Wonderful experience for our group to celebrate a birthday dinner! [[HIGHLIGHT]]First this restaurant is very unassuming, simple doors that take you to the open sushi chef counter followed by small tables in the back.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]The restaurant was full at the counter however only a few tables in the back.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Our server was often always standing next to our table, attentive and observant with our needs. I really liked that we had the option to get as many omakases as we wanted and/or order as many a la carte menu items. Many Japanese omakase restaurants do not allow this! And I never understood this either. We ordered 3 omakases to share amongst 2 people, and then a ton of a la carte dishes to share. Which were such a beautiful compliment to our omakase dishes. We got the "O" which was a 9 course meal with some cooked and raw options. From the a la carte menu, we ordered the chicken karaage, agedashi tofu, hamachi kama, clay pot rice with salmon and roe, sukiyaki noodles, 2 different rolls (tuna and salmon) and of course the uni taster (which were 3 different kinds of sushi from California and 2 from Hokkaido). The agedashi tofu was the worst amongst our group for a weird texture, definitely did not feel like tofu. The best dishes were the uni taster, chicken karraage, and hamachi kama all from the a la carte menu. And from the omakase, definitely the sushi platter (which were 10 pieces of sushi) and the soba noodles were so amazing! The sushi rice here were so delicious! This is how you can tell a authentic sushi restaurant vs not. Overall, definitely recommend and absolutely order a la carte to get a full tasting of the dishes. read more

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Great value for food here! We were able to get a last minute reservation and this place did not disappoint! We both got one of the course sets and it left us full, the price was definitely worth it for quality sushi with different variety of fish and dishes. Would love to come back and try other courses as well! They also have a counter with omakase it seems. read more

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Was able to snag a last minute reservation on a Friday night for a group of four which was amazing. We all ordered the same set and a side of edamame. The food was excellent, however, this was one of those meals where I left feeling slightly hungry after (and night another sandwich within an hour of eating). If coming back I'd likely still order a set menu plus some additional mains to share that are a bit more filling. read more

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My friends and I decided to come here for dinner. I will say this is not your traditional omakase experience and they actually have a lot of different options for your to choose from. The staff was extremely friendly and nice. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The place itself was fairly quiet and clean.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] We all decided to get the O Dinner Set which had the most food and was the most expensive option. They slowly bring everything out to your table and explain what everything is. This set had a good mixture of both sushi fish items and other food items which I really liked. They did plate all the sushi and brought it out all together - I will say their sushi was not my favorite out of all the omakase places that I have been too. I will say that there was a good amount of food and we were definitely all super full after this. I think that my favorite dishes were like Kasago Shioyaki and the dessert which was super refreshing after the whole meal. Overall solid place for dinner especially since you can pick set options or order a la carte for those who do not want to be constrained by sets. read more

There is something to be said about a divine Omakase experience and this is my second time having one in NYC. We started off nicely with Sakizuke, pictured in the photo I shared, followed by Amber jack, Panamanian trout, Japanese scallops lemon juice and pink salt, Medium fatty, Japanese horse mackerel, Japanese steamed egg custard, Japanese sea bream, Spanish mackerel, Spotted prawn, Seared tuna belly, Japanese striped jack, Short spine Sea urchin (sourced from Japan) and Long spine sea urchin (extra piece ordered - sourced from Santa Barbara, Japanese sea eel and Miso soup. They were all incredible but the Santa Barbara sea urchin was one for the books. If I could describe the taste of the ocean, in one bite, this would be it. I also devoured the steamed egg custard, Japanese eel, Amber Jack and the sea bream. Service was top notch and the suggested sake was absolutely perfect. 100% a place to go to for an intense and traditional Omakase experience. Next one will be in Japan, without question! read more

Towa - Seasonal appetizers - Japanese Near Me - New York, New York

In a town full of excellent omakases, Towa delivered on a good omakase without going above and beyond at any point. There was nothing disappointing about the meal, but not exceptional about the meal. The price point was right for the food, and if you're looking for a traditional japanese meal at a reasonable price point that matches what you might have in Japan, then this is it. If you're looking to be over the top like Sushi Noz, or super fun like Sushi by Bou, or super chill like Sushi Yolo. Our waiters brought tradition and thought to their service, every dish was well executed with just the right amount of soy sauce and wasabi on sushi. The Chawanmushi was technically perfect, the miso soup truly great, and the dessert somewhat innovative but also to be expected with the sakura. Each piece of sushi was good, but nothing was outstanding, not even the O-Toro. The chopped toro handroll was also good, but again not outstanding. This really had a strong Japanese sensibility to it throughout, nothing was overdone. I'm not going to run back, I would come back, but only if someone suggested it. It's good, but there's too many other options for me to go out of my way to come again. read more

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A pretty solid Japanese spot that offers a sort of multi-course meal with traditional Japanese dishes. Towa comes from Hand Hospitality, which is more known for Korean food (e.g., Jua, Her Name is Han etc.). So how's the restaurant? A solid and faithful recreation of a multi-course meal that you might find in Japan. Towa has few different options: an omakase counter, course sets, and a la carte. I went with a coursed menu here and the dishes were solid! The miso soup tasted home made, the chanwamushi (steamed egg with roe) was delicious, and the sushi was solid, though maybe nothing to write home about. I do think Towa offers one of the more traditional takes of Japanese food in Manhattan. Whenever I miss the food I ate in Japan, I think about coming here. read more

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Rounding up to 4 because yelp doesnt doesn't do halves but really a 3.5-[[HIGHLIGHT]]ambiance is nice and quaint as with most Japanese restaurants in the city.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Service is great. My review focuses really on the food. The fish is just okayy, above your takeout sushi but below your average omakase spot. And the knife skills are just a bit off as well. As for the other dishes-the grilled cod was good, skin cooked right on point. Noodles were lacking. Overall I'd say they tried to do a bit of everything without excelling at a particular one. For the price charged for sushi here I'd say you have better options in the city. But if you're on a date and just know you want Japanese food in general with more options that are decent then this is your spot. read more

Came to Towa on a weekend with some friends and reserved a spot about a week ahead with plenty of openings and probably could have walked in. The restaurant was very simple and elegantly decorated, which made it look very upscale. We had a pretty big table for ourselves and did not feel like it was over crowded or too close to the tables next to us. Our servers were very nice and overall we were satisfied with the service. The food was really good! I have only good impressions of the cooking. Each dish was fairly small so you may want to get a bunch in order to feel full. We had the tomato, duck breast, chicken wings, tofu, and each dish had unique blend of flavors. The sushi was mediocre, but maybe bc we did not order the right kind. The rest of the food were delicious, including the soba noodles. Would definitely recommend the tapas here and would love to come again! read more

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Date Night at Towa was amazing! We reserved space at the Omakase bar for dinner before a Broadway show. What we experienced was a show before the show. Such amazing people work at Towa. We arrived at 5pm and had the restaurant to ourselves for a few minutes. The chefs seemed genuinely happy to host us and explained each dish and how best to enjoy their offerings. We ordered drinks that far exceeded our expectations. Our server recommended some sake that might be the best we have had and it wasn't very expensive. NOTE: I have had some expensive sake that does not hold up to what we had at Towa. The sushi was well crafted and very fresh. I know there are a lot of places to go for Omakase in NYC, but I say try Towa and you decide. As for me, the overall experience was one of the best I've ever had in a restaurant. Five Stars is not enough to recognize the staff and food at Towa. read more

Overall, I think this is a solid place for good drinks and Japanese food. I was very impressed by how delicious and smooth the sake were, definitely some good sake my fave fave dish was the tofu skin with sea urchin, def a must get! -a5 wagyu yaki was good, but barely had any meat, and mostly mushroom (which was very goood as well) -toro shoyu was a bit salty -tomato umami was ok (this somehow popped as most popular dish, but it was just OK) -their sake was very smooth and good! (Junmai shimane on the sweeter side, junmai ginjo was perfection) read more

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The meal itself was decent but not standout. Service was indifferent. The biggest disappointment came at the next dat when I realized the bill was revised to increase the tip beyond what was discussed. read more

Towa was one of the restaurants that came up during my search for a Japanese restaurant to take my mom to for her birthday. I made a reservation about a month in advance and was able to make a time change to it about 3 weeks in advance. We had a 7:45pm reservation for a party of 5 and was seated in one of their large tables in the center of the restaurant. I like that they have different courses depending on how hungry you are, so you can choose based on your own preferences. 2 of us went with the first course, which was $45 and 3 of us had the second course, which was $60. The major differences between these 2 courses was ikura on your chawanmushi, 8 pieces of sushi instead of 6 pieces, and a salmon handroll instead of an unagi handroll. The appetizers were great, as was the sushi and chawanmushi. The apple sorbet for dessert was really good - very refreshing and light. They even stenciled Happy Birthday and put a candle in my mom's sorbet. Service was attentive in terms of water refills and table clearing. But the food came out very slowly in between each course. It felt like we spent a lot of time without any food on the table. Drinks were also very good. I had the old fashioned with hojicha, which I loved. read more

Got the O set menu for 60$ and it was great! Every dish was good and well seasoned, and I left really full. I like that they have a range of different preset menus you can choose read more

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Came here as the last seating before they were about to close. My friend and I were hungry and the waitress encouraged us to order more but it was way too much and she should have warned us. The sashimi was fresh and high quality. The edamame are great but I think that's just due to them putting sesame oil on it. The chicken wings are good but could have used stronger seasoning. The confit tomato was nice and chilled and resfreshing. The miso black cod was a little mealy and fell apart too easily. read more

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In my top 3 for best homestyle Japanese in NYC. Feels super healthy while still yummy and all ingredients taste very high quality. Some of my fave dishes are the shabu shabu, clay pot rice, and any of their tempura. I came for the New Year's handmade soba and it was one of my fave lunch meals I have ever had!! read more

Towa - Japanese Near Me - New York, New York

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We wanted to do the OMAKASE, however the timing didn't work out as there are only two seatings per night (5:30 or 8pm). Our reservation was for 7pm. We were trying to figure out why it looked so familiar. I think this used to be a Korean restaurant. Anyway, they did a great job renovating the space, by making it cozy and welcoming. We couldn't decide amongst all the delicious sounding items on the menu and decided to try a few from each category. My personal favorite was the wagyu donabe, so delicious and perfect on a chilly day. It's like the Japanese version of chicken soup for your soul. Warm, comforting and just the right amount of richness. The sashimi were super fresh and the drinks were very delicious (we got cocktails and sake). Overall the perfect meal, can't wait to come back to try the OMAKASE. read more

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[[HIGHLIGHT]]Restaurant had beautiful ambiance and service, but food was very underwhelming.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] the flavors were rather light and too subtle. the textures were also lacking. chiwamushi was far too liquidy, and the wagyu claypot lacked the crispy bits. shrimp balls and sukiyaki both also didnt have much flavor. best part of the meal was definitely the houjicha panna cotta - this was delicious! read more

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My partner and I came in last night and were really impressed with our omakase experience. We loved all the pottery on display and pottery we were given to eat off of. The staff was very knowledgeable and professional. We started with three small appetizers, tofu skin with ikura, fried white fish, and some greens in a dashi broth. Next we got a great selection of nigiri: Madai, wild yellowtail, striped jack, makarel. My favorite was the wild yellowtail; it was the most buttery yellowtail I've ever had. The quality of the rice was very good. I typically don't love makarel but this one was very good; good level of saltiness to it. Next we got some more prepared kitchen dishes: fish bone broth, unagi with caviar, pure buckwheat noodles (+uni for $20). It was my first time having unagi without the sauce and with caviar/wasabi as the highlight instead. Uni was very great quality and I'm glad I added it to my noodles. Next up was 1 piece of futomaki and nigiri pieces: Japanese scallop, ikura, otoro, Hokkaido uni, sea eel from Japan. All were very good, the marbling in the toro was beautiful. The meal ended with a negitoro roll, miso soup, and Fuji apple gelato/sencha tea. I wasn't totally stuffed by the end of the meal but I was very happy. Everything came together really well and felt complete. Hand Hospitality restaurants never seem to disappoint. I would highly recommend! read more

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[[HIGHLIGHT]]The service is very attentive, and the ambiance is also great.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] We came here on a weeknight for dinner. There were still lots of open reservations online, and when we went it was still quite empty. Overall, for the price of the food here, it does not quite deliver. We wanted to eat light, so we didn't get any of the sets, but since they had a omakase with sashimi tastings, we assumed the sashimi would be high quality. It was just ok - not bad but again, not worth the steep price point. read more

A bit pricey, but if you are ready to splurge, this meal will be fantastic and you will definitely not regret!! Review is for the a la carte menu and not the omakase tasting. Menu: the menu is neatly broken out into separate sections on their own individual pages with Apps, grilled, fried, sashimi, noodles, etc. Food: overall the food was amazing. -Uni Ikura Chawanmushi: 5/5. The individual ingredients themselves were 5/5. When you put the 3 together - 15/5 stars. -Gindara Yuan 4.5/5. -Ebi Shinjo 5/5. My favorite dish. But i'm a sucker for fried food -Sukiyaki Nabe: was solid but probably our least favorite of the course. To be fair, we were pretty full by this point in the meal... -Seasonal Sashimi: 5/5. Our most surprising on how fresh the fish was. -Toumorokoshi Kani Donabe: 4/5. Corn and crab donabe. The waitress did recommend the wagyu donabe as that is the most popular. Will have to try that next time! Ambiance: A bit dark and a bit crowded. A stereotypical NYC restaurant, which won't be a problem for most. The decor and the atheistic were still very nice, but if you are looking for "space" this is definitely not the restaurant. Verdict: if you love japanese food, this place is a must try in NYC. They not only have omakase, but they have a variety of dishes that are all worth trying. Come hungry and leave full as I wanted to try everything on the menu. Will definitely come back! read more

Towa - Fried shrimp - Japanese Near Me - New York, New York

First thing I want to point out here is 3 sake for $19! It is super valuable if you are sake lover, th servicer always can give you some good idea. Good place to hang out wo Th friend after work. We had tomato as our appetizer, highly recommend grilled cod and sake cake. Shabushabu is a little bit salty, you can have it with rice. Personally I really like the maki as the cold dish. We order the sake cheesecake as our ending, it is a Japanese fusion style, it is not sweet at all but creaming. I will save this place for hang out with friend. read more

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My friend made a reservation at Towa and it was a great experience! Server was very attentive from start to finish. I personally thought the omakase menu was worth every penny. It was $120, but is now $150. We both got two drinks each, the Greenwich and Long Peach, and ended up really liking the cocktails. Love the Asian twists! The prix fixe menu was not limited to nigiri only, but had grilled/fried items and soups. Sashimi slices were fresh and melted in my mouth without any taste of fishiness. The variety definitely kept the meal interesting! Tangerine sorbet in the end acted as a refreshing palate cleaner. Overall, I highly recommend Towa. Everything tasted pretty solid. I appreciate the consistency from start to finish. My belly was super happy in the end! read more

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Some things were an absolute hit, others were an absolute miss. Had to wait 20 minutes past our reservation time to be seated which was a bit too long for our liking, but the service was great and they made up for it by comping tea and dessert. -Ika Shumai (3/5): good but not my favorite. there were a bit too many textures within the shumai and the skin was a bit dry by the time it got to us. -Wagyu Tataki (5/5): one of my favorites for the night. the wagyu was so tender and melted in mouth and the truffle butter that came with it was to DIE for. would come back for this, melt in your mouth drool worthy combo of flavors -Miso Cod (5/5): so so soft, one of the best cods I have ever had. Literally melts in your mouth and falls apart instantly. Only complaint is that I don't know how well the yuzu paired with it. -Nigiri set (3/5): OK. fish was not extremely extremely as fresh as I would have liked, and not the most soft either -Uni Wagyu Maki (2.5/5): a bit disappointing. the asparagus did NOT pair well with the wagyu and uni AT ALL and the addition of the perilla leaf in the maki made the whole maki taste quite strange and not the most appetizing. We ended up removing the asparagus and perilla leaf to fully enjoy the wagyu and uni (uni was not the most fresh though) -Truffle Donabe (3/5): OK. also a bit disappointing. loved the mushrooms and the burnt rice but the dish was a bit too dry (rice could have had a bit more moisture) and the rice could have been more flavorful too -Hojicha Panna Cotta (1000/5); TO DIE FOR. literally not too sweet, such a heavenly roasted tea flavor, an extremely smooth and refreshing texture. I will dream about this -Teas (5/5): got the matcha yuzu and soba tea. loveddd the soba tea read more

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I honestly don't understand why this place has such amazing ratings. It's very mid in my opinion, just extremely overpriced and underwhelming. I came her with my bf to celebrate our anniversary after seeing all of the 5 star reviews. We ordered an array of different dishes including some sushi/sashimi, donburi, maki rolls, and a steamed egg. Everything was okay and extremely small portions. We were stunned by the $36 donburi being just as big as the chawanmushi we got. There was nothing special in it, just uni, ikura and rice. The amount of uni was so small, I could barely taste it. For the maki rolls, the uni wagyu maki was completely overshadowed by the taste of the asparagus. I did enjoy the crunch and the flavor that it added but I felt that two pieces was way too much. Each time, I had to eat the uni separately to even taste it. The futo maki was quite an experience. Each piece was the size of a half dollar, huge! I did enjoy the roll but I think it was too much going on, especially with the slimy texture of the okra. I liked the sashimi but at $10 a piece, I would expect it to not to be stringy or so small. Overall, all of 6 items came out to be about $200. We were both so sad after we finished the meal and had to go and get more food afterwards. One major plus though was the service. The staff was very attentive and gave different plates and utensils for each dish we had. It was changed out frequently and our water was always refilled. This is a beautiful place but unfortunately, I don't think it's worth the price tag. read more

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A beautiful blend of modern and traditional Japanese dining. The aesthetic of the restaurant and sushi bar is clean and minimalist yet with a warm and organic tone. The service was attentive and incredibly friendly, helping us along the way to find the perfect drinks to compliment our dishes. The sushi was magical, we had the the tuna plate and every piece melted in my mouth. We each had a sake sampler it was exactly what I was hoping for. The wagyu dishes were incredible. They gave a hot stone which we could sear them up quickly too. The duck soba was such a beautiful and simple combination of flavors that was the perfect finale to my meal. Will definitely make a point to come back here next time I'm in town! read more

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TLDR: Towa is an awesome choice for modern Japanese dining, both an omakase and an elevated izakaya concept in one. Personally - I prefer the tables as opposed to the sushi counter. Don't forget to try the truffle croquette, the prosciutto maki or the yaki gani. We've tried every Hand Hospitality concept at this point, Towa became one of our favorites this year. We've done both a la carte and omakase, we prefer the former. For the omakase, it's a fair price point with some cooked dishes in between the nigiri courses. I would recommend the omakase for someone graduating from the more budget tastings into the mid-tier price range. If you're accustomed to the $200+ sushi-yas, you might be a bit underwhelmed. For me, the a la carte menu is something I find myself craving every couple of weeks. Towa is something like an izakaya that also happens to have omakase in the front. The team is great, especially the GM Natsuki and our favorite server Dana. The menu is broken up into various sections based on the style of dish it is. There are small plates, fried stuff, rice pots, noodles, sushi, etc. For the smaller plates, the truffle croquette is our favorite. A fluffy pillow of potato puree breaded in panko and topped with shaved black truffles. It's the grown up version of all those croquettes you ate when you were younger. It's rich, it's luxurious, it's strangely light on the palette as you eat through it. The wagyu tataki is a good choice too. On our most recent visit, we tried the monkfish tatsuta-age. So unique. Plump seasoned nuggets of monkfish with a very light batter and a squeeze of lemon to balance it out. Very unique. During the winter they also have a winter yellowtail shabu shabu. This truly caught my eye. The dashi broth is brought hot on top of a flame, there are some chrysanthemum greens, julienned carrots and thinly-sliced mushrooms to place in the soup. Sashimi-grade slices of winter yellowtail you can poach quickly in the broth. It's wonderfully fatty, the dashi is piping hot and it's perfect for the cold days lately. The sushi is good and there is a separate a la carte menu for the nigiri. The prices are fair but the nigiri is also on the smaller side. At $10 for a seared wagyu piece though, you can't really complain. The prosciutto maki is both unique and tasty. The outer slice of prosciutto is salty, the capers are briny, the dill and shiso flower lend this freshness of herb with a bit of sweetness from the crab and a creaminess of the avocado. It's a lot going on but it all works well together. Unfortunately my shrimp mazemen is no longer on the menu but the duck soba is excellent. The dashi is flavorful, the noodles are bouncy and the slices of duck are cooked to perfection. Our favorite dish on the menu though is the yaki gani. Period. Pieces of king grab are grilled in the shell and they're served with a side of miso sauce made with the crab innards. The meat is roasty, the sauce is rich and although it is pricey at $42; each bite your mouth will be filled with happiness. Don't leave without getting that hojicha panna cotta. The perfect accompaniment to the complimentary hot tea. PS - If you're into sake, the GM doubles as a sake somm. read more

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We went for a dining experience they were holding to celebrate their second anniversary. AMAZING. The theme was no-waste, and to that end, they were using every part of the tuna. There was broth made from the skin and bones of the fish, and there were cuts from all different areas. We were not able to get a seat at the chef's bar, but that was the only regret of the night. Walking in, they kindly took my coat and provided me with a basket for my purse. The decor was minimalist but still warm and the space gave the impression of intimacy. The staff were incredibly attentive and explained each dish when it hit the table. For pairings, they had recommended different sake for each course, but I decided upon ordering one sake per grouping. They were delicious. One of the more memorable dishes was the Katsu Sando, but made with a very thick and juicy portion of tuna instead of pork. Coated in an airy crisp and sandwiched between two pieces of crust less white bread, the flavor was so good that I still can remember that first bite. I didn't want the event to end. Everything, from the staff to the dishes, made it an incredible night and I can't wait to see what they do for their third anniversary. Whatever it is they decide upon, I will definitely be there for it! read more

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Fresh seafood, delicate flavors, and an extensive menu highlighting quality ingredients are just some of the reasons why I'm still dreaming about my dinner at this Kaiseki style restaurant. I loved the minimal decor, our sweet and helpful server, but most of all it was the food driving me to pen this five star review. I'll start with the best dish of the night-- the otoro. Fatty tuna is always a fan favorite among seafood lovers, but theirs is extra flavorful because it's soy-marinated and lightly grilled. The meat was so tender and the grated daikon and pieces of soy marinated potato added textural interest and more flavor. A dash of yuzu for light citrus flavor, a bit of chili for a subtle kick, and a sprinkle of chives gave it a nice aromatic flavor. Honestly this dish was perfect. Moving onto the Sakizuke course, I have to shout out the Kanpachi carpaccio. Slices of the freshest kanpachi I have ever had the pleasure of dining on were topped with diced Asian pear, sliced radish, ponzu, dill, and aromatic extra virgin olive oil. Like the otoro, this dish was fatty but the citrus flavor gave it some zest and made it feel like a lighter dish. I wondered what could warrant the $25 for a sushi roll until the work of art that was the Futo Maki came out. I love the slice of okra in the center that looks like a star, surrounded by tamago, cucumber, kanpachi, shrimp, tuna, salmon, and kanpyo. The different colors made it feel like a piece of jewelry but in food form. Each sushi piece was enormous, filling, and full of flavor. The only dish I ordered that I wasn't too keen on was the tako soba. The slices of octopus were fresh, but as much as I appreciate subtle flavors in Japanese cooking, the sauce was a bit too subdued for my liking. I didn't find myself reaching for this dish on the table. Towa is a beautiful ode to kaiseki Japanese cooking, and is where I had one of my most memorable meals of the year, as I reflect on some of my favorites. The team behind Atomix and Her Name Is Han has proven to be restaurant virtuosos, and I will follow them to every single NYC restaurant they continue to open. read more

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I am not the most experienced omakase diner, but I believe it would be very difficult to beat the experience I had there the other night. Sublime in every respect. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The chefs, the atmosphere, the food., and a special shout-out to our server, Amanda.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Well done. read more

One of the best omakase experiences we had recently. We sat by the sushi counter to enjoy the 18-course menu while watching the sushi chef make each piece with love. The menu was a great way to sample the highlights from TOWA, where we had nigiri, hand roll, soup, soba, and other items from the kitchen. We enjoyed the transition from 4 nigiri to other dishes before coming back to 4 more pieces of nigiri. The sake-tasting set was refreshing, and it paired well with the dishes. I also enjoy the oolong cocktail drink. We left the restaurant feeling extremely satisfied and full. We can't wait to return to try other dishes in the dining room. read more

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{Overall: 4; Food: 4}, Ambiance: 4, Service: 4 When I saw Towa on Yelp, I was surprised that I've never heard of it before. I was able to book a reservation at 7 pm on the same day. The entrance is a little hidden, but once I found it, it was like walking into an elegant, Japanese-style restaurant. The food was good, but was expensive for what it was. While I was originally looking for a casual weeknight dinner, this felt more like a splurge. While I would consider going back, I think I could find alternative restaurants with the same quality of food at a lower price. read more

Would recommend this place for the comfort food, but not so much for the sushi. The uni egg custard has great umami flavors, but was a tad too watery for my taste. The grilled eggplant was really good, and the spongy texture also made it kind of fun to eat. The Toro shoyu was my fav of the night - highly recommend! The grilled and marinated fatty tuna was incredibly tender, and the overall taste profile was not heavy-handed but just right. The grilled black cod was also very tender and flavorful. They definitely do their grilled fish very well. The Uni Wagyu Maki was decent, but not as good as I'd expected. The asparagus was a weird element and just didn't work in this roll. We also ordered several pieces of nigiri, of which I was not impressed. While the unagi itself was good, the rice bed fell apart... An indictment of the itamae's artisanal skills. IYKYK. read more

Towa - Nasu Dengaku - Very good - Japanese Near Me - New York, New York

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Delicious Saturday lunch omakase counter experience for $65. We scored a reservation the week before and were seated promptly. The cuts of fish were fresh and well prepared, with the perfect rice to fish ratio. Each piece came out in a timely manner and we never felt rushed while enjoying our food. You have the option to add other cooked foods from their menu as well as additional cuts/combinations of fish. I opted to get their negi tuna hand roll which was amazing, as well as both their desserts to share. It was the perfect place to bring friends, family, or even a date to enjoy a well crafted meal! We loved speaking to the chef and watching him work! I will definitely be back to try their cooked foods! read more

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It was love at first bite!! I loved each dish and they are bites that are not offered at your other standard Japanese restaurants. While the dishes are innovative, you can tell that they are still honoring traditional flavor profiles. I loved the tomato cooked in dash and although not pictured, we got two of the gindara yuan because it was so tasty. The server was also attentive and accommodating to our requests like getting a bowl of white rice on the side. The space was a casual atmosphere, perfect for a family/business outing or a casual date night. read more

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Towa is a solid Japanese restaurant. The donburi and sushi are good, but it's not amazing. In fact, I spotted a fish bone in one of the nigiri. However, service is great. read more

This is one of the real Japanese restaurants left in Manhattan. And this is the very good one, if it is not the best.

Relatively new place service traditional Japanese cuisine that is refreshed! Highly recommend making reservations ahead of time since it gets busy. We didn't do the omakase style food, but this place is the place to do it! We ended up getting a selection of food that was similar in price to what the omakase would have been. The Wagyu Tataki was my favorite dish. Melts in your mouth and heavenly!! The Ika (Squid) Shumai was also another standout that I enjoyed. Sushi was fantastic too and was classic. Definitely try the Panna Cotta at the end as well. read more

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Outstanding omakase! Sitting at the bar and watching the chefs in action, as they present a perfect fresh nigiri on your plate - so fun. Service was attentive and we enjoyed conversing with the chef; he even slipped us an extra fatty tuna after asking us which nigiri was our favorite. My spouse loves sushi, and having been to some great places in NYC, DC, and up and down the West Coast, Towa is his favorite. Yes, $150 per person was quite the splurge, though we've spend more on other omakases and they weren't as good. read more

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Towa is not a sushiya, although they do have some sushi/sashimi offerings. If you come here expecting sushi works, you're dumb and need to go home. Towa is what Japanese food actually tastes like in real Japanese homes, when overworked parents have no time to roll handmade sushi, so they, you know, cook food like every other culture. Towa is about homestyle Japanese comfort food, but through the Manhattan lens of slightly too high prices for slightly too small portions. - Umami Tomato: Not as umami as I would've liked, especially given that tomatoes have natural MSG. But the dashi jelly, chia seeds, and passion fruit pieces were refreshing, and it was nice that the entire thing was pre-sliced for our convenience. - Yasai Tempura: I wouldn't have chosen this myself, but my friend wanted vegetables (so she chose the deep fried kind?). We got avocado, okra, eggplant, pumpkin, lotus root, sweet potato, and shiitake mushroom in our platter. - Anago Katsu: One of the more unique items being that it's eel cutlet. Tasty but tiny. So, so tiny. Wish they'd given twice as much to justify the $25 price tag. - Nasu Dengaku: From the same friend who wanted vegetables. Forgettable grilled eggplant with surprisingly little flavor. The three kinds of miso were indeed colorful but had no taste. - Wagyu Ishiyaki: To quote Rihanna, "This is what you came for". Hear that sizzle and smell that beef? That's people cooking their thin slices of A5 wagyu beef on a hot stone. I love DIY hot stone grilling, and it's so hard to find in NYC these days. This was good, but again, too little. I could've done with at least 5 more slices of beef. The accompanying sauces (wasabi, yuzu kosho, miso, and soy) were a nice touch. - Seasonal Donabe: Undisputedly the star of the night. It takes 45 minutes to arrive, and girl, it's worth the wait! Traditional cooked rice in a clay pot with seasonal Japanese vegetables I rarely see even in Japanese restaurants (besides Kajitsu). The first bite instantly took me back to my childhood days eating the donabe made by my Japanese grandma. Don't expect a flavor bomb, here. Donabe is subtle, nourishing and comforting--just like grandma. - Sake Kasu Cheesecake: I love cheesecake as much as Kim Kardashian loves a selfie, and you can't come to a JP place and not have JP cheesecake. This one was decent but not the best--it tasted a bit burnt and the yuzu honey sauce was kind of overkill. Want to get your liquor on? The best bang for your buck is easily the $19 Sake Flight that lets you choose any 3 sakes from the list of 8 or so options (so get the most expensive ones, duh). And the pours are pretty generous too. Skip the B & R Highball. Service was the attentive, obsequious, sweet-toned service everyone associates with Japanese people. I'm not sure I'd schlep back to Towa exactly, but I also wouldn't be opposed if someone really wanted to go. I just wish there was a 10% discount I could apply to the bill to even out those high prices. read more

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