KONO NYC - 4.9 rating - Premier Yakitori Omakase in Chinatown

🔹 Restaurant Overview

Name of Restaurant: KONO

Location + Full Address (with nearby landmark/subway station):
46 Bowery, New York, NY 10013
Landmark: Canal Street Subway Station (J/Z/6/N/Q/R/W) – ~3 mins walk
Discreetly located inside the Canal Arcade, evoking the hidden alleyways of Tokyo.

City + Neighborhood Tag: Manhattan – Chinatown

Opening Year / Newly Opened: Chef Kono’s namesake restaurant (Updated 2024)

Cuisine Type: Japanese · Yakitori · Kappo-style Omakase

Dining Style: Chef’s Counter · Multi-Course Yakitori Omakase · Intimate Dining

Price Range: $185 per person
(Average cost for two: ~$370 before beverages)

Special Offers / Reservation Notes:

• Two seatings nightly: 5:30 PM & 8:30 PM

• Reservations required (up to two weeks in advance)

• 14-seat chef’s counter + small semi-private section

• 48-hour cancellation window; late cancellations charged $185 per guest

🔹 Ambience & Interiors

Interior Theme: Minimalist Tokyo-style yakitori counter with warm wood, smoke, fire & craftsmanship.

Seating Capacity & Layout:

• 14 seats at the chef’s counter

• Semi-private dining area for groups of 4–5

• Omakase format where guests watch the grill in action

Lighting & Music Style:

• Soft, warm lighting focusing attention on the grill

• Quiet, elegant environment rooted in Japanese kappo tradition

Outdoor Seating / Rooftop / Patio / Private Dining:

• Indoor counter dining only

• Semi-private alcove seating available

Unique Interior Highlights:

• Binchotan charcoal grill at center stage

• Kappo-style open kitchen

• Aroma of smoke + fire adds to sensory experience

🔹 Food & Drinks

Most Recommended Courses (Top 5–10):

(Exact dishes vary seasonally; examples include)

• Multiple yakitori cuts from organic Amish chicken

• Specialty cuts (neck, tail, cartilage, oyster, etc.)

• Seasonal vegetables grilled over binchotan

• Chicken consommé

• Egg dishes (often included as palate transitions)

• Kappo-style side dishes

Beverage Highlights:

• Curated sake program

• Japanese whisky

• High-quality wine list

• Craft beers (limited but well-chosen)

Signature Experience You Must Try:

• $185 Yakitori Omakase at the Chef’s Counter

• Specialty chicken cuts rarely found outside Japan

• Kappo-style seasonal dishes

Dietary Options:

• Limited — menu heavily focused on chicken

• Not ideal for vegetarians or guests avoiding poultry

• Please notify restrictions in advance; accommodations not guaranteed

🔹 Service & Experience

Service Type: Chef-Driven Counter Service · High-End Hospitality

Staff Behavior & Professionalism:

• Attentive, knowledgeable, ceremonial

• Deep understanding of yakitori traditions

• Seamless pacing throughout the omakase

Waiting Time Experience:

• Reservations essential

• Guests encouraged to arrive on time due to fixed seating

• Two nightly seatings keep service precise

Ideal For: Traditional Japanese dining enthusiasts · Foodies · Date nights · Special occasions · Yakitori purists

🔹 Menu & Pricing Snapshot

Menu Overview:

• Multi-course yakitori omakase ($185 pp)

• Seasonal kappo dishes

• Organic Amish chicken prepared in many cuts

• Premium binchotan-charcoal grilling

Best-Selling Items:

• Chicken oyster yakitori

• Tail & cartilage cuts

• Seasonal vegetable skewers

• Chicken consommé

Chef’s Specials / House Favorites:

• Rare yakitori cuts

• Seasonal kappo dishes inspired by Japanese culinary traditions

🔹 What Makes This Place Special?

Brand Story / Concept: After nearly two decades of training in Japan and New York—including leading the Michelin-starred Yakitori Torishin—Chef Atsushi “ATS” Kono now showcases his mastery of the yakitori craft under his own name. KONO brings the flavors, philosophy, and precision of Tokyo’s best yakitori counters into a hidden corner of Chinatown.

Chef Profile: Chef Atsushi "ATS" Kono

• Former executive chef & GM of Yakitori Torishin (Michelin-starred)

• Expert in yakitori technique and specialty chicken cuts

• Renowned for kappo-style integration and seasonality

Instagrammable Highlights:

• Flames rising from binchotan grill

• Precise plating of skewers

• Minimalist Tokyo-style ambiance

🔹 Ratings – Reviews.Restaurant NYC Scale

4.9 star rating

🔹 Operational Info

Opening Hours:
Monday–Saturday: 5:30 PM & 8:30 PM seatings

Contact Number: +1 646-524-6838

Reservation Needed:

• Required; book two weeks in advance

• 48-hour cancellation policy with full charge

Parking: Street parking + local garages

Wheelchair Accessible: Limited access due to Canal Arcade layout; confirm beforehand

🔹 Map Embed

Google Maps URL: https://maps.app.goo.gl/vDmcxWws6NBX5jiA9

🔹 Call-To-Action Buttons

Reserve a Table → http://www.yakitorikono.com
Get Directions → Google Maps link