Where to find the best authentic Japanese (NOT sushi) in Manhattan?

[jjroesch]

I used to live in Japan, and I am craving real, fun Japanese food.

[silencespeak]

Off the top of my head:

Soba-ya for Soba/Udon
Ippudo.. you probably know what that's for (for readers, "pork-soup" ramen)
9th btw 3rd and 2nd has a Takoyaki stand, also has that sobaya restaurant, a shabu shabu, and a sake bar also.

on 8th street (saint marks) between 3rd and 2nd, a restaurant called "Go" has solid okonomiyaki. That street has a bunch of other places for japanese stuff, yakitori and typical japanese finger foods, at night they're popular places for japanese and "gaijin" alike

If you were looking for upscale:
Matsugen = has a lot of variety.. shabu-shabu, soba, tempura, sushi/sashimi, and more... though it's expensive.

hope that helps! =)

[jjroesch]

Thank you for the tips. I guess I am looking for more home cooked or small dishes, as opposed to just soba/ramen. Yakitori sounds great. Wish I could go to Matsugen, but it is a bit out of my range right now.

[thew]

for home cooking go with tatany 72

[Asumnuthin]

my absolute fav is yakitory tory,

[thew]

soba-ya
have not been to soba koh, but many think their noodles better, though the menu is more limited soba wise

menkui tei is supposed to be good, i haven't been

i really like tatany 72 for non-sushi japanese in a neighborhoody sort of place

for upscale try matsuri

[Silverjay]

For excellent seasonal cuisine and the best Nihon-shu selection in the city fun: Sakagura
For upscale yakitori fun: Yakitori Totto
For sashimi and robatayaki fun: Aburiya Kinnosuke
For grill your own fun: Gyukaku
For watch a ballgame and get blitzkrieged in a nigiyaka environment at a reasonable price fun: Izakaya Hagi
For just getting blitzkrieged on the cheap like you're under the tracks in Shinbashi fun: Kenka
For homestyle fun: Chiyono
For shochu and lean on the bar fun: Uminoie
For inexpensive, underground omakase fun: Tsukushi

The St. Mark's scene is not particularly good for quality Japanese food.

[jjroesch]

This is unbelievably helpful. Thank you so much!

[silencespeak]

yeah this is great, thanks so much

[cimui]

i think you should dub this "silverjay's (mostly) midtown tour" and post it everywhere. i'm certainly saving it as a "favorite". thanks!

(one question, tho: i haven't had much luck with the sashimi at aburiya. mind if i ask what are you ordering so i can get in on the action?)

[Silverjay]

I simply order a set of whatever the daily items are when I"m there. I sometimes try to make a preference if there are several options. I find the sashimi there to be a good value with decent quality. It's not really a seafood restaurant. But I'm not a regular there by any means, so perhaps consistency or quality of the daily catch is an issue.?.?..

[sodahq]

I am a HUGE fan of Hibino, 333 Henry Street in Brooklyn. It's right near Atlantic Avenue and has possibly the best inexpensive Japanese food I've had in the city. They specialty is obanzai and they make their tofu in-house.

Their daily specials are here: http://www.hibino-brooklyn.com/blog/

[TheDescendedLefticleOfAramis]

uptown: Tori Shin ...
downtown: Kyo-ya
down-downtown: Uminoie

[HeineManush]

Agree Yakitori Totto and Torys are bomb. Very delicious chicken in comfortable and novel forms.

I also like Butai on 18th between Park and Irving. They're barbeque is excellent. Feels unloved compared to Japonais but way better. The lamb chops are delicious.

[bigjeff]

my friend really likes Donburi-ya for big comfort food cooked stuff.