15 Best Sushi Restaurants in NYC

The sushi scene in New York has come a long way in the last couple of decades, with exquisite sashimi and nigiri available in almost every neighborhood. Today, Manhattan boasts some of the best seafood available outside of Japan, and the city’s top counters are on par with many prestigious Tokyo restaurants. If you’re looking for the best Sushi restaurants in NYC, keep reading because we’ll explore the best sushi restaurants in NYC, highlighting their cuisine and culinary expertise.

If you’re a sushi lover and find yourself in the bustling City of New York, you’re in for a treat.

New York City is home to some of the finest sushi restaurants outside of Japan, offering an unparalleled dining experience for sushi lovers. From traditional omakase to innovative sushi creations, the city has it all.

Best Sushi Restaurants in NYC

Below is a list of the 15 best sushi restaurants in NYC, where you can indulge in the artistry and flavors of this beloved Japanese cuisine.

1. Takeda

This shoebox-sized, counter-focused omakase spot opened in December 2019 and has since mostly been unnoticed.

Yukihiro Takeda, the chef, and owner, runs the eight-seat counter, and he is the reason the Upper West Side now offers a higher-quality omakase sushi choice.

His 19-course Edomae-style menu costs $250 and includes seafood flown in from Tokyo’s Toyosu fish market multiple times a week.

Tsumami such as ikura (salmon roe) and Santa Barbara uni could be served first, followed by akami (lean tuna), Hokkaido scallop, and iwashi (sardine).

Takeda does not necessarily follow the conventional path of serving all nigiri back-to-back. Instead, bites are mixed with inventive dishes like a maki roll stuffed with soba noodles instead of rice.

2. Sushi Nakazawa

Daisuke Nakazawa acquired his culinary expertise while working as an apprentice to Jiro Ono, the world’s most renowned sushi chef, in the charming film Jiro Dreams of Sushi.

Have you ever tried salmon, snapper, or fatty tuna? We assure you that it will not be like this, not with refined textures, flavors, and temperatures that have then been amazingly improved upon.

Omakase costs $180 at the counter, $150 in the stylish dining room, and $120 with a sake pairing.

3. Uogashi

Uogashi, which relocated from the East Village to Midtown following a tragic fire in 2018, has acquired a devoted following for its top-quality omakases which cost between $135 to $185.

Guests can order izakaya-style delicacies like sake-steamed clams and shrimp tempura from a long sushi counter or tables. Pete Wells scored the restaurant two stars when he visited in 2019.

4. Sushi Yasuda

Located in Midtown Manhattan, Sushi Yasuda is renowned for its traditional and authentic sushi experience. The restaurant prides itself on using the freshest and highest quality ingredients, prepared with precision and skill.

The sushi chefs at Sushi Yasuda create masterpieces that highlight the natural flavors of the fish.

5. Ume

As you breathe in the calm of the bamboo-garden environment, your mind, body, and spirit are transported to a planet far away. Sitting on the floor makes you feel modest, in stark contrast to the exquisite pieces of fish put before you.

If you’re still hungry, get Everything Donburi: a genuinely brilliant combination of fish that blends together like Van Gogh’s Starry Night. At Ume, one of the best sushi restaurants in NYC, you are in for a culinary treat of a lifetime.

6. Sushi 35 West

Kevin Chen and Jacky Ye worked at some of the best sushi restaurants in NYC before setting up their own place in midtown last year through what seems to be a service entrance. Its dining room has two outdoor tables and four stark white walls.

However, the salmon roe ($7), mackerel ($5), sea urchin ($10), Spanish and striped jack ($7) are among the best in town. The most costly item at Sushi 35 West is the $110 35-piece omakase, which you should be prepared to get.

7. Nobu

Nobu, with multiple locations across the city, is a household name when it comes to sushi.

Founded by renowned chef Nobu Matsuhisa, this upscale restaurant offers a fusion of Japanese and Peruvian flavors, making it one of the best sushi restaurants in NYC.

The innovative sushi creations at Nobu, combined with its elegant ambiance, make it a favorite among celebrities and sushi aficionados.

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8. Rosella

Rosella virtually always sources ingredients from the United States. They serve Rhode Island black bass, North Carolina bluefin tuna, and New York smoked steelhead trout.

If you’ve been under the impression that American fish is exclusively for people on Hinge to pose with in their profile pictures, come here and be proven wrong with some Washington State Arctic Char over California-grown rice.

lunch at this little restaurant with ocean-colored walls and a large wooden bar will be the highlight of your week for roughly $50.

9. Masa

Masa is a three-Michelin-starred sushi restaurant located in the Time Warner Center at Columbus Circle.

Helmed by chef Masayoshi Takayama, Masa offers an extraordinary omakase experience that combines artistry and culinary excellence.

If you intend to dine at Masa, be prepared for a luxurious dining experience with a price tag to match.

10. Shuko

Shuko is one of New York City’s best sushi restaurants. The omakase at Masa alums Nick Kim and Jimmy Lau’s 20-seat sushi counter has been reputed to contain some of the greatest marbled toro and delicious Spanish mackerel in town.

Currently, sunomono goes for $270, and the chef’s selection, with a $150 cocktail pairing option.

11. Omakase Room by Mitsu

Omakase Room by Mitsu should be the next stop on your NYC culinary tour if you enjoy Sake as much as sushi. We’re not exaggerating when we say you could eat Kamatoro (cheek fatty tuna) for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

The melty, buttery feel of this tempting piece of fish quickly captivates you as you bite into it. Despite the fact that the fish is chilly, a sense of soothing warmth overpowers your palate.

12. Noz 17

Noz 17 is a sister restaurant to Sushi Noz and serves as a Toyota Corolla-sized restaurant that seats only seven guests at a time. Chef Junichi Matsuzaki serves one of New York’s most enormous and unusual tasting menus.

Dinner could start with a lotus root dumpling with tofu skin, then move on to gizzard shad sushi, a little silver fish as tart as a teaspoon of vinegar.

13. Kanoyama

Chef Nobuyuki Shikanai’s unfussy sushi establishment had already gotten a devoted neighborhood following for its reasonably priced fresh fish before he received one Michelin star.

A la carte sashimi, nigiri, and rolls, as well as izakaya snacks like gyoza and shrimp tempura, are available, but the best seats are at Shikana’s omakase counter.

While Kanoyama is open every day and welcomes walk-ins, this $195 chef’s choice meal is only available Wednesday through Saturday and requires reservations.

14. Gouie

Gouie, the new counter-only sushi spot from Keisuke Kasagi and Yudai Kanayama, launched on the Lower East Side’s Market Line last October and is possibly the best price in New York for quality fish at the moment.

It’s a laid-back establishment that was created in response to all of New York’s costly omakase restaurants. There are 18 perched counter chairs as well as a place “where people can just stand casually and drink and eat for a quick bite and quick sake.”

The Nami plate, which includes seven pieces of nigiri and half a maki roll for $35, is a best-seller.

15. Nakaji

Nakaji, like many of Tokyo’s best sushi restaurants, is hidden away in an unremarkable passageway partially adorned with burnt cedar wood.

Look for an illuminated box with the chef’s name in calligraphy, and then ring the doorbell to enter what is currently the city’s most fascinating sushi idea.

The Japanese experience provided by Nakaji happens at a 10-seat sushi counter and with Japanese seafood like sea cucumber and ice fish.

Nakaji has quickly ensconced itself as one of the city’s most traditional Japanese experiences, from its minimalist aesthetic to its standout menu, and was launched right before the pandemic.

Summary

Manhattanites are fiercely competitive when it comes to sushi, and pretty much everything else.

In this guide, we have put together a list of some of the best sushi restaurants in NYC, ranging from classic to creative and beyond. These are the sushi restaurants that will make you feel like you’re at a day spa.

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