New York · Sushi · a la carte
Restaurant Nippon
Traditional Japanese / EdomaeSushiSobaTempuraBeef NegimayakiIn-House Tofu
New York City's oldest Japanese restaurant, serving Edo-mae classics since 1963 in Midtown East.
- Price
- ¥¥
- Area
- Midtown East, Manhattan
- Since
- 1963
Plate № 2290
About
Restaurant Nippon holds the distinction of being New York City's oldest Japanese restaurant, founded in 1963 when Japanese cuisine was virtually unknown in America. The kitchen practices traditional Edo-mae cooking with in-house-made soba noodles, handcrafted tofu, and housemade tempura batter — skills rare even in modern Japanese restaurants. It is credited as the birthplace of beef negimayaki, the now-classic dish of thin-sliced beef rolled with scallions. The restaurant is Asian-owned and operated, with a calm, formal ambiance that transports diners to a Japan of another era. OpenTable ratings confirm its enduring 4.9-star reputation after 60-plus years of service.
Why it's on Washoku Guide
- As NYC's oldest Japanese restaurant, it offers a living link to authentic 1960s Edo-mae tradition.
- Home of the original beef negimayaki, a dish the restaurant invented and perfected.
- All soba noodles and tofu are made in-house — a labor of craft rarely found in New York.
- Holds a near-perfect 4.9/5 rating on OpenTable after more than six decades of service.
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Frequently asked
About Restaurant Nippon
- Is Restaurant Nippon an authentic traditional japanese / edomae restaurant in New York?
- Yes — Restaurant Nippon is featured in Washoku Guide because it meets our authenticity standard for traditional japanese / edomae in New York: a kitchen grounded in Japanese technique, ingredients and preparation consistent with Japanese practice, and a focused sushi format.
- Where is Restaurant Nippon located?
- Restaurant Nippon is located at 155 E 52nd St, New York, NY 10022, New York, United States in the Midtown East, Manhattan neighborhood.
- Do I need a reservation at Restaurant Nippon?
- Restaurant Nippon accepts reservations online. For an authentic sushi experience, especially at a focused counter, booking ahead is strongly recommended.
- What is the price range at Restaurant Nippon?
- Restaurant Nippon sits in the ¥¥ price range — typical for traditional japanese / edomae of this format in New York.
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