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Categories: Japanese, Sushi Bars [Edit]
Neighborhood: Chelsea14th St-8th Ave (A, C, E, L)
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Naka Naka is a little gem tucked away on the ass-end of 17th street. The venue is quiet, small, and charming. The food is reasonably priced. The service is spot-on.
When we walked in to Naka Naka it was completely empty, which considering the front room looks like it can hold no more than 20, was not a put-off. Seating is unusual - there are backless chairs that surround an elevated platform in the middle of the room (where the waitresses move).
When we sat down our waitress came over with a dry erase board with a plethora of off-menu specialties on it. I remember ordering the Alaskan King Crab, the Naka Naka roll and some Soba. All were delicious.
This is quite a find... especially if you live in the neighborhood. Naka Naka is relaxing, fairly priced, and offers really fresh sushi, along with other traditional Japanese delights.
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I sometimes avoid writing reviews of places I actually like most on Yelp, in part because writing glowing reviews can be more difficult than writing poor ones and in part because, like everyone, I can be hesitant about sharing my "special good places" with just anyone.
Having said that, I have noticed that a number of my favourite little places are beginning to close down, something I am attributing to THE ECONOMY, but could be for any number of reasons. Having one of my fave diners shuttered when I tried to go on Sunday has made me reverse my quiet tendencies, in the hope that what little help I can give in driving customers to good restaurants and keeping them open is welcome and worthwhile.
In any case, Naka Naka is amazing. The sushi is quite possibly the best I've ever had, I could eat the very generous soba salad almost daily and the sake list is terrifyingly tempting. The service is good if sometimes it requires a touch of patience, and I love the quiet, low-light decoration of the place.
I worry about Naka Naka. It is in one of these fancy condo buildings, and has one of those price points that is neither cheap-and-cheerful nor sufficiently high to justify nights as empty as Sunday was.
So next time you go to the Highline, please consider Naka Naka and my West Chelsea sushi needs. I promise to try not to stare resentfully at you when you take "my" place at the little communal eating bar, and understand that we are working together to save this lovely little place.
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Wanted to try a new sushi restaurant in the neighboorhood. Came here after seeing the review in yelp. This restaurant is a traditional meat packing restaurant. The atmosphere was great. They had you sit on the floor cross legged like in a movie.
However, I came here ready to eat, and left still hungry. The bill came out to 60 a person with sakie, and I didn't eat as much Sushi as I would have liked.
The Sashimi I did have was declicious. The yellow tail was some of the best I have had, and the sea urchin was wonderfull.
Naka Naka servers share something in common with the oldest profession in the world: they are on their knees most of the time. This is okay, though, because in an authentic setting that looks like the sewing room (?) of a Japanese lady recast as a dining room, we are lucky that they don't have us sitting on our knees. This is one Westernizing measure I'm happy about. The sushi in Naka Naka is as fresh as in Shima, the dry erase board menu intimidating, extensive, and mostly in Japanese, and the plum wine sweet with a giant olive in it. There is also free swag if you're willing to take it. A paper crane and origami napkin holder on your table, and a geisha coloring book place mat I forgot to take with me. Instead of pillow mints on the outside table, they have toothpicks in origami shirts.
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If I could give a restaurant 6 stars I would. 5 stars for the food, 1 extra star for the fact that they played good jazz music in the background. It was like they were DJing off my own ipod.
It's set up as a traditional japanese restaurant, and if you have a large group there is a tatami room in the back. Extremely fresh sashimi, and the kanisunumono (crab) and tsukune (chicken meatballs) appetizers were great as well. You can't go wrong in this place, traditional sushi just doesn't get better than this.
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Came here on a late-ish punt on the way to a movie and came up trumps. Place has an ultra-legit vibe, beautifully ornate interior, and great food. Menu seems expensive at first glance but portions are larger than is the norm in Japanese restaurants, so it balances out about right for a mid to high end Japanese meal.
Sashimi is the best I've had in manhattan (and that includes multiple visits to Matsuri). Salmon and yellowtail were super fresh and perfectly cut.
Would highly recommend this place to anyone in lower Manhattan.
A bit off the beaten path, but great food, service, and atmosphere. Plus Naka Naka is just fun to say. Dinner for two + drinks (including tax and tip) was about $100.
wonder home cooked food!!!
awesome grilled squid
wonderfully sweet alaskan king crab legs
and the service is amazing. the servers come to you and kneel when they serve you. it is so traditional and you feel like royalty.
just excellent!!!
My friend and I went to Naka Naka tonight for dinner. Honestly, I don't understand why this place wasn't more packed. It was really good. Once you walk through the doors you feel like you are being transported to a Japanese tea house, with this hostesses and servers sporting kimonos. They have beer/wine and sake, and its a quiet place to either go on a date, or with friends who you actually want to talk to. Its a very petite place. They have an every day menu in addition to a lot of appetizers and sashimi/sushi choices. I tried some different appetizers, like squid and noodles, then followed those up with a few pieces of sushi. This isn't a place to come to if you want a lot of americanized rolls, because there are only a few on the menu, but it is a great place to come if you want to try some new and different non-sushi appetizers that you've probably never had before, in addition to some sushi/sashimi or some more simple rolls. I believe we had the Naka Naka roll, which was great. You should try Naka Naka for a break from the usual sushi and rainbow rolls.
I came here again for dinner last night after being rejected from Ushi Wakamura. My huny and I were craving some good sushi and wanted to go somewhere besides Matsuri that was in the neighborhood.
When we arrived, there was only one table with 3 people and so we were quickly seated at their "pseudo" counter. It's a really small place that with only 2 actual tables for dining and the rest is this counter type seating. Beware, the seats are really HARD that has a thin pillow that barely provides any cushioning. It's also a bit awkward and uncomfortable to sit there because you can't really cross your legs. Also, there are no backrests on those stools which makes a long amount of sitting quite painful.
Our server barely spoke English and had a very heavy accent making it quite amusing when we spoke to each other. Everything was repeated at least twice and then re-repeated by her or I to make sure our request was understood correctly. She was super polite and sweet through out.
We ordered the following: Sashimi Plate (Himachi, Una, Tuna, Salmon, Squid Rolls), Spicy Tuna Sushi, Spicy Scallion Hamachi Sushi, Spinach w/Sesame (their Special), Agedashi Tofu & Fried Monkfish (Special).
The Spicy Tuna roll was spilling over with Srirachi and so it was really spicy. The Hamachi roll had a bit too much scallion in it so that was what we tasted most of. It was our least favorite.
My sashimi platter was divine because everything was extremely fresh. We enjoyed all the other items we ordered and decided we'd stick with their specials the next time we come back. Their sushi & sashimi selection is VERY limited so this isn't the place to go if you are craving it.
Nevertheless, the place is a true gem and too cute not to go back to!
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Wow... this place is top shelf in terms of fish quality, and chef skill. I ate here with the missus and another friend at the counter area which was fine for them, but I would have preferred a table for comfort purposes. Everything was outstanding from giant awesome fresh uni sushi ($6 each) to the simmered duck app. Most memorable was the Sanma Battera special....pure heaven. We were all in agreement that this place is even up a notch from Ushiwakamaru. If you value authenticity, Naka Naka is the place.
Authentic Japanese. Order anything off the chalkboard that the waitress (who is likely to speak little english) brings over and you won't be disappointed. When the highline opens this place will be impossible to get into!
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This place is TOO cute, from the table accessories (ceramic squid chopstick rests, origami-esque chopstick wrappers) to the pottery and the wooden platform that the apron-dressed, be-socked waitress shuffles her way out onto to take our order. I liked the apps: tofu pops with miso paste, crab with thin slivers of cukes dressed in a sweet vinegary liquid, a healthy helping of veggie tempura, and pickled lotus root. I also liked the broth & duck slices in my hot udon soup. the noodles were fine--nothing to write home about, but not bad either. The huge helping of black sesame ice cream (really a very buttery vanilla specked with sesame seeds) was very tasty. That and a beer for just under $40, shared among the 3 of us. I would def. go back with out-of-town visitors. there's a tatami room as well. i'm telling you: it's precious!
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the food was delicious, everything was prepared with so much care. all items o the menu are made on the spot ( such as shumai, tofu and etc.) no shortcuts taken. there is not that many places left where you can expect this level of quality. the restaurant feels very homey and has an enchanting atmosphere. i highly recommend trying their daily-changing assortment of appetizers. i am definitely coming back here.
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Grand Opening Special!
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Neighborhood: Chelsea
Category: Japanese
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Category: Sushi Bars
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