TORA NYC

Everything about this experience was fantastic, start to finish. I went on a frigid Monday night with a roommate after we decided we both needed to get out for a walk, a bite and some girl talk. Greeted as soon as we stepped inside the small but cozy space, we were offered a choice of table and sat promptly. The menus are very cool- tactile and printed on a heavy, shiny card stock with an elegant, clean design. Bar menu had some beautiful renderings of drinks. The food menu is extensive so it took a while for us to review and decide, but we never felt rushed to order. I had a drink- The Bushwick Bay - which was elegantly presented, delicious and well rounded. Roomie had a pot of chamomile tea that she shared with me, but they offered several choices. For an appetizer we shared the Tuna Tar

This is my third time eating at Tora, and I have genuinely never had a bad experience here, in fact, every experience has been amazing. The first time I came here, I had the tonkotsu ramen and my partner had the negichutoro don, both of which were great. The ramen surprised me so much, I haven't had a bowl that I love in New York as much of this one when it comes to noodle texture and broth depth and flavor. We also had the hamachi crudo, which is fresh and excellent, and is highlighted by the yuzu truffle vinaigrette. The second time I came here I had ramen again hehe, but we also got a grilled mackerel which was grilled to perfection and could have been an entree instead of an appetizer with just a side of rice for the generous portion. We also tried the mentaiko pasta which was great,

Not bad for a local spot. Scallop carpaccio was decent. Cucumber salad was refreshing. Corn ribs were good! Gyudon and Mentaiko pasta were crowd favorite. Salmon lover was just okay. Chicken thigh and short beef skewers were tasty. Service was attentive. Ambiance screamed gentrification but expected. I would go back to try other items on the menu if I’m in the area.

Went to TORA NYC recently and decided to order takeout, but even from that short experience the hospitality stood out. While we were waiting, they offered us water and were really welcoming, which already left a good impression. The space itself looks beautiful modern, intimate, and definitely feels like the kind of place that would make a really nice date spot. We ordered three dishes: the Yokan Roll, Negichutoro Don, and Gyudon. The Yokan Roll was a really nice example of how modern sushi rolls balance texture and richness. Inside was spicy salmon and cucumber, and it was topped with lightly seared salmon, mentaiko sauce, tempura flakes, and tobiko. The seared salmon added a gentle smokiness while still keeping that soft buttery texture salmon naturally has. The mentaiko sauce, made fr

Everything was tasty but nothing stood out. It’s a reliable Japanese spot considering there aren’t too many options in the area, but the prices (IMHO) are too high considering it’s generally classic izakaya-type food.