New York’s Rising Kaiseki Star: Hakubai 🌟

I’m not exaggerating when I say hakubai might be the best kaiseki I’ve had in New York at this price point—it transported me back to Japan in an instant! I was so moved, I went home and looked up flights to Tokyo right away! 😂 There are already many detailed reviews of each dish, so I’ll just share the ones that left a strong impression and my overall experience. There were 11 courses in total, but the eel over rice was actually two separate servings (eel over rice and chazuke). Sashimi 😍😍😍 This was unforgettable. The tower of sashimi was incredibly fresh, with each piece having an amazing texture. If I remember correctly, it included chutoro, ama ebi, ika, sake, and more. It was so fresh and delicious, it brought tears to my eyes!😭 Kagoshima A5 Wagyu 😍😍😍 The texture was great, with just the right amount of marbling for me. The melt-in-your-mouth buttery feel wasn’t quite my thing, but if it gets too rich, you can pair it with some freshly grated wasabi. The sauce was also really good. #NewYork 🌇🌟