Sushi Nonaka

Food was so absolutely delicious and beautifully presented that we never thought about taking pics! You’ve got to see and taste for yourself! Amazing sushi. Braised burdock root is worth a try, earthy flavor and so good for us. I ordered the 8 piece set, I’d do it again. Others in our party ordered Tempura and then individual pieces. Moo-chi was a perfect ending. Atmosphere was cozy and crisp. I felt like I was in Japan.

Sushi Nonaka is a revelation. The intimate atmosphere (even with their airy outdoor dining area) compliments the beautiful food they serve. Let the attentive staff guide you through the impressive omakase, but don’t sleep on the appetizers. I can’t wait to return.

One of the absolute best sushi omakase experiences I've ever had. As a sushi connoisseur I've tried sushi all over the world including Japan. This was hands down one of the best finds in NYC. The staff was incredible. The sushi was unbelievably fresh they fly in their fish from Japan. The overall experience was first class. If you're looking for a unique experience and incredible sushi look no future. A +++

fantastic food, all a la carte options were delicious, specials of the day were out of this world. backyard was very peaceful and clean. absolutely coming back.

Best omakase! We went for our anniversary and after a very long travel day; in both instances, it was the perfect close to our evening. And, beyond the inspired sushi (made by folks who’ve been in the craft for many decades), the service truly couldn’t be better ♥️

Great food and cool layout! The sushi was fresh, and the Boka KFC was satisfyingly crispy. The speakeasy omakase makes this spot even more special.

Sushi Nonaka deserves a glowing 5-star review for its outstanding omakase, impeccable service and warm ambience. For an immersive culinary adventure, secure a spot at the sushi bar downstairs. The chef has a good sense of humor and had us smiling between bites. The freshness of the fish further elevates the entire experience, making Sushi Nonaka a top-tier choice for sushi enthusiasts. Make sure to ask for the sharkskin flounder—it's a hidden gem if in season!

I recently arranged a catering order from Sushi Nonaka and it was a delightful experience. The sushi was impeccably fresh, and the attention to detail in presentation mirrored the in-house dining experience. The curated selection showcased the chef's expertise, providing a diverse and satisfying array of flavors. The team efficiently handled the catering logistics, ensuring everything arrived on time and in perfect condition. If you're looking to bring the essence of a top-notch omakase sushi experience to your event, I highly recommend considering their catering services from Sushi Nonaka.

This is one of the best sushi spots in NYC. They have both omakase and a la carte menus, but the sushi counter is for omakase only. Previously, there was no sign outside and it was a bit hard to find. Now, the restaurant name is displayed outside so you can easily find it on Amsterdam Ave. When you enter, inside is a Korean restaurant called Boka, which I've never seen very busy. Sushi Nonaka is on the lower level, with a clean, warm atmosphere and also has lovely outdoor dining in the warmer months. I came with my boyfriend last night for dinner and tried the omakase for the first time. We hadn't come specifically for omakase, but wanted to dine at the counter. The Omakase Sushi ($110+) comes with starters, 9 pieces of sushi, a hand roll and miso soup. The portions are on the smaller side, but it was absolutely delicious. The sushi here, you eat with your hands, but because they are on the smaller side, they are easy to eat. My favorite was the uni (from Hokkaido) by far. The chef put a generous portion of uni on the rice and it was just mouthwatering. Other highlights for me were the fatty tuna (chu toro) and tuna taku (toro taku) handroll. Everything tasted very fresh. The only thing I didn't love was that some of seasoning or toppings they added to the fish were "Americanized" and a bit overpowering--I personally prefer very simple, so I can enjoy the flavors of the fish. Nevertheless, Sushi Nonaka is a fabulous place for a nice sushi dinner and I look forward to dining again soon.

Sushi Nonaka is finding its footing at a complicated moment. New mid-tier, mid-level sushi restaurants abound (e.g. Sugarfish, which just opened a new location a few blocks south). Excellent mid- to high-end sushi restaurants that offer exceptional quality are becoming more common (e.g. One-Bite just a few blocks north). And the New York proletariat's standards for sushi seem to be on the up-and-up, generally. We have a greater appreciation for better-than-grocery-store sushi than we did ten years ago or even five years ago -- and many of us are willing to pay more for it. The upshot of all of this? There's a lot more competition in the sushi space than there used to be, regardless of the tier -- and Nonaka seems to be feeling out where it belongs in this space. About a year ago, I would've characterized Sushi Nonaka as a mid-tier, mid-level restaurant. It has, since our last visit, upped its prices for omakase options, but also upped its game for these higher-priced options. There is now a sushi counter special omakase for $230; omakase sushi and sashimi for $160; "regular" omakase for $98; "beginner" omakase for $69; and a "sushi set" for $59.50. It seems that Nonaka is jockeying for a position in the high-end market, the mid-tier market -- and all the other markets in between! Our recent meal included the "regular" omakase (3 types of starters; 9 nigiri; hand roll; miso soup), "beginner" omakase (2 kinds of starters; 8 pieces nigiri; hand roll; miso), and a sushi set (8 nigiri; 1 hosomaki; miso). In the interests of brevity, I'll just review the "regular" omakase, here. If you dine at a table, the courses are served in threes, a nice upgrade from before, when everything was served at once. (The "set menu" still serves all the nigiri and rolls at once.) The "regular" omakase was quite presentable. It's not quite as excellent as One Bite for the same price, but is on par with enough others that I wouldn't say the pricing is unreasonable. Shari is fair, made with a very neutrally seasoned medium-short grain rice, served at room temperature, and on the more compacted end of the spectrum. Neta, flavorful across the board with a few standout pieces as noted below, is cut a bit larger than is traditional. It's not so large that eating nigiri in one bite is impossible, however. (Enormous neta was all the rage in the 1990s... Glad we mostly got over that!) - The trio of starters included marinated akami topped with a soft-boiled quail egg; seared salmon in vinegared, grated mountain yam; and a third course that I invited my children to take since they were hungry. (It may have been a white fish with microgreens?) The first two items were also included in the "beginner" omakase, well executed, and surprisingly traditional. (Mountain yam is still a bold ingredient for many gringos.) Next came three sets of three nigiri: - Branzino (mild in flavor, tender in texture; traditionalists might find this too mushy), torched salmon, red snapper - Amberjack (nice fat summer fish), chutoro, ebi (sweet, maybe a bit less firm than ideal) - Maguro zuke, miso cod, and Hokkaido uni (silky, bright gold, excellent flavor) Temaki was filled with finely minced akami and tsukemono -- of good quality -- but the nori had lost its crisp by the time was delivered to the table. (This is why one ought to eat in front of the chef if possible.) It came alongside a few pieces of sweet tamago with a good number of layers. We closed the meal with miso soup, which I enjoyed as always. The kombu enriched broth comes with not only the standard issue wakame and tofu, but also a few small brown mushroom heads -- beech, I think? -- which are lovely. The bottom line is that Nonaka still serves pretty good sushi for prices that are, when it comes to the "omakase" meals, fair for the quality. (I did not think the quality of the set menu justified the price.) Be aware that at least for meals not before the chef, the sushi served is calibrated to Americanized palates, which may work better for some guests than others. If you can plan far enough to make a reservation and don't have reluctant sushi eaters in your party who need to order a la carte, there is better omakase to be had at these price points in NYC and even on the UWS. Where Nonaka is still by far the clear winner, however: I don't think you can find a lovelier, more hospitable place than its fairy light-strung, breezy, peaceful outdoor garden if you need a place to dine with your pups in warmer months. We are deeply loyal to our dog-friendly establishments. We'll keep coming back.

Another great choice for omakase in Upper West Side! Didn't even realize that it existed even though I'm only a block away. The spot is tucked in the basement of a restaurant called Boka. It's interesting how dark the main floor is and when you enter Sushi Nonaka, it's bright and very well lit up! The venue offers 3 different levels of omakase with various price points and the overall the experience was great and the sushi was on point which would be expected from an omakase experience!

Really good sushi and service. Had take-out in a bitterly cold night and it was ready very fast. Very nice staff.

One of the absolute best sushi omakase experiences I've ever had. As a sushi connoisseur I've tried sushi all over the world including Japan. This was hands down one of the best finds in NYC. The staff was incredible. The sushi was unbelievably fresh they fly in their fish from Japan. The overall experience was first class. If you're looking for a unique experience and incredible sushi look no future. A +++

Authentic Japanese sushi! I've talked to the owner here, and she's genuinely Japanese, as are her chefs! The price are very reasonable and the quality is incredibly fresh!

I thought long and hard about writing this review, and after that thought, decided to post it. We came to Sushi Nonaka for a celebratory dinner maybe a month ago. We did the omakasse and we were really excited to try it out. On my VERY FIRST PIECE, I bit into a GIGANTIC bone. Like, I've rarely seen a bone this huge left in a piece of fish before. The chef was super apologetic and re-made me the piece, but no mention of it was made ever again. They didn't financial compensate us, either. Otherwise, all in all, the omakasse was about average quality. So, why write this review? Bones in food are a huge safety issue. Omakasse at Sushi Nonaka is NOT cheap. It's supposed to be ten of the chef's BEST pieces. To have a gigantic bone in there isn't acceptable. If this were my restaurant, I'd be mortified. We won't be back.

Fun vibes, delicious sushi, servers very friendly, two unique vibes if you eat upstairs vs downstairs. Highly recommend!

Unfortunately, we had a terrible experience with this restaurant. Service: we ordered Omakase special, house of hot sake and Boka KFC, the food came to the table was extremely slow, we waited around 1hour and half to get the Omakese special after the Boka KFC was served, while we are waiting, my husband ordered two beers. Food quality: The food was really average, there is nothing special, and the last desert took them another 25 minutes to bring it to the table, we almost had to leave as we waited too long for every dishes to come, to be honest the taste is really not that fresh compared to any other sushi restaurant we have been to. Price: It was surprisingly expensive with the food that they offered. I would say this meal is definitely unworthy of the price. I am not sure if they made the mistake or something wrong with the kitchen. Very disappointed in our first experience with this place.

The first omakase ever that I very much enjoyed EVERY SINGLE PIECES!! Each piece was simple yet unique in its own flavors, the chefs have outdone themselves on creating these. We also ordered fried squid legs and shrimp tempura (3 for $18?!?!?!). I'd skip on the shrimp tempura (only gave in because we were so hungry when we first got there) and the house hot sake for $38, it wasn't hot for long cause we were seated outside (temp in the 50s that night). We got a bottle of a cloudy cold sake after and it was def a better choice. At this point I have forgotten how one of the desserts tasted like but the chocolate mousse was much more memorable LOL $98 on 10 immaculate pieces, literally just take the money. Can't wait to come back and hopefully get the omakase at the chef's counter ($195) after eating instant ramen for a bit.

Great atmosphere and service. I can feel the vibe of traditional Japanese sushi bar with experienced Japanese chef.

We have been seeking a new sushi experience on the UWS due to many places closing or not A-rated. Tonight we tried Sushi Nonaka and were transported to a zen state with superb food and perfect service. From the hostess to our server, we felt welcome and appreciated. We shall return!

Really nice authentic sushi bar. It so combined with another restaurant, so might be a little hard to find since the sign is not obvious. Sushi options are pretty good, and you can also request to make other sushi that are not on the menu. Fish was absolutely amazing, fresh and delicious. Service was great. Price wise is a little pricey but considering the quality is actually pretty good. Really enjoyed the place, would try to come back again.

It's hard to make a $160 meal worth it. I've had it happen a handful of times, and have given credit where credit is due. But it's hard to do. And Nonaka didn't do it, for a couple of reasons: - iodiney uni. When uni is great, it's my favorite course. When it's not, it tastes like a medicinal swimming pool. Please don't make me want to spit one of your courses out at this price point. I could tell as soon as I saw how heavily marinated it was that they were trying to cover something up. - honey mustard sauce on the ankimo. Whyyy? - a few of the whitefishes were indistinguishable and at least one could have been replaced by something more exciting There were absolutely some wins, though: - Nonaka probably served the most satisfying, crunchy-skinned sea bream of my life. - It was cool to try branzino raw, and not cooked in some Mediterranean style. - (With the exception of the honey mustard abomination), Nonaka was spot on with its flavor-brushings. Like most omakase meals, you shouldn't be using soy sauce, but at some other places, I still WANT to. I didn't here, since the flavoring was always sufficient,, yet still subtle enough to taste the fish, and also subtly different - chili oil, yuzu miso sauce, marinated shisito, etc. - I don't usually like maguro. I loved it here. There are better basic omakase offerings out there for the price, so I probably would not return, but every time I choose omakase, I end up with at least one or two new and delicious experiences, so I never regret it.

Don't be deceived by the empty seats when you look into the restaurant. The omakase sushi bar and outdoor seatings located downstairs are where the actions are taking place. Midweek dinner was not crowded at all. Nothing pretentious. Just fresh and delicious sushi.

What a hidden gem!! It is a small spot, and they have very neat set up upstairs, but wait till you walk to the downstairs and see all the action from sushi counter, feel all the energy and excitement there. And the guests were all having a great time as you can see while you walk through the space. We sit outback, the set up from the backyard was welcoming too. The most important is the food, All the ingredients are super super fresh, which makes all the difference, especially for sushi restaurant. And the way chefs handled the fish, I can tell they were very well skilled and knowledgeable. The service team were all very perfectional, detail oriented and attentive. Which makes the experience more enjoyable! Thank you all for the excellent work!!

Excellent! Can't believe I forgot to review- my brother and I went here on a Sunday evening and it was perfect. Staff was very attentive and sushi was fresh. We loved each bite and the chef really put a lot of love into each piece. I would absolutely recommend if you're in the area! Thank you for a great omakase experience!

Anything less than a 5 star review either doesn't appreciate or understand Omakase or even worse, sushi generally. This is the speak easy of Omakase spots, and when it comes to fresh fish, reasonable pricing comparatively (we're talking $98/pp vs $200/pp+), for a non-traditional experience full of flavor, this is it. The chef knows how to bring out the flavors of the fish, without overdoing it (or for that matter, under doing it with lower quality sushi at pricier spots). Fantastic experience, cool vibes, and if you're looking for some outdoor Omakase space on UWS, this is it. An instant favorite, ousting kings of the industry in Nakazawa and Yasuda in my opinion, especially considering the price. Drop by if you're in town, it's worth it!

Ordered the chef's counter omakase set worth of $195 dollars per person. Wouldn't really recommend that price point given that there are cheaper options on the menu. The ingredients are fresh but I don't really think the chefs are professional enough. While making the sushi, they still wear the plastic gloves, thus making the rice very loosely held together. It is also very disturbing to see that the chefs serve the 6 of us while also making plates for the outdoor customers. Eventually my group as well as the group next to us got rushed to leave because the next group is here even though we were never given a prior notice and have dined for a bit more than 2 hours. Considering we all just finished dessert and chatting, I don't think it was really a good gesture to ask all the guests to leave right away, especially for a per person over $200 restaurant. WOULD RECOMMEND dining in the outdoor garden area when the weather is nice and ordering only cheaper items on the menu since there's no real difference anyways

This review is for their lunch takeout. Amazing value for high-quality food!! We got donkatsu bento box twice already in the last couple of days. My usual lunch spot for Japanese food was sushi yasaka, but so glad to find this place which is closer without compromising food quality. Hope more ppl order lunch from this place so that they offer more variety.

Nice outdoor seating, but the food is overpriced for what you get. My sushi set was good, no complaints. However, we also got some rolls, and each of these was about $16 give or take, for pretty average rolls that you could get for half price elsewhere. The rolls also had chopped fish like you'd get for spicy tuna for some reason, instead of larger pieces, which was odd.

Fantastic experience. This is a hidden gem. A secret for those who know well the UWS. You have to go through an empty Korean restaurant to get to this secret amazing restaurant. Sushi is the best here, alongside the handmade rolls. The courtyard could not be nicer in the summer. Come, but please don't mention it to your friends. We want this to keep being a secret.

Came here for dinner on the recommendation of friends and enjoyed every moment of it. Nonaka is owned by the same people who run Boka, the Korean fried chicken restaurant upstairs. There is no sign outside but you enter the Boka storefront and tell the hostess that you're there for Nonaka. She will take you into the basement, where you pass a sushi bar with counter seating on the way to the main seating area, which is all outdoors. The outdoor area is a peaceful respite from the city. Tables are far enough apart so it really is a quiet environment. Also, even though it was 90 degrees that day it was comfortably cool in the dining area, maybe because of the below-street level location. The menu is small with mostly sushi and sashimi set menus. We ordered appetizers to share, all delicious, and then had the sushi set and omakase sushi sets. The sushi set comes on one plate and the omakase comes as courses on a few different plates served one at a time, but it was well timed and we were all able to eat and finish at the same time. The fish is definitely of higher quality than you will find in most sushi restaurants in NY or anywhere else in this country. The sushi counter is run by an elderly Japanese chef who clearly knows what he is doing. There is a drink menu of some wine, sake and just one beer, Sapporo. This is a restaurant that emphasizes quality over quantity in just about everything, whether menu size, portions or beverages. The food was delicious and service outstanding. We will definitely return. Oh and we ordered fried chicken from Boka to go, and it was waiting for us as we walked out.

Came here on a Friday night. Walked in around 7 and was able to be seated right away. Decided to splurge and get the omakase for $100. Unlike some other omakases, it wasn't just high quality fish - each bite of fish came prepared with different sauces and ingredients for a more flavorful experience. The only downside to the meal was that the food came out quite slow. Otherwise it was a fantastic experience.

Ordered delivery - chose one of the more popular items listed - the Negitoro roll for 14$ plus tax. The presentation was elegant- the sushi arrived in a beautiful black box. The fatty tuna was tasty but the roll was very small. I ordered a second roll and it was small too. Even the wasabi was tiny. They included two packages of soy sauce but forgot the chop sticks. The rolls were delicious. If you're trying to limit your calories & avoid gaining weight during the pandemic, I'd highly recommend this restaurant. If you're looking for reasonably priced sushi, look elsewhere. Would have preferred to dine in person at this restaurant but delivery was the only option tonight.

Had a lovely evening with friends. Ordered soju, wine, and lots of apps. The cucumbers were addictive and the shishito peppers were delicious. Can't wait to go back and sit in the garden.

Such an incredible spot! Would pay the $25 uber ride from Chelsea just to come back. The fish in all their sushi is top-notch, high-quality... possibly the best in NYC. The husband is Korean and opened his Korean spot Boka on the top floor, and the wife is Japanese and opened her Japanese spot on the ground floor. Get the toro salmon sushi, the toro tuna with scallion sushi, the spicy salmon with avocado roll, and the uni. If you're getting the omakase, you can go downstairs and eat in the gorgeous backyard gardens complete with fire pits, but if you want a little bit of Korean wings and sushi then you eat upstairs. We ate inside and it was homey and all the servers were so generous and kind. 5 stars!!!!!

Very fresh and tasty sushi. Staff was attentive and kind. The lower alley seating is a great spot. If no one is in the main seating area don't let it fool you. They are all likely downstairs or in the alley.

There are so many better omakases in New York City. The food was OK but nothing to write home about. And it's severely overpriced. The staff is very friendly but it's just not worth your time or money.

Ok where do I even start? So when we arrived with reservations, the host let us know right away that they raised the omakase bar seating price by an additional $100. We passed and sat on a table instead. Not a big deal. We ordered our appetizers, fried squid legs ($13) and shrimp and vegetable tempuras. The fried squid was crispy and lightly seasoned. The shrimp and vegetable tempura was a joke. We literally sat there and stared at it. It was not crispy and came out cold and you can see all this grease on the paper. Nothing special about it! It's like Trader Joe's shrimp tempura. Super small 3 pc shrimp and a quarter size 2 pc vegetable hashes. FOR $22!!!!!!!! We thought the vegetable was coming out separately but it was hiding under the shrimps. I didn't understand it. See photo for reference. We got the 10 pc omakase set ($115) and 8pc sushi set ($48). Really basic and nothing special. Miso soup was bland. We let our server know that the tempura appetizer was confusing and we were not pleased. She gave us a free glass of wine and a free pickled cucumbers. She was very sweet and very understanding. The only reason why I gave this place an additional star. The pickled cucumbers were so salty! Literally you can see sprinkles of salt on the top. We literally dunked the cucumbers into our bland miso to balance it all out. Total price was $300. So not worth it. We left unsatisfied because I wanted to try to this place out for the longest time and it was very disappointing. Sushi gari and kissaki will always be my all time favorite nyc sushi places!

My friend and I decided to go to Sushi Nonaka since I thought it'd be a really nice place to try since it was my first time having omakase. First, it was kind of difficult to find. We were searching for a couple of minutes to find the restaurant asking other restaurants where this place was. I think they need to update the location on Google maps, but I was really eager to try Sushi Nonaka. I ordered the $55 sushi because I thought it was enough for me to get an introduction to high-quality omakase. Unfortunately, I didn't think it was that great. The rice was kind of hard and the fish was good but wasn't different to sushi that I've had from much cheaper places. My friend that had omakase before said it wasn't as good as other places he's had. Maybe since we came at the tail-end (pun intended) of the night, we didn't get the best catch of the day, but I still expected great quality from a higher-end sushi restaurant. Nevertheless, the service was great and they were so accommodating to us even when we came without a reservation. The place was very well decorated and I really loved the detail in the soy sauce dishes.

Very high quality sushi at a very high price. The restaurant is not clearly labeled just trust the address. Very nice service. Food was slightly slow.

Came here for dinner on a Saturday evening. It's located in the basement of a Korean fried chicken joint, but at this time they have tables both upstairs and downstairs in the outdoor garden. I was disappointed they didn't have sushi counter seating but given the times it was understandable. We decided to go for the omakase - they have a $89 sushi version and a pricier sushi and sashimi omakase for $113. We did the former and were quite satisfied with our choice. You start with miso soup and then try 12 different fresh and delicious pieces. Some of my favorites were the shrimp, the salmon, and the fatty tuna. You also get one hand roll at the end. I could tell that the sushi chef was very knowledgeable and made an expert selection of pieces. To accompany our meal we also ordered carafes of sake of which there are a number of choices. Overall, this was a lovely experience. We had quite a hefty price tag but for a special occasion I would definitely recommend.

No complaints with this place . We ordered the omakase , very fresh and tasty . We also ordered 2 appetizers , also pretty good. The price for Omakase was reasonable. We would go there again. Also see o the service was very good.

The food was standard sushi at a luxury price point. The service was ok and the plates were nice. I wouldn't pay this much again for what I consider standard sushi. They have a 90 minute cap on the time you spend there so it may not be the best for family birthdays etc. The lighting was nice and the back outdoor area is nice.

Beautiful outdoor dining space. Omakase was incredible! Kind and attentive waitstaff. Best sushi I've ever had.

So happy to have found this hidden gem. It is on the lower level of a building with a different restaurant just above. They have a large outdoor patio with heaters behind the building which is perfect for covid-safe dining. Fantastic food, each bite was wonderfully done, amazing sushi! Top quality fish, beautiful preparation and presentation and there are a few omakase options. The hoji tea panna cotta dessert was phenomenal as well. The price is definitely 'special occasion' territory for most but well worth it if you love sushi. Will definitely be coming back and hope others find this hidden gem!

Enjoyed a belated birthday dinner at Nonaka on a brisk November day in the outdoor patio. For anyone weary of indoor dining like me, this place has an excellent outdoor patio setup with heating and more than adequate space for social distancing. It's considered a speakeasy, located downstairs of Boku restaurant and literally no sign indicating Nonaka's location. It was a little confusing but their host graced us at the entrance, and then we were led to the downstairs area. With a group of 3 others, we all ordered the sushi and sashimi omakase (about $130 pp), along with some a la carte. There were some errs in the dinner; we ordered some appetizers but they never arrived. Our first course of miso soup and then sashimi came promptly. Below is a list of what we had: Soy ginger marinated squid / kumamoto oyster with ponzu / sea bass with sea salt and yuzu Snapper daikon / torched salmon with ginger / amberjack with yuzu / mackeral with myoga Sawara / chutoro / kinmedai / bonito with ginger scallion Swordfish with seaweed / marinated tuna / Japanese uni / botan ebi Toro salmon / scallop / ikura / uni Torotaku and Negitoro handrolls Dessert was Yuzu parfait (though I preferred my friend's Hojicha custard) Including the above, we also included some a la carte pieces. I had additional scallop, Hokkaido uni, and salmon. I enjoyed the omakase overall. Pieces came in a timely and orderly fashion. The sushi is on a mid to smaller size. It was all fresh and high quality, lightly garnished and/or marinaded, definitively not fussy and/or overdone. I wish the pieces were slightly bigger, but I was happy by the assortment and quality. I can't say I was blown away by omakase, but it was a wonderful dinner that was completely satisfying in so many regards. Their staff was also great. Our waiter was very nice but was clearly new and a bit nervous, making some mistakes in the process. He offered us free dessert on behalf of the chef. Nonaka is an amazing choice for outdoor dining. I would love to come back during the earlier part of the day. The whole vibe and atmosphere was definitely a plus for me. I'd recommend!

Sushi Nonaka is a new speakeasy sushi restaurant that just opened right before the pandemic. The place is hidden in the basement of another restaurant so it is a little difficult to find and if it's your first time here you'll likely miss it and walk past it. With indoor dining banned due to COVID-19, they're currently only offering takeout, delivery and outdoor dining and since it was my first time here I did takeout. I got the $80 sushi set and it came in a beautiful wooden box. The fish was very fresh and it even came with miso soup, which was also delicious. Everyone who works here is also very warm and friendly. When I went to pick up my sushi the restaurant staff asked if this was my first time and offered to give me a tour of both the restaurant and the outdoor dining space just to show me what it looks like. The outdoor space was pretty spacious and there were a lot of tables that were properly spaced out. Next time I would love to dine at the restaurant and it would be even better if I could sit indoors at the counter once it is safe to do so. Sushi Nonaka is a welcome addition to the Upper West Side, which was lacking in good sushi places and since it is within walking distance from where I live, it will probably become one of my go to neighborhood sushi spots!

Phenomenal omakase experience. This was my first omakase experience - i can never go back to regular sushi again. The service was excellent, every item that was served was excellent. I felt very safe regarding the covid precautions that the restaurant took. Overall phenomenal experience. Will be going back to dine at the chef's bar! I had the omakase sushi prix fixe. It was great.

I had been wanting to try sushi Nonaka ever since it opened and decided that a birthday would be the best opportunity to splurge and get some much needed lux sushi. We ordered two 89$ omakase set meals that came with miso soup and your choice of toro roll. To start we ordered squid legs, an eel avocado roll, edamame and a heavenly 25$ mini ikura uni don. The omakase set came in 2 sets of 3 and a final flight with four pieces. Every piece was delicious and velvety so say the least. I'm sure the fishes change by season so a repeated visit would be anything but the same. Highly recommended. Everything was amazing. Couldn't have been a better experience. A must visit

So happy to have stumbled on this speakeasy omakase in an otherwise milquetoast stretch of Amsterdam. I came across Nonaka truly by accident: made a reservation at Mermaid Inn for Saturday instead of Friday and was left browsing Opentable for anything during prime dinner hours on one of the two busiest days of the week. They share the same entrance as a fried chicken place so be on the lookout for a "Sushi Nonaka" menu posted on a stand outside. Once you let the host know your reservation, they'll bring you through the fried chicken restaurant, down a set of stairs, and into an omakase counter that I would have otherwise loved to sat at during normal times. But their beautiful backyard is just as nice. Quite an inventive set-up in their backyard in this age of outdoor dining with no fear of cars or bikes running you over during dinner. The one thing I'll say is that some of the tables were positioned right below rusty fire escape stairwells of the adjoining apartment building so just a heads-up if you're at all leery or superstitious. They have a limited omakase, appetizer, and drink menu (though you can also ask for an a la carte menu with more sushi and nigiri offerings). For alcohol, they offered beer, chardonnay, or sauvignon blanc. We went with the third and just know they do absolutely massive pours. I think we each got a third of a bottle in our glass. On appetizers, the seaweed salad could have used a touch more dressing but don't skip the fried squid legs! I was initially skeptical but they ended up being one of the best dishes that night, even compared to the sushi. On to the omakase. It's $80 for 11 pieces and comes with miso soup, hand roll, and dessert (an ice cream mochi and two pieces of tamago), which was a very good deal. They bring three pieces out at a time and then the hand roll, thus preserving at least a measure of the omakase process, and explained what each one was, which I absolutely loved and really sealed so much of the experience for me. Pieces/cuts of fish were overall a bit smaller but undeniably fresh. My favorites were the sweet shrimp, the fatty tuna (which literally melted), and the belt fish. If you're a sushi purist or more a fan of simple, traditional flavors, just know they more often than not added a garnish, sauce or paste onto each piece but those additional touches only enhanced the fish's natural flavors. Rice could have been a bit softer but I don't mind the slight chew. Everyone working there was so friendly and welcoming (and yes, they all wore masks). Definitely come here before word spreads and they get even busier. In fact, I kind of want to keep this gem all to myself but there's no excuse to be selfish right now!

Had a last minute date that started out with drinks then dinner followed. I guess the guy wanted to make sure I wasn't crazy before he bought me a meal. It was so cold so as soon as I got in and got situated, I asked for a cup of hot water. Then we proceeded to decide what we wanted for dinner and drinks. It is a set menu place so my date got some sushi moment and I got a sashimi platter because I wasn't all that hungry since I gorged during brunch and wasn't expecting to have dinner that night. My oh my! I never had branzino sashimi and wow, I wonder why I never did. I love branzino in general cooked with olive oil, thyme, rosemary, salt and pepper, but to have it raw? Such an interesting texture that is so very pleasing. I wasn't onboard about getting the oysters because it was $18 for three oysters. I am not really a cost-effective person when it comes to dining out, but when it comes to oysters, I am. Could not stomach paying that much. My date used his very mild "negotiating skills" and convinced me into to getting these and yup, definitely not worth it. The food in general was just okay and nothing really noteworthy to schlep all the way to the other side of town (especially in the cold), but the sake we had were delicious! We asked for dry sake and the server brought two samples. One was very cool, crisp, and clean. Felt like I drinking mountain spring water on a summer day. The other one felt more like sharing a drink with a very wise old man writing calligraphy on canvas. We had three bottles. We started with the wise old man moment and ended with the mountain spring moment and it felt oh so right. I apologize for not knowing what the names of the sake is, but if you have the server we had and ask for mountain spring sake, she will know. She was caught off guard and at the same time delighted with that description. Overall, great service and good quality sushi. Would recommend if you live in the area. Pass on the oysters though. You really aren't missing much.

We had a wonderful experience eating at the sushi bar at Sushi Nonaka. The severs and sushi chefs were incredibly nice and helpful. We had the chefs special omakase menu, all of the sashimi and sushi was fresh and delicious. I would absolutely come back the next time we are in town, and recommend it to anyone who loves sushi.

I have been in person & ordered in. In person, service was very fast and I enjoyed the little garden. For delivery, it came very fast & I enjoyed the presentation. Every time I eat at Sushi Nonaka I wonder how their sushi is THAT much better than my usual cheap sushi & when will I be able to afford them whenever I want. One piece of advice is I wish I was told what each piece of my sushi was in the delivery box.

Great! Can accommodate gluten-free Omakase. Cool speak easy vibe and awesome staff! This and Korami are best in the neighborhood.

Fabulous neighborhood addition! Korean restaurant on top and upscale Japanese restaurant downstairs. Both offer outdoor seating. Dined at the Japanese restaurant and had a fantastic meal. Sushi Nonaka set up wonderful outdoor seating in their garden area. Food and experience felt very authentic to Japan, including the serve ware, waitstaff, and ambiance. The menu offers several sets: omakase, sushi set and sashimi set. It is required to order one of these and then guests may order a la carte. At first, I questioned this requirement, but it makes sense... You just can't say you dined at Sushi Nonaka and truly experience their high quality fish without ordering at least one of these sets. Good value for elevated qualify sushi. Can't wait to be back to try the Korean restaurant next time!

So grateful that Sushi Nonaka was still delivering during the pandemic so I could celebrate my 30th birthday! The omakase was the consummate treat after cooking at home for an entire week. Everything tasted extremely fresh, and there was a great variety of fish. I am hopeful for the day I can visit the restaurant in person. Hang in there, everyone.

RAT IN RESTAURANT AND THEY CHARGED US FULL PRICE FOR MEAL. There was a rat that scurried from the kitchen out to the restaurant and I made eye contact with the host who did not acknowledge it with me at all. Eventually when they came back over, we asked them them about their rat situation and the host proceeded to tell us that it was an ONGOING PROBLEM and started complaining about the landlord not doing anything about it and how the landlord wouldn't pay $60 (!!) for an exterminator and wouldn't patch up the walls where they were coming in from the street. We were absolutely shocked when the bill came with nothing at all comped. (not to mention the sake bottle we ordered was $30 more than they said it was). Earlier in the night, we had asked what their thoughts were on why there were so many omakase spots cropping up on the UWS. The answer we got is that they figured out they can charge more in this neighborhood. On top of all that, the sushi was not good - there were many pieces that were so gristly that I had to spit out a few pieces or only eat part of the slices of fish. And they used a blowtorch on over half of the sushi.