Discover the Best Sushi in New York City

Sushi first came to New York City in 1963, with the late Nobuyoshi Kuraoka's Restaurant Nippon serving raw fish at their counter to local politicians, socialites, and celebrities. The newfound popularity of the novel cuisine, along with an increased boom of Japanese immigrants to the NYC area in the '70s and '80s, led to an explosion of sushi restaurants in NYC that continues today. But where are the smartest, savviest diners eating out? Welcome to our Tastemaker List. We’ve pulled data from thousands of restaurants to find the top spots among OpenTable's most expert, seasoned diners. With easy access to the Atlantic Ocean, as well as a plethora of transportation modes that can quickly source the freshest seafood from around the planet, it's no wonder that New York City has become a hotbed for sushi fanatics. We've rounded up the best spots for savvy diners looking for the best sushi in NYC.

The OpenTable Team

10 Restaurants

Updated February 26, 2020

Restaurants:	The Lobster Club, EN Japanese Brasserie, Restaurant Nippon…
Price Range:	$$$ - $$$$
Cuisines:	Japanese…
Neighborhoods:	Midtown East, West Village…

The Lobster Club

$$$$

Japanese

Midtown East

4.7

323 reviews

Tokyo's Tsukiji Market is world-renowned for its screamingly fresh fish hauled every morning and bought by both local and global purveyors. At The Lobster Club, Chef Tasuku Murakami sources his fish from this prized market, ensuring that the quality and selection of fish is fit to be among the best sushi in NYC. Additionally, famed designer and architect Peter Marino created a bright, fun, and modern space drawing on influences from Pablo Picasso. The result? A "brasserie" that offers a unique interpretation of Japanese cuisine. The Lobster Club offers beef, chicken, and seafood teppanyaki style, but the star here is the seafood sourced from Tsukiji that can't be found in most restaurants. Dive into the sushi and sashimi menu and order pieces such as kimedai (golden eye snapper), hirame (olive flounder), akamutsu (rosy seabass), and tsubugai (whelk) that can't be found at other restaurants.

At the moment, there's no online availability within 2.5 hours of your request. Do you have another time in mind?

EN Japanese Brasserie

$$$$

Japanese

West Village

4.7

2576 reviews

Relaxed, progressive dining is at the center of EN Japanese Brasserie's restaurant philosophy. Guests won't find sushi drowning in sauces, aiolis, or unnecessary condiments since EN Japanese Brasserie allows the flavor of the ingredients to speak for themselves. Located in Manhattan's West Village, the restaurant cooks seasonally to highlight the flavors and textures of what's currently in local markets. Look for sawara (Spanish mackerel), engawa (fluke), and chu toro (medium fatty tuna) on the sashimi menu to taste the essence of each fish. The o-banzai menu is also worth perusing for Kyoto-style small dishes that utilize all of one's senses for small, bite-sized treats.

At the moment, there's no online availability within 2.5 hours of your request. Do you have another time in mind?

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Restaurant Nippon

$$$$

Japanese

Midtown East

4.7

708 reviews

As NYC's original sushi bar, Restaurant Nippon has carried on the tradition of homemade soba noodles and fresh sushi for over 50 years. The first restaurant in the U.S. to serve fugu, the restaurant still serves this rare treat in a variety of forms on its fugu menu. Don't let Homer Simpson's fugu experience deter from Restaurant Nippon's expert chefs' careful preparation of this delicate puffer fish.

At the moment, there's no online availability within 2.5 hours of your request. Do you have another time in mind?

Sushi Yasaka

$$$$

Japanese

Upper West Side

4.8

2439 reviews

Sushi Yasaka, on NYC's Upper West Side, has a set menu that revolves around the freshest seafood sourced daily by its chefs. Maki hand rolls feature yellowtail, spicy salmon, fluke ume shiso, salmon roe, and tuna avocado. Sushi and sashimi are also available a la carte and can include Maine sea urchin, Japanese snapper, live scallop, and baby abalone.

At the moment, there's no online availability within 2.5 hours of your request. Do you have another time in mind?

Natsumi Restaurant

$$$$

Japanese

Theater District / Times Square

4.5

2252 reviews

Modern, warm, and elegant describe the ambiance at Natsumi Restaurant, which aims to provide Italian hospitality to Japanese cuisine. Diners can sit at the sushi bar to watch their creations being made up close, or opt for booths for a more intimate dining experience. The restaurant also has an adjoining bar and lounge that mirrors a Tokyo-chic vibe. The menu features a massive selection of sushi and sashimi, from flying fish caviar tobiko, salmon toro, and bluefin tuna to spicy snow crab and surf clam. An abundance of sushi rolls and hand rolls complement the carefully curated wine, sake, and cocktail list to have you reveling in la dolce vita while enjoying a distinctly Japanese experience.

At the moment, there's no online availability within 2.5 hours of your request. Do you have another time in mind?

Wokuni

$$$$

Japanese

Murray Hill

4.7

999 reviews

When a restaurant group owns a fish farm, customers can see that their dedication to fresh seafood is paramount. This is the case at Wokuni, which not only sources seafood from Tokyo's Tsukiji Market, but also from their tuna farm in Nagasaki. If you happen to see tuna on the chef's specials, make sure you scoop it up, as it likely came fresh from Furukawa Bay. Specializing in Izakaya-style omakase, where diners are meant to share dishes, it allows groups to share in a wide variety of sushi, sashimi, noodles, cold and hot dishes, and grill items.

At the moment, there's no online availability within 2.5 hours of your request. Do you have another time in mind?

Sushi of Gari 46

$$$$

Japanese

Theater District / Times Square

4.8

1707 reviews

Times Square used to be known as a culinary wasteland filled with vapid chain restaurants and below-average cuisine. Sushi of Gari is a beacon of change in this now-burgeoning landscape. What makes their sushi service unique is the incorporation of both hot and cold elements in their food, along with their stellar sake selection to complement each dish.

At the moment, there's no online availability within 2.5 hours of your request. Do you have another time in mind?

Tempura Matsui

$$$$

Japanese

Midtown East

4.9

513 reviews

Our perspective is coming soon. In the meantime, please enjoy the restaurant’s description: Welcome to Tempura Matsui -----2019 Michelin One Star----- Tempura Matsui invites you to experience the fine art of cooking tempura. Within a serene setting, guests have a seat at our counter or tables and can view the delicate preparation of lightly frying fresh fish and vegetables. Tempura Matsui is designed to emulate a Japanese cottage with warm woods, slate floors and round and square windows. A five-seat bar allows guests to wait for their seats while enjoying a glass of wine, sake or beer. A chashitsu or a tea-house-inspired room is available for private dinners of 2 – 5 guests. To book the private room, please call the restaurant directly.

At the moment, there's no online availability within 2.5 hours of your request. Do you have another time in mind?

Sushi Seki Times Square

$$$$

Sushi

Midtown West

4.7

619 reviews

"Stunning" is the perfect way to describe Sushi Seki, a bi-level space in the heart of Hell's Kitchen's restaurant row. The main floor's large bar features a seven-seat omakase counter, spacious dining room, sushi bar, and three private dining rooms. The downstairs level is home to The Kappo Room, a seasonal restaurant with an open kitchen and communal dining table. For large parties that would like to dine in Japanese style, Sushi Seki has ample space to fit everyone's needs. Sushi Seki also offers a large selection of vegetable rolls for those who wish to avoid seafood or shellfish.

At the moment, there's no online availability within 2.5 hours of your request. Do you have another time in mind?

Bar Masa

$$$$

Japanese

Columbus Circle

4.7

317 reviews

Sleek, modernist, and refined describe Chef Masa Takayama's Bar Masa, one of the best sushi restaurants in NYC located on Columbus Circle. The aesthetic of the restaurant derives from the Japanese principle of shibui, meaning simple and subtle beauty. Nothing is loud, brightly colored, or designed simply for show at Bar Masa. Both the food and the decor have been carefully chosen to harmonize into a serene, thoughtful experience. The sushi a la carte menu at Bar Masa changes depending on the availability of seasonal fish, but the extensive chilled menu can include toro tartare, uni sweet shrimp ceviche, seabream truffle, and kinme snapper in ponzu.

At the moment, there's no online availability within 2.5 hours of your request. Do you have another time in mind?

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