How is Sakagura restaurant rated?

Name: Sakagura
Address: 211 East 43rd Street Basement, New York, NY, United States, 10017
Telephone: (212) 953-7253
Price range: $50 and over
Rating: 4.5

Sakagura

4.5

592 Reviews

$50 and over

Japanese

Top Tags:

According to Zagat, suckers for sake swoon over the "hidden jewel" near Grand Central offering a "mind boggling" selection of rice wine "categorized by region", as well as an "understated, quiet" setting reminiscent of a "private club"; those in the know say it's "secret location" (in the basement of an office building) make it better.

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Additional information

Dining style
Casual Elegant
Cuisines
Japanese, Izakaya, Soba
Hours of operation
Lunch: Mon-Fri 11:30am - 2:30pm; Dinner: Monday - Thursday: 6:00pm - 12:00am, Friday - Saturday: 6:00pm - 1:00am, Sunday: 6:00pm - 11:00pm
Phone number
(212) 953-7253
Website
http://www.sakagura.com/
Payment options
AMEX, MasterCard, Visa
Dress code
Business Casual
Executive chef
Kozo Morohashi
Catering
Please email info@kioskukiosku.com for high quality bento options, perfect for office lunch meetings.
Private party facilities
Please email events@sakagura.com for private dining information.

Location
211 East 43rd Street, Basement, New York, NY 10017
Neighborhood
Midtown East
Cross street
Between 2nd and 3rd Avenues
Parking details
None
Public transit
4,5,6,7 Trains to Grand Central Station
Additional
Beer, Counter Seating, Full Bar, Non-Smoking

Assorted Sashimi*
- Three kinds$18.00
- Five kinds$28.00
Tempura Assortment
- Shrimp Only$13.00
- Shrimp & Vegetables$13.00
- Vegetables Only$10.00
Kakiage Tempura$12.00
Chopped Shrimp and Vegetable Tempura
Gindara Yuan-yaki$10.00
Grilled Fillet of Black Cod Steeped in Sweet Soy Sauce
Gomaae$5.00
Sesame Spinach Dressed with Sesame Paste
Ohitashi$4.50
Sesame Spinach Seasoned with Bonito Infused Soy Sauce
Kuro Edamame$6.00
Boiled Young Soy Beans
Green Salad$3.50
Served with Carrot Ginger Dressing
Fresh Tuna & Avocado Salad$7.00
Fresh Tuna and Avocado Salad with Tosa Soy Dressing
Seaweed Salad$7.50
Choice of Dressing: Ponzu or Sesame
Tofu Salad$7.00
Green Salad with Tofu Served with Chopped Tsa Tsai and Carrot Ginger Dressing
Tsukune$7.00
Chicken Meat Balls with Original Teriyaki Sauce (4pcs)
Sanma Onigiri$9.50
Cooked Rice Wrapped with Fillet of Pike Mackerel (3pcs)
Onigiri (1pc)$3.00
Choices: Ume Plum (Vegetarian), Bonito Flakes , Salmon Roe , Salmon Flakes , Spicy Takana Leaves (Vegetarian), Spicy Codfish Roe
Tofu Miso Soup$3.00
Rice$2.00

Handmade Soba Noodles (Cold)

Zaru$9.00
Plain Soba Noodles Served with Bonito Infused Soy Dipping Sauce
Maguro Tororo$14.00
Fresh Fillets of Tuna Sashimi Served with Grated Yam
Healthy Soba Salad$13.00
Seaweed, Mixed Greens, Red Radish Tomato, Oba Leaf and Radish Sprouts Served Atop Soba with Sesame and Bonito Infused Soy Sauce
Tenzaru$16.00
Served with Assorted Tempura (Shrimp, white fish, and vegetables)
- Shrimp Tempura only$18.00

Handmade Soba Noodles (Hot)

Kake Soba$9.00
Plain Hot Soba Noodles Served with Spinach
Vegetable Soba$12.00
Served with Shredded Burdock Roots, Carrots, Lotus Roots, Spinach, Onions and Shiitake Mushrooms
Tempura Soba$16.00
Served with Assorted Tempura (Shrimp, white fish and vegetables)
- Shrimp Tempura Only$18.50
Kamo Namban$14.50
Served with Slices of Roasted Duck, Shiitake mushrooms and scallions
Kamo Curry Namban$15.50
Slices of Roasted Duck Served with Bonito Infused Curry Soup

Donburi (Bowls) & Soba Set

Oyako Don Set$13.50
Chicken, Soft-Scrambled Eggs,and Sliced Onion and Dried Nori Seaweeds Served Atop a Bowl of Rice, with Soba Noodles (Hot or Cold)
Ten Don Set$15.50
Assorted Tempura (2 pieces of Shrimp, white fish and Vegetables) Served Atop a Bowl of Rice, with Soba Noodles (Hot or Cold)
- Shrimp Tempura Only*$17.50
- Vegetable Tempura Only*$15.50
Ebiten Toji Don Set$18.00
Shrimp Tempura with Soft-Scrambled Eggs Served Atop a Bowl of Rice, with Soba Noodles (Hot or Cold)
Tekka Don Set$20.00
Fillets of Tuna Sashimi Served Atop a Bowl of Sushi Rice, with Soba Noodles (Hot or Cold)
Sake Ikura Don Set$19.00
Fillets of Salmon Sashimi and Salmon Roe steeped in Sweet Soy Sauce Served Atop a Bowl of Sushi Rice, with Soba Noodles (Hot or Cold)
Una Don Set$18.00
Broiled Eel Brushed with Original Teriyaki Sauce Served Atop a Bowl of Rice, with Soba Noodles (Hot or Cold)
Kaisen Don Set$22.00
Assortment of sliced Fresh Sashimi Served atop Sushi Rice, with Soba Noodles (Hot or Cold)

Donburi / Bowls

Oyako Don$12.50
Chicken, Soft-Scrambled Eggs, Sliced Onion and Dried Nori Seaweeds Served Atop a Bowl of Rice
Ten Don$14.50
Assorted Tempura (2 pieces of Shrimp, white fish and Vegetables) Served Atop a Bowl of Rice
- Shrimp Tempura Only$18.00
- Vegetable Tempura Only$14.50
Sake Tekka "Half" Don$19.00
Fresh Salmon and Tuna Sashimi Served Atop Sushi Rice
Ebiten Toji Don$17.00
Shrimp Tempura Topped with Soft-Scrambled Eggs Served Atop a Bowl of Rice
Tekka Don$19.00
Fillets of Tuna Sashimi Served Atop a Bowl of Sushi Rice
Sake Ikura Don$18.00
Fillets of Salmon Sashimi and Salmon Roe steeped in Sweet Soy Sauce Served Atop a Bowl of Sushi Rice
Una Don$17.00
Broiled Eel Brushed with Original Sweet Teriyaki Sauce Served Atop a Bowl of Rice
Kaisen Don$21.00
Assorted Variety of sliced Fresh Sashimi Served atop of Sushi Rice

Main

Sashimi Soba Gozen$22.00
3 kinds of Fresh Sashimi, Seasonal Appetizers, Handmade Soba Noodles (Cold or Hot)
"Jewel" Oke Bento$22.00
Assorted Appetizers, Kakiage Tempura, 5 kinds of Seasonal Sashimi, Grilled Tidbits and Mini Rice Balls
Sakagura Lunch Tasting Course$33.00
Appetizers : 4 kinds of Seasonal Sashimi and Appetizer Assortment Main Dishes : Assortment Tempura (Shrimp, White Fish and Vegetable), Grilled Fish, Beef Fillet Steak, and Cold Handmade Soba (Small) Dessert : Choose one from our dessert list

What 592 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

4.5

4.5 based on all time ratings

4.5Food
4.2Service
4.3Ambience
4.1Value

Noise • Moderate

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OT
OpenTable Diner
New York Area
7 reviews
vip
5.0
7 reviews
Dined on July 27, 2018
overall5food5service5ambience5
Amazing food and sake
JM
JerseyMike
Philadelphia
10 reviews
4.0
10 reviews
Dined on July 22, 2018
overall4food5service4ambience4
We live 100 miles from NYC and make a special trip at least twice a year to eat at Sakagura. The food is outstanding and the menu offerings are unique. The sake selection is second to none. I love that this restaurant is kind of a hidden gem and have no problem with making my reservations well in advance. I'm going to continue come back again and again!!
OT
OpenTable Diner
New York Area
1 review
2.0
1 review
Dined on July 20, 2018
overall2food5service1ambience4
Bar service was not attentive and very unhelpful with choosing sake (surprise in a place with so many choices..)
OT
OpenTable Diner
Chicago
1 review
vip
4.0
1 review
Dined on July 12, 2018
overall4food4service3ambience4
Service was slower than I am used to.
BB
BBGuy
Miami
40 reviews
vip
5.0
40 reviews
Dined on July 11, 2018
overall5food5service5ambience5
Incredible flavor, excellent service, close your eyes and you’re in Tokyo. NYC Japanese gem.
r
rbgnyc
New York Area
22 reviews
3.0
22 reviews
Dined on July 10, 2018
overall3food3service3ambience3
When it was a find, and there were few decent izakaya around NYC, Sakagura was a standout. Now, it's got stiff competition from above and below and Sakagura is good but not great. The food is very standard and decent, but there are better places with better value. Still, the sake list is a good one, although they inexplicably leave helpful guidance out such as the sake meter value (SMV) or acidity. Still, the basement location and some of the decor make you feel as if you're in a Tokyo-like setting, but that may no longer be enough.
OT
OpenTable Diner
Greensboro
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on July 6, 2018
overall5food5service5ambience5
Best restaurant in NYC for my taste. Small plates and Sake.
LS
LuisS
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on July 4, 2018
overall5food5service5ambience5
Great Ambience and great service. Quality food. Took my sister family and aunt here. Everyone loved the food and we stayed for dessert.
c
chuck250
New York Area
39 reviews
vip
4.0
39 reviews
Dined on July 3, 2018
overall4food5service4ambience4
Second time there. Celebrating birthday. Excellent food and overwhelming choice of saki. Has that authentic restaurant look (girlfriend spent time in Japan). Not too expensive if you don't drink too much saki. Wait staff extremely helpful. Read other reviews for food choices or just order what's in red - can't go wrong.
OT
OpenTable Diner
Chicago
2 reviews
3.0
2 reviews
Dined on July 2, 2018
overall3food3service3ambience3
Very disappointed, we’ve been there before but the quality has changed, not as refined as we remembered. Everything was too salty and the presentation not inspiring. The seaweed salad was ou favorite usually and this time it was not as tasty, the beef was over cooked and way too salty. The cod was okay but too salty as well. Not the experience we were looking for.
OT
OpenTable Diner
New York Area
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on June 30, 2018
overall5food5service5ambience5
Great place
f
foodie001
New York Area
50 reviews
vip
3.0
50 reviews
Dined on June 28, 2018
overall3food3service3ambience3
The daily lunch specials are a great value for what you get. Anything else on the menu is another thing. I had the Kaisen don. Lots of rice with maybe 3 thin slices of fish, a cooked shrimp, raw scallop, ikura, comes with soba and pickles, for $23. I’m not sure that there was value for money there. The lunch special was the bara sushi with the soba, and pickles. The rice serving is a bit smaller which is fine. There are a lot of choices, but next time I’ll stick with the lunch special.
A
Amir
New York Area
20 reviews
5.0
20 reviews
Dined on June 26, 2018
overall5food5service5ambience5
Absolutely delicious Japanese cuisine and phenomenal service! Hard to get a reservation for the restaurant but it's well worth it 😇☺.
TC
TheCapitalGrille
New York Area
14 reviews
vip
5.0
14 reviews
Dined on June 26, 2018
overall5food5service5ambience5
Greeted by name, speedy transition from entrance to table, delicious food that takes me right back to Tokyo, superb service by Marcia and her colleagues. This is my go-to restaurant for casual Japanese dining. Tenzaru is my favorite summer meal and this is just like my Japanese mother used to make. The tempura is delicately flaky and crunchy. The cold soba is has just the right mouth feel. I can't say enough good things about this wonderful establishment. I have been patronizing it for nearly 20 years.
l
lovingmama
New York Area
3 reviews
vip
5.0
3 reviews
Dined on June 20, 2018
overall5food5service5ambience5
Cool, subterranean sake den that serves good food at lunchtime. Reasonably-priced Japanese w/ a selection of soba, donburi, and appetizers. Can’t go wrong. Feels like a secret hideaway.
TC
TradingCoyote
New York Area
4 reviews
2.0
4 reviews
Dined on June 18, 2018
overall2food3service2ambience2
L’expérience a commencé par un mauvais accueil à la réception. Ensuite on nous a placé à une table dans le couloir proche de la porte de la cuisine alors qu’il y avait d’autres places. Les plats étaient sans goût et clairement pas à la hauteur de ce que l’on pouvait attendre d’un restaurant japonais aussi cher. Je n’y retournerai pas c’est sûr.
K
Kenchan
New York Area
18 reviews
5.0
18 reviews
Dined on June 15, 2018
overall5food5service4ambience5
日本の居酒屋と殆ど同じレベルの料理が出て来ます。
OT
OpenTable Diner
New York Area
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on June 15, 2018
overall5food5service5ambience5
Food was great. Good experience.
TB
TrimaineB
Los Angeles
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on June 9, 2018
overall5food5service5ambience5
Very good experience, high quality and authentic. Price point actually was not bad when you consider the value of what you get from having the experience at Sakagura. Will come again.
OT
OpenTable Diner
New York Area
21 reviews
5.0
21 reviews
Dined on June 8, 2018
overall5food4service4ambience5
great sake bar that stays true to its concept. bravo bon yagi!
NR
NneyaR
New York Area
123 reviews
vip
5.0
123 reviews
Dined on June 7, 2018
overall5food5service5ambience5
Good food, great for a date. Will definitely go again.
PA
PAUL
New York Area
8 reviews
5.0
8 reviews
Dined on June 5, 2018
overall5food5service5ambience4
We often get together at Sakagura because the food is creative and excellent, the sake list extensive, the service attentive and knowledgeable and the price very fair for high quality.
A
anonymousA
New York Area
26 reviews
vip
4.0
26 reviews
Dined on June 4, 2018
overall4food5service4ambience5
More high-end, but as someone's who's been to Japan, I was very happy with the quality and authenticity of the food. Extensive sake menu!
VS
VickyS
Toronto
5 reviews
5.0
5 reviews
Dined on June 1, 2018
overall5food5service5ambience5
Wonderful experience and super cool restaurant. Management even came to personally wish me a happy birthday. Food was fantastic.
FM
FreddyM
Baltimore
5 reviews
5.0
5 reviews
Dined on May 31, 2018
overall5food5service5ambience5
Great ambience, food was amazing! Very cool spot
MP
MrPharmacist
New Orleans
7 reviews
5.0
7 reviews
Dined on May 23, 2018
overall5food5service5ambience5
What can I say? It's been here since the 1990s. Their bathrooms are giant sake vats. It's an institution!
LE
LENOU
New York Area
2 reviews
4.0
2 reviews
Dined on May 14, 2018
overall4food4service3ambience4
unfortunately they offer a lunch menu with a very attractive price but only 100 menus are prepared, no more, if you are the 101, you have to choose Something more expensive.
TC
TomC
Philadelphia
8 reviews
vip
4.0
8 reviews
Dined on May 11, 2018
overall4food5service5ambience4
Great experience wait staff was very attentive. Waiter made recommendations and they were spot on. Sake recommendations were also exceptional!
T
Tigger
Orange County
15 reviews
5.0
15 reviews
Dined on May 10, 2018
overall5food5service5ambience5
You never disappoint at their food and service. We had a great lunch!
CC
CC57
Los Angeles
20 reviews
5.0
20 reviews
Dined on May 9, 2018
overall5food5service5ambience5
Amazing how so many people find their way to this basement izakaya. There are so many sake and food selections. For four people we spent pretip $192: 4 beers, 1/2 bottle of sake, and 12 items. Every dish was prepared to perfection; authentic. Don’t miss ordering the ebi stick!
OT
OpenTable Diner
New York Area
4 reviews
5.0
4 reviews
Dined on May 7, 2018
overall5food5service4ambience5
I haven’t been in a real Japanese restaurant in many years since my favorite spot closed decades ago. Sake listing is to die for!
SO
SamO
New York Area
12 reviews
vip
4.0
12 reviews
Dined on May 7, 2018
overall4food4service4ambience3
Nice selection of interesting foods. Was a little steamy downstairs. Probably better in a colder day.
YE
YummE
New York Area
12 reviews
5.0
12 reviews
Dined on May 4, 2018
overall5food5service3ambience3
Unbelievable food at normal prices, but the very expensive sake list makes dining there very pricey if you have more than a glass or two.
TP
TroyP
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on May 1, 2018
overall5food5service5ambience5
Always very good and authentic food at Sakagura and the lunch special is a great deal.
s
singaporesling
New England
2 reviews
3.0
2 reviews
Dined on April 30, 2018
overall3food4service4ambience3
Guy who led us to our table was officious and unfriendly. We ordered two appetizers, and they were each only 3 spoonfuls, barely a taste for the four of us. Our sashimi moriawase was skimpy and had only one small helping of radish slivers. Most sashimi moriawase for 4 has many helpings of daikon. Compared to the moriawase which was served to the table next to us, the sashimi pieces were thin; the presentation was different and skimpy; the servings were generally surprisingly miniscule. We ended up having to order way more than at other Japanese restaurants.
EP
EfrainP
New York Area
24 reviews
vip
4.0
24 reviews
Dined on April 28, 2018
overall4food4service5ambience5
Service was Tops
KH
KojiH
New York Area
28 reviews
4.0
28 reviews
Dined on April 27, 2018
overall4food4service3ambience4
Overall the experience was pretty good despite of the slow service. Food was decent (I had tempura don) and the price was reasonable ($18?) for midtown. I would recommend for my friend.
L
Leandro
Miami
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on April 27, 2018
overall5food5service5ambience5
A little piece of Tokyo in the middle of Manhattan. Simply outstanding.
W
Winterlight
New York Area
11 reviews
3.0
11 reviews
Dined on April 26, 2018
overall3food3service3ambience3
Not as great as I have expected based on the raving reviews. The best was the sea urchin noodle. Stay away from the specials which were mediocre and over priced. Stay with the classics.
JG
JodiG
New York Area
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on April 23, 2018
overall5food5service5ambience5
Fantastic food and sake selection! A hidden gem in the basement ...

FAQs

Sakagura is rated 4.5 stars by 592 OpenTable diners.

Not available on OpenTable

Unfortunately, this restaurant is not on the OpenTable reservation network.

If you like, we'll notify you by email if this restaurant joins.

Is this your restaurant?

Claim this listing

Additional information

Cross street
Between 2nd and 3rd Avenues
Neighborhood
Midtown East
Hours of operation
Lunch: Mon-Fri 11:30am - 2:30pm; Dinner: Monday - Thursday: 6:00pm - 12:00am, Friday - Saturday: 6:00pm - 1:00am, Sunday: 6:00pm - 11:00pm
Cuisines
Japanese, Izakaya, Soba
Dining style
Casual Elegant
Dress code
Business Casual
Parking details
None
Public transit
4,5,6,7 Trains to Grand Central Station
Payment options
AMEX, MasterCard, Visa
Executive chef
Kozo Morohashi
Additional
Beer, Counter Seating, Full Bar, Non-Smoking

Website
http://www.sakagura.com/
Phone number
(212) 953-7253
Catering
Please email info@kioskukiosku.com for high quality bento options, perfect for office lunch meetings.
Private party facilities
Please email events@sakagura.com for private dining information.

Sakagura

Not available on OpenTable

Additional information

Appetizers

Assorted Sashimi*

Tempura Assortment

Kakiage Tempura$12.00

Gindara Yuan-yaki$10.00

Gomaae$5.00

Ohitashi$4.50

Kuro Edamame$6.00

Green Salad$3.50

Fresh Tuna & Avocado Salad$7.00

Seaweed Salad$7.50

Tofu Salad$7.00

Tsukune$7.00

Sanma Onigiri$9.50

Onigiri (1pc)$3.00

Tofu Miso Soup$3.00

Rice$2.00

Handmade Soba Noodles (Cold)

Zaru$9.00

Maguro Tororo$14.00

Healthy Soba Salad$13.00

Tenzaru$16.00

Handmade Soba Noodles (Hot)

Kake Soba$9.00

Vegetable Soba$12.00

Tempura Soba$16.00

Kamo Namban$14.50

Kamo Curry Namban$15.50

Donburi (Bowls) & Soba Set

Oyako Don Set$13.50

Ten Don Set$15.50

Ebiten Toji Don Set$18.00

Tekka Don Set$20.00

Sake Ikura Don Set$19.00

Una Don Set$18.00

Kaisen Don Set$22.00

Donburi / Bowls

Oyako Don$12.50

Ten Don$14.50

Sake Tekka "Half" Don$19.00

Ebiten Toji Don$17.00

Tekka Don$19.00

Sake Ikura Don$18.00

Una Don$17.00

Kaisen Don$21.00

Main

Sashimi Soba Gozen$22.00

"Jewel" Oke Bento$22.00

Sakagura Lunch Tasting Course$33.00

Overall ratings and reviews

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How is Sakagura restaurant rated?

Not available on OpenTable

Additional information