Why Come Here? Authentic Japanese small plates and hot pots
Pacific Oyster
I recently went to Jukai for a fantastic food blogger event hosted by Tabelog and Asahi Beer. I was unfamiliar with the restaurant going in, despite the fact it had been open since 1968. When I arrived, I got the feeling it was a secret intentionally kept. Jukai is tucked away in a basement on a stretch of 53rd Street filled with Indian and Middle Eastern restaurants. You could easily walk by it a hundred times without noticing it’s there, and even knowing the address I would have done the same had I not happened to notice the small lamp in a stairwell outside with a Japanese character and the word “Jukai” written in small letters. After descending the stairs and entering, you walk through a curtain into a small, dimly lit space containing a sushi bar and a few tables that looks like the type of place your cool friend would sneak you into in Tokyo.
Since it was an event, I can’t comment on the normal dining experience but I can tell you about the food. Jukai’s focus is on Japanese small plates and hot pots. The menu has some pretty interesting and unique (for New York at least) Japanese dishes, and we got to try a nice assortment. Here are some of the highlights:
Pacific Oyster 
The photo doesn’t capture just what a beast this thing is. It’s probably 3x the size of your typical East Coast oyster. I’m often skeptical of food this freakishly large, but the meat was tender and briny and had a nice assortment of toppings.
Shabu-Shabu in Hot Pot
Black Sesame Panna Cotta The sesame is caramelized which sweetens it but leaves a pleasant hint of the sesame flavor. It makes for a light and refreshing dessert with the pudding-like panna cotta.
Salmon in Sake 
Cooked salmon is often dry and fishy, but this was expertly prepared. The sake added a pleasant sweetness and the shishito pepper a palate cleansing kick.
Shabu-Shabu This is where the hot pot comes in: thinly sliced beef freshly cooked with cabbage in a garlicky broth. The sauce was very tasty but In serving such a large group my beef got a little overdone. Might be three stars if you do it right on your table.
Jukai
237 East 53rd Street (2nd & 3rd Aves)
New York, NY
