Where Art Meets Appetite

Shirokuro NYC

By Katie Ogletree | Photography courtesy of Shirokiro NYC

Step off Second Avenue in the East Village and prepare to enter a world where ink and imagination collide. Once inside—and even passing by on the sidewalk—guests are met with walls, floors, tables, chairs, flowers, and yes, even the bathroom, with outlines drawn by hand in bold black strokes against stark white, creating the illusion that you’ve entered a two-dimensional comic strip.

The concept for Shirokuro was born from cofounder James Lim’s travel experiences in Asia, where he came across the 2D restaurant trend that took over Seoul back in 2017. Inspired by the spaces he saw, James partnered with Alex Kim, and the duo decided to bring something similar to New York.

“We didn’t want it to be like wallpaper,” Lim says. “We wanted to have the artist’s hands in every aspect of the restaurant, from the walls to the floors to the tables and chairs. That way it’s not mass-produced.”

The hands behind the artwork belong to Mirim Yoo. It took her three months to complete the entire space—using a marker. Her designs draw on Japanese ink painting techniques, which help give the interiors a fluid, expressive look despite the large scale. She didn’t mind imperfection; in fact, she embraced it, leaving slight irregularities, uneven lines, and visible brushstrokes in the landscape of lines and doodles. They were intentional and became part of what gives the space such a strong personality and energy. It was also important for people to know someone created this all by hand, inviting them into a black-and-white world like no other.

“It’s a head-turner for sure,” says Alex Kim of the dining and cocktails destination.

Shirokuro’s menu features a range of sushi, nigiri, appetizers, cocktails, and more, with omakase options so guests can try a little of everything!

The menu doesn’t hurt its popularity, either. Shirokuro is a sushi and Japanese omakase-focused restaurant. The decor gets people in the door, but the food often outdelivers their expectations. The chef-selected menu offers a variety of sushi, nigiri, appetizers, and more. Get the ten-course omakase meal for $50 or a sixteen-course option for $80. A la carte gives you three rolls for $25. Classic fresh fish such as amberjack and tuna are available, while added touches like minced tuna topped with caviar offer an adventurous take on tradition.

The space has also expanded since its opening back in March of this year. Boka NYC, the St. Mark’s staple, relocated to the speakeasy-like backroom. The ambience is a moody, dark color palette and a menu focused on modern Korean cuisines like shrimp fried rice and Korean fried chicken. A trip into the basement level leads guests to a continuation of the artwork from upstairs, with even more photo opportunities.

A month after opening, Shirokuro gained over 25,000 followers on Instagram as its 2D concept caught the eyes of people around the world. A few months later, it began going viral on TikTok almost weekly. We are living in an era where it’s essential to stand out from the crowd to achieve success. Shirokuro is proof that you can not only create a buzz with unique, out-of-the-box ideas, but also keep people coming back for the quality food and drinks. 

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To learn more or book a reservation, visit ShirokuroNYC.com and follow @skirokuronyc on Instagram.