Jewish-Japanese fusion is something you don't find often. Every dish playfully combines characteristic elements from both culinary cultures in a way that actually works. To start, the home fries drizzled with mayo were fun and tasty without straying far from expectation. Next up, the perfectly-round okonomiyaki tasted wonderful and was quite filling, being thicker than usual and stuffed with plenty of sauerkraut. Finally, the sweet and sticky dessert provided a nice ending to the meal and was easy to share between two people. The service was friendly and the large windows let plenty of sunlight into the space. There are many more items on the menu that piqued my curiosity, so I'm excited for what I'll try here next. Overall, the food was great and the combinations are creative and well-executed. Definitely worth a visit.

It's not often that we venture to Williamsburg but, when we do, there must be matzoh ball ramen involved. We went to Shalom Japan on a Sunday night and we ordered: Sake Kasu Challah Truffle hot pockets Matzoh ball ramen Hot pot kit Sesame Temomi Mazemen We enjoyed everything we ordered - we especially thought the truffle hot pockets were a great idea. The service here was AMAZING. Our server was so nice to us especially when we were trying to pick out a sake for the table. I would definitely go again and try more of the menu - everything others around us ordered looked amazing.

This was a fun dinner for us, trying a fusion meal of tastes that is definitely rare around the world! Everything is very flavorful and delicious- we tried a few classics like the Challah bread and the Matzoh Ball Ramen, as well as the Mazemen and the Veggie Ramen. We thought the daily specials of veggie ramen and sakura panna cotta was exceptionally flavorful! The matzoh ball ramen, okonomiyaki, and challah were really classic and fun as well. There's not one dish we did not like. This is a busy restaurant so we definitely suggest making reservations.

Shalom Japan is a hidden gem nestled in the heart of Williamsburg, offering a delightful fusion of Jewish and Japanese cuisine. Owned and operated by married chefs Aaron Israel and Sawako Okochi, the restaurant beautifully blends their cultural backgrounds with the vibrancy of Brooklyn. From the moment you step inside, you're greeted with a warm and intimate ambiance, reflecting the love and passion that goes into each dish. The menu is a testament to the couple's unique culinary perspective, showcasing a harmonious marriage of flavors and traditions. I had the pleasure of trying several dishes during my visit, and each one was a culinary delight. The Lion's Mane Karaage, featuring Japanese fried mushrooms and pickled chilies, was a standout appetizer, bursting with flavor and texture. For the main course, I opted for the Shalom Japan Burger, a double stack masterpiece with terivati ban, di pici mayo, and crisp lettuce. It was a perfect blend of savory and satisfying. But the highlight of the meal was undoubtedly the Matzoh Ball Ramen. The combination of chicken broth, scallions, mandels, nori, and the optional soy-marinated egg was simply divine. I also couldn't resist adding an extra matzoh ball and a foie gras dumpling, which elevated the dish to new heights. Overall, my experience at Shalom Japan was nothing short of exceptional. The food was delicious, the atmosphere was cozy, and the service was top-notch. I highly recommend this restaurant to anyone looking for a unique and memorable dining experience in Brooklyn. Thank you, Shalom Japan, for a truly wonderful evening. I can't wait to come back and try more of your delectable offerings!

This unique Japanese-Jewish fusion absolutely delights! I wish certain flavors came out more but overall a great experience. I love how this place encourages sharing so you get to try a lot of different, distinct flavors. Let's dive in ... Sake Kasu Challah (5/5): The bread is easy to pull apart and is perfectly seasoned. The butter was perhaps the star though as it was sweet and salty and just beautifully accompanied its carby bread companion. Matzoh Ball Ramen (3/5): I've read so much about this item so the expectations were high. The matzo ball itself is a nice middle of the ground firmness whereby it's not too hard or soft and can't offend a soul. I like my matzo balls more dense but it's a notably divisive issue in our community (and even my own family) -- so their ball firmness was a safe choice. The most underwhelming part was actually the broth; I expected more umami flavor and was disappointed by this. I was glad our server recommended an extra matzo ball for every person in our group so we could each have an entire ball. Grilled Ceasar Salad (3/5): This dish in general is an acquired taste as the grilling really tends to wilt the lettuce. This particular salad was caked in dressing. I liked the anchovy chunks but that's not for everyone I recognize. Okonomiyaki (5/5): This was by far my favorite dish of the meal (the server said this was their fav and I can see why!). The meaty pastrami chunks have a lovely crisp and Maillard browning. The bonito flakes add that necessary umami fishy flavor. The sauce is sweet but not overpowering. And the pancake itself had the PERFECT fried crisp. Wagyu Pastrami Sandwich (4/5): The kitchen staff kindly sliced this in four. The bread tastes like typical white bread. The mustard didn't come through enough for me (compared to your standard spicy brown Jewish deli mustard). The wagyu reminded me of a standard Katz's pastrami but perhaps a bit more chew as wagyu IS known for its beautiful fatty marbling. Chocolate Banana Challah Bread Pudding (3/5): This dish is served warm but I wanted more of the sauce and whipped cream. I usually think of bread pudding as more "soaked" so I'm taking off a point on that -- though my partner thought this was better than bread pudding. Service (5/5): Very attentive servers who helped us order enough food (though we did have leftovers). Staff refilled water throughout the meal without us asking. By the end of the meal they needed the table for a reservation but offered to reseat us in the heated tented area. We declined but appreciated the offer. They were also very polite about informing us when they needed the table. It's a small-ish footprint indoors (not including heated and outdoor tables). TL;DR: Would absolutely return as this cuisine combo goes together like peanut butter and jelly!

Great service and very creative inventive food at Shalom Japan. The hype did not disappoint. You could see and taste that each dish was made with such care and creativity. I wish I took more photos but the food was so good we all just ate it too quickly. The cocktails were also very good. I'd definitely come back and try some of the ramen.... i definitely had fomo not having any on this visit.

This spot has been on my list and I'm so glad I finally made it out for brunch here! Firstly, the service is top notch and so so friendly. It's a small space but roomy enough that parties aren't on top of each other. My boyfriend got a sencha hot tea, and they do complimentary hot water refills, which is nice. Together we ordered: Egg sandwich (on challah roll) - challah was delish and with the cheese it was yummy! Definitely enjoyed as a sharing dish; I'd want to order two things with this brunch entree for palate cleansing. Okonomiyaki - 5/5!!! I highly recommend! Having authentic okonimyaki in Japan before, I was pleasantly surprised by how delicious Shalom Japan's version was. The sauerkraut wasn't too strong or sour that it affected the dish. The pancake had a crispy outside and a flavorful inside, and omg the wagyu pastrami was SUCH a delicious touch. Matzoh ball ramen - If you find that some Japanese ramens can be too "heavy tasting" or high on salt, this is a great refreshing chicken broth that feels very light but has a lot of ingredients of your typical ramen. Loved the touch of the mandel. Wish there were more carrots (we only got two small ones). Kudos to the chef because the ramen noodles were the most perfect texture!! As it was served al dente, once we took a slurp of the noodles after it sat in the hot broth it was perfect. Since my boyfriend and I shared all three dishes, I appreciated how we were served and enjoyed the first two before we were served the Ramen as the last dish. The timing worked out well, for the amount of room we had on our table but also to give our appetites a little break + focus on the ramen once we were served it. I definitely recommend this place particularly for brunch, since I know the prices are a bit higher for dinner time for some of the dishes (I wonder if the portions are bigger), but there are certain dishes only available at dinner and not on the brunch menu.

Been searching for matzo ball ramen since a beloved Boston restaurant took theirs off its menu. Loved the atmosphere and music inside. We ate at the bar as it's always very packed and booked up. Had: Matzo ball ramen with soy marinated egg (great and the egg is a mandatory add in my opinion. Noodles perfect, broth no high sodium like other ramen and very flavorful) Rustic fries (so good) house salad (good)

Solid meal! The Matzoh Ball Ramen was great - the egg was fantastic. I loved the combination of flavors. My friends both had the Jew Egg as their main entree and enjoyed it. We finished off with some desserts, which were great. Service was friendly. Be aware - the menu is fairly limited - if you're a picky eater, you're not going to be able to find anything.