Masa
Restaurant · Upper West Side ·
Japanese restaurant offering high-end omakase sushi
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Japanese restaurant offering high-end omakase sushi
"Previously in the top tier, this New York sushi temple fell to two stars last week." - Melissa McCart
"After 15 years at the summit of fine dining in New York, the restaurant is no longer a three-Michelin-star spot, with Michelin confirming the downgrade ahead of next week’s guide release. Chef Masayoshi Takayama opened Masa in 2004 in the Time Warner Center (now Deutsche Bank Center). It earned two Michelin stars in 2007 — one fewer than it deserved, according to then–New York Times critic Frank Bruni — and a third in 2008, becoming the first Japanese restaurant in the U.S. to do so. By 2015, it was the most expensive restaurant in the country, today running $1,000-plus per person for the counter omakase menu. The guide has not given a specific reason for the downgrade, but the demotion follows New York food media’s pointed criticism in recent years: New York magazine ranked it 69 out of 100 with the note that “Masa Takayama’s original omakase temple is not what it once was, and the prices are now officially absurd,” and it did not make the New York Times “100 Best Restaurants” in 2025 or 2024. Following the announcement, the restaurant said it remains grateful to guests and will continue to strive for excellence, as omakase competitors proliferate across the city at lower prices." - Melissa McCart
"A three-star Japanese restaurant known for its exquisite sushi experience." - Melissa McCart
"A top-tier sushi restaurant holding three Michelin stars for its exquisite offerings." - Melissa McCart
"In my words: “Masa is the ultimate luxury experience for sushi and Japanese cuisine in New York City.”" - Nancy DePalma