The 13 best sushi restaurants in NYC

We were first introduced to Daisuke Nakazawa when he was toiling over tamago as the apprentice to Jiro Ono, the world’s most distinguished sushi chef, in the lovely film "Jiro Dreams of Sushi." When we first visited Nakazawa’s eponymous spot in the West Village, we weren’t sure we’d ever really had salmon, snapper and fatty tuna before, not like this, not with flavors, textures and temperatures that have been perfected and then, unbelievably, improved upon. Omakase at the counter is $190, $160 in the chic dining room. 

Kevin Chen and Jacky Ye worked at NYC's top sushi restaurants before opening their own hidden spot through what appears to be a service entrance in midtown. Its dining room includes a couple of patio tables and four stark white walls. But the sourcing and preparation of salmon roe ($7), fatty tuna ($10), striped jack ($7) are among the best in town. Sushi 35 West's most expensive item is the $120, 35-piece omakase, which you should be prepared to take to go. 

Although its founders came from fine dining destinations, Nami Nori offers a more affordable menu than you’d expect if you tasted it before spying the prices. Its signature set includes five temaki hand rolls like scallop, sea bass and coconut shrimp for $32. Beer, wine, sake and cocktails are also available in the sleek space. 

The omakase at the 20-seat sushi counter from Masa alum Nick Kim and Jimmy Lau has been known to include some of the best bits of marbled toro and sweet Spanish mackerel in town. It’s presently priced at $270 for sunomono and the chef's selection, with an optional $160 beverage pairing. 

The tasting here is luxury experiences with the price tag to match. The counter menu includes five (or so) small plates and a selection of nigiri for $550. Accompanying sake, champagne and white wine pairings start at $185, or there’s a $120 corkage fee to BYO. 

This hideaway in Elmhurst invites you to "Enjoy Your Fucking Dinner" or at least that's what one of the neon signs says. But surely, you will, there is a party to be had here. Rowdy good times at the omakase counter include sparklers, passing around torches to char your own eel and salmon nigiri smoked with a little THC. If your glass gets anywhere close to being empty, the host will swiftly come around with a bottle of sake to keep you boozed. It all goes down for $99 per person, unlimited sake included. Note: it is cash only. 

The counter at this lovely, bamboo-lined space is a little longer than some, but still a personal experience with a line of expert chefs slicing and plating your nigiri on the other side. Sushi Yasuda’s omakase, which might include amberjack, yellowtail and unagi, is market price, and the restaurant advises that that will typically run about $150-250 before drinks, add-ons or tip. 

This efficient space with a counter and a smattering of tables was one of many similarly small spots that increased its capacity thanks to the addition of outdoor seating over the past few years. In or out, get a 10-piece omakase for $70, or order fluke ($6), salmon roe ($6.50) and red snapper ($6) by the bite. 

Major-league toques like Eric Ripert and Daniel Boulud have been known to hold court over Seki’s sake and novel flavor combinations late into the night since 2002. Two locations reside in NYC, one in the Upper East Side and the other Chelsea, either are a sure bet. 

It may take you a second to find the nondescript door that leads you to Sendo. But once inside, you'll be treated to sushi straight from the hands of chef Kevin Ngo (previously of Sushi Nakazawa and the shuttered Sushi Ginza Onodera). Sendo Sets range from $33-48 while handrolls start at just $19. But if you are really on the go, pick up a premium set to go. Keep in mind, they only sell 30 a day, so plan accordingly. 

The East Village has plenty of reliable, fuss-free sushi joints, and Hasaki is one of the originals. Its menu presently includes a sashimi omakase for $78, $90 for a mix of sushi and sashimi.

The late chef Toshio Oguma’s particularly flavor/texture balance conscious “loosey-sushi” is served at three seatings every night. Each of the charming spot’s chefs serves just four people at a time, preparing omakase priced around $135. Tanoshi is also one of a relative few NYC restaurants where you can BYOB. 

Don’t let the relatively more manageable prices fool you: This is real deal sushi. The corner East Village eatery turns out top-notch nigiri that stands toe-to-toe with some of its pricier counterparts. Nab a seat at the well-lit walnut bar in the quieter back room and start with the sushi regular, which includes 7 pieces and a tuna cucumber roll for $29.