Tanoshi Tei
Japanese restaurant · Upper East Side ·
Fresh, flavorful chirashi featuring Edo-style cured sashimi.
Fresh, flavorful chirashi featuring Edo-style cured sashimi.
"The UES has more than its fair share of good sushi omakase places. But Tanoshi stands out because of the BYOB policy. Each meal costs around $125 and comes with 10 pieces of excellent fish, a hand roll, three small maki rolls, and an open forum to drink whatever you want. The space at Tanoshi is tight—it’s two narrow dining rooms built around a residential hallway. But as you get into your meal, you won’t even notice your surroundings. Bring a date or no one at all." - sonal shah, willa moore, will hartman, neha talreja
"As soon as you sit down at this UES sushi spot, you’ll be asked if you need glassware for your booze. So thoughtful. For $125-$130, you get a small starter, miso soup, 10 pieces of nigiri, tuna maki, and a spicy salmon handroll. The rice here is (intentionally) looser than most places, so you should eat with your hands, or you’ll probably make a mess." - molly fitzpatrick, bryan kim, willa moore, will hartman, sonal shah
"Tanoshi literally means "fun" in Japanese, but what that actually translates to at this Upper East Side restaurant is just a looser, chattier, less formal-feeling omakase—with no compromise on quality. The BYOB policy, with ice buckets waiting on the counter, definitely helps fuel the lively chatter in Tanoshi’s two narrow dining rooms. So do creative bites, like the indulgent Triple X, with ikura, uni, and a quail egg yolk. The omakase is around $125, and you can add on pieces a la carte too. If it’s your birthday, you’ll get a mini chirashi bowl with a candle in a stemless martini glass." - willa moore, will hartman, allie conti, molly fitzpatrick, sonal shah, bryan kim
"Tanoshi used to be a far walk from any train, but now this sushi restaurant on the Upper East Side is one of the best excuses to take advantage of the 72nd Street Q station. As soon as you sit down, you’ll be asked if you need glassware—this place is BYOB, and that’s a big part of why we like it. The space here is tight, but as you get into your $125-$130 omakase, you’ll quickly forget about your surroundings. We encourage you to order at least one of the add-ons, which are displayed via large placards on the wall. You might see shad or crab brain, but if the slightly torched and fatty black throat is available, that should be the first extra piece you try." - bryan kim, neha talreja, hannah albertine, will hartman, sonal shah
"Maybe you want to drink a bottle of wine that was gifted to you at your wedding 15 years ago. Or maybe you’ve been waiting to drink a bottle in your cellar until your estranged wife returns, and now she’s back (a la Dennis Quaid in Parent Trap). Either way, Tanoshi Sushi is a BYOB spot where you can have a special-but-not-over-the-top omakase experience above 59th Street. The omakase at this UES spot costs $99, and it comes with 10 pieces, a handroll, miso soup, and a crispy fluke appetizer." - hannah albertine