Yopparai – Japanese
Step into an intimate, wood-clad sanctuary where the soft glow of lanterns and the rhythmic clinking of sake cups set the stage for a spirited evening of Japanese hospitality. Savory aromas of charcoal-grilled skewers and delicate, umami-rich small plates drift through the air, perfectly complemented by a curated selection of rare sakes that invite guests to linger and lose track of time.
NY +1-212-777-7253 https://yopparainyc.comRating: 4.5/5 (479 reviews)
Cuisine: Japanese
Price range: $$$
Dietary options: high-protein, vegetarian, vegan, pescatarian, whole30, paleo, heart-healthy, low-sodium, plant-based, low-fat, anti-inflammatory, south-beach, dash-sodium-reduced, low-cholesterol, high-fiber, gerd, raw-food, alkaline, aip, tlc, renal, volumetrics, zone, macrobiotic, lectin-free, slow-carb
What diners are saying
Diners are captivated by the authentic, intimate atmosphere at Yopparai, particularly praising the unique tatami mat seating and cozy, transportive interior perfect for date nights. While some guests find the portions small for the price point, reviewers highlight standout dishes like the flavorful oden, kakuni (pork belly), and chicken meatballs with egg. The extensive sake selection is celebrated as a perfect pairing for the menu, which ranges from delicate sashimi to comforting hot pots, offering a true taste of a Japanese izakaya in the Lower East Side.
Menu
Vegetables and Salads
- Homemade Nukazuke - $9: Homemade Pickled Seasonal Vegetables Dietary tags: Vegan, Vegetarian, Whole30, Pescatarian, Paleo, Plant-Based, Alkaline, AIP, Macrobiotic, Lectin-Free
- Fresh Steamed Edamame - $8: Black Soybeans Freshly Steamed Dietary tags: Vegan, Vegetarian, Pescatarian, Plant-Based, Alkaline, Macrobiotic
- Tomato Salad - $12: Tomato Topped with Diced Onion, Served with Sesame and Vinegar Dressing Dietary tags: Vegan, Vegetarian, Pescatarian, Plant-Based, Low-Sodium
- Daikon Salad - $14: Julienne cut Daikon Radish and Various Vegetables with Plum Dressing Dietary tags: Vegan, Vegetarian, Pescatarian, Plant-Based, Macrobiotic
Appetizers
- Chawanmushi - $12: Bonito Dashi Steamed Egg Custard made with Yuzu Rind, Mitsuba, Edamame, Fishcake, and seafood. Add salmon roe +$10 Dietary tags: Low-Sodium
- Slimy Bomb - $18: Fermented Soy Beans, Tuna, Japanese Yam, Okra, and Quail Egg Yolk Dietary tags: High-Protein
- Washu Gyu Tataki - $23: Lightly Seared Washu Beef with Yuzu and Miso Dressing
- Okonomiyaki - $21: Savory Japanese pancake with pork belly, seafood, pickled ginger, and bonito flakes
- Oden (3 Kinds) - $14: Traditional street food of vegetables and fishcakes simmered in a soy-based broth Dietary tags: Pescatarian
- Oden (5 Kinds) - $21: Traditional street food of vegetables and fishcakes simmered in a soy-based broth Dietary tags: Pescatarian
- Agedashi Tofu - $16: Deep Fried Tofu Served in a Thickened Dashi Broth Dietary tags: Pescatarian
- Karaage - $17: Fried Chicken Marinated in Rice Malt and Garlic
- Kakuni - $19: Braised Berkshire Pork Belly in Sweet Dashi Broth
Miso Soup
- Tofu Miso Soup - $6: Miso Soup made with White Miso and Tofu and Toasted Seaweed Dietary tags: High-Protein, Pescatarian, Heart-Healthy, Low-Sodium, Anti-Inflammatory, South-Beach, DASH Sodium-Reduced, Low-Cholesterol, TLC, Alkaline, Renal, Macrobiotic, Slow-Carb
- Clam Miso Soup - $10: Miso soup-bisque made with clams Dietary tags: Pescatarian, Heart-Healthy, Low-Sodium, Anti-Inflammatory, South-Beach, DASH Sodium-Reduced, GERD-Friendly, Zone, Volumetrics, TLC
Tempura
- Tempura (5 Kinds) - $33: Assortment of shrimp, fish, and seasonal vegetables Dietary tags: Pescatarian
- Vegetable Tempura (5 Kinds) - $22: Assortment of seasonal vegetable Dietary tags: Vegetarian, Pescatarian
- Tenju - $40: Assortment of seafood, seasonal vegetables, soft boiled egg over rice, and tofu miso soup Dietary tags: Pescatarian
- Vegetable Tenju - $30: Assortment of seasonal vegetables, soft boiled egg over rice, and tofu miso soup Dietary tags: Pescatarian, Anti-Inflammatory
Japanese Barbecue
- Tsukune - $17: Homemade Chicken Meatball Topped with Raw Egg Yolk Dietary tags: High-Fiber
- Hotate Butter - $20: Grilled Hokkaido scallops in soy butter Dietary tags: Pescatarian
- Gyutan - $28: 3-day marinated beef tongue with homemade pickles
- Gindara Saikyoyaki - $22: Grilled Miso Marinated Black Cod, Classic Yopparai Recipe Dietary tags: Pescatarian, Alkaline, Macrobiotic
- Ika Ichiyazuke - $18: Grilled Whole Marinated Squid Dietary tags: Whole30, Pescatarian, Paleo, Alkaline, AIP, Lectin-Free
- Washu Gyu Teppanyaki - $34: Domestic wagyu grilled on a hot plate with homemade barbeque sauce
Shabu Shabu
- Tofu Hot Pot - $28: Tofu with assorted vegetables and mushrooms
- Pork Belly Hot Pot - $35: Thinly sliced berkshire pork belly with assorted vegetables and mushrooms
- Fresh Fish Hot Pot: Fish of the day with assorted vegetables and mushroom Dietary tags: Low-Sodium, Anti-Inflammatory, South-Beach, DASH Sodium-Reduced, TLC, Slow-Carb
Sashimi Assortments
- Sashimi (8 Kinds) - $80: Chef’s Selection of 8 kinds of Sashimi Dietary tags: Whole30, Pescatarian, Paleo, Raw-Food, Alkaline, AIP, Macrobiotic, Lectin-Free
- Sashimi (6 Kinds) - $55: Chef’s Selection of 6 kinds of Sashimi Dietary tags: Whole30, Pescatarian, Paleo, Raw-Food, Alkaline, AIP, Macrobiotic, Lectin-Free
- Sashimi (3 Kinds) - $30: Chef’s Selection of 3 kinds of Sashimi Dietary tags: Whole30, Pescatarian, Paleo, Raw-Food, Alkaline, AIP, Macrobiotic, Lectin-Free
- Tuna Sashimi Tasting - $60: 3 kinds of bluefin tuna sashimi Dietary tags: Whole30, Pescatarian, Paleo, Raw-Food, Alkaline, AIP, Macrobiotic, Lectin-Free
Sushi Assortments
- Sushi (10 Kinds) - $85: 10 pieces of chef’s selected nigiri sushi. Additional sushi roll and clam miso soup +$10 Dietary tags: Pescatarian
- Sushi (5 Kinds) - $35: 5 pieces of chef’s selected nigiri sushi. Additional sushi roll and clam miso soup +$10 Dietary tags: Pescatarian
Chirashi Sushi
Served on Sushi Rice
- YOPPARAI Chirashi - $62: Chef’s selection of assorted fish with sea urchin and marinated salmon roe, served on a bed of sushi rice Dietary tags: Pescatarian
- Tekka Chirashi - $40: Bluefin tuna marinated in dashi soy sauce on a bed of sushi rice Dietary tags: Pescatarian
- Trout & Ikura Chirashi - $35: NY trout and marinated salmon roe on a bed of sushi rice Dietary tags: Pescatarian
- Kani & Ikura Chirashi: Snow crab and marinated salmon roe on a bed of sushi rice Dietary tags: Pescatarian
- Uni & Ikura Chirashi: Sea urchin and marinated salmon roe on a bed of sushi rice Dietary tags: Pescatarian
Sushi Rolls & Rice Dishes
- Wagyu Sushi (1 Piece) - $16: Miyazaki beef sushi
- Wagyu Sushi (3 Pieces) - $40: Miyazaki beef sushi
- Wagyu Roll - $25: Miyazaki beef sushi roll with cucumber (4 Pieces) Dietary tags: Low-Sodium, Low-Fat, Anti-Inflammatory, DASH Sodium-Reduced, GERD-Friendly, Zone, Volumetrics, TLC, Renal
- Ebi Tempura Roll - $18: Shrimp tempura roll with cucumber and sweet soy sauce Dietary tags: High-Protein, Pescatarian, Low-Sodium
- Kaisendon - $50: Assorted sashimi atop white rice Dietary tags: Pescatarian
- Yaki Onigiri - $25: Two traditionally grilled rice balls, one topped with mentaiko (spicy cod roe) and the other topped with sea urchin Dietary tags: Pescatarian
- Masu Iburigakko Roll - $18: NY trout with smoked daikon pickle roll Dietary tags: Pescatarian, Macrobiotic
- Toro Taku Roll - $20: Bluefin tuna with smoked daikon pickle roll Dietary tags: Pescatarian
- Wagyu Don - $45: Grilled Miyazaki beef over rice with tofu miso soup
- Unaju - $50: Grilled freshwater eel with homemade tare sauce over rice Dietary tags: Pescatarian, Macrobiotic
Chinmi (Sake Snacks)
- Uzaku - $15: Simmered freshwater eel with cucumber in tosa vinegar Dietary tags: Whole30, Pescatarian, Paleo, Alkaline, AIP, Macrobiotic, Lectin-Free
- Mentaiko Kunsei - $18: In-house smoked mentaiko (spicy cod roe) Dietary tags: Whole30, Pescatarian, Paleo, Alkaline
- Ikura - $20: House marinated salmon roe with seaweed Dietary tags: Whole30, Pescatarian, Paleo, Alkaline, AIP, Lectin-Free
- Karasumi - $25: Lightly seared sun-dried mullet roe served with fresh daikon slices Dietary tags: Whole30, Pescatarian, Paleo, Alkaline, AIP, Macrobiotic, Lectin-Free
- Mozuku - $10: Okinawa seaweed in tosa vinegar Dietary tags: Vegan, Vegetarian, Whole30, Pescatarian, Paleo, Plant-Based, Alkaline, AIP, Macrobiotic, Lectin-Free
- Ika Uni Ae - $18: Thinly sliced squid with sea urchin paste Dietary tags: Whole30, Pescatarian, Paleo, Heart-Healthy, Low-Sodium, Low-Fat, Anti-Inflammatory, DASH Sodium-Reduced, GERD-Friendly, Volumetrics, TLC, Alkaline, AIP, Lectin-Free
- Shiokara - $16: Thinly sliced squid in homemade salt fermented squid paste Dietary tags: Whole30, Pescatarian, Paleo, Alkaline, AIP, Lectin-Free
Beer
- Sapporo Draft - $11 Dietary tags: Vegan, Vegetarian, Pescatarian, Plant-Based, Alkaline, AIP, Macrobiotic, Lectin-Free
- Suntory Premium Malts Draft - $15 Dietary tags: Vegan, Vegetarian, Pescatarian, Plant-Based, Macrobiotic
- Hakkaisan IPA Bottle (330ml) - $17 Dietary tags: Vegan, Vegetarian, Pescatarian, Plant-Based, Lectin-Free
- Hakkaisan PILSNER Bottle (330ml) - $17 Dietary tags: Vegan, Vegetarian, Pescatarian, Plant-Based, Lectin-Free
Chuhai & Cocktails
IICHIKO CHUHAI (JAPANESE COCKTAILS)
- Green Tea Chuhai - $13 Dietary tags: Vegan, Vegetarian, Pescatarian, Plant-Based, Alkaline, AIP, Macrobiotic, Lectin-Free
- Oolong Tea Chuhai - $13 Dietary tags: Vegan, Vegetarian, Pescatarian, Plant-Based, Alkaline, AIP, Macrobiotic, Lectin-Free
- Pickled Plum Chuhai - $13 Dietary tags: Vegan, Vegetarian, Pescatarian, Plant-Based, Alkaline, AIP, Macrobiotic, Lectin-Free
- Calpico Chuhai - $13 Dietary tags: Vegan, Vegetarian, Pescatarian, Plant-Based, Alkaline, AIP, Macrobiotic, Lectin-Free
- Yuzu Calpico Chuhai - $13 Dietary tags: Vegan, Vegetarian, Pescatarian, Plant-Based, Alkaline, AIP, Macrobiotic, Lectin-Free
- Yuzu Chuhai - $13 Dietary tags: Vegan, Vegetarian, Pescatarian, Plant-Based, Alkaline, AIP, Macrobiotic, Lectin-Free
- Lemon Chuhai - $13 Dietary tags: Vegan, Vegetarian, Pescatarian, Plant-Based, Alkaline, AIP, Macrobiotic, Lectin-Free
- Calpico Bomb - $13 Dietary tags: Vegan, Vegetarian, Pescatarian, Plant-Based, Alkaline, AIP, Macrobiotic, Lectin-Free
- Yuzu Splash - $15 Dietary tags: Vegan, Vegetarian, Pescatarian, Plant-Based, Alkaline, AIP, Macrobiotic, Lectin-Free
Sake
Selection of premium Japanese sake
- Dassai 45 Junmai Daiginjo - $12: Yamaguchi / Fruity, Smooth (Glass price)
- Hakkaisan Daiginjo - $24: Niigata / Light, Dry, Crisp (Glass price)
- Fukuju Junmai Ginjo - $20: Hyogo / Aromatic, Clean, Crisp (Glass price)
- Suigei Tokubetsu Junmai - $21: Kochi / Light, Clean, Smooth (Glass price)
Non-Alcoholic
- Oolong Tea - $5
- Matcha Green Tea - $5
- Calpico Soda - $5
- Coke - $5
Frequently Asked Questions about Yopparai
- Is this restaurant good value for money?
- While rated 4.5/5, some guests find this expensive ($$$) restaurant offers small portions for the price point.
- What are the standout dishes based on the menu?
- Standout dishes highlighted by diners include the flavorful oden, kakuni pork belly, and chicken meatballs with egg.
- How extensive is this restaurant's menu selection?
- The menu ranges from delicate sashimi to comforting hot pots, featuring 15 highlighted dishes and accommodating 41 different dietary preferences.
- What is this restaurant's overall rating?
- The Japanese restaurant Yopparai currently holds an overall average rating of 4.5/5 based on customer reviews and feedback.
- How many reviews does this restaurant have?
- The provided restaurant data for Yopparai does not contain information regarding the specific number of reviews it has received.
- How can I contact this restaurant?
- You can contact Yopparai by visiting their official website at https://yopparainyc.com for reservations and further information.
- Does this restaurant offer good ambiance?
- Diners praise the authentic, intimate atmosphere featuring unique tatami mat seating and a cozy, transportive interior perfect for date nights.
- Which diets does this restaurant support based on its menu?
- Yopparai supports keto, gluten-free, vegan, and pescatarian diets with dishes like Homemade Nukazuke, Sashimi, Pork Belly Hot Pot, and Tofu Miso Soup.
- Is this restaurant currently open and operational?
- The provided restaurant data does not include specific hours of operation to determine if Yopparai is currently open or operational.
- What is the price range at this restaurant?
- Yopparai is categorized as an expensive restaurant with a price level of $$$ and some guests find portions small for the price.
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