Shiro Of Japan, LI's Oldest Japanese Restaurant, To Close

CARLE PLACE, NY — Shiro of Japan, Long Island's oldest Japanese restaurant, will be closing its doors in February.

Newsday reported that the popular hibachi and sushi restaurant will close on Feb. 4. The building's owners chose not to renew the restaurant's lease, and it wasn't feasible to move to a new location.

Shiro opened in Carle Place in 1972. It was the first hibachi restaurant on Long Island, and popularized the style of cuisine in the area.

In 1979, chef Hiro Ishikawa joined the restaurant and started rolling sushi, adding it to the menu.

Shiro expanded over the years, opening a second location in Queens and a grab-and-go location in Grand Central Terminal. The Grand Central location, which opened in 2013, closed a few years later.

The Queens restaurant was in business for 14 years, but was closed due to the COVID pandemic and the shutdowns.

According to News 12, though the restaurant will close, Shiro will continue to operate its off-premises and corporate catering services.