Okonomi

Okonomi, Brooklyn: The Verdict

Most people arrive at Okonomi expecting a casual Japanese spot with a short menu and a fast turnaround. Correct that assumption before you book: this is a focused, ingredient-driven Japanese restaurant that has earned consecutive Opinionated About Dining Casual North America rankings — #760 in 2024, climbing to #716 in 2025 — and it deserves more deliberate planning than a neighbourhood drop-in. If you want Japanese food in Brooklyn at a relaxed price point without sacrificing quality, Okonomi belongs near the best of your list. If you want a high-ceremony tasting experience, look at odo or Noda instead.

Portrait

Okonomi sits at 150 Ainslie Street in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, a neighbourhood that has accumulated enough serious restaurants to make a bad meal feel like a genuine waste. Chef Yuji Haraguchi runs a spare, disciplined room where the kitchen's restraint is the point. The format spans both lunch and dinner, with service running from 9 am through mid-afternoon and returning in the evening most days, Friday and Saturday service starts slightly earlier at 5:30 pm, a detail worth noting if you're timing a pre-theatre or early-evening plan.

The drinks program at Okonomi is worth taking seriously on its own terms. At a restaurant operating in the OAD Casual tier, the expectation is often that the beverage list is an afterthought, a handful of Japanese beers, a short sake selection, something functional. Okonomi positions itself differently. The Japanese culinary tradition that informs the kitchen extends to how the drinks work alongside the food: sake chosen for compatibility with the menu's flavour profile, a drinks selection that holds up to the precision on the plate. If you are coming for a special occasion and want a drinks pairing that actually tracks with the meal, this is a better bet than most Brooklyn contemporaries at a similar price point. For comparison, Blue Ribbon Sushi Izakaya offers a broader late-night drinks operation, but Okonomi's tighter, more considered selection suits a sit-down dinner better.

On the question of special occasions: Okonomi works well for a celebratory dinner or a considered date, particularly if both parties value cooking over theatre. It does not offer the formal ceremony of Tsukimi, but it also does not charge at that level. For solo diners, the format is well-suited to counter or small-table dining; Japanese restaurants at this scale typically seat solo guests without issue, the focused menu means you can work through the food without needing a group to share across dishes.

The OAD Casual ranking tells you something important about positioning: Okonomi competes in a category defined by quality-to-price ratio, not by grand gestures. Its upward movement from Recommended (2023) to #760 (2024) to #716 (2025) indicates a kitchen that is tightening its work, not coasting. That trajectory matters if you are deciding between this and a Brooklyn peer, the direction of travel is positive.

For broader context on eating and drinking in New York, see our full New York City restaurants guide, our full New York City bars guide, and our full New York City hotels guide. If you are building a longer trip, our full New York City experiences guide and our full New York City wineries guide are worth consulting. Fans of Japanese cooking travelling beyond New York should consider Myojaku and Azabu Kadowaki in Tokyo, or Chikarashi for a different take on Japanese-influenced cooking in New York City.

Booking & Logistics

Booking difficulty is low. Okonomi does not require weeks of advance planning the way a Manhattan omakase counter would. That said, weekend dinner slots on Friday and Saturday move faster than weekday lunch. If your schedule is flexible, a Tuesday or Wednesday dinner gives you the most room to manoeuvre. Lunch service runs until 2:30 pm daily, which makes this a workable option for a long midday meal if you prefer that format. Phone and online booking details are not publicly listed in our current data, check directly with the venue for the current reservation method.

Quick Comparison: Okonomi vs. Nearby Alternatives