Yamada

Yamada is the number 2 restaurant in the New York Times 100 best restaurants of 2026! Totally worth the experience! Yamada is a Michelin-starred Japanese kaiseki restaurant in New York City, known for its intimate chef's counter experience led by Chef Isao Yamada, who blends traditional techniques with modern, bold flavors. The restaurant offers a seasonal, multi-course tasting menu featuring high-quality, often rare ingredients like king crab, wagyu, and Shizuoka melon, served in a minimalist setting with a focus on seasonality and craftsmanship. Reservations are essential for the limited seating, and it's praised for its refined yet personal atmosphere.

Just came back from Japan and had plenty of Michelin star Japanese food. The Yamada dining experience yesterday was amazing. This was our second time dining here in 3 months; and the experience remained excellent. Every course was delicately prepared and beautifully presented. They all had fine ingredients and tasted remarkable. Chef Yamada was friendly, humble and very professional. His years of training in Kyoto really showed us the best of kaiseki offerings. The service here was also very remarkable, friendly, courteous and professional. Our friends celebrated their anniversary here; and the nice restaurant staff made small but subtle celebratory elements which really showed their attention to detail. Way to go chef Yamada and your excellent team. We will be back here shortly.

Great food and service. The dishes were not only tasty but also beautifully plated. Clearly high quality ingredients, and cooked to perfection. Yamada was even better than the kaiseki food I had in Japan. The staff were also friendly and helpful. Highly recommended.