Kizuna Omakase

For a delightful omakase experience come on over. The chef will personalize a delicious menu for you. He precisely ages the fish for maximum flavor. The food is fantastic. This tiny establishment is friendly and well run. You must try this place.

Mind blowing. More stunning than 90% of Michelin restaurants I’ve tried. I’m usually super sensitive to the taste of raw fish and don’t go out of my way for Japanese food, but out of nowhere I got this craving for omakase. Found Kizuna Omakase on the UES — not super hyped up, reasonably priced at $150 (which is honestly rare in NYC), and the reviews on Xiaohongshu were solid. Decided to give it a shot — and I’m so glad I did. The chef and staff were incredibly kind and thoughtful. It was just me and two other diners, and immediately it felt cozy and special. The other guests were this super sweet older white couple — clearly regulars, and from the way they were talking about their travels and food experiences, you could tell they’ve eaten all over the world. The fact that they keep coming back says a lot. The food? Way beyond expectations. Honestly, I haven’t had a meal that made me feel this relaxed and satisfied in a long time. I’m really picky — like, 90% of fine dining just tastes mid to me. But here, the chef dry-aged everything just right. The fish and seafood had these rich, deep flavors that weren’t overpowering or trying too hard. Everything was balanced, interesting, and straight-up delicious. Favorites? The duck breast (so good), toro, handroll, and uni — all things I’ve had elsewhere, but never this good. Every bite felt like it unlocked a new flavor. Even the vibe of the place was perfect — super chill, no pretentious energy, and honestly just really comforting. I almost don’t want more people to find out about this place so I can keep coming back without a wait… but at the same time, it’s that good and deserves more love. I’ll definitely bringing friends and even my parents here next time.

Omakase here is on par with high quality sushi in Japan, which makes sense since the seafood was imported from Japan. Every piece was unique and flavorful which made this experience very special. You can definitely tell the chefs put in a lot of care into their work. Kizuna was definitely worth it!

Amazing first time omakase experience!! Chef BJ is warm and watching him prepare each course is a delight. Highly recommend to anyone in the area.

Kizuna is one of the most unique and personal culinary experiences we’ve had in New York. Don’t shy away from this intimate, BYOB omakase gem. The sushi chef / owner (BJ) is extremely thoughtful and skilled. The menu changes depending on what is in season (the chef orders the fish directly from Japan and caters the menu intelligently). The servings are large and the quality is incredible, but most importantly you can see the love and care they dedicate to each seating. Prepare for the best traditional omakase on the UES.

We had a great night at Kizuna with my family and friends of 6. Located on a side street the small restaurant is like your personal kitchen with you and a VERY experienced Sushi chef. The fish didn’t dissapoint and the style of nigiri is very straightforward (no funky sauces etc.) which is a treat for folks that want the fish to stand up on its own. We’d highly recommend to anyone. Book ahead!

The cuts of fish the Chef served were of the highest grade quality I’ve had the pleasure of tasting. I was left feeling refreshingly full and had a new appreciation for different types of fish I would typically never order. Even with salmon and tuna, two fish I commonly order when eating sushi, I was able to experience new flavor profiles. Also Sharon (the waitress) was wonderful as well for being so attentive to guests and refilling drinks often. I would recommend trying Kizuna Omakase.

This is not the kind of review I like to leave. Especially when I find a place I've already fallen in love with that is still somewhat under-the-radar. I think Kizuna has a total of 6 seats, in this small and very tastefully decorated UES Omakase eatery. The seats are a bit of what we call 'thank you for leaving' in style, but it very quickly didn't matter. The focus is the food, and the delicate, detailed and artful nature of each course. We felt immediately like being VIP guests in the sushi chef's home. The prices are what you would expect for genuine Omakase, and you are forced to save a little money because it's BYOB (but if you forget, no worries you have two liquor stores a half-block walk away). They are having some tech problems with their reservation ap. So, if you can't get a table, try calling. They are not filled up or too popular yet. That's guaranteed to change.

We did the omakase and thought the food here was fantastic. Our favorites were the lobster, octopus, and scallop. We also loved the intimate vibe and space and found the service excellent. You can really feel the care that goes into every part of the dining experience. Highly recommend if you're looking for high quality food and an intimate experience.

Omakase here is on par with high quality sushi in Japan, which makes sense since the seafood was imported from Japan. Every piece was unique and flavorful which made this experience very special. You can definitely tell the chefs put in a lot of care into their work. Kizuna was definitely worth it!

Freshest and most delicious omakase the Chef BJ flys in the most exotic fish from Japan. Classic tradition style with a twist of magic!!

It was our 4th visit since they opened in June. It is by far the best sushi experience on UES. Whilst tucked away on 76th street, they deliver a fabulous omakase experience that rivals many more expensive omakase. Always something new on the menu, but the rice is their secret weapon. Of all the fine omakase experiences, only one other establishments has good rice. Highly recommend. A few new places opened up, but this is one few UES sushi restaurant we will keep coming back to.

Spectacular experience. We have lived on the UES for years and have tried just about all the neighborhood sushi and Omakase spots. Ishikawa, Tanoshi, Naz, etc. -- all had issues. Tanoshi too much vinegar and the chef passed away a few years ago leading to a more corporate feeling. Ishikawa uses truffle and caviar and gold leaf and is quite pretentious and gets away from the core experience. Naz is overpriced. And then local sushi joints just give mediocre low quality fish. Kizuna is what omakase was meant to be. The freshest fish. Minimally seasoned. With some truly standout dishes purely based on the fish quality. I will be recommending this to my friends.

So happy we have such a fantastic Japanese restaurant on the UES. As someone who has spent a good deal of time in Japan I can say this truly is authentic. It was so good we went beyond Omakase and had more delights! The service was first rate as was the food. Bring your own sake. No liquor license yet. Enjoy!!!

My husband and I had a wonderful experience at Kizuna tonight. Our 12-course omakase dinner was outstanding. The fish was very fresh and flavorful, and each course was delicious. The sushi chef and server were very attentive and kind. We highly recommend this restaurant!

The food was excellent. Chef was knowledgable, friendly, welcoming and warm. The quality of the fish was next to none. Chef dry ages the fish which highlights the flavor. The fish was the star of the show. Each piece was better than the next. We will definitely be returning! It was an intimate setting.