Among so many excellent Japanese restaurants in New York, I recommend the highly regarded "Sakagura". It is located in the basement of an office building near Grand Central Station and is known as "a hidden gem." Being in this 100% Japanese-style restaurant will make you temporarily forget the hustle and bustle of Midtown New York. The restaurant offers traditional sushi and sashimi, as well as a variety of creative Japanese dishes and soba noodles. The menu is in English and Japanese with photos. The service is excellent. Many diners comment: "Dining here is like going to Tokyo." During and afterwards, both my son and my daughter said that this restaurant is cool and they would like to come again in the future. I highly recommend SAKAGURA Lunch Tasting Course. And its cold soba is so good!

+6

The experience of entering through an office building, getting past security, down a flight of stairs by the back to access this time-perfected restaurant is both fantastic and rewarding. Rewarding because you feel like you are in on a secret only few know... Rewarding because as soon as you enter you are transported to Japan. It's magical. We visited after the second indoor reopening when they only offered a special prix fixe menu. It also happened to be Valentine's but I believe the only difference being the dessert. Definitely worth the money. The course started with an fish appetizer, a tuna carpaccio salad, followed by a delicious salmon belly. A sampler sashimi spread ensues and finally the highlight: a shabu shabu yellowtail (or I recommend upgrading to a Waygu beef version). The shabu shabu kombu broth was hearty and healthy. Now I'm no means a sweet tooth but I have to say the chocolate mousse dessert was EXCELLENT. Not too sweet, not overly rich, but well balanced with a high quality chocolate dusting and ice cream. Before COVID, Sakagura was one of my favorite go-to places in NYC for a nostalgic dose of Japan. Everything on the ala carte menu is great, and their set lunch menu is a no brainer. If you are into Sake or Whiskey their selection looks solid, but I rather have my meal focused. Glad to see they are keeping up their high standards despite these difficult times. A must try.

A secret basement restaurant, serving a caliber of Japanese food that is difficult to find even in a place like Manhattan. Every dish is bold and unique, and the sake and whiskey lists are extremely impressive.

Really good environment. Good food too. We had a chilled tofu, uni soba and a unagi don. The uni is really fresh. Very sweet. The eel is firm and chewy. Eel sauce is nice.

Well this restaurant is so hidden. We could not find its sign from the street. We instantly thought the restaurant might be close down...With the help of door man, we finally found the restaurant located in the basement. After spent a pleasant night there, we can say this is one of the best Japanese restaurants we have been in NYC. From decor, food and service, we definitely felt like dining in Japan!

+2

Little plates means I can sample more dishes! I'd been here before and ordered about the same things. You can't go wrong with hot sake, monk fish liver and beef tongue. This time I'd added chicken and my goodness was the yuzu pepper paste amazing, so light and spicy. Service was prompt, we were told we'd have 2.5 hours to dine right before being seated. I appreciate that but it may not be everyone's cup of tea.

+4

Great place to power down and relax. Wonderful food, wonderful service, authentic Japanese Soba and Udon noodles with some great choices of appetizers and desserts. It is a bit secluded and located in a basement, been the atmosphere is so sophisticated you won't really notice it.

It’s a nice place. It has a romantic environment. Definitely recommend for two people dating. Food is beautiful and tasty. The most amazing thing is Japanese toilet . 🤣

+3

Authentic Japanese food and many options for Japanese sake. They offer very reasonable lunch menu. There are many people during lunch time so you sometimes need to wait. If you don't want to waste time, you should come a little earlier or make a reservation.

+3

Sakagura was an amazing experience! Every bite of food was so full of flavor. The wait staff were so nice and attentive. I could not recommend the Wagyu Beef Tataki enough!

+2

$85 pre fix plus sake pairing. Flavor of each dish and every sake was amazing. Service was very attentive and knowledgeable as well. Covid precautions taken very seriously here. This is perfect for intimate date night

+5

Great vibe and food - I had the Friday lunch menu “bara chirashi don” that comes with half udon. Quality fish and good amount for $18 in NYC. Also, very professional and friendly service.

If I could give this place more than five stars, I would the staff was amazing. The place was just off the charts. The food was great fair prices for what you are given. I would come here for lunch and dinner. The sushi rolls are amazing. The tempura was amazing. I would definitely come here for a date meetings, friendly dates whatever kind of dates so I would bring anyone here for any kind of occasion they did an amazing job. I would recommend to reserve

This place has a very obscure entrance, we had to call them to locate the place. The restaurant has a monastic feel to it. The sashimi we ordered was beautifully paired with a selection of seaweed and Sakura leaves. Their special menu takes 50 minutes to serve, but it will be the best 50 minutes you spent. We ordered our sashimi and sake first. Waiting for the special dish was not a pain at all as we were still recovering from the experience of the delicious sashimi. The special dish was as amazing as promised. We finished with a green tea tiramisu which was sublime. Their collection of sake is formidable.

Beautiful place! You enter in a lobby, and get led down to a nice, ambient underground restaurant. We ordered their pre fixe menu, with the beginner flight trio, and everything was perfect. We started off with salmon carpaccio, roasted washu beef, sashimi assortment & unagi, pork belly, and finished it off with orange panna cotta. Everything was so delicious, and I am so full! The manager served us, giving us great recommendations and explanations for each of the foods. Thank you Sakagura for such a delightful experience.

+1

Walked into the restaurant and knew it was gonna be great just because of the atmosphere and appearance. Genuinely a GORGEOUS place. Servers treat you wonderfully and are very kind. Service is pretty fast too. The food itself was INCREDIBLE. My favorite was the うざく/Uzaku eel and the matcha tiramisu with green tea ice cream. Worth every cent and would go again in a heartbeat.

Enjoyed our evening very much. The menu is a bit confusing, but you can ask the staff to help you with the selection and it turned out to be great. We had 5-6 different dishes that we shared and felt full after that. And the desert just was a cherry on the top. Really really good.

+5

impeccable service in an intimate space ripe for catching up with friends. great sake recommenations from our server and delicious sashimi, karaage, scallop, and udon. the sweet potato beer is a bit sweet go for wheat next time

+1

Ever heard of "speak easy" bars? Well, this is a restaurant that is not so easy to find, despite the fact that it's located in the heart of Manhattan. I love this place! The food is authentic Japanese cuisine (and this is not sushi place). If you like sake- then this place is a must for you as their sake menu twice as thick as their food menu. In other words sake is they specialty as it's even reflected in the name of the place. And lastly there are plenty Japanese people in this restaurant, which in my eyes makes it only proves its authenticity and quality. I suggest to make a reservation prior to visiting it.

+6

This restaurant is incredible. Walk downstairs and you’re transported into an entirely new world. Feels super culturally authentic. Service was incredible. Staff was very kind, knowledgeable, and conversational. Karma was an amazing host and waiter. Thank you Sakagura!!!

Best unagi I've had outside of Japan. Sashimi were a selection of fish from Japan. Everything we had was so delicious. Highly recommended.

Ambient: 7 out of 10. Tables are on the smaller side but servers do a good job managing the flow of plates brought to you. If you aren't sharing, it'd be difficult for sure. On the positive side, you do feel as if you are somewhere in Tokyo. Restaurant is tapas style so you'll need to order 2-3 plates per guest. We went for an early dinner (6pm) and spent about $120.00 (including tip) Hot Sake (house) = excellent Pork Belly = excellent Fried chicken = OK at best Uzaku Eel = very good Dassai 'Sake-kasu' Salmon = very good Surumeika Squid = excellent Mochi ice cream= very good We'll comeback to try their bigger dinner plates.

+1

The food is amazing and the staff are nice. They do a really good job with making you feel transported to Japan; we visited during lunch and the place was packed, but still managed to find seats and eat a full meal in less than 1 hour. Would definitely go back in my next NY trip!

This place is amazing, every time I’ve gone I get something new and it amazes me. My favorite was the sea bass in a miso sauce. Absolutely delectable!! Reservation recommended.

It was my first time being here. I love the sake and the food menu that I could imagine myself going here every other weekend. The food is delicious pairing with their sake list!!

This is what you come to New York for: perfect Japanese food in the basement of an apartment building in the middle of Manhattan. No signs, no way of knowing it’s there if you haven’t been tipped off, the most elaborate sake menu I’ve seen since being in Tokyo and food that taste just like it did in Japan. The ambiance of the place is lovely too— as is the transition from the heavily lit lobby of the apartment building down a flight of stairs that is half way between NYC and Tokyo to a full immersion into Tokyo, complete with cherry blossoms. Everything on the menu looked great and given the location, right next to the UN, the prizes are reasonable. We had the udon noodles, edamame beans, and a rice soup bowl. To top it all off we shared the sesame cheesecake with matcha, which was as good as it sounds. I can’t wait to go back and try all the other items on the menu and surprise people, as I feel Sakagura invented a travel portal that links Japan to the US—and kept it a secret for a select few.

+5

Great basement restaurant with delicious food, intimate vibe, and good service. The food menu is long and left me wanting to try more. I particularly loved the salmon crudo, and the cold udon was refreshing and complex. On the other hand, I found the mushrooms with hummus lacking umami and not holding my interest.

Hidden japanese restaurant with World Class sake and tasty food. At new years eve they did not have tasting menu which was a bit surprise to us. Still we were really happy with our experience.

+4

A surprisingly spacious and laidback atmosphere with a unbelievable sake menu that details not only origin, but also how each type is brewed. There's plenty of variety in the food and it's all excellent - everything is a great size for sharing without being too big, so it's easy to try plenty. We had the nukazuke (pickled veggies), onigiri (rice balls), negimaki (roast duck and scallion), shishito age (peppers), buta kakuni (braised pork belly), cherry blossom flan, and black sesame crème brûlée. Everything was excellent - probably one of the best dinners I've ever had. We both commented on how amazingly tender the pork belly was in particular. Our waitress was really helpful suggesting sake, which made it easy to try something new. The service was top notch and the meal was nice and relaxed at the time we went (around 8:30-9). I think earlier in the evening it's pretty busy. If you go at dinner and want to drink, be ready to spend a bit of money. However, it's well worth the price, and you can make a decent meal for quite a bit less if you don't want sake with it.

+6

Nice inner decoration and great vibes. Food is also bomb but note the portion is small. They also have a very exhaustive sake list. We got the yuzu sake and everyone loved it, even the friend who usually doesn't drink!

Came here for dinner for the first time. Get a seat at the counter if you can if you’re 2 people. It’s nice and private enough for you to be in your own world. The tables are just in the middle with people passing by. Pork belly - delicious. Get it. It’s cheap too compared to others. Miyazaki beef - pricier but absolutely worth it Cod - delicious Eel with rice - enjoyable. Nothing special in the sense that you can get this kind of dish in many places. But it’s good! Beef Shumai - I didn’t get a picture of this but it was yummy as well. 4 pieces of beef wrapped like a shumai with a dipping sauce. Black sesame creme brûlée - delicious. Sesame flavor was great. There are still many dishes to try....

+6

Sakagura in New York City is an absolute culinary delight, seamlessly blending traditional Japanese flavors with a contemporary dining experience. From the moment you step inside, the ambiance exudes an authentic izakaya charm, creating a unique and immersive atmosphere. What sets Sakagura apart is its meticulous dedication to authenticity. The menu showcases a carefully curated selection of Japanese dishes, each crafted with precision and presented as a work of art. The izakaya-style dining adds a social and communal aspect, enhancing the overall experience. Sakagura's extensive sake collection is a testament to its commitment to providing an exceptional journey through Japanese beverages. The knowledgeable staff contributes to the welcoming atmosphere, making each visit an educational and enjoyable exploration of Japanese culinary delights. In summary, Sakagura is a culinary gem in the heart of New York, offering a refined and genuine taste of Japanese cuisine. It stands as a beacon of cultural richness, inviting patrons to savor the essence of Japan in a sophisticated and memorable setting.

+6

Amazing atmosphere and great food. Only downside that it's underground and there is zero cell service. The free wifi helps stay connected but I think they want you to focus on the food and people you're with :) Happy hour menu was good and staff was helpful to give tips on how to navigate the extensive drink menu and food items.

Absolutely fantastic! The service is top-notch, the food is incredible—every dish is flavorful and beautifully presented. Even the washrooms are sparkling clean! One of the best restaurants I’ve been to. A must-visit and highly recommended!

Great little place tucked away in a hidden entrance. Immediately you’re hit with the unique ambiance. The interior design is on point. I was here with two friends. The staff were friendly and the food was incredible. The sashimi was fresh and tasty. Even the egg omelette was great. Nothing disappointed. There were lots of Japanese drinks to choose from. Will definitely come back! 😊

One of the very best Japanese restaurants in the city. Expensive. Melt in your mouth Sashimi. We came for lunch with a party of twelve and tried many dishes, mostly excellent. Only the veggie udon was boring. All the sushi and sashimi we tried were fresh, delicate and delicious.

+1

Great lunch on Friday especially on their house made fresh soba noodle. Also my colleague had an excellent sushi set and cold sake this afternoon. Kubota Jukai Daiginjo was the way to go with sushi and soba noodles You may need to find this “Excellent Japanese restaurant’s rather small sign at entrance and restaurant is in downstairs of Midtown office building”.

+6

pretty big restaurant in the basement. but we were able to call shortly before we arrived to kind of reserve a spot. Service was really good - the servers are really friendly. The pork belly is sooo soft and tender. The karage is probably one of the better value dishes. The food in general is really good, but is pretty pricey for their serving sizes. I also thought the summer soba was very yummy. There are lots of drinks here too, so come if you want to explore some sake!

+2

Absolutely delicious and authentic Japanese food in a lovely space with impeccable service and an excellent sake selection. Came here for a prix fixe birthday party and was thoroughly impressed. I feel like this spot should have a Michelin star!

+1

Romantic valentine dinner at the classy Sakagura restaurant in New York City with amazing nama sake, imported sashimi from Japan, buttery soft wagyu beef, beautiful matcha tirimasu and more 🥰. Last but not least is the wonderful manager, Alex, who always attentive and made sure we got a great table!

+5

The food here was astonishingly good despite most of the menu being devoted to sake selections. The restaurant is barely a sushi restaurant given that most of the choices are cooked dishes. However, the chef’s choice sashimi was outstanding as was everything else we tried. The restaurant itself is very dark and had the speakeasy vibe going. We thoroughly enjoyed our evening and will definitely return the next time we are in New York to try other menu items that we were too full to order the first time.

Great interior design and delicious food! It's in the basement of an office building complex, but just enter the office building and they'll show you where to go!

mé j.

AUTHENTIC loved theirs menu selection sm but i wish they used sushi rice for mini don

+1

calvin yong

Excellent dining experience from start to finish. The sashimi was outstanding—fresh, clean, and well executed. The kimidai and aji were particularly impressive in both texture and flavor. The eel with rice was done perfectly: fresh, no muddy smell at all, and paired with a well-balanced sauce that complemented the dish beautifully. The soba with uni was a highlight. The dashi was rich and deeply flavorful, enhanced by fresh wasabi, and when mixed together with the soba, it was simply exceptional. As we were celebrating our honeymoon, the team kindly surprised us with complimentary ice cream—an elegant and thoughtful touch that truly made the experience memorable. Special thanks to OKI, Tony, and KZ-san (Restaurant Manager) for their outstanding hospitality. Service was top-tier—attentive, warm, and professional throughout. Top service, great food, and a team that truly cares. Highly recommended

YM

A masterclass in the 'hidden' New York experience tucked beneath a corporate lobby.’ Sakagura is the ultimate test of a local’s knowledge. To find it, you have to walk into the nondescript lobby of a Midtown office building, pass the security desk, and descend a sterile flight of stairs into the basement. The moment you open the heavy wooden door, the fluorescent lights of the 'real world' vanish, replaced by a sprawling, candlelit Japanese village. It’s one of the most transportive dining rooms in the city. • The Entry Ritual: Don't be intimidated by the office building exterior at 211 E 43rd St. Just head straight for the elevator bank/stairs in the back. The 'secret' factor makes it an incredible place to impress a date or an out-of-towner. • The Sake Library: With over 200 varieties, this is a pilgrimage site for sake lovers. Pro-Tip: If you’re overwhelmed, ask for a flight. The staff are true specialists and can navigate you through everything from bone-dry junmais to fruity, unfiltered bottles. • Must-Order Plates: The menu is authentic izakaya style. The Onigiri (rice balls) are a comforting staple, but the Sashimi quality is rivaled only by the top-tier omakase dens in the city. Don't sleep on the Black Cod, it’s buttery perfection. • The Hidden Feature: Even the restrooms are an experience here; they are housed inside giant wooden sake barrels. It’s a quirky detail that everyone ends up talking about.

L.

The shop is located on the lower ground floor inside a building, which took a moment to find. We were pleasantly surprised to find the interior completely shift into an immersive Japanese style. Small bites were great (I’d skip the underwhelming yuzu udon next time) including the agedashi tofu, which was much better than other restaurants in the city. Overall pretty pricey considering we went in for some casual dinner but the food is really good if you’re willing to spend.

+2

Dana Fuchs

One of the coolest and most amazing dinner experiences I’ve ever had. The service was top notch, saki was phenomenal and the food was incredible. I would HIGHLY recommend this restaurant. Only thing is google says $50-$100 per person it was more like $300 per person if you want to get enough food for like an actual dinner.

Sarah Yamashita

My partner and I had dinner here on 11/25 to celebrate our anniversary, and we had an amazing experience sitting at the bar. Since my partner isn’t super familiar with sake, our waiter walked him through a few different types and let him try a couple to see which he preferred. All the food was delicious and the dishes were paced very well - our favorites were the wasabi garlic edamame, age dashi tofu, buta kakuni, and ginger crème brûlée. The pork belly was melt-in-your-mouth tender and so flavorful. The manager on service was so kind and attentive, making sure we had everything we needed, and even brought a candle with our dessert since we were celebrating. While the food is incredible, the service really pushed our experience over the top. We can’t wait for our next visit!

Alexandra Plazas-Herrera

We just got home to NY from a 10 hour drive. We dropped the car off at Avis and happened to find this hidden gem. This meal was supposed to be quick and we certainly were not expecting an epic experience. Our waiter was so kind and elegantly shared some interesting information about Sake. If I was not so exhausted I would have followed his recommendation and had some. We ordered a braised octopus with wasabi scallions. My husband and I were amazed by the flavors. We then had the Otoro sashimi which literally melted in our mouths. The Japanese fried chicken was perfect. We had the mushroom udon soup special which was earthy, cozy with a hint of citrus. The unexpected flavors were balanced and a delight. We will be back for a more proper meal as we must try more! This place is a jewel!

Tamera G.

Such a lowkey restaurant but the ambience is amazing. Our waiter was lovely, explained everything thoroughly and gave great suggestions. The food, although small portions was very tasty and authentic. Loved my experience here.

Hanna H

Quality Japanese restaurant in NYC ✔︎ I’ve been here twice. I ordered Kamo Namban soba (duck and leek) and Hayashi rice. Both were very authentic. ✔︎ Service and atmosphere ✔︎ Very reasonable and quality lunch option at 18 USD with limited availability. I tried Hayashi rice on Monday and it was delicious!

Alejandro

Nestled beneath an ordinary Midtown office building lies Sakagura, a refined Tokyo-style izakaya and sake bar that feels like a secret sanctuary in Manhattan . If you really want to enjoy an authentic Japanese New York City gem 💎 🗽 🍣 🍶. MUST COME ! The manager Alex , Miguel and Herman the best of the best !

David Reynolds

Can't speak enough of the sushi experience I had here. The presentation was about as Instagram worthy as you can get, and the taste and freshness were amongst the best I've ever had. As a frequent traveler, I had a suitcase of which they offered to store for me without any ask from me. The staff were ALL beyond attentive and extremely friendly. Both myself and my friend were treated as well as anyone could expect from a dining experience. This was my first visit, but I can guarantee you there will be many more. Five star first class all around here.

Rekha Karna

True hidden gem! Sakagura delivers an authentic and elevated Japanese dining experience that’s hard to find. Tucked away beneath the city streets, this cozy izakaya-style spot surprises you the moment you walk in. The seafood is incredibly fresh, and the miso cod is an absolute must-have—flaky, flavorful, and perfectly cooked. The izakaya selections are top-tier, offering both classic dishes and inventive small plates that pair beautifully with their extensive sake menu. The ambiance strikes the perfect balance between relaxed and refined, and the service was warm, attentive, and knowledgeable without ever feeling rushed. If you’re a fan of Japanese cuisine (or just good food), Sakagura is a destination worth discovering.

Yammi C

Hidden in the basement of a bustling commercial building, feels like a secret haven. Stepping inside, you’re transported into the warm ambiance of a Japanese izakaya. With an extensive selection of sake and a diverse menu, it’s a place that invites you to linger. The sashimi, Toro, tempura, and grilled dishes are all exquisitely prepared, offering an authentic taste of Japan. We celebrated Christmas here with friends, sharing drinks and reflecting on the year gone by and the year ahead. Sakagura is not just about the food; it’s a perfect spot for gatherings with the right people and ambiance.

+1

Katerina

Amazing place, unique food, cool ambiance. I have been coming here for years and it is still really good and really popular. Highly recommend their soba noodles, I tried Nameko, which was superb. The scallop appetizer is really. Sesame cheesecake was fantastic, simple, and super tasty.

+9

A hidden restaurant underneath the basement of an office building. \n\nI came here with my colleague who recommended the daily lunch special for $18. On Thursdays, you get a small bowl of udon accomp…

Excellent. Sets the bar for japanese food. Hard to find - you have to know where you're going. But will be rewarded by the find..

Wonderful dining experience . The service , the ambience , the food . Very glad we visited this place . Highly recommended.

Wonderful dining experience . The service , the ambience , the food . Very glad we visited this place . Highly recommended.

Wonderful dining experience . The service , the ambience , the food . Very glad we visited this place . Highly recommended.

Dined here many times, usually for work lunch. Easy to make a res on resy. I enjoy their soba the most (hot or cold depending on the weather), typically the tempura. Colleagues have ordered the sob…

My boyfriend surprised me with dinner here for our anniversary and he did so good! The ambience was so nice, it's located in a basement that lowkey gave speakeasy vibes and felt cool but cozy at th…

Celebrated friend's birthday. Great food, pork belly is a must. shrimp fritter is an interesting combination of shrimp and lotus root. Impressive large selection of Sake, tried both flights, pref…

Went here for lunch. Was pretty busy. Loved the lunch mackerel. Cooked perfectly. service was good as well.

Everything was fresh and delicious. Service was fast and courteous. Ambiance was fun and cozy. There were multiple things on the menu I wanted to try. Alas, I only have one stomach.

Everything was fresh and delicious. Service was fast and courteous. ambiance was fun and cozy. There were multiple things on the menu I wanted to try. Alas, I only have one stomach.

Everything was fresh and delicious. service was fast and courteous. Ambiance was fun and cozy. There were multiple things on the menu I wanted to try. Alas, I only have one stomach.

Very fun environment. Service was excellent. Huge variety of sake. Sashimi was excellent! It felt like going into a speakeasy!

Very fun environment. Service was excellent. Huge variety of sake. Sashimi was excellent! It felt like going into a speakeasy!

Very fun environment. service was excellent. Huge variety of sake. Sashimi was excellent! It felt like going into a speakeasy!

Subterranean Izakaya that has been around for decades. The food continues to be top notch and fresh. Everyday there are specials and quite a lot of them and very well prepared and presented. The oy…

Wow! Such a beautiful place. The selection of Sake is amazing. food is all delicious. The service was excellent. What an experience! The oysters were just mouthwatering. We’ve ordered more than 20 …

Wow! Such a beautiful place. The selection of Sake is amazing. Food is all delicious. The service was excellent. What an experience! The oysters were just mouthwatering. We’ve ordered more than 20 …

A really great Izakaya. Hidden in the basement of an office building an amazing gem with delicate food and loads of choices of drinks. The marinated maguro was magnificent as was the chawan mushi w…

A solid spot for Izakaya dining offering a wide range of Japanese beers that are hard to get. Their sushi never lets us down and their most outstanding dishes are grilled octopus and the pork belly…

A solid spot for Izakaya dining offering a wide range of Japanese beers that are hard to get. Their sushi never lets us down and their most outstanding dishes are grilled octopus and the pork belly…

We walked in at 5:30 on a Saturday night. It was one of the best service I have experienced. The stuff is very knowledgeable and provided a lot of information for me to choose and enjoy sake.

+2

When you want All The Sakes. Seriously, the sake list here is *exceptional*. Mind you, if you're not crazy, you'll end up losing your shirt - the prices on quite a few of these (very good!) sakes can be up there! Then again if you pay attention, you can work your way through quite a few sakes without breaking the bank 😀 The food here is long on munchies (think of the place as, kinda, sorta, an izakaya). That said though, the munchies are invariably very very good, lending themselves to a fun evening of noshing and sake. All that said given a choice, I'd rather go to their other location (Sakagura East), the bar is more conducive to a communal experience. But, then again, this *is* near Grand Central, so if you're in the 'hood....

+6

On of the beat izakayas in the city. If you’re into Sake you’re in for a ride. It’s s said to have the second biggest sake menu in the world. Friendly service in a room that takes you back to Japan. Food is yummy. Worth going in with a date and sit at the bar or with friends and share a nice bottle of sake. Kampai!

+2

Highly recommend the Una Ju (Grilled Eel over rice), though a little pricey. Some of their drinks are also quite unique. Service could be a little better - we waited quite a while before our server came over to take our orders, otherwise the rest of the service was prompt. Cozy atmosphere under an office building.

Amazing tasting food. The atmosphere and waiters were very nice as well. The extensive selection of sake is outstanding. Everything lived up to the expectations and hype except he chopsticks. The chopsticks felt so cheap and gave horrible splinters (see attached image). Using that utensil caused discomfort the entire meal. Averaged around $60 a person and it was just enough to be midly filling.

+2

Fun, speakeasy-Japanese in midtown east. Was super busy on a Sat night. Food is tasty. Pretty impressive sake list. Team could’ve been a little more engaged. The shrimp fritters were a standout.

+6

When we went, they were only offering the prix fixe menu and a limited a la carte. For 3 people, we ordered 2 appetizers from the a la carte menu (Tofu & Unagi Salad, Gindara Saikyo Yaki) and 2 prix fixe sets to share. The food was overall pretty solid, and the vibes of the restaurant are very Japanese and cute.

+2

This place’s best quality is the ambiance! Hidden away, it opens up as a speakeasy. We had a great time here but would have liked a bit more of guidance on what to order, as the dishes are truly complex and we clearly did not know what to order. The desserts are were a highlight! Would not have the onigiri again as they didn’t have a lot of the topping. The wagyu beef was insane!

+1

Came on a Friday night and it was quite busy! Reservations recommended! Good service and good food. The portion sizes are a bit on the smaller side and the taste is a bit on the bigger flavor (salty) side. But overall, a nice atmosphere and good meal. Enter via office building entrance and head down to the basement.

+2

It's in the basement of a building so there's no cell service. The food is delicious - I think the sashimi is some of the best I've ever had. The shrimp tempura soba was also delicious!

When you enter Sakagura, you immediately feel as if you are in another world. I love their chill vibe and bamboo decor coupled with natural greenery. The dish presentation is amazing and if you’re a drinker they have a giant sale collection. The staff is super friendly and they get very crowded, so reservations are suggested, however my friend and I got a table w/o one on a busy night and got to sit at the sushi bar watching the dessert chef whip up amazing creations while we dined. Bonus - they have a GF menu too

+6

On the very pricey side. I love sushi. This is were refined and specia restaurantl but still It came below my expectations for the prices and the super tiny portions. And this is coming from someone that doesn't like big portions in restaurants. The service was mediocre. The person who served us was probably new and didn't make too much of an effort to explain some things to someone who visited first time.

The restaurant is easy to miss as you need to go into an office building and make your way downstairs to the basement. Other than the hidden location, the interior is pretty spacious and cozy. I got their chirashi bowl for $27 which was ok but not the best I've had. The sashimi pieces were cut into small pieces.

+1

Sakagura is quite the cute restaurant and it makes for a unique place to visit in the city. It kinds of reminds you of small bars in Asia which are hidden from view. You can find the restaurant located down a set of stairs and you are greeted by the host at the very front. In terms of ambience, the restaurant is quite peaceful, surrounded with an abundance of greenery and you can hear the soundtrack of small birds chirping in the background. The restaurant only offers a prix fixe (tasting menu) right now, at $85 per person. We ordered the Aburi Chashū Otsumami (seared chashū pork), a favorite but an add-on to the prix fixe menu. It was followed by the Katsuo Tataki (skipjack tuna) which is the first dish of the actual tasting menu. It is slightly tangy and is an overall light and pleasant dish. Subsequently, my friend and I were served the Hotate Butter Sauté (bacon wrapped scallop with miso sauce), which was quite “umami”, flavorful but not overbearingly so. Our favorite dish of the evening. The Sashimi Santen Mori was alright, excluding the uni (sea urchin). Our server explained to us that the uni was sourced from California. It tasted briny and a bit off. I have definitely had better uni before, which if good quality, is light and creamy at the same time. If it is your first time trying sea urchin and you find it less than pleasing, I would recommend giving it another try elsewhere as the taste can change depending on where it is sourced. The Madai Tsutsumi Yaki (baked red snapper), while being a hearty dish, was slightly under seasoned and came off bland as a result. The meal ended with a Malibu Blancmange, which was refreshing and light. I thought it was pretty decent but my friend, who is a fan of coconut desserts, was a tad disappointed she could not taste the coconut. While Sakagura is a cute restaurant, you can certainly find Japanese restaurants in the Lower East Side that have a wider selection, if not better quality food.

+3

We celebrated my husband's birthday here. We were completely pleased with the food though would have been happy for less pricey. All the dishes were excellent. We had a great dinner.

+2

A hidden gem in NY! No signs outside to find this restaurant at the basement of a building. Great atmosphere with a focus on Japanese authentic food and a wide variety of sake. Most of the dishes we ordered were delicious but the calamari was dry. The four fish sashimi (albeit overpriced) was great except one of them being so so. The egg dish and the fried chicken were tasty. If you like Japanese cooking, this is the place to go.

Very friendly service though slow. We spent more time waiting for service than eating or drinking. I really appreciated the sake list which was priced by cup, carafe, and bottle. They also had good descriptions and tasting notes. The food was good. The wagyu hot stone dish was fun and smelled great.

+1

Good service and atmosphere. We got the five kind sashimi where all the fish was fresh (except the hokkaido uni which they end up replacing with a different fish), grilled black cod which was too greasy and did not taste fresh and I couldn't finish it. The vegetarian udon and tomago were good.

+1

Ronald Tan

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Overall rating. Service: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Atmosphere: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Sakagura earns a 4-star rating for food, service and atmosphere that creates a pleasant and enjoyable dining experience.

+1

Genevieve Hook

Finding this out of the way place was a lot of fun, and the atmosphere at large was great. Our food was delicious! We tried many items and thought they were pretty much all winners. We also had a great time trying different sakes that were unfamiliar to us. They have a huge selection. The service however, for us, was lacking and unfortunately that took a hit on our overall experience. Our initial server made a big deal out of wanting to take our entire order at once (the menu is set up as almost tapas style) so she could pace it for us. She took our order and basically never came back. She missed one (we actually realized later, two items) item we had ordered and left us sitting without drinks or food for easily 20 minutes or more. We struggled to get the attention of any other server, who (when they did respond) only reassured us our food was on the way. In the end, much of our food arrived at the same time (how about that pacing?) and felt rushed. We had to ask three or four times for our server to come back and couldn't quite tell if they were trying to run "point" service or team service since no other server seemed available to help us but ours did not come back.

B Bright

Very cool place to impress your friends from out of town. Delicious food and great atmosphere, but pricey for the portions. Definitely more of a special occasion or expense account kind of place.

Christopher Sahlstrom

I was intrigued by the speakeasy vibe and hidden location. The flavors were good but sadly I came hungry and left hungry. We spent 130 with tip for two people. The prices appeared reasonable on the rather confusing menu, but when the dishes came they were fit in your palm tiny. That made the prices very high for what you get. I had three tiny slices of scallops on my “seafood” while my wife got probably a nice half pound of fried chicken. The menu is not clearly divided into starters, mains, etc, and it is a wasn’t clear how much food we’d be getting. It would be nice to have a pot of rice to fill in the gaps. The one Caucasian server lost patience with us and handed us over to a nice Japanese server who carefully explained everything. Service was attentive. Prices on sake run from 17 per carafe to over 1000 per bottle.

Aggie Wang

I was brought by a friend to this Japanese restaurant which is located in a basement of an office building. It was dark inside. The food was delicious and had unique flavor. Especially I liked the grilled cod and lightly seared beef. They were like tapas type of small dishes. Quite pricey given the portion. The seating was tight. The table behind us was a big group with loud talking and laughing. Although the food was good, the whole dining experience was not great.

+5

The main attraction of this place is the sake - the food comes in small portions and it quite pricey. But the sake is good and the ambiance is very dark and moody. Our waiters were very attentive and…

The main attraction of this place is the sake - the food comes in small portions and it quite pricey. But the sake is good and the ambiance is very dark and moody. Our waiters were very attentive a…

The main attraction of this place is the sake - the food comes in small portions and it quite pricey. But the sake is good and the ambiance is very dark and moody. Our waiters were very attentive a…

*I later learned that these guys were involved with providing financial assistance to the people affected by tragedies in Japan, I am glad to have contributed to this effort by eating at this establi…

The interior of the restaurant is probably the best part of the entire experience but, unfortunately, apart from that everything else was underwhelming. The wait time for each dish was unreasonab…

Portions are so insanely small and prices are so high. The only thing that tasted above average was the karaage. We also got some edamame some super small dons, some agesan tofu, and other dishes. …

Basement level Japanese spot recommended by someone who came for dinner. Grabbed a weekend dinner reservation and came early but they were able to seat us which we appreciated. service was polite a…

Basement level Japanese spot recommended by someone who came for dinner. Grabbed a weekend dinner reservation and came early but they were able to seat us which we appreciated. Service was polite a…

A memorable basement decor in Midtown. Many out of the ordinary items for connoisseurs as well as more standard items. But unless I am mistaken only sashimi, no sushi. I thought their chicken meatb…

Good service, but too expensive for the quantity, the food was good and fish excellent, and if the price was 50% less I would recommend but it is not the case, this night they had internet issue it can happened but let me wait 20 min at the end to pay by cash, too much time lost for a simple solution. The worst was when we left, all our clothes smelt fries cooking, it is not ok to go in the expensive restaurant with a bad air ventilation. I don't recommend, you will find better Japanese restaurant. It is sad because the fish was good and service too.

Had to downgrade this place from before -- not only they increase the price on menu they also decrease in quality from the past. Decent izakays food but pricy for what it is compare to competitor (charging michelin restaurant price but not there in quality). Spotty service (said gave me 4 piece of sashimi and also key in that on bill but only had 3 pieces, I pour my own water and sake no server helped when I am sitting right at the bar) The grilled salmon was over cooked and salty. The rice ball is below average. Uni and curdo plates are the winner. Chicken was dry.

+1

Heard about this place, went visit, I was not totally impressed. While this review is not based on sake since we only tried food. Nice decor, in a basement of a office building, Food presentation is pretty and taste is ok, I can’t say it is a good as a small street place in Kyoto; we had the jewel bowl, tasty menu for lunch and one of the lunch special, food is ok, potion is small, and pricy is steep. This light lunch come out at $90. Service is friendly but rather rushed. While overall this place does has a very authentic Japanese style. Remind me of those place in Japan where office ppl go after work for a drink - heard drink Could be pretty good.

+6

The restaurant was out of lunch specials on a Friday at 1225pm… Also asked for the dessert menu and received the check instead. Oh the food was fine and so was the ambiance.

Don't come to Sakagura for your birthday unless you're looking to get BAITED. We came here for my friend's birthday and unfortunately ended the experience on a sour note. This is because my friend placed a reservation on RESY and said that we'd be there for her special day. After eating and waiting for the check, they surprised my friend by giving her a birthday dessert: 3 scoops of black sesame ice cream. We were happy and expected it to be on the house. When we received the bill, they charged us for the dessert that we did NOT ask for. We were dumbfounded that they'd charge us for something without asking if we'd want it while being transparent about fees.

Located in the basement, this small sake bar. Has a large number of Japanese tapa style small dishes and sushi for you to try. Service is a little sparse but the food comes in waves. Good hybrid and hot dishes; have had better sushi elsewhere though. Good sake though. I did like the seaweed salad which was great with a different twist than the normal version adding a sesame vinagrette and the stamina soba was good mix of ingredients, too. Miso/yuzu cod was excellent, and the desserts didn't appeal much to me. They do have lunch specials, too, though get there early - they are busy!

+6

Food-wise, the Japanese dishes were good, especially the eel rice, which was better than expected. The uni was just okay，comparing with other restaurants. However, the service was disappointing. We waited a long time after being seated before anyone came to us. When the staff explained the menu, their attitude felt unfriendly and impatient. They only poured wine once when opening the bottle and never came back to serve drinks afterward. Overall, probably wouldn’t come back

Similar prices to Ootoya but didn't come close to equalling that standard. The quantity of duck in whatever I ordered was sad. The lunch was not satisfying at all despite entrees being well into th…

Stopped by for lunch - downstairs, very busy, and they ran out of the lunch special of the day....\n\nTried the duck curry and it was a rich, flavorful (but very salty) dish. The tempura was done v…

Went here for a roommate dinner and while the food was delicious, the portions were small since it's more tapas style and the food expensive. They were kind enough to give us a dessert to celebrate…

We were well serviced by a japanese man (the one who took the orders). The food was great though expensive. Sakes were really good. Unfortunately we had a bad experience in the end, when my card di…

Sadly not impressed by our dinning experience here. Our server, David was not friendly. Never introduced himself and was snobbish. When we asked for food advice, he seemed annoyed by our inexperience with Japanese cuisine. The busmen were hovered over us. Just a very disappointing experience for the price you pay. I would not recommend.

Hello! We were at the restaurant the 4 august but our reservation was the 3. It was a mistake of the day of our reservation. In the restaurant someone told us that the money of the cancellation wil…

Hello! We were at the restaurant the 4 august but our reservation was the 3. It was a mistake of the day of our reservation. In the restaurant someone told us that the money of the cancellation w…

We dined here last night with a couple friend. The service was pretty non existent with language barrier, the chairs very uncomfortable, very dark, the plates are tiny, they don’t serve sushi for dinner. The sake they recommended that tasted like “Sauvignon blanc” tasted nothing like that for $48/glass. Will not return.

So this was a massive disappointment. All while some sashimi were extremely high quality… The dinner menu contains too little choices and everything is basically overpriced. “Taste” menu items some are so small that a friend and I dining there looked at each other at sheer shock at “Hirame Carpaccio”. (Can’t see the menu we had on google now actually) Now i like spending money on great food, but this place’s strategy is to get you to buy a bunch of dishes that are all small portions of protein so you stay hungry-(no nigiri or sushi for instance) and their “main” dishes such as Kani Kamameshi had very little crabs and lots of rice which was a disappointment. Their sake was good but i think was also extremely expensive.

J J

Sadly, the atmosphere was the only perk here. It used to have a wide variety of selection for sashimi and other plates but not anymore. Hope this photo helps to guide others with what to expect with portion and quality. I think we paid $120 for all of this and 2 draft beer!