Neighborhood & Favorite Japanese Restaurants

[Jeffsayyes]

I went the other day
I don't really have any standards for the area, so I don't know what they are up against.

for 1 dollar a piece, that is hard to beat.  the sushi itself was less than special though. Everything was fresh I guess, but maybe the initial quality isnt as good as what I am used to.

Can it matter that much to have non-japanese at the helm? The chefs were okay. They shiould really be more engaging though, it's supposed to be like a real bar, you know...

Prices can't be beaten though.

I told the chef to give me 8 pieces of whatever he wanted. he gave me salmon, tuna, white tuna, fluke, yellowtail. I was nonplussed. Only the white tuna was truly satisfying, and that's hard to mess up.  Next time I will have to hold his hand to see what they can do.

[718mom]

If you guys want some really amazing sushi not too far from home get on the 7 or walk to 52nd Street, Sunnyside and walk down to Skillman by 52nd street, TJ Asian Bistro is Awesome!!!!! I'm not kidding, I go every single Friday night now, the owners and staff are so sweet, the place is very nice and upscale and the sushi is really incredible, try the Kimono Roll, you'll love it.

[Chuckster]

My husband and I tried Tomo two nights ago and really enjoyed it.  I couldn't try any of the seafood due to an allergy, so I ordered the Chicken Teriyaki.  The chicken was moist and flavorful and served on a bed of sauteed onions and shredded carrots and accompanied by a bowl of rice.  Delicious!  I also found the decor aesthetically pleasing and the staff was very friendly.  Overall, a nice addition to the neighborhood.

[GregNYC]

Anyone know if they're actually Japanese running this joint?  seems to be rare, even in NYC outside of Manhattan... and especially in Queens...

Sushi snobs rule!

It's rare to find a Japanese restaurant operated by Japanese.  Usually, Chinese or Koreans run them. 

[ShinjukuBaby]

We tried Tomo last night.  Serviceable sushi; we'll order from there again.  It's much better than Happy Kitchen.

I'm sure there are others, but Ariyoshi on Queens Blvd in Sunnyside is Japanese Japanese.  It's excellent and very reasonable.

But GregNYC is right.  More often than not, Japanese restaurants are owned by Koreans or Chinese.

[judibean]

Hubby and I tried Tomo recently and it's ok sushi (a la carte).  I may stick with the Americanized rolls next time since my expectation for those is lower.  I like my sushi restaurants to be authentically Japanese and this isn't it.  Not even counting the staff, the place is sooooo Chinese with its fish tank by the entry.  Japanese restaurants don't do that.  Funny that someone would mention Ariyoshi.  I used to live around the block from that place.  Even though it's five times more Japanese than this place, it's still not Japanese enough for me.  Anyway, I don't mean to belittle this place.  The decor is better than many restaurants around here and it fills a niche that was poorly lacking. 

[spanishfish]

For great sushi, try Yama on Houston Street in Manhattan.

But I am so glad Tomo is here, even if it's not as authentic as we all would hope for.

[toddg]

Based on a tip on the JH Families listserv, my wife and I decided to try TJ Asian Bistro on Skillman and 52nd in Woodside.  I can't speak to "authenticity," since I don't know what that means in this context.  But TJ has among the best sushi I've had in New York, and that includes more expensive places in Manhattan.  Definitely worth a visit!  (And make sure you try the Striped Bass, I've never had it before and it was delicious!)

That said, I also tried Tomo recently, and found it an excellent addition to the neighborhood.  Delicious food and family friendly.  I'll be going there regularly.

[spanishfish]

By authentic I meant owned by Japanese, with Japanese sushi chef's and a Japanese decor.

[Shelby2]

about the authenticity thing--

My sister is temporarily living in JH and she recently went to Tomo.  We lived in Japan for a few years as kids so we have a bit of extra knowledge about Japan and we also can pronounce Japanese words pretty well (but neither of us speaks Japanese). 

She told me that at Tomo she ordered the Age Tofu - which should be pronounced Ah-geh Tofu.  She ordered it by calling it Ah-geh but had a bit of a funny miscommunication with the waitress or cashier, who said, "you mean the Age tofu" pronouncing it Age as in "what age is your child".  Anyway, after not understanding the question at first, finally my sister just backed down and said yes, I mean the Age tofu.

and btw, she enjoyed the Age tofu but she wasn't impressed with the salmon sushi, which she said she felt was kind of tasteless.

[toddg]

By authentic I meant owned by Japanese, with Japanese sushi chef's and a Japanese decor.

Understood.  But I don't know what this means with regard to the food, which is really the only thing that interests me.  My favorite sushi restaurant, which is in California, has a Japanese owner-chef who learned his craft in Japan, and has a very limited menu.  But invariably, there's UB40 playing on stereo.  Does inauthentic reggae music make this inauthentic sushi?

I have some idea what makes various Americanized cuisines "inauthentic," but in sushi I see only quality of the fish, quality of the cut, and presentation.  Of course, the fish themselves may be different according to what's fresh and available (I've seen some differences between CA and NY in this regard).

Shelby2 - I had a similar experience at Happy Kitchen, when the person taking my order didn't know what I meant by "Hamachi" (they don't refer to it as such on the menu).  But even authentically Greek restaurants in NYC will look at you funny if you order a "hee-ro" instead of an Americanized "jeye-ro".

[buddy]

I'm so glad I'm not a sushi snob. I used to eat it a lot and then just kinda lost my taste for it. Now I'm one of those people who like "nouveau sushi" like the fancy hand rolls at Bond Street with the curry dipping sauces etc.  I actually like Bond Street better than Nobu's fare.  I guess taste buds change with age.  Mine are going down hill.

[Shelby2]

I'm so glad I'm not a sushi snob. I used to eat it a lot and then just kinda lost my taste for it. Now I'm one of those people who like "nouveau sushi" like the fancy hand rolls at Bond Street with the curry dipping sauces etc.  I actually like Bond Street better than Nobu's fare.  I guess taste buds change with age.  Mine are going down hill.

I find there are varying degrees of sushi snobbism.  I, for example, am too snobby to eat the pre-pared sushi rolls that are prepared by the sushi chefs at the Hong Kong Market in Elmhurst.  But not too snobby for Whole Foods sushi (had it today in fact), or for Happy Kitchen (my not going there much didn't have anything to do with the acutal food), and I hope I'm not too snobby for Tomo because I do plan to go there once a week at least once I'm back in town.

[buddy]

........  But not too snobby for Whole Foods sushi (had it today in fact), or for Happy Kitchen (my not going there much didn't have anything to do with the acutal food), and I hope I'm not too snobby for Tomo because I do plan to go there once a week at least once I'm back in town.

I really like Whole Foods sushi too.  Whenever I'm there I always buy it.  And I know veggie rolls aren't fish (and that's really what is meant by sushi snob--it's all about the fish!)  but they have a brown rice roll with avocado, carrot, etc. and a ginger dipping sauce that I love.

You know between Tomo, Nanking and Mystic Planet - these are three major step ups instead of yet, another, chicken joint.

[Really4rob]

You know between Tomo, Nanking and Mystic Planet - these are three major step ups instead of yet, another, chicken joint.

LOL, and here I was thinking that just once, today, I was going to give in and take a flyer from the new chicken joint across from the post office, because they trying so hard.   

Anyway, I've done the order in Tomo thing a few times, and been pretty much happy.  (I say I because my wife prefers Happy Kitchen, and Luc prefers Chinese food over everything else (Arunee Thai, Delhi Indian, La Boina Roja Columbian) we order or visit.)  And this $1 deal is really the way to get the Octopus and Squid I like so much, and not too many places have Red Clam (yay!).