Best Japanese Restaurants in Midtown East (10022)
8 hand-picked restaurants, critic-reviewed and ranked
Last Updated: January 2026
Our Top Pick
Tomi Jazz
A snug jazz club where serious Japanese comfort food meets live nightly sets.
Notable Picks
#1
Tomi Jazz
8.7
Speakeasy-style Tomi Jazz packs live jazz, Japanese bar food, and serious drinks into a low-ceilinged basement just off Second Avenue. Plates like cod roe spaghetti, omurice, and fried croquettes come out of a tiny kitchen while trios play to a room of tightly packed two-tops and counter seats.
Must-Try Dishes:
Cod Roe Spaghetti, Omurice, Honey Toast
What makes it special: A snug jazz club where serious Japanese comfort food meets live nightly sets.
#2
Jukai
8.4
Tucked just below street level next to Tomi Jazz, Jukai specializes in sukiyaki and shabu-shabu built around Washu beef and duck. The room is dark, hushed, and intimate, drawing regulars for lingering hot-pot dinners, composed sashimi, and a quietly old-school Tokyo feel.
Must-Try Dishes:
Duck Hot Pot, Washu Beef Sukiyaki, Beef Tongue Steak
What makes it special: An underground Japanese hot-pot specialist with quietly luxe sukiyaki and shabu-shabu.
#3
Teppen Ramen
8.3
Teppen Ramen is a compact Midtown East noodle shop known for deeply seasoned shio broths and a long list of ramen variations, including vegan options. The space is tight and unadorned, but the bowls are carefully built and the kitchen keeps pace with heavy traffic from both neighborhood regulars and destination ramen hunters.
Must-Try Dishes:
Teppen Shio Ramen, Teppen Shio Spicy Ramen, Clear Soup Vegan Ramen
What makes it special: A high-throughput ramen counter turning out deeply flavored bowls with reliable precision.
8.1
Vibes:
Group Dining Gatherings
Birthday & Celebration Central
Luxury Dining Elite
Trendy Table Hotspots
Mikiya’s Manhattan location brings the brand’s all-you-can-eat wagyu shabu-shabu format to Midtown East, with tiered pricing that climbs into A5 territory. Tables cook their own thin-cut wagyu, seafood, and vegetables in individual pots, backed by a polished room and a staff that keeps refills moving.
Must-Try Dishes:
All-You-Can-Eat A5 Wagyu Shabu Set, Wagyu Tartare, Wagyu Nigiri
What makes it special: An AYCE wagyu shabu-shabu experience with multiple premium tiers and a sleek setting.
8.0
Vibes:
Quick Bites Champions
Trendy Table Hotspots
Business Lunch Power Players
Solo Dining Sanctuaries
Inside The Hugh food hall, KazuNori’s Midtown East counter turns out Nozawa-style hand rolls built around warm rice, crispy nori, and focused fillings. The menu is built on set combinations of toro, crab, scallop, and salmon, giving Midtown diners a fast but quality-driven alternative to sit-down sushi.
Must-Try Dishes:
Toro Hand Roll, Bay Scallop Hand Roll, Blue Crab Hand Roll
What makes it special: A dedicated hand-roll bar where warm rice, crisp nori, and tightly edited fillings deliver a very high quality-to-speed ratio.
#6
Tensai
8.0
Tensai focuses on house-udon and tempura in a modest, softly lit room just off Second Avenue. Bowls lean clean and comforting—think Ebi Ontama udon with onsen egg or stir-fried yakiniku udon—backed by crisp tempura, karaage, and a calm pace that suits solo meals and low-key dates.
Must-Try Dishes:
Ebi Ontama Udon, Yakiniku Udon, Assorted Tempura
What makes it special: A udon-centric shop where broths, noodles, and tempura skew clean and precise.
Worthy Picks
7.7
Kealoha Sushi & Poke Bowl is a compact counter-service spot marrying Hawaiian-style poke bowls with a full lineup of classic rolls and fried appetizers. It’s popular with locals for build-your-own bowls, bright toppings, and delivery-friendly pricing that makes it an easy weeknight or office-lunch option.
Must-Try Dishes:
Signature Sushi Poke Bowl with Ahi Tuna and Salmon, Spicy Tuna Roll, Fried Oyster
What makes it special: A poke-forward, fast-casual shop that delivers customizable bowls and solid sushi rolls at prices that work for regular neighborhood use.
#8
Lucky Cat
7.7
Lucky Cat is a sprawling izakaya-ramen hybrid that stays open deep into the night, mixing big bowls of noodle soup with skewers, karaage, and a full bar. It’s louder and looser than the nearby hot-pot and jazz spots, trading polish for volume, late hours, and a menu built for groups.
Must-Try Dishes:
Lucky Cat Ramen, Yuzu Shio Ramen, Katsu Curry
What makes it special: A rowdy, late-night izakaya with ramen, skewers, and plenty of drinks.