Best Japanese Restaurants in Tudor City
3 hand-picked restaurants, critic-reviewed and ranked
Last Updated: February 2026
Our Top Pick
Tempura Matsui
Tempura-focused omakase that treats frying like fine dining.
Notable Picks
8.9
Tempura Matsui is a quietly luxurious counter focused on tempura omakase, where a chef fries each course to order in front of you. Diners come for precise technique, pristine seafood, and a rare opportunity to treat tempura as a full tasting menu rather than a side dish.
Must-Try Dishes:
Tempura omakase menu with seasonal seafood, Shrimp tempura with shiitake and vegetables, Tendon bowl with tempura over rice
What makes it special: Tempura-focused omakase that treats frying like fine dining.
#2
Sushi Yasuda
8.6
A long-running Midtown sushiya where the best version of the meal is clean, traditional nigiri with careful rice temperature and straightforward seasoning. It’s strongest when you keep the order classic—sit at the bar if you can, let the chef steer, and avoid overcomplicating the arc with too many rolls.
Must-Try Dishes:
Omakase/nigiri set, Toro nigiri, Uni (when quality is strong)
What makes it special: Classic NYC sushi bar format built around disciplined nigiri.
#3
Sakagura
8.3
A subterranean sake-first Japanese dining room built for small plates, bottles, and a lively after-work cadence near Grand Central. It’s strongest when you order like an izakaya: pick a sake direction, then stack a tight run of shareable plates to match.
Must-Try Dishes:
Sake flight, Sashimi platter, Seasonal izakaya small plates
What makes it special: A sake-driven izakaya format with bottle depth and share-plate momentum.