Kawabun NYC

14 NYC Restaurants That Feel Like Japan

"One-Michelin-starred Kajitsu serves a type of cuisine that’s hard to find outside of Japan: vegetarian shojin ryori. Shojin ryori predates kaiseki ryori, and was the original type of food served at Zen Buddhist temples. Consider Kajitsu’s two tasting menu options (eight courses for $95, 10 courses for $125) to be a meat-free form of kaiseki, emphasizing balance and harmony, and cooking preparations which seek to coax out the inherent flavor of each individual seasonal ingredient. Expect to try dishes such as sake lees soup, daikon rice, fried winter mushroom with gingko nut, and daikon with yuzu. Grab a seat at the minimalist blonde wood counter, or for larger parties there’s a simple dining room with tables." - Kat Odell