"In 2021, Yopparai moved from their second-story Rivington Street location on the LES to a bigger space on Clinton Street. The result: more room to set up kotatsu tables where you can sip sake, eat some delicious Japanese food, and share a blanket if it’s cold out. There are a lot of different directions you can take with the menu, but standouts are the chirashi loaded with crab and ikura and the dip-it-yourself shabu-shabu selections (we like the octopus option since we can make sure it’s not overcooked). The sushi rolls are always changing, but we’ve had delicious versions stuffed with smoky trout and roe as well as salmon with sweet egg and eel and crunchy vegetables. All of it pairs well with their long sake list." - Carlo Mantuano