Japonica Introduce
For decades, Japonica has been a staple of the New York City dining scene, offering a taste of authentic Japanese cuisine right in the heart of Greenwich Village. Established in 1978, this restaurant has built a reputation for its extensive menu and a cozy, casual atmosphere that makes you feel right at home. It’s a place where tradition meets a vast array of options, from classic sushi and sashimi to hearty entrées and unique a la carte selections.
Japonica is well-known among locals and tourists for its fresh ingredients and a menu that caters to various tastes and preferences. Whether you're in the mood for a quick lunch, a solo dining experience, or a full dinner with friends, the restaurant provides a reliable and unpretentious setting. While some may find the experience a bit "underwhelming," its long-standing presence and loyal following speak to its consistent quality and a menu that has satisfied diners for generations. It’s a classic choice for anyone seeking a straightforward, no-fuss Japanese meal in the city.
Located at 90 University Pl, New York, NY 10003, USA, Japonica is conveniently situated in a bustling part of the city. The restaurant's address places it squarely between the vibrant Union Square and Washington Square Park areas, making it a great stop during a day of shopping or sightseeing.
The location is easily accessible by various public transportation options, a major plus for New Yorkers. For those with mobility needs, the restaurant features a wheelchair accessible entrance, ensuring that it can accommodate a wider range of guests. Its central location and accessibility make it a practical and popular choice for diners from all over the city and beyond.
Japonica focuses on providing a classic and efficient dining experience for its customers.
- Dining Options: The restaurant is open for lunch and dinner, offering table service in a comfortable setting. It is also a popular spot for solo diners looking for a quick and satisfying meal.
- Service Formats: In addition to dine-in, Japonica provides takeout options, allowing you to enjoy your favorite Japanese dishes wherever you are.
- Reservations: The restaurant accepts reservations, which is a useful feature to help avoid a wait, especially during peak dining hours.
- Menu Offerings: The menu includes a wide variety of options, from small plates perfect for sharing to healthy choices and vegetarian options. They also offer a selection of beer, wine, and other alcoholic beverages to complement your meal.
Japonica’s enduring appeal can be attributed to several key features that have made it a neighborhood favorite.
- Extensive Menu: The menu is incredibly comprehensive, featuring a vast selection of Japanese dishes. From a la carte sushi and sashimi with a variety of fish, including rare selections like Hamachi and Uni, to cooked entrées like Teriyaki, Tempura, and Japanese Stews, there's something to satisfy every craving.
- Fast Service: Known for its fast service, Japonica is a great option for those looking for a quick and efficient dining experience without compromising on quality.
- Classic Atmosphere: The restaurant offers a casual, cozy, and trendy atmosphere. It's a place that feels authentic and unpretentious, with a decor that has been a part of the New York scene for decades. It is particularly popular with tourists who appreciate its long history and traditional feel.
- Great Tea Selection: For tea lovers, Japonica is a highlight, offering a great selection of teas that perfectly complement the meal and enhance the overall dining experience.
To make a reservation or learn more, you can contact Japonica using the details below:
Address: 90 University Pl, New York, NY 10003, USA
Phone: (212) 243-7752
Japonica is a worthy choice for anyone seeking a Japanese dining experience in New York City that is both classic and reliable. While some may find aspects of the experience "underwhelming," it's important to view the restaurant through the lens of a long-standing, traditional establishment that has served its community for generations. It is not trying to be the newest or most cutting-edge spot; rather, it provides a consistent, authentic experience that has stood the test of time.
What truly makes Japonica worth choosing is its extensive and well-rounded menu. The sushi and sashimi selections, in particular, are praised for their freshness and variety, with the "Sunrise & Sunset roll" being a standout. The wide range of cooked dishes, from tempura to teriyaki, ensures that even those who are not sushi fans will find a delicious meal. The reasonable pricing for the location and the generous portion sizes make it an appealing option for a value-conscious diner. Overall, for a dependable, classic, and comprehensive Japanese meal in a friendly setting, Japonica remains a solid choice in a city with countless dining options.
Japonica Food & drink
Seafood
- Hamachi Kama $14.50
- Ikano Kara-Age $12.00
- Sashimi
- Shumai $9.50
Meat
- Beef-Gyoza $9.50
- Negimaki $12.00
- Yakitori $7.50
- Tatsuta-Age (Chicken Nugget) $8.50
Vegetables
- Avocado Japonica $8.75
- Edamame $7.00
- Hijiki Salad $7.75
- Kyo-Age $8.00
- Oshinko $6.00
- Sauteed Mushrooms $12.00
- Shigiyaki $10.50
- Wakasa-Mushi $10.50
- Yakko Tofu $6.00
- Yasai Gyoza $8.50
- Yasai Tempura $13.50
Soups
- Miso Soup $3.75
- Japonica House Soup $8.00
Saladas
- Garden Fresh Salad $4.25
- Soba Salad $11.00
- Kaiso Salad $11.00
Entrées
Please note additional charge for all white meat chicken
- Negimaki
- Royal Japonica $28.00
Broiled salmon
- Una-Jyu
Broiled eel on the bed of rice (current)
- Yaki-Zakana
Broiled fish of the day
Teriyaki
- Chicken Teriyaki
- Tofu Teriyaki
- Fish Teriyaki
- Beef Teriyaki
Tempura
- Vegetable Tempura
- Combination Tempura
- Fish & Vegetable Tempura
- Fish & Vegetable Tempura
- Shrimp Tempura
Shoga-Yaki
- Chicken Shoga-Yaki
- Pork Shoga-Yaki
Katsu
- Tonkatsu (Pork)
- Tori-Katsu (Chicken)
Vegetable Japonica
- Choice of Shrimp, Chicken, Beef, Pork or Squid $26.00
- Tofu (Deep Fried or Steamed) $21.00
- Vegetable Only $18.00
Ten-Zaru Cold Soba
- Shrimp & Vegetable Ten-Zaru Soba $24.00
- Vegetable Ten-Zaru (Vegetable Tempura) Soba $22.00
- Uni (Sea Urchin)ten-Zaru Soba $24.00
Japanese Stews
- Hot Soba
- Nabe-Yaki Udon
- Sukiyaki
- Yosenabe $28.00
From the Sushi Bar
- Nigiri Zushi
- Deluxe Sushi
- Hot & Spicy Maki Combination
- Chirashi Zushi
- Ultra Sushi
- Tekka-Don
- Sushi & Sashimi Combination
- Sashimi
- Deluxe Sashimi
- Omakase
$Current
- House Special $125.00
For 2 or 3 people
Okomoni Sushi, Sashimi a La Carte
Price Per Piece. Try our quail eggs with salmon caviar or sea urchin $1.75 Extra
- Binchow White Tuna (Albacore) $4.75
- Ebi Shrimp $4.25
- Ama-Ebi Sweet Shrimp $5.00
- Botan-Ebi Jumbo Sweet Shrimp $8.00
- Shira-Ebi Petite Sweet Shrimp
$Current
- Engawa Fluke Fin $5.50
- Hirame Fluke $5.50
- Hamachi Yellow Tail $5.00
- Buri Baby Yellow Tail
$Current
- Kan-Pachi Amber Jack
$Current
- Hotate Sea Scallop $6.75
- Ikura Salmon Caviar $5.00
- Kani Mock Crab Meat $3.00
- Maguro Tuna $5.00
- Hon-Maguro Blue Fin Tuna
$Current
- Mirugai Giant Clam
$Current
- Saba Mackerel $4.25
- Sake Fresh Salmon $4.75
- Smoked Sake Smoked Salmon $4.75
- Tako Octopus $4.75
- Tamago Egg $3.50
- Taraba-Gani King Crab $8.00
- Tobiko Flying Fish Caviar $4.75
- Wasabi Tobiko $4.75
- Suzuki Stripe Bass $4.00
- Toro Tuna Belly
$Current
- Yaki-Toro Seared Toro
$Current
- Unagi Fresh Water Eel
$Current
- Anago Sea Eel
$Current
- Uni Sea Urchin
$Current
Okonomi Roll Sushi a La Carte
Price per regular maki roll. Roll sushi style (all rolls are wrapped in seaweed. Any roll can be made with plain rice or plain brown rice)
- Regular Roll
- Hand Roll
$1 or more
- Inside Out Roll
$1 or more
- Tobikotsuki
$5 or more
- Spicy Way
$1 or more
- Soy Wrapped
$1 or more
- Additional
($0.50 or more each) avocado, asparagus, cucumber, etc
- Naruto Roll
($4 or more) rolled with thinly sliced cucumber instead of seaweed (no rice)
Cooked Fish Rolls
- California Roll $5.75
Mock crabmeat and avocado
- Sake Kawa $5.75
Double broiled salmon skin or together with jalapeño
- Boston Roll $6.75
Shrimp, lettuce and mayonnaise
- Eel $7.75
Broiled eel plain or together with one of the following (cucumber or avocado or egg custard)
- Ca King Crab Roll $16.00
King crab and avocado
- Futomaki (One Big Roll)
Variety of vegetables, egg custard, fish egg and mock crab meat
- Spicy Bay Scallop $12.00
Spicy broiled bay scallop with flying fish eggs, with crunch
- Japonica Dragon $21.00
Light and crispy, spicy anago eel tempura. Cucumber, avocado, fish eggs
- Dragon Roll $19.00
Eel, cucumber, avocado and flying fish eggs
- Sake Teri-Crunch $14.00
Broiled salmon teriyaki style, inside out rice outside with crunch
Raw Fish Rolls
- Saba/Gari $7.25
Smoked mackerel and pickled ginger
- Hama-Negi $7.25
Chopped yellow tail and scallion
- Philadelphia Roll $7.25
Smoked salmon and cream cheese
- Tekka Roll $7.25
Chopped tuna plain or together with one of the following cucumber or avocado or crunch or takuwan(pickled radish)
- Uni Hotate $14.00
Fresh scallops with sea urchin (no inside out roll)
- Spicy Fresh Hotate $14.00
Fresh spicy scallops with fish egg inside out roll
- Fire Cracker $14.00
Avocado, cucumber, jalapeño, crunch, spicy sauce, yellow tail and tuna
- Spicy Tuna-Crunch $8.25
Spicy chopped tuna and tempura flakes
- Hama-Peño Roll $8.25
Chopped yellow tail and sliced fresh jalapeño
- Hot Alaskan Roll $7.25
Spicy chopped salmon, avocado and cucumber
- Rainbow Roll Tuna
Yellow tail, seasoned rice wrapped with seaweed, rolled rice outside, salmon, spinach, tuna, avocado, tobiko, white fish and yellow tail with ca roll inside $20)
- Japonica Invention
Available with yellow tail or salmon. (One big roll) chopped tuna, seasoned rice wrapped with seaweed, rolled rice outside, avocado and flying fish egg
- Sunrise & Sunset
Chopped spicy salmon & avocado seasoned rice wrapped with seaweed rolled rice outside with colorful and some spicy flying fish on outside
- Mountain Roll $22.00
Chopped tuna, yellow tail & salmon, inside out rice outside with flying fish egg & avocado
Vegetable Rolls
- Cucumber $4.50
- Avocado $4.50
- Takuwan $4.50
- Gobo $4.50
- Asparagus/Mayo $5.00
- Ume/Shiso/Q $5.00
- Nato $5.00
- Takuwan/Spinach $5.00
- Hijiki Kelp/Mayo $5.00
- Kanpyo Gourd/Egg $5.00
- Shiitake/Crunch $5.00
- Avocado/Gobo Burdock $5.00
Tempura Roll
- Sweet Potato $7.00
- Japanese Pumpkin $8.00
- Spicy Calamari $8.00
- Shrimp $8.00
Japonica Details
Service options
- Takeout
- Dine-in
Highlights
- Fast service
- Great tea selection
Popular for
- Lunch
- Dinner
- Solo dining
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible entrance
Offerings
- Alcohol
- Beer
- Healthy options
- Small plates
- Vegetarian options
- Wine
Dining options
- Lunch
- Dinner
- Dessert
- Table service
Amenities
- Restroom
- Wi-Fi
- Wi-Fi
Atmosphere
- Casual
- Cozy
- Trendy
Crowd
- Tourists
Planning
- Accepts reservations
Payments
- Credit cards
- Debit cards
- NFC mobile payments
- Credit cards
Japonica Photos










Japonica Location
Japonica Reviews
pricesbento boxavocadotunasalmondinnersushi and sashimichirashi90ssnow crab
★ 5★ 4★ 3★ 2★ 1for a place that has been around since 1978, I expected better. the service felt rushed even though there were only 2 other tables being serviced besides ours.my favorite was the sunrise & sunset roll. prices are reasonable but the sushi is nothing exceptional.I had a glass of sauvignon blanc that was very flat. I don’t recommend the wine.overall, it was underwhelming and just okay.
July 30 · Vivian RizoDid this place change ownership. The renovation is beautiful, but the food, wow, so mediocre. Why is there no vinegar in the sushi? Its like they set the rice cooker to sushi mode, but forgot to mix in sushi vinegar. The rice was so hard and bland. Fortunately the fish was decent. Wegmans has better sushi in the grab and go area.
May 17 · Ricky LeeOverpriced and not very good. Ramen: Chashu is just boiled pork tenderloin. Egg hard boiled and not marinated. Broth part
June 15 · Harry KaufmanThis was our first time coming to Japonica and it was a mother's day lunch/dinner for 4. The seating was intimate, the service was excellent & the food perfect. There are seasonal options and regular favorites when you think of sushi/sashimi. This location is ideal for small groups (2-6) or if you're on your own. From appetizers to dessert, we were absolutely pleased. I look forward to returning.
May 16 · N Gaston-McDonaldFantastic uber-fresh sushi 🍣 and wonderful efficient service make this place my #1 for sushi! Excellent quality!I got here when it opened and within 35 minutes, the restaurant was completely filled. I highly recommend Japonica!
May 16 · Michele
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