Shirokuro Introduce
In a city known for its bold and creative dining scene, Shirokuro stands out for its truly unique concept and striking aesthetic. This Japanese restaurant, located on 2nd Avenue in the East Village, offers an immersive experience unlike any other in New York. The moment you walk in, you are greeted by a black-and-white, two-dimensional world, meticulously designed to feel like you've stepped directly into a hand-drawn sketchbook or a graphic novel. The restaurant's name, "Shirokuro," which translates to "white-black" in Japanese, perfectly captures its monochromatic, art-forward vision.
While the unique design is the initial draw, the food is what keeps people coming back. Shirokuro blends this artistic atmosphere with high-quality Japanese cuisine, specializing in fresh sushi and omakase, as well as a variety of hot and cold appetizers. The menu is crafted to be both art-forward and approachable, offering a way to enjoy serious sushi without the high formality or price tag often associated with fine dining omakase. The food, with its vibrant colors and textures, pops beautifully against the black-and-white backdrop, making each dish feel like a work of art in itself. It is a place that successfully marries an incredible visual experience with a delicious culinary one, creating a memorable outing for a date night, solo dining, or an evening out with friends.
Shirokuro is nestled in the heart of the East Village, one of New York City’s most popular and energetic neighborhoods. The restaurant's address is 103 2nd Ave, New York, NY 10003, USA. Its location on this bustling street makes it an easy destination for both locals and visitors exploring the area.
While there is paid parking available both on the street and in nearby lots, the most convenient way to access the restaurant is often via public transportation. The area is well-served by several subway lines. The 6 train stops at Astor Place, and the N, R, and W lines all have a station at 8th Street, placing the restaurant just a short walk from both. This makes Shirokuro an excellent stop for dinner before a night out in the city. The restaurant's popularity means it can get quite busy, but its central location makes it easy to incorporate into your plans.
Shirokuro provides a traditional, table-service dining experience, focusing on creating a seamless and enjoyable meal for all guests.
- Dine-in: The primary service option is dine-in, allowing customers to fully immerse themselves in the unique 2D atmosphere.
- Table Service: Guests are seated and served by a friendly and welcoming staff, ensuring a comfortable and well-attended experience.
- Reservations: Given the restaurant's popularity and unique ambiance, reservations are highly recommended, especially for dinner service.
- Lunch and Dinner: Shirokuro serves both lunch and dinner, offering a great option for a daytime meal or an evening out.
- Dessert: The menu includes a selection of desserts, providing a sweet finish to your meal.
Shirokuro is more than just a restaurant; it's a destination, defined by its creative and welcoming features.
- Unique 2D Atmosphere: The most striking feature is the restaurant's entirely black-and-white, hand-drawn interior. The walls, floors, and furniture are decorated with intricate lines that create the illusion of a two-dimensional space, perfect for photo opportunities.
- High-Quality Japanese Cuisine: The food is a major highlight, with a focus on fresh, healthy ingredients. The menu includes a variety of sushi, sashimi, and hot and cold appetizers.
- Omakase Options: For a truly special experience, the restaurant offers a Shiro Omakase and a Kuro Omakase, both of which are a fantastic way to sample the chef's best selections.
- Full Bar: Shirokuro offers a variety of alcoholic beverages, including beer, cocktails, and a thoughtful selection of wine, perfect for pairing with your meal.
- Cozy and Trendy Vibe: The atmosphere is a blend of cozy and trendy, making it a great place for a casual night out. Despite being popular and sometimes bustling, the service remains friendly and attentive.
For reservations or inquiries, you can reach out to Shirokuro using the contact information below.
Phone: (646) 882-0013
Address: 103 2nd Ave, New York, NY 10003, USA
While the entire menu at Shirokuro is full of exciting options, a few dishes and experiences are consistently highlighted as must-tries by those who have visited.
The Sushi Omakase is a standout choice. Customers rave about the freshness of the fish and the artistry that goes into each piece. For a fantastic value, the Sashimi Set is an excellent option, offering a selection of high-quality tuna, salmon, and yellowtail.
Among the hot appetizers, the Fried Squid Legs are highly recommended. They are described as perfectly crispy, tender, and flavorful, making for an excellent starter. The Miso Cod and Short Ribs are also popular choices for those looking for something beyond sushi. The Spicy Tuna Crispy Rice is a favorite among those who enjoy a combination of texture and flavor, while the Brussel Sprouts and Miso Butter Clams offer unique and delicious options.
What is truly worth choosing at Shirokuro, however, is the full sensory experience. It's a place where the food, service, and environment all come together to create something memorable. The feeling of being in a live sketchbook while enjoying a meal of expertly prepared Japanese food is a one-of-a-kind experience. The friendly staff and cozy atmosphere contribute to an overall wonderful time, making it a spot you'll be eager to return to.
Shirokuro Menu
Dessert
- House Made Fruit Sorbet $4.00
- Mochi Ice Cream $3.50
Beverages
- Latte $6.00
- Espresso $3.00
- Americano $5.00
- Cappucino $5.00
Sides
- Miso Soup $3.50
- Rice $3.50
COLD
- Seaweed Salad $13.00
Assorted seaweed tossed in sweet and savory plum dressing.
- Tuna Tartare $23.00
With avocado, ikura, nori chips & wasabi oil.
- Pepper Tuna Tataki $18.00
Seared pepper-crusted tuna topped with mustard truffle sauce, cherry tomatoes, and radish sprouts.
- Marinated Japanese Cucumber Salad $10.00
Fresh Japanese cucumbers marinated in a tangy sesame-soy dressing.
- Dry Aged Kin Madai Tataki $27.00
8 days dry aged kinmadai, momiji oroshi, ponzu sauce topped with scallion.
- Spicy Tuna Crispy Rice $18.00
Spicy tuna wrapped with avocado served with crispy rice.
- Takowasabi $6.00
Wasabi marinaded octopus with side of nori.
- Dry Aged Salmon Crudo $27.00
14 days dry aged salmon, Citrus soy dressing, yuzu kosho topped with white scallion.
Sushi à A Carte
- Tamago $9.00
egg
- Umi Masu $9.00
ocean trout
- Dry Aged Madai $9.00
aged for 8 days
- Unagi $9.00
sea eel
- Hamachi $9.00
yellowtail
- Uni $9.00
sea urchin
- Gindara $9.00
sable fish
- Chutoro $9.00
medium fatty tuna
- O-Toro $9.00
fatty tuna
- Dry Aged Salmon $9.00
aged for 14 days
- Masunosuke $9.00
king salmon
- Suzuki $9.00
sea bass
- Botan Ebi $9.00
botan shrimp
- Gin Sake $9.00
scottish salmon
- Hotate $9.00
scallop
- Ikura $9.00
salmon roe
- Honmaguro $9.00
bluefin tuna
- Kanpachi $9.00
amberjack
HOT APPETIZERS
- Brussel Sprouts $14.00
Crispy sprouts with bacon, roasted cashew, and umami glaze.
- Ebi Shumai $13.00
Steamed shrimp dumplings served with soy dipping sauce and Japanese mustard.
- Veggie Tempura $14.00
Shishito pepper, shitake mushroom, zucchini, onion, sweet potato.
- Short Ribs $16.00
Soy braised short ribs with raddish and carrots.
- Miso Cod $15.00
Miso marinated grilled cod.
- Miso Butter Clams $18.00
Manila clams in miso garlic butter broth served with jalapeño lime sauce.
- Pork Gyoza $15.00
Japanese style dumplings.
- Grilled Edamame $9.00
Grilled edamame tossed with dried yukari plum and rock salt.
- Tebasaki Gyoza $12.00
Deboned chicken wings stuffed with ground pork, cabbage, scallions, garlic, and ginger.
- Chawanmushi $13.00
With avocado, ikura, nori chips & wasabi oil.
- Okonomiyaki $14.00
Japanese style pancakes with bacon.
- Fried Squid Legs $14.00
Crispy fried squid legs served with ginger tartar sauce and Japanese pickled shallots.
- Charred Oysters $13.00
Shiso pesto sauce with mozzarella, parmesan, pecorino cheese.
- Kurobuta Sausage Onions Peppers $12.00
Skewers, onions, and shishito peppers served on cast iron pan.
- Agedashi Tofu $14.00
Crispy fried tofu in dashi broth, topped with sautéed oyster mushrooms, shishito peppers, and bonito flakes.
- Shishito Pepper $11.00
Lightly blistered Japanese shishito peppers, with sea salt and served with a garlic-ginger dipping sauce.
Chef's Selection
- Sashimi Set $23.00
honmaguro bluefin tuna 3pcs, sake salmon 2pcs, and hamachi yellowtail 2pcs.
- Grab Hand Roll $27.00
pepper tuna, seared salmon, and yellowtail.
- Shiro Omakase $60.00
daily chef selected nigiri sushi 7 pieces, grab hand roll, and miso soup.
- Grab Hand Roll $38.00
pepper tuna, aburi hotate, seared salmon, gindara, and yellowtail.
- Kuro Omakase $90.00
3 chef special appetizers, daily chef selected nigiri sushi 10 pieces, grab hand roll, and miso soup.
- Mini Sashimi Set $12.00
bluefin tuna 3pcs, salmon 3pcs, or yellowtail 3pcs.
Hand Roll
- Shrimp Tempura Roll $6.00
- Spicy Tuna Roll W Masago $14.00
- Spicy Salmon Roll W Masago $14.00
- Eel Roll $13.00
- Blue Fin Tuna Roll $6.00
- Torotaku Roll $6.00
- Salmon Roll $6.00
- Scallop Roll $6.00
- Salmon Avocado Roll $6.00
- Eel Avocado Roll $6.00
- California Roll $14.00
- Cucumber Roll $6.00
- Takuan Roll $11.00
- Avocado Roll $6.00
- Vegetable Roll $13.00
- Shiitake Roll $6.00
- Yellowtail Scallion Roll $6.00
- Spicy Yellowtail Roll W Masago $14.00
- Cucumber Avocado Roll $6.00
Sushi Roll
- Cucumber Avocado Roll $6.50
- Spicy Salmon Roll W Masago $6.50
- Takuan Roll $10.00
- Vegetable Roll $12.00
- Salmon Roll $6.00
- Shrimp Tempura Roll $6.50
- Salmon Avocado Roll $7.00
- Cucumber Roll $6.00
- Eel Roll $6.00
- Scallop Roll $7.50
- California Roll $6.50
- Spicy Tuna Roll W Masago $6.50
- Shiitake Roll $6.50
- Eel Avocado Roll $6.50
- Avocado Roll $6.00
- Blue Fin Tuna Roll $6.50
- Torotaku Roll $14.00
- Yellowtail Scallion Roll $6.50
- Spicy Yellowtail Roll W Masago $6.50
Shirokuro Details
Service options
- Dine-in
Popular for
- Dinner
- Solo dining
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible parking lot
Offerings
- Alcohol
- Beer
- Cocktails
- Healthy options
- Wine
Dining options
- Lunch
- Dinner
- Dessert
- Table service
Amenities
- Restroom
Atmosphere
- Cozy
- Trendy
Planning
- Accepts reservations
Payments
- Credit cards
- Debit cards
Parking
- Paid parking lot
- Paid street parking
- Parking
Shirokuro Photos










Shirokuro Location
Shirokuro Reviews
omakaseinteriorcoursesquid2dartistaestheticspeakeasycartoonwork of art
★ 5★ 4★ 3★ 2★ 1From the moment I walked in, I was greeted with a friendly staff. One of my favorite dishes was the fried squid legs. They were perfectly crispy, tender, and bursting with flavor. The fresh sushi omakase was the highlight my meal. Each piece was a work of art. Overall, I highly recommend Shirokuro and I can't wait to return!
June 05 · Doris LamThe food was quite satisfactory, and despite the restaurant being very popular and bustling with patrons, the service remained friendly and welcoming. The restaurant's design is truly unique, featuring a striking black and white monochromatic atmosphere that adds to its charm. While the acoustics could be improved, making conversations a bit challenging, the overall experience was enjoyable and memorable.
May 19 · Gilad GlobenWe had a wonderful Mother’s Day lunch at Shirokuro with my husband and our daughter — and it was such a memorable experience from start to finish.First of all, we were so happy to see that they offered a Kids Bento Box. Our daughter usually has a picky appetite, but here she enjoyed every bite — from the onigiri to the shrimp tempura, gyudon, and noodles. It made the meal so much more enjoyable for all of us knowing she was happy and full.The interior design was absolutely stunning — it truly felt like we had stepped into a drawing. Every detail was hand-painted in black and white, creating an immersive 2D world that was unlike anything we’ve seen in New York. Even the stairs leading down to the restroom were part of the artwork, and it brought so much joy just walking through the space.My husband and I ordered the Kuro Omakase, which was 15 beautifully curated courses for just $90. The quality, presentation, and creativity of each dish were outstanding — definitely one of the most value-packed omakase experiences we’ve had in the city.Shirokuro is not just a restaurant, it’s a full experience — combining art, atmosphere, and incredible food. We’ll definitely be coming back, and I’d highly recommend it to anyone looking for something special and unique in NYC.
May 14 · GYEONGHEE KILSo tasty! I cannot recommend this restaurant enough. We had the omakase experience and everything was exquisite. The miso soup presentation was so cute and was very satisfying and warm. Definitely get their matcha mochi- so chewy with a light matcha flavor. Our waiter was super friendly and accommodating.
April 26 · Tamera G.I recently visited Shirokuro with my girlfriends and had an unforgettable experience. From the moment we walked in, we were blown away by the warm, inviting ambiance and the stunning 2D hand-drawn interior—it felt like stepping into a living sketchbook! Truly unlike anything I’ve seen before. We chose the omakase, and every single course was a masterpiece. The fish was insanely fresh, the presentation was flawless, and at just $90, it felt like a steal. The staff was incredibly attentive and knowledgeable, guiding us through each dish with genuine care. It was the perfect mix of creativity, comfort, and culinary excellence. I can’t wait to go back—this place is a must-try!
May 25 · Min Hee Choi
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