A good friend of mine turned me into a sushi lover. He’s eating his sushi way through the city on a quest to find the best of the best, and the best value places, and I’ve happily joined him.
I have to say he’s opened up a whole new sushi world for me and the reason is that the really good stuff is absolutely amazing–the fish is so fresh and flavorful and like butter, it literally melts in your mouth.
Sushi is fairly expensive to begin with hence the quest to also find the best value restaurants. The really good stuff is $$$$ but very much worth it so you really have to experience the heaven of amazing sushi at least once in your life.
Of all the places we’ve been to so far, these are the best and the best value.
The Best:
Sasabune
This Upper East Side sushi bar is omakase, which means you entrust yourself to the chef, there’s no menu, it’s the chef’s choice. It costs a bit more but it’s guaranteed to be fresh, acquired that day, and meticulously presented. The only allowed exceptions at Sasabune are for allergies. The omakase is about 13 rounds of chef chosen sushi, two pieces each round prepared differently, and then a roll at the end (did you know rolls are the last course). You can stop at any time, I lasted 12 rounds! An amazing culinary experience worth trying at least once; Sasabune does not disappoint. They’re fairly serious there, don’t even think about asking for a California roll. 401 E 73rd Street
Sushi Yasuda
The service is excellent and the staff welcoming. The space is large, warm, and inviting. And of course the fish is ultra fresh and superb. We ordered nigiri (a la carte). You can choose from over 30 types of fish. The unbelievably great staff makes ordering extremely easy and there are “nightly specials”, which are the freshest of the fresh choices. The Sushi is indescribably delicious, impeccably prepared and perfectly sized. The fish, the rice, and the bit of shoyu (soy sauce) combine in perfect harmony. Sushi Yasuda is definitely pricey but very much worth it. If you can, sit at the bar and enjoy Chef Yasuda’s masterfulness in person. Sushi Yasuda is my favorite and definitely the best of the best. 204 E 43rd Street
The Best Value:
Sushi Sen-Nin
While not in the same league as Sasabune or Sushi Yasuda, Sushi Sen-Nin offers a great sushi experience well above the run of the mill NY sushi restaurant, albeit a tad pricey for what you get. The place is huge and the walls are lined with large colorful banners that ironically (or maybe not so ironically) depict different fish/predator struggles. The service is good and the menu is expansive. We ordered nigiri and toro maki (fatty tuna rolls). The fish was definitely fresh so Sushi Sen-Nin is a good option if you’re looking for quality at more affordable prices than the top tier places. 30 E 33rd Street
Takahachi
This east village sushi bar is great. Don’t judge it by its unimpressive exterior, because once you step inside you get a warm feeling. The staff is extremely friendly and service is excellent. The space is nice; cozy, but not small, with a sushi bar and tables. The Sushi is fresh and very reasonably priced. This is the best, best value option, definitely worth a visit. Offering quality and value, Takahachi will undoubtedly rise to the top of your list of favorite NYC sushi places. 85 Ave A (there’s also one in Tribeca)
With all these great options don’t rely on chains like Haru or take out places anymore for your sushi. Oh, and PS, you must drink Sake warm, so much better than at room temperature!
Flickr Courtesy: CytecK
Well, that friend you mentioned sounds brilliant – it’s quite a shame you didn’t just listen to him from the beginning, as you could have started your sushi-loving experience that much sooner. Oh well, I’m sure next time he tells you something, you’ll listen that much faster.
As for sushi places in NYC, I agree that Takahachi IS fantastic, and will add that the downtown WTC location is THE BEST; very relaxing zen-like environment, incredible staff and fantastic sushi!
Wow! This is exactly what I’ve been looking for, thank you! I’m visiting NYC in a couple of weeks and looking for a good place for sushi. Could you give us an idea of how much your meals cost for each of the restaurants.