Dine Out : En Japanese Brasserie


Since it's situated deep in the West Village, I don't get there all that often but I do enjoy a leisurely lunch at En Japanese Brasserie where the midday dining options during the week include a variety of lunch sets ranging in price from $15 to $38. While it may not be the cheapest lunch in town, the sleek cavernous space with high ceilings and sizable windows offers a pleasant backdrop while the sides included in the sets add tangible and tasty value. Miso soup and mizuna & watercress salad with ponzu dressing are the standard accompaniments but the real winner is the restaurant's specialty dish, a side of fresh soft tofu (made every hour) topped with wari-joyu, a mixture of soy sauce and fish broth. As someone who happens to really like tofu, I'm not exaggerating when I say that the tofu alone makes eating here worthwhile. It is easily the best tofu I've ever tasted. The texture is smooth and creamy with an almost custard-like consistency while the delicate soy bean flavor is perfectly accentuated by the hints of sweetness in the sauce.

35 Hudson Street (Leroy)
New York City
212.647.9196
$$-$$$

The Tonkatsu Sando with red miso sauce is a berkshire pork cutlet sandwich that comes with Japanese style potato salad and yasai chips. The sandwich isn't generously sized but the complete meal is filling and a good value at $15 especially in this type of setting.
The Japanese style Crispy Fried Chicken is a favorite of mine. Consisting of four pieces of boneless dark meat, it is delicately seasoned and quite juicy though not particularly crispy. It comes with rice and a selection of obanzai and oshinko (house-made Asa-Zuké pickles).
Saikyo Miso Black Cod has become a requisite Japanese restaurant dish thanks to Nobu and it's good here if not a real standout. The miso flavor is just right and the fish is both buttery and flaky. This also comes with rice and a selection of obanzai and oshinko.
Sushi sets like this Premium Nigiri Sushi are also offered. It's better than average as far as sushi goes but I tend to stay away from the sushi/sashimi selection just cause it is not one of their specialties.
The Kuroge Washugyu Yaki Shabu features thin slices of washugyu black angus short rib served with a hot stone for you to cook your meat at the table. At $32, it is at the high end of the price spectrum. While this may not be the best value, the meat is of a high quality, nicely marbled and quite literally just melts in your mouth.

EN Japanese Brasserie on Urbanspoon

39 comments

Alexa said...

Oh my gosh yum! And I just ate dinner but all of this looks amazing!

Unknown said...

Looks yummy! xx

www.itslilylocket.blogspot.com

Unknown said...

The food looks yumm!! Love your blog.. Followed you on GFC, FB, Bloglovin' & Google+ :) Would love the same


International Giveaway on the Blog!
xx Chaicy - Style..A Pastiche!

The Dainty Dolls House said...

Oh my, yum yum!! Love it all :)) Have a gorgeous week doll x

Unknown said...

YUMMY!

Have a good week!
vgolove1.blogspot.ru

By Ana León said...

I love sushi & sashimi! All food looks really yummy!

http://byanaleon.blogspot.com.es/

Lilli said...

Hi Rowena! This could be my paradise! Yum, I am a huge Japanese food lover, but unfortunately in my city there isnt a good place where eat it. Would love to go there and do a big nosh up!:P I love also tofu, usually I eat it since I dont eat meat, so the place just inspires me even more! All the food looks yummy, you took such stunning photos that Im gonna to pin! Kisses dear, have a great week ahead! xo

♥vendy♥ said...

tasty food
xoxo

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Elle Sees said...

this is certainly interesting place to eat. i wish i was more familiar with that food.

little luxury list said...

My husband just smacked his lips when I read aloud "best tofu ever". I have to try this place next time I'm in town! I would eat everything you ordered and love, LOVE karage, tonkatsu, and black cod miso.

xoxo,
Chic 'n Cheap Living



xoxo,
Chic 'n Cheap Living

Jane said...

wow. this looks amazing. my husband and i love japanese food and always try to get some when we are in new york. definitely have to consider this place when we're up there next!

Emmylou said...

Japanese food is my fave, and looking at your pics is almost torture, Rowena, as I eat my sad mushroom omelette...:P

A Very Sweet Blog said...

Rowena, you have me so hungry right now. I love that they give you lots of food and the presentation is so pretty! It's beautiful. I feel that is an important part to any meal. The price is really good too.

I probably won't be able to post my Marc Jacobs nail & lippy until October. I've decided to cover Paris Fashion Week and that is nine days, but when I do I'll definitely link your post :) Just wanted you to know.
http://www.averysweetblog.com/

Sam said...

Hi sweety, I know very little about Japanese cuisine, so this was really enlightening, The food looks so fresh and uniquely delicious. Stopping by to wish you well for the week ahead.

Jessica (Coco/Mingo) said...

OMG! I must try this place! I'm always on the lookout for good Japanese food and this place looks awesome! That fresh made soft tofu and sushi looks soooo good! Thanks for the recommendation!

Marcela Gmd said...

The food looks yumm!! nice post!!
Have a good week, dear Rowena! g+ and like for you!!!:)))

Besos, desde España, Marcela♥

Nobre Sandra said...

Omg, the food looks so good >.<

Nobre Sonho

ALLIE NYC said...

Hey thanks for posting this, I will have to check this out. Looks great!

Ali of Dressing Ken

FASHION TALES said...

Well, this just looks amazing. I love Japanese food, and Thai are probably my favourite! Sushi is always on our menu! x/Madison :)

Lena L said...

everything looks and sounds delicious!
it is surprisingly difficult to find good japanese restaurants in town.
i love japanese style fried chicken (i like dark meat), a perfect bar food!
i'd love to try this place sometime soon. :)

BIKBIK AND RORO said...

O my, this looks like a gorgeous place to eat! I love Japanese food, and this place obviously has beautiful style.

Unknown said...

That looks so delicious Rowena! I love your food recommendations and am noting them for my next nyc trip :)

xo Mary Jo

Leslie said...

Love Japanese food .. especially sushi:) Gorgeous pictures! xxL

Bernadette Czle said...

looks so yummy !xx

Unknown said...

Mmm,lots of good food.I'm craving for some Japanese food now.I really love Japanese and Korean cuisine,I don't know why but I've never got used to Chinese cuisinie.
And I'm in love with these pictures.Those Sashimis look yummy,I want to eat some sushis on my birthday haha and I can't believe the Japanese food is that cheap.It's really expensive in my country :(
xx

www.styleofozoz.com

Anonymous said...

Those food pictures are gorgeous! I am going to Japan next year, so maybe I should try and learn a bit about the food :-)

BigHairLoudMouth said...

So yummy! I love Japanese dishes too !

Love Nyt,
from
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Natalia | Look-A-Porter said...

Looks so good and the photos aren't helping - I feel so hungry now. x

Jayme @ Her Late Night Cravings said...

This food looks delish and is making us hungry!! Can't wait for lunch now!! :-)

Jayme & Mendi @ Her Late Night Cravings

Unknown said...

Hey Rowena! These photos are making me hungry. You always do take the best food photos! I tried taking food photos during my trip but the lighting is always terrible at restaurants. I don't know how you do it! Looks like a great dining experience and I love and miss tofu!

Hope you're doing great and had a fab summer!
xoxo
Reese Carrozzini Studio

get carried away said...

looks fantastic!!!
happy day!

<3
http://www.getcarriedaway.net/

Vision By Mila said...

I'm not a fan of sushi, but I've once eaten some absolutely amazing chicken with egg rice, made right in front of me by some chef! Delicious that was!

Lindsey Louise Bales said...

this looks like such a neat place! i love Japanese food!

lindsey louise

hellomrrabbitblog.com

trishie said...

Mouth is watering! I must have Japanese food soon.

Carla said...

These food pictures are beautiful! It looks seriously appetizing. I'm hungry now!

(Anna) la mode said...

Oh my goodness. I need Japanese food now!!!! I recently starting liking tofu (I know, what kind of asian am I?!) and that dish sounds amazing! I love how fresh and colorful the sashimi is. From the looks of it, the higher price range is definitely worth it! Everything looks delicious!!! : )

xox,
anna-lamode.blogspot.com

Unknown said...

Seems so good! Beautiful pictures,
Ciao

CQUEK said...

my kind of food.

Jo said...

I just had tofu as one of my dosh for lunch just now but reading what you wrote about their tofu, I feel like eating tofu again. The food does look exquisite and worth the price that you paid for. The sushi, the sahimi all look so delicate and fresh. I love Japanese cod fish. OMY, you just roused up my craving for Japanese cod fish.

I'm glad you enjoyed your lunch and it's perfectly fine to spend a little more on food once in a while.