Farrah Curtis

I found a hidden gem in Brooklyn for yummy Japanese comfort food in Brooklyn. Everything from the salmon carpaccio and takoyaki to kurobuta katsu to Japanese hamburg curry was fresh and delicious. The spicy tuna tacos is a must order! The portions were generous and all the dishes were made with care. I also recommend the hikari cocktail if you want a refreshing drink.

+4

Q K

Soboku in Brooklyn completely exceeded my expectations. From the moment I walked in, the atmosphere felt serene and welcoming, minimalist yet warm, with a calming vibe that made me want to stay awhile. I ordered the chicken curry and shishito peppers, and both dishes were absolutely outstanding. The chicken curry was rich, comforting, and full of depth without being heavy. The flavors were perfectly balanced and spiced just right, and the chicken was incredibly tender. It felt like a dish made with real care and attention to detail. The shishito peppers were a perfect starter: blistered to perfection with just the right touch of seasoning. Simple, fresh, and delicious. What really made the experience even better was the service. The staff was attentive and kind, always available if I needed anything but never overbearing. They created such a peaceful dining experience that I felt completely at ease. Soboku is a place where quality shines in every detail from the food to the atmosphere to the service. It’s now one of my favorite spots in Brooklyn, and I’ll definitely be returning. Highly recommend for anyone looking for a thoughtfully prepared, flavorful meal in a beautiful setting.

+4

Eliana Lontok

soboku is now one of my fav spots to get japanese comfort food. i specifically came for their curry dishes and they did not disappoint. we tried the ebi karē (shrimp tempura) and we LOVED it. the curry was so good that we even dipped our katsu burger in it. the shishito peppers came with a yuzu salt that was super addicting. we also really loved the spicy tuna tacos - the gyoza skin was so light and crispy, and the tuna was perfect. i highly recommend visiting this spot cuz i already can't wait to go here again!

+2

David Asekoff

Went to Soboko with friends in Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn, Tuesday night. It's small and popular, so call for reservations. Got there at 7 pm, and it was full. We were the only non Asians there and we just knew it would be good. Seated immediately at a table by the window. The tables are a bit small. Ordered the cucumber and raw tuna taco apps. Cucumber was very smoky with a strong flavor, and the tuna tacos were divine. Had to pick them up as my chopsticks skills don't rise to that level. I had the curry Japanese hamburg, which came with red ginger. Wow. Takes me back to my days in Japan. Used a large wooden spoon and chopsticks to devour every piece of it. The curry was very flavorful and slightly sweet. Meat quality was excellent. My wife and our friends loved their dishes. Pork katsu Don, teriyaki salmon Don and something else. I had the plum wine while others got some fancy sake cocktails and Japanese beer. My wine was my dessert. This was a new place for us, and we found the menu modern, edgy, and something we haven't found elsewhere in the States. Parking was immediate with several spots by meters. Our friends took public transportation there, which was minutes away. Staff kept our water filled and was very friendly and attentive.

+8

C No

I happened to be in Brooklyn the other day, and stumbled across Soboku. Located in South Slope, the restaurant signage was modern and hip. There was a good amount of seats on the inside and by the windows. A bit dark inside but the interior was nicely done. Japanese city pop classics from the 80s like Matsubara Miki’s “Stay With Me” played in the background. Loved it. Spicy Tuna Taco ($12) I really didn’t know what to expect when I saw this, but had to try this out of curiosity. Four tacos drizzled with spicy mayo and spring onions on the top as garnish came out. The tuna was very fresh and soft. The spicy kick delivered but it didn’t burn my tongue. The fried gyoza skin was a great stand-in for corn tortillas. Crab Meat Korokke ($10) I consider korokke or croquettes as one of the great fried Japanese foods because of the different textured the food delivers from crunchy to soft, and the wide variety of fillings that can go with it. This time it was creamy crab meat. The korokke was filled with it, endowing savory and sweet flavors. Combined with the tartar sauce, this was a joy to eat. Ebi Katsu Burger ($20) Katsu burgers are one of my favorite foods. This burger had a shrimp katsu as the patty with copious amounts of shrimp chunks inside. The shredded cabbage added a crunch factor that made each bite a joy to partake. The tartar and sweet/sour sauces gave that extra mile to the burgers. Tater tots was a delicious side that went along great with the burger. Oyakodon ($16) Oyakodon is often considered a comfort food because it is warm, hearty, and all around delicious. This oyakodon came with lots of chicken chunks, onions, and egg simmered in a broth, then poured over rice. It wasn’t salty at all — perfect for my palate. It provided for a hearty meal! Highly recommended!

+4

E Kim

Really enjoyed this spot as they had very comforting Japanese food and had such a cozy vibe here. Also loved that their menu was extensive and majority of the dishes here were all under $20 each. I def recommend getting the salmon carpaccio and the ebi curry. The crabmeat croquette was also super creamy and a perfect appetizer to get.

Aiyada Apdunloh

The food was delicious and well crafted!! The quality was there! I loved the spicy tuna tacos! The curry was also super flavorful. I thought the price reflected the portion size, would definitely come back to try other menu items! Especially their sandwiches.

J B C

I stopped in for an early dinner Friday night around 6pm. Since it was early it was rather quiet only 4 other tables dining in. Though being Friday it was still a work day & with the large amount of various delivery services coming in & out of the restaurant I can only guess many people in the area just wanted to stay home & unwind. I decided to try the crab cream croquettes for my appetizer which were lightly fried which I liked however the cream overpowered the crab to the point I couldn’t taste the crab. For t my main I went with the Kurobuta katsu burger (basically a fried boneless pork loin on a bun with shredded cabbage & mayo) which came with fried potato tots. Which was OK. I don’t know what I was thinking but in reality I had way too many fried dishes in this meal so perhaps that’s why I didn’t enjoy it as much as one normally would. I tried the Hikari from their cocktail menu which sounded good however the chewiness of the jelly wasn’t for me. Perhaps if you like aloe drinks you would enjoy this drink as well. The tables were rather close to each other so when getting up from the bench side (there’s one long bench across the entire back wall) of the table your guaranteed to bump into a table or two. Next time I’ll have to limit myself to one fried dish & perhaps my meal will be more enjoyable.

+4

Lan C

Finally had a chance to stop into this Japanese spot on Smith. On a block stocked with so many food options, it’s nice to find a delicious Don - rice bowl, and curry. The small interior is half open kitchen and half seating. It’s great and reasonably priced, which allows for solo and family dining. Lots of great starter dishes too, including the spicy tuna taco. Wish the ventilation system was better though. It’s either not enough A/C or there’s air in your section but the cooking oil smell is clinging in the air. But a quick meal on a not hot day should be fine.

Katy Rodriguez

The food was good, but I felt like it was missing a little something. We tried the octopus balls, which had nice flavor, but I would’ve liked a bit more actual octopus in them. The Gyu Don was just okay, not bad, but not particularly memorable either. The portion was generous, though. We also ordered the salmon, which was decent. Overall, it’s an okay spot. I wouldn’t go out of my way for it, but I’d maybe come back if I were in the area.

Sandra A

Small quaint restaurant that was crowded so had to wait 15mins to be seated. Service was prompt and the server was attentive and friendly. Had the garlic ginger edamame and the fried chicken rice bowl. Needed some additional seasoning and spice but overall was a good meal. The plum wine was perfectly sweet with the actual plum in the glass as an added treat.

Seth F

I had gotten DoorDash from here a couple times before, but this time the chicken in the Tori Katsu Curry was disgustingly overcooked. Very rubbery and impossible to chew. I’m very disappointed because I thought I had found a new favorite Japanese curry place!