I came to Kura for their omakase, and also had some warm sake as it was rainy April night in NYC. Their omakase was very on-point, and the service was fantastic. The restaurant is very small, with only 14 or so seats at the bar and a 4-person table away from the bar. We sat at the bar. I originally made a reservation here because I thought it was the same spot as where I had omakase with 3 other friends back in ~2018 or so, but I now realized that that place is actually Cagen, down the street, and Kura has been at this location for the past ~8 years. I was at first disappointed, but then I decided, why not, try a new place? And, I'm glad I did! I had a great time, and the food was delicious. There were 3 chefs helping to prepare our meal, and one lady who helped with miscellaneous drinks orders. It was easy to talk and interact with the chefs, and I found the meal to be very delicious and well-priced. It is relatively a bit cheaper than Cagen, and equally as delicious!
Ian M
One of the top sushi restaurants I have ever been. For a big eater I recommend 2 omakasi, but you won't be disappointed if nigiri and fresh fish is what you are after. For sushi in NYC, very good value. I spent around $280 and was extremely satisfied.
Judy H.
A surprise birthday dinner with my boyfriend, we dined at Kura for their 15 piece omakase (they also have options for 12 pieces and more than 15 pieces). We sat at the bar and it was amazing to see the chefs make each piece. As we ate, the chef called out the name of each piece as he placed it on the counter for us to eat. The fish was amazingly fresh and was a great temperature with the warm sushi rice. It was hard not to quickly devour each piece. The only complaint I would have is the inconsistency in wasabi for each piece, as some pieces had more wasabi than others. We were also given miso soup, green tea, and dessert - a black sesame macaron with mochi inside. I'm a s***** for black sesame and absolutely loved it. The service was great as well, refilling my water cup the moment it was empty (I drank a lot of water). Even when we finished everything, the waitress asked if we wanted more green tea, which we kindly declined as we planning on heading out soon anyway. For timing, we finished all the sushi pieces in 30 min, and with the additional dishes at the end, our full meal was a little over an hour. A great place for omakase.
Aileen L.
We go every year on our anniversary and we've been together for five years. The Omakase and plum wine is worth every penny. One of the best kept secrets in all of Manhattan.
D H.
Best sushi I've ever had in my life. The food AND service are completely top-notch. If you are in NYC, I would encourage you to splurge and go here.
Allison C.
My first omakase experience, so I have nothing to compare this to. The best part was definitely the service - the servers were extremely nice and the chef was having a great time and was very attentive. Each member of our party got a different number of pieces, which I thought was nice that they could accommodate that. Most of the pieces I had were great, like the fatty cuts of salmon and tuna, eel, uni, and the handroll. I was not a fan of the squid and the sweet tamago. Not finishing one of the pieces is really not an option, but at least it's only a small amount if you really don't like something. Since I went for a celebratory birthday dinner, they brought out some brown sugar ice cream with a candle in it as part of dessert, and took our group's picture with a Polaroid camera and gave us the photo, which I thought was a super thoughtful touch! It's now hanging on my fridge so I can be reminded of this meal every time I open the fridge door. Someone mentioned the pacing being pretty fast - this is true, I noticed that if someone was talking a lot, they would be given their next piece before even finishing their current piece on their plate. The group next to us finished in like 35 minutes.
Natalie C.
Such an authentic omakase experience! The restaurant is tucked away in a busy street in East Village and there were only about 10 seats. You know it's authentic when every chef and host/waitress speaks Japanese, haha. They offer 3 tiers of omakase, 12 piece for $100, 15 for $125 or 18 for $150. The pieces did not include 2 starters, tamago, a dessert and tea so this was an amazing deal if you ask me! Regarding the different tiers, we were curious what the difference in pieces were so we asked the chef. For our visit, the 12-pieces didn't include horse mackerel, conch and otoro. My bf and I both opted for the 15 piece bc we wanted otoro. Some highlights were their scallop which was very rich, the ebi was super creamy and sweet. Their chutoro was buttery enough to be mistaken for otoro! The anago was also a great balance of sweet yet smoky. Honestly, after this meal, I believe it's very much possible to be full from omakase! We are typically still hungry afterwards or feel just right but with Kura, we actually felt pretty stuffed. I do have to mention; the meal felt a little rushed because the chef worked so fast between pieces. We would finish one piece and our next piece would be ready.. something to keep in mind if you prefer taking your time. Beside that- our glasses and cups were never empty and the waitresses were very attentive. Overall, super affordable, filling and satisfying meal, and a great experience! I would definitely recommend and will be back for sure!
Claire S.
Truly a gem. Understated and perfect in every way that sushi ought to be. Presentation, food and timing were spot on. Went for a celebratory birthday dinner and was brought also a special dessert that was obviously also artisanal not just pulled out from somewhere. The 15 piece was decided to be the ideal size but 18 did not disappoint.
Steve James
Sushi! Not a big fan of sushi but went with the group. I tried everything and it was all OK. From previous sushi eating experience this may have been the best I had. However, If I was by myself I personally wouldn't have chosen to eat here. It was clean, well lit, and the food was served very fast. Ambience was good.
Tina T.
It's...ok. Not much to complain and not much to praise about. No big misses and nothing impressive either. The experience is ok. But you can easily find another place within similar price range. The sushi was not bad. A little bland for some pieces maybe. Maybe there's something missing in the ambience? We sit at the table instead of the counter fyi. Maybe that's why? Probably spoiled by the broad selection of omakase in nyc. Fairly good place in general. May not worth a second trip though.
I was looking for the perfect Sushi experience in NYC for days. I must have passed this place a hundred times in my search but it was hidden behind a nondescript, windowless storefront on St Marks with no signage and only a curtain for entry. This was hands down the most remarkable culinary experience of my lifetime. The staff took great care to ensure that I had absolutely everything that I wanted. The chef took his time in preparing each omakase course, gently laying each piece in front of me. Remarkably fresh food. Cozy, tucked away atmosphere.
Michelle A
Exceptional, melt in your mouth sushi. Did the full tasting menu, and aside from maybe one or two pieces which weren’t my favorite, everything was delicious and so fresh. The chefs are friendly and create beautiful courses, the staff was very attentive and overall service was fantastic. Authentic experience in an intimate setting — feels like you just walked into an actual omakase bar in Japan! Would love to dine here again and highly recommend if you are looking to celebrate a special occasion, or just want to indulge in some delicious omakase!
Tae K.
It's OK. The netas are too big for the amount of shari. The balance is completely off. The problem is, the netas themselves are underwhelming so the whole experience doesn't feel great. There are three chefs and many more seats than other omakase places. It feels like a factory and this place simply churns out sushi and rotate as many customers as possible. All of that is fine as long as the food delivers, but the food is mediocre at best. Go here if you are in the area and want a fast no frills omakase experience of typical netas that are above average for typical sushi restaurants but sub par for omakase establishments. Think: not quite McDonald's but Five Guys of omakase places. Five Guys serve good burgers, no doubt, but far from gourmet, right? Exactly like that for sushi omakase is this place.
Yiming Zhang
Perfect experience. Chefs are friendly, and always smiling. Reasonably priced, even feel like underpriced... They offer $100/$125/$150 omakase for 12(?)/15/18 pieces. Top fish quality. Each one also comes with several other dishes, like an appetizer, miso soup, handroll, tamago, dessert, etc.
Melissa Samaniego
Had the omakase and it was excellent. Amazing quality of fish and seafood. Besides the omakase, you get a starter and a few ending dishes which includes dessert. Overall, such a great value! The service was remarkable. Definitely recommend checking out if you’re looking to get top of the line omakase experience.
I came to Kura for their omakase, and also had some warm sake as it was rainy April night in NYC. Their omakase was very on-point, and the service was fantastic. The restaurant is very small, with only 14 or so seats at the bar and a 4-person table away from the bar. We sat at the bar. I originally made a reservation here because I thought it was the same spot as where I had omakase with 3 other friends back in ~2018 or so, but I now realized that that place is actually Cagen, down the street, and Kura has been at this location for the past ~8 years. I was at first disappointed, but then I decided, why not, try a new place? And, I'm glad I did! I had a great time, and the food was delicious. There were 3 chefs helping to prepare our meal, and one lady who helped with miscellaneous drinks orders. It was easy to talk and interact with the chefs, and I found the meal to be very delicious and well-priced. It is relatively a bit cheaper than Cagen, and equally as delicious!
One of the top sushi restaurants I have ever been. For a big eater I recommend 2 omakasi, but you won't be disappointed if nigiri and fresh fish is what you are after. For sushi in NYC, very good value. I spent around $280 and was extremely satisfied.
A surprise birthday dinner with my boyfriend, we dined at Kura for their 15 piece omakase (they also have options for 12 pieces and more than 15 pieces). We sat at the bar and it was amazing to see the chefs make each piece. As we ate, the chef called out the name of each piece as he placed it on the counter for us to eat. The fish was amazingly fresh and was a great temperature with the warm sushi rice. It was hard not to quickly devour each piece. The only complaint I would have is the inconsistency in wasabi for each piece, as some pieces had more wasabi than others. We were also given miso soup, green tea, and dessert - a black sesame macaron with mochi inside. I'm a s***** for black sesame and absolutely loved it. The service was great as well, refilling my water cup the moment it was empty (I drank a lot of water). Even when we finished everything, the waitress asked if we wanted more green tea, which we kindly declined as we planning on heading out soon anyway. For timing, we finished all the sushi pieces in 30 min, and with the additional dishes at the end, our full meal was a little over an hour. A great place for omakase.
We go every year on our anniversary and we've been together for five years. The Omakase and plum wine is worth every penny. One of the best kept secrets in all of Manhattan.
Best sushi I've ever had in my life. The food AND service are completely top-notch. If you are in NYC, I would encourage you to splurge and go here.
My first omakase experience, so I have nothing to compare this to. The best part was definitely the service - the servers were extremely nice and the chef was having a great time and was very attentive. Each member of our party got a different number of pieces, which I thought was nice that they could accommodate that. Most of the pieces I had were great, like the fatty cuts of salmon and tuna, eel, uni, and the handroll. I was not a fan of the squid and the sweet tamago. Not finishing one of the pieces is really not an option, but at least it's only a small amount if you really don't like something. Since I went for a celebratory birthday dinner, they brought out some brown sugar ice cream with a candle in it as part of dessert, and took our group's picture with a Polaroid camera and gave us the photo, which I thought was a super thoughtful touch! It's now hanging on my fridge so I can be reminded of this meal every time I open the fridge door. Someone mentioned the pacing being pretty fast - this is true, I noticed that if someone was talking a lot, they would be given their next piece before even finishing their current piece on their plate. The group next to us finished in like 35 minutes.
Such an authentic omakase experience! The restaurant is tucked away in a busy street in East Village and there were only about 10 seats. You know it's authentic when every chef and host/waitress speaks Japanese, haha. They offer 3 tiers of omakase, 12 piece for $100, 15 for $125 or 18 for $150. The pieces did not include 2 starters, tamago, a dessert and tea so this was an amazing deal if you ask me! Regarding the different tiers, we were curious what the difference in pieces were so we asked the chef. For our visit, the 12-pieces didn't include horse mackerel, conch and otoro. My bf and I both opted for the 15 piece bc we wanted otoro. Some highlights were their scallop which was very rich, the ebi was super creamy and sweet. Their chutoro was buttery enough to be mistaken for otoro! The anago was also a great balance of sweet yet smoky. Honestly, after this meal, I believe it's very much possible to be full from omakase! We are typically still hungry afterwards or feel just right but with Kura, we actually felt pretty stuffed. I do have to mention; the meal felt a little rushed because the chef worked so fast between pieces. We would finish one piece and our next piece would be ready.. something to keep in mind if you prefer taking your time. Beside that- our glasses and cups were never empty and the waitresses were very attentive. Overall, super affordable, filling and satisfying meal, and a great experience! I would definitely recommend and will be back for sure!
Truly a gem. Understated and perfect in every way that sushi ought to be. Presentation, food and timing were spot on. Went for a celebratory birthday dinner and was brought also a special dessert that was obviously also artisanal not just pulled out from somewhere. The 15 piece was decided to be the ideal size but 18 did not disappoint.
Sushi! Not a big fan of sushi but went with the group. I tried everything and it was all OK. From previous sushi eating experience this may have been the best I had. However, If I was by myself I personally wouldn't have chosen to eat here. It was clean, well lit, and the food was served very fast. Ambience was good.
It's...ok. Not much to complain and not much to praise about. No big misses and nothing impressive either. The experience is ok. But you can easily find another place within similar price range. The sushi was not bad. A little bland for some pieces maybe. Maybe there's something missing in the ambience? We sit at the table instead of the counter fyi. Maybe that's why? Probably spoiled by the broad selection of omakase in nyc. Fairly good place in general. May not worth a second trip though.
Restaurantji Recommends
I was looking for the perfect Sushi experience in NYC for days. I must have passed this place a hundred times in my search but it was hidden behind a nondescript, windowless storefront on St Marks with no signage and only a curtain for entry. This was hands down the most remarkable culinary experience of my lifetime. The staff took great care to ensure that I had absolutely everything that I wanted. The chef took his time in preparing each omakase course, gently laying each piece in front of me. Remarkably fresh food. Cozy, tucked away atmosphere.
Exceptional, melt in your mouth sushi. Did the full tasting menu, and aside from maybe one or two pieces which weren’t my favorite, everything was delicious and so fresh. The chefs are friendly and create beautiful courses, the staff was very attentive and overall service was fantastic. Authentic experience in an intimate setting — feels like you just walked into an actual omakase bar in Japan! Would love to dine here again and highly recommend if you are looking to celebrate a special occasion, or just want to indulge in some delicious omakase!
It's OK. The netas are too big for the amount of shari. The balance is completely off. The problem is, the netas themselves are underwhelming so the whole experience doesn't feel great. There are three chefs and many more seats than other omakase places. It feels like a factory and this place simply churns out sushi and rotate as many customers as possible. All of that is fine as long as the food delivers, but the food is mediocre at best. Go here if you are in the area and want a fast no frills omakase experience of typical netas that are above average for typical sushi restaurants but sub par for omakase establishments. Think: not quite McDonald's but Five Guys of omakase places. Five Guys serve good burgers, no doubt, but far from gourmet, right? Exactly like that for sushi omakase is this place.
Perfect experience. Chefs are friendly, and always smiling. Reasonably priced, even feel like underpriced... They offer $100/$125/$150 omakase for 12(?)/15/18 pieces. Top fish quality. Each one also comes with several other dishes, like an appetizer, miso soup, handroll, tamago, dessert, etc.
Had the omakase and it was excellent. Amazing quality of fish and seafood. Besides the omakase, you get a starter and a few ending dishes which includes dessert. Overall, such a great value! The service was remarkable. Definitely recommend checking out if you’re looking to get top of the line omakase experience.