Sushi Yasaka

Loved the food, its one of the best sushi places in upper west side, and with reasonable prices. If it's the first time, then you should order the yellowtail sushi, its butteryness it's delicious, it has an umami flavor which doesn't need soy sauce. And its lotus root has the perfect balance between sweet and sour.

Simple and small set up inside, but serving great quality sushi. Each piece had a nice thick slice of fish and good rice to fish ratio. We started with a couple of apps to share, including the karage chicken which came with six big pieces and was piping hot but delicious! We also got a tuna tartare with crunchy seaweed chips. Both were great. I got the deluxe which came with 9 pieces and a roll. My friends got the Miyabi with 6 pieces of sushi, 10 pieces sashimi and a roll. By the end we were all full. They offer dessert- ice cream, mochi, and a chocolate pudding but were out of some when we were there. Service was attentive but they forgot to refill our water after our meal arrived. Overall, great option when you want sushi in the upper west!

Yasaka is a great spot on the upper west side to get high quality sushi without breaking the bank. Service was attentive and two of us got on a friday night with no reservation with a 20 minute wait. Sushi was a little bit “creamy” which honestly tasted fantastic. Would recommend for people looking for a solid sushi spot in the neighborhood

If you're pre-Lincoln Center-ing and can't stand the mediocre vibes at The Smith, walk 8 min north to Sushi Yasaka for affordable pan-Japanese fare. Yasaka isn't looking to win any Michelin-Beard awards, so don't come in with your highfalutin omakase nonsense. It's a neighborhood spot, serving the kind of down-home food your obaasan from another mother would feed you after a long day of middle schooling. We got the Special Spicy Salmon Roll, which was a tasty omega-3 smorgasbord of fishy goodness. To accompany it, we also got the Salmon Roll and Spicy Salmon Roll because what we lack in diversity, we make up for with being basic. Haha. Apparently, fish, rice and nori wasn't enough because we decided to also tack on some soup udon. The Kansai Udon was my pick, and it was perfect for a chilly night when all you want is to be encased in liquid carbs. All that for the low, low price of ~$30pp (tax and tip included), and this place practically pays YOU to eat here.

So fresh always and soooo good!! My favorite sushi spot in NYC that I’ve ever had. I travel 30 min to get it each time it’s so worth it

Amazing lunch special (only $16 for three rolls!!) and the sushi was pretty solid! The lighting was very dim…so atmosphere was very weird even though it was the middle of the day

Very surprised to find this gem in UWS of Manhattan. We had a reservation for 12 pm on a Sunday and it's already packed 😲. Excellent food. Had choice of lunch specials on weekends ! The soft shell crab roll showcased beefy juicy crab in perfectly thin deep fried batter. Family friendly as we noticed a little hand reaching out in between the partition to say hi ... Not swiping our sashimi 🤣. So cute 🥰. Will revisit and will reserve a spot before hand to be sure. Service team is wonderful. Excellent find 👍🤩

A lively sushi spot serving a variety of sushi, nigiri, and izakaya-style dishes. We particularly enjoyed the Ankimo for its tender texture and rich flavor, as well as the Hamachi Kama with its grilled texture. The Sashimi Deluxe set offered a nice assortment of cuts with decent quality. Overall, this is a cozy neighborhood spot for casual sushi with warm and friendly service.

Really solid, no-frills spot for your casual sushi fix. This is my third time here, and each time I leave feeling fully satiated. We walked in on a Sat evening without res, and were lucky to have just preceded the dinner time rush. Super cozy interior, and staff is very attentive and efficient. I've always ordered the sushi deluxe, which at $29, is really bang for your buck. This time, I ventured out and tried: - toro tartar -- while not as intricate as the toro tartar I anticipated, it was so. delectable. There were bits of chopped daikon mixed in, which I looove when paired with minced toro. - sushi omakase ($60) -- the fish cuts were definitely better than the sushi deluxe. However, as it still does not compare to the omakase pieces of a dedicated omakase spot, next time I would probably opt for the $29 one again. - we also ordered the warm sake, prices were honestly so reasonable for all the drinks (esp for nyc), would order this again.

My friend and I came here simply because we were craving sushi. We came in around 6pm on a Saturday without a reservation expecting a wait. However, the host could seat us as long as we could finish within an hour, which was fine since sushi isn't a meal you need a ton of time to eat. It's a smaller place but it doesn't feel cramped with all the seating they managed to fit in there. We both ordered the sushi deluxe (I chose the spicy salmon roll) and it was pretty good! All of it tasted fresh, the rice had a good amount of vinegar, and having a choice in the roll rounded out the experience. The one issue was some of the nigiri pieces had a bit too much wasabi, overpowering the flavor. It honestly wouldn't have been such an issue if it was a consistent amount, but the varying levels made each piece a different experience.

I visited Yasaka Sushi for dinner before a show, and overall, it was a great experience. The fish was incredibly fresh, and the sushi was delicious. The staff was attentive, making sure we had everything we needed. The seating was a bit tight, so it wasn't the most spacious, but it worked fine for a quick dinner before heading to the Beacon Theater, which is conveniently nearby. If you're in the area and craving good sushi, I'd definitely recommend Yasaka.

Top tier sushi spot in the UWS serving high-quality fish at affordable prices. My boyfriend and I booked a reservation online for noon and were sat immediately. The inside is rather small, but they pack a decent amount of tables. We ordered 2 sushi deluxes because omakase isn't available during lunch. Great, fresh assortment of fishes & each came with a roll of your choice. We left feeling extremely satiated and happy. Love this place.

This is our go-to spot for sushi in this part of NYC. The atmosphere is calm and enjoyable, making it a great place to unwind. When we visited for lunch, we appreciated the complimentary hot tea--it was a nice touch. Service was quick & average. The sushi rolls here are excellent, and we highly recommend the salmon sushi rolls if you're a fan of salmon. We also tried the fried soft-shell crab, which was perfectly crispy and served with delicious fried vegetables. While the sashimi was fresh, we found ourselves preferring their well-crafted rolls. Overall, this place offers a wonderful dining experience with consistently great food.

This was probably one of the worst sushi I had. There was a wait for dinner here, heightening my expectations. The waiter took a bit to take our orders too, whether because of the crowd or to allow us to take our time choosing. The nigiri was smaller than other sushi places'. Their rolls were also barely holding on. A couple pieces broke upon picking them up. The avocado ratio exceeded the fish tremendously. Worst of all, the tuna nigiri had the worst fishy taste to it! This was luckily in the area, but I would avoid coming here if I want quality sushi.

This is my go to sushi spot in the area. I've been coming here for years, and the quality and service are consistently amazing. The staff is organized, takes your order promptly, and serves the freshest fish. The ambiance is relaxed, making it great for a date night, or a lunch/dinner with family or friends. I've brought everyone I know here, and they all love it. They are always impressed by the quality. The prices are fair for NYC, and their lunch specials are fantastic. Definitely make a reservation because it can get busy.

Sushi Yasaka is a solid place for sushi at a pretty good price. We come here whenever we're in the neighborhood and our last experience over the weekend for dinner was good. Service is nice and met our requests as needed. Sushi itself was good too. Personally think for the price, it's pretty good. I was particularly hungry so got the larger Miyabi plate and left satisfied. Also got the tofu which is always a good choice. Vibes are cute and intimate. Good for a date or just a nice time over dinner. Definitely expect to be back next time we're in UWS.

If you want really good Japanese food at a a reasonable cost, in a comfortable space with friendly staff, this is the place for you. Lots of locals.

I came here because I was craving some good sushi. The ambiance is very casual (good to come with family or friends) and the service was very friendly and fast. In terms of the food, I ordered the sushi deluxe menu with spicy salmon roll. I also added 1 piece of California uni. The uni was definitely the highlight or the dinner-- I'd order multiple pieces of uni if only it wasn't as expensive! The other sushi pieces, however, were pretty great too-- you can tell the fish quality is good and that the slices of fish are thick, not skimpy.

This was my favorite meal while in NYC a couple weeks ago. The chef's tasting sushi was fantastic! It was weird tho b/c there was one of each and it was shared so I had to bite half of one piece of sushi and keep it balanced for my partner to get an equally delicious bit lol The beef negimaki was heavenly. It was an absolute star dish! Thinly sliced been wrapped around scallion. The mushrooms!!! Mushrooms are in the glow up phase yo! I mean these mushrooms were like a freaking delicacy! Seating was nice and cozy as most nyc dining proves to be. Service was great. This place was hopping and super popular. We walked to riverside park to pass the time (45 min wait) until our table was ready. It was gorgeous. I don't remember the names of each sushi item we were given because it was chef's choice. There was sea urchin tho and that was my first time having it. Not a wow factor there but it was decent. Another review ginning it to you straight, no chaser! Enjoy!

Delicious neighborhood spot for some quality sushi! Usually good to make a reservation and they get quite a few to go orders so that can also take some time! This has also been a good option for pre Lincoln Center dinners since it's good walking distance from the concert halls.

Waiting to eat here. Heard food was good. First impression so far is that the customer service is arrogant

8.5/10 Overall: the fish was super fresh and Their salmon was buttery smooth and had a hint of sweetness to it. Definitely my fav thing that I ate here. The service was amazing and ambiance was great as well. We ordered the tuna avocado and corn tempura as appetizers and for mains we got the salmon avocado hand roll, sushi deluxe, sashimi duluxe, dragon roll, and rainbow roll. My fav was the hand roll! Sashimi deluxe $33: 4.5/5 all of the pieces tasted super fresh and you can really tell that the fish they use is high quality! Came with a bowl of rice so it was a filling meal. Sushi deluxe $29: 4/5 same selection of fish as the sashimi deluxe but included 6 salmon avocado rolls which were super yummy. Rainbow roll $18: 4/5 their salmon and avocado is just so delicious. I liked that there wasn't a lot of rice so the balance between the rush and rice was perfect. Full of flavor and super refreshing.

Their lunch specials are so good! I definitely will come back to try their other options. Miyabi Lunch: Literally was in heaven the entire time I was eating. The fish was very fresh and they don't skimp either. I had the eel cucumber roll with it and it was delicious as well. Their sauce is on the sweeter side but I like it. Two Roll Lunch: My friend chose a salmon avocado roll and shrimp tempura roll. Huge pieces of fish! MAKE A RESERVATION! They get super busy (as they deserve to be!) and walk-ins may take some time to be seated as it is a pretty small space. I had a reservation for 1:30, showed up on time, was seated within 2mins :) I also liked watching the chefs prepare everyone's dishes! Lots of love and work go into their food and it does not go unnoticed. Will be back!

Was excited to come here and try the lunch special out, but I was disappointed. Arrived right around 12 and the place started filling up fast. The menu was a bit confusing as I couldn't tell which rolls were included in each item. Some of the rolls like shrimp tempura cost an extra $3z I opted to get the lunch bento with tuna avocado and fried chicken. The chicken wasn't what I was expecting, and in a bad way. There was a slight kick to it and the fry was not done well. The sushi roll wasn't bad, I should've just gotten the sushi. The bowl of rice was my favorite.

So good! Fresh sushi, great service, great atmosphere, love the special corn tempura appetizer. The nigiri and rolls were so fresh and melted in your mouth. Appreciated that they thought to ask if I had shrimp allergies and if I was okay with wasabi! Rice was seasoned lightly and perfectly with hint of wasabi but not too much, and extra on the side for for soy sauce

I was drawn to this store due to their lunch special menu and their fair pricing on their sushi dishes. My friends and I came for the lunch specials. We got seated immediately. I ordered a MIYABI LUNCH SET I'm personally glad that I ordered this because it comes with a variety of things including a choice of soup or salad, sushi, sashimi and a choice of a roll. It's a bit of everything in one set. I chose the side salad. Pretty standard. The types of fish they add on your tray seems random and hand selected by the sushi chefs. The fish did seem a bit glossier than I would have liked, but they tasted great! The fish was super soft to bite, which is a plus in my book. As expected the most common fish was the raw tuna & salmon. I also ordered the spicy tuna roll, which was smashed tuna. It had a very mild spice kick, nothing that one can't handle. Overall, I was glad that I got to try a bit of everything. Despite the looks of it, I was satisfied. It wasn't the most filing, but I did feel like it was worth the price and liked everything that was offered. Especially for a lunch special price, I can't complain.

This is a great place to go for lunch as their lunch specials (12-2:45pm) are such great deals! This place gets super busy, so make sure to make reservations beforehand. I came with a good friend here yesterday for lunch & thankfully we made reservation as it was extremely busy. I ordered the chirashi lunch special & my friend ordered the miyabi lunch special. Chirashi lunch special (14 piece of sashimi over rice, w/ side of salad/soup). The sashimi were fresh but not the best I have eaten. I think after visiting Hokkaido Japan & eating so much delicious fresh seafood, my tastebuds have not been the same. The rice quality was ok. Out of all the sashimi, I really enjoyed the salmon ones the most. The side salad was ok - I was surprised at how little amount they give you. Miyabi lunch special (4 piece sushi, 7 piece sashimi & your choice of a roll, w/ a side of salad/soup). My friend liked it & preferred the spicy salmon roll than the sashimi/sushi the most. We ended up w/ an order of green tea ice cream mochi (2 mochis, cut into 2 pieces each). It was a standard green tea ice cream mochi. Service was good, very quick & attentive. Food comes out fast, so expect them to give you the check right away once they see that you are almost done eating. This was not a great place to catch up w/ someone.

This is a great, under the radar sushi spot! It doesn't look like much outside but inside, is a fairly large space that fills up very quickly. We had assorted rolls, sushi and sashimi. All were very fresh and delicious. The only item we didn't love was the salad. The lettuce wasn't that fresh and the dressing was a bit bland. But at the end of the day who goes to a sushi spot for the salad? The prices were more than fair for the quality of the fish.

The restaurant just feels filthy. No attempt to make the place inviting Had a crab roll that was filled with mush and was over cooked, burned in hot oil. Rushed service. Sushi and sashimi ok, but everything else is uneven.

Casual Japanese place to stop by for lunch or dinner. We came by when they opened at noon and there were quite a few people lined up, but we were still able to get seated. I had the lunch bento box with tempura, which came with a shrimp tempura, fish tempura and some tempura vegetables. Everything was nicely fried and paired well with the dipping sauce. It came with shumai, stewed eggplant and a salmon avocado roll. Service was quick and friendly.

Great lunch specials every day of the week (including weekends)! The fish is also extremely fresh. I was surprised because I typically don't like Ikura, but it was so sweet and fresh here. They are reservation only, so make sure you call in or book online ahead of time.

Sushi Yasaka is a must if you're on the upper west side! I have been dining in and taking out for years. The fish is fresh and the dishes are unique. The toppings on the sushi deluxe are so tasty!! The service is stellar and quick. Tables are small so be ready for an intimate meal with whoever you're dining with. The yellowtail jalapeño is my favorite of their appetizers, but you really can't go wrong with anything you choose here! It's all high quality and delicious.

I've eaten fish in several major cities at well regarded places. This is top quality fish. If you want fresh fish prepared excellently, this is the place to be. Easily rates as some of the very best I've had. I'm personally not into exotic presentation and omakase style, so take my review with that in mind. The atmosphere is very good, but not next level. The service was fantastic, but not omakase. If you want to be the VIP and are willing to pay 5-10x as much, give the many well regarded omakase restaurants a shot. What you're getting here is some of the best quality fish at a remarkably affordable price. If I lived in town I would be a regular. I was out for under $40 with tip. Exceptional.

Delicious and fresh sushi takeout! I've enjoyed takeout from Sushi Yasaka and I'm impressed with the quality of food and their fresh fish. We have ordered takeout for numerous dinners mostly to celebrate birthdays and have always enjoyed a great celebratory meal. I especially enjoyed their Chirashi tonight along with the Salmon Ikura roll. Yum!!

Made reservations for lunch and I'm glad I did. It was very busy around 1pm that you'll need reservations to be seated right away. The lunch specials are very affordable and delicious. I did the nigiri and sashimi and everything came out quick with generous cuts of fish. The Chirashi was also good and had lots of cuts of sashimi. Inside it was very busy but still spacious.

Great lunch deal and fast service. The sushi was fresh and tasty and just the right portion size! There was also a good amount of seating for I imagine bigger groups. Would definitely come back!

Get a reservation or be prepared to wait. This place is solid and has plenty of options to make your mouth water. I went for their chirashi lunch (14 pieces of sashimi over rice and a soup/salad) and it didn't disappoint. Fresh fish, good quality rice, decent size for the price. Next time I want to go with a group of friends and share a few dishes... A lot of food passed by and liked what I saw. Recommended.

My order was delivery so can't discuss ambiance. Sushi was very fresh and delicious. Didnt need any soy or ginger as the rice was lightly seasoned. Just right. Eel avocado roll was just right proportions of eel and fresh avocado and sauce was excellent. Very fair pricing and quick delivery. I will definitely order again.

This sushi place is affordable and the quality of the fish is perfect! I got the sashimi plate and was amazed by the selection of fish. My favorite pieces were the fatty salmon and ginger tuna. They also give the classic pieces of fish like yellowtail and salmon. The sashimi plate is $33 and comes with a bowl of rice as well. I will definitely come here again! I arrived at 6pm with a reservation, but didn't need one as we were seated right away. Any later on a weekend, I would recommend a reservation. The service is great as well, they are attentive.

LOVE this place! It's such a hidden gem on the UWS that even living here I forget about because it's sort of hidden. The food, sushi and everything is so decently priced for the quality you get we absolutely love it. Been coming here for years and yesterday tried the mini omakase dish Soo yum!

Whenever I'm on the upper west side, I always try and stop by Sushi Yasaka. It's not easy to do a walk-in here due to it always being full, but I was lucky enough to snag a reservation for 8pm and they sat me a little bit early. The servers were very attentive with water and always knew when to come check in on us if we needed anything. The ambiance is great for date night or just to fulfill a sushi craving (which I get pretty often). For starters, we ordered the tuna tartare and the fried shrimp balls, which surprisingly came in a fried donut shape. Both dishes were very good and distinct in their own ways. For the mains, we ordered the Miyabi and sashimi deluxe, both of which included exquisite pieces of fresh fish. The highlights were the seared salmon and the yellowtail scallion cut roll. The only thing I wish they had was more selection of drinks besides sake.

I've had Sushi Yasaka bookmarked since I was still in college at Fordham Lincoln Center. Finally, after an anniversary date day at the Metropolitan Opera, we grabbed dinner here. First, I highly recommend making reservations because they filled up so fast after we arrived - and we were there basically at opening time. We both opted for the chef's omakase, which I think was about $75 at the time. It was great. Lovely fish selections, came with uni, and filled us up. We ended the meal by splitting a molten chocolate lava cake with matcha ice cream and it was perfect. Service was fast and attentive and we were never rushed out. 10/10.

Made reservations but was late. However, the staff was still able to accommodate us! This is a great UWS sushi spot!! For two of us, we were able to share: - Miyabi (10 pieces of sushi, 10 pieces of sushi and one roll...which we opted for spicy scallop rolls. Spicy scallops was not overly sauced...just perfection! - lobster tempura...so good! Prices were surprisingly reasonable! Service was good as well.

I hate to explode on one of my secret spots, but this is where I go when I want sushi for lunch. It's pretty quick and a calm clean setting and offers bento boxes for $17 and 2 rolls lunch special for around $13. It's a great deal, so go before they go up in price! I also almost always make a reservation. I've been coming here for a few years and it's super consistent in quality. Place is always busy.

Came on a rainy day so didn't have to wait. Was surprised at the quality at such an affordable price. We ordered the sushi lunch ($16) and miyabi lunch ($20) that came with a choice of miso soup or salad. What a deal!

A cute little spot with a great lunch special, superb fish quality, and perfect for take out too!!

This place is very consistent and always busy. The sushi is good. Lunch prices are much better. After the pandemic, their portion sizes reduced a lot so it is less appealing for dinner. It is a small restaurant with max 5/6 table tops. Loud at times but they do try make a more intimate vibe with the partitions. Reservations are a must otherwise you could be waiting for hours.

Sushi Yasaka is one of my favorite sushi restaurants in New York. My friend and I would regularly go for their lunch specials, almost all under $20. The fish are incredibly fresh and dishes are generously portioned; each plate also comes with a choice of miso soup or salad. The staff are attentive and prompt, with a simple and clean interior.

I had heard that Sushi Yasaka had both affordable and good-quality sushi, and tried to come once for dinner with a friend as a walk-in. Turns out they were fully booked and wouldn't have a table for hours, so don't make our mistake and make a reservation! I came back another day for lunch with a reservation, though weekday lunch is definitely less busy so maybe you could get away without one. Plus, the lunch specials are a great deal for sushi! They come with your choice of miso soup or salad. I ordered a lunch sashimi set that came with five types of fish and a bowl of rice. It was a great portion, with my favorites being the special skin-on salmon and the seared yellowtail. Really impressed with them going the extra mile to sear that fish and it was so good! My friend got a soba noodle lunch set that also comes with a sushi roll of choice; I tried some and I found the noodles less impressive and the dipping sauce wasn't as flavorful as I've had elsewhere. Well, this is a sushi spot after all, so stick to the sushi and I think you won't be disappointed.

I came here with two others for dinner before we hit up the Beacon Theatre for a show. The food was delicious! So much that we ordered a second plate of the shrimp and veggie tempura plate. The miso was warming, and hit the spot. The sushi was fresh, and the tempura had the perfect texture. The service was good until the end, where we ordered our second tempura dish. We had to wait longer than expected (timing based on how fast the first tempura dish came out), so we ended up getting a to-go box and eating it later. Overall, it was a great experience. Worth visiting if you're in the area.

First time dining at this restaurant. This is a small and quaint establishment. Cleanliness and great service is the mantra here. I made reservations to dine in. There's two sets of service hours here. The staff here exudes professionalism (from the front of the establishment to the rear). My parties meals were pleasing to our palates (fresh and tasty). I wished we order two of everything on the menu. Maybe next time. Keep up the great service and fresh food Sushi Yasaka! If you're ever in the neighborhood. GET SOME!!!!

Quality decent, but much better in the neighborhood. And 39.00 for this? No chop sticks either.

One of the best value lunch specials on the upper west side. Restaurant is quiet, clean and has a minimalistic ambience. Fresh fish, perfect rice, and friendly service. Been coming here for years and will continue to come back again and again. If you are looking for an affordable Japanese experience that doesn't skimp on quality, look no further. I had the chirashi bowl and tuna avocado app to start. Every dish is worth trying. Hot apps/cold/sushi and sashimi, they have it all.

Visiting NYC for our annual pre-Xmas trip to see tree in Rockefeller Center, Broadway show, etc. Some members of family nursing injuries on Day 2 so couldn't make it to usual mid-town lunch location. Spontaneously decided to try Yasaka while passing by from subway to apartment rental. Amazingly good. Every ingredient tasted like it was plucked from the ocean or garden that morning (and it was Sunday!). Fast, friendly service. Many other happy, satisfied people at nearby tables. Two sushi chefs working away like artists.

Ambiance (4/5): We had a reservation on a weeknight and it was half full around 6:30 and then completely full by 7/8. The tables are separated by flimsy wall dividers. Due to the tight seating arrangement, the separators can cause some disturbance if your dining neighbors accidentally knock into them. Noise level is medium. Service (5/5): We were attended to throughout the meal. Food: Asari Miso $8 (4/5): The clam meat was minuscule in size but wasn't too much. The clam helped add a little flavor to the usual miso flavor. Sushi Deluxe $29 (5/5): This was more than enough for one person to eat! I had 6 nigiri, 1 6 pc eel roll, 12 pc sashimi! Everything tasted extremely fresh and I loved the variety offered in the mix. For the price point and portions, this is a great value. I would highly recommend this place!

.5/1 Ambience; 1.5/2 Food; 1/1 Service; 1/1 Value The restaurant is a dimly lit casual eatery with excellent sushi. The restaurant was completely full when we stepped in for lunch on a Saturday afternoon. The sushi bar is towards the back so patrons can see how their food is being prepared. The service was friendly and attentive, despite how busy it was. The sushi here is really good and a great value for the price! We both opted for and shared the 2 roll lunch combo with miso soups and the spicy salmon roll, spicy tuna roll, eel avocado roll, and spicy yellowtail roll. The fish in each roll was very fresh an flavorful in each roll. But I was most surprised with the quality of the rice, a component that I don't notice unless it's either extremely good or extremely bad, and in this case it was perfection. However, we couldn't taste the difference between the spicy salmon and spicy tuna rolls at all-- perhaps the order was incorrect or the flavor was masked completely. Overall, the sushi was solid and definitely is among the best I've had in the UWS. Each combo cost us $13, so it's very fulfilling and dare I say a steal given the price for the quality.

The BEST sushi in all of Manhattan. I wish it was still a bit unknown so I could still walk in for a nice dinner date with my girlfriend haha! Affordable, top-notch quality, and consistent. Run, don't walk!