Shamisen Closes on Fifth Avenue, Tofu on Fifth Moving In
Friday, May 1, 2025 at 8:08AM
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Shamisen, the Pan-Asian restaurant on the corner of Fifth and Fifth, has closed, and is in the process of being turned into an authentic Szechuan restaurant that also serves Japanese food.
According to the small print on the awning, the name of the restaurant will be Tofu on Fifth, which would seem to indicate that it'll be a second location of Tofu on Seventh, the very good Szechuan restaurant on Seventh near Fourth Street. But while an employee I spoke to at Tofu on Seventh knew that this restaurant was opening, she also said that it will have "a different owner," apparently one who's decided to also serve Japanese food.
The tipster who sent the above photo also told me that a "Closed for Renovation" sign was posted in the window, so the odds of the "new" owner being the same as Shamisen's seem pretty high. Shamisen was never able to pull in crowds, even after launching an all-you-can-eat-and-drink sushi, Chinese food, beer, and sake promotion a few months ago. Its menu was primarily Japanese, but there were also Chinese, Thai, and Malaysian dishes on the menu as well.
It's still a bit confusing as to what the ownership situation is, but if the Szechuan food here is as good as it is up on Seventh, the then that's a very good thing.
UPDATE: Thanks to a commenter for pointing out that Tofu on Seventh is in fact closing and moving into this location, not opening a second location here.
Coming Soon in Food, Scoops, Storefronts
Reader Comments (13)
Tofu on 7th is the best Chinese restaurant in the area. I think their business will have no trouble surviving the change of location--and perhaps even thrive--if they maintain their current menu. The "fusion" route is a dead end, pleasing no one in an attempt to please everyone. Even if the sushi is simply an addition to the existing menu, it will still drive away customers who value and respect the restaurant's claim of "authentic Szechuan" cuisine. I hope the owners (whoever they are) will see this and re-consider!!
So Tofu on 7th is not closing?
That's what I heard....
And yes, it is the best Chinese in the Slope and no, I will not be going to a place that says it's a Szechuan restaurant that also serves sushi.
Talk about stupid. I don't think I ever saw a single person inside Shamisen.
Ever.
Tofu on 7th has a sign in their restaurant that says they're moving to 5th avenue this month.
Park Slope Stoop already wrote that Tofu on 7th was closing almost 2 weeks ago. They are not adding a location, they are moving and closing up on 7th avenue. Too bad, now there is no good Chinese left in the Slope.
http://parkslopestoop.com/blog/business/tofu-on-7th-to-move-become-tofu-on-5th
I'm Residing in the 5th Avenue only so i'm very happy that i can enjoy their recipe very often
"Tofu on 7th" = least enticing name for a restaurant ever
(But great food!)
Tim - so the 5th vs 7th ave wars have gotten so bad that 5th is no longer considered being in Park Slope?
Am I the only one who thinks Mr. Wonton is the best chinese food in Park Slope?
Mr. Wonton is garbage.
Like the worst of the worst Chinese food. Low quality food, tons of MSG and usually a B rating in the window.
They were shut down twice by the health department last year.
Some unfortunate news for fans of Mr. Wonton, the BYOB Chinese restaurant on the corner of Seventh and Berkeley: on Tuesday the Health Department caught up with it, and promptly shut it down after an inspection.
According to the Haelth Department's website, the restaurant, one of just a couple sit-down Chinese restaurants in the area, racked up a lofty 28 violation points. Here are the grimy details (critical violations are in red):
Sanitary Violations
1) Cold food item held above 41º F (smoked fish and reduced oxygen packaged foods above 38 ºF) except during necessary preparation.
2) Unprotected food re-served.
3) Filth flies or food/refuse/sewage-associated (FRSA) flies present in facility’s food and/or non-food areas. Filth flies include house flies, little house flies, blow flies, bottle flies and flesh flies. Food/refuse/sewage-associated flies include fruit flies, drain flies and Phorid flies.
4) Facility not vermin proof. Harborage or conditions conducive to attracting vermin to the premises and/or allowing vermin to exist.
5) Food contact surface not properly maintained.
When they were inspected back on September 6th, they racked up an insane 48 violation points, with these violations:
Sanitary Violations
1) Hot food item not held at or above 140º F.
2) Cold food item held above 41º F (smoked fish and reduced oxygen packaged foods above 38 ºF) except during necessary preparation.
3) Evidence of mice or live mice present in facility's food and/or non-food areas.
4) Food not protected from potential source of contamination during storage, preparation, transportation, display or service.
5) Food contact surface not properly washed, rinsed and sanitized after each use and following any activity when contamination may have occurred.
6) Wiping cloths soiled or not stored in sanitizing solution.
7) Facility not vermin proof. Harborage or conditions conducive to attracting vermin to the premises and/or allowing vermin to exist.
Blech.
Wow Lisa, tell us how you really feel. What are the good Chinese food options in the area then?
2 Duck Goose.
The Szechuan menu (only !) at Tofu on 7th (now 5th maybe).
The rest are terrible. Otherwise we live close to Sunset Park where there are many great Chinese restaurants.
I've been to 2 Duck Goose. The biggest ripoff in PS. I can get the same roast duck in Chinatown 20 minutes from their location.(4th and 9th stop) for like 20 dollars.
Their sign says whole duck for 110. 5 times as much and they don't do anything that I can tell to it. I've been there also thinking they've gotten good reviews on Yelp.