New York City has a standout sushi scene, with neighborhood joints, dedicated handroll destinations, and omakase counters galore. But the most exciting players in the crowded landscape focus on higher-end offerings. While there’s a strong field of à la carte options, diners chasing a more traditional Japanese experience are competing for seats at the city’s best omakase spots.
Omakase allows the chef to curate the menu, focusing on seafood, rice, and technique. Diners can expect fish flown in from Tokyo’s Toyosu Market, uni sourced from Santa Barbara, and scallops straight from the frigid waters of Hokkaido. Usually, the evening will unfold in courses of pristine nigiri, sashimi, perhaps a handroll or a futomaki (“fat roll”), maybe a marinated raw fish or even a light-as-feather tempura—that’s part of what’s so special: you won’t ever have the same meal twice.
Over the last decade, the omakase landscape in New York City has exploded. Sky-high Yūgin, two-Michelin-star Sushi Noz, and three-Michelin-star Sushi Sho have become some of the most sought-after seats in the Big Apple. Omakase, especially in New York City, at the present, is more than just dinner; it’s an experience—elaborate, precise, and, in many cases, exorbitantly expensive with sake pairings that drive up the price—and elevate the spare-no-expense evening. Some places put pomp and showmanship front and center, while others are quiet, more sparsely decorated, and lean into tradition. With so many superlative choices, even sushi enthusiasts could use a cheat sheet.
Consider this your roadmap to navigating the must-try omakase counters around New York City.
181 E 78th St, New York, NY 10075
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Photo: Courtesy of Sushi Noz
Over the past eight years, Sushi Noz has established itself as one of the city’s most enduring and exceptional omakase destinations—a place without frivolity or gimmicks. Hokkaido-born Chef Nozomu Abe runs his two-Michelin-starred Upper East Side restaurant with immense skill and precision. The streamlined, almost sacred, temple-like space, anchored by a 200-year-old hinoki counter, is devoid of embellishment, mirroring the subtle allure and restraint of the meal itself, which begins with otsumami (hot and cold small plates) and moves on to 12 to 15 pieces of nigiri, miso soup, Chef Noz’s signature tamago (Japanese omelet), and seasonal fruit for dessert.
767 5th Ave 37th Floor, New York, NY 10153
Photo: Adam Slama
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