969 NYC Coffee
Japanese restaurant · Jackson Heights ·
Sushi-style sandwiches, coffee, matcha, and Japanese snacks
Sushi-style sandwiches, coffee, matcha, and Japanese snacks
"Despite its name, 969 isn’t on this map for its coffee as much as its onigirazu, rice-based sandwiches — not only hard to find in New York, but it is also a relatively modern invention in Japan. There’s no menu listed, but real ones know chicken katsu and shrimp patty are the way (they come layered with avocado, carrots, and American cheese). A meal here is around $5. Note: this isn’t the spot for those in a rush (it’s a one-man show, which is also part of why we love it!)." - Eater Staff
"Since opening in Jackson Heights in 2016, 969 Coffee has been a favorite of neighborhood regulars — both for its onigirazu (a sandwich with a bun of rice), and its genial owner Mitsumine Oda. (The business name is reportedly related to his favorite number, not the address.) Though the shop with a small seating area in front serves great coffee, it’s known for its Japanese snacks. There’s no menu listing for the variations on the onigirazu sandwich, but try the chicken katsu or shrimp patty, also layered with avocado, carrots, and American cheese." - Robert Sietsema
"The neighborhood boasts a solid number of Asian restaurants — Thai, Filipino, Chinese American, and of course, Indian — though there’s no Japanese option quite like 969 NYC Coffee. Owner Mitsumine Oda offers nearly a dozen different onigiri options, which he sometimes fashions into heart-shaped rice balls filled with everything from kaarage to pickled plums. But that’s not all: He serves ramen with green tea noodles, crispy shrimp tempura, and there’s a decent selection of Japanese snacks like sesame mochi and seaweed snacks, plus some of the best matcha in town." - Robert Sietsema
"I order a matcha latte and a heart-shaped onigiri—rice balls stuffed with pickled plum, kimchi pork, or bacon and eggs—at 969 NYC Coffee, a homey café run by Japanese expat Oda Mitsumine that makes for a comforting breakfast stop." - Ashlea Halpern
"In Jackson Heights I visited 969 Coffee, a tiny coffee and snacks shop opened in 2016 by Mitsumine Oda that specializes in onigirazu and was one of New York’s earliest purveyors of the dish. Oda fills his sandwiches with combinations like shrimp patties, chicken or pork katsu, avocado, spicy mayo, American cheese, and carrot shards; there isn’t really a posted menu, so you tell him what type you want and he makes it to order. Nearly everything is priced around $5 and has remained that way since opening, making 969 one of the city’s most affordable onigirazu spots." - Emma Orlow
