Momokawa
Sushi, japanese · New York
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About Momokawa
At Momokawa, we serve traditional Japanese favorites crafted with care, just as our ancestors have done for generations. Our compact restaurant is a cozy oasis on 1st Avenue, where warm hospitality meets authentic flavors. We're proud to offer dishes made with the finest ingredients, carefully prepa...
At Momokawa, we serve traditional Japanese favorites crafted with care, just as our ancestors have done for generations. Our compact restaurant is a cozy oasis on 1st Avenue, where warm hospitality meets authentic flavors. We're proud to offer dishes made with the finest ingredients, carefully prepared using time-honored techniques. Regulars rave about our attentive service and inviting atmosphere, which makes every visit feel like a homecoming. From the subtle nuances of our sushi creations to the tranquil ambiance that envelops you, we invite you to experience the heart of Japan right here in New York.
What Customers Say About Momokawa
Momokawa is a consistently reliable spot for authentic Japanese cuisine, especially hot pots like sukiyaki and shabu shabu. Customers praise the fresh, high-quality ingredients and excellent service. It can get a little understaffed, but the staff is extremely kind and efficient.
Popular Dishes
Best For
Tip: The sukiyaki is recommended for cold days. Consider visiting around 4pm without a reservation for a cozy atmosphere.
Features
What to see nearby
Data from Wikidata
Explore the area around Momokawa
Momokawa is located in New York, surrounded by cultural and historical points of interest. Here are some of the most notable places nearby.
Historical Heritage
- Cherokee Apartments (A 317m) — apartment building complex in Manhattan, New York Lugar inscrito en el Registro Nacional de Lugares Históricos
Religious Buildings
- Jan Hus Presbyterian Church (A 186m) — church building in Manhattan, United States of America
- Church of the Epiphany (A 220m) — church in New York City, United States
- St. Monica's Church (A 253m) — church building in Manhattan, United States of America
- Temple Shaaray Tefila (A 358m) — reform synagogue in Manhattan, New York, US
- St. John the Martyr's Church (A 491m) — church building in Manhattan, United States of America
Parks & Gardens
- John Jay Park (A 366m) — city park in New York City
Other Points of Interest
- The Charles (A 298m) — residential skyscraper in Manhattan, New York
- 20 East End Avenue (A 509m) — building in Yorkville, New York, United States
- Hungarian House of New York (A 618m) — building in New York City, New York, United States
Data from Wikidata
Frequently asked questions about Momokawa
Momokawa New York Reviews
Great experience and awesome service. Highly recommend to get the sukiyaki (soy sauce based) with udon. They use egg as the dipping sauce with beef. Yum! the sashimi and sushi platter is high quality. For appetizers: sesame tofu with Uni is very interesting. The waiter is friendly, knowledgeable and fun to chat with. We will def revisit.
Small and tight Japanese restaurant in UES, exuding ambience of a typical restaurant in Tokyo. We had beef sukiyaki don (for the no-sushi in our party of three,) a grilled mackerel, plus a sushi assortment. Also had a monk fish liver (ankimo,) chef’s special of the day. Very satisfied with the quality of the food.
Had a fantastic dinner at Momokawa tonight. The food was fresh, beautifully prepared, and every dish felt thoughtful and balanced. The atmosphere was warm and stylish without being too loud, which made the whole experience really enjoyable. Special shoutout to our server, **Tsering** — attentive, kind, and genuinely great at guiding the meal without rushing us. Service like that is a big reason I keep coming back. I’m a regular here and this visit reminded me why. Highly recommend.
The food was amazing as always. We had the Miyazaki beef. Our server, Ake, is truly the best! Incredibly attentive service, well mannered, and always smiling. He is so kind and listened to any and all the requests we had. Our meal was elevated because of him. We will be coming back for certain!
I’ve come here several times for their sukiyaki and it’s very authentic and tastes just like the ones they serve in Japan. The ingredients are always fresh and a great portion. They also have a vast menu with lots of sushi offerings, teishoku, appetizers, etc. The service is excellent, shoutout to Naoto for being so wonderful every time.
This was our first time at the restaurant as we happened to walk by it. The menu was very authentic, prepared with care and consideration, and the vibe was warm and inviting. The yellowtail collar and octopus in vinegar sauce were perfectly cooked. Highly recommend and we will definitely be going back!
The yellowtail was super fresh and sliced perfectly. Just a quick dip in the hot broth and it turns soft, buttery, and full of flavor. Simple, clean, and so comforting. The presentation was beautiful, and everything tasted really high quality. Light but still very satisfying. Honestly, I’d come back just for this dish. Definitely recommend if you love Japanese food or hot pot
I couldn’t wait to introduce my friend to one of my favorite places! And it did not Disappoint.. I had the pork belly appetizer ( to die for) and the delicious beef sukiyaki, and my friend had the organic salmon miso with the best brussel sprouts ever tasted! - everything is so fresh and delicious. They use the best quality ingredients and prepare it with care … I ❤️ this place! Many organic dishes- Intimate and cute
Every time we eat here, is a warm hug to my soul. The kakuni (braised pork belly) is the best I’ve ever tried. If you want to treat yourself with real Japanese food, come here and enjoy the atmosphere and high quality food. Sushi bar is great but everything else (including the shabu-shabu) is amazing. When you have sake, you get to choose from a beautiful and cute selection of little cups, it’s hard to choose only one! The umeshu is outstanding! All the menu is worth every penny.
We’ve enjoyed Momokawa as our go-to sushi spot for nearly a decade now. We stopped making the hike down to Hatsu Hana in midtown once we found sushi of this quality and affordability in the neighborhood! Sushi is always high quality and they always have Aburi Mentaiko (seared cod roe), difficult to find among NYC sushi restaurants. Their sukiyaki is is delicious as well. Service is always warm, prompt, and friendly - an absolute pleasure to be their guests. We will continue to frequent this neighborhood gem for years to come!
Our family loves this spot. Low key, fair priced and top quality ingredients. We love the Shabu Shabu. Dad loves uni and always orders both Hokkaido and California, side by side. It can be a little understaffed, but they are extremely kind and efficient. I highly recommend this place.
Really enjoyed dinner at Momokawa. Happy to have authentic Japanese hot pot in NY. We ordered the shabu shabu set. The beef and vegetables were delicious. Also appreciated being able to order additional half sizes for more meat or vegetables rather than having to order an additional full size. While I found the wine list to be lacking, the nihonshu (Japanese sake) by the bottle selection was decent. We had the Born Gold from Fukui Prefecture, which paired well with the food. I also appreciated having real Japanese desserts on the menu, like zenzai (mochi balls with red bean paste). Will go back again!
Consistently reliable spot for Japanese hot pots. Amazing selection of top notch beef and other protein choices for Sukiyaki (my go-to for a more casual dinner is the Berkshire Pork). I’ve been here countless times over the past few years. The photos are from 3 different times I’ve visited over the past two years.
We came for their iconic sukiyaki on a snowy day and it was perfect! Ordered the most basic meat option but the quality was already nice and enough for us. We walked in around 4pm without a reservation and the place wasn’t crowded, creating a really cozy atmosphere. Highly recommend to come around this time. All staffs were nice and their plum sparkling drink was good as well😌
Overall experience was good but not outstanding. The sashimi plate was satisfying and all the fish was fresh. The seaweed salad was a bit unexpected but in a good way - I didn't anticipate a full plate of colorful varieties of seaweeds! They each have slightly different textures. It was fun trying them. The sukiyaki experience was a bit underwhelming. The meat served was good quality, but the soup base was too sweet and too salty. After cooking for a while we had to ask the waitress to add water a couple of times. I may try the shabu shabu next time. Also note to solo diners - although the menu indicated sukiyaki or shabu shabu are only for 2 ppl, you can actually ask for a solo portion for half the price.
Decent Experience at Momokawa I recently dined at Momokawa, and while it wasn’t bad, it didn’t quite live up to my expectations. The ambiance was nice and cozy, with a traditional Japanese vibe, and the service was decent—attentive enough, though nothing particularly stood out. As for the food, it was decent but not great. The sushi was fine, but they didn’t blow me away. The sukiyaki, which I was looking forward to, was decent. Everything was cooked well, but the flavors didn’t quite pop. One thing to keep in mind is that Momokawa is on the pricier end, which made the “just decent” meal feel a bit underwhelming for the cost. Overall, it’s not a bad spot, but not amazing.
This was my second visit, and while the restaurant has clearly experienced an increase in guest volume since my first visit last Halloween, the overall service delivery and food quality have declined noticeably. During my previous visit as a party of 3, the dining environment was more relaxed, and the service sequence for the sukiyaki was executed with precision. The server demonstrated excellent product knowledge and attention to detail, they began by searing a few slices of meat to enhance aroma and depth of flavor while thoughtfully explaining each step of the process to enhance the guest experience. This time, as a party of 5, the preparation felt rushed, all ingredients were placed into the pot simultaneously, and the meat carried a noticeable bloody taste, likely due to reduced freshness. The service team remained courteous and hospitable, and we appreciated the warm welcome, the provision of hot towels, and being offered our preferred water choice. However, beverage maintenance fell short, after finishing my hot water after ordering, the cup remained unfilled throughout the entire meal. The staff appeared overwhelmed due to increased demand, which led to a decline in attentiveness and service consistency. Overall, I can see that the restaurant has grown in popularity, but I hope they can maintain the same level of care and attention to detail that made my first experience so enjoyable, ring a bell to management, do not focus solely on the financials. Previous Visit (10/31/2024): 9/10 This Visit (10/31/2025): 6/10
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1466 1st Ave, New York, NY 10075
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1466 1st Ave, New York, NY 10075
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