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In a world where profit tends to come before ethics, the Park Slope Food Coop in Brooklyn, New York is redefining what a grocery shopping experience can look like. As avid lovers of the environment, members of the coop strive to source all their products from local and sustainable farms that align with their values; they recycle, refuse exploitation and discrimination, and do everything in their power to respect the planet today, as well as for future generations.

Amidst the plethora of conventional grocery stores that offer the same processed meat and dairy products, Formaggio Kitchen has dedicated itself to providing shoppers with quality. Backed by a love for European-style cheese and cured meats, this specialty grocery store evokes a feeling of being on the streets of France or Italy.      

When most people think of Japanese food, they think of sushi, sashimi, and donburi. Interestingly enough, this is not the most common type of food that you would find in the average Japanese household. Ootoya is one of the few Japanese restaurants showcasing ichiju-sansai, also known as Japanese homestyle cooking.

With its name inspired by the plum flower from the Zen proverb “One flower opens the sky in spring”, Icca dedicates itself to providing guests with a dining experience that is akin to experiencing a spring flower blossoming. Their Japanese menu focuses on one particular style of sushi—edomae. Born in Ryogoku, Tokyo, edomae sushi is in fact the predecessor of what we know today as nigiri sushi, otherwise known as a thin slice of raw fish delicately laid atop a piece of rice.

Instead of rushing through another lunch break with a heavily processed meal from the fast food restaurant down the road, visit BentOn for a balanced plate packed with all the nutrients you need to get you through the rest of your day. By offering the classic Japanese Bento (lunchbox), BentOn strives to provide the busy New Yorker with a nourishing lunch that satisfies without weighing you down!

Housemade milk bread served with nori butter and beef tallow, cherrywood smoked octopus, and wagyu carpaccio—these are just a few appetizers you can expect to savor at Taru, New York’s new midtown Japanese fine dining experience. Designed by critically acclaimed Chef Tony Inn, Taru’s menu is a delightful display of what happens when high-quality Japanese ingredients meet Michellin-starred culinary talent. 

Beef connoisseurs from all over are encouraged to run, not walk, to Kaikagetsu to enjoy some of Japan's most prized beef, also known as Hida Wagyu. The high-class Lower East Side restaurant showcases the luxurious and elevated kaiseki-style dining experience, marked by its paced, multi-course design, flush with small, appetizer-style dishes, or sakizuke, and sashimi-style dishes, or mukozuke. Among these, diners get the unique chance to experience the tender quality of exceptional beef from the city of Hida, Gifu prefecture, known for its distinct marbling, texture, and unique fragrance.

For foodies planning on spending the day in Manhattan, we recommend visiting Isle of Us, an Upper East Side grocer, and cafe with a menu that will nourish your mind, body, and spirit. Located just on the corner of 3rd and East 84th Street, this local cafe makes healthy eating a breeze for anyone living or working in the area. Everything in this little nook is made with impeccable attention to quality, freshness, and detail, from their cozy made-to-order meals to their rustic pantry foods.

Located on the Lower East Side, this Japanese restaurant offers a much more customized experience than we might be used to. With an intimate 8-seater room and a 9-course fixed menu, Chef Sono takes diners on a gastronomic journey showcasing the unique kaiseki style of dining. By focusing on fresh, hand-picked ingredients and artfully plated dishes, Kappo Sono delivers an elevated Japanese fine dining experience to all that come.

TATSU’s dinner service is presented as a 3-4 course seasonal tasting menu that showcases its premium quality seafood and vegetables, authentic Japanese rice, and traditional preparation methods. Guests are given the choice of 1-2 appetizers, followed by an assortment of seasonal nigiri, a hand roll, and miso soup, followed by dessert. 

WOKUNI is an established NYC-based Japanese restaurant boasting a menu flush with high-quality products that are used to create traditional dishes made modern. Founded by the food company, Tokyo Ichiban Foods, known for its commitment to excellence, Wokuni strives to share their passion for naturally sourced ingredients through every plate served. 

Sushi of Gari is a prominent New York-based restaurant with a mission to display the art of eating sushi by creating intentionally crafted culinary experiences. With several dining locations around the Tri-state area, Sushi of Gari is about quality over quantity, placing emphasis on ingredients and preparation.