Sushi Sho
Restaurant · Midtown East ·
Edomae-style sushi master Keiji Nakazawa offers curated omakase.
Edomae-style sushi master Keiji Nakazawa offers curated omakase.
"The latest Three Star in New York and formerly a Two Star, this temple to sushi promises an omakase like no other in the shadow of the New York Public Library; the setting is its own marvel, with a spacious eight-seat Hinoki counter flanked by towering ice boxes fronted with carved wood doors, and the pace, breadth, and persistence of excellence that unfold here will impress even the most experienced sushi enthusiasts." - The MICHELIN Guide
"Led by Edomae master Keiji Nakazawa, this intimate 10-seat counter built from hand-carved hinoki and copper offers a rigorously crafted, often globally sought-after experience that emphasizes curing, extended aging, and fermentation to heighten umami and texture. Dinner starts around $450 and intersperses tsumami with nigiri; instead of pickled ginger, diners receive four types of diced upstate apples infused with ginger, and locally sourced, kombu-cured hirame features alongside other curated seafood. After the roughly 20-course sequence, guests receive an okonomi menu of over 20 à la carte seasonal items ($10–$50) to shape the remainder of the meal." - Kat Odell
"Sushi Sho is among NYC’s most expensive sushi restaurants. And thanks to the attendants who not only keep your sake glass filled, but answer questions about curing and aging techniques, the experience is also one of the most worthwhile. So what's it doing on a takeout guide? For those who love fish but not the $450 entry price, Sushi Sho offers a luxe bara chirashi for $50, available for takeout. In it, you’ll find some of the same great seafood as in the restaurant—just plan to eat it within an hour of the 4pm pick-up." - bryan kim, willa moore, molly fitzpatrick, sonal shah
"New Yorkers who have done their fair share of expensive omakases will especially appreciate Sushi Sho, because the format is a little different than other high-end spots. The $450 20-course omakase is followed by an exciting okonomi portion where you can choose your own pieces. And rather than one chef explaining everything, attendants stand behind your seat ready to give glimpses into the invisible effort—ice aging or vinegar curing, for example—of each course. They'll tell you more about the fish fermented in vinegared rice or octopus that’s been “massaged for an hour by chef” Keiji Nakazawa. Everything is as delicious as it is educational. Did you know dried herring pop-pop-pops between your teeth, but mullet roe chews into creaminess like cheese?" - bryan kim, neha talreja, hannah albertine, will hartman, sonal shah
"For anyone with a deep love of sushi and pockets to match, Sushi Sho near Bryant Park is a must-visit, right up there with Yoshino. If you aren’t in a position to spend $450 or likely double that on a meal, feel free to stop reading right now. Or press on for a little fish dreaming, which is how we’ll always remember a meal here. Served in a small wooden room that could be a venue for chamber music, the (roughly) 20-course omakase is made all the more dreamlike because of the restaurant’s no-photo policy. You’ll really want to capture the bottarga-like dried herring roe, notched into a piece of mullet roe, just to gaze at it months later. But that’s too bad. Enjoy the bright yellow herring that pop-pop-pops between your teeth, and mullet that chews into creaminess like cheese while it lasts. photo credit: Sushi Sho The other unique aspect of this Midtown omakase is its service. Attendants stand behind your seat at the comfortable U-shaped counter, ready to pour sake and tell you about the invisible effort that goes into each bite, and the menu as a whole. They’ll point out local ingredients, like apples diced impossibly small and mixed with pickled ginger, serving as a palate cleanser instead of the usual gari. And they’ll explain the techniques at play in each dish, whether it’s ice-aging, vinegar curing, izushi (fish lacto-fermented in koji rice), or octopus that’s been “massaged for an hour by chef.” Chef, in this case, is Keiji Nakazawa, who launched his career with his first Sushi Sho in Tokyo, then moved on to Waikiki before arriving in NYC and leaving his previous restaurants to former apprentices. At his counter, there are no blowtorches or “smoked” salmon, though the experience is far from stiff. Actually, the most exciting part begins when the omakase is over, and the okonomi (or a la carte) portion of the dinner begins. photo credit: Sushi Sho When it comes time for okonomi, choose at least five more pieces, though the guy next to us, a fan from Hawaii, added on nearly 30. Try some battera—pressed—saba, bluefin tartare, rare cuts of soy-marinated tuna, trout roe marinated in miso tofu, and more. The decision-making during this portion of the meal feels more like buying art then selecting your next few bites of food, and you're not likely to regret them. After dessert, you can, if you wish, drink some tea in the adjoining room before rejoining what is objectively a less perfect society. For those who can’t afford Sushi Sho, there is a silver lining: a $50 bara chirashi for takeaway. The sushi rice comes with some of the same fish you’d get if dining in-house, and it’s a great way to get a sense of the restaurant. But even if you go looking at other high-end sushi spots around NYC, there's nothing quite like the thrill of seeing Sho's chef hold up a pickled baby watermelon before deftly slicing it, or sharing your delight with the stranger next to you as you both bite into a peeled, pickled green grape, or taste something called rice cheese for the first time. Food Rundown Omakase at Hinoki Counter The only dining option, the omakase costs $450, and is typically 20 to 23 courses, including appetizers, nigiri and palate cleansers. Additional pieces in the okonomi portion come in at $25-$50 each, depending on the preparation, and are followed by dessert. The courses change, but you’ll likely see signatures like a “sharisotto,” a play on lobster risotto with sushi rice and broth that tastes like the essence of lobster. You could just do the omakase and leave happy, but we'd budget around $800 if you can for a fuller experience. The paired sake tasting costs $180 with eight different bottles, and there's no tipping. Assorted Sushi Rolls If you’re dining in, you can throw in a few take-out goodies with you at the end of the meal. We tacked on a $60 box of neatly packed rolls (tuna, ume shiso, black cod and monkfish liver with pickled baby water melon encased in vinegary rice, plus a couple of pieces of omelette). It would be a miracle if you were still hungry after the omakase and okonomi bites, but we still appreciate being able to try a more casual vessel for some of the same great fish. photo credit: Sonal Shah" - Sonal Shah
