Omakase, a Japanese phrase meaning “I’ll leave it up to you,” is usually the response you hear when you ask your dining partner, “What do you want to eat tonight?” Luckily for you, this luxurious dining experience consists of the chef pre-selecting courses, allowing diners to enjoy a culinary journey of the very best bites the restaurant has to offer without having to agonize over which menu selections to make. Whether you want to splurge on an extravagant experience or keep things simple, these are the best omakase restaurants in NYC.
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17 W. 19th St. / 212.256.1368 / Website
With “bōm” meaning “Spring” in Korean, this immersive dining experience is perfect for any season. Drawing inspiration from Korean traditional architecture, the deep violet color is reflected throughout the space combining cuisine, creativity and craftsmanship. An intimate chef’s counter is brought to life by Michelin-starred chef Brian Kim and the OIJI MI team through a unique steakhouse concept. The Korean omakase includes dishes that are seafood and vegetable-forward, followed by various cuts of the highest quality meats of varied aging methods, highlighting the creative angle “behind OIJI MI.”
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20 Warren St. / 646.649.3415 / Website
Derived from the zen saying, “One flower opens the sky in spring,” icca strives to make the sacred plum blossom bloom in your heart at their omakase counter. Offering a relaxed and peaceful atmosphere, savor the seasonal ingredients and freshest produce as you sip away on sake. Expect to find high-quality products carefully selected by executive chef Kazushige Suzuki, like fresh fish imported directly from Toyosu and Kyushu and “Tokachi herb beef” raised on the restaurant’s farm. Plus, the attention to detail from Shoken Tomoni shines through his different selection of dishes from artists all over Japan, making the food look even more delicious.
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75 Barclay St. / Website
Embrace intimacy at this 16-seat omakase counter providing an inventive interpretation of traditional sushi. This omakase-style Tribeca hot spot is helmed by Michelin-starred chef Masa Ito and Kevin Kim in partnership with VCR Group. Together, these two have worked together for years and both express their love for culinary excellence in the energetic city they quickly became enthralled with. Through their passion and dedication to an unforgettable meal, the food heightens the senses thanks to its expert preparation and unparalleled ingredients.
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175 2nd Ave. / 212.777.5266 / Website
This traditional Japanese restaurant serves up a reliably delicious omakase. This Michelin-starred traditional Japanese restaurant serves up reliably delicious and value-conscious omakase as well as excellent entrees, soups, salads, sake and a generous list of oysters. A recent expansion due to gained popularity has allowed the restaurant to grow in a space that is simple but spotless and well-maintained. At Kanoyama, expect to find extremely fresh fish with many varieties coming from Japan, as well as toro and fresh uni from Maine and California. Here, every night is sushi night.
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Multiple locations / Website
Have you ever heard of a takeout omakase set? Kissaki has got you covered. Rooted in omakase sushi and kaiseki tradition, each dish is based on mindful sourcing, seasonality and quality. The classic dinnertime experience consists of 15 courses, including three appetizers, 10 nigiri pieces, one hand roll and dessert. If you can’t curb those cravings until dinner, try the lunchtime omakase offered on Saturday and Sunday from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. featuring miso soup, the chef’s selection of six nigiri pieces and one hand roll.
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220 W. 13th St. / 212.727.1709 / Website
Move at your own pace and savor every bite at this flexible omakase counter. Located in the charming Greenwich Village, feel the serenity and allure of a true Toyko sushi restaurant in Manhattan that embodies the Japanese Edomae style. Chef Yoshihiko has been a Michelin-starred chef for the past fifteen consecutive years, so you know his omakase experience promises to impress. With the fish relying purely on impeccable technique, every piece is guaranteed to bring a smile to your face, whether it be red snapper, sea bass, yellowtail, or firefly squid.
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37-12 31st Ave., Queens / 929.597.7761 / Website
If you’re seeking sleek, modern interiors and an elevated omakase experience, look no further. Koyo means “autumnal foliage” in Japanese referring to the Japanese maple leaves changing color with the seasons, which reflects the restaurant’s emphasis on fresh, seasonal ingredients. Each guest is invited to come with an open mind and an empty stomach to fully appreciate the various techniques and cooking styles prepared by chef-owner Jay Zheng of the seasonal omakase offerings.
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The Shops at Columbus Circle / 212.823.9800 / Website
Boasting an enviable three Michelin stars, Masa could very well be home to the best sushi in North America. Chef Masayoshi Takayama serves up a truly impeccable meal, from immaculate courses to flawless presentation and service that transports guests to an ethereal realm. He began his journey as a kid delivering fresh sashimi to neighbors on his bicycle in Japan and now delivers 100 % of “the umami to the outside” in every bite, as he once said himself. At $750 per person, Masa’s omakase is certainly a splurge, but will undoubtedly be a meal you’ll never forget.
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48 Bowery / 646.478.8282 / Website
Although omakase typically chooses the menu for you, executive chef Kunihade Nakajima considers your individual tastes and mood to curate a 14-course sushi meal along with amazing appetizers. This intimate ten-seat omakase experience lasts for two and a half hours, so prepare for an evening of great food and great conversation. Nakaji has been serving authentic Edomae-style sushi since the spring of 2020 and has climbed the ranks to be among NYC’s best Japanese restaurants. Do not miss out on the craft cocktails served at the bar in addition to other platters like kaizen curry or a premium uni tasting.
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115 Division St. / 646.476.7717 / Website
Typically, omakase highlights seafood, but what about the beef? Move on to greener pastures with this omakase experience centered around some of the finest beef in the world cooked by shabushabu Mayumon, an all-seasoned Japanese hotpot. This restaurant prides itself in a rare opportunity to take on the highest quality Japanese beef or pork with perfectly paired meat-specialized seasonings to accentuate the authentic flavor. Compliment your red meat eats with one of their selections of red wines that will elevate this flawless dining experience.
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69 Leonard St. / 212.404.4600 / Website
This Michelin-starred traditional Edomae-style sushi-ya restaurant serves up delicious omakase created with ultra-fresh, seasonal ingredients. Chef Shion Uino brings his experience from Tokyo’s esteemed three Michelin-starred Sushi Saito, so you know this omakase is one of the best in the city. For frequent guests who keep coming back for more, they will recognize some of the chef’s signature dishes, such as hairy crab dressed with Japanese black vinegar or the 48-hour marinated Tako. With just eight seats, get ready to splurge at a place packed with distinctive Japanese charm.
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47 E. 12th St. / 212.228.6088 / Website
“Shuko” stands for the iconic chef’s apron, meant to embody the dedication and pursuit of culinary excellence, so no wonder that this fine dining spot is highly acclaimed in the city. Chefs Nick Kim and Jimmy Lau bring a simple and reliably delicious omakase to life at Shuko. Choose between different menu options, such as the iconic sushi omakase, the Sunomono featuring ultra-seasonal ingredients, or the additional Kama Toro with charcoal-seared tuna belly. Perfect for any special occasion with daily tasting menus, the unassuming exteriors open to warm and welcoming interiors and even warmer and more welcoming staff.
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245 E 44th St. / 212.986.5300 / Website
When it comes to date night, this ultra-intimate omakase bar is perfect for every couple. Offering limited seats downstairs, sushi AMANE always provides a meal to remember, including five small dishes, nine varying nigiri sushi bites, tamago, a hand roll, miso soup, and, if you have room, dessert. The incredibly authentic Japanese omakase experience features a menu that changes seasonally to provide the freshest ingredients available. If you want to try “amane”zing and authentic sushi, there is no doubt you will find your way here.
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461 5th Ave. / 212.390.0925 / Website
With fish imported from Toyosu Fish Market and Niigata prefecture rice tinted in red vinegar, this restaurant provides the best quality Edomae-style traditional sushi. The style comes from Edo, now known as Tokyo, when refrigeration was not available. Through the aging process to preserve the fish, embrace the umami flavors and tender textures in varying methods like marinating in soy sauce, simmering in broth, or curing in kombu sea kelp. Choose between the premium Kiwami menu, which showcases all the restaurant’s specialties, and the omakase lunch options, which focus on highlighting seasonal ingredients.
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135 Sullivan St. / 917.409.1588 / Website
Three words. Soho. Sushi. Sake. This neighborhood favorite focuses on creating zero waste and highlighting seasonal ingredients, providing an omakase experience you can feel good about while feasting. Built off of Hirohis’a philosophy to honor blessings provided by nature, Sushi Ikumi is committed to using fresh and local products founded on the tradition and technique of Kaiseki Cuisine. Some of the best bites you might be lucky to taste are the savory Shako, or Mantis Shrimp, and the Tachiuo, which translates to Great Sword Fish.
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23 Commerce St. / 212.924.2212 / Website
Taste the sushi rainbow from the yellow uni to the bluefin tuna with this colorful and bold omakase option. This Nigiri-sushi exclusive omakase menu consists of approximately twenty courses at a price of under $200, making this experience, complete with fish and shellfish sourced globally, a steal as far as high-end and Michelin-starred omakase goes. With plenty of varying offerings and preparations of fish, every guest will surely have at least one, if not all twenty, legendary bites. Be sure to grab a glass or a bottle from their never-ending alcohol list filled with champagnes, wines and more.
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181 E. 78th St. / 917.338.1792 / Website
This place is “noz” joke when it comes to omakase. Tucked away on the Upper East Side, Sushi Noz provides a memorable and intimate meal either at the Hinoki Counter or in The Ash Room. Through a superlative and elegant dining experience, chef Nozomu Abe’s vision comes from his childhood memories of top-notch fish from his grandfather’s seafood company in Hokkaido. The Edomae-style menu begins with five to six Otsumami, small plates that highlight seasonal fish and vegetables, before moving on to 12 to 14 courses of seasonal nigiri, followed by miso soup, Tamago and dessert.
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347 W. 46th St. / 212.957.0046 / Website
Move over soy sauce, chef Masatoshi “Gari” Surgio is now the sauce boss. After observing too many people drenching their sushi in salty soy sauce in an un-Japanese-like manner, Gari decided to create his own brand where sauce is directly added to the sushi in the preparation stage to enhance the sensitive taste and flavor of each morsel of fish. Sushi of Gari’s approachable and unpretentious omakase experience is sure to leave every guest satisfied thanks to their choice between sushi, sashimi and sushi and pure sashimi. Through determination and dedication, Gari has revolutionized the New York sushi scene, all thanks to the sauce.
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204 E. 43rd St. / 212.972.1001 / Website
At Sushi Yasuda, feel the calming interiors full of solid bamboo planks as the staff provides a welcoming spirit and impeccable food, with each fish being individually selected to present the perfect bite. Guests can either partake in the omakase experience for lunch or opt for takeout on those days you can’t be bothered to leave the house. There is no wrong way to eat sushi, but for the experts looking to enhance their meal, read up on their traditions and follow some authentic customs available on their website.
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88 W. 3rd St. / 646.405.4826 / Website
This omakase is just zo, zo, good. With locations across California, New York, Thailand and Hong Kong, Sushi Zo is beloved all over the world. The restaurant highlights the Ittai-Kan Sushi Zo style, meaning the balance between the neta, seafood topping, and shari, sushi rice, is the most important aspect. The menu changes day to day based on market availability and location, ensuring the highest quality fish goes into each carefully curated dining experience. When a plate comes out, you better be ready to eat because each dish is served at the perfect moment when temperature and timing are one.
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566 Amsterdam Ave. / 646.370.6965 / Website
“Takeda” trip to the Upper West Side and secure a spot at this eight-seat counter high-quality omakase sushi option. Chef Yukihiro Takeda brings over 30 years of experience to his namesake restaurant, where the seasonal menu uses ingredients sourced from all over Japan. Through extensive research, Takeda has mastered his version of “sushidou” by using traditional dry-aging techniques and selecting seasonings for the sushi rice. A captivating fusion of ingenuity and sophistication, each plate is a profound sense of gratitude that will “takeda” breath away from each guest.
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120 St. Marks Place / 646.360.4065 / Website
After a voyage beside the USS Susquehanna, Mr. Moto, a gourmand and art connoisseur, unlocked the hidden treasure of Japanese gastronomy, Edo-mae sushi. Step into Mr. Moto’s private office and explore the art and artifacts of his findings while tasting the seasonally curated menu reflecting his story. The meal begins with a selection of appetizers, followed by the iconic Chawanmushi egg custard. Guests then taste a 16-piece Nigiri menu that reflects the tradition and modern interpretation of Edo-mae sushi. Get the memo and save room for the grand finale, consisting of a hand roll, soup and dessert.
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342 Bowery / 917.444.1988 / Website
From the knives to the bathroom doors, this NYC favorite is curated for a flawless experience based on the four pillars of Japanese cuisine: seasonality, beauty, balance and comfort. Designed with an emphasis on comfort, each detail of the restaurant was supported by world-renowned craftsmen for a pure and private wondrous world feel. With Chef Tadashi “Edowan” Yoshida’s talent for sushi making, this legend makes magic behind the counter and connects with guests through his love of omakase. The result? An unforgettable meal from beginning to end.
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1 Vanderbilt Ave. / 212.597.9025 / Website
A chef and sommelier walk onto a culinary stage, and the rest is history. Located in the heart of Midtown, this ultimate and intimate dining experience creates a refined atmosphere through a traditional multi-course omakase meal. Using only the freshest ingredients and premium sake, executive chef George Ruan’s work ethic shines through his work from starting as a server to becoming an exquisite sushi chef. Through collaboration with chef and Partners Xiao Lin and Wayne S. Cheng, these three have taken over the sushi scene through service, sacrifice and, most importantly, style.
Next time you are out and about searching for a one-of-a-kind sushi experience, these places will make you “omaka-say-less” with premium seating and interior design, fresh daily catches from authentic markets and extravagant dining escapades. Tanoshimu!
Photography by: courtesy of The Office of Mr. Moto
