Isohama

The food was decent, probably one of the better options in the neighborhood. It was quiet during lunchtime with only two tables occupied, and the service was fast. The menu is large and easy to understand. My total was $31.57, and I left $35. The waitress came back to tell me that I’m required to leave at least 15% in tips and that I still owed her $3. I paid, and it ended up being a 20.4% tip. This was the first time in the U.S. that someone demanded more tips from me, so I’m giving 3 stars.

I’ve been coming to Isohama for years, and it truly feels like one of those rare neighborhood gems you want to keep secret but can’t help recommending. Tucked away in a lovely part of the Upper East Side, it’s warm, welcoming, and refreshingly consistent. The sushi and sashimi are always fresh, with generous cuts and thoughtful presentation. I especially love their specialty rolls—the Manhattan Roll and King Dragon Roll are must-tries and their tempura is light and crisp without being greasy. On chilly days, a steaming bowl of their udon is pure comfort.

I have ordered from Isohama multiple times and it is always excellent. Can’t recommend enough, my favorite is the Twin Roll. The service is great and the food arrives in amazing form for a delivery. I need to go try it on site next time!

This sushi is decent but nothing remarkable, and the soup is just okay. The salad wasn’t great. They offer good prices for lunch deals and can satisfy a sushi craving, but the quality and flavor aren’t the best. You get what you pay for. The service is friendly, and they also serve hot tea with the meal. They have vegan options.

I have been to this place so many times before. I always ordered udon with tempura. Today, I decided to try something different today so I ordered fried boneless chicken, Manhattan roll, and a shrimp tempura entree with miso soup. The soup was standard, and with some tofu cubes and seaweed in it. The Manhattan roll was very good. The tuna in it was very fresh. Fried boneless chicken was a little disappointing, it was too thin and the batter was falling apart. However, it was juicy so that was a close shave. The vegetables in the tempura set were delicious, but the shrimps were kind of boring. All the vegetables were all very tasty, there were zucchini, squash, beans, broccoli, eggplant, and sweet potatoes. Overall, I would say it’s a nice average restaurant in the neighborhood.