Dashi Okume Brooklyn

“I checked this place out on a full stomach, which was unfortunate, as I would've liked to try out their Japanese breakfast. Definitely check out all the dashi samples and the counter. I didn't expect to buy any; but they were quite tasty, and bought a couple bags to bring home. Also, they have the amazake packet that I've been looking for all over! The people working there are friendly, helpful, and patient. Will definitely be back for a meal, and more browsing.”

“This place is a dashi store, but it also has a small restaurant (teishoku). Their variety of fish was great and you are able to choose your side dishes and a drink. Their tea was also so good. Strongly recommend if you like authentic japanese. They have an omakase too and I would be trying that when I am back in the area.”

“On our first visit, we had the Yakijake (grilled salmon). This time, we finally tried the Kinka Saba (mackerel), which had previously been unavailable. The fish is excellent—rich, fatty, and sourced from Ishinomaki Fish Market. When I asked about sourcing, the staff mentioned they receive shipments from Japan roughly once a month. The service is reserved. Staff were polite but not particularly engaging, and questions were answered without much enthusiasm. The overall experience feels very focused on the food rather than hospitality. It’s a solid option if you’re craving a specific taste of Tokyo without getting on a plane. Overall, it leans a bit overpriced for what's presented.”

“Very open and spacious place and I love the vibe here. I bought their Dashi packets and have been love it for making miso soup. You can also dine in here for set meal HOWEVER it’s over priced. We ordered an extra side (pork) with our meal for 5 dollars and it came with one piece of thinly sliced pork with potato…”

“Stopped in at Dashi Okume on a random Saturday afternoon and sat down with a spread of white rice, bluefish, miso soup, squash, and mushroom. Simple and satisfying on the food front, for the 2 of us, the cost was about $110. So not a cheap meal, but good food. The vibe though was a little different from what I was expecting. I went in thinking restaurant and what I got was more of a market atmosphere. While you are eating, people are walking around shopping and browsing, and there are products displayed and sold throughout the space. Not exactly my ideal setting for a sit down meal, but it works well enough for a casual weekend afternoon stop. One of the highlights beyond the food were the soup broths and dried flake samples they had available to try at Dashi Okume. We worked our way through most of them and they were genuinely delicious. My wife liked them enough to buy one to use as a miso soup base at home, which says a lot. They also carry items for cats, which was a fun little surprise. As for the place itself, Dashi Okume is located on Norman Avenue and operates as a collective, meaning it is not one single business but rather a shared space where multiple different vendors and businesses come together under one roof. That explains the market within a restaurant feeling. Overall Dashi Okume is a worthwhile stop, especially if you enjoy exploring and sampling along the way. Just go in knowing it is more of a hybrid experience than a traditional sit down meal.”