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Restaurant Nippon, New York, NY
Nippon - Restaurant Nippon, New York, NY
Restaurant Nippon, New York, NY
Restaurant Nippon, New York, NY
Restaurant Nippon, New York, NY

Restaurant Nippon

4.7
4.7
725 Reviews
$31 to $50
Japanese
Top Tags:
Enjoy the perfect mix of elegance and comfort at the original Nippon, New York's oldest authentic Japanese restaurant -- now in its 59th year!

Since 1963, we have been offering the best of traditional edo-mae (Tokyo) style Japanese dishes from Sukiyaki and Tempura to Sushi and multi-course Kaiseki.

A restaurant of firsts, Nippon was the first Japanese restaurant to serve Sushi in NYC, and made global headlines when founder successfully petitioned the FDA to allow fugu-blowfish to be imported to the U.S. Nippon is also the birthplace of the Beef Negimayaki and many other dishes that are now standard fare in Japanese restaurants around the world. In addition, Nippon makes its own premium quality ni-hachi soba-noodles and presses its own tofu.

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 14 times today

Order delivery or takeout

Dining areas

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Cuisines
    Japanese, Sushi, Tempura
  • Hours of operation
    Lunch Mon–Fri 11:30 am–2:15 pm Dinner Mon–Sat 5:15 pm–9:15 pm
  • Phone number
    (212) 688-5941
  • Website
    http://www.restaurantnippon.com/
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Diners Club, Discover, JCB, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Smart Casual
  • Owned/operated by
    Asian and Pacific Islander, Women
  • Executive chef
    Akira Azuma
  • Catering
    Traditional Japanese menus, including a sushi bar, can be catered in your home, office, club, or hotel, with waitstaff in traditional Japanese kimono. Please contact us at info@restaurantnippon.com
  • Private party facilities
    Private and Semi-Private Rooms available for 2 - 25 guests. prix-fixe menu including traditional Japanese Kaiseki, and our famous Sukiyaki and Kamo-nabe (duck hot-pot) can be enjoyed in a Japanese style tatami rooms. Please contact us at info@restaurantnippon.com
  • Private party contact
    Yasuhiro Makoshi: (212) 688-5941
  • Location
    155 East 52nd Street, New York, NY 10022
  • Neighborhood
    Midtown East
  • Cross street
    Between Lexington and 3rd Avenues
  • Parking details
    Street Parking
  • Public transit
    6 train to 51st Street and E & M trains to Lexington Ave-53rd Street.<br />Short walk from Grand-Central terminal.
  • Additional
    Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Counter Seating, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Kosher, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Takeout, Vegan, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Featured in

What 725 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.7
4.7 based on recent ratings
  • 4.7Food
  • 4.7Service
  • 4.5Ambience
  • 4.3Value

Noise • Moderate

725 Reviews

  1. KK916

    New York Area

    16 reviews

    5.0

    16 reviews

    Dined 4 days ago

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Absolute gem of a restaurant. Completely authentic, delicious food. Ambience is elegant but still friendly. Service is perfection. 100% would recommend and can't wait to go again

    Is this helpful?

  2. joec

    Chicago

    29 reviews

    vip
    4.0

    29 reviews

    Dined 5 days ago

    overall4food4service5ambience3
    Very interesting place and a sort of legendary NYC place. We did the kaiseki with sake pairing and it was like nothing we done before so it was great.

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  3. Yoshi

    New York Area

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined 6 days ago

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    I have been using Nippon for 30 years. I am a native Japanese and this is the best Japanese restaurant in the NYC.

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  4. Bethfrommanycities

    Washington DC

    40 reviews

    5.0

    40 reviews

    Dined on September 23, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience4
    Hidden gem, old-fashioned in the best way, classic sushi and Japanese food. Personal, enthusiastic and efficient service. Great place for casual conversation and unhurried delicious drinks and dinner.

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  5. CatNYC

    New York Area

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on September 9, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Great dining experience with good food and excellent service.

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  6. OpenTableDiner

    New York Area

    17 reviews

    vip
    3.0

    17 reviews

    Dined on September 7, 2023

    overall3food2service5ambience4
    Completely unlike my previous experience. The food (sushi) quality became mediocre at best even though we ordered chef’s specialties. The seaweed appetizer is too sweet and not Japanese. The appetizer plate wasn’t fresh. The waitress was very nice and the ambiance is nice. However, only two tables were filled . Obviously the place is no longer what it was.

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  7. ECJr

    New York Area

    27 reviews

    vip
    4.0

    27 reviews

    Dined on August 23, 2023

    overall4food4service5ambience4
    Very good and fresh ingredients. Service is excellent

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  8. RandolphVernon

    New York Area

    33 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    33 reviews

    Dined on August 22, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience3
    I have been going to Nippon since the early 1990s when I worked for a Japanese corporation and they all said Nippon was the most authentic Japanese in New York City. It was, and it still is. There are restaurants with more cutting edge decor. Or that do the next generation of Nobu-Bond Street weird sushi combos. But if you want an authentic, old style Tokyo experience, with fantastic traditional Japanese cuisine and polite, attentive service, you won’t find any better in New York City than Nippon. It’s the real deal.

    Is this helpful?

  9. OpenTable Diner

    New York Area

    7 reviews

    5.0

    7 reviews

    Dined on August 3, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Always great quality food and service. Authentic Japanese food.

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  10. OpenTable Diner

    New York Area

    3 reviews

    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on June 22, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience4
    Delicious food. Good service. I recommend this restaurant.

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  11. HangfuG

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on June 21, 2023

    overall5food4service5ambience4
    Good place and very quiet, the food was tasty, probably will visit again

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  12. OpenTable Diner

    London

    1 review

    vip
    2.0

    1 review

    Dined on May 31, 2023

    overall2food2service4ambience3
    Shabu shabu Japanese wagyu cut to thick very chewy. Cu should be nearly see through Was looking forward to it

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  13. OpenTable Diner

    New York Area

    3 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on May 24, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Rolls are overpriced and stuffed with rice not enough fish, but the other food was delicious. Excellent service.

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  14. Bubbles

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on May 20, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Excellent menu, ambiance and service. I really don’t know how to judge the value of the food—it was excellent and expensive. It is a restaurant in midtown Manhattan, so isn’t that to be expected? I can strongly recommend Restaurant Nippon to anyone interested in good food, prepared well in an inviting and clean environment!

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  15. OpenTable Diner

    New York Area

    3 reviews

    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on May 18, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    The service was unreal it was so good and the food was delicious

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  16. JimF

    New York Area

    18 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    18 reviews

    Dined on April 28, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Great Japanese comfort food. Fair prices. Definitely will go back again and again. A bit of a hidden gem in a sea of newer Japanese fusion style restaurants that are all Nobu clones.

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  17. OpenTable Diner

    San Diego

    3 reviews

    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on April 28, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    I celebrated my wife’s birthday here with my kid and my friend. Very quite place and elegant lighting. Our server was kindly explained the menu and recommended menus for us. We had new york sushi, don katsu and sukiyaki. Susuhi rice was perfect and fish was soft and tasty. Don katsu plate was beautiful and yummy. Sukiyaki was very delicious. At the end, they gave us an ice cream plate with happy birthday decorations. My wife had really memorable birthday. Thank you so much for your service. I will definitely come back again.

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  18. Gorman

    New York Area

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on April 7, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Very helpful personnel. Kitchen prepared a seaweed salad which was no longer on the menu, delicious.

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  19. allan

    New York Area

    19 reviews

    5.0

    19 reviews

    Dined on March 27, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Most pleasant, feeling authentic, wonderful food, excellent service. All in all a good value. Pleasureable on all accounts

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  20. AndrewZ

    New York Area

    1 review

    vip
    3.0

    1 review

    Dined on March 16, 2023

    overall3food4service1ambience3
    I don't like when a waiter directs the level of tips. Such a disgrace

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  21. OpenTable Diner

    New York Area

    1 review

    1.0

    1 review

    Dined on March 1, 2023

    overall1food3service1ambience1
    Terrible experience - workers even smoking in the restaurants during our client lunch.

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  22. OpenTable Diner

    Mexico City

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on February 19, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Excelente Japanese food

    Is this helpful?

  23. ReginaA

    Miami

    283 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    283 reviews

    Dined on February 17, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience4
    Nippon remains as our go to Japanese restaurant for consistently traditional and classic Japanese dishes. My husband and I have been dining here for 30+ years and everything we've ordered are consistently well plated, portion and authentically delicious from sashimi-sushi, tempura, sukiyaki to seasonal specials. Reception and service is also very attentive and courteous. We shall continue to return.

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  24. Kathy2go

    New York Area

    87 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    87 reviews

    Dined on February 15, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    My husband and I have been going to Restaurant Nippon for years (it established since 1963), we always marvel about the quality of the food, the friendly services and the high level of preparations. The offering of Kaiseki are a must try, it changes often. We had the Nishiki for $125, it had 8 courses and the first course had half dozen small mixtures. You can pair with Sakes for $60 if you choose. The place is a treasure for the City.

    1 person found this helpful

  25. NYNY

    New York Area

    41 reviews

    vip
    4.0

    41 reviews

    Dined on February 10, 2023

    overall4food4service4ambience2
    Good authentic food and restaurant. Soba noodles good.

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  26. aaaaaa

    Denver

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on January 19, 2023

    overall5food4service5ambience5
    Great spot with quieter environment in midtown

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  27. Winston

    New York Area

    6 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    6 reviews

    Dined on January 18, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    excellent service, beautiful atmosphere, and delicious food made with high quality ingredients.

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  28. OpenTable Diner

    New York Area

    168 reviews

    vip
    3.0

    168 reviews

    Dined on January 15, 2023

    overall3food3service3ambience2
    It has been a while since I last went. The curry was good, beef oroshj was good, eel don was good. However, the server recommended the fuguchiri, so we ordered. We were expecting a standard for fuguchiri = meat and the bony part. They ONLY served bones. It was quite unbelievable they would do something like that, and we spoke up they brought MORE BONES. They really should not be serving it in the first place, it’s a disgrace (use it as a zousui or something if you don’t want to put to waste). The server should not have recommend it too. After explaining, they compensated by serving the other foods above with care and professionalism and did their best to make up for it, but the whole incident was extremely disappointing. I would think that not only the server but management and the chefs who thinks it was ok to serve it, need to reevaluate service. They were serving the same dish similarly to others. It does not meet Japanese standards, and for a restaurant that prides itself being pioneers of introducing proper Japanese food, it was sad. I also hesitate on using it for business meals going forward (we/ my wife used to before)

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  29. BarryS

    San Francisco

    13 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    13 reviews

    Dined on January 15, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    This Japanese restaurant has survived well since 1963, when I first visited it. It is still great!! I am pleased to report that it is in good shape and being well run!

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  30. AmandaM

    New York Area

    21 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    21 reviews

    Dined on January 14, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Excellent, elegant old school, dignified service, delicious

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  31. Nick

    New York Area

    3 reviews

    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on January 13, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    We really liked the food, service and ambience of the Restaurant Nippon. A special surprise was that, without my asking, the wait staff served a candlelit dessert that my guest ordered (I revealed it was a "Birthday Lunch" in the reservation) and sang her "Happy Birthday." Her dessert was complimentary as a result. This was our first visit to the restaurant. We are very pleased and we will be returning. Thank you.

    Is this helpful?

  32. JamesNYC

    New York Area

    247 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    247 reviews

    Dined on January 7, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Great authentic Japanese and good service Over priced

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  33. Rob4444

    New York Area

    1 review

    3.0

    1 review

    Dined on January 6, 2023

    overall3food3service5ambience4
    The overall dining experience was good but the food is the main problem. For instance the chicken karrage serving size was small (I requested small but this was too small even for a "small serve), and did not have the traditional Japanese mayonnaise (their house made Tartare mayonnaise), which I had to ask for. When the mayonnaise (tartare sauce) arrived it was a strange mix that did not really complement the chicken karrage well. The simmered sardine tsumire was not a great dish (too dense, not enough flavour , no textural contrasts) while the beef oroshi was actually very good. I note that the cost of the Sushi is very high but perhaps this is just a New York feature. As a contrast, the service was excellent, very attentive and prompt.

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  34. Keiko

    Washington DC

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on December 30, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    We went for our daughter's birthday dinner and they made a pretty presentation for the dessert she ordered. The sushi was real authentic Japanese and people are very friendly. Reminds me of being back in Japan. I will definitely go back to Nippon.

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  35. koolkat

    Toronto

    8 reviews

    3.0

    8 reviews

    Dined on December 29, 2022

    overall3food4service4ambience3
    Food was decent, but sashimi was particularly pricey. Popular joint. Attentive service.

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  36. PasqualeS

    New York Area

    6 reviews

    5.0

    6 reviews

    Dined on December 28, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Excellent food and service!

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  37. PasqualeS

    New York Area

    6 reviews

    5.0

    6 reviews

    Dined on December 19, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Excellent service, food and drink suggestions!

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  38. JordanT

    Exclusive

    6 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    6 reviews

    Dined on December 10, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    We had the best experience at Restaurant Nippon. We were given a tatami mat room because we were with a baby, she loved being able to walk around the table. Our waiter was incredibly professional and courteous. We will definitely recommend and will be back when in NYC.

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  39. doteni

    New York Area

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on December 5, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Authentic Japanese cuisine. I enjoyed Edamame, Karaage, Sukiyaki, and Anmitsu.

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  40. Scott

    New York Area

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on December 5, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Nippon is great. The sushi is very high quality, the soba is the best in NYC, the servers are very kind and the set up is quiet enough to have a really good business lunch. I love this place.

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Safety precautions

  • Cleaning & sanitizing

    • Surfaces sanitized between seatings
    • Digital, disposable or sanitized menu provided
    • Sealed or wrapped utensils used
    • Common areas deep-cleaned daily
    • Sanitizer or wipes provided for customers
    • Contactless payment available

  • Physical distancing

    • Distancing maintained in common areas
    • Extra space between tables

  • Protective equipment

    • Waitstaff wear masks

  • Screening

    • Sick staff prohibited in the workplace

FAQs

Restaurant Nippon does offer delivery in partnership with Chow Now and Postmates. Restaurant Nippon also offers takeout which you can order by calling the restaurant at (212) 688-5941.

Restaurant Nippon is rated 4.7 stars by 725 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 14 times today

Order delivery or takeout

Google Map for Restaurant Nippon

155 East 52nd Street, New York, NY 10022

Dining areas

Additional information

  • Cross street
    Between Lexington and 3rd Avenues
  • Neighborhood
    Midtown East
  • Hours of operation
    Lunch Mon–Fri 11:30 am–2:15 pm Dinner Mon–Sat 5:15 pm–9:15 pm
  • Cuisines
    Japanese, Sushi, Tempura
  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Dress code
    Smart Casual
  • Parking details
    Street Parking
  • Public transit
    6 train to 51st Street and E & M trains to Lexington Ave-53rd Street.Short walk from Grand-Central terminal.
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Diners Club, Discover, JCB, Mastercard, Visa
  • Owned/operated by
    Asian and Pacific Islander, Women
  • Executive chef
    Akira Azuma
  • Additional
    Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Counter Seating, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Kosher, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Takeout, Vegan, Wheelchair Access, Wine
  • Website
    http://www.restaurantnippon.com/
  • Phone number
    (212) 688-5941
  • Catering
    Traditional Japanese menus, including a sushi bar, can be catered in your home, office, club, or hotel, with waitstaff in traditional Japanese kimono. Please contact us at info@restaurantnippon.com
  • Private party facilities
    Private and Semi-Private Rooms available for 2 - 25 guests. prix-fixe menu including traditional Japanese Kaiseki, and our famous Sukiyaki and Kamo-nabe (duck hot-pot) can be enjoyed in a Japanese style tatami rooms. Please contact us at info@restaurantnippon.com
  • Private party contact
    Yasuhiro Makoshi: (212) 688-5941

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