Japanese Culture in New York - Chopsticks NY

The Japanese mega supermarket chain, Dainobu, launched its NY store in 2008. They carry over 2,000 grocery items, and their deli section also offers a wide range of dishes including bento boxes and sushi. One of their best selling dishes is the Chirashi Sushi - a bowl of sushi rice topped with 10 different kinds of seafood slices like octopus, squid, tuna and salmon. For a healthy alternative, sushi rice can be substituted with a special blend of multi grain rice for an additional $0.50.

129 E. 47th St.
(bet. Lexington & 3rd Aves.)
New York, NY 10017
TEL: 212-755-7380
www.dainobu.com
Mon-Sun: 8am-10pm

The most acclaimed dish at the Japanese curry specialty restaurant GO! GO! Curry! is the Katsu Curry! Their savory, thick curry sauce is poured over steamy Koshihikari rice and topped with a crunchy pork cutlet right off the fryer. It’s served with freshly cut cabbage and comes in 4 different portions, Walk, Single, Double and Triple. The menu also features an assortment of toppings like chicken cutlet, breaded shrimp, sausage, cheese and natto, and that’ll definitely satisfy any curry craving.

273 W. 38th St.
(at 8th Ave.)
New York, NY 10018
TEL: 212-730-5555
www.gogocurryusa.com
Mon-Sun:
10:55am - 9:55pm

A staple restaurant in the East Village, Go Restaurant boasts a wide range of cuisines from takoyaki to sushi. A must try for lunch is the Tori Seiro Soba & Sushi Set. It’s a soba dish you enjoy by dipping the noodles in a soup simmered with grilled chicken and leeks. For a great deal at $9.95, the set also includes 3 pieces of sushi and 2 kinds of rolls. Also, the Mini Donburi & Udon Combination comes with many variations, making every visit to the restaurant an exciting and economical one.

30 St. Marks Pl.
(bet. 2nd & 3rd Aves.)New York, NY 10003
TEL: 212-254-5510
Lunch: Wed-Sun 12pm-4:30pm
Dinner: Mon-Thu 5pm-1am
Fri & Sat 5pm-2:30am
Sun 5pm-1am

Kambi, a ramen specialty restaurant, boasts of many types of noodles and broths, and patrons can personalize their ramen noodles by combining their preferred choices. The Kambi Basic Ramen is a masterpiece developed over 10 years by the ramen-loving owner. It’s a typical Kumamoto-style ramen, and its dense tonkotsu (pork base) broth boiled for more than 12 hours is nutritious and full of collagen. Garlic oil sprinkled just before serving matches well with the thick tonkotsu soup.

351 E. 14th St.(bet. 2nd & 1st Aves.)
New York, NY 10003
TEL: 212-228-1366
www.newyorkramen.com
Mon-Sun: 11:30am-11:00pm

Oms/b specializes in a new generation of gourmet omusubi rice balls with creative fillings and toppings. The Special Set, offered from 10am to 3pm, comes with 3 omusubi of the day, an appetizer and soup. Their rice ball selection is so vast that you’ll enjoy a different combination every time. The set in the picture includes rice balls with lobster salad, shrimp tempura and salmon as well as a side of hijiki salad and a miso soup. Try Set A for $8.25 if you’d like to choose your own rice balls.

156 E. 45th St.
(bet. Lexington & 3rd Aves.) New York, NY 10017
TEL: 212-922-9788
www.riceball-omsb.com
Mon-Fri: 8am-7:30pm
Sat: 11:30am-5 pm

A popular destination among the local gourmands in Cliffside Park, NJ, Restaurant Shina offers lunch meals for under $10. Their veteran chef with 34 years of experience prepares delectable sushi using the freshest seafood that melts in your mouth. The Sushi Nigiri features 7 pieces of sushi, a tuna roll, salad, miso soup and dessert, and sushi pieces can be customized upon request. Other lunch favorites include lunch boxes and noodle soups, and they’ll promise you a satisfying dining experience.

98 Anderson Ave.
Cliffside Park, NJ 07010
TEL: 201-941-6333
restaurantshina@gmail.com
Lunch: Mon-Sun 12pm-2:30pm
Dinner: Mon-Sun 5pm-10:30pm

Saburi serves “wafu chuka”, Japanese style Chinese cuisine that is a healthy option to enjoying Chinese dishes. The Daily Lunch Set comes highly recommended and includes a main dish, rice and soup or a salad. The menu schedule is Mabo Tofu (Tue), Qui Zhao (Wed), Subuta (Thu) and Ebi Chili (Fri). During this summer, The Eel Bowl is served at $9 for lunch and dinner on Tuesdays, and their signature Hiyashi Chuka is a savory cold noodle dish offered also at $9 all day on Wednesdays.

168 Lexington Ave. (bet. 30th & 31st Sts.)
New York, NY 10016
TEL: 212-481-7766
www.saburiny.com
Lunch: Tue-Fri 12pm-3pm
Dinner: Tue, Wed & Sun 6pm-11pm
Thu-Sat: 6pm-3am

To deliver authentic Japanese food in NYC, Washoku Café's home cooked bento boxes are prepared right on the premises. Their Special Lunch Box is only $4.99 and comes with a main dish of your choice, a daily side and assorted vegetables, along with rice or a green salad. Teriyaki chicken is a popular main dish, and other favorites include spicy chicken, tofu steak, beef hamburger and chicken nanban. A wide range of choices at amazingly affordable prices will have you coming back for more.

9 E. 37th St.
(bet. Madison & 5th Aves.) New York, NY 10016
TEL: 212-686-2233
www.washokuny.com
cafe@washokuny.com
Mon-Fri : 7am-7pm
Sat : 10am-4pm