CHOCHIN
“Fried oyster, fried mackerel, tofu tuna tartar, the signature whole tomato soup, and lastly ume ochazuke.”
“The restaurant, or bar to be precise was run and served by the owner himself, very similar to the TV show shinya shokudo.”
“There are lots of "sushi" places on the UES, but very few real Japanese bar food.”
CHOCHIN
Take-out: Yes
Bike Parking: Yes
Good for Kids: Yes
PokéStop Nearby: Yes
Price range.
$$ Price range $11-30
7 reviews
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Used to be a great sushi place – now it's a great Japanese comfort-food type of place. We came here after seeing good reviews and liked the food (though now I can't remember what we ate…)
It's still pretty small but it's all one big bar now. It's good. We're coming back.
Chochin is Japanese for Lantern and that is what you will find in front of this new restaurant that looks a little retro, which replaces the closed Koto Sushi spot. The lantern is like a sign and and the wording says the type of restaurant it is. In this case Chochin does not say Sushi!
I will just do a intro for now and then an update on the food as a follow up but to get you started:
The menu is designed to for Japanese reader with English translations and offer something new. like brown rice made with Dashi in place of white rice. Or the Whole Tomato Soup, that is not made with water so it's not a soup, but a cooked tomato with the ensconced egg inside and covered with cheese that flows on to the plate.
Plus they have Japanese version of Potato and Beef Croquettes An they also have a noodles dish in Neapolitan style tomato sauce with an asparagus, onions, peppers and bacon so it's like spaghetti but with noodles, and this is in a Japanese restaurant.
The restaurant has lite music, beer and wine in a retro decor like a urban Ramen house. It is small and 'L' shape with a two tables in the front followed by a counter that leads to the back. This is cash only and dishes are $8 to $16 each. So you need to how what about the taste? more photos, well stay tune for my update..
An update – if you're not Japanese, expect to be treated like second class citizen. There are only two people working. The chef is quite nice but stays mostly in the back preparing food. The lady waitress upfront is someone who shouldn't be in the customer facing job. She laughed at my question about certain dishes. Looked at me funny when I asked for a small plate for my soy sauce. Overall just didn't feel like I was welcome and was a nuisance for coming. But then a Japanese couple came in and she immediately smiled and started chatting. Language is not the issue, she understands and speaks English just fine. I hope the chef observes this as well and will do something about this.
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A little piece of Astor Place Japanese town in Yorkville. Previously a sushi restaurant and recently converted to a counter only place serving Japanese comfort food. There is the chef and the waitress. Lean operation. Everything is made to order. A good place to train your patience because it's for the right reason.
There are maybe 12 seats, all counter seats so not great for a big group. All Asians including a Japanese family of three. I really hope this is not going to get too popular that we have to wait.
They have Japanese and English menus. I think there are more items on the Japanese menu but not to worry if you ask, they will make it for you. Price is very reasonable. Apps are around 5-8$ and entrees around 10-12$.
I followed suggestions from other Yelpers and agree that the baked tomato soup is one of a kind. Order it but don't expect a traditional soup. Expect something different and tasty.
Fried oysters – standard but I enjoy the egg salad dressing that comes with them.
Ome ozachuke – this is the omitted item from the English menu. The quintessential classic Japanese comfort food. Rice, plum and greet tea. They may not sound like anything special but they are simply comforting and tasty. And best of all, you won't feel guilty eating it.
Cold ramen – chewy al dente ramen just like it's supposed to be. Portion is plenty and almost guilt free.
I am coming back, next time will be going for the greater part of the menu. Curry Katsu. And also the spicy tuna Don.
There is a new restaurant opening up in NYC almost every week. The best time to try them is when they are just starting up, before they get too popular and too busy. I found this new Japanese restaurant, opened just a few months ago, so their name is not up on the awnings just yet. It is called "Chochin" and is an authentic Japanese restaurant, just the way I like it. It used to be a sushi place, so it is still set up like a sushi restaurant. It is quite small, has a typical counter setting for sushi restaurant, no table seating, with an old refrigerated window counter at the end for keeping fresh fish cold. Since they don't serve sushi here anymore, they don't keep any fish there for sushi either.
The counter goes all the way around, from the entrance to the back of the room which is not that big. There are only about 10 seating at the counter total, which is not that much, but it is about all that this place can handle. We have been there three time, all around 7pm, and there was only one guy working there, Mr. Kouga, doing everything from cooking, serving, taking orders, etc. and he does a great job at it.
They have many a la carte items, like an Izakaya, but also they have many set menus, as well as some donburi menus. Over the course of our three visits, we ordered several small plates to share, so that we can taste little bit of everything. And, everything we tried so far has been a winner. They all tasted great, good high quality, cooked with love and care. We will be going back for more awesome, authentic, and creative dishes there. Read my full review of this restaurant and food on my food blog, foodlovergirl.
Chochin is a very low key, retro, and creative Japanese restaurant at the corner of 92th St and 3rd Ave. The key to find it, is looking for a red lighted lantern at the front door, a welcome sign for its customers, also signatures its name in Japanese. Please note it's cash only.
Upon entering, the surroundings immediate brought me to Japan with the interior, the counter seatings, the Japanese hip hop music in the background, and the hand written menu. There are two menus – Japanese and English with different items.
My friend and I ordered items from both menus due to our limited Japanese. Fried oyster, fried mackerel, tofu tuna tartar, the signature whole tomato soup, and lastly ume ochazuke. After a long day of walk in the city, we bibbled the whole meal in just 25minutes!
The fried oyster (5/5)
super crunchy outside. One bite, the rich and flavorful oyster meat juice would burst from inside!
The whole tomato soup (5+/5)
Amazingly delish and unique! Soup is made without water, and eaten by breaking down the whole tomato with the soft boiled egg inside of it and mixing them with surrounding cheese. The tomato is fresh and hot. The juicy taste with a note of fresh sourness is well balanced with the rich and smooth egg yolk and cheese!! A dish that warms my stomach and my heart.
Tofu tuna tartar (4.5/5)
Solid dish with filling amount. Just dip the tuna and tofu in wasabi soy sauce… You will know how good it is.
Ume ochazuke (5/5)
As a huge fan of Japanese show shinya shokudo, I definitely have to try the ume ochazuke on the menu(seaweed and marinated plum on rice, soaked in hot green tea). It's a very simple, but a warming and smooth dish served at the end of a meal. The taste is beyond imagination, I don't know why such a simple dish, with ingredients that easily available, is yet so refreshing, flavorful, and warming.
I am big fan of hearty and creative places like this. Will see myself coming back more often! also need to brush up my Japanese for items on the Japanese menu =)
A million thanks to my foodie elite bestie Crist Xu, that she has discovered this tiny place hidden at the corner of 92th and 2nd, that the second I stepped in, I fell in love right away!
The restaurant, or bar to be precise was run and served by the owner himself, very similar to the TV show shinya shokudo. Essentially he would serve everything you could think of! My friend and I decided to try the grilled octopus, mackerel, tofu with spicy tuna, as well as the tomato soup. Oyishi! Everything was freshly prepared with heart! My strong recommendation to ume ochazuke – you will pour the tea yourself on top of the seaweed rice, very authentic and reminded me of my old time in Japan!
No website, no reservation, no delivery and no takeout, Ok you won my heart!
It's a tiny place but you are welcomed warmly the minute you walk in. They don't have sushi but rather Japanese comfort food. The fried items are crisp and flavorful. The gyoza was perfection. The whole tomato soup is balanced well. Everything was delicious but remember cash only!