drinks very reasonable and they appear to have a late night happy hour after 9pm. Definitely won't be back read more

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My family visited Shirokuro during a trip to New York for the unique 2D experience. Shirokuro is a Japanese restaurant located at 103 2nd Ave in the East Village, NYC. The restaurant's interior is a high contrast hard lined black-and-white pallet. My group made a reservation at 1:30pm on a Sunday for six. There was street parking available, but the restaurant can also be accessible by taking the public transit. The restaurant was empty when we arrived. This was definitely a slow afternoon. We were waiting to check in to our hotel so we decided to order a few appetizers and sushi rolls to share and a kid bento for the kids. The appetizers we ordered were seaweed salad, agadashi tofu, vegetable tempura with added shrimps, pepper tuna tataki, shishito peppers, and okonomiyaki. We also tried the miso soup and chawanmushi. We also ordered the braised short rib with daikon and carrot, which was on the sweet side. The three maki rolls we tried were salmon avocado, spicy salmon, and eel. Overall, everything tasted good but nothing was memorable. The quality did not justify the price. The restaurant also offer an omakase experience for those who would like to try their high end sushi experience. I regret not trying the omakase experience instead as the regular menu really took away from the overall experience. See my pictures. read more

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We visited using a Groupon that included a 16-course omakase and two drinks. The interior was unique and thoughtfully designed, and the service was excellent throughout. The drinks were also quite strong, which we appreciated. Shirokuro offered a nice selection of fresh and unique fish, with interesting toppings and sauces that added variety. However, the menu leaned heavily toward appetizers, and ending with miso soup as a "dessert" felt a bit unusual but I think that may be how it is traditionally. The biggest downside for me was the absence of some classic omakase staples like ebi, scallop, wagyu, and yellowtail. They did serve toro with uni, which was tasty, but it was oddly placed in the middle of the meal instead of toward the end, where richer pieces are typically featured. They also featured a lot of tuna and salmon and every piece, especially the hand roll were very rice heavy and a bit over seasoned. That said, there were some standout dishes, including fresh mackerel, sea bass, and cod--items I don't usually see, and they were well executed. Overall, it was a good experience for the Groupon price, but I'm not sure it would feel worth it at full price. read more

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3.5 / 5.0 - My bf chose Shirokuro for our dinner date and I'd actually also had this place bookmarked. We both love sushi and were also very curious to see the interior. I wanted to love this place, but have some mixed feelings about it. [the atmosphere] The dining area was more spacious than I'd expected and the 2D decor was very unique. The design behind the sushi counter was cool, too. [the menu] We sat at the sushi counter and chose the 15-course omakase, which is $90+ per person. (They also have a 9-course one for $60+.) The 15-course omakase came with a plate of 3 small appetizer bites, chawanmushi, 10 pieces of nigiri, a hand roll and miso soup. [the service] Our main server was very polite and our sushi chef was nice and friendly, too. However, the service was a bit slow, especially for sake and miso soup. The sake also arrived lukewarm. [the food] It wasn't off to the best start with the appetizer bites not being the best quality. The fish on the nigiri was larger compared to some other sushi spots, with various non-traditional toppings, but also tasted a bit fishier. The final nigiri, though, which was fatty tuna with uni on top, was delicious. And because of the slow service, our server added uni in our hand roll, which was one of the best hand rolls I've ever had. We then waited over 10 min for our miso soup, which was so salty I couldn't even drink half of it. So it went from one extreme to another, making it difficult to rate. They really do need to change the miso soup, though, and maybe some of the fish. read more

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This was a really fantastic dining experience. The wait staff was really excellent. They were fun friendly and attentive. They were the reason for the five stars. That is not meant to take away from the food which I thought was generally very good. The sushi was excellent, and it was one of the better chawanmushis I have had. The miso soup was too salty though. The only other negative is the interior is starting to show some where and needs a bit of a refresh. It is a fun decorative concept though. read more

Shirokuro - First course of the omakase that we received. - Japanese Near Me - New York, New York

The place has a really cool design like the name entails, black and white. It seems like hand drawn art using white background and black lines. It decipts different locations in Japan from Osaka to Tokyo. Unfortunately, the food didn't live up to the decor. They had to update the menu since they had discontinued items still on the menu so when I was so excited to get tamago sushi and was very disappointed that they no longer selled it. Ordered okinomiyaki to be disappointed, it was mostly batter not a lot of cabbage or other toppings. Usually okinomiyaki is thicker and has different toppings in it. The beef short rib was tender but the broth was too sweet. read more

Shirokuro - Beef Short Rib Soup - Japanese Near Me - New York, New York

Would I recommend Shirokuro? Absolutely! This has to be the most unique experience I've had at a sushi restaurant ever due to their top tier ambiance. Walking in felt like entering a music video (we all know which one :D) and my eyes kept trying to make sense of each feature. The service was patient, pleasant and I immediately felt comfortable. My sushi arrived fast and I thoroughly enjoyed each bite of my spicy rolls. I would love for more restaurants owners to get creative like this and lean into their eccentric ideas when it comes to decorating. If you're in nyc definitely stop by! read more

Shirokuro - The cutest - Japanese Near Me - New York, New York

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I was very excited to try NYCs first 2D restaurant. The ambiance definitely lived up to it's hype. Stepping foot in here felt like being transported to a live comic book. I love how airy and roomy the space is, and there are thoughtful touches like the 2D roses and everything in between. We tried a bunch of things off their menu. The seaweed salad was pretty standard. They used rainbow seaweed and while that's certainly aesthetically pleasing, I prefer the good old green seaweed for sure. Tuna tataki was fresh and tasted good. Crispy rice with spicy was kind of heavy on the mayo to be honest, I would've liked a better fish topping on thar rice and some freshly sliced jalapeños. For mains we got the sashimi set and it did not disappoint! The fish tasted fresh and portion was pretty good. The miso cod was my absolute favorite here. It was so buttery and completely dissolved in your mouth like a slice of butter. If there is one dish you should order here it would definitely be that! Our server was attentive and gave good recommendations and reviews for the menu. This is a good dining experience for the ambiance and the food! read more

Shirokuro - Spicy Tuna Crispy Rice - Japanese Near Me - New York, New York

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Super cool vibe in here! The 2D style definitely makes it instagram-worthy spot! I went here with two friends to get some small bites and we left super happy with everything we picked! The Tuna Tataki was the star of the show- such fresh, light, and flavorful fish. If it were socially acceptable, I would have just ordered 5 of those. We did get other apps like the sausage skewers and chicken bao buns but I feel like those items were comparable to the food you get at any other Japanese spot. I would say if you're coming here it should be for the fish and the novelty of the design of the restaurant! read more

Shirokuro - Japanese Near Me - New York, New York

Interesting place! We had the Kuro Omakase along with some a la carte selections and had a solid meal. Along with the Omakase appetizers, we had the Okonomiyaki and Tuna Crispy Rice - both solid. We also added a three roll combo for the main. The Kuro Omakase itself was good with a bit of variety involved. Lively atmosphere, friendly service. read more

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Run Don't walk to this restaurant if you like Sushi. They are running a deal on Groupon right now. I believe it's $110 for two people omakase experience with two cocktails included. It is definitely the best deal I've seen on Groupon in years. You get a 15 course omakase meal for two. And the chefs really kill it. Each piece of sushi is delicious and each course is better than the last. They explain each dish like any other omakassi experience. And our waiter was very nice and very attentive. The cocktail I ordered also tasted delicious. There was a really cool setup in this restaurant, it was painted as if you were sitting inside of a comic book. Everything all black and white. It was awesome. I will definitely return to this place as me and my wife loves sushi. The day after I came here I immediately went back on Groupon and bought another deal. I'm sure the deal on Groupon won't last forever because their sushi is so delicious. read more

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Very mediocre food maybe that explains why such a beautiful place was empty. Shame! Very clever design and good enough service but they need to work on getting their recipes at least to a good enough standard. read more

Shirokuro really leans into a bold visual gimmick. The entire space is done in stark black and white, creating a surreal, 2D comic book vibe that feels more like an art installation than a restaurant. That novelty might be worth a quick Instagram photo, but the sushi doesn't deliver. It felt more like watery buffet fare than carefully crafted omakase. The rice was bland, the fish lacked freshness, and the overall quality was disappointing. For a place that markets itself as a high-end sushi destination, it missed the mark. In short, it may look cool, but Shirokuro's visual concept overshadows its substance. Skip the hype and head somewhere that serves real, well-prepared sushi. read more

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Anyone under 30 is probably too young to know this, but growing up in the '80s and '90s, we used to have this analogue toy called Etch a Sketch where you would try to draw things with sand using two knobs. I was never very good at mine and could only make right angle designs that looked like demented Rorschach images. When A-Ha's "Take on Me" video came out, it was like our generation's collective Etch a Sketch drawings had been realized to music. It was a glorious day. Shirokuro's design was clearly helmed by someone who at least partly experienced this, though I understand it's also an unauthorized rip-off of an original cafe concept in South Korea. Regardless, walking into Shirokuro is like walking into your childhood Etch a Sketch come to life, except done by someone who knew how to work the knobs to make line curves. This long-winded preamble (I'm a millennial, okay? I'm mostly decrepit at this point anyway) is meant to express my appreciation for the look, design and Instagrammability of Shirokuro. Because I don't have much good to say about the food. We got a bunch of rolls, and while the fish quality was fine, the portions were laughably tiny. I think the spicy rolls were best, followed by Blue Fin Tuna. The 5 Kind Hand Roll combo sounds good, but it's so small, you should budget adding more on to it unless you eat like a wee, delicate bird. My sister got that combo and literally had to add two more maki rolls on top of it. She was still hungry afterward. I did appreciate that a Large House Sake clocked in at $14. Came in handy while I was battling a throat tickle. Service was weird: We got impatient, brusque treatment from the same old lady who later was all smiles and sunshine to us. No idea what happened; maybe she finally found her Xanax? read more

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I had such a fun time at Shirokuro! I do think that the 2D decor is gimmicky, but don't let that dissuade you from trying it. The chefs were super nice and personable. They really took the effort to explain each course unlike a lot of omakases around this more affordable price point. I will say that a lot of the courses were just nigiri with a dollop of some pre-made sauce. While I don't think it was the best omakase ever, it was still very enjoyable! read more

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3.5 stars really. The decor is very fun, 5 stars actually. It's all cartoonish, black and white. Very cute, very clever, very Instagram able. We choose to have the 15 piece omakase at the bar. We let them know we're celebrating a birthday. We let them know about a shellfish allergy. The appetizer was 3 pieces. They had to send mine back because they already forgot about the shellfish allergy. Which meant that my fried rice came out cold. Not a good start. In fact the 3 pieces were pretty bad. The seared tuna was also cold, and tasted old. It was not a good start, and made me nervous. Things then took a great turn for the better. The sushi was delicious. Many cuts, many fish, lots of great flavors. They did again serve me shellfish, that I had to point out. They then tried to just remove the uni from the tuna, and then thought better of it, and gave me a new piece. They had a cute fire presentation with a fried roll... the roll itself was not good at all. The steamed egg was good. The miso soup was good. The sake was good. Dessert was a single mochi ice cream cut in half.. but it was very good. They did so l absolutely nothing for the birthday girl. So, why even ask if we're celebrating anything? It's unfortunate that they didn't have this really clean, because it had the potential to be delicious all the way round, but the few big mistakes make me not want to return. read more

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Came to shirokuro on New Year's Eve and decided to try their omakase option. It was my first time experiencing omakase, so I wasn't sure what to expect, but I was completely blown away. Each dish and bite that came out was delicious and beautifully prepared. It truly exceeded my expectations. The staff did an amazing job explaining every course in detail, which made the experience even better. The food was extremely fresh, and the drinks were exceptional. They also have a speakeasy hidden in the back of the restaurant, which we didn't get a chance to visit this time, but we will definitely be returning to check it out. read more

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Checking out NYC's first 2D restaurant and we tried their 15-course omakase with Sake. The ambiance is nice but nothing too special if you've been to other 2D concept restaurants. We liked some of our bites but overall not a super impressive or memorable experience. The appetizers didn't feel fresh and the rest of the sushi pieces are also lacking freshness and flavors. The toro hand roll piece and the chawanmushi were our favorites if we have to pick from the course menu. Service is slow but they're all really nice. It's a fun one time experience if you're in the area but I don't think I'll come back given there are better flavors and options in the city. read more

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This new omakase spot isn't just about the food --the entire restaurant is decked out in 2D black-and-white artwork that makes you feel like you've been drawn into a manga panel. We tried their 16-course omakase for $90 per person, and every piece was read more

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Shirokuro in NYC is pure fun in restaurant form. Bold flavors, playful plating, and dishes that hit hard without taking themselves too seriously. Every bite feels energetic and creative, like the kitchen is showing off in the best way possible. It's the kind of place where you're already planning your return visit halfway through the meal--loud, exciting, and absolutely delicious. read more

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I figured even though this restaurant has a 2D theme, I was going to go all 3D on the menu and get the Kuro omakase. I paired it with the Kurosawa nigori, which was exceptionally sweet. I usually prefer a drier nigori, but it was a good match for the omakase. There were four platings, the appetizer, main course with all the pieces at once, a seared uni with savory custard, and miso soup to close. What really stood out was the Ikura that was marinated and was the easiest, most explosive Ikura popping I have had. You can also taste the marinade in the Ikura. The sushi was very fresh, creative, and was very well presented. I wish there was a bit more pacing on the sushi main pieces rather than getting them all at once. It felt a bit rushed. Service was outstanding, attentive, and accurate. I asked for fresh wasabi and they accommodated me, with an upcharge, of course. Remember to tip well. read more

Shirokuro - Omakase final course - Japanese Near Me - New York, New York

Kicking off my NYC trip with an unforgettable lunch at Shirokuro, the new (opened April 2025) 2D black-and-white restaurant that's straight out of a comic book! Stepping inside truly felt like walking into a graphic novel. We indulged in the Shiro Omakase (9 courses!), and each dish was a flavor masterpiece. Sitting at the bar gave us a front-row view of the main chef, delicately hand-crafting every single piece. The attention to detail was mesmerizing. The chef and staff were absolutely lovely, making it a fantastic first lunch in NYC. My brother, a graphic designer, particularly loved the unique 2D decor; it was the first time I've seen him take so many photos in a restaurant (he usually rolls his eyes when I snap food pics!). This spot is a must-visit for both foodies and art lovers! read more

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If you want to talk about the coolest place to eat and feel like you are a part of 3-D artwork, Shirokuro is the place to be. This traditional Japanese omakase restaurant has great ambiance, style, and great food. It was clean, bright, and welcoming. The wall art is all hand drawn. It looks like someone literally took a pencil and charcoal and drew on the walls,floor, and furniture. The front window opens like a garage door to a quaint outdoor seating area. The food is fresh and prepared to order, and the wait staff was very attentive and welcoming. I ordered the marinated Japanese cucumber salad. It was marinated in a tangy Japanese sesame soy dressing and topped with shredded peppers. It was 10/10. It was flavorful and blended well with the cucumber. I wish it came in a larger portion. I also ordered the Diving Chicken. This was deboned chicken wings stuffed with ground pork, cabbage, scallions, garlic, and ginger. You get three for $14. They were "fresh out of the grease" HOT. They were flakey and golden brown. When you bite into the wings there is a slight crunch and then comes the goodness. The pork, scallions, and cabbage had a wonderful richness in taste and married well together. 10/10 for sure! I would recommend adding a dipping sauce with the wings. (it doesn't come with it, just so you all know) Overall, I would get here if I were you. Reservations would guarantee you a seat in the coolest place to dine this summer. Til we eat again... read more

Shirokuro - Marinated Japanese cucumber salad - Japanese Near Me - New York, New York

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Very affordable omakase! Came for lunch and got the $60 set. It was plenty of food for me! Fish quality was solid. Got seated at the bar and had a great time with the sushi chef. The restaurant aesthetic is 2D and it was really unique. read more

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This restaurant is only 7 months old with a unique black and white interior inspired by Japanese comic books. They have a very comprehensive menu with many choices including 2 levels of omakase. Their tuna tartare was absolutely amazing. Very professional and attentive service. Dishes were presented one and at time with description. A real gem in the East Village. read more

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The ambiance is pretty awesome, it's like walking into a manga book. We had Omakase at the chef counter, just a heads up chef table is for omakase only. Which I think it makes sense. Omakase is an experience and you get to talk to the chef. Overall not too pricey, they have a standard and premium options, budget for someone that wants to spurge a little and someone just wants a standard omakase. The cuts were something they can work better on, some were falling apart on the sushi rice. Otherwise the taste was on spot. Chawanmushi is well made - perfectly smooth, Chu toro, tuna, yellowtail and handroll was some of my favorites. Definitely a cool experience and would bring friends to try this again! read more

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Shirokuro is a cute new sushi spot on the block with a 2D twist! The 2D decor is honestly so cool to see. They even have vases by the window that were painted in the 2D style too! There's also a downstairs portion for those looking for extra photo ops. With omakase and various rolls, this restaurant specializes in sushi. There's table seating and counter seating for those who want to watch the sushi chefs in action! My friend and I got the $50 omakase set, which has 8 pieces of sushi, a miso soup, and mochi ice cream for dessert. All in all, a pretty good bang for your buck! The sushi was a good variety of classic pieces, smoked fish, and a hand roll. I would definitely check this place out! And for those looking to try out omakase, this is a pretty good place to start. read more

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If you ever find yourself in NY particularly East side then check out this unique cartoon looking Japanese restaurant. I love sushi so I always try new sushi spots. The rolls were super fresh and the presentation was great. The decor/ambiance was different from any other restaurant I have ever been to. Is also spacious with another room for a private Omakase dining. All the staff were warm and attentive. Definitely worth giving this unique restaurant a try. read more

Shirokuro - Japanese Near Me - New York, New York

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While visiting NYC I heard about the extraordinary decor inside this omakase sushi place. It feels like you're stepping into one giant drawing with 2D textures and 2D chairs. I opted to try their Kuro Omakase course and found that the sushi was really good. I wouldn't say fancy because it's just simpler sushi but I really loved it. The chef at the bar was kind and even offered some small rolls on the house, it felt like a welcoming atmosphere and definitely photo worthy. read more

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Fun place to grab Omakase. The 2D decor is unique and attention grabbing. The sushi chefs were super friendly and attentive. Highly recommended. read more

NYC's First 2D Restaurant! Step into a real-life sketchbook where everything from the walls to the tables is hand-drawn! I'm literally amazed with every details of it! Featured: 15-Course Omakase for just $90 (3 Chef's Special Appetizers * 10 pcs Nigiri * Hand Roll * Miso Soup) Happy Hour: 3PM - 6PM $1.50 oysters Late Night Hour: 9PM - close $7 cocktails + beer Follow me @foodie.elite on IG and Tiktok for more. read more

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The place looks cute, however, service was just terrible. Our waiter forgot half of our order, forgot to bring water, even though the place looked empty and not busy. Food was good but nothing special. It was interesting to try it out, but I won't be coming back. read more

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