Jukai Introduce
In the bustling energy of Midtown East, Jukai offers a refined and intimate Asian dining experience that feels like a quiet escape from the city's pace. While the New York dining scene is filled with a variety of Asian restaurants, Jukai distinguishes itself with a menu that blends traditional Japanese cuisine with unique, creative preparations. It's a place for those who appreciate high-quality ingredients and a thoughtful approach to cooking, making it an ideal choice for a romantic dinner, a special occasion, or a sophisticated meal out. The restaurant's cozy and upscale atmosphere sets the stage for a memorable evening, inviting guests to savor each dish in a trendy and elegant setting.
The culinary philosophy at Jukai centers on a meticulous attention to detail and the use of fresh, premium ingredients. The menu is a delightful fusion of classic Japanese dishes and more modern interpretations. Guests can explore a wide range of options, from expertly prepared sushi and sashimi to comforting hot pot dishes and unique appetizers. The focus on quality is evident in every bite, from the delicate flavor of the Sashimi to the richness of the Duck Tartar and the complexity of the Japanese Risotto. While the service style may be unique, the food itself is crafted to provide a high-end dining experience that appeals to a discerning palate.
Jukai offers a diverse menu that caters to various tastes, allowing diners to explore different facets of Japanese cuisine. Whether you're in the mood for the fresh, clean flavors of an Omakase Sushi set or the warmth of a Sukiyaki Hot Pot, the restaurant provides a range of options. The presence of dishes like Broiled Chilean Seabass marinated with fermented sake and Bottarga Spaghetti demonstrates a creative fusion approach that sets it apart. The wine list is also a highlight, featuring a curated selection of great wines to complement the meal, adding another layer of sophistication to the dining experience. Jukai is a destination for those who seek to try something new and exciting while enjoying a tranquil and intimate atmosphere in the heart of the city.
The ambiance at Jukai is a significant part of its appeal. The space is cozy, romantic, and trendy, making it perfect for an upscale night out. It attracts a crowd of groups and tourists looking for a fine dining experience that is both memorable and different. However, it's worth noting that the restaurant is a small establishment, so an intimate experience is to be expected. The combination of a specialized menu, an intimate setting, and a great wine list makes Jukai a unique option for a discerning diner in New York City.
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Jukai is located at 237 E 53rd St, New York, NY 10022, in the bustling Midtown East neighborhood. The restaurant is situated in a convenient location, easily accessible from various parts of the city. Its proximity to other popular dining spots and businesses makes it a prime destination for an evening out. While specific accessibility details for the establishment are not widely listed, its presence in a high-density area of New York City means it is generally reachable by walking, taxi, or public transportation. It's always a good idea to contact the restaurant directly to inquire about specific accessibility needs if you have them.
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Jukai provides several key services focused on providing a high-quality dining experience for its guests.
Dine-in: The restaurant offers a full-service dine-in experience, allowing guests to enjoy their meals in the intimate and cozy atmosphere. The service is table-based, providing a formal dining setting.
Takeout and Delivery: For those who prefer to enjoy their meal at home, Jukai offers both takeout and delivery services, with special hot pot take-out options available.
Reservations: Reservations are a key part of the Jukai experience, with dinner reservations highly recommended, and in some cases, required. This helps ensure a seat in the small, intimate space and is a vital part of planning your visit.
Dessert: The menu includes a dessert selection, featuring house-made ice creams that are a great way to end a meal.
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Jukai is known for a number of features that contribute to its distinctive identity and upscale feel. These highlights are what make it a special choice for a night out.
Intimate and Romantic Atmosphere: The restaurant's cozy and elegant setting is perfect for a date night or a quiet dinner, with an atmosphere that feels both exclusive and welcoming.
Great Wine List: The wine selection is a notable highlight, featuring a curated list that complements the diverse Asian fusion menu.
High-Quality Ingredients: The menu emphasizes fresh, healthy ingredients, with a focus on premium items like Washu beef, fresh sashimi, and Abalone.
Unique Menu: The menu goes beyond typical Japanese fare to include creative dishes and a unique take on hot pot, making it an adventurous choice for food lovers.
Upscale and Trendy Vibe: Jukai is a destination for those seeking a trendy, upscale dining experience that feels special and out of the ordinary.
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To make a reservation or for more information about the menu, you can contact Jukai at:
Address: 237 E 53rd St, New York, NY 10022, USA
Phone: (212) 588-9788
Given the restaurant’s small size, calling ahead for reservations is essential to guarantee your table.
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Choosing to dine at Jukai means you are in for a unique culinary journey that deviates from the ordinary. While the experience may be intimate, the food itself is the star of the show. The menu offers a wide variety of excellent dishes that are worth exploring. For an authentic and refined Japanese experience, the Omakase Sushi and Omakase Sashimi sets are fantastic choices, showcasing the freshness and quality of the fish. If you’re looking to try something different, the Duck Tartar and the Seared Beef Tongue are adventurous and flavorful appetizers. The Pork Pate Salad and the Cold Washu Beef Shabushabu Salad are also great options, combining fresh ingredients with a savory kick.
For main courses, the menu provides several highlights that are highly recommended. The Broiled Chilean Seabass marinated with fermented sake is a standout dish, known for its rich flavor and tender texture. The Japanese Risotto With 5 Kinds of Mushrooms and the Bottarga Spaghetti showcase the restaurant's fusion approach, blending Italian techniques with Japanese flavors. For a more communal and interactive experience, the Sukiyaki (Washu Beef) or Duck Hot Pot take-out specials are an interesting and unique option for a meal at home. And be sure to save room for dessert, as the Homemade Matcha Ice Cream and Homemade Honey Nuts Vanilla Ice Cream are a delightful way to end your meal.
While some reviews mention a unique service style and intimate space, the overall consensus on the food's quality is positive, particularly for the fresh fish and other premium offerings. Jukai is a place for the adventurous diner who appreciates high-end ingredients and unique preparations. It's a special occasion spot where the focus is on the food and the company. For New Yorkers looking for a sophisticated and romantic dining spot that stands out from the crowd, Jukai offers a refined and memorable experience that is truly worth the visit.
Jukai Food & drink
Soup / Salad/ Rice
- Brown Rice $5.00
- Miso Soup $4.00
Fish broth miso soup.
- Cold Washu Beef Shabushabu Salad $45.00
Cold washu beef shabushabu with sesame ponzu sauce.
- Pork Pate Salad $16.00
- Green Salad $10.00
Fresh salad with a variety of green vegetables typically served on a bed of lettuce.
- Japanese Risotto With 5 Kinds Of Mushrooms $25.00
Japanese risotto contains rice, mushrooms, egg, and dashi broth.
- Tomato Salad With Lobster $28.00
Tomato salad with lobster served with vinegar dressing.
- Grilled Vegetables $35.00
Grilled seasonal vegetables served with homemade yuzu pepper, salted lemon, and seaweed salt on the side.
- White Rice $4.00
- Sashimi Salad $28.00
Green salad topped with variety of diced cut sashimi.
Appetizer
- Egg Omelets $8.00
Japanese egg omelets with grated daikon radish.
- Smoked Nuts $8.00
Smoked almonds.
- Simmered Beef Giblets $17.00
Simmered beef giblets in soup.
- 10 Kinds Of Appetizer $32.00
10 kinds of bite size appetizer of the day.
- Jamon Iberico $27.00
100% acorn black label.
- Sauté Of Cabbage & Anchovy $12.00
Cooked in oil or fat over heat.
- Asazuke Pickles $8.00
Authentic Japanese pickles.
- Duck Tartar $32.00
Duck tartar with homemade yolk sauce.
- Seared Beef Tongue With Homemade Ponzu $32.00
- Homemade Tofu $15.00
Served with 3 kinds of sauce. Dashi broth with Japanese greens, salted sea urchin, and homemade yuzu pepper.
- Smoked Duck $14.00
- Homemade Pickles $10.00
Seasonal homemade pickles.
- Smoked Daikon Radish $8.00
Smoked daikon radish Akita style.
- Simmered Octopus $17.00
Cooked using moist heat. cephalopod.
Meat
- Beef Skirt Steak,Marinated Miso $42.00
- Duck Breast Steak $42.00
- Duck Confit $42.00
- Beef Tongue Steak $60.00
Served with homemade yuzu pepper, salted lemon, and seaweed salt.
- Beef Tongue Stew $40.00
Served with homemade yuzu pepper salted lemon and seaweed salt.
Sidedish
- Zosui Rice $6.00
- White Rice $4.00
- Extra Vegetable For Hotpot $12.00
- Udon For Hot Pot $6.00
- Brown Rice $5.00
- Extra Sauce, Yuzu Pepper, Scallion, Grated Daikon, Radish, & Raw Egg $2.00
Jukai Gozen (Bento Box)
- Jukai Gozen (Bento Box) $22.00
Bento box.
Seafood/Spaghetti
- Broiled Chilean Seabass Marinated With Fermented Sake $8.00
1 piece. Marinated with fermented sake.
- Extra Ginger/Wasabi $2.00
- Abalone Steak With Gorgonzola $45.00
- Grilled Lobster With Fresh Herbs $50.00
Grilled whole lobster with fresh herbs.
- Salted Sea Urchin With Salmon Roe Bowl $25.00
- Steamed Abalone $25.00
- Japanese Risotto With 5 Kinds Of Mushrooms $26.00
Japanese risotto contains rice mushrooms egg and dashi broth.
- Bottarga Spaghetti $25.00
- Salted Sea Urchin Sauce Spaghetti $25.00
Hot Pot Take Out Special
- Shabu Shabu $58.00
Japanese traditional hot pot contains assorted vegetable, tofu, grass noodle, and dashi broth. Served with ponzu sauce and sesame sauce are on the side. Please choose washu beef or mugifuji pork.
- Sukiyaki (Washu Beef) $58.00
Japanese traditional hot pot contains assorted vegetable, tofu, shirataki, washu beef, and sweet soy sauce broth.
- Duck Hot Pot $58.00
Duck hot pot contains assorted vegetables, tofu, glass noodles, long island duck, and duck broth. Served with yuzu pepper on the side.
Dessert
- Homemade Matcha Ice Cream $9.00
- Homemade Honey Nuts Vanilla Ice Cream $9.00
Udon
- Clam Broth Soup $25.00
- Duck Broth & Yuzu Soup $25.00
Sushi / Sashimi
- Omakase Sushi ( 6 Pieces ) $45.00
Chef's choice of six pieces of sushi of the day.
- Bara Chirashi $56.00
Sushi rice bowl topped with variety of diced cut sashimi.
- Omakase Sashimi ( 6 Pieces ) $40.00
Chef's choice of six pieces of sashimi of the day.
- Omakase Sashimi ( 10 Pieces ) $60.00
Chef's choice of 10 pieces of sashimi of the day.
- Omakase Sushi ( 12 Pieces ) $86.00
Chef's choice of 12 pieces of sushi of the day.
- Special Roll $28.00
Snow crab, avocado, salmon, mayo, and truffle oil.
- Maki Roll $19.00
Choice of chopped tuna roll, salmon roll, yellow tail and scallion roll, salmon skin roll or cooked tuna and mayo roll.
- Small Bara Chirashi $30.00
Small sushi rice bowl topped with variety of diced cut sashimi.
- Omakase Sushi ( 3 Pieces ) $23.00
Chef's choice of three pieces of sushi of the day.
- Omakase Sashimi ( 8 Pieces ) $50.00
Chef's choice of eight pieces of sashimi of the day.
Jukai Details
Service options
- Delivery
- Takeout
- Dine-in
Highlights
- Great wine list
Popular for
- Dinner
- Solo dining
Accessibility
- Assistive hearing loop
- Wheelchair accessible entrance
- Wheelchair accessible parking lot
- Wheelchair accessible restroom
- Wheelchair accessible seating
Offerings
- Alcohol
- Beer
- Coffee
- Hard liquor
- Healthy options
- Small plates
- Wine
Dining options
- Dinner
- Dessert
- Seating
- Table service
Amenities
- Restroom
Atmosphere
- Cozy
- Romantic
- Trendy
- Upscale
Crowd
- Groups
- Tourists
Planning
- Reservations required
- Dinner reservations recommended
- Accepts reservations
Payments
- Credit cards
- Debit cards
- Credit cards
Jukai Photos










Jukai Location
Jukai Reviews
hotpotsukiyakishabu shabusakeduckdinnertasting menuappetizerfishudon
★ 5★ 4★ 3★ 2★ 1The establishment is notably small, featuring a single server who does not provide water and frequently interferes with diners by making contact with their tables. The atmosphere is rather uncomfortable and noisy. Furthermore, the pricing of the food is high, and I would advise against ordering the beef, as it did not appear to be fresh. The service was exceedingly slow, with an extensive wait time of two hours before all dishes were served. The server demonstrated minimal assistance in the preparation of our meal and even questioned the rationale behind my decision to tip only 10% rather than the anticipated ranges of 18%, 20%, or 25%. I felt obliged to leave a tip based on ethical considerations, despite the inadequate service. Tipping should be contingent upon the quality of service received and ought to be regarded as a personal choice. Rather than inquiring about the reasons for lower tips, it would be more advantageous to explore avenues for enhancing service quality.Finally, I expected the food to be tastier based on recommendations from foodies, but I would rather go to Shabu Tatsu instead.
November 24 · Silvanna ShenOverall the fish and food was great. We got a sashimi set, duck tartar (notice it’s seared), chirashi bowl, duck tongue, hot pot, sukiyaki, and a variety of desserts.Tip - get the sesame pudding dessert and skip the hot pot and Sukiyaki. It’s pretty mid and extremely expensive for what it is.
August 24 · Justin LauI did like the food but definitely overpriced. Taking too long to bring hotpot and uncooked meat and veggies for Shabushabu after they placed portable stove on our table. Once the portable stove was set people automatic think the hotpot is gonna be served very soon. We ended up ordering another appetizer because of the wait time for shabushabu hotpot. However they brought out hotpot right after the extra appetizer. They need to think how our table would be. Servers were nice but weren’t very efficient.
December 26 · Shion IshiharaIt’s like an adult hideaway, and I like the atmosphere of the counter. To be honest, the price is not cheap, but if you would like to eat Japanese delicious food made with high-quality ingredients, I think this price is reasonable. The staff are also very kind and considerate.
June 03 · Salon MUSA / Hair & Nailfor a 400$ meal, this was painfully average. nothing was bad, but definitely not worth the cost.we got the hotpot set. the appetizers were more like amuse bouche sizes (bite sized) and not really that good. the tuna with mayo (right most) was especially fishy.the beef shabu shabu was okay. the broth was not particularly flavorful. overall i preferred places like kimura or hakata tonton which are significantly cheaper.
August 25 · Genevieve Dunn
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