IANNATION.COM

Sushi Samba: Japanese. 87 7^th Av @ Barrow; 22/21/$46; 691-7885; Fancy, cool & trendy; Date Spot; Great food; Party atmosphere; Brazil inspired sushi joint; High energy; Fancy drinks; Great for groups.

Aki: Japanese. 181 W 4^th @ Barrow-Jones; 26/13/$44; 989-5440; Small but amazing; Unique selections; Gorgeous preparation. Sushi that melts in your mouth with a Caribbean influence.. Discount pre-theatre prix fixe. Seats under 20 people but perfecto service.

Yama: Japanese. 38-40 Carmine @ Bedford-Bleecker; 23/13/$40; 989-9330; Sushi/ Sashimi ate “whale size” and scrumptiously fresh as if caught a few blocks away; Great value if not a stunning looker of a place. Often has lines and tight quarters.

 

Bond Street: Japanese. 6 Bond (2^nd St) @ Lafayette (NoHo); 25/22/$59; 777-2500; Stylish, sexy set-up; Trendy, unique sushi selections; Hip and popular; Cool downstairs lounge; Impress a date; Not extremely roomy so reserve; Japanese small plates as well.

 

Jewel Bako: Japanese. 239 E 5^th @ 2-3^rd Av; 25/22/$55; 979-1012; Sushi so fresh it seems alive; Omakase is $50 or $90. A la carte – affordable. Considered the #1 sushi place downtown; Gorgeous bamboo setting; Epic good quality.

Takahachi: Japanese. 85 Av A @ 5-6^th; 23/14/$41; 505-6524; Well priced fresh Sushi; Hot dishes too- ever changing menu; Creative rolls;  High quality with a bill you can live with.  

 

Kyo Ya: Japanese. 94 E 7^th St @ 1^st Av – Av A; 29/24/$79; 982-4140; Undiscovered genius; Multi-course set meals; Sweet potato tempura; Every dish prepared with care; Features “Bozushi” – hand pressed sushi; Japanese small plates is the style; King Crab appetizer.

 

Soba-ya: Japanese. 229 E 9^th @ 2-3^rd Av; 23/17/$26; 533-6966; Soba noodle specialist; Array of broths; Relaxing atmosphere; Very inexpensive; The broth- a veggie stock is delicious.

 

Hasaki: Japanese. 210 9^th @ 2-3^rd; 23/14/$41; 473-3327; Has wonderful classic Japanese selections & sushi as well. Large menu; Tempura is great; No reservations. Focus is on the swimmingly fresh fish.

 

Ippudo: Japanese. 65 4^th Ave @ 9-10^th St; 25/23/$26; 388-0088; Home of perfect ramen noodles done many ways; Noodle heaven; Best not to venture from this menu item; Tranquil, serene setting; Cool décor.

 

Momofuku Ko: Japanese. 163 1^st Av @ 10-11^th St; 23/14/$30; 777-7773; David Chang’s most affordable place; Always packed – the master does his genius on noodle soups & hall of fame pork buns.

Lan: Japanese. 56 3^rd Av @ 11^th; 25/18/$47; 254-1959; Awesome fish; Not just sushi- has excellent cooked dishes; Jap food here as whole amazing. Everything so fresh as it caught in front of you. Tokyo-like.

 

Kanoyama: Japanese. 175 2^nd Av @ 11^th St; 26/17/$51; 777-5266; Sushi lover come here; Fresh amazing fish; Incredible bargain for a ‘26’; Friendly servers; Sushi served straight from the Japan Sea it seems; Bluefin Toro is notable.

 

Japonica: Japanese. 100 University Pl (near 4^th Av) @ 12^th St; 22/14/$45; 243-7752; Excellent Sushi- crazy fresh & giant in size; Japanese classic dishes – tempura, dumplings. Favorite of NYU students.

 

15 East: Japanese. 15 E 15^th @ 5^th Av- Union Sq; 26/22/$84; 647-0015; Extremely high-end Japanese; Pricy but considered one of the top new places of 2008. Fresh beyond belief. Sushi/ Sashimi; Try Omakase; Also hot selections.

Mizu Sushi: Japanese. 29 E. 20^th @ B-Way-Park; 23/16/$363; 505-6688; Incredible sushi; Young, hip; Creative menu featuring both classic rolls and unique combos;  Younger crowd enjoying saki.  

Sushi Samba: Japanese. 245 Park @ 20^th; 22/21/$46; 691-7885; Fancy, cool & trendy; Date Spot; Great food; Party atmosphere; Brazil inspired sushi joint; High energy; Fancy drinks; Great for groups.

Mishima: Japanese. 164 Lex @ 30-31^st; 23/12/$36; 532-9596; Sushi awesome here; Equally good cooked items; Peaceful, tranquil; Eat upstairs; Looks hide a gem of a find. Affordable costs close the deal.

Todai: Japanese. 6 E 32^nd @ 5^th-Mad; 18/14/$29; 725-1333; All you can eat Sushi; Hot and cold buffet; Huge selection; 100+ items to choose from; Hot & cold prepared foods; Giant Japanese buffet – rare to use menu. Perfect for lunch.

 

Sushi Sen-nin: Japanese. 30 E 33^rd @ Madison-Park; 25/19/$54; 889-2208; Fresh Fish, known for gorgeously prepared Special Rolls; Perfect for those preferring a la carte. Creative rolls that are delicious.

Sakagura: Japanese. 211 E 43^rd @ 2-3^rd; 25/22/$50; 953-7253; Highly rated Sake Bar/Rest with 200+ kinds of Sake; Spacious; Like Tokyo; Authentic Cuisine; Stylish. Japanese small plates, similar to Tapas.

 

Sushi Yasuda: Japanese. 204 E 43^rd @ 2-3^rd; 28/22/$78; 972-1001; No 1 in Zagats 2008 for Sushi; Unique menu every day. Fish so fresh you’ll feel like you are dining under water; The best. Period. For $24 for lunch- sushi combo and you can choose the fish; Attentive service; Impeccable quality.

 

Aburiya Kinnosuke: Japanese. 213 E 45^th @ 2-3^rd; 25/20/$50; 867-5454;  Japanese Grill; Like being in Tokyo; Open Kitchen. Sushi-free dining. Meticulous attention to detail. Refreshing to have traditional grilled Japanese selections.

 

Hatsuhana: Japanese. 17 E 48^th St @ 5^thAv – Madison; 24/16/$52; 355-3345; One of the original sushi houses in NYC – 3 decades old; 9 section Bento Box of ‘Dreams’. Freshest sushi, sashimi and rolls.

 

Seo: Japanese. 249 E 49^th @ 2^nd-3^rd; 23/18/$47; 355-7722;  Serene, ideal for a date; Zen experience; Great Saki; Sushi or sashimi assortment plus the fabulous Udon soup is the way to go; Delicious cooked dishes.

 

Yama: Japanese. 308 E 49^th @ 1-2^nd Av; 23/13/$40; 355-3370; Sushi/ Sashimi ate “whale size” and scrumptiously fresh as if caught a few blocks away; Great value if not a stunning looker of a place. Often has lines and tight quarters.

 

SushiAnn: Japanese. 38 E 51^st @ Madison-Park; 24/17/$59; 755-1780; Welcoming a mostly business crowd & great for lunch or after work on weekdays; High quality sushi and cooked dishes; Excellent service. Mostly traditional selections.

 

Tenzan: Japanese. 988 2^nd Av @ 52-3^rd; 23/15/$32; 980-5900; What a deal!  Large, ‘gorilla’ sized slabs of sushi and rolls for great prices. Extremely fresh.  Mixed service but food is tops.

 

Sushi Seki: Japanese. 1143 1^st @ 62^nd; 27/13/$63; 371-0238; Exceptional; Open late; High quality, ultra fresh sushi. Omakase much more $$; Local favorite. Nobody dislikes this place; Open til 3am; Off the chart quality.

 

Sushi of Gari: Japanese. 402 E 78^th @ 1^st-York; 26/15/$62; 517-5340;  Melt in your mouth fresh sushi; Absolutely straight from the sea; Unique combos; Order ‘off-menu’; Omakase- $~75. Sushi is served as works of art; Can order a la carte as well.

Yuka: Japanese. 1557 2^nd Av @ 80-81^st; 21/12/$26; 772-9675; $19 all-u-can-eat Sushi; Giant Rolls; Energetic staff; Value. Not a great looking space but for discount & very fresh sushi – can’t go wrong.   

 

Wasabi Lobby: Japanese; 1584 2^nd Av @ 82^nd; 21/15/$32; 988-8882; Low budget, yet surprisingly fresh and creative sushi rolls; Cheesy name yet you get what you come for- excellent sushi with money left for an evening out afterwards.

 

Donguri: Japanese. 309 E 83^rd @ 1-2^nd; 27/15/$60; 737-5656; Small location but amazing food; No sushi; Jap perfection. Service top notch; Specialize in soba and udon noodles. Melt in your mouth quality.

 

Poke: Japanese. 305 85^th @ 1-2^nd; 26/15/$38; 249-0569; Hole in wall; But, perfect, fresh sushi; Can eat there if you can fit; Exceptional quality. BYO policy; No reservations.

 

Tenzan: Japanese. 1714 2^nd Av @ 89^th; 23/15/$32; 369-3600; What a deal!  Large, ‘gorilla’ sized slabs of sushi and rolls for great prices. Extremely fresh.  Mixed service but food is tops.