Photo by Robert K. Chin, NY Mag
Eclectic Asian/Japanese Tapas
296 Grand Street, Brooklyn NY 11211
(between Havemeyer and Roebling Sts.)
PHONE: 718-384-7770
HOURS: Sun-Thu, 6pm-midnight; Fri-Sat, 6pm-1am
BOOZE: full bar
CARDS: MasterCard, Visa
AVERAGE ENTREE: $8-$20
MENU: Click Here
MAP: Click Here
SUBWAY: L Train to Bedford
images c/o NY Mag
CUISINE: sushi, pan-asian
ADDRESS: 631 Grand Street, between Leonard & Manhattan
Williamsburg, Brooklyn 11211
PHONE: 718.218.9888 or 9887
HOURS: Mon-Fri 5pm-11pm, Sat-Sun 11am-12am
CARDS: cash only
BOOZE: full bar
MENU: click here
SUBWAY: L train to Lorimer, Grand or Graham
MAP: Click Here
DELIVERY: Yes
Japanese/Sushi
1013 Manhattan Avenue, in Greenpoint
PHONE: 718.389.2300
DIRECTIONS: G Train to Greenpoint Ave
MAP: Click Here
MENU: Click Here
Dine In or Free Delivery
image c/o Flickr
CUISINE: Sushi, Japanese, Korean
ADDRESS: 143 Berry St., Brooklyn, NY 11211
at North 6th Street
PHONE: 718.486.0837
HOURS: Mon-Sat, 5pm-11pm; Sun, closed
CARDS: American Express, MasterCard, Visa ($20 min.)
BOOZE: Beer, Wine, Sake
ENTREES: $8 - $17
MENU: Click Here
SUBWAY: L at Bedford Ave.
MAP: Click Here
DELIVERY: No
WE SAY: The best sushi in Williamsburg at a reasonable price. The interior is subtly decorated with soft colors and wood benches, providing a very enjoyable and Zen atmosphere. Korean dishes are equally satisfying. Try the ginger tofu or ginger chicken and you will not be disappointed. Flavors are refreshing in their subtlety, as they should be. If you want Thai—go to PlanEat Thai. If you want sushi or Korean- Miyako is the place to be. On the downside: the crab is that fake crap.
image c/o Eater
CUISINE: Sushi & Japanese
ADDRESS: 192 Bedford Ave, Brooklyn 11211
Btwn N 6th & N 7th Streets
PHONE: 718.782.6666, 781.782.6665
HOURS: Mon.– Thu. 1:00 pm - 11:30 pm
Fri. & Sat. 1:00 pm - 12:00 midnight
Sun. 1:00 pm - 11:00 pm
CARDS: All Major
BOOZE: Beer & Sake
AVERAGE ENTREE:
MENU: Click Here
SUBWAY: L Train to Bedford
MAP: Click Here
DELIVERY: Yes
WEBSITE: Click Here
CUISINE: Sushi/Japanese
ADDRESS: 354 Graham Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11211
PHONE: 718.302.5159
SUBWAY: L train to Graham
MAP: Click Here
DELIVERY: Sometimes
CUISINE: Japanese Izakaya
ADDRESS: 367 Metropolitan Av, Brooklyn New York 11211
PHONE: 718.384.9493
CARDS: Visa, Master, Amex ($20 min )
BOOZE: Full bar
MENU: Click Here
ENTREES: $10-$20
SUBWAY: L Train to Lorimer or Bedford
MAP: Click Here
DELIVERY: Take-out only
image c/o Flickr
CUISINE: Sushi/Japanese/Sake Bar
ADDRESS: 149 North 6th Street, Brooklyn, NY 11211
PHONE: 718.302.6232
HOURS: Mon-Tue 4pm-11:30pm
Wed-Sun 1pm-11:30pm
CARDS: All Major
MENU: Click Here
SUBWAY: L Train to Bedford Ave.
MAP: Click Here
DELIVERY: Yes
image c/o Flickr
CUISINE: Asian Appetizers/Tea
ADDRESS: 187 Grand Street, Brooklyn, NY 11211
between Bedford and Driggs Aves.
PHONE: 718.486.4848
HOURS: Sun-Thu, 6pm-1am; Fri-Sat, 6pm-3am
CARDS: American Express, MasterCard, Visa
BOOZE: Full Bar
PRICES: $4 - $8
SUBWAY: L at Bedford Ave.
MAP: Click Here
DELIVERY: No
MENU: Click Here
NYMAG SAYS: "The menu at Snacky reads like a greatest hits list of Chinese, Korean, and Japanese appetizers, with a few remixes thrown in. Some dishes, like the subtly nutty sesame noodles or the just-spicy-enough kim chee, draw strictly from tradition. Other dishes, like the peanut chili wontons and various other dumplings, blend and update old world nuances. (The same goes for the decor, with its mix of red paper lanterns and contemporary artwork.) The size, price, and quality of the small plates encourage sampling, although you can also opt for a meal-size hot pot or Shao Bing, a Chinese-style panini. Either way you’ll be able to find the right taste to accompany your melodious Snackytini sake cocktail. The sweet song of sake will loosen you up for the real music, which could be a local singer, could be a DJ, or, every other Thursday on karaoke night, could be you. Recommended Dishes: Sesame noodles, $3.50; shao bing sandwich with roast pork and spicy sauce, $4.95."
image c/o Flickr
CUISINE: Sushi/Japanese
ADDRESS FOR WILLIAMSBURG LOCATION: 205 Bedford Ave., Brooklyn, NY 11211
ADDRESS FOR GREENPOINT LOCATION: 638 Manhattan Ave., Brooklyn, NY 11222
W-BURG PHONE: 718.302.2035
GREENPOINT PHONE: 718.609.9368
HOURS: Daily, 1pm-11:30pm
CARDS: American Express, MasterCard, Visa
BOOZE: Beer and Wine Only
AVERAGE ENTREE: $12-$18
MENU: Click Here
SUBWAY: W-Burg - L Train to Bedford, Greenpoint - G Train to Nassau
MAP FOR WILLIAMSBURG LOCATION: Click Here
MAP FOR GREENPOINT LOCATION: Click Here
DELIVERY: Yes
WE SAY: The sushi is good, but cheaper fare that is just as fresh can be found a block away from the Williamsburg location at Miyako. Plus the atmosphere at Miyako is more intimate. And who wants to eat at a restaurant with such a lame name anyway. There is the plus of a heated patio for the smoking crowd though.
image c/o noahkalina
77 N 6th Street, Brooklyn, NY 11211
(Cross Street: Between Berry Street and Wythe Street)
PHONE: (718) 388-8985
CARDS: All Major
HOURS: Wed-Sun 6pm-12am
SUBWAY: L to Bedford
MAP: Click Here
MENU: Click Here
WEBSITE: Click Here
WE SAY: In Williamsburg, vinyl-sided buildings are as ubiquitous as skinny, stretch jeans with white high tops, but the owners of Zenkichi gave their vinyl-sided building a facelift, converting it into something utterly unique. The plastic clapboards of the building’s edifice are masked in dark wood planks – the perfect exterior to the hidden Japanese tapas oasis within.
North Sixth is the Williamsburg strip where most restaurants conspicuously flaunt their crowds by packing them into large, noisy open spaces. With no sign to mark the entrance, Zenkichi is easy to miss, but inside is a welcome alternative to this trend. Walking in, we felt like we’d stumbled upon a cross between a Zen garden and a three-leveled carnival house-of-mirrors. The host led us up the stairs and through a disorienting maze to our own private cubby booth – complete with bamboo blinds and equipped with a buzzer to ring for our waitress. We felt like we entered a Japanese film noir where a smoke machine was the only missing element. Zenkichi is one of many izakaya spots springing up around the city. The Japanese equivalent of a tapas bars, izakayas are great places to try a variety of little dishes while sipping sake. We decided against the Omakase for Two -- ten tastes chosen by the chef for $88. Since we didn’t want dessert and were curious about a few items not on the tasting menu, we opted to make our own selections.
We started with two raw dishes, Tako Wasabi and Maguro Carpaccio. The briny taste of wasabi-cured raw octopus was a refreshing spin on the sushi we were craving. More a condiment than a dish to satisfy hunger pangs, the Tako was nice light start on a hot summer night. The freshness continued with a traditional Japanese tuna dish, Maguro Carpaccio. The tuna was lightly coated in a sweet sesame marinade and wrapped around chilled, thin slices of radish and chives.
Next we moved on to something more substantial with the Pork Kakuni. A complex caramel broth, at once sweet and salty, seeped from the pork belly. It was among the best we’ve eaten. Cooked for three days, the tender, slow-cooked pork can be lifted from the fatty belly with an easy tug of the chopsticks. Equally satisfying was Zenkichi’s generous portion of Saiko Miso Black Cod. The hint of miso absorbed in the firm fish was a salty reminder to take another sip of sake. Less successful dishes included the Japanese Mushroom Gratin and Umaki and an omelet wrapped freshwater eel. Despite what the menu’s claim that the Japanese Mushroom Gratin contained Enoki, Simeji & Oyster mushrooms, we only tasted straw mushrooms which were lost amid the creamy bechamel sauce. And though the omelet wrapping the freshwater eel in the Umaki was delicious, a larger piece of eel would have allowed the fish flavor to go head to head with the sweet egg.
Since the importance of drinking is almost equal to eating at an izakaya joint, we were disappointed to find that the sake menu had only a limited selection of inexpensive sake. The cheapest (and only) carafe was $45 and the average bottle of sake was in the $50 to $60 range. Opt for the summer sake tasting menu where you can sample three glasses for $18.
Left to our own devises, we ordered seven dishes -- more than enough food for two. The bill for two before drinks totaled $60. With friendly, attentive service and many dishes we didn’t get to try, we’ll be returning soon for more.
- Amy Brown
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