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Naka Naka

458 W. 17th St. (Tenth Ave.) Send to Phone
New YorkNY 10011
212-929-8544
Old-world Japan comes to flavorful life in Chelsea.

Cuisine

Open

Dinner Tues.-Sun.

Features

  • Casual

* Click here for rating key

There's no sign outside and curtains cover the windows---but inside, old-world Japan comes vividly to life. The subtly lit interior is tiny yet homey with slate tiles, dark wooden beams that crisscross the ceiling, shoji screens and an elevated stage-like dining area. A kimono-clad staff graciously discusses the menu and the specials, and serves appetizers and entrées in bento boxes. Start with a noodle soup of broiled duck and vegetables before indulging in the fried fish in sweet vinegar dressing. While sushi enthusiasts will enjoy the traditional hand rolls and sashimi offerings, chef Chie Sakaguchi also uses native ingredients such as hijiki, lotus root and sesame greens in his daily specials. A prix-fixe dinner offers an assortment of appetizers, soup and salad, a choice of entrée, and dessert. Arrive early as seating is limited to nine and reservations are not accepted. Over saké and plum wine, New York seems a world away.

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