We contribute with Glamour Brazil and this post was about 3 secret Japanese restaurants in New York that we love!
Here is the Portuguese version and below, the English version:
The gastronomic scene in NYC is simply the best! New restaurants are always opening, renowned chefs are always daring and experimenting in their menus and novelties are always popping up in existing restaurants.
The coolest places in New York are certainly the most hidden ones!
For anyone who is in love with Japanese cuisine, here are tips three secret Japanese restaurants, kept away from the eyes of the city’s tourists!
Zenkichi
The Japanese restaurant, Zenkichi, is located in the neighborhood of Williamsburg – which we love!. It opened its doors nearly one decade ago and continues part of the short list of the most secret restaurants in town. The entrance is discrete, with a wooden door and a small number “77″.
With a typical oriental décor and low lighting, the tables are divided into small cabins where your privacy is preserved. Each table has a charming bamboo curtain blocking the view of people passing by the table. Each table also has a button to call the waiter, who promptly arrives to help you.
The restaurant offers an a la carte menu and a special chef’s tasting menu with 8 dishes, the “8-course Omakase”. This tasting menu is the apex of the place and changes every five weeks!
Location: 77 North 6th Street, Williamsburg, Brooklyn
Sakagura
For connoisseurs of sake and lovers of traditional Japanese cuisine, Sakagura is “the place to go”. It was elected one of the top restaurants in New York.
Founded in 1996, it is considered one of the best authentic Japanese cuisine with top rated dishes elected by best gastronomic critics. It is also among the top sake bars in the United States and in the world, with more than 200 labels for tasting!
Furthermore, on the menu, the dishes have suggestions on the side to indicate the best sake combination. The restaurant is located inside the basement of an office building, so do not be surprised if you bump into suited men while walking in.
Location: 211 East 43rd Street, Midtown
Last, but not least, you’ll surely love telling your friends about the whole experience at this next place. Certainly amusing!
Bohemian
“A secret base for 21st century bohemians in a historical building once home to Andy Warhol and then the live-in studio of Jean-Michel Basquiat, the inimitable graffiti artist from the 80s.”
Located in the back of a Japanese butcher shop, in NoHo, Bohemian is perhaps one of the most coveted hidden restaurants in the city.
It’s a hard place to find and you’ll surely think you in the wrong place. Plus, the long, dark corridor does make you think twice before walking in.
How it works? Well, first the phone number for reservations is not disclosed and it’s a referral-only spot. The way to get a reservation is to try to find someone who has already been to the restaurant so they can give you the phone.
This is the only way you’ll be able to call and schedule your reservation. Cool, right?
Everything there is amazing, from simple food (with inspiration in the American and French cuisines) to the minimalistic décor and background music – playing Japanese grooves, and even Jazz and Bossa Nova!
The tasting menu has a great price and is nothing out of the ordinary…it goes for $55, with 6 dishes.
Location: 57 Great Jones Street (shared on Google Maps)
Also, if you enjoyed discovering these three secret Japanese restaurants, take a look at our Greenpoint Self-Guided Tour of one of the trendiest neighborhoods in Brooklyn. There is so much to explore there!
Lastly, you might also enjoy super unique, custom tours! At this Unique Custom Photo Tours, your guide is not only amazing, but they are photography experts that will take your pictures along the way!
Have fun exploring!
Photo Credits: Courtesy of the restaurants, nicknamemiket / Flickr, Shanna Ravindra, solaennuevayork
*Last Update on Feb/2020.*
This is such a cool website and article! Totally wish I had come across Behind the Scenes NYC sooner because of its plentiful, unique, and novel suggestions. As a lifelong New Yorker, who was running out of the ideas to try the next best thing, Behind the Scenes has helped me to see new treasures of the city again.
Thank you so much Matthew! We are always glad to help and share the beauty of this city!!!