Aburiya Kinnosuke

"Aburiya Kinnosuke might be Midtown East's best kept secret. Have you ever heard of it? Didn't think so. We hadn't either until a trusted friend/restaurant informant tipped us off to it. And now here we are, passing that tip on to you. For the uninitiated, what you need to know is that Aburiya Kinnosuke is an upscale, authentic Japanese restaurant experience, with a menu that ranges from sushi and sashimi to delicious things cooked on a charcoal robata grill. If you do it right, a meal here is long, exciting, and pretty damn expensive. It's also worth every dollar you'll spend if not for the fact that it's delicious, because it's an excellent change of pace from the rest of the boring restaurants in this part of town. Hit it up for your next client dinner, or for the next time you want something besides another upscale restaurant burger. Food Rundown Sashimi The sashimi at Aburiya Kinnosuke is absolutely delicious, but it's also expensive. We recommend spending your money messing around with more of the unique things on the menu, but you won't be mad about some of this fresh fish if you order it. Particularly the yellowtail and the fluke. Deep Fried Organic Chicken Wings There are chicken wings on a stick that people swear by from Aburiya, but these from the fryer are the ones we love. Four tiny, but incredibly tasty wings are served on a plate with just a little bit of sweet glaze goodness. Salmon Harasu (Fatty Salmon) The robata is a charcoal grill which uses a special kind of wood that does not smoke and produces "infrared" rays (not something from the Sky Mall Catalog that grills hot dogs in your apartment). Whatever comes off it tends to have extra crispy skin and perfectly tender meat. This fatty salmon is the perfect example. Simple and sweet, if you like grilled fish, you will love this. Washu Beef Hanger Steak with Ponzu Sauce Add "hanger steak" to the list of "stuff that tastes more delicious with ponzu sauce on it." This is one of the best dishes on this menu. Order it. Ground Jidori Chicken Tsukune A fan favorite, this is basically a chicken meatball on a stick, served with a poached egg in a tiny saucer for you to dip your meat stick into. Pretty excellent." - Chris Stang

"A Japanese grill operated by Create Restaurants that will close as part of larger closing plans." - Luke Fortney

"A meaty Japanese grill opens today in Midtown East from two chefs with extensive experience cooking the cuisine here in New York City. Aburiya Kinnosuke, located at 213 East 45th St., between Second and Third avenues, makes grilled wagyu and other meats its primary focus." - Stefanie Tuder

"A serious lunch for serious people, Aburiya Kinnosuke is a very authentic Japanese restaurant, where it seems like several hours went into each and every bite of steamed clams, beef stew, or warm homemade tofu. You’re going to want a reservation and plenty of time to enjoy it." - Hannah Albertine, Bryan Kim, Matt Tervooren

"If you want to eat some expensive grilled meats near Grand Central, and you’d rather not go to Keens or Smith & Wollensky and run into all the ex-coworkers you’re avoiding on LinkedIn, head to Aburiya Kinnosuke. This upscale Japanese spot specializes in meats cooked on a robata grill, and some of our favorite dishes are the hanger steak with ponzu and the chicken meatball served with a poached egg as a dipping sauce. Non-meat eaters will also be happy here - the sashimi and handmade tofu are tasty as well." - Hannah Albertine, Bryan Kim, Hillary Reinsberg, Matt Tervooren