Honzen Japanese Eatery

I eat with my eyes so, for me this experience was top notch ! Food tasted great, ambience was serene and cozy, environment was tasteful and service was nice. Love that little “thinking room” detail, cute!

Very cute Japanese restaurant with simple but delicious kaiseki style set meals. The food transported me to Japan. It has tables, low tables, and bar. The staff was friendly. It's quite modest in a good way. The basic meal with extra protein in the rice bowl left me 75% full, which is culturally appropriate, but it's worth being aware because it's not cheap.

Honzen by Astoria is a Japanese eatery that brings you back in time serving Honzen Ryori which can also be described as an elevated version of Ichiju Sansai set. This traditional dining style emerged from the 13th century of Japanese Muromachi period (13th-14th Century). Join Chef Jay, head chef and owner of Tsubame and previously Koyo for this exquisite Kaiseki cuisine. Each meal is a carefully crafted to introduce simplicity and elegance of traditional Japanese culinary techniques satisfying all surfaces of your taste buds. The patio has been converted to a beautiful Japanese style indoor garden with a wonderful skylight. Enjoy your meal and drinks while gazing at the beautiful sky in this clean and cozy restaurant. Their staffs are also friendly and attentive taking care of everybody with a smile.

I had a great evening at Honzen, a Japanese restaurant that serves an exquisite version of a set meal. The place has a great relaxed vibe where I was served a well balanced multi course Japanese Kaiseki meal.

Ifeanyi Nwoke

Food was great, service was impeccable (surprisingly tho since there was only one guy managing the entire restaurant) Atmosphere was very interesting. When you first walk in, it seems like your run of the mill small restaurant in Queens with Sushi Bar seating and a few tables surrounding it. But walking further back, they have an entire back room with additional seating. Including a back corner japanese family style seating with tatami mats and a low table They offer tradition Japanese Kaiseki Ryori style set meals, with options for Main proteins, side rice dish (also with meat or fish protein) and various small sides surrounding it. I got the Miso Marinated Black Cod as Main and Unagi do as side protein. Both very well prepared and beautifully displayed. Sake selections were also very pleasant

israel conley C1 ICE Music Group

Absolutely amazing restaurant, i was advised to dine here by a great friend, i didn't know seafood sides were served with my hamburger steak and waygu, after detailing my distaste for seafood, Xuwei in formed me of the reason and that i could try it if interested. Glad to say i did and started with the monkfish liver, it went on from there i cleared my tray lol unfortunately for my picky taste this is the only place ill expect to eat anything seafood detailed from now on as it definitely did not disappoint!. And desert was amazing as well!! 10/10 especially thebyuzu cheesecake

Ceci

Honzen is a quaint Japanese spot tucked away in Astoria. My friend and I decided to try it out because we were going through post-Japan depression, and it ended up being a great choice! Unlike most Japanese restaurants in New York, Honzen only serves set mes. The menu works like this: you can choose a protein, then a rice bowl, and the price of your meal depends on those selections. I got the mackerel for my protein, which was so tasty, and my friend enjoyed her miso cod as well. And for our rice, I got the U&I bowl which was phenomenal, and my friend got the unagi bowl which was also delicious! All in all, we really enjoyed our experience here! The space is surprisingly large, so a reservation’s probably not needed. It wasn’t the cheapest meal, but the ingredients and dishes were well made, and it felt like we got transported back to Japan for a bit! Definitely recommend this spot to those who miss Japan!

Yvonne Chan

Honzen is a true gem in Astoria! The food is beautifully presented and wonderfully authentic, showcasing traditional honzen-ryōri with a modern touch. Every dish feels thoughtfully prepared, from the protein to the seasonal sides. The cozy, elegant atmosphere makes it perfect for date nights or special dinners. Service is friendly, and while a bit on the pricier side, the overall experience is well worth it. Highly recommend for anyone looking for a refined and memorable Japanese dining experience.

King Chien

its very unique and special set. You don’t see this Japanese style and traditional flavor anywhere else. Will come back again. Sake and ponzu wine are must try. This is a different level. Definitely recommended.

J S

I eat with my eyes so, for me this experience was top notch ! Food tasted great, ambience was serene and cozy, environment was tasteful and service was nice. Love that little “thinking room” detail, cute!

Najeeb Abdullah

Amazing authentic experience! The entire ambiance of the place feels so nice and relaxing. The staff were very friendly and accommodating, offering us insight into the dishes for specific dietary restrictions. We ordered the salmon and traditional rice. There is an amazing amount of variety in flavors across all the dishes. It was our first time having such an experience and it was very memorablel!!

jiaqi xu

Absolutely amazing Japanese restaurant! The ingredients were incredibly fresh, and every dish was crafted with care. The staff was friendly and attentive, making the whole experience even better. The restaurant itself is clean, cozy, and beautifully designed with a touch of Japanese elegance. Whether you’re here for a date night, family dinner, or catching up with friends, this place is perfect. Highly recommend, and I’ll definitely be back!

Jonathan (Flavor Wanderer)

It was such an amazing experience! Came here with my friends, and we all had a wonderful time. The ambiance was super nice and fancy, and the staff were incredibly friendly and also very observant on keeping our water filled. Each tray comes with a main course, a rice dish, and side dishes. You can choose your main course and it normally comes with Japanese rice but you can substitute it for fancier rice bowls. I got the A5 Wagyu, and it was cooked beautifully and tasted delicious. For the rice bowl, I got the Bluefin Tuna, and that was beyond tasty! The sashimi were incredibly fresh. You can really feel the love and passion they put into the whole experience. Every dish is introduced in great detail and is meticulously prepared in front of guests in a very intimate setting. You can taste and feel the craftsmanship. It is a special place that I could not recommend highly enough.

C No

Located in Astoria at the former location of Koyo, Honzen was offering a refined dining experience that seeks to showcase traditional Japanese “honzen-ryori” cuisine (Japanese set meal). Since I read good reviews about this place, I decided to give it a try. When I entered, I was greeted with a modern and minimalist interior, lit with warm lights. I found the décor to be quite stylish and welcoming, making it a great location for intimate dinners and special occasions. Their menu featured a variety of Japanese dishes, but the premise of the “honzen-ryori” is serving select dishes arranged on a tray like a set meal. Everything came all at once -- The dishes set on trays featured carefully arranged sashimi, a rice dish of choice, miso soup, pickled vegetables, and more. I ordered rice covered with ikura (salmon eggs), and uni (sea urchins). The food was delicious and enjoyable. I found the service to be attentive yet unobtrusive. The server knew the menu well and made great recommendations about the food and drink options. I really liked the taste and quality of their food, and can tell they are one of the best Japanese set meal restaurants.

Cheryl Pink

Honzen takes traditional Japanese set meals to a new level with their elevated Honzen Ryori Set. Each dish is a quiet celebration of seasonality, simplicity, and intention. Perfect for those who appreciate the art of slow dining.

Aisha

Passed by on a Saturday evening and walked in without a rez. Sat at the bar which was a great experience watching the chefs at work. We did the wagyu, salmon, maguro bluefin, and uni. We also tried the sweet potato cheesecake. It was all very filling and delicious. We had the hamachi sashimi as our side - it was super buttery and we saw they ran out by the end of the night and switched to tuna for others. So pays to come in on earlier side for dinner. Staff were lovely and we hope to come back soon.

Alyson Lenhoff

I love this place. The food is authentic to what you’d find in Japan. Fish is so fresh and pricing is fair. You get a lot of food in a set. I’ve been twice now and it’s easily one of my new favorite restaurants. They serve nodoguro, which is very rare to find outside of Japan. It’s prepared excellently, so try it if you get the opportunity. Service is fantastic. Staff is so friendly and ready to make recommendations for food and sake.

Javier Kohen

Very cute Japanese restaurant with simple but delicious kaiseki style set meals. The food transported me to Japan. It has tables, low tables, and bar. The staff was friendly. It's quite modest in a good way. The basic meal with extra protein in the rice bowl left me 75% full, which is culturally appropriate, but it's worth being aware because it's not cheap.

itzelenaho

Honzen by Astoria is a Japanese eatery that brings you back in time serving Honzen Ryori which can also be described as an elevated version of Ichiju Sansai set. This traditional dining style emerged from the 13th century of Japanese Muromachi period (13th-14th Century). Join Chef Jay, head chef and owner of Tsubame and previously Koyo for this exquisite Kaiseki cuisine. Each meal is a carefully crafted to introduce simplicity and elegance of traditional Japanese culinary techniques satisfying all surfaces of your taste buds. The patio has been converted to a beautiful Japanese style indoor garden with a wonderful skylight. Enjoy your meal and drinks while gazing at the beautiful sky in this clean and cozy restaurant. Their staffs are also friendly and attentive taking care of everybody with a smile.

My boyfriend loved it for his birthday dinner. Cool dining experience. The unagidon, miso cod and wagyu were delicious.

Overall score is more of a 4.5 and I'll break it down below: The staff and one of the owner, Wei, were all very friendly, kind, and attuned, providing exemplary service despite juggling various tables. Thus, the overall service is 5 stars The interior design of the restaurant is beautiful, with traditional Japanese seating and decor arrangements! One of the best looking restaurants I've been too that provides a very warm, comfortable, and welcoming dining experience! The music is relatively soft and the various seating options are all well spaced apart. The communal floor seating fits 8 people max, but perfect for two small parties; it's very reminiscent of traditional tatami dining experience, and we loved it! Therefore the ambiance overall deserves 10 stars! Now the food: The entire meal is very well crafted with some minor areas that can easily be improved upon. My wife ordered the scallop main and uni gohan. The scallop was unfortunately overcooked and was on the milder side of its flavor profile. The staff was kind enough to replace it for us and we got the miso cod instead, which was light, flaky, and deliciously soft and tender! The uni were all incredibly fresh and sweet, where it didn't leave any bitter aftertaste, so highly recommend it! I got the wagyu main and salmon roe gohan. The wagyu was very good in quality, but was on the smaller side based on its price. I believe making the piece just a bit bigger or reducing the price by a little bit might make it more balanced in terms of price to quality/quantity ratio, especially since it is now 5 dollars more than it was previously. The wagyu was also a bit overly salty, in which pairing it with rice almost couldn't balance out the saltiness, but that's a simple fix. The salmon roe gohan was also quite fresh, which I highly recommend as well. Now the little dishes were mixed. Instead of the uni tofu that was displayed on the menu, we got tofu with salmon roe, which was unfortunately a bit disappointing, especially since I already have a whole bowl of salmon roe...Furthermore, instead of sashimi, we got the tuna tartare, which was good but also not stated on the menu. I think it might be nice to pair the small dishes based on people's main and/or gohan selection, or perhaps inform diners that the sides were subject to change ahead of time just so there wouldn't be any disappointment due to expectations. Nonetheless, the other sides were all flavorful, and the miso soup was not overly salty and perfectly balanced with the meal. All my criticisms are relatively minor, and hence why I believe Honzen can easily reach the 5 stars that I am certain they have the potential of achieving! By balancing the price a bit better and perfecting the various dishes I highlighted above, I think Honzen can easily become one of the best and most affordable Kaiseki restaurant in all of NYC. I have high hopes for Honzen and I can't wait to see what amazing new changes they are able to implement in the mere future; I look forward to updating my review to 5 stars next time, so please don't let us down! Thank you for reading and please give Honzen a try; they're still relatively new but they are definitely striving to reach perfection! (:

J W

Overall score is more of a 4.5 and I'll break it down below: The staff and one of the owner, Wei, were all very friendly, kind, and attuned, providing exemplary service despite juggling various tables. Thus, the overall service is 5 stars The interior design of the restaurant is beautiful, with traditional Japanese seating and decor arrangements! One of the best looking restaurants I've been too that provides a very warm, comfortable, and welcoming dining experience! The music is relatively soft and the various seating options are all well spaced apart. The communal floor seating fits 8 people max, but perfect for two small parties; it's very reminiscent of traditional tatami dining experience, and we loved it! Therefore the ambiance overall deserves 10 stars! Now the food: The entire meal is very well crafted with some minor areas that can easily be improved upon. My wife ordered the scallop main and uni gohan. The scallop was unfortunately overcooked and was on the milder side of its flavor profile. The staff was kind enough to replace it for us and we got the miso cod instead, which was light, flaky, and deliciously soft and tender! The uni were all incredibly fresh and sweet, where it didn't leave any bitter aftertaste, so highly recommend it! I got the wagyu main and salmon roe gohan. The wagyu was very good in quality, but was on the smaller side based on its price. I believe making the piece just a bit bigger or reducing the price by a little bit might make it more balanced in terms of price to quality/quantity ratio, especially since it is now 5 dollars more than it was previously. The wagyu was also a bit overly salty, in which pairing it with rice almost couldn't balance out the saltiness, but that's a simple fix. The salmon roe gohan was also quite fresh, which I highly recommend as well. Now the little dishes were mixed. Instead of the uni tofu that was displayed on the menu, we got tofu with salmon roe, which was unfortunately a bit disappointing, especially since I already have a whole bowl of salmon roe...Furthermore, instead of sashimi, we got the tuna tartare, which was good but also not stated on the menu. I think it might be nice to pair the small dishes based on people's main and/or gohan selection, or perhaps inform diners that the sides were subject to change ahead of time just so there wouldn't be any disappointment due to expectations. Nonetheless, the other sides were all flavorful, and the miso soup was not overly salty and perfectly balanced with the meal. All my criticisms are relatively minor, and hence why I believe Honzen can easily reach the 5 stars that I am certain they have the potential of achieving! By balancing the price a bit better and perfecting the various dishes I highlighted above, I think Honzen can easily become one of the best and most affordable Kaiseki restaurant in all of NYC. I have high hopes for Honzen and I can't wait to see what amazing new changes they are able to implement in the mere future; I look forward to updating my review to 5 stars next time, so please don't let us down! Thank you for reading and please give Honzen a try; they're still relatively new but they are definitely striving to reach perfection! (:

Saw this high-end Japanese restaurant on the map and decided to try it. Unfortunately, the experience fell short. There didn’t seem to be enough servers—we waited over 30 minutes for food with no check-ins. Shrimp tempura was already sold out when we tried to order, and then we were told bluefin tuna was unavailable while the kitchen was preparing our food. The food itself was solid with plenty of appetizer variety. Uni and unagi were my favorites. Dessert was underwhelming. I wouldn’t recommend this spot if you’re looking for a more intimate or refined Japanese dining experience—there are much better options in NYC.

Angela Zhen

Saw this high-end Japanese restaurant on the map and decided to try it. Unfortunately, the experience fell short. There didn’t seem to be enough servers—we waited over 30 minutes for food with no check-ins. Shrimp tempura was already sold out when we tried to order, and then we were told bluefin tuna was unavailable while the kitchen was preparing our food. The food itself was solid with plenty of appetizer variety. Uni and unagi were my favorites. Dessert was underwhelming. I wouldn’t recommend this spot if you’re looking for a more intimate or refined Japanese dining experience—there are much better options in NYC.

This restaurant is very expensive for the neighborhood, especially considering the portion sizes. For the price, you might as well go to Manhattan and enjoy a full omakase experience with far better value. The food itself was average—certainly not bad, but nowhere near what you’d expect at this price point. We also waited an excessive amount of time for our meal (about 45 minutes) with no updates or communication from the staff, which made the experience even more frustrating. You can get better for less in many other places. Overall, I wouldn’t choose to dine here again unless I had no other options. That said, I do hope the restaurant lasts, but it has a long way to go to justify its pricing and experience.

I feel like I was very politely robbed having eaten here. It makes absolutely no sense to charge this much for such low quality Japanese food. The gyoza was strictly ok. The yellowtail collar was good. The sashimi was of similar quality to the average all-you-can-eat, and more than one piece had a scale. The standard rice gohan tasted like wild rice made by Karen from Missouri out of a box from Walmart. The small side bite of tofu tasted like it was made with sand. The service was quite kind, and the atmosphere and lighting was that of an OR suite. The thing about this place is that the food isn’t terrible. It ranges from bad to passable to somewhat good, item by item. But they are as expensive as Konban in nyc and it’s absolutely not justified. Would never go back. Do not recommend.

Jadis Lee

This restaurant is very expensive for the neighborhood, especially considering the portion sizes. For the price, you might as well go to Manhattan and enjoy a full omakase experience with far better value. The food itself was average—certainly not bad, but nowhere near what you’d expect at this price point. We also waited an excessive amount of time for our meal (about 45 minutes) with no updates or communication from the staff, which made the experience even more frustrating. You can get better for less in many other places. Overall, I wouldn’t choose to dine here again unless I had no other options. That said, I do hope the restaurant lasts, but it has a long way to go to justify its pricing and experience.

cindy zhan

This is one of the few times I regret following a social media post for food. the food definitely look better than it tastes. The meal was not authentic at all. My rice with egg and chicken was super watery, not like how it should taste at all. The scallops were too salty. The side dishes were just ok. If you’re eating with your taste buds and not your eyes, you will “see”’how average the food is. Only decent thing is he grilled fish. The service was terrible, waiter seems rushed from beginning to end. Honestly this whole experience was a sham. This is an insult to Japanese cuisine and culture. Not coming back here

The miso was overly salty, and the portion size was disappointing. The overall vibe of the restaurant is good, but that’s about it. At this price point, there are plenty of better options in the city. There was only one host, and he seemed very busy, despite there being only four tables. Not sure why he was so occupied. The fish was just okay—it didn’t seem fresh. I’m not sure why restaurants that focus so much on appearance gain so much popularity—the food here is just mediocre.

Lia Kim

The miso was overly salty, and the portion size was disappointing. The overall vibe of the restaurant is good, but that’s about it. At this price point, there are plenty of better options in the city. There was only one host, and he seemed very busy, despite there being only four tables. Not sure why he was so occupied. The fish was just okay—it didn’t seem fresh. I’m not sure why restaurants that focus so much on appearance gain so much popularity—the food here is just mediocre.