Tokyo Record Bar - Japanese restaurant in New York - 127 MacDougal St, USA

I am pretty sure all of the negative reviews are from people who don’t understand the concept of this great, unique spot. It is a tasting menu, you never know what you’ll be having until it arrives to your table — how fun! Each course was a fresh combination of ingredients that left you wanting more. It’s an intimate space and everyone is served the same course together. It feels like you’re at a big dinner party with strangers, everyone was chatting across tables and guessing who requested which album. The service was so good especially when they are juggling so much to ensure it’s well timed without rushing you. Will definitely be bringing friends back here!

My experience at Tokyo Record Bar was exceptional. The friendly staff went out of their way to make me feel genuinely appreciated. The welcoming atmosphere, combined with the fantastic mix of great food and music, created an enjoyable setting. The spot-on sake pairings added a delightful touch, enhancing the flavors of the meal. Even dining alone, I quickly forgot about it, thanks to the engaging experience. Tokyo Record Bar truly delivers top-notch service and thoughtful touches, making it a standout dining destination.

A fabulous date night spot (or friendly gathering) with its niche being the ability to play a vinyl record of your choosing from their extensive list! Went for a date night dinner with their prefix course. While every dish was great, the oysters that were served as an appetizer were truly remarkable! I no longer recall the name of the dishes served, but hope the photos do them justice :) Overall, the experience was unique and intimate! Located in the basement floor of a bar (with a very unassuming exterior), the ambiance is great and service is fantastic. Ask your server for recommendations on sake pairings!

Incredible experience Tokyo Record Bar. The food was outstanding. Each course better than the last and left quite full! Loved the to go pizza as the final course. Everything before it was delicious too, from the pulled pork rice cake, to the oyster with roe to the tuna over eggplant to the octopus salad to the scallops! The sake pairing was generous and delicious. The service was tremendous with exceptionally engaging and friendly staff. And of course the ambiance is the best part, with the patrons all selecting a single vinyl record song that the staff play throughout the course of dinner. A heavenly date spot!! Just go!!

This review is for the downstairs restaurant. The shtick of the place is great. Cool vibe, lots of energy, I like that each person picks a song. The food didn’t hit the mark for me. There were 2 items of the 7 course menu I’d order again. For $75, I would have wanted better.

Tokyo Record Bar offers a unique dining experience that pays homage to the jewel boxes of vinyl in Japan. It's an izakaya-style tasting menu comprised of 7 set courses. There are 2-3 seatings per night and reservations are required as there are only a dozen or so seats in the space. You start by checking in at the champagne bar upstairs and when it's your seating time, you'll be brought downstairs. Guests are all asked to select a record from their list to curate the night's playlist. What we got: - Popcorn and cucumber salad - Shashimi rhubarb dashi - Potato crab croquette with bacon - Salmon riet with trout roe - Endive salad with cucumber and ginger dressing - Roast pork with roasted chard and radish - Chocolate tart with raspberry - Pizza (to-go) My favourites: - The roast pork was a large portion coming with 6 total slices, the meat was moist and came with candied radish that added a nice sweetness - The sashimi was fresh and had a nice amount of acid - The final slice of pizza was pillowy soft with a slightly spicy tomato sauce Final Thoughts: The staff was nice and they confirmed any dietary restrictions ahead of time. The endive salad came with walnuts, but I'm allergic to nuts so ours was adjusted without having to ask as they knew ahead of time. Most of the courses were pretty mid (some a bit too salty or just not to my taste), but there were a few stand-out bites. I think at $65 USD per person this is a fun experience but not the highest in quality.

Had a really great time and dinner here the other night; after reading some of the negative reviews, maybe it just depends on the particular night. I would say the overall vibe is similar to that of a Japanese record bar and an Izakaya (but the NYC way) Do try to come on time, bc they like to seat everyone at the same time and bring out the courses accordingly. Since the menu changes, I will say the highlight dish from my night was the octopus with pistachio.

This place blew my got dam mind. So much fun, so much creative flavor. Really fun selection of music by the guests. Music choices are all great though, so it would be hard to go wrong. We loved sitting right in front of the chef, getting to interact with him and his wife who were DJ’ing. I think we didn’t know we were picking the best seats in the house. Food was very tasty and plated with care. We’re in the middle of season 2 of The Bear, so we were feeling extra appreciative of the effort and presentation that went into it. Every dietary restriction was taken care of and given special consideration. All around me people seemed to need accommodations and they were all considered. It was hot as hell this summer, so the chef made us ice cold towels to wear part way through the evening to keep us cool. Pics of what we ate. Enjoyed all of it! Just don’t expect the same menu as it seems to change week over week. What a fun experience and a great price. Oh yes, and fresh baked pizza to go. Yes, chef!