Samurai Mama

Japanese restaurant · Williamsburg

Samurai Mama

Japanese restaurant · Williamsburg

4

205 Grand St, Brooklyn, NY 11211

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Samurai Mama by null
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Highlights

Rustic Japanese spot in Williamsburg serving handmade udon, ramen, sushi tacos, and hearty broths in a cozy, communal setting.  

Featured in The Infatuation
Featured in Eater

205 Grand St, Brooklyn, NY 11211 Get directions

samuraimama.com
@samuraimama_bk

$30–50 · Menu

Reserve

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205 Grand St, Brooklyn, NY 11211 Get directions

+1 718 599 6161
samuraimama.com
@samuraimama_bk

$30–50 · Menu

Reserve

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Last updated

Jul 30, 2025

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@infatuation

Samurai Mama Review - Williamsburg - New York - The Infatuation

"A Japanese spot focusing mainly on udon (they also serve some sushi), Samurai Mama is a good place to know about when you’re looking for a casual spot to warm up your frostbitten self in Williamsburg. The vibe feels like a Japanese maze/hideout, with four different rooms, and would be good for an early in the game date. If it’s not winter, the probability that you’ll end up here is dependent on your appreciation for udon. Get the curry one." - Katherine Lewin

https://www.theinfatuation.com/new-york/reviews/samurai-mama
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@eater

11 Sublime Soba and Udon Noodles in NYC

"Chef-owner of Bozu, the fusion Japanese small-plates spot known for its orb-like “sushi bombs” (dome-shaped nigiri with a range of sauces and crunchy toppings), is also behind this nearby udon joint. At Makoto Suzuki’s sophomore venture in the area, strands are served chilled or in soup form; the noodles are handmade daily using specially filtered Kaiaki water and a distinctive flour blend from California. There’s an impressive plethora of choices, from a hot seafood curry version to a chilled plum, shiso, and daikon radish-strewn option." - Alexandra Ilyashov

https://ny.eater.com/maps/best-japanese-soba-udon-noodles-nyc
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@onthegrid

On the Grid : Samurai Mama

"A dark space, fun atmosphere and delicious noodles and broth." - Swords-Smith

https://onthegrid.city/brooklyn/s-williamsburg/samurai-mama
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@mia

Tempura udon, extra tempura

New York
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Hillary Guzik-Jung

Google
I had much higher hopes that what I actually ate. Maybe it was an off night, everything seemed basic and small for the price. Staff were super busy, but not attentive. Might have needed more? The food was just good, not bad, but also not the special that I was expecting to get. The portions were small. The place was loud. I would give it another chance, because my partner said it was really good.

Katrina Neumann

Google
Vibes are immaculate ✨ I wish more restaurants had low lights and community tables. This made for good people watching while enjoying perfect Udon Curry with friends. The food is always so good—in particular stop in on cold nights or rainy days to warm up within these wooden walls. Groups, family, or date night—this place is it.

Brian Chae

Google
Food was okay. But I do not recommend if you are looking for any authentic Japanese. Also, the place is SUPER HOT. I asked for a seat under AC but they said they could not move us due to other reservation. But the seat was empty until we leave the restaurant.

Tiff L

Google
Grab a bowl of authentic udon served hot, cold, dip, or pour. The hot broth that I got tasted clean and balanced, no msg so it’s good to drink. The tempura probably would’ve been good except it got soggy in the broth so I would ask for it on the side next time.

Wei Peng

Google
Great food with cozy and intimate atmosphere! Love the sushi tacos I got, they were delicious and healthy! Will def come back!

Sai Pardhu

Google
Good place and tasty food, liked their garlic fried chicken appetizer. Tried their taco roll set, which was unique and tasty. Taco roll is basically a sushi roll in a shell

Miguel Galeano

Google
Hidden Gem for Authentic Japanese! This Japanese restaurant was a delightful surprise! From the moment I walked in, the atmosphere was warm and inviting. The chef's attention to detail truly shone through. He even recommended a special cold ramen dish, perfect for a scorching NYC day - it was a visually stunning and refreshing combination of chilled noodles, crisp and colorful vegetables, and a perfectly cooked slice of chashu pork. I paired it with a refreshing Japanese IPA, and the flavors were incredible. Service was top-notch, and I felt genuinely cared for throughout my meal. Highly recommend this place - I'll definitely be back!

Thomas Castriota

Google
What an absolutely incredible spot! I had dinner with my son and his girlfriend and it was so fantastic! The quality of the food was tremendous, the sake was outstanding, and the overall vibe was just terrific. We sat at a communal table which was concerning at first, but turned out to be just fine. My only small issue that I would raise was that the temperature was a tad warm - I’m not sure if that was just this time of year though because it’s the confusing part of spring where you just don’t know whether to turn on the heat or the air conditioning so I get it. I highly highly highly recommended Samurai Mama and will definitely come back.
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Carol B.

Yelp
I was recently craving Japanese food, but I wasn't sure if I wanted ramen, or udon, or sushi, or something else. Good thing Samurai Mama has all of those and more! This cozy restaurant has a combination of communal seating, booths, and regular tables. I ordered: * uni "tacos" * seafood miso soup * agedashi tofu The uni "tacos" were kind of like a nigiri atop a piece of seaweed. Each order comes with two tacos. Great way to start the meal. The seafood miso soup was delicious - it was a spicy broth with everything you would expect in a miso soup, plus veggies, mussels, scallops, and shrimp! Yum! I loved this soup. The agedashi tofu came in a perfectly sized portion (six well-sized pieces) in a bowl of flavorful broth. I definitely want to come back to try the donburi and the udon. Samurai Mama is a solid choice!
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Steven Z.

Yelp
Came here with a group of friends. They have chilled ramen for summer days. Unfortunately, the omelette ramen was way too sour (and I quite like vinegar). I had to drink water in between bites to counteract the sourness. The service was terrible -- very slow. We had to ask for water refills multiple times and it took a long time to flag down the check. They auto add gratuity for groups over 5 people. There was also some fly under the table as I got bit a few times.
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Connie G.

Yelp
Rating 3.5 I compare all the udon places in NYC to Raku, which is my favorite. Unfortunately, I thought the udon here was just ok. I got the shrimp tempura udon: the noodles were not chewy, which is the main feature I look for. You get two pieces of shrimp, which they place in the broth itself. I wish they placed it on the side since by the time I ate them they were really soggy. We also sat the communal table, which felt a bit cramped during dinner (especially with bags, umbrellas, and winter coats strewn everywhere). Overall not bad but not the best I've had.
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Sera Y.

Yelp
Pretty cute and vibey restaurant with friendly staff, but unfortunately the food was very mid. We got the pork gyoza to split. I liked the dole up of sauce in the middle (mostly salty and spicy, a little sweet) and the dipping sauce they provided on the side. The dumplings themselves however weren't that good; they weren't crispy at all, they were oozing oil, and the filling wasn't very flavorful at all. The pork curry udon was okay, the broth wasn't too heavy and the pork was pretty tender. The udon was a little too soft and overcooked though. My friends who got cold udon said their udon was very al dente - I had the impression they cook all their udon together and the people who order cold udon dishes end up with undercooked udon and the people with warm warm udon dishes end up with overcooked udon.
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Caro G.

Yelp
I'm really happy that I found this place! The menu at Samurai Mama is fairly priced with good vegetable content. Employees add a personal touch that makes visits fun. This place offers a comfortable vibe. Each element of the dining experience was satisfying.
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Paula N.

Yelp
My boyfriend and I came on a Saturday for a 8:45 reservation. We were sat at the communal table which was a lot spacier than it looked. We both ordered drinks and shrimp gyoza. Unfortunately, it does not say on the menu that the shrimp gyozas are fried, and we were expecting the classic pan seared gyoza. They were fried a bit too hard for our liking but the hoisin sauce was great. The crunchy roll was as expected. I ordered the spicy ramen and unfortunately, it wasn't hot at all. Temperature wise nor spice. The ebi tempura udon was ok! No complaints. Ok experience. Something to eat.
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Jesse Y.

Yelp
If you have Ramen, Sushi, good music, good drinks and good service all under one roof...well I'm there. Really wanted to give 5 star review for Samurai Mama however the only minor detail holding back is the broth on their original Ramen is a bit thin and lacking that rich deep flavor. Maybe it was just a one time fluke but overall I was very content. Definitely coming back soon to try their own house made Udon.
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Betty W.

Yelp
Came here with a group of friends and the vibes in the place were great. However I don't think I'll be coming back for the food - everything was very disappointing. We got the karaage, agedashi tofu for starters and they were a bit lack luster to me. I got the sushi taco special set and my boyfriend got an udon. The sushi taco was not worth it -especially the special. It was just ok. I didn't love the udon either- it didn't have the qq mouth feel for the noodles that I like. And the soup was just ok for me too. Overall won't be going back
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Krystalynn U.

Yelp
DELICIOUS!! Came here while visiting NYC and our local friends book our reservation here. It did not disappoint! We started with several apps and you really can't go wrong with any of them! I had the tofu udon in fish broth for my meal (I think it was called the Kitsune Udon) and it was very yummy. The tofu had a slight sweet flavor which was good to help break up the photo. The broth was SO good and I would recommend this place! The ambiance was also very nice.
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Ken W.

Yelp
The udon here is top 2 within New York that I've had so far! Stopped by here on a whim as they opened as my partner was craving some udon. Especially just being in Japan in September, was really craving some udon as New York weather has been transitioning to fall. Pleasantly surprised at the flavor and quality of the udon here. The broth had a satisfying umami flavor and the portion of udon I found was very generous. We each had an udon soup and left full without needing any additional appetizers or entrees.
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Chelle L.

Yelp
Came here shortly after they opened for dinner service and was seated at the large, long communal table. I got the pork curry udon and it was amazing. The curry sauce was flavorful, there was plenty of pork in my bowl, and I liked that it came with a variety of julienned veggies. The udon noodles were springy and fresh so I wish there was more. The service is friendly and attentive. My only qualm is that the seating at the communal table isn't the most comfortable as you can feel the whole bench move with other people on it. I look forward to coming back to trying their other menu items!
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Phylicia H.

Yelp
This restaurant has been on my list and I was finally excited to check it out for lunch on a Saturday afternoon. I loved the communal table and the decor inside. However, I'm not sure I would've liked it if I came during dinner because it would've been a bit too cramped and loud. It's winter time and no coat room so my winter jacket took up the entire seat next to me. Because I came during lunch when it was empty, it was not an issue. Ordered the seaweed salad, pork gyoza and sukiyaki udon. The seaweed salad was very interesting. The menu did not provide any details so I was expecting the usual seaweed salad you get anywhere. This was a dish that came with 5 different kinds of seaweed and 2 different sauces. It was very cool and unique, but flavor was just okay in my opinion. I felt extremely healthy eating it though, which is a nice feeling. Pork gyoza were small but packed with a lot of flavor. And the sukiyaki udon was delicious! I loved the umami, fatty beef and how the tofu soaked up all that sauce. My only wish was for the udon to come out hot like they do in Japan. I hardly had to blow on the udon to eat. I would come back to try other udon and ramen from here!
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Janice H.

Yelp
Really liked the fresh, chewy udon noodles :) Soup broth for the chilled bukkake udon is good if you like a sweeter broth. And I loved the onsen egg it came with! Desserts are pretty standard, nothing to write home about. Good for groups or a semi-casual first date.
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Cindy W.

Yelp
This place is known for the udon and ramen - so don't miss out on trying these delicious noodles. We also got the fan favorite - sushi tacos. While each piece was beautifully presented, it didn't taste that special. Perhaps we should try the chef's special or pick our own next time. But I'd highly recommend the wasabi margarita and the spicy bukkake udon. The udon was so tender and silky. The soup base was seasoned perfectly without being too salty. Sitting at the communal table was a fun experience. It was set up mainly for couples. You can always tell when a couple is on a first date! Service was prompt. We were in and out in under 45 mins!
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Deanna T.

Yelp
p solid udon and ramen noodles!! i got the ebu tempura one - the shrimp was delicious but the udon base was a bit too fishy for me. the noodle texture was delicious though! the chilled ramen noodles were a dish we got that was off the menu, but so delicious and flavorful. great service though & peaceful ambiance!

Ali K.

Yelp
Everything here was good - food, service, ambiance; but there was nothing too notable. We came here for New Years and it was quite busy. There's a communal style table as soon as you walk in but we were seated by the bar a bit further back which was nice and private. We ordered the veggie gyoza which were pretty good and came with a jelly I've never seen. I ordered Kinoko Tsukejil Udon. I've never had experience with dipping style Udon before so it was a bit confusing on how to eat, but the noodles were really good on their own.
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Myrna C.

Yelp
I had put Samurai Mama on a list of places that I wanted to try out in Williamsburg but hadn't actually thought that we'd get the chance to try it out so soon. We got there just before opening (12:00 PM) on a Saturday so there was no wait. We were seated side by side at a long communal table in the middle of the restaurant. One of their signature items is the sushi taco set, which looked yummy, but we opted to try the Bara Chirashi as we figured that there would be more pieces of fish for us to share. The presentation was lovely and the fish was fresh. For $28, it's a pretty good deal for the amount of food that you get. We also tried the Mama Original Ramen ($17), which, per the menu, is made with a stock of bonito, sardine, mackerel, pork, konbu seaweed, mussels, shiitake, and garlic and topped with a slow-cooked egg, chashu pork, bok choy, nori, bamboo shoot, fried green onion, fresh scallion, bonito and scallion oil. The soup was very flavorful and the noodles were bouncy and chewy. I will definitely be back to try the udon noodles next time!
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Monicka C.

Yelp
Order: - Sukiyaki Udon (5/5) Pros: - Amazing tasting udon - Large portions - Unique restaurant aesthetics - Kind and quick service Cons: - Small restaurant with a large middle table/bench that most customers sit at Overall: The udon was perfect on a cold night. I definitely will be back
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Ida F.

Yelp
My go to spot for Udon. Especially because they have a veggie broth option. I've been dining at Samurai mama for years and it's always been consistent in good food, service and ambience. I love their agedashi tofu, veggie tempura and Sansai udon. The udon never disappoints. Of all the Japanese spots I've dined in NYC, this is hands down the best veggie udon I've had. Many places don't really offer a veggie broth option so big plus for Samurai. Whenever I'm in the area I stop in for a bite. Great spot!
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Lisa Z.

Yelp
Was craving hot udon/soup in the Williamsburg neighborhood so my partner and I decided to come here. The place is definitely smaller than we thought but the service was nice and the interior is dimly lit and more for a romantic type of meal. The udon soup was pretty good and the hand roll we ordered was also pretty standard. The only thing is if you prefer privacy, they only really have one big table for you to sit next to other people on. Also one thing to note is when we paid at the end, the server comes and holds the device for you to pay with card and give tip, it was a little awkward as the server was watching you do every move/give tip. Overall standard Japanese udon/soup place in the area.
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David A.

Yelp
This place is a bit of a while in the wall but what a gem. Fantastic sushi and cooked food. Service is also top notch. Highly recommend.
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Dmitry D.

Yelp
First of I would not come to this place again so many more great spots in the area. But you hate to see other that came after you and ordered after you get their food before you. That just always sucks and waiters should not let that happen . The variety of the menu isn't bad. My curry seafood udon wasn't bad. But the quality and amount of seafood definitely didn't make it seem like a seafood udon. Mini shrimp and I mean like mini shrimp , 2 pieces of the mini scallops. So I paid for the broth and noodles pretty much . The sushi tacos were fresh but nothing special . And the gyoza which same as the ramen came out after other patrons were basic and lacked flavor . But again dipping sauces to the rescue .
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Esther R.

Yelp
Sushi tako set $21 was very good for quality and value. I also ordered the wakame udon $13 which had a good portion. The proportion with broth and content was a bit off. There was too little broth and too much content (overloaded tempura & seaweed). Overall, it was a filling meal and good value!
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Maria J.

Yelp
i'm really surprised that this place still exists - especially on a main street in williamsburg where there is sooo many amazing asian restaurants around. my two guesses are that it's because it's the only really udon-centric spot in the neighborhood and that maybe it caters to a specific williamsburg crowd that maybe never had udon/asian food before (and maybe vegans bc they do have a veggie broth)?? i remember coming here and samurai papa's several times back in 2015-2107 and seriously don't rmember it being this bad!! bc wow.. this might have been the worst restaurant my bf and i have been to in the city and i dont say that lightly. i mean you can't taste bad, have bad drinks, be slow AND be expensive. you have to have at least one of the four at MINIMUM. look, i want to use my reviews for good and lift businesses up, not tear them down but i'm telling ya, 2/5 is GENEROUS. my bf and i got the pork gyoza, veg tempura and sukiyaki's each. pork gyoza 2/5: tasted like something you could get from the freezer section of target - not even an asian restaurant. you know how most places serve gyoza with the lace? the crispy skirt? well it had that skirt, but it was not crispy - it was straight soggy. how... veg tempura 3/5: super standard but the dipping sauce was good! i'll give them that! giving credit where credit is due and the shishito peppers were good! but it was just shishito peppers, mushrooms and sweet potatoes which i thought were a strange variety. sukiyaki 2/5: again, this was generous. salty but flavorless, the noodles had no chew, it felt overcooked. also the onsen egg it comes with? was RAW. i'm not talking a lil underdone, i mean RAW. it took us 30 min from the moment we sat down til the food came out. 30 min?!! we'd be asking for our checks at most other restaurants within 30 min. and somehow when the food came out, it was lukewarm? how did it take that long and not come out piping hot? what's going on back there? only good(?) thing is that portions are pretty big? but i'd rather have smaller portions with lower prices. how were the drinks also bad? my bf got the lychee martini that tasted like a lemon martini and the city pop(?) cucumber drink that tasted like cucumber water. his first drink came out after the appetizers - so think 30 min into us sitting down. the setting, as many other reviews mentioned, is communal with only a few booths and tables to the side and some seating in the back. it's tight and awkward and not very wheelchair accessible - i mention this bc there was a party of 4 that came after us that were squeezing past the seated patrons which is totally fine for us but i imagine was not very accommodating for them. if you've had any medicore japanese food before, i'd skip this place and look elsewhere - like anywhere else. if you're looking for good udon, heck, even mediocre udon, i'd skip this place and head into the city to tsurotontan in union square (only 2/3 stops on the L) or raku in EV or WV - trust me, it'd be worth the trek. only giving is 2 stars bc 1 star seems harsh and the food was subjectively edible AND our server was kind. but can't say the same about the hostess.
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Mike F.

Yelp
It's good. Not great. The staff makes you feel rushed to order. Rushed to complete the transaction. Everything feels rushed. No one that works their smiles, especially the host. One sign that is telling is not seeing an Asian customers in an Asian restaurant
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Meghna S.

Yelp
Recommended by a friend, visited it one fine afternoon and fell in love. Not a very impressive look from the outside but super cute interiors. They have a common shared table seating as well as cabin style private seating. We started with a warm bowl of edamames. For mains my friend ordered their classic ramen and I went for sea food curry udon. The portion size is generous, packed with delicious shrimps, clams, calamari and the noodles were well cooked but what took my heart was the broth. Each sip from the bowl was enjoyable. My friend was equally floored by her Ramen bowl. Our server kept regularly checking on us and ensured we were taken care of. We left satisfied and happy. Will definitely recommend you visit this place for great Japanese noodle bowls. They do a great job.
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Angel C.

Yelp
What a quant and sweet little spot in Brooklyn! Found it randomly as I was leaving domino park and glad I did. The style inside is definitely cozy, everyone either sits on a giant family table or somewhere along the bar. What I didn't have pictured was our ramen and udon and both had incredible broths. The sushi tacos were fantastic! So fresh and the quality was so good and the sushi rice was superb. Our bartender was also awesome, it was great to chat with him about his hometown and Japan. Loved it here! Highly recommend!
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Teresa C.

Yelp
Sitting at a giant Viking-like dining table was a new experience. I guess it makes use of the space effectively and encourages mingling, but I went on a date and the communal dining felt a bit awkward. It was still cool since the table was large enough that you still felt like you had your own space. The taco set was pretty worth imo. Def need ramen or apps to fill you up though.
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Jonathan B.

Yelp
great food great people and they expedited our order cuz i had an appointment. thanks!
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Brandon F.

Yelp
From the outside this place is a humble unsuspecting hole in the wall. Once you step inside it feels elevated but without being pretentious. The food is delicious and the staff were very friendly. If you're looking for comfort food in a cozy spot, Samurai Mama is the joint.
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Harrison D.

Yelp
The food area is beyond amazing. The service is better than expected. The environment is very nice with music playing in the background.
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Justin T.

Yelp
I had some high hopes when dining in here with my friends. The interior was charming and this was my first time trying chilled udon. The flavor of the broth was good initially, but then I found that it got way too salty towards the end of the meal. It also took a while for the food to arrive, and for a server to check in with us to get our bill. Overall, this is a decent place to try, but I wouldn't say it's a standout.
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Huw P.

Yelp
Excellent food at this little gem, the sushi is amazing as are many of the dishes I have had here, it gets a bit crazy at night even with a booking you can wait a fair time 20 mins in my case, I prefer lunch here, the deco is very cool modern Japanese style with some old artifacts. It's awesome go and try Samuri Mama I have been going for about 10 years
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Sharon C.

Yelp
I've had Samurai Mama bookmarked as a place to visit for whenever I'm in Williamsburg, and going on a rainy day was the move since we wanted something hot and cozy. The main feature of the interior is a large communal dining table with some booths. The menu is great with many choices of appetizers, donburi, udon, ramen, and sushi. Great for eating with a group since there are so many options. My friend and I got the sukiyaki beef, kinokojil kake (mushrooms), and a set of the sushi tacos. The sushi tacos were good but not remarkable, despite how popular they seem. My favorite was the salmon! The udon was okay in terms of flavor, but the noodles don't compare to other restaurants like Raku. They're a bit thinner than what I'm used to for udon. The portion is quite generous, which is great. Overall, a good neighborhood spot when you're looking for Japanese food. I wouldn't travel out of my way for it though.
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Marina C.

Yelp
Came here for the first time and will definitely be back! We got the original ramen (there are two ramens on the menu that sound very similar but it seems like the difference is that the original is in a full broth - what the typical ramen you would expect - and the other is more of a dipping style in a concentrated broth). We also got the bara chirashi. Both were delicious and the service was great - the waiter was very attentive and good at walking through the menu.
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Jane K.

Yelp
Food: 4.5/5 Pleasantly surprised at how delicious the udon was here! Stopped by for dinner and we ordered the 4 mushroom udon and the sukiyaki. The 4 mushroom udon was savory and soul soothing. The dashi(?) broth was incredible. The sukiyaki was a bit sweet but it had a hearty beefy flavor. It also came packed with beef, bokchoy and tofu. The bowls looked small but it was a lot of food. I definitely recommend giving this place a try! Service: 4/5 Great service overall. Very attentive and friendly staff. Ambiance: 4/5 Cute large and a bit dingy. There's a big communal table in the middle with private tables all around. Overall, a great dining experience with delicious food!
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Stacy T.

Yelp
Cute restaurant with a long communal table in the middle. There were multiple options for udon and fish on the menu. Staff was very nice. I got the mountain vegetables with udon. It was average. Definitely a solid bowel of udon. However, I went to Raku recently so it was definitely not as soft as Raku. If you are in the area, not a bad choice, but wouldn't go out of the way for it.
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Shantel M.

Yelp
To be honest this is a very New York small restaurant . They promote community dining which is nice since I've never had that experience before. They have 2 private booths and a small private table in the corner if you want a little more intimacy but seems to be on a first come first served basis. We tried the spicy tuna roll which had a weird taste didn't really taste like much of tuna. Over all the rolls I'd give 4/10. We had noodles but we thought they were ramen but non the less the noodles were cold. The broth should have warmed it up but that was also lukewarm/cold. It was surprisingly filling but wouldn't try this restaurant again. Service was slow not sure why. People came after us but some how got theirs ramen and everything before us. Price wasn't bad about 130$ for the meal plus a bottle of presseco. Would I go back? Probably not. Would i recommend? No, there are plenty of restaurants on that strip that are the same so one of those might be a little better .
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Eunice G.

Yelp
Dine in review Wait time: 10/10 - Was immediately sat down without a reservation at 6pm - I requested a booth and was so politely told yes but with an hour time limit as they had reservations for those, which I had no problem with as I was just happy to sit at a booth :) Food: 10:10 - I ordered the Fatty Mama Ramen and it was delicious!! I didn't think I could finish it but it was lift-the-bowl-slurping good! I asked for spicy oil and they were so nice to provide as much spice as I needed (I ended up needing 2 lol) - My boyfriend ordered the chicken (oyako) donburri and he also finished his entire bowl - not surprised tho (he always does) but was very happy with the flavor. Not sure if it was the egg/veggies or the entire dish, but it was very juicy! Great ginger essence to it for those ginger lovers Drinks: 10/10 - I ordered a red wine and really enjoyed it. It was wet with a hint of dryness and not overpowering at all. I thought it complimented my ramen and enhanced the flavors - My boyfriend ordered a Japanese wheat beer (unfortunately, I forgot the name) but it had a cute blue-ish label. It was fruit, refreshing and not too light. I think 5 or 5.5% abv. Would recommend to beer enthusiasts!
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Karin H.

Yelp
I chose this spot for a date night with my boyfriend and I must say it was pretty nice! I got the sushi set and he got a bowl of ramen, and we shared some karaage. His food (ramen) took forever to come out which was the only downfall. Ambiance is good so seats fill up pretty quickly. I would definitely recommend making a reservation beforehand!
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Courtney S.

Yelp
My experience here was interesting. My friend and I had requested a booth and we were told at 5:30 PM that they would need it back by 7 since they had a reservation incoming. We both thought no problem an hour and a half is more than enough time for us to have some Ramen. We were mistaken. My friend ordered miso soup and sushi and I ordered Ramen. My friend spent the next hour waiting not just for her sushi but for her miso soup as well! Their reasoning was that the kitchen was backed up with all of the other orders but at the time we arrived there were only two other people dining in the restaurant so that was a bit confusing, however we brushed it off. My Ramen was brought out about 45 minutes before my friends food which I think is weird bc the norm is that you eat your meal together and not one person sit there and eat while the other person stares at them. Each time we inquired about the status of her order we were brushed off and when my friend said "can I at least get my miso soup?" the waitress said "sure" and walked away and we didn't see that soup for another 20 minutes. 15 minutes before 7 PM we were reminded that they would need the table -- so aside from being disappointed at the amount of time it took to get the food we were also disappointed that they thought it was fair to only give her 15 minutes to eat said food. Needless to say I definitely will not return to samurai mama.
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Isabel B.

Yelp
This restaurant is amazing! - Pork Gyoza: super flavorful with a nutty side sauce and crusty exterior, can't go wrong - Taco set: delicious sampler of nigiri wrapped in seaweed - Bara Chirashi: varying selection of fish with a contrasting yuzu flavor that I absolutely loved, the fish is also super fresh and the sushi rice is amazing - Lychee Martini: perfect for lychee lovers and those that prefer a sweeter cocktail Overall, we had a wonderful dinner and pleasant experience with the staff as well. It's very easy to make reservations online and food is unique. Will have to come back for udon or ramen next time!
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Wendy L.

Yelp
Love this spot! It's a really warm and slightly romantic spot (because of the dim lighting). Food and service was fantastic. Here's why: My boyfriend and I had the sukiyaki udon, dipping noodles, sushi taco set, and drinks (lychee highball and yuzu iced tea drink, forgot to take a picture unfortunately). We started with the sushi taco set as our appetizer, and each taco is distinctly delicious!!! Each taco has either a hint of yuzu, avocado, or a tiny tweak with some ingredient added to it and it really enhances the taco taste. There is also no fishy taste to it, which is great because I can then taste each fish as it is. It comes with soy sauce and wasabi soy sauce to add on top. The noodles are handmade and all the broths have no MSG which really tells a lot about the restaurant wanting to cook quality food. The sukiyaki udon was delicious. It came with a poached egg on the side which is really thoughtful so that it doesn't cook in the udon and I can eat it whenever I want. The broth is light and flavorful. It has a sweet slight yuzu taste with its savory beef broth that blends so well with all the ingredients. The udon is cooked perfectly, chewy. My boyfriend had the dipping noodles with pork, which I tried a little bit of. It's also really delicious, the broth is richer than my udon, and has a stronger flavor. It sort of tastes like the brown sauce that you put on an omurice (if you know what I'm talking about). In terms of price point, it honestly is quite affordable and reasonably priced like $18 a bowl of udon and $21 for sushi taco set. Like for the quality of the food, price point, attentive service, and great vibes in the restaurant, it's great. I would love to come back again honestly.
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Nicholas G.

Yelp
The food here is great. Most of the restaurant is seated at one long table, family style, which is annoying and i dont think its all that space efficient either. If you love Japanese food and hate privacy this place is the best. Otherwise its a sort of a compromise.
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Tyler T.

Yelp
This place continued my somewhat disappointing journey to find good Japanese food in Williamsburg. While there is a good variety of food, there are no really strong standouts. The food here can be best described as just okay. It hits the spot for Japanese food cravings, and even does those pancake style gyoza, but the actual taste is just so so. I would pass on the burger collaboration they're doing as that dish was quite a bit worst than the other options.
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Don L.

Yelp
Menu is misleading, food quality is subpar at best, I had a lunch special rice dish and it came with deep fried mostly oily dough with thinly sliced vegetables that you can barely see...Will not return again
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Michael A.

Yelp
Came here on a recommendation from a couple friends. Made reservations for 7pm, got there a few minutes early and was greeted and seated immediately. When I got there, there was a good amount of open seats in the front dining area and they placed me in the back dining room which was small. Place is dark lit and rustic looking. The service was abysmal. Not sure why they'd place me in the small back room but I was trying to flag them down by waving my hands and I could see 3 waiters just chilling and talking amongst each other. I did this for a few minutes before getting up and asking to move to a different seat so they could actually see and serve me. What was ordered: 5pc taco set - good value and nice presentation but in my opinion I didn't taste much if any flavor in each "taco" Spicy bukkake Ramen - good and flavorful Niku tsukejil udon - a bit sweet of flavor in the broth. Next to no pork inside and ontop of that they didn't give me the dipping sauce... My overall experience of this place is bad. Terrible service and mediocre food.
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Gabriel T.

Yelp
10/10 no notes. Delicious udon, a delirously cool space, and a cautious staff that explains everything, even warning you away from some of their more exotic-sounding cocktails, which are actually all good. A great date spot, and they are open for lunch. Highly recommended.
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Kevin C.

Yelp
Gyu don was just ok, I feel that it wasn't simmered as well in marinade so the flavor on the beef was just lacking. The udon had a flavorful broth. The sushi is what you would expect from most places, does the job but doesn't necessarily blow you away. For Williamsburg it does the job for Japanese food but if you're looking for that Japanese appetite if yours to be crushed with happiness you may not find it here all the time. It's a good restaurant otherwise and has seating on both sides of the block (outside for COVID-19 reasons).