Kokage

For the short review, the food was great, but the serving sizes were stingy.
The salted mackerel was salty fishy goodness, but there was only 6 tiny nibble sized pieces. The uni and ikura donburi was amazing. The briney-​ness of the ikura and the buttery richness of the uni perfectly complemented and toned down with rice. The sweet macha soda and sparkling sencha was smooth and fruity but came in tiny portions. The sencha came in a half filled champagne flute.

Kokage is just simply the cool place for Nyc .Its a Kyoto vision Restaurent. They make their own dashi for their noodle as well as home made soba noodle. Happy now they serve lots of different soba meal. Miyazaki donburi and uni I Kura don is their popular donburi. Lunch time has Shojin ramen and kokage ramen .They got best sake selection. Including exclusive sake that only serve to Kajitsu and kokage Restaurent
Every one should try their homemade matcha and hojicha pudding. Hmmm so yummy. Their service is also excellent .I should recommend to my friend.

Food ok. Service slow. Wait staff does not wait — you always have to look for them or call them. All in all, visited 2times and there won’t be another.

Very quiet, calm, zen spare space with great home-​menu Japanese food. Everything is perfectly seasoned and proportioned: the fatty beef, thinly sliced and with the scrumptious sauce and rice, feels luxurious and flavorful but not greasy. The appetizers are also very unique (not your usual tataki or beef tongue or tako wasabi etc…) and very tasty. This is a great, reliable option that you can count on for a yummy Japanese meal!

The food wasn’t bad (the uni and salmon roe rice bowl was good; the turtle ramen soup was interesting) but overall, food was ok. Compared to other Japanese restaurants around the city, Kokage would’ve been better if there was more variety to their menu. Especially for such small portions that are on a higher price point. Quality-​wise, they were good.
However, the customer service was slow and not that attentive. Often times, we would have to haul the waiter/​waitress to get something and this was a Friday night. You would think they would be more on their toes because it’s a weekend crowd.
I would probably not come back.

Love the minimalist approach at Kokage. My husband and I were able to enjoy a pleasant, quiet meal here. There’s no question that the food here is delicious, with the Kamo tapa (roasted Hudson Valley duck breast) being my favorite and the Kajitsu roll being a close second. The roll has breaded portabello mushroom that isn’t heavy, but actually pretty delicate. What I wasn’t a huge fan of was the fact that at 7:30pm, their uni was no longer available. At 7:30?! This was what my husband was looking forward to the most. He ended up getting the wagyu beef sukiyaki which was tasty, but quite honestly I’m not sure it was worth the $ 48, especially for the small portion it was.

This place is the most overpriced Japanese restaurant I have been to. I don’t mind spending over 200 for omakases or kaiseki dinners but this place is pretty outrageous. Nonetheless, food was very tasty so the 4 stars strictly on food.
Small beef sukiyaki with no rice ($ 3) was $ 45.
Zaru Soba $ 16 which I could have made at home. Their rent must be super high for them to charge these ridiculous prices?
I will never return, too many reasonable yummy Japanese restaurants in nyc.

Tuck away in the quiet Murray Hill neighborhood, this japanese establishment is truly amazing. Known for their tea selections, they also have a lunch menu worthy of ordering from. It was a Saturday morning, and I wanted eggs and decided to get the Wagyu beef don with a poached egg. This dish was perfectly executed, although the price wasn’t. Another must try is their saba-​sushi (mackarel), which is utterly delicious.
This is not a cheap place in any regard, so be prepared to spend a pretty penny. Take my advice, the food is definitely worth it.

What a shame… I really wanted to give Kokage a better rating… The food definitely deserves 5 stars, i had the best beef donburi here… While I love the simplicity of this place, from the menu to the décor everything is very simple but execute in a high level, Unfortunately I cannot give this place more than 3 stars and here is why.
I came here knowing their menu is small and price is expensive, but I am craving uni and I wanted to get their uni donburi. I arrived here at 7pm and there were only one other table besides us and the server informed us that they were out of uni. What a bummer, its like shouldnt they let people know when they make reservation that they are out of their signature dish?
On to the main course, i ordered the wagyu beef donburi ($ 35) and my husband got the sukiyaki ($ 48), at almost $ 50 they didnt even give him a bowl of rice until we asked. Japanese meal should always come with rice especially for a sukiyaki. While there is no denying that both dishes are extremely delicious, i am a bit offended that $ 50 dish doesnt come with rice (they ended up charging us $ 3 for a bowl of rice).
While I definitely had my best bowl of beef donburi here, and I mean the beef literally melts in your mouth good, i cannot recommend this place to others unless you want to feel rip off after dining here… I have been to a good amount of restaurants and have paid higher price for my meal but I never left with the feeling of being ripped off like how Kokage made us feel… What a shame indeed…

The menu at Kokage is carefully thought out and put together quite well.
Everything was very, very simple, and its deliciousness lies in its simplicity.
We enjoyed the tofu, the wagyu beef over rice and especially the matcha dessert.
They have an extensive tea and sake menu and those that we tried were quite extraordinary.
Our server was very friendly and very informative, instructing us on the hows and whats to eat. It’s a little on the pricey for what you get, but definitely worth it.

Out of 10, the food is 8, service is 6, and overall experience is 6. The food was undoubtedly very good. Small Japanese portions are perfect for me. We were first seated in kajitsu upstairs rather than kokage– I don’t blame them for the confusion as we accidentally made reservations via online (which is available only for Kajitsu– reservations for Kokage must be by phone). We ordered two hoji green teas– the waiter spilt it everywhere and didn’t clean up the floor. He did a hasty half-​assed job of cleaning up the vast majority that he spilt on the table. He then didn’t refill the tea. Not off to an incredible start. We came at 5:30 (my office is only 3 blocks away), were promptly seated and ordered right away. The food is good but I can’t say it’s a one of a kind place– the service went from bad to better when the waiter changed. The place is really quiet so it’s good for dates, unless you’re having some painfully long awkward pauses… There’s a huge echo, too! The dishes were all pristine and everything tasted great. At $ 32 per donburi, I thoroughly enjoyed the uni ikura– cheap enough. Since this place is so close to where I work, I’ll probably be coming back for more. I just had a sour taste left in my mouth when we left bc of the disappointing beginning to the dinner.

Kokage serves up very familiar Japanese dishes that are delicately executed and come with high prices.
This is the non-​vegetarian counterpart of Kajitsu right upstairs. The setting is quintessentially Japanese — so minimalistic, quiet and zen that it’s library like. So, this is not the place to bring groups that will be potentially loud (they do have a pretty extensive sake list — so, classier boozy occasions are welcome).
I came here for dinner — they have your typical tofu appetizers, tempura, donburi, sobas, etc. etc, but they are the most sophisticated incarnations of these versions that I’ve had. The wagyu donburi is a must order — the high quality ingredients make this comfort dish a stand out! The sushi rolls are for sharing — I would recommend the kajitsu roll, which was quite satisfying despite being completely vegetarian. I wasn’t such a big fan of the duck soba, the soup was savory but the duck slices soaking in the broth made them overcooked.
Service, as expected, was great. They give hot towels to start and have these little baskets for ladies to put their bags in. So Japanese!
The only con was that the prices were steeper than expected. Note to Unilocal: this place warrants four dollar signs ($$$$) especially given the type of food served.
I will, however, be back to try the lunch!

Food: I only tried the Wagyu Beef Donburi but heard good things about their udons. Wagyu Beef Donburi… heaven in my mouth… melt in your mouth beef… mixed with egg… thinking about it is making me hungry at midnight even after a 7 course meal I just consumed
Ambiance: Restaurant part located behind the store. The front of the store is Ippodo Tea so don’t get confused. Just grab yourself a Matcha drink (sweetened!). No outside drinks allowed in Kokage so not sure if Ippodo drinks count. I came here during lunch hours. Pretty low key spot. Chairs and décor fits the Japanese culture. I didn’t visit their restrooms so I can’t comment on it. Sorry.
Service: You get a warm towel before you eat. Staff was a bit rude when I had to downsize my party but I guess that is understandable. Water was empty a couple of times. Had to give the waiter a hint to refill please. Beware that if you go in a large group, the wait time for food is going to take a lot longer… I really mean A LOT. I literally stared at all the people who came after my group and ate before me. Hungry Mary = Sad Mary.
The Bottom Line: I’ll be back. Good lunch spot. Probably won’t come back in a group though. I’ll try their noodle dishes next time but loved the donburi so maybe I’ll stick with that.

Why isnt their ramen on everyone’s top ten list?! This vegetarian authentic (not run by Chinese) culinary masterpiece in Murray Hill is completely hidden from the run of the mill bars and divey places in the neighborhood.
Okay, its not cheap, but the quality is superb. The broth of the ramen, and by the way, they only offer one kind, is crazy good! A heap of fresh noodles, a heap of toasted sesames, a heap of sweet corn, what’s not to like. The waitress tells us the broth is vegetarian broth with miso and kelp, its really unlike anything I’ve tried.
i agree with Cissy Z, the dessert is teeny tiny, but my friend says its really traditional tea ceremony portions. So try it once and say you’ve done it!

I’m tempted to withhold my review of Kokage, lest this small gem of a restaurant be discovered by the hoards of other city dwellers who go searching for Japanese fare.
Alas, I feel like a Good Samaritan today. Here goes:
Kokage is the new kid on the block, but it is by no means naïve. In fact, the entire experience, starting from the quintessential warm towel, to the light tofu appetizer, to the beautifully handcrafted stoneware, showed a level of consideration and expertise rarely found in Japanese establishments here in the city. Little wonder, as in fact the stoneware are a mix of old works created by master potters over 200 years ago and other modern ceramic potters. They were exquisite, and one could spend time in between courses to examine each for its unique shape or pattern. Really, I could go on and on about these bowls, but I’ll let you see them for yourself.
Service wise, I felt like I was doted on, but never intruded upon. Ideal.
The star of the show (belle of the ball? prima donna of the opera? I’m getting carried away…) is of course the Uni Ikura Donburi. All of mankind’s worldly delights condensed into a few yellow, creamy, fishy globs. It’s titillating and I just can’t get enough. Someone restrain me.
So, what would I do if I hit a million dollar jackpot? Well, half of that million should go into my retirement account so I don’t end up wandering the streets when I’m 80. As for the other half… by my calculations that’s equivalent to approximately 14,286 bowls of Uni Donburi. Now that’s a prudent investment strategy.

**What to order: Nama-​Fu (grilled mochi), Kamo Nanban Soba (duck noodles), and uni ikura donburi (sea urchin and fish roe over rice). Avoid dessert, the portions are tiny for the price.
Kokage is the more casual sister restaurant of Kajitsu but it is in no way less refined. The restaurant is unobtrusively nestled in the downstairs of a townhouse, and the ambiance, with its soft lighting and quiet murmur of conversation, permeated elegance through and through. We were greeted warmly upon entrance, and had a peaceful, unhurried, and thoroughly enjoyable dinner that emulated the very best characteristics of Japanese cuisine.
Service was exceptional throughout dinner as our waitress gave us a new set of hand painted plates and utensils for each dish. We also received complimentary edamame flavored tofu with a light plum glaze which was a delicious and refreshing amuse bouche.
We ordered the following:
— Grilled Nama-​Fu ($ 10) — tasted like grilled mochi or grilled sticky rice cakes but with seasonal Autumn flavors like sesame and pumpkin. The grill left a crunchy exterior with a soft fluffy interior that reminded me of biting into a toasted marshmallow. The subtle flavors were a delicious start to the meal. ⁵⁄₅
— Tempura ($ 24) — lightly battered and fried fresh prawns (3 per order) and selection of fresh vegetables like eggplant, squash, and mushrooms. Was delicious but nothing special and a tad bit expensive. ³⁄₅
— Saba Sushi ($ 22) — Kyoto style cured mackerel in a loaf style sushi. My first experience with loaf style sushi, it’s not the typical dainty roll, but more like a giant cylinder of vinegared rice topped with fish capable of feeding a giant cut into slices. I enjoyed the flavors of the saba but much prefer my usual nigiri. ³⁄₅
— Uni Ikura Donburi ($ 32) — Sea urchin and salmon roe served over rice, served with a cup of miso soup and a dish of pickles. Really, how can I say no to uni? A huge mound of Santa Barbara uni with an equally large quantity of fresh ikura roe was as tantalizing delicious as the pictures looked on Unilocal.Not to be overlooked, the miso soup was actually a very traditional and delicious rendition with two small bites of nama-​fu hidden within. ⁴⁄₅
— Myizaki Wagyu Beef Donburi ($ 35) — Slices of wagyu beef served with a soft-​boiled egg, with miso soup and pickles. Tasty for sure, but we couldn’t really tell that the beef was wagyu. For the hefty price tag of $ 35, it didn’t taste that different than the average beef donburi. I would avoid ordering this next time. ³⁄₅
— Kamo Nanban Soba ($ 22) — Chilled soba with sliced duck and Tokyo scallion served with cold dipping sauce. This dish was transcendental. The buckwheat noodles were perfectly prepared, the duck was just rare enough to capture the full flavor, and the dipping sauce brought out umami flavors in both soba and duck without overpowering either. It was one of the most delicious sobas I’ve ever tasted. ⁵⁄₅
We ordered dessert, but it was small and pricey and not very memorable. The meal was definitely a bit on the expensive side with smaller portions, but I will be back just for the soba!

We came here for a company team lunch with a party of 5. They do require a credit card reservation for parties of this size, as they have to put together tables to form a larger table to sit at (they are all 2-​seaters).
The shop itself is in the basement of a townhouse off of 39^th right before Lex. It is a quiet spot, with soft soothing music and a good amount of soft lighting. There is a nice teabar, and their menu also offers a good selection of various good (albeit expensive) teas.
The meal service is traditional Japanese in style — hot towel and all. The lunch menu isn’t particularly large — there are some don choices, sushi choices, and noodle choices. The most impressive item on the menu was the wagyu beef don, but at $ 35 was rather expensive. The udon dishes were very good however, and at $ 20, good value. The broth was just the right amount of flavour — and not too salty like many places would make it. I had the wagyu beef udon which also came with a gluttonous rice sushi on the side. There was also a special Japanese vegetable dish that came with the meal.
For dessert, we were offered choices ranging from matcha pudding to matcha lattes and some kind of chocolate dessert — which was unfortunately out of stock. I had the matcha pudding, which was spectacular — it came topped with some fruits as well which provided a nice flavour contrast.
Overall, the place is well-​worth the price premium for the quiet atmosphere, making it a great place to have a business lunch or date where you can actually hear the other person talk.
However, I have to note that the service was rather slow — it may be that we had a large party and thus a lot of food to cook, but we all did notice that food took longer than other restaurants took to serve us. The food was great quality though.

Japanese refinement in its highest regard.
I was craving noodle one Saturday morning, did a quick Unilocal search and Kokage came up from my bookmark. I’ve heard raving reviews for its sister restaurant Kajitsu but this was my first (and very lasting) impression of the Kajitsu restaurant group.
Directly to the left of the entrance is a small tea-​bar, carrying variation of Ippudo tea. Into the dining room there were able 6 – 8 dining tables spread out. Very spacious and clean. They even provided a cloth basket to put your handbag in if you don’t want to set your belongings on the floor.
The lunch set menu is not particular extensive, but it had a diverse Soba/​Udon with topping options that may satisfies all craving (meat, vegetable, seafood)
I ordered the Wagyu hot udon $ 20. The lunch set came with a mini side of cucumber pickled salad, and 2 pieces of Inari Sushi (tofu skin). Everything was light, fresh and well-​presented. For those of you who wants to enjoy a quiet, humble lunch, this is definitely one to check out.

I came here for lunch on a Saturday around noon. The place was fairly empty and quiet. I’m assuming this is a popular venue for business lunches considering it’s location and ambiance, which is probably why it was so empty when I visited.
For food, I got their Kamo Nanban (duck) Soba and Inari Sushi. The soba was certainly one of the best I’ve had in the city (along with Sobaya’s.) I also loved the Inari (tofu skin) sushi and little salad that were served on the side. I also got a glass of the Iced Hojicha (roasted green tea), which was very refreshing and tasty. The service was fast and attentive, but neither intrusive nor overly eager.
I’m withholding one star only because the portion is quite small given the price level. Nonetheless, I can vouch for the superb quality of their food, service and ambiance. Highly recommended!

Amazing Sunday lunch here with my mama and sister– the restaurant is beautiful and super relaxing.
When you walk in, there is a little counter that sells Japanese tea sets as well as tea (to go tea too!)
Tables are in the back– super simple and open, with nice wooden trays and chopsticks resting upon different chopsticks holders.
We all got the Atsuage Ankake Soba and saba sushi lunch sets ($ 20). The kabocha fu (wheat gluten sort of thing) didn’t even feel like the usual fu texture– so much richer and more solid, kinda like tofu almost! The soba was the perfect consistency and the ankake soup was thick, rich and delicious– perfect for a rainy day! The saba sushi was topped off with tororo konbu (long soft shredded kelp), and went well with the mackeral, which was thick and fatty– SO GOOD.
After our meal, we had the famous Ippodo tea– the perfect end to a great japanese meal :)
I was very impressed by the quality of the food and service! i can’t wait to go again