Just off Manhattan Avenue in Greenpoint is 50 Norman, a complex of Japanese shopping, dining, and culture all in one huge warehouse-like space. Inside, it might seem barebones: the walls are bricks painted white, the shelves are naked plywood, and heavy metal fluorescent lights hang from the ceiling. But truly, 50 Norman is a buzzing hub of high-quality ceramics, appliances, knives, artwork, apparel, and, most importantly, food — much like the Tokyo all-in-one department stores. The casual Cafe O’Te falls among the dining options, which opened over the summer of 2025. It’s centered on the hamburg (aka hambagu), a Japanese burger served without the American bun.
Did you know that New York City pastry maven Chika Hanyu is offering her desserts at the cafe under her C by C Chocolate & Pastry business? Now you do. There’s a decadently rich Japanese custard pudding ($10) and bright strawberry roll cake ($9).
Get some dashi at 50 Norman’s dashi shop, where you can even make your own stock at Dashi Okume. You can even pregame your Cafe O’Te meal with some dashi samples.