Kome Waza Introduce
In a city as diverse and dynamic as New York, finding a restaurant that caters to modern tastes while offering a healthy and quick dining experience is a true win. Kome Waza, a Japanese eatery on the Upper East Side, has carved out a niche for itself by focusing on a concept that is both simple and exciting: build-your-own bowls and classic onigiri. This trendy yet casual spot is a go-to for many New Yorkers seeking a flavorful and nutritious meal without the long wait times often associated with sit-down restaurants. It's an ideal choice for a quick lunch break, a satisfying dinner, or a comfortable place for solo dining.
The core idea behind Kome Waza is to provide fresh and customizable Japanese-inspired food. As one satisfied customer noted, the ability to build your own bowl, choosing everything from the base to the protein and sauce, makes for a truly personalized and delicious meal. The restaurant's offerings are designed to be both healthy and comforting, with options for various dietary preferences, including vegetarian selections. It’s the kind of place that appeals to a diverse crowd, from college students to families and locals. Kome Waza aims to be a reliable, welcoming spot where everyone can enjoy a quality meal in a casual and friendly atmosphere.
Kome Waza is conveniently located at 1275 1st Ave, New York, NY 10065. This address places it in a bustling residential area of the Upper East Side, making it easily accessible for a wide range of customers. Whether you are living in the neighborhood, working nearby, or just passing through, its location on a major avenue makes it simple to find and a great option for a spontaneous meal.
Accessibility is a key priority for Kome Waza, with a wheelchair-accessible entrance to ensure that all members of the community can visit without any barriers. For those who drive, paid street parking is available in the vicinity. The restaurant also offers a variety of service options—including delivery, takeout, and dine-in—catering to the fast-paced lifestyle of New Yorkers. This flexibility ensures that you can enjoy Kome Waza's offerings whether you're grabbing a quick bite on your way home or settling in for a relaxed meal.
Kome Waza provides a focused yet comprehensive range of services and menu items centered around fresh, customizable bowls and traditional Japanese snacks.
A selection of signature bowls, such as the White Soy Avocado Bowl and the Pomegranate Citrus Spicy Bowl, featuring fresh ingredients and unique flavor combinations.
Customizable "Build-Your-Own" bowls, allowing customers to choose their base (rice or salad), protein, toppings, and sauce to create a meal tailored to their exact preferences.
Classic Japanese onigiri (rice balls) with various fillings like Spam, Sake (salmon), and Plum, offering a taste of traditional Japanese comfort food.
A range of beverages, including soft drinks, to complement your meal.
Catering services, making it a great option for office lunches or events.
Delivery and takeout options for ultimate convenience, perfect for a meal at home or on the go.
Dine-in seating in a casual, comfortable, and trendy atmosphere.
Kome Waza stands out from other Japanese restaurants in the city with several notable features that define its unique identity and appeal.
Customizable bowls: The "build-your-own" concept is a major highlight, empowering customers to create a meal that is exactly what they want, with fresh, healthy ingredients.
Healthy and vegetarian options: The menu includes a variety of healthy choices and explicitly offers vegetarian options, such as the Hatcho Miso Tofu Bowl, catering to health-conscious diners and those with specific dietary needs.
Solo dining friendly: Kome Waza is a popular spot for solo dining, indicating a comfortable and welcoming environment for individuals to enjoy a meal on their own.
Transgender safe space: The business identifies itself as a transgender safe space, which is a significant and important highlight that demonstrates a commitment to inclusivity and creating a welcoming environment for all members of the community.
Casual and trendy atmosphere: The ambiance is relaxed yet modern, making it a great spot for a casual get-together or a quick, enjoyable meal.
Quick and efficient service: As a "quick bite" spot, the restaurant focuses on providing fast service without compromising on the quality of the food.
For more information or to place an order, you can contact Kome Waza using the following details:
Address: 1275 1st Ave, New York, NY 10065, USA
Phone: (646) 838-5828
When deciding whether Kome Waza is the right choice for you, it is important to weigh its strengths and potential drawbacks. The restaurant's core appeal is its commitment to fresh, healthy, and customizable Japanese-inspired food in a fast-casual setting. The "build-your-own" bowl idea is a huge plus, giving customers control over their meal and ensuring they get exactly what they crave. The friendly and casual atmosphere, along with its status as a transgender safe space, makes it a welcoming and inclusive place for everyone in the community.
However, it is crucial to consider the mixed customer reviews. While one reviewer praised the deliciousness of their customizable bowl, another raised a serious concern about perceived racial bias in portion sizes and a decline in quality. This kind of feedback is significant and suggests that the customer experience can be inconsistent. While the positive aspects of the restaurant, such as its menu variety and commitment to inclusivity, are strong selling points, the negative feedback about portion sizes and perceived unfair treatment is a considerable factor to be aware of. Ultimately, Kome Waza is best chosen for its potential to provide a quick and healthy meal in a casual setting, but with an awareness that customer experiences may vary.
Kome Waza Vibe
Onigiri
- Spam Onigiri $4.00
Spam, tamale, and spinach wrapped in seaweed.
- Sake Onigiri $4.00
Grill salmon, scallions, and spicy mayonnaise.
- Plum Onigiri $4.00
Plum and oba leaf.
Bowls & Soup
- White Soy Avocado Bowl $14.00
Seared tuna over 8-grain brown rice with mixed greens, hijiki quinoa, white soy avocado cream sauce, sesame seeds, garlic chips, kizami nori, tobiko, and salsa.
- Pomegranate Citrus Spicy Bowl $13.00
Salmon over sushi rice with mixed greens, tomato, onion, cucumber, edamame, pomegranate citrus spice sauce, goo seaweed, sesame seeds, tobiko, and radish sprouts.
- Anchovy Mango Hamachi Bowl $12.00
Hamachi and scallops over mixed greens with mango, hijiki quinoa, edamame, tomato, mango anchovy sauce, masago, sesame seeds, and radish sprouts.
- Wasabi Cashew Tako Bowl $14.00
Octopus, scallops, and shrimp over kale cold noodles with mixed greens, hijiki quinoa, tomato, wasabi cashew peanut sauce, ago seaweed, rice puff, and radish sprouts.
- Hatcho Miso Tofu Bowl $12.00
Tofu over sushi rice with mixed greens, hijiki quinoa, mixed seaweed, hatch miso glaze, radish sprouts, pumpkin seeds, kizami nori, and avocado.
- Kome Waza Sample Bowl $17.00
Tuna, salmon, hamachi, octopus, shrimp, scallop, and ikura over sushi rice with masago, pickled ginger, seasonal pickles, and kizami nori choice of any sauce but recommend ponzu soy sauce and it come on the side.
Beverages
- Soft Drinks $1.50
Kome Waza Details
Service options
- Delivery
- Takeout
- Dine-in
Popular for
- Lunch
- Dinner
- Solo dining
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible entrance
- Wheelchair accessible parking lot
Offerings
- Comfort food
- Healthy options
- Quick bite
- Vegetarian options
Dining options
- Lunch
- Dinner
- Catering
- Dessert
- Seating
- Table service
Atmosphere
- Casual
- Trendy
Crowd
- College students
- Family-friendly
- Locals
- Transgender safespace
Planning
- Accepts reservations
Payments
- Credit cards
- Debit cards
- NFC mobile payments
- Credit cards
Children
- Good for kids
Parking
- Paid street parking
Kome Waza Photos










Kome Waza Location
Kome Waza Reviews
pokepricefishspicybrown rice
★ 5★ 4★ 3★ 2★ 1I loved the idea of the restaurant. You can build your own bowl choosing flavors and assorted portions. I chose brown rice, salmon, seaweed with avocado sauce and it got delicious.
March 29 · Carolina SchafferSo I love poke and always go to this place since is the only one around home, I eat in this place at least 1 time per week, that’s why I have even a “reward” card, but lately in the last 2 months, they have new people working there and they put less and less food each time, like one day I’m going to come back home with just a little bit of rice, I don’t know what’s going on but you can clearly see how this happens only to certain customers of certain race, so whenever you go there I hope you are Asian or they like you so you can get the food that you pay for!!Terrible!!
January 29 · Adriana Valeramy favorite local spot in nyc!all time favorite menu is *extra spicy mayo bowl*, it's so delicious and fresh!!also japanese style ramen is good🍜
July 22 · JaneDelicious fresh fish. Many options for toppings, sauce and fish. Bowls are around $12. Great place for a quick bite to eat. I can’t wait to go back!
October 08 · Christina MaielloLove the poke bowl at this place! Super fresh, and so many different options to choose from. Would definitely reccomend if your into poke bowls!
August 23 · Kendell Mccook
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