Tokyo Ya — Restaurant in New York

Had the pleasure of dining at Tokyo Ya last week, and overall, my experience was fantastic. Here’s a detailed review:

Food:

The food was outstanding. We started with Miso soup, and its flavor was intense, perfectly salty, piping hot, and absolutely addictive. The salmon was incredibly soft and buttery, and their tobiko selection was incredible. I couldn't stop ordering more, especially with their variety of black, red, and yuzu tobiko, each offering a unique flavor. The freshness of the tuna and other sashimis truly stands out compared to other all-you-can-eat (AYCE) places—clearly, they take pride in their quality.

The appetizers and sides were equally impressive, with a vast selection to choose from. The Kani salad was probably the best I've ever had, and the tempura was fresh, hot, and crispy. Unfortunately, their famous karaage was soggy and didn’t live up to expectations. Perhaps serving the sauce on the side would help preserve the chicken's crispiness, like with the tempura.

Every dish was presented beautifully, and I appreciated the plates they used.

A major highlight: NO TEMPURA in the rolls! Many AYCE places stuff their rolls with tempura to cut down on fish portions, but Tokyo Ya does not use this cheap tactic. This alone makes me eager to return and bring friends along.

The desserts were fantastic. I loved the Yuzu sorbet and the Alice in Wonderland dessert bowl with grass jelly. Simply wonderful.

Service:

Food delivery was quick, with minimal wait time, allowing us to fully enjoy the AYCE experience. The sequence of appetizers, sashimi, and rolls was perfect, unlike other places that serve rolls before appetizers.

The only downside was the service. When we sat down, our server didn’t greet us, introduce themselves, or offer drinks. It was a very pretty girl with glasses, but we would’ve appreciated at least a small smile or an explanation of how to scan the QR code to order. We waited without water for a while, assuming we had to fetch it ourselves from the hostess stand. Eventually, an older woman apologized, and our server came by, but with a noticeably sour attitude. Despite thanking her each time she brought a dish, she never responded or checked on us, and it wasn’t even busy.

This was not the restaurant’s fault entirely but we witnessed a party insist on being seated before the kitchen was due to close at 4 pm. The hostess appeared uncomfortable but ultimately gave in. Although they were warned about the kitchen closing soon, the guests seemed upset when the kitchen did indeed shut down for a break. Having worked in the service industry myself, I know how challenging it can be, but it’s important to be firmer with guests. This could avoid disappointment, as well as ensure that both the staff and customers have a smoother dining experience.

Another family in front of us was also sat close to 4pm and ordered several sushi tacos. It may not have been her intention but their server seemed to have an attitude while commenting on the quantity they ordered. Although it’s understandable to caution against ordering too much, the tone and verbiage were off, making the family visibly uncomfortable. A better approach would be to suggest a reasonable order size, gently reminding them about additional charges for leftover food, or seating them with enough time to order more after finishing the first round. Perhaps, a sign indicating the kitchen's closing time at the tables or menu, could help. The last seating for lunch should be firm at 3 pm to give guests ample time. Allowing guests to sit just before the kitchen closes is a practice that should be avoided.

This lack of customer service is the only thing holding me back from giving them five stars. I’m definitely planning to return and hope they address this, improving the overall service experience. If you are going to Tokyo Ya you are going to have a blast and the food will knock...

Editing, July 2024: I hate that I'm editing this review so vastly, but this restaurant went from a 5 star to a 1 star super quick. Ever since they started the All you can eat sushi lunches and dinners, things went way downhill. I've ordered twice since they started this grab, and both times staff were confused, order wasn't ready on time (the last time it took them more than an hour past pick up time to complete the order and my husband had to keep showing up in person, almost to remind them), and honestly the quality just isn't there. I am so confused on how this happened. It's an absolute mess, it's obvious that they are doing more than they can handle. I also live close enough to notice when they get their orders. They use frozen tuna I know for sure, and if it gets dropped off early it literally sits out in front of the restaurant door in the heat and humidity.

April/May ish of 2024: I'm really really impressed with this restaurant. My husband and I haven't eaten in, but have been to pick up. The space is very clean, well decorated, and has a great vibe. It doesn't seem cramped and isn't overwhelming whatsoever as far as lights/noise/smells. Our order was packaged extremely well and thoughtful to take away.

The food we ordered was so good! Hot, fresh, great ingredients. We got an order of the Tokyo Ya buns for an appetizer and they were amazing. I got chicken udon soup and my husband got a rice dish. Both were fantastic, packed with flavor, everything cooked perfectly.

We didn't experience a lot on the service side aside from the person at the counter when we picked up, but she was very welcoming and friendly.

I would not hesitate to order again and will come back to sit in when I have...

Came here for lunch with my best friend. We went for the all you can eat option but the servers kept getting confused. They had already come back to discuss the order a couple of times (in the process being pretty rude) but they still brought waaay too much food to the table, including items we didn't order. Then they stood directly behind us, talking for the whole meal and watching me with visible alarm as I try to keep to keep up with how fast plates are hitting the table while growing increasingly embarrassed. It was during this uncomfortable experience that we realized that the party of eight or so, seated near us, were also receiving the wrong food from the kitchen. The final red flag was when they informed us that we would have to pay extra for the food we didn't eat - this was only three dollars, but it was still a little insulting to have to pay for our supposed gluttony when the reason we didn't eat it is because you mistakenly brought us enough food for a military squadron. It was a really unpleasant and awkward dining experience all round. We both felt uncomfortable, hurried, and a little bit taken advantage of. My companion enjoyed the food much more than I did (the chicken karaage was perfect and the sushi donuts were fun) but the sushi taco was one of the worst things either of us had tasted in the last couple of years. I don't know if it was an experiment or what but it was fascinatingly bad to eat. Killer decor though. The art on the walls is a ton of fun and the tableware feels nice to handle and use. Nice lighting. I tipped them, because if the service stays this bad they will need all the help...