TLDR
Cozy East Village destination for authentic Japanese hot pot, motsunabe, and affordable izakaya bites. Perfect for casual dates and rainy day comfort.
Instagram Posts References
This post highlights Kimura as a favorite comfort food destination in NYC, particularly on cold or rainy days. The restaurant's warm and intimate atmosphere contributes to its appeal. The food is consistently praised as very good, solidifying its status as a place the author frequently returns to.
Kimura, located in the East Village, is known for its great cocktails and hotpot. The post also highlights their torched cheesecake as a dish to try.
Details
Located on Saint Marks Place, this cozy Japanese establishment is widely celebrated as a go-to comfort spot, especially on cold or rainy days [2]. It has earned a strong reputation among locals for its exceptional variety of authentic hot pot dishes [3], [4], [6]. While the menu is broad, patrons consistently suggest focusing on the hot pot over other offerings to get the best experience [7], [9], [10].
Food Overview
The kitchen specializes in Japanese comfort food, with high praise for various hot pot styles like sukiyaki and motsunabe, the latter of which includes offal and sweetbreads [4], [6]. Diners also appreciate the izakaya-style small plates, torched cheesecake, and affordable highballs, especially during happy hour [1], [11]. While sushi is available, feedback frequently suggests that it is not the highlight of the menu [7], [9], [10].
The sukiyaki and various hot pot offerings—particularly the motsunabe—are the most highly recommended items [4], [6], [10]. For dessert, the torched cheesecake is a notable treat [1].
Caveats
Multiple diners recommend avoiding the sushi at this location, as the restaurant's expertise is perceived to be firmly rooted in hot pot and cooked Japanese dishes rather than raw fish [9], [10].
Reddit Opinions & Reviews
Top Reddit Posts About KIMURA
Recent Reddit Mentions
From post: Where To Find Cheap Highball Sodas Like In Japan
"This commenter suggested Kimura on Saint Marks Place as a place with cheap highballs and Japanese izakaya food, also noting good happy hour pricing."
PositiveFrom post: Nice And Affordable Japanese Around St Marks
"The user is looking for a sushi restaurant around St. Marks, and Kimura was suggested as an option. However, another user noted that Kimura's strength lies in its hot pot, not sushi."
NeutralFrom post: Nice And Affordable Japanese Around St Marks
"This user recommends Kimura, stating it's a perfect setting for what the original poster is looking for."
PositiveFrom post: Nice And Affordable Japanese Around St Marks
"The original poster is considering Kimura for sushi, but another user advises against it, highlighting their hot pot as the main draw and mentioning that many authentic Japanese restaurants have left St. Marks."
NegativeFrom post: Nice And Affordable Japanese Around St Marks
"This user suggests Kimura as a sushi option but notes that its hot pot is its true highlight."
Neutral