Darlings

Angelina Vazquez

This is my third time eating at Tora, and I have genuinely never had a bad experience here, in fact, every experience has been amazing. The first time I came here, I had the tonkotsu ramen and my partner had the negichutoro don, both of which were great. The ramen surprised me so much, I haven't had a bowl that I love in New York as much of this one when it comes to noodle texture and broth depth and flavor. We also had the hamachi crudo, which is fresh and excellent, and is highlighted by the yuzu truffle vinaigrette. The second time I came here I had ramen again hehe, but we also got a grilled mackerel which was grilled to perfection and could have been an entree instead of an appetizer with just a side of rice for the generous portion. We also tried the mentaiko pasta which was great, but honestly not our favorite when it came to the balancing of flavors; it was a bit too rich. This time around, we got our favorite: the hamachi crudo again :) We also got the truffle wagyu ramen which lacked a little depth in the middle of the bite, but the quality of the beef and the broth were great. I also got the chashudon which was the perfect comfort food on a cold day when I wanted a filling meal. Overall, I absolutely love this place and I hope that it starts to get more business!! But not so much that I can't get a table haha. Not every dish is for everyone, but I love getting to come here and try something new every time, knowing that at the very least it's going to be good and at its best be amazing. The service is exceptional and caring, and the drinks are great too. Definitely recommend this place to anyone I know in the Bushwick area and I hope this review convinces you to give it a try :)

Timothy Miller

Absolutely incredible surprise of as space. We had almost given up on local eateries after years of local dining (with a few exceptions). This was great food, impeccable service, fantastic drinks and the space itself is small yet perfectly utilized. We went for some staples we enjoy elsewhere, and now we can’t wait to venture out to their other options.

David Chasteen

Can confirm the great reviews. Excellent, friendly and attentive service. Every dish was delicious and beautifully plated. The space was warm and impeccably clean and decorated. Excellent.

Elena Akhmetzyanova

I had such a great experience at TORA. The vibe is cozy and stylish, and the staff were super friendly and helpful. Everything I ordered was fresh and full of flavor—especially the sushi. You can really tell they care about quality. The bar has such creative cocktails. I’ll definitely be coming back!

Kara Cake

Hidden gem spot in Bushwick!!! I tried multiple things and tbh i come here for Oysters but didn’t expect that all the foods here are awesome plus the service is on top. I have Server under name Billy and Glen they’re super friendly and attentive. Atmosphere is also nice . I def come back for sure and if s/o looking for izakaya spot in BK I totally recommend to come to Tora Izakaya & Bar !!!!!!!

Alexander Novell

I have lived in nyc for over 12 years and in that time had maaany meals. This is by far the best meal I have ever had in my entire life. It almost doesn’t feel real because every course was so perfect and expertly prepared. To start we had the grilled squid with a spicy citrusy sweet sauce, the vegetable tempura, and the oysters which were topped with yuzu vinegar and some fresh salmon roe (what a bite omg). Then we had the mentaiko pasta with crispy bacon which was so creamy salty and unctuous and also had the tora Don (raw shrimp, raw scallop, king crab, Ikura, uni, and a little bit of caviar) which was the most mind blowing bite of the whole meal. I will definitely be coming back to try more stuff. It’s insane that this place is tucked away off knickerbocker. Might be the best Japanese food in the whole city. Just the absolute best dinner I have ever had ever ever.

Marasee Tontandiew

So fresh and flavorful THE BEST Japanese food in Brooklyn! Friendly service and amazing quality. Can’t wait to go back!

amy

I came in with my friends a couple weeks ago, and the place is amazing. The food is so pretty and tastes great. It was a large party so we ordered a lot and got to try a lot of the items on menu. Highly recommend the scallop carpaccio, the tempura, the salmon zabb, and the corn ribs. For the dessert, the top layer was a little too sweet, but the bottom tasted great. 10/10 Definitely coming back.

Shako Liu

I’m surprised to find this level of creative Japanese food in Bushwick! Everything is so stellar and refined, yet extremely creative! The seaweed salad fried dry seaweed with tempura, making it extra crispy. The corn ribs with the cheese on top is chef’s kiss 😚. My favorite is the Japanese tacos. They fried the seaweed on the inside, stuffing it with sashimi. I’ve never seen anything like this, it’s so so creative and delicious! You gotta try it for yourself!

Nat T.

Unique fusion Japanese food such as Salmon taco made with crispy seaweed instead of flour, Corn Rib with parmesan on top, and fresh Mentaiko pasta with bacon. Although small, the restaurant offers indoor and outdoor seating with stylish bar. Service was prompt and attentive. Restaurant was clean and loved their mocktail and tea selection. Convenient location near subway with adequate free and paid street parking option nearby. A good place to come hang out, grab drink and bites in chill comfortable setting!

Taylor Presley

OMG! This place is unreal. One of the best new restaurants in NYC, no doubt. Talk about fixation food. My wife and I ordered 6 dishes because we couldn’t decide, lol. We already cannot wait to go back. We were in Japan 2 weeks ago and it was like being right back. Amazing service, vibes, and the food was next level.

Rachael Wang

TORA offers a cozy Japanese dining experience with well-balanced and fresh flavors, as well as some fusion elements like chili crisps. I enjoyed the salad and gyoza that came with the lunch special. The scallop carpaccio was a standout, and while the toro wasn’t as fatty as I expected, it was still good tuna. The gyudon was a bit dry but decent overall. The surf n turf roll had an amazing smoky undertone from the wagyu, and the shrimp tempura was fried perfectly, though I wish there was less mayo and sauce. Overall, a solid meal with exceptional service.

Just dined here as a party of 6 (4 adults 2 children) and our expectations were certainly exceeded. Food was excellent. The menu offered enough of a selection without being overwhelming. The servers were courteous and kind. Will 100% return.

Food was amazing. Everything arrived fresh, tasty, and really well-packed. We also had an issue with DoorDash, and the owner immediately offered to help, making sure our order would still be delivered on time. Highly recommend! And using this space to say thank you again for the help!

We’ve been coming here often and absolutely love it. Lately, I’ve seen some reviews complaining about the prices, and honestly, I don’t understand it. There are plenty of cheaper Japanese spots around, but with lower prices often comes lower quality. If that’s what you’re looking for, this place might not be for you. If you truly appreciate Japanese cuisine and respect the craft — especially when chefs create their own sauces and dressings from scratch — Tora is the place to be. You can genuinely taste the difference. It’s clear they don’t rely on prepackaged ingredients, and that level of care deserves recognition. Much respect to the owners and chefs — please don’t change a thing! Keep doing what you’re doing. We love it. Thank you!

Danielle Probert

This place is a real treat and totally worth it. I haven’t dined in at Tora yet, but I’ve ordered it on DoorDash three times now and it never disappoints. The food carries incredibly well, which says a lot, and everything has been consistently fresh and flavorful. If it’s this good delivered, I can only imagine how great it is in person. Can’t wait to finally eat there.

Paulo Assunção

Food was amazing. Everything arrived fresh, tasty, and really well-packed. We also had an issue with DoorDash, and the owner immediately offered to help, making sure our order would still be delivered on time. Highly recommend! And using this space to say thank you again for the help!

Not bad for a local spot. Scallop carpaccio was decent. Cucumber salad was refreshing. Corn ribs were good! Gyudon and Mentaiko pasta were crowd favorite. Salmon lover was just okay. Chicken thigh and short beef skewers were tasty. Service was attentive. Ambiance screamed gentrification but expected. I would go back to try other items on the menu if I’m in the area.

Tora was anything but disappointing. The tuna crispy rice was probably the best dish we tried on the menu, and their mocktails were also incredibly refreshing. Both of the signature rolls we ordered were delicious. It’s a lowkey spot, so it’s not too crowded which is a bonus. If you’re looking for a place that is casual but also fun, this is the spot!

The restaurant is spotless and well-maintained. The service was outstanding—attentive and thoughtful, with the server taking time to explain each dish. Every bite was delicious, especially the sushi and sashimi. The drinks were great too. I’ll definitely be coming back!

Absolutely loved Tora! The mentaiko pasta is a must-try – rich, creamy, and full of flavor. The crispy tuna rice was fantastic too (prob our favorite), with a perfect balance of texture and taste. We also had the crispy seaweed salad, which was light and refreshing, a great start to the meal. The drinks were excellent as well, though they recently changed their happy hour times, so be sure to check before going.

Rezaul Khan

Not bad for a local spot. Scallop carpaccio was decent. Cucumber salad was refreshing. Corn ribs were good! Gyudon and Mentaiko pasta were crowd favorite. Salmon lover was just okay. Chicken thigh and short beef skewers were tasty. Service was attentive. Ambiance screamed gentrification but expected. I would go back to try other items on the menu if I’m in the area.

Zimmi Coker

Tora was anything but disappointing. The tuna crispy rice was probably the best dish we tried on the menu, and their mocktails were also incredibly refreshing. Both of the signature rolls we ordered were delicious. It’s a lowkey spot, so it’s not too crowded which is a bonus. If you’re looking for a place that is casual but also fun, this is the spot!

Aishe Mustafic

The restaurant is spotless and well-maintained. The service was outstanding—attentive and thoughtful, with the server taking time to explain each dish. Every bite was delicious, especially the sushi and sashimi. The drinks were great too. I’ll definitely be coming back!

Kelly Mui

Absolutely loved Tora! The mentaiko pasta is a must-try – rich, creamy, and full of flavor. The crispy tuna rice was fantastic too (prob our favorite), with a perfect balance of texture and taste. We also had the crispy seaweed salad, which was light and refreshing, a great start to the meal. The drinks were excellent as well, though they recently changed their happy hour times, so be sure to check before going.

Overall this is a great restaurant. Beautiful presentation and delicious taste from all of the dishes. My only gripe was the quantity of the food was not enough given the images they have only. The miyazaki as hot stone only 8 thin slices of beef and that’s it? I could get an ayce experience for that price. Just wish the quantity for some of the dishes were actually enough because for me I left hungry even after spending more than $150 bucks.

Siddharth Rane

Overall this is a great restaurant. Beautiful presentation and delicious taste from all of the dishes. My only gripe was the quantity of the food was not enough given the images they have only. The miyazaki as hot stone only 8 thin slices of beef and that’s it? I could get an ayce experience for that price. Just wish the quantity for some of the dishes were actually enough because for me I left hungry even after spending more than $150 bucks.

Everything was tasty but nothing stood out. It’s a reliable Japanese spot considering there aren’t too many options in the area, but the prices (IMHO) are too high considering it’s generally classic izakaya-type food.

Excellent service, attentive without being intrusive. The decor and ambiance was pretty standard. I was puzzled about the reviews I’ve read about being chic. It was just fine. The food was average. I got the grilled mackerel, which was huge (unlike Japanese mackerel) and not great tasting. Also ordered the yakitori chicken hearts and pork jowl, which were fine but unremarkable. My partner got the chirashi don, which he enjoyed.

The food is great but the portions are small and the prices are incredibly steep for the value. The waiter also brought us our check without asking as if to tell us to leave. We definitely felt rushed. One small note: the windows of the restaurant were really dirty. The inside was clean but overall felt unrefined and cheap for the price point.