Sushi Kai - East Village

I’ve had my eye on Sushi Kai for quite some time, but only now did I finally get to try it out. I’m a big fan of omakase, but it does tend to get pricey. Sushi Kai is a great “affordable” alternative if you’re trying to have high-quality sushi, without breaking the bank. Their omakase course comes with a three piece entree, 12-15 courses, and a hand roll, all for $85 per person - not bad!

Once I entered, I really liked the cozy and chill vibe. Made the dining experience really comfortable and relaxing.

And of course, the food. I was very surprised by the quality and freshness of the fish. All were super soft and melted in your mouth. Paired well with the perfect amount of rice and garnishes. The rice to fish combo was spot on - a lot of places will often go too heavy on the rice and it overpowers the fish, but the sushi chefs here do. A great job and creating the ultimate balance.

Soju selection was good too and reasonably priced. I got the Dassai 39 bottle and it was very good, sweet and silky, paired very well with the fish.

Great experience and awesome sushi. Will be back!

Visited 5 months ago

Cozy, friendly spot with fresh fish at a good price. The nigiri toppings are minimal but pair perfectly. Fave is the salmon nigiri with the tomato on top, and of course the Uni. Chef accommodates allergies or dislikes and makes great selections (and is very friendly). I frequent a lot of omakase spots in the city, and this is a good weekly spot. The only thing I'd change is the first dish appetizer - it's unnecessary and isn't as good as the rest of the experience. Love that it's BYOB also! It's definitely fast but that's what omakase is. Didn't feel overly rushed. @ eva.on.eats for more recommendations!

Visited 7 months ago

We went here on a Friday evening for the $85 15-course omakase that included an appetizer, 10 nigiri, uni ikura don, and a hand roll. Also got Japanese beers and a small bottle of dry sake to share. The chilean sea bass was my favorite as part of the appetizer and the uni ikura don. Tbh, none of the nigiris really stood out for me since it was a bit hard to taste the fish and somehow tasted all similar since all of them either had caviar, truffle and/or ponzu sauce on it. The pieces were also very small which left us hungry at the end. The chef and server were very friendly and attentive. The space is small and the seats are crammed next to each other which made it awkward every time the server came by to reach over to refill our glass or ask if everything was okay. They will shorten your course if you arrive late to your reservation (which the hostess noted when we called); luckily we made it on time.

Visited 7 months ago

Amazing 15 course omakase for only $85 per person! Every bite was delicious, and the service was very friendly and welcoming. There are only 10 seats in the whole restaurant which made the whole experience even more special. Highly recommend!

Visited 10 months ago

Stunning food (thank you Gary), exemplary service (thank you Cassie) and a wonderful experience in their intimate East Village location. If they would have let me, I would have stayed for 3 hours of being delivered delicious mouthful after delicious mouthful. Can’t recommend Sushi Kai highly enough.

Visited 5 months ago

I unfortunately had one of the most disappointing and unprofessional reservation experiences I’ve encountered in Manhattan on my second visit to Sushi Kai - East Village. While having twice confirmed with the reservation time with the restaurant (via text message and phone call), we were dismissively and disrespectfully told while waiting outside in the cold with our handicapped party that they had given our reservation away to someone who booked after us. On my first visit to this place when there were four people total in the restaurant, I was willing to overlook the chef’s having placed on more than one occasion something that was deathly to either my or my partner’s vocalized allergies before removing it and replacing it with something safe. That being said, it is the inability to rely on the credibility and security of a repeatedly confirmed reservation that makes me not want to come here again. You’d better be served by going to 13Water nearby where the food, atmosphere and service (including but not limited to the reservation integrity) are superior.

Visited 5 months ago

I have a gluten allergy which they specified they could accomplish, but instead kept using soy sauce with gluten all the way until half way the chef remembered that the dishes were requested gluten free. I had to take a sick day the next day. The food was also subpar, no innovative or classic, just somewhere in the middle. Fish wasn’t anything special.

Visited 8 months ago

Sushi Kai is officially one of my favorite omakase spots in the city. Loved their new combinations with shrimp and scallops. Their choice of making the sushi richer rather than the usual route of going light really sold me.

Some of my favorite pieces of the night was the scallop with caviar, shrimp with foie gras, ikura w uni, wagyu with uni and the otoro w/ caviar.

Visited 2 years ago

Very intimate space, authentic food, and great for dates! Perfect pacing between dishes to talk a bit and still had a pretty quick turnover.

Visited 3 months ago

Highest quality sushi. Deserve a Michelin star.

Visited 4 months ago

왜 예약금을 50불씩 받아가고 돌려주지않나요? 궁금합니다
다좋았는데 이 부분이 궁금하네요

Visited 4 months ago

Totally unprofessional. Gave away our seats by mistake 10 minutes before our reservation. Then were disrespectful and insulting in how they handled the situation. Based on other reviews this is NOT the only time this has happened.

I don’t leave bad reviews. But I was particularly insulted by how they handled this situation.

Visited 5 months ago

I unfortunately had one of the most disappointing and unprofessional reservation experiences I’ve encountered in Manhattan on my second visit to Sushi Kai - East Village. While having twice confirmed with the reservation time with the restaurant (via text message and phone call), we were dismissively and disrespectfully told while waiting outside in the cold with our handicapped party that they had given our reservation away to someone who booked after us. On my first visit to this place when there were four people total in the restaurant, I was willing to overlook the chef’s having placed on more than one occasion something that was deathly to either my or my partner’s vocalized allergies before removing it and replacing it with something safe. That being said, it is the inability to rely on the credibility and security of a repeatedly confirmed reservation that makes me not want to come here again. You’d better be served by going to 13Water nearby where the food, atmosphere and service (including but not limited to the reservation integrity) are superior.

Visited 5 months ago

Stunning food (thank you Gary), exemplary service (thank you Cassie) and a wonderful experience in their intimate East Village location. If they would have let me, I would have stayed for 3 hours of being delivered delicious mouthful after delicious mouthful. Can’t recommend Sushi Kai highly enough.

Visited 5 months ago

Visited 5 months ago

Visited 5 months ago

I’ve had my eye on Sushi Kai for quite some time, but only now did I finally get to try it out. I’m a big fan of omakase, but it does tend to get pricey. Sushi Kai is a great “affordable” alternative if you’re trying to have high-quality sushi, without breaking the bank. Their omakase course comes with a three piece entree, 12-15 courses, and a hand roll, all for $85 per person - not bad!

Once I entered, I really liked the cozy and chill vibe. Made the dining experience really comfortable and relaxing.

And of course, the food. I was very surprised by the quality and freshness of the fish. All were super soft and melted in your mouth. Paired well with the perfect amount of rice and garnishes. The rice to fish combo was spot on - a lot of places will often go too heavy on the rice and it overpowers the fish, but the sushi chefs here do. A great job and creating the ultimate balance.

Soju selection was good too and reasonably priced. I got the Dassai 39 bottle and it was very good, sweet and silky, paired very well with the fish.

Great experience and awesome sushi. Will be back!

Visited 5 months ago

Visited 7 months ago

Not great if you’re GF, they accommodate by leaving your sushi dry and handing you a bowl of gf soy sauce. I watched them dress my companion’s sushi in soy sauce and thought to myself… why not do mine too with the GF? I’m no expert. But at the west village location I did not have this issue. Ordered unfiltered sake, received filtered.

Visited 7 months ago

Absolutely amazing! Highly recommend!

Visited 7 months ago

Visited 7 months ago

An excellent meal. The food and service is phenomenal. They were able to fit us in for an omakase on a Saturday evening last minute and made it one to remember. Each bite better than the last. Will certainly be coming back.

Visited 7 months ago

We went here on a Friday evening for the $85 15-course omakase that included an appetizer, 10 nigiri, uni ikura don, and a hand roll. Also got Japanese beers and a small bottle of dry sake to share. The chilean sea bass was my favorite as part of the appetizer and the uni ikura don. Tbh, none of the nigiris really stood out for me since it was a bit hard to taste the fish and somehow tasted all similar since all of them either had caviar, truffle and/or ponzu sauce on it. The pieces were also very small which left us hungry at the end. The chef and server were very friendly and attentive. The space is small and the seats are crammed next to each other which made it awkward every time the server came by to reach over to refill our glass or ask if everything was okay. They will shorten your course if you arrive late to your reservation (which the hostess noted when we called); luckily we made it on time.

Visited 7 months ago

Cozy, friendly spot with fresh fish at a good price. The nigiri toppings are minimal but pair perfectly. Fave is the salmon nigiri with the tomato on top, and of course the Uni. Chef accommodates allergies or dislikes and makes great selections (and is very friendly). I frequent a lot of omakase spots in the city, and this is a good weekly spot. The only thing I'd change is the first dish appetizer - it's unnecessary and isn't as good as the rest of the experience. Love that it's BYOB also! It's definitely fast but that's what omakase is. Didn't feel overly rushed. @ eva.on.eats for more recommendations!

Visited 7 months ago

Great omakase spot!!! Been here many times

Visited 7 months ago

I got food poisoning :(

Visited 8 months ago

Great service:)

Visited 8 months ago

Outstanding Nigiri. Priced right. Seats 14. My new secret small place.

Visited 8 months ago

**Beware if you have food allergies**
I had made a special request for gluten-free soy sauce during the online reservation, and emphasized again in person at the beginning of the dining that we needed gluten-free food. Unfortunately and unbeknownst to us at that moment, the appetizer was served with regular soy sauce. This has caused health issues to my friend who's allergic to gluten. To be fair, they did have gluten-free soy sauce and tried to avoid gluten afterwards. But an oversight on stuff like this can lead to physical distress at the very least or serious health problems.

Visited 8 months ago

I have a gluten allergy which they specified they could accomplish, but instead kept using soy sauce with gluten all the way until half way the chef remembered that the dishes were requested gluten free. I had to take a sick day the next day. The food was also subpar, no innovative or classic, just somewhere in the middle. Fish wasn’t anything special.

Visited 8 months ago

$85 for the omokase is a great deal. Friendly service, delicious, high quality food. Will absolutely be back!

Visited 8 months ago

Amazing sushi. Innovative and delicious! I love this place. Trust the chef.

Visited 9 months ago

Sushi is good not great definitely not worth the price. Spent over $100 per person and left hungry… also they have no soy sauce!
In addition each piece of sushi/nigiri comes with Wasabi inside under the fish. I do not like wasabi personally and never had sushi served like that. Not a big deal just an fyi. Service is good they are attentive and kind. If they offer you outdoor dining 😂its a wooden outhouse shack on the sidewalk not where I would want to eat $100 + meal.

Visited 9 months ago

Amazing 15 course omakase for only $85 per person! Every bite was delicious, and the service was very friendly and welcoming. There are only 10 seats in the whole restaurant which made the whole experience even more special. Highly recommend!

Visited 10 months ago

Walked in for dinner. Was seated right away at sushi bar. Intimate setting conducive for chatting with your neighbor. Great quality sushi and amazing taste. Chef and staff were very attentive and kind. Priced well. Will be back.

Visited 10 months ago

Visited a year ago

Visited a year ago

I can't believe how good the sushi here was. I was in Japan recently and ate at some high quality places, but this place is right up there at the same level. I'm in shock at how good the taste is... We kinda picked it at random and I was not at all expecting this level of taste. We especially liked the Uni, Scallops, and Chutoro

Visited a year ago

The best sushi next to office of Mr Moto in Manhattan

Visited a year ago

Visited a year ago

I dined solo on a Friday night, taking the omakase menu. Each item was delicious and unique. Very clever combinations of ingredients that combine perfectly, yet complimenting, nor overpowering the fish. So good I ordered a few pieces a la carte to finish my evening. Great service, fun environment. Congratulations Sushi Kai team.

Visited a year ago

Amazing high quality omakase! Fun and informative staff. Great price point and fun vibe. They sell well priced alcohol but also have byob. Would 100% come again

Visited a year ago

Absolutely amazing! Great quality and wonderful service

Visited a year ago

Food was so good I only took one picture in the whole time we were there !

Visited a year ago

Outstanding omakase menu, super knowledgeable and kind chefs (they were very good at dealing with my wife’s many allergies). Would highly recommend this place

Visited a year ago

Visited a year ago

Cute place, sushi is very solid and interesting but not enough courses to fill you up. The place itself is tiny and doesn't look very good, lights are too bright and walls are empty.. They precut all the fish which is a bit weird and use an air fryer and toaster-oven to warm up some of the dishes. The worst part was when they asked us to leave as soon as the last fish was served less than 55 minutes after we sat down. $303.19 for 2 people omakase and one cheap bottle of sake (including tax and service)

Visited a year ago

There's no way you'll find a better omakase for under 100 in the City

Visited a year ago

Visited a year ago

Delicious, first of all. All the ingredients felt pretty high quality. It’s definitely great bang for you buck. My favorite course of the omakase was the hamachi with torched shishito peppers, soooo good. My only concern is that there were way too many courses with truffle, felt a bit overdone.

So worth a try!

Visited a year ago

Excellent quality and value. Favourite sushi downtown. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ for omakase, service, taste.

Visited a year ago

Sushi Kai lands smack dab in the middle; its good quality for the price, the space is simple and beautiful, and overall should go.

The omakase, overall, is simple and there wasn't too much in a stand out piece. As you can see on the pictures, the there is no wipedown of the plates between pieces. Service overall was nice, and e didn't feel rushed, which is def a point above some other omakase spots in the same price range.

Visited a year ago

Affordable Omakase with nice idea of matching flavors - I would say they are “Contemporary American Sushi”. Toppings like truffle oil, lime extract, caviar, were all interesting but some toppings overpowered fish so couldn’t really enjoy the taste of fish itself.

A bit disappointing to be served sushi with already cut fish at the sushi counter, but because of it, the service was very speedy.

Having said it, they are great easy-to-grab good sushi place with decent price for casual nights in the city. Especially since there are too many serious sushi places with unreasonably expensive pricing and ok sushi quality.

Visited a year ago

Best sushi I have ever had period. Unbelievably good and SO fresh.

Visited a year ago

A+ Omakase. Everything was amazing!

Visited a year ago

Visited 2 years ago

The food was phenomenal.

Visited 2 years ago

Visited 2 years ago

Good omakase. Flavors are solid, but they are pretty skimpy on both the fish and rice compared to other omakase options in the city. Although service was good, we were the only ones in the restaurant for nearly an hour and they sat us right next to the kitchen/bathroom. They were denying walk-ins (even though it was totally empty) and once we finished they rushed us out of the restaurant when there was still so much seating for other parties.

Visited 2 years ago

Visited 2 years ago

Visited 2 years ago

Good sake but sad to say I’d pay more for much better. This sub 100 omakase was not it for me

Visited 2 years ago

Visited 2 years ago

Solid

Visited 2 years ago

Great food for its price

Visited 2 years ago

Visited 2 years ago

Amazing place. Period. Best Omakase for under $100. Highly, highly recommended.

Visited 2 years ago

Visited 2 years ago

Best sushi in the east village.

Visited 2 years ago

Fabulous omakase! The service was friendly and attentive. Our chef was genuinely interested in what dishes we were enjoying most. A reservation is for one hour at the counter service, which I was concerned about. But the chef perfectly paces each course so you don’t feel rushed.

Visited 2 years ago

Amazing

Visited 2 years ago

Omakase amazingness! Each bite was heaven, loved scallop, various rounds with caviar and with truffle toppers. A small spot with all bar seats so you can watch the magic unfold. Super fresh, price is now $85 for omakase and can BYOB. Did that and then got sake also. Totally worth it dining experience!

Visited 2 years ago

Service was wonderful. I was late to my reservation by an hour and they still let me eat. They just moved me to outside seating instead of eating by the bar. Food was good, but just not filling.

Visited 2 years ago

The intimate setting of the Omakase restaurant exuded a quaint charm, while the varied menu offered an array of options. However, while each dish was impeccably presented and the seafood of good quality, the dressing on each piece at times overpowered the fish, which I honestly didn’t mind too much. Some of them were quite impressive in terms of the creativity of its preparation. Overall we had a wonderful time!

Visited 2 years ago

Good!!

Visited 2 years ago

Visited 2 years ago

Visited 2 years ago

Very good fish and rice. I love it. Highly recommend.

Visited 2 years ago

おまかせのワンコースのみ。
前菜と握り10カンと超ミニウニイクラ丼と巻物。
量はそこそこ。
時間制限1時間だけどマンハッタンで85ドルは破格だと思いました。
板さんは韓国系ですが、握りも美味しく、とても良いサービスでした。
コースが終わると、追加で握りを頼めます。
僕は車海老を頼みました。
15ドルですが、味は値段程では無かったかも。
最後にお椀が有れば最高だと思いました。

Visited 2 years ago

On a quest to try all omakase in NYC under $150. Sushi Kai gets 7/10.
Balanced flavors and beautiful looking sushi that look like jewels. Nothing was really wrong, yet nothing stood out. The fish slices were so small that they got overwhelmed by the rice. In the words of the great Mel Brooks, "Nice, nice..not thrilling, but nice "

Visited 2 years ago

$280 and I’m still hungry. Haven’t got ripped off this bad in recent memory.

Visited 2 years ago

Visited 2 years ago

One of the strangest omakase I’ve ever had. The food was good but I had a terrible experience with the hostess. After sitting down for around 10 minutes and we were on the second course, another party arrived. She wanted to squeeze another seat at the bar seating and for some strange reason, she tried to physically move me by the waist amongst all the confusion. I was in shock, I told her not to touch me and I ended up moving myself. It also made another couple at the bar uncomfortable too. For the entire experience, it was such a tight space and I’m really disappointed overall.

Visited 2 years ago

Visited 2 years ago

For the price, the omakase is a great deal, especially if you BYOB (but they do serve alcohol now if you don’t want to BYOB). My favorite was the uni and A5 wagyu nigiri- SO good. If you are really in the mood for omakase and don’t want to spend a ton of money, this is a good option. I do agree with others that it did feel a bit rushed which is why it gets 4 stars from me.

Visited 2 years ago

Visited 2 years ago

Visited 2 years ago

Visited 2 years ago

Visited 2 years ago

Solid, reasonably priced, and creative omakase.

Visited 2 years ago

I'm not a sushi aficionado but dinning here ranks as one of the best dining experiences of my life. And was definitely the best sushi and sashimi I have ever had.

I had Omakase paired with a Sake. It was a great meal!

Visited 2 years ago

Delicious - can’t wait to come back

Visited 2 years ago

I like the omekase by main chef only. Wagyu and otoro with caviar are my favorite

Visited 2 years ago

Feels very transaccional - just another fast food restaurant.

Visited 2 years ago

Visited 2 years ago

Very standard nigiri, solid but nothing standout or special in my opinion!

Visited 2 years ago

The worker here after I swiped, my credit card to pay for the Omakase added $40 in tip very quickly and hit submit before I could even react. I have never experienced anything like it. Sushi W Rosie is 10 times better and cheaper. You cannot add a tip without it being in the advertised price nor without the person picking the amount on their own. That is absolutely unheard of.

Visited 2 years ago

Omakase style small restaurant. Excellent sushi at a fixed price. One can bring their own Sake and no corking fee.

Visited 2 years ago

Good omakase

Otoro sushi was great! Highly recommend one with uni .

The course is like a normal sushi Omakase if you are not looking for anything spectacular. Restaurant is clean and service was nice .

We ordered the 12-bite course also end up ordering more as we didn’t feel full .

I wish they served alcoholic drink .

Visited 2 years ago

Sushi Kai is officially one of my favorite omakase spots in the city. Loved their new combinations with shrimp and scallops. Their choice of making the sushi richer rather than the usual route of going light really sold me.

Some of my favorite pieces of the night was the scallop with caviar, shrimp with foie gras, ikura w uni, wagyu with uni and the otoro w/ caviar.

Visited 2 years ago

Visited 2 years ago

Best omakase in NYC!!!!!

Visited 2 years ago

Excellent omokase experience. Every piece was stellar. Loved the simple and intimate bar setup. Will be back.

Visited 2 years ago

Visited 2 years ago

This place is fantastic! No joke - You do have 60 minutes to sit and eat so I would advise to show up right on time and to not linger around after causing others with reservations to wait on seats (the only con here but its a small sushi counter type of establishment). BYOB friendly (Sadly the reason why people stick around longer causing traffic). The fish pieces were simplistic and fresh. Not too heavy on the toppings. I was surprised it was only $85 as I've had other omakases in the city that weren't as good but still charged over $100. They were kind about my pescatarian diet and held off from giving me any pieces with meat (there were only two) and substituted them with equivalent delicious pieces. I will be returning here on a monthly basis

Visited 2 years ago

Visited 2 years ago

Great sushi and ok price

Visited 2 years ago

Left me speechless. Soo good!

Visited 2 years ago

Excellent omakase for a reasonable price ($85 / person). They’re presently BYOB. So I brought a HUGE bottle of homemade margaritas. No corkage! Great service.

Visited 2 years ago

My best dining experience in NewYork! The fish was so fresh and delicious, the whole experience is worth the visit.
I’d definitely come back again for the uni dish and the tuna!

Visited 2 years ago

Visited 2 years ago

You can’t beat this spot for the quality at that price. The X factor for me is BYOB. I bring a bottle of sake I have selected from 100s available in the wild vs the 5-10 on a menu and at a 1/5 the price.

Love this place and it’s my go to for an omakase.

Visited 2 years ago

Love the vibe, super interesting flavor combinations.

Visited 2 years ago

First time and last time. There are plenty of other affordable omakase restaurants here in East Village that are worth the visit over Sushi Kai. I do not know how one could settle for this place aside from being the food adventurer like me and wanting to try a new place out. Each season has an affect on the selection so it varies but last night choices LACKED in comparison to other establishments at the same pricing. I dined at another place the night before with friends and the experience was PHENOMENAL. Here, it is the opposite. They do not offer much outside of the 12 course. Hardly any engagement, no laughter filled moments, no complimentary sake...

I came in 20 minutes before my dining time and was kindly sat at the end of the bar. One of the girls hung my coat and directed that I could leave my luggage by the coat rack. Off to a great start. However 6 minutes before 9 PM, the chef asked if I wanted to start early to which I said no, I do not mind waiting for the everyone else to join in. I am already out dining alone. I do not want to feel more outcasted. Instead of respecting my answer, he started me off. I did not understand what was the rush for. I had said no.

As for the important part, the 12 course. Decent until the end, the wagyu was chewy and had a taste to it that made me hid the rest in my napkin and the salmon handroll tasted like crushed hot cheetos wrapped in seaweed. Did not finish that. Other than those two, the others were fair. Nothing to go home about.

I was going to tip nothing because I regretted coming here. $100 is not much compared to the higher end omakase joints in Midtown but...I would have rather gave that amount to a homeless on the streets of NYC if someone from the future came to me that day before my reservation and asked me to chose between dining here or donating. The hostess was kind enough to follow up about my experience and explained the situation. Despite her efforts, I felt rushed and the choices and its preparation isn't worth the overlook on the poor ambience.

Visited 2 years ago

Visited 2 years ago

Amazing Omakase experience!!!! Definitely will come back!!!

Visited 2 years ago

Sooo good!!

Visited 2 years ago

Visited 2 years ago

The one-star is really for how poorly this restaurant is run. If it were brand new, I might give it a pass, but its been around for awhile and should know how to handle a saturday night. This place used to be great but dine in today was an actual disaster. The waitress seemed like she had never worked in a restaurant or maybe even been to one before that day. She doesn't know how to respect customers and how to solve the reservation issue. We think that making a reservation at this place is meaningless. We made a reservation but still had to wait 20 mins to be seated. That table was occupied with guests from the earlier reservation who still hadn't finished their food. Why would you open up a time slot for reservation if you can’t offer the table to the customers who arrived on time for their reservation??? The whole system is messed up and the food was definitely not worth the wait. There are plenty of other restaurants who can offer food above this average and DOESN’T need you to wait for half an hour to be seated for your reservation. And the waitress here was being unforgivably rude. We were SHOCKED as my friend said nothing but asking about the seat. This was extremely rude and unacceptable. Most restaurants can seat their customers with zero problems when they are early. No restaurant should give their customers such an experience like this. This server shouldn’t work at any restaurant!

Visited 2 years ago

Visited 2 years ago

Visited 2 years ago

Very good quality to price, especially since it is byob. Super friendly and skilled sushi chef. Very rude waitress. We came at 6 for a 6pm reservation. We waited for ten minutes to sit. They sat us at 6:10. That’s fine. It happens. No big deal. Then we had good sushi for 50 minutes. Very nice chef who knows his stuff. Food was very good. They said it was a sixty minute reservation when I made it. Very clear on that. Okay. We are finishing our meal and a very insistent, rude waitress comes over and says you have to pay and leave because someone is waiting for your seats. I’m like we waited ten minutes to get seated and we have only been here fifty minutes. I mean we spent $250 there plus a $50 tip. It’s a bit much to force us out after fifty minutes. She says again you have to pay and leave. We have people waiting. Super rudely. The chef and the other server were super super apologetic for her behavior. This waitress was not. Could not even say sorry. Terrible service and attitude. They need to train their staff. This should be 4 or 5 stars but I will give it 2 stars because of such rude service.

Visited 2 years ago

Visited 2 years ago

Visited 3 years ago

Visited 3 years ago

Visited 3 years ago

Some of the best sushi I've ever had. Tender and delicious. An amazing omakase.

Visited 3 years ago

Had the $75 omakase. The experience felt rushed, like the chef was trying to make up for the fact that the previous party stayed too long. Out of the ~15 pieces I had, 4-5 were excellent, 1 (the oyster) was mediocre, and the rest were good but not amazing.

At this price point there’s other spots that’ll feel more comfortable and/or taste better. Unfortunate, because I was really excited for this place after reading reviews!

Try Shinn East or Sushi by M

Visited 3 years ago

A horrible customer experience! Never, ever again! When we arrived our table wasn't ready and the restaurant wanted us to eat the 200 USD omakase outside in front of the restaurant where it had 92 F on the dirty street next to trashcans and rats running around. We didn't want to do that so the restaurant agreed to cancel our reservation. The host didn't say anything about it but still charged us a 100 USD cancellation fee. When I went back to the restaurant to complain they gave us a fake email address to complain. Don't go there - this place is a scam!

Visited 3 years ago

OMG - the real deal. No rolls Americans are used to - just the freshest, smoothest, luscious real Japanese sushi.

Visited 3 years ago

Visited 3 years ago

The best sushi and omokase experience I've ever had, hands down. From the quality of the ingredients, attentiveness of the server and chef, and just overall atmosphere Sushi Kai is well worth your time if you're looking for good omokase in NYC.

Visited 3 years ago

Visited 3 years ago

It was mid at best. The fish slices are precut, very thin and room temp. The nigiri pieces came with overpowering topping that did not go well with the fish. It was very hard to taste the actual fish with all the unnecessary truffle oil. The Hokkaido uni was not very fresh. It's more of a "fast-food-styled-Omakase". It's not worth it for the price considering there are so many great Omakase places in the area for about the same price.

Visited 3 years ago

The quality of the omakase is outstanding. The fish is fresh and each course makes you crave for more. We finished the meal under one hour. If you are going for the food not the ambiance this is def a must try. It’s byob also.

Visited 3 years ago

Great sushi, even better service. Omakase experience was very enjoyable.

Visited 3 years ago

Visited 3 years ago

Visited 3 years ago

BYOB omakase was good.

Visited 3 years ago

Great omakase experience. The sushi chefs are knowledgeable and put together terrific flavor combinations.

Visited 3 years ago

Amazing omakase!!! Sushi pieces are made in front of you in the moment, each better than the other. 100% recommend. The restaurant fits 10 people at a time and you eat at the bar

Visited 3 years ago

Visited 3 years ago

One of the newer Omakase places in the East Village. Fish is cut very thin and almost all pieces have some sort of a topping on top to create more flavor. Overall not bad but you can definitely get better Omakase in the East Village for the same price (e.g. at Shinn East).

Visited 3 years ago

pressed for time? No problem. This 🍣 Omakase spot will bang you out in ☝🏼hour with their 12 nigiri and a hand-roll! Our favorite was the A5 wagyu with Uni as well as the toro with caviar photo #8. And also the shrimp and tuna pieces. Ok - we like them all and will be back for more!

Visited 3 years ago

Excellent omakase! Absolutely delicious!

Visited 3 years ago

Best omakase in NYC! Highly recommended! Such an amazing experience!

Visited 3 years ago

Super tasty and fresh! Yum yum

Visited 3 years ago

My favorite omakase place in the city! You won't find another place with such high quality sushi at such a low price.

Visited 3 years ago

Visited 3 years ago

I did omakase here and it was amazing! The quality of the fish was really good and each price was super fresh. It’s byob so definitely brings bottle of sake or wine! They offer a $75 menu here which offers an appetizer (miso sea bass, oyster & abalone), 12 prices of sushi and a hand roll

Visited 3 years ago

Food: 5/5
Cleanliness: 4/5
Service: 3/5
Value: 5/5

Sushi was great but it felt really rushed.

Visited 3 years ago

Fantastic sushi and fun chef

Visited 3 years ago

Never have I had such a poor omakase experience. The table was not ready on time, the chef didn't care to mention the first course was tongue-burning hot (which after he saw our faces he acknowledged and laughed), the service was horrendous, glassware dirty. It came to a head when we were told they needed our seats so we needed to pay and leave... despite the place being more than half empty!! We left hungry, with a half open bottle of wine and a sour taste in our mouth. An embarrassment to the omakase community. Will never recommend nor return.

Visited 3 years ago

Every piece was amazing, highly recommend this place and you can’t beat the price compared to other omakase. It’s not the fanciest place but really great for a more casual (but still nice) omakase especially since you can BYOB right now.

Visited 3 years ago

Excellent omakase for the price and service. Overall amazing experience. Can’t wait to go back!

Visited 3 years ago

Very good sushi but nothing INCREDIBLE that makes it worth the price unfortunately

Visited 3 years ago

Best sushi I've ever had. Loved our chef, excellent food, got the omakase. Nice hostesses/waitress. Got to do magic for everyone, everyone was super friendly, and had a great time.

Visited 3 years ago

Amazing dining experience. This is what has been missing in NJ. Just as good as any sushi experience in NYC. Will be back next month

Visited 3 years ago

Visited 3 years ago

我非常推薦這裡的Omekase，師傅每一道都很用心，價格比較優惠只是因為沒有華麗的裝潢，壽司和知名的日式料理相比一點都不遜色。
餐廳沒有賣酒，客人可以自己帶來，我們有一個非常愉快的用餐體驗，這裡將會是我們願意常來的小店。

Visited 3 years ago

Visited 3 years ago

Delicious sushi, great ambiance & service. Best deal for fine dining in the city (almost don’t want to post this and blow up the spot), less than $80 for the omakase. Definitely coming back

Visited 3 years ago

No doubt, the best Sushi place I've ever been to. The attention to detail for both the food and service was astonishingly amazing. The place is small, intimate and has a very cozy ambience. The 75$ Omakase is such a great deal for what you get. Craving Sushi, Omakase? Then do come here!!

Visited 3 years ago

Delicious Omakase and friendly service at a reasonable price

Visited 3 years ago

Visited 3 years ago

Hands down one of the best sushi joints in town.

Visited 3 years ago

Visited 3 years ago

This is THE best sushi I ever had. The chef's omakase was so perfect that I might have a hard time going to a regular American sushi place ever again. It's worth every penny.

Visited 3 years ago

Visited 3 years ago

Yushi was incredible. A true master of his craft. Granted a would call myself a sushi novice but I had a great time!

Visited 3 years ago

Visited 3 years ago

Ate here 2 weeks ago. Omakase was delicious!! Every piece was just mouth watering and premium stuff. The price was great for $75pp for 13 pieces. Been here twice and the sushi chef was very nice and attentive both times. Reservations are a must since it’s a very tiny place. It’s also BYOB.

Visited 4 years ago

We made a reservation for 5PM for two people, we were there at 5:02 and it was still closed, waited for someone and we were seated shortly. We were the only ones in the restaurant till about 50 minutes later when two people arrived followed by 3 people waiting to come in (there are about 12 chairs at the Omakase bar). The waitress, who had not once asked or checked in with us throughout the meal, lingered behind our chairs uncomfortably and silently till I turned to see if there was something wrong. She then told us that the next reservation was waiting to be seated and that we would have to leave. We were there for less than 55 mins at this point and had just finished the last bite of our food. We spent almost $200 with tip, which I regret wholeheartedly and don’t wish this type of service or treatment on anyone looking to enjoy some Omakase. There are far too many delicious Omakase restaurants in NYC to spend your time feeling like a waste of space. PS: we ended up getting some awesome Tater Tots at Crifs around the block - highly recommend.

Visited 4 years ago

This was the most phenomenal dining experience. We did the Omakase at the chefs table and it was remarkable. I have to say it was one of the best meals of my entire life. Every single bite was mind-blowing. Each bite was perfectly curated for a flavorful, delectable experience. The chefs were extremely friendly and skillful. You get to watch the show of the chefs preparing the beautiful sushi as you eat. It’s BYOB and we bought Sale beforehand and it paired perfectly with the sushi. I am still in awe at how amazing this meal is. The intimate setting makes it a perfect spot for a date night or a special occasion. With only $75 for the Omakase menu it’s a great value. We left satisfied and perfectly full. I am still thinking about this meal every day and I cannot wait to go back. I cannot recommend this place enough!!!

Visited 4 years ago

Ambience - nice and chill
Sushi - creative and clean
Value for omakase - unbeatable
Byob bonus points

Pro tip: make sure you call and confirm you have a seat indoors at chefs table (10x better than patio)

Visited 4 years ago

Amazing hour omakase experience. Each fish was fresh and high quality and the flavor combinations were spectacular. The use of truffle, yuzu, pesto, and even the shio were well executed. Reasonably priced. Reservations needed ahead of time.

Visited 4 years ago

Great food, great service.

Visited 4 years ago

Visited 4 years ago

Great sushi. V fresh. Excellent way to try a lot of different things. BYOB is v “For the boys” of them. Chef’s are great and extremely knowledgeable. swipe right on this place.

Visited 4 years ago

Amazing food, very friendly stuff

Visited 4 years ago

just randomly stepped in for an early dinner. it was fantastic. i had omakase. each sushi was great. diversity was a bit low but creativity was (positively) high.

BYOB: i look forward to when they get liquor license and provide a pairing option soon!

Visited 4 years ago

Great value for such great quality and services!

Visited 4 years ago

Excellent sushi and service. I will definitely be going back.

Visited 4 years ago

Another hidden gem added to NYC's roster of high quality omakase offerings. It's BYOB, so bring a bottle of your favorite poison.

Visited 4 years ago

Visited 4 years ago

High quality fish with high quality service to match. Omakase is worth the money and is a great date experience. Great mix of classic and creative flavor/texture pairings. Shout out to the waitress for being really on top of refilling our water. High class effort that matches this high class establishment.

Visited 4 years ago

We had our first omakase here and it did not disappoint. If you ever want to try omakase, I would highly recommend this place! So fresh and good.

Visited 4 years ago

boring, uninspired, not Japanese run, not worth it, there are better new wave omakase places

Visited 4 years ago

Amazing quality omakase (i did not count, but it was a lot of food, definitely did not leave hungry) for $75, quite inventive and very delicious. And i was with my japanese friend who also gave them high score. A STEAL! The inside has only counter seating. Which was full, so definitely need a reservation. Outside they have a small patio too. Byob - there is a sake store right next to it.

Visited 4 years ago

Visited 4 years ago

BEST sushi omakase I’ve had in NYC! Def worth every penny! Can’t wait to go back!

Visited 4 years ago

Yes there’s great sushi in nyc. But not only is the omakase delicious, service is wonderful and reasonably priced. What else is there, decor is cute too. Can’t recommend this place enough, by far my fav sushi spot in nyc.

Visited 4 years ago

Visited 4 years ago

I am picky about my sushi ….. and this was .. The best $75 omakase ever!!! Great VALUE. Left feeling full. And great quality pieces of fish. Not a single piece was bad or sub par quality.. all GREAT. Appetizer for me was an oyster with ikura, two pieces of sashimi, and a piece of miso glazed cod!! Followed by 12 nigiri (salmon, toro, scallop, yellowtail, sea bream, uni, ikura, etc) then a toro hand roll then miso soup.

This totally beats out somewhere like sushi on Jones.. instead of going to Jones, pay $17 more and go to Sushi Kai for a way better atmosphere, experience, and quality of food.

Visited 4 years ago

This omakase is - dare I say it? - better than Sushi Nakazawa, which has a Michelin star. Hot take, I know. Each nigiri was so fresh and melted in my mouth as I melted with pleasure in my seat. What I appreciated the most were the subtle flavors that let the fish shine - truffle, yuzu, pesto, jalapeños, and more! The first course appetizer (pictured) exceeded my expectations as well, particularly the sea bass on the right - it was like a warm hug from the sea.

Definitely worth a visit - you can make reservations on Yelp and text for a seat at the chef's counter. My group's sushi chef (11 yoe) was a total sweetheart! Ended up paying ~$95pp including tax and tip.

Visited 4 years ago

Visited 4 years ago

Highly recommend the omakase for $75. Fish was very fresh. We stopped by spontaneously for dinner and did outdoor dining so would definitely come back again and try to get a seat at the chef’s counter.

Visited 4 years ago

Visited 4 years ago

Best omakase in NY! $75 for 12 piece sushi + 1 handroll + appetizer + miso soup+ byob! What a great deal! Delicious omakase! Amazing atmosphere and service! 100% recommend! Thanks to one of the owners, yousey for their great customer service ! Went back twice in two months!

Visited 4 years ago

we had our first omakase experience here and it was AMAZING!!! we would definitely go back. the staff was great, the food was phenomenal and we really had a wonderful time. highly highly recommend!!

Visited 4 years ago

This sweet little gem was recommended by a friend (who also suggested to bring our own bottle of sake since they do not have a liquor license yet... so BYOB!) First time having omakase and it was a superb experience. Our server was wonderful, she went over and explained the menu very well. The plating and presentation was simple, minimalistic and simply delicious. The nigiri was SO fresh and flavorful. The A5 wagyu was a personal favorite!

Visited 4 years ago

Too rude

Visited 4 years ago

Quality is top notch. And staffs are very friendly and knowledgeable. Highly recommend!!!

Visited 4 years ago

Got omakase for 2 people and sat at the bar. Nice small talk with the chef, great guy! Quality of fish was top notch, could not get enough of the caviar! Loved how every individual nigiri was unique with its own profiles. Wasabi was the real deal, it was subtle and aromatic. Hands down favorite spot for sushi thus far in NYC. I will be returning!

Visited 4 years ago

The Omakase is flawless, especially at $75.

Visited 4 years ago

An excellent omakase experience. The price was reasonable and the portion did leave me feeling full which is excellent!

Visited 4 years ago

Best omakase and nigiri for the price I’ve had in the city, hands down. If you want basically Sushi of Gari/Sushi Seki-like sushi with a casual dining experience (and more casual prices), you can’t beat this place.

Visited 4 years ago

Quiet and peaceful journey through the course. Each nigiri is crafted to perfection and there seemed to be a general procession with each successive plate.

Excellent service. Miso soup was a nice touch at the end.

Visited 4 years ago