Hanami Japanese Cuisine opens its doors in Merrick with a fresh twist on familiar flavors.
Among the standout offerings are oyster udon, hamburger curry, and fluke fin sushi—dishes you rarely see at Long Island Japanese spots, yet they sit proudly on Hanami’s diverse menu.
The neighborhood-hidden gem has quietly made its mark since arriving on Merrick Road this August. What appears to be a typical sushi storefront at first glance reveals a compelling backstory once you peek inside. Co-owner Tina Shi hails from China’s Fujian province and spent nearly 15 years immersed in Japanese culinary culture as a student and, publicly, as a chef at an izakaya in Tokyo.
Together with her husband, Chun Wang, she has transplanted that distinctive aesthetic to Merrick.
“We have a big family in Japan and we love the country,” Shi notes. “I came here, but Japan’s cuisine still calls to me.”
The couple renovated the narrow space that previously housed Sushi Ko and enlisted a local artist to adorn the walls with breathtaking murals of cherry blossoms, a nod to the restaurant’s name. Hanami refers to the season when cherry blossoms bloom—an apt metaphor for their culinary mission.
Wang oversees the sushi bar, showcasing hard-to-find items like mirugai, the giant clam, and shiro maguro, white tuna. Shi shares that about 90% of Hanami’s ingredients are imported from Japan, a supply chain supported by her cousin, who runs two markets in Manhattan.
Among early menu hits is asari, an $11.95 appetizer of buttered, soy-steamed Manila clams with meaty king mushrooms. The dish is delicate, sweet, and comforting. The restaurant also emphasizes Japanese brown curries, with the fried pork katsu curry priced at $17.50 delivering a hearty, satisfying meal. For a refreshing pairing, consider an imported Ginga Kogen Hefeweizen beer in a bright blue can featuring a deer; the beer itself is light with subtle banana and spice notes, priced at $7.99.
Hanami Japanese Cuisine is located at 2063 Merrick Rd., Merrick. For inquiries, call 516-318-9978 or visit hanamimerrick.com. Hours are 11:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, and 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
Andi Berlin, visiting from Arizona, doesn’t know exactly where her journey will lead—but she’s confident that every stop will reveal something beautiful and delicious the world should taste.
