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Categories: Japanese, Sushi Bars [Edit]
Neighborhood: Cobble HillThe live shell fishes, you're going to see how the little thing moves. Even live California sea urchin, you're going to find it in Osaka.
Announced 3 days agoBergen St (F, G)
Mon-Thu. 12:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Mon-Thu. 5:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m.
Fri-Sat. 12:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Fri-Sat. 5:00 p.m. - 12:00 a.m.
Sun. 12:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Sun. 3:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m.
Osaka is a little on the pricey side (might be because we order too much saki) so I dine here infrequently but when I do I always enjoy the food. The sushi is fresh and they have a good saki selection.
Plus who doesn't enjoy having to take their shoes off to sit at a table traditional style? (Don't worry they have regular seating too)
The service here is great and the waiters are always super nice and fill the sake bottle ALL the way to the top. Speaking of Sake, I believe it's 50% off on Tuesday - but not sure about that one.
My favorite part is the outdoor garden which is really adorable.
Favorite Roll: white river roll
Since their email address conveniently no longer works...i've posted my message below.
Saturday night some friends and I dined at your restaurant. The food was delicious, but we made the terrible mistake of sitting on the back patio...with the crazy huge rats. It was mortifying to see these things running around in circles inches from our feet. Obviously we should have left immediately and in retrospect regret not doing so. It was incredibly disappointing to bring an out of town guest to dine in what felt like a new york city subway tunnel. It was even more disappointing that no staff member said anything to us about this even though we sat with our feet up in the air and with the obvious look of discomfort. At the very least it would have been nice if someone recognized this problem and gave us a discount on the food. I hope you all are taking care of this problem and I would advise you to close your patio until the rats are gone. I saw 6 of the foulest and most fearless vermin ever in your establishment. Gross. I can only imagine what the kitchen might look like or what the Department of Health might think of this.
Best sushi in BaCoCa hands down. Don't waste your money at Ki, Osaka's fish is much fresher. The sashimi lunch box is a steal, as is the sushi deluxe dinner. Be prepared to wait for a table on Friday or Saturday evenings, but it moves quickly. The wait staff is friendly and attentive. They have alcohol specials during the week as well.
Calming, attractive environment. Pleasant service. Exceedingly fresh, attractively prepared sushi and divine oshinko--the best I've had, by far. Also try the eggplant in white miso--a lovely dish.
I. Love. This. Place.
Seriously. It is so, so good. I live pretty much directly upstairs from it, and can't even count the number of nights I've come home from work so late that I'd just as soon skip dinner as cook (and I love to cook). My appetite usually prevails though, and Osaka makes the perfect late-weeknight dinner. The fish is always super fresh and the presentation is lovely; while the rolls I have tried are delicious, you simply can't go wrong ordering the Sushi or Sushi Deluxe Dinner. It comes with a yummy side salad and miso soup. Even if you walk in and order takeaway, I've never waited more than 10 minutes and the staff always offers me a seat and a cup of tea-- which is far more than you can say of most takeaway places.
If you're planning to stay and eat, the decor and atmosphere inside are lovely. Traditional floor-style seating is available on a raised platform at the front of the restaurant, though you will be asked to remove your shoes if you choose this option. If you prefer to sit at a regular table, there are quite a few available. The wait staff is always very friendly and gracious.
For non-dinner options, the bento box is a stellar deal and is offered on weekends too; hello, brunch!! There are several different bento combinations, so even non-sushi lovers can find something they will like (beef negimaki is a delicious option). It's a more-than-generous portion, so bring your appetite; but at around $9-$13 (depending on combination of items) it won't kill your wallet either.
Osaka is my favorite sushi in Brooklyn. The garden is beautiful the service is very nice and their tap water doesn't taste like bleach like every were in NY. I tried all the sake and I love it. My favorite dish are NASU (eggplant soaked in an oily broth), SHRIMP TEMPURA (crunchy and light), SEAFOOD DYNAMITE (served in a big shell), GREEN RIVER and RED RIVER rolls (the best and my favorite dish at Osaka). The fish is always fresh and it is reasonable priced
Basic neighborhood sushi. Nothing great, nothing particular horrible. Average fish and selection. That said, there is so much better in the hood. Ki Sushi... Cube 63 even.
To echo some other reviews, their service is spotty: from mediocre to clueless (I have a story). Also, I am glad to see that other users have noticed how the 'owners' seem to like to yell and berate the waitstaff. Hilarious times.
Two words encapsulate the post-Osaka experience: dry heave. Literally.
Normally I don't write Yelp reviews, but the profound foulness of this meal inspired me to action. I think that the restaurant changed hands recently, because it used to be pretty decent. Now it is filthy.
To begin with, there was a portly European man shuffling around the restaurant yelling at all the servers. While we were waiting for our food, several tables complained about their bills or meals. Then, each person in our party of 4 was served at different times, with a 5 to 10 minute lapse between each.
The fish was low quality. Very low. The salmon and the tuna tasted identical, but you could distinguish the two fish based on the tuna's slimier texture. The cuts were either grotesquely huge (like biting into a fillet) or shaped like a slug (including its trail of slime).
This is the worst sushi I have ever had.
BOMB.
MORE... IN MY MOUTH. NOW.
Osaka may one day lead me to death by mercury. The fish is so fresh, and the sushi chefs really know what they're doing. The staff treat regulars well, the occasional "on the house"s. The dinner combo is huge. Good mood, great food.
G really loves this place and this is one of G's spots.
They had cute little tatami section in the front of the restaurant...charming.
I love salmon skin salad and I was hoping this place would make it as good as Mikado back in Texas.
When I received the salmon skin salad, I was really disappointed - the salmon skin wasn't crisp and the salad was more of a seaweed salad than a salmon skin one.
I didn't even know the salad would come with seaweed. But then again, their menu wasn't very descriptive either. I hate places where they have all these names and they automatically think you know what a "Rock N' Roll", "A A C", or "Neghiamaki" maki has in them.
Because I obviously didn't think my salmon skin salad would only as a decoration for a seaweed salad.
I ordered spicy yellow tail roll along with the salad but it took forever to come out and when it finally did come out I wasn't sure why it had a crunch.
G felt bad that I didn't like the restaurant but I think this restaurant would be a lot better if they revised their menu and added more description to their selection. Because perhaps then I would make a better choice on my rolls or appetizer.
However, the service here is incredible, our hot tea was always filled to the top.
Since their service was impressive, I would give them another chance but next time I would asked them to break down the menu bit by bit.
It's not the best Japanese restaurant in the area nor is it authentic Japanese as employees are obviously a mix of Chinese and Latino and you'll hear Chinese music playing through the speakers. But, it will do for a regular fare.
As a mom, I have to say that their staff was thoughtful. We were parking our stroller right outside because the place was small and it didn't look as if we could wheel in our kid vehicle. But, the nice young lady server insisted we bring it in and she found a spot for it that didn't get in the way of other patrons. She said she didn't think it was a good idea to leave it outside and she assured me that they bring in strollers all the time. So I thought that was pretty nice of her to make our visit pleasant.
Right up to where the window was, they had a traditional Japanese seating area. Before going up the steps, you have to remove your footwear--just like going to a Japanese tea party! But, one will soon discover that it's actually an illusion! They use regular tables and they are just surrounded by an elevated "stage" (for lack of the right term). It's brilliantly dressed up to look like you were sitting by low tables.
It was a brilliant idea because as I didn't mind sitting seiza, my husband would prefer not to. So, this was great for him because he could sit and stretch his legs underneath the table.
The food was okay. I thought their entrees were a little pricey for the quality but hell, we live in a place where Asian food is MIA so I shouldn't complain. We just wanted to binge!
I ordered their Grilled Duck Breast with maple ponzu sauce and fingerling potato. I thought it was okay but my husband pointed out that I finished the whole thing anyway! The fingerling potato was like grated potato fries. My husband ordered their sesame crusted salmon but we both agreed that it was pretty dry. We got a lunch bento box for our daughter. It had a lot in it but of course, she focused only on the rice. There was nothing special about it.
All in all, we had a pretty pleasant time here. Also to note that it is situated in a good part of Court Street. You can go to Sweet Melissa's right next door or to the Chocolate Room across the street.
The American Dream Roll is an absolute dream! Three kinds of fish (tuna, salmon and eel) with avocado in one roll is just heaven for me. I don't know why; I can't explain it, but I love it and you should be jealous that I only live one block from this $8 roll. Yum. I will be returning often.
While my love of this restaurant still stands, it has lost its edge. The last time I came, I felt uninspired by the sushi (good, but not J.I.M.P. good as I experienced last year). My favorite place is to sit at the bar when it's cold outside and outdoors when it's warmer. However, the Omakase needs a facelift... or a dynamic offering (the same items get old, you know?).
Once in a while I need to fulfill a craving which can't be satisfied by White Castle sliders or… Read more »
Order the Green River Roll and thank me later.
Peter K.'s photos made us come here. We weren't disappointed!
The waiter gawked at the size of our order, which sort of upset me because I hate it when the server makes me feel piggy. He was right, though. Maki is huge but well made and miso soup is generous with tofu and the pleasing addition of mushrooms. The $17 sashimi regular is an amazing bargain with 15 slabs of fish too thick to fit in the mouth: tuna, salmon and two kinds of white fish surrounding decoratively sliced surf clam.
This is a good place for creative maki. The specialty maki at most places is either unoriginal or a frightening concoction of dissonant fishes, batter and sweet/spicy sauce. The millennium roll is really nice: toro topped with spicy scallop. Lobster tempura roll is neatly banded with crisp cucumber, and mexican roll is a great spicy crispy tuna dusted with bonito powder. Nice to know special rolls don't have to incorporate everything in the kitchen.
Also, the edamame is out of control. Think 100+ peapods.
My landlord owns this restaurant, so I feel obligated to give this place a good review, you know, to make sure I don't end up homeless or anything.
Seriously, though, Osaka has really good sushi. The place is teeny weeny and even though the tables aren't packed together, still makes me feel somewhat claustrophobic. But even though the ambiance isn't the best, the sushi is solid. They have a special roll that involves gold flakes that I am curious to try some day, even though I'm guessing the gold is just for show and doesn't add much to the taste experience. Still. Something about eating gold flakes (when not in Goldschlager) seems cool and superhuman.
I can't go all the way to five stars, though, because of the cramped space and the nerve-wracking memories of signing two leases here.
Osaka is a reasonably priced sushi restaurant in Cobble Hill. Though I don't have experience with sushi restaurants in the area, I consider myself a fairly advanced sushi consumer!
This review is based on one visit only -- a slow Sunday afternoon. We only ordered rolls, a variety of four rolls for three people. The rolls were larger than normal (8 pieces for the most part) and very tasty.
We had a soft shell crab roll, unagi roll of some sort, another unagi roll with mango, and a toro something or other roll. The problem I normally have with eating maki rolls is that after about 10 pieces, they all begin to taste the same. Well, each roll had distinct flavors and I did not suffer from the maki roll blahs (even the unagi rolls were different!). The four rolls were enough to fill the three of us. The spider roll was only so-so.
At $45-50 or so, not a bad deal at all.
I would definitely return to this restaurant because of the good combination of value, quality, and quantity. There were no service issues at all as others have had. I even asked if four rolls were enough or if we should get another -- they recommended we only get four rather than to upsell us -- classy act!
I wouldnt recommend going on a date here - too bright. I would recommend going with friends though. The sake flows easily and the staff is gratefully pleasant. Not too big a crowd, the only negative thing about Osaka is the amount of space and the slightly too light mood of the walls.
A friend and I shared the namesake sushi and sashimi for two - because neither one of us is choosy with sushi... yet. It was tremendous. The colors were so bright and heavy. I wish I took a picture of it so I could diagram it on flickr. The sashimi (salmon, mackerel, tuna, giant clam) came in very large pieces and was a textural delight. The sushi was great too; the size was just right, I felt like it belonged in my mouth.
We had so much food! I swear the next morning I had baby fish swimming in my belly.
The menu has a huge selection. Just about everything I read turned me on. I will need many more "next time"s to get a full appreciation of Osaka. How many next times do I need? How many dinner partners have to join me? There are not enough meals in a day...
Came in for dinner on a Sunday night. My man friend and I shared the Omakase, a regular sized sake, a garden salad, a bonsai tree appetizer, and fried bananas with chocolate and a side of green tea ice cream for dessert. The omakase was a blend of traditional and nontraditional sashimi and rolls--everything was fresh and even intriguing. The bonsai tree was refreshing and tasty--crab meat and such encircled in thin, curled slices of cucumber. And I'm happy to say that their green tea was the real deal--not that fake, sugary stuff.
The service was a little up and down. There was this one dude wandering around who gladly answered our questions. Our initial server, though was a space cadet.
I think for the prices we paid it was a great deal. One caveat though: they didn't accept reservations for less than 4 people. Don't know if that applies to all nights.
I was so happy to have found this place while living in Brooklyn - the Carroll Gardens/Cobble Hill area. It was only minutes away from the apartment that I was subleasing, and that was by foot. S and I deemed it one of our favorite restaurants in the area. The fish was fresh [We witnessed the sushi chef carving out slabs from the giant tuna!], and the dishes YUMMY! I think the waitress was Chinese, but I'm not going to hate on the place. In fact, I loved it. S is a big guy, so we usually ordered quite a bit. Portions were still generous, and the bill was never too expensive.
Consistent = good.
Pretty good sushi at decent prices. The maki rolls are way big and the miso soup portion is average but has generous helpings of tofu and seaweed. The fish tastes very fresh and they give you low-sodium soy sauce, which is almost an extra star in itself.
Osaka is a good, reasonably inexpensive place to satisfy your raw fish cravings. I can't speak about the ambience of the restaurant because we always get take-out, but I don't really care about ambience as long as it's not horribly obnoxious, so who cares.
The sushi here is above average, with fresh delicious offereings of sushi favorites
Highs
Spicy Tuna - a really good interepretation
Seared Tuna Salad - a really good knock off of NOBU's famed salad
Lows
Edamame Soup
Maitre'd - has people waiting for no f--king reason,
Great combo with going to the Cobble Hill Movies
On a good day Osaka is worth 4 stars, but I had to balance out the average. The fish is good, but inconsistent. I've had the King Salmon sashimi about 5 times and it has ranged from exemplary to my doubting that it even _was_ King Salmon. Same with the Otoro.
I can deal with a bit of fluctuation in fish quality, but the staff is a bunch of knuckleheads. The first time I went I got lucky and scored a nice waitress. Since then the service has ranged from despondent to rude. I could accept this at a top rate sushi place, but at a neighborhood joint? There is simply no excuse. I usually don't care if a place has a shitty staff, but this is silliness.
I would still recommend giving it a try, because the fish can be outstanding on a good day. Just be aware that you should only go if you know what you want, because the staff is not going to help welcome you into the world of raw fish.
Great sushi, the best in the neighborhood for a long time.
The fish is absolutely gorgeous. And the special rolls are incredible and inventive. The eponymous Osaka roll is my favorite, and comes with sushi for two. Great place, friendly staff, nice back garden.
I am a total sucker for the seating areas where you have to take off your shoes and try to eat "traditionally". Their lunchboxes are great for any age, and the sushi is awesome. The veggies and fish they use are always fresh. The fried ice cream selection is quite good and i have to say, very yummy! The staff was a little spacey I'll admit, I just sat there with an empty water glass for a good portion of the meal, but the pros balanced out the cons. It's a very nice space and you just get a feeling that it's clean and taken care of. I'm always full and content whenever I leave this restaurant and I have recommended it many times.
I went here twice within a week or so and had a good experience both times.
The first time I went with a friend for lunch and was very happy with the lunch special prices. I got a bento box with chicken teriyaki. The portion was HUGE! It came with gyoza, six pieces of California roll, miso soup, and salad in addition to the teriyaki and rice. It was all delicious, especially the miso soup which I have to say was the best I have ever had. It was fresh, light, and flavorful. My friend also got a bento box and neither of us could finish our sushi! So I took six pieces home with me. Not bad for a $9/person meal. I have to say though that the service was quite inattentive. My friend wanted a fork and eventually had to stand up and get it herself. So minus a star for that.
Soon after I recommended that my fam go for dinner one night after seeing a movie across the street at the Cobble Hill Cinema. We got to sit in the awesome front window table where you have to take off your shoes. We ordered some miso soup (my dad got the spicy version which was even better than the regular, but came in a ginormous portion that we couldn't finish) and a bunch of sushi. My brother also got a duck special entree. It was all delicious and again, large portions. The special rolls were inventive and tasty. The service this time was very attentive and friendly. My only complaint is that the dinner prices are a little steep.
Overall I would definitely recommend this place. Go for the lunch special and be sure to try the miso soup!
This is an awesome sushi place, with real low tables where you take off your shoes, sit on a cushion, and eat! They have great fish, as well as meat. But another really nice thing is to sit at the sushi bar late at night. It is great for kids especially because of the low tables. Well, anyway, you should definitely go to Osaka. But I can't lie, it's a little pricy.
not my fave anymore. last time i went, sushi wasn't as good as it had been in the past.
ki is my new fave.
This is my favorite sushi place in my neighborhood and there are LOTS of them. The unagi is hands… Read more »
Besides Tomoe Sushi, this is my fave sushi place. I was recommended to come here from a friend who lives in NYC but makes special trips to Brooklyn just to have sushi here.
The sushi is so so fresh. The service is great and the place is cute but very small. And, the prices are so cheap for such great and fresh sushi!
I especially love their different types of rolls (millenium roll comes to mind). Very inventive, unique and delicious. You have to try this place out.
I liked Osaka, and I would go back.
The menu is quite expansive. Much more than sushi or sashimi. They have warm and cold sake.
Atmosphere is cozy-ish and brightly lit, so maybe not a date place at night, but great to go with friends to talk about how your date went the previous night.
I paid a little over $30 when I had dinner and 2 Sapporos with a friend.
Garbage. Bad fish. Bad, foul house sake. Bad prices. Bad waitstaff. Please go somewhere else. Don't believe any of the positive reviews. Maybe it used to be good. Go to Sam's and get a pizza.
Over-rated, over-priced, annoying service, certainly not as good as Ki, or for that matter Taro, or even Cube. And that self-satisfied, smirky, Carroll Gardens, closeted stepford wife, rubber clog vibe wasn't helping matters. My teeth wrestled with some gristle here and there. I mean, it wasn't one of those disastrous sushi situations that turns you off raw fish for a month or two, but if this is the highest praise I can give...
I like this place!! They have HUGE portions for great prices. Went here yesterday for dinner and the waiters were so nice and attentive. My friends loved their rolls and my sashimi was pretty fresh. I got full off of sashimi?? Really? Hell's yeah. Why only 4 stars? Just because Ki is around the corner. For everyday eats, this place is more economical. But for decor/ambiance/romance, Ki is better.
I loved this place. I went for lunch and it over-exceeded my expectations. 10 dollars for the beef negamaki which included your choice of rolls, miso soup, sticky rice, and salad. The service was excellent, and the atmosphere was calm and soothing. I definitely will be returning!
very fresh fish.
It used to be: 1) Hasaki 2) Nobu for sushi. After 10 years of this opinion I now amend my list: 1) Osaka 2) Hasaki. Allow me to explain..Nobu is of course amazing but unless you have De Niro's cash on hand one looks for divine fresh fish elsewhere which all of the above have. Osaka has taken the 10 year title from Hasaki because it is a little less pricey, portions are bigger, and they are a little less traditional so they make the funky rolls and such that have turned me into an an american sushi diner but what can I say...God Bless America, and God bless Osaka for that respelendent Mexican roll...it's like the UN up in that piece.
I am so glad I found this restaurant. I came here on New Year's Eve, and it was very busy, but we were seated right away. The service is wonderful and attentive, and the fish is so fresh and beautifully prepared and displayed on the plate! I ordered the sushi and sashimi platter for two and shared it among three hungry girls, and we could still not finish it all! Also, the portion of Edamame was very generous! This is a tiny place, but it seems to be quite popular. Osaka is located right across from the movie theatre, which makes it a great spot for friends to have a night out! Delicious! Recommended!
I'm torn. Up until last summer, Osaka was my go-to sushi place. Nothing pleased me more than to enjoy their delicate gyoza, delicious sushi, and a glass of white wine while sitting in the garden on a warm summer evening. Then one night it all changed. The roll I ordered tasted off, the service was slow to the extreme, and the chicken in the yakitori was as dry as plywood. After that, the bloom was off the rose. I'll try again someday, but for now I can't erase the memory. However, I will concede that the gyoza NEVER disappointed. Best I've ever had.
I used to eat here often, the sushi was OK to good depending on the day. But then I got treated like ass and I refuse to go back. I went in by myself and the host refused to sit me at a table since I was "table for one". He said that "it's their policy" to sit "table for one" at the bar, even thought the place was half-empty at the time, and the previous twenty-some-odd times that I was there this was not the policy. But, Mr. Crappy-Host was pretty adamant that this was indeed the policy and was always the policy. Apparently there was a change and I didn't get the memo. Whatever. Usually, I'm "Mister-gives-5-stars-easy-grader", but this really pissed me off. The host was a douche-bag, and luckily Cube 63 and Ki Sushi just opened up in the 'hood. So, good riddance Mr.Crappy-Host, you stink worse than the soggy-recently-defrosted-tuna sashimi that you're peddling! Don't Go.
10% off for Yelpers!
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