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    Teruko

    4.7 (30 reviews)
    Closed • 5:00 pm - 10:00 PM

    About Teruko

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    TERUKO ATMOSPHERE

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    Romantic
    Classy
    Upscale

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    Recommended Reviews - Teruko

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    Amazing sushi options
    Amy B.

    Teruko is somewhat of a hidden gem in the basement of The Chelsea Hotel. The outdoor signage is obscure and the entrance in the basement is vague. It has a dark, moody, loud, speak easy, jazz feeling which makes it intriguing and special. Make reservations and plan to spend money. Once piece of sushi is 17-20 on average. It's all worth it, plus it's NYC and you will feel like you experienced something many others might not unless you stay in The Chelsea Hotel where I found out about it.

    In the mix with Haruka
    Gregg H.

    I recently caught wind of this new Japanese restaurant/whisky bar located in the basement of the historic Chelsea Hotel, and just had to check it out! Teruko did not disappoint. I began with a Kinoko Old-Fashioned (Japanese whisky, bourbon, shiitake mushroom, vetiver, and awamori) served by the skilled and friendly bartender Haruka. It was well-balanced and tasty. My wife ordered the Melon Daisy cocktail (tequila, cantaloupe, sesame shochu, pandan, hops) which she loved. With 365 whiskeys from Japan to select from (the largest collection of Japanese whisky in North America), I was ready to try a whisky pour. The selection was incredible with pages and pages of options at various price points - including luxury pours such as Hibiki 40 year. I opted for an Ichiro's Malt & Grain World Whisky, served neat. The whisky was elegant and complex. Brian Evans, the director of the Chelsea Hotel's bar programs and its whisky curator, was at Teruko. We had a great chat about Japanese whisky. He graciously offered us a delicious sample of Kanosuke 2025 IPA Cask Finish, a rare bottling. The ambience was perfect - dimly lit and intimate. The hot edamame was the perfect accompaniment for our beverage tastings. I highly recommend Teruko and look forward to returning! This is the perfect spot for a date night, for lovers of Japanese food/culture, and for whisky afficionados. Reservations are recommended. There were ample available bar seats at 5:30 PM on a Wednesday, but the crowds were building.

    Scallop Maki
    Wendy B.

    Beautiful spot, like all the other recent renovations on the property. It belongs. Service was top notch, very attentive, polite, and friendly. As expected food are on the pricier side while portion are smaller. My favs were the Chicken Tsukune with Egg and Scallop Maki. Would come back to try more!

    Bamboo
    Peter L.

    Gorgeous bar with the best list of Japanese Whiskeys I have seen in the US tucked away in the basement of Hotel Chelsea, Teruko was quite an experience. The bar set up is stunning, and they had whiskeys that I can't find anywhere else (was very tempted to order a Nikka Taketsuru 17 year old). I tried their take on a Bamboo which also included sake along with the sherry which made for a super smooth low ABV cocktail. I already had dinner but tried two pieces of sushi which were both very good, especially the texture and temperature of the rice. All of this comes at a cost but Teruko does not disappoint and is well-worth it.

    Shrimp
    Matt H.

    Really lovely experience! The food: everything we got was extremely good. We ordered: Hiyashi Tofu, Kanpachi Tataki, Edamame, Ebi-Mayo, Maitake Tempura, Shishito Peppers, Chicken Meatballs, Zaru Soba, Chard, Shake Kamameshi, Miso Black Cod and the crepes for dessert. Everything was genuinely very good but I have to give it to the Miso Black Cod and Chicken Meatballs as the two favorites. The cod was impeccable and probably the best I have had in NYC. The service: wonderful. Our server was super kind and attentive and we truly could not have been treated better. The ambiance: absolutely perfect. It's perfectly moody but so well decorated at the same time and a very unique setting. Overall we absolutely loved our experience at Teruko and will be back without a doubt.

    Sushi
    Alec K.

    Teruko is hands down, my absolute favorite restaurant in New York. The dining experience they provide is elevated in every way. The atmosphere is lovely (the entrance has a speakeasy vibe). The menu is varied across all sorts of traditional and elevated Japanese fare. Prices are a little high, but without a doubt worth it for me. The service is exceptional - Teruko is staffed by some of the most helpful and knowledgeable people I've ever encountered. Beverage expert Jake is absolutely phenomenal; his recommendations are always delicious on their own, perfect as a paring, and fit within our budget. The unique stories behind each producer keep me mesmerized every time I visit. The food itself is altogether flawless. The Shake Kamameshi (a king salmon dish) literally made me feel as if I was back in Japan, at some luxury ryokan (quality reminds me of midtown's Yamada Chikara, before it closed). The housemade tofu is a must-try, it's like no tofu I've ever had before and is delicious in every way. Every time I've been here, the experience has been exceptional. Highest possible recommendation. I'd give it 6/5 stars if I could.

    dashi broth to start
    Nicole N.

    Teruko is a Japanese restaurant tucked at the basement of Hotel Chelsea. While I enjoyed my meal and the service, I didn't find anything super worth writing home about. -Apps: Started off with the kanpachi tataki which had a kombu based gelatin sauce and green onion puree. Both of which went nicely with the amberjack that was smoked and semi seared. The maitake tempura was well done with a nice crispy batter, but I think I still prefer it to be pan-fried/seared. The house salad with watercress was delicious with the soy dressing. -Mains: I wish the duck in the sukiyaki was a little more tender, but I liked the sauce overall as well as the mushrooms, root vegetables, and yam noodles. The spicy scallop featured fresh scallop pieces but weren't spicy at all and if any, a little heavy on the mayo. The aburi salmon nigiri was solid with a fatty salmon and good amount of rice and wasabi. -Dessert: This is the real reason why I came because I heard about the "rocks" as dessert. The sekitei featured several realistic rock-like mousse/yogurt chocolate pieces. The big rock is composed of hojicha mousse but really tasted like chocolate overall. It was yummy when mixed with the caramel chocolate crunch thing on the bottom. -Drinks: The Melon Daisy indeed had a nice mix of cantaloupe and pandan. The wakamomo bellini was sweet as expected but still tasty with its peach flavors. Staff were super nice and attentive. Despite the dim lighting that makes it feel super intimate and classy, the bar is nicely light as well as the sashimi/sushi counter. I'd be interested in coming back to try their other dishes and drinks!

    Entrance
    Lauren M.

    Writing this review as a vegetarian** I was excited to hear about the opening of Teruko in the lower level of Hotel Chelsea. I was a little nervous going because I could not find their menu anywhere online and I was afraid they would not have any vegetarian options, but I decided to wing it. I am unsure if the restaurant is accessible via an elevator. The only way I saw to get to the lower level was a staircase - but I could be wrong. I showed up promptly at opening (5:30pm) but had made a reservation on Resy. The dining room is a vibe, and the decor gives it a moody kind of look. There were a large number of staff members present, happy to greet me as I walked in. I was sat at a table near the front, next to a dark paneled wall. The restaurant is already pretty dim but sitting next to this wall made it seem even darker. There are candles on each table however. Their menu was much larger than expected! And gratefully - had a decent amount of vegetarian options. True vegetarian options - not just light snacks (like some restaurants try to get away with) but actual meals - noodles, sushi, vegetables, etc. My server (I don't know his name) was so nice and extremely considerate of my dietary needs. He explained all of the vegetarian dishes to me and made sure to double check on anything that wasn't vegetarian. He made sure I received the vegetarian soy sauce without the fish. I really appreciated the thoughtfulness here, and it seemed like the staff genuinely cared about providing a top notch experience. This is not to be said for a large number of NYC restaurants as of late. To start the meal, they do give you a cup of daishi but I could not drink it as it contains fish. What I had: Million Dollar Cocktail which was phenomenal. It is both savory and sweet. Kale Salad - Vegan! With tofu croutons that melt in your mouth Yasai Maki - Vegan sushi roll. Excellent and a step above your basic avocado roll. Jellies - Dessert! Yes, the jellies have animal product in them but I haven't been able to give up gelatin in my vegetarian journey so was happy to try this unique dessert. Matcha sorbet served atop fruit jelly in fun shapes (hearts, spades) and the best part - drizzled with black sugar syrup. Truly one of the best desserts I've had in a long time. Forgot to mention that a hot towel is provided to you upon the start of the meal which is a nice touch and elevates the experience. Bathrooms are located next to the restaurant, outside of the doors. Thank you to the managers walking around and asking how everything was going. This was a wonderful dining experience and I look forward to returning soon with some friends! Another hit restaurant for the Hotel Chelsea.

    Sling and Collins drinks
    Kimberly L.

    Loved this new cozy little Japanese bar! Stopped by for cocktails after a dinner and was impressed by the options on the menu. It had a classic vintage NYC feel but wasn't packed to the point of feeling elbow to elbow. Service was definitely a bit slow...we had to ask for drinks, nudge the bartenders along and I had to deliver my check to the hostess but I'd still go back and will tell friends!

    Entrance stairs
    Rebecca S.

    Dined at Teruko last night and it was amazing. It gave vibes of a Japanese wine cellar speak easy, a unique cozy, romantic atmosphere. The service was incredible from the second we walked in and were greeted with coat check. The wait staff know the perfect balance of when to be attentive and when to give space for socializing. The food and cocktails were INCREDIBLE! The food came out quickly after ordering and everything was so fresh. Without doubt some of the best nigiri I've ever had. The wagu fried rice is a MUST. We didnt order dessert but enjoyed an after dinner tea and again the staff let us be to enjoy our time without trying to rush us out the door to turn the table This is definitely a repeat place for us in the future 10:10 recommend

    Frank A.

    Great new Japanese restaurant in the basement of Hotel Chelsea. This is not a traditional Japanese restaurant. It is more of a scene with a nightlife atmosphere which makes sense given the location. Nevertheless the food is very good and the cocktails are excellent. Service is a bit slow, but it is early days.

    Ginger ice cream
    Aubrey W.

    Teruko is EVERYTHING to me! I truly couldn't be more obsessed. The ambiance is great - we've sat at a table in the main dining area, a table in the bar area, at the bar, and at the sushi counter. We've had great service in all areas and love them all equally - although the sushi counter was maybe a favorite! Drinks - the cocktails are just as delicious as they are unique! I've had the Gari Martini and Melon Daisy and loved them both. Food - where do I even begin with how incredible the food is! First of all, the side of ginger comes in little bite sized cubes that I could eat an entire bucket of! They're so good and the perfect palate cleanser. The Chicken Nanban is truly unbelievable. The most tender pieces of fried chicken with a delicious sauce (although they're so good on their own you don't even need the sauce! But it is a great touch!). We felt silly ordering fried chicken at a restaurant like this, but TRUST ME, it's so worth it. The Torotororo appetizer is a fun play on tuna crispy rice. The tuna melts in your mouth, and the crunch of the crispy rice makes for a delicious bite each time. We typically get a few pieces of Nigiri - Salmon, Hotate, Toro - all INCREDIBLE. Now for the cut rolls: My top favorites are the yellowtail jalapeño, toro taku, and last but certainly not least the spicy scallop. When I say the spicy scallop roll might be the best bite of food I've ever had, I'm not being dramatic. It literally melts in your mouth like butter! Every time I have it I am shocked at just how good it is. For my birthday dinner there they brought out ginger ice cream for us - my husband was hesitant but beyond surprised at how incredible it was! Clearly, I really enjoy Teruko and couldn't recommend it more! Perfect for a date night, night out with friends, birthday celebration, anything!

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    Sunny was a phenomenal server, and the food was perfect. Miso cod and the tuna avocado appetizer were both incredible!

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    1 year ago

    Upscale and special atmosphere. Non sushi dishes unique. Service very attentive. Basement location a little gloomy

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    Teruko - japanese - Updated October 2026

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