Nakiri knives are known around the world for their versatility, thinner blades, and unique shape. A well-made model will serve you superbly in the kitchen for many years to come. Many chefs use them as a replacement for a typical chef’s knife. You can find some overlapping characteristics with Santoku knives, but Nakiri and Santoku have many differences. On this page, we’ll be exploring the best Nakiri knives for under $100.
We’ve considered performance, durability, materials, and more.
Want a fast recommendation? Our absolute favorite from the line-up below is the TUO Nakiri Knife.
Top 6 Nakiri Knives for Under $100
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1. TUO Nakiri Knife – Vegetable Cleaver Knife 6.5-inch – Editor’s Choice
For his price, this is the best nakiri knife under $100 that’s currently available.
TUO Nakiri Knife – Vegetable Cleaver Knife 6.5-inch Specifications
About the Knife
The first thing you notice about this nakiri knife is its appearance. While looks shouldn’t be the main thing you consider when shopping, the mirror-polished blade surface of this TUO model is certainly easy on the eyes.
Once you pick the thing up, you realize that its beauty is far from skin deep. Its exceptionally well balanced in the hand and offers an impressive HRC of 56+2. This means it’s very sharp and should maintain this sharpness for many months to come.
The full-tang design and military-grade fiberglass handle are other great bonuses here. This knife may cost less than $100, but it performs like a tool that’s considerably more expensive. We’d expect to see a 3-step honbazuke sharpening method on more premium models, but it’s a real bonus to see it offered at this price point.
Maintenance
TUO recommends the following when cleaning and storing this knife:
- Never use strong detergents or soap
- Never clean your knife in the dishwasher
- Always dry your knife fully after each wash
- Store your knife in an appropriate sheath of knife block
Pros:
- Great sharpness and retention
- Fantastic balance
- Looks amazing
Cons:
- Some find the handle large
- Some sliced foods stick
- Can chip if used incorrectly
2. FAMCÜTE 7″ Nakiri Knife
67 layers of Damascus steel combine in this exceptionally sharp knife.
FAMCÜTE 7″ Nakiri Knife Specifications
About the Knife
The HRC on offer with this Famcüte knife (60+/-2) puts it head and shoulders above a significant chunk of the competition. For less than $70, you get a knife that’s razor-sharp and will stay sharp well into the future. Just be sure to maintain a good technique as these sharper blades can chip into inexperienced hands.
Both the length and shape of this knife’s handle are excellent in our opinion. Most users should find this product very easy to maneuver and work with at speed. The clad dimple design used on the blade means that ‘sticker’ foods like meat should slide right off while slicing.
What about durability? Well, this knife uses a full-tang design and premium Indonesian ebony wood so you shouldn’t have much to worry about here.
Maintenance
As with all nakiri and chef’s knives, this product should be considered as not safe for use in the dishwasher. Clean with moderate temperatures and soaps and dry fully before storing separately from other kitchen tools.
Pros:
- Feels fantastic in the hand
- Exceptionally sharp
- More stubborn foods won’t stick
Cons:
- No blade protector included
- Higher HRC means more chips
- Very small hands may struggle
3. Henckels CLASSIC Christopher Kimball Edition 6.5-inch Nakiri Knife
A no-nonsense, precise nakiri knife that comes with the quality of German engineering.
Henckels CLASSIC Christopher Kimball Edition 6.5-inch Nakiri Knife Specifications
About the Knife
This professional, satin-finished blade will feel at home in practically any kitchen. Henckels has built it from the ground up with ergonomics and maneuverability in mind. Your chops, slices, and dice will all feel fantastic.
The HRC of 60 +/- 2 is remarkably sharp and is unlikely to dull quickly if treated well. It’s even rated as dishwasher safe! The no-frills stainless steel used for this knife offers excellent levels of performance and durability while keeping costs low; this product can be picked up for as little as $67!
The full-tang, triple-riveted handle means that this product is unlikely to fall apart on you any time soon. This is a versatile, affordable knife that packs a whole lot of punch.
Maintenance
While this knife is rated as dishwasher safe, it’s still recommended that most washes are done by hand. The harsh temperatures and chemicals used in most dishwashers will dull and damage your knife over time.
Pros:
- Effective, no-nonsense design
- Excellent ergonomics
- Great sharpness-flexibility ratio
Cons:
- Some find the rivets uncomfortable
- Food sometimes sticks
- Quite utilitarian
4. DALSTRONG Nakiri Asian Vegetable Knife – 7″
Award-winning design in an affordable package.
DALSTRONG Nakiri Asian Vegetable Knife – 7″ Specifications
About the Knife
There’s a reason Dalstrong has won awards for its design; knives like these offer exceptional levels of performance, precision, and comfort – all for under $100! The G10 handle stood out to us in particular. This epoxy-resin laminate is strong, durable, and very good at standing up to moisture.
Add this to the fact that this nakiri knife uses a full-tang design, and you’re looking at a remarkably durable package. The HRC of 56+ here is a little lower than the options listed above but this can actually be considered a good thing.
For certain tasks, the increased flexibility that this offers can be a real Godsend. The Granton blade design is great to see too; it makes slicing ‘stickier’ foods like meats much easier.
Maintenance
As with the other knives on this page, it’s best to hand wash with mild temperatures and soaps only.
Pros:
- Award-winning design
- Super comfortable handle
- Slightly flexible
Cons:
- Some find it heavy
- More regular sharpening required
- Blade sometimes scratches
5. MITSUMOTO SAKARI 7 inch Japanese Nakiri Chef Knife
A versatile, affordable knife with a stunning design.
MITSUMOTO SAKARI 7-inch Japanese Nakiri Chef Knife Specifications
About the Knife
Everything about the design of this knife, from the packaging to the traditionally forged steel, is simply stunning. The good news? It can back up its good looks with excellent performance.
The rosewood handle is remarkably comfortable and has been balanced very well with the 7” blade. Whether you’re slicing vegetables or preparing meats, you’ll glide through your tasks with ease.
The blade of this product is made from three layers of premium high-carbon steel. So, what does ‘high-carbon’ actually mean in this context? In short, this blade material offers superior levels of sharpness, hardness, and sharpness retention than steel alone.
With performance, ergonomics, and looks like these, the sub-$70 asking price is commendable.
Maintenance
Food-grade mineral oil can be used to keep your rosewood handle in top condition. More so than other options on this list, never wash this knife in the dishwasher. The harsh temperatures and chemicals will tarnish and warp this beautiful product.
Pros:
- Absolutely gorgeous design
- High-carbon steel blade
- Limited lifetime warranty
Cons:
- Rosewood warps in high temperatures
- Some find it top-heavy
6. BGT Nakiri Knife, 7 inch
Another beautiful nakiri knife that’s great for thin slicing.
BGT Nakiri Knife, 7-inch Specifications
About the Knife
Last, but certainly not least, is this option from BGT. It combines the power and versatility of a traditional nakiri knife with a comfortable, budget friendly design. For less than $85, you get a well-balanced nakiri blade made from Japanese Damascus steel in 67 layers; an ebony wood handle that feels amazing; and a stylish magnetic sheath thrown in for good measure.
One thing to mention here is that this product only uses a partial-tang design. While the rest of the design is still plenty durable, this is worth keeping in mind when choosing which knife you go with.
In our opinion, the ergonomics of the handle and the exceptional slicing action on offer here more than make up for this minor shortcoming.
Maintenance
BGT doesn’t recommend using this knife to hack through frozen or very dense foods; the blade may become damaged if you do this. Do not wash this knife in the dishwasher. Moderate temperatures and mild soaps should be used.
Bring your blade back to its former glory using either a fine grains whetstone or a honing steel.
Pros:
- Pro-level performance at budget prices
- Looks incredible
- 67 layers of Japanese Damascus
Cons:
- Partial-tang design
- Blade chips if used roughly
- A touch light for some
Conclusion
We hope you’ve found the recommendations on this page helpful. For our money, they’re the best nakiri knives under $100 currently available. Remember to reflect on the level of flexibility and hardness you’re looking for.
Always doing more delicate, intricate tasks? A slightly higher level of flex is probably best. Need unbeatable sharpness and sharpness retention? Stick with a higher HRC rating.
When it comes to the crème de la crème of the options on this page, we think the TUO Nakiri Knife is simply unbeatable.
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