Staff was incredibly unreasonable with how they handled my reservation. There's plenty of excellent omakase choices in the city, and I certainly won't be coming here.
Linda K.
There's no dearth of omakase restaurants in NYC these days and I've tried more than a few of them. However my experience at Sushi Zo Hanare is among the best I've had anywhere, including Japan. Chef Kevin is highly skilled, very affable and more than willing to discuss and educate his customers about Zo Hanare's delicious offerings. The space is intimate, with a beautiful walnut counter accommodating just about 8 people per seating. Among the 20 (!) courses of culinary ecstasy, the red uni (a rare type from Hokkaido), chu toro with caviar, chawan mushi with mushrooms, and lean hamachi were standouts. I can't remember the names of every course but they were all fantastic. Zo Hanare offers a nicely curated sake menu from which I chose a bottle of Black Dragon, well balanced and nicely priced. When I mentioned it was my birthday month Chef Kevin presented me with a deliciously light slice of Japanese cheesecake. So thoughtful and a great ending to a very special meal.
Lena Kwon
Had such a wonderful experience at Sushi Zo Hanare. When we arrived it was just two parties for the night (4 people).It felt so intimate and private almost like a private dinner with the chef.The courses were all so delicious, the fish was fresh, and carefully curated. You could see that a lot of creativity went into creating the menu. I thoroughly enjoyed each bite.By the end of night (almost 2.5 hours) I was stuffed. Incredible experience would highly recommend.And yes, it is expensive but I truly believe that the money was well spent for the experience and the top notch quality omakase. Spoil yourself and have dinner here.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Omakase
Alec Watney
What an amazing experience this was - I came across Sushi Zo while driving by in a taxi, and was intrigued by the tiny storefront and minimal advertising - so glad I googled it!!Chef Kevin was incredible - so passionate and excited about his craft. You could see him light up as he described each course and his (deeply involved and time consuming) preparation techniques. He is definitely a chef to watch - he seems to borrow from many influences and the result is an increibly unique and tasty sushi exeprerience.Once you add a few bottles of sake, it gets expensive quickly, but is definitely a meal you will remember!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Omakase
Patrick Chu
An amazing omakase experience! One of the best in NYC for sure. Chef Kevin is so passionate and dedicated to his craft. Listening to him talk about the meal reveals how much he cares about his menu and how much thought goes into every dish. Fish is beyond fresh, flown in overnight from Japan direct from their own buyers. A must try!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Omakase
Ben F.
In the sea of omakase options that is NYC, Zo does stand out and warrant a visit. I struggled between 4 and 5 stars for this entry but after some reflection realized that the meal here was more memorable than many other omakase spots I have visited this year which gave it the final edge to justify the 5th star at this price point. The atmosphere is intimate as there are just 6 seats at the counter. The restaurant is clean, private, and tasteful but a few details break the premium feel - they use a simple toaster oven that could be found in a college dorm, for example, to broil certain items. The chefs are relatable and welcoming but do give a more casual vibe than I expected for this price range. The other staff could have done a better job explaining the sake options - it felt like it was the first time they had been asked what they recommend. The omakase was upwards of 20 courses and none of the usual suspects were missing in terms of high end fare (black caviar, uni, wagyu, toro). The presentation was beautiful, as expected. The meal was also dotted with warm dishes which were just as tasty (like custards and soups). My favorite item was the sea perch which I had not had anywhere else and still think about to this day. This specific nigiri had fattiness that surpassed even toro and was expertly torched to highlight this. Is it overpriced? Maybe. Do I regret my meal? Not at all. I will come back for an occasion (more likely celebrating an achievement at work rather than an anniversary).
Ashley P
Imaginative, innovative and creative - Sushi Zo is a must for any omakase lover. What I appreciated most was how each dish revealed a deep reverence for the Japanese tradition while also showcasing the chef's creativity and knack for innovation.The menu is extremely thoughtful and the priority is always to let each of the high quality ingredients shine (not to pander to Instagram). Make sure you save room for the handroll, which imho is usually the least exciting part of your average omakase. But at Sushi Zo, the handroll is bursting with flavorful, fatty fish. (It's like 80% fish and 20% rice!) Another standout was the beef tenderloin towards the end of the meal. It was coated in butter and topped with truffle for an intense umami experience. There were a lot of delicious dishes that I had never tasted before like a shitake mushroom pudding and another dish made up of tiny shrimp. Chef Kevin is super knowledgeable and provides recommendations on the best ways to eat everything, which I very much appreciated.The restaurant is small and intimate and service was impeccable throughout the evening. I would highly recommend to anyone looking for a truly exceptional omakase experience.
David D.
Outstanding diverse fun but rooted in expertise. Loved my experience at this location. There are a surfeit of omakase options in NYC now but Zo stands out for some of its artistic appetizer plates and Japanese sourced fish but slightly warmer Shari (rice) that is popular in LA. Service is kind and attentive. The head chef here is extremely personable and has great drink recommendations. His attention to detail and inventive plates and wonderful tastes really strike a chord throughout. There is a good mix of warm bites such as custards soups and aburi nigiri to a bevy of raw dishes. Great diversity of flavors of fish vegetables and even flowers from Japan. Highly recommend.
Jaime Vornea
Amazing fish and gluten free friendly
Nam H.
I came here for the valentine's day dinner special omakase, a 24-course journey through some of the freshest and most delicious fish I've ever tasted! I was blown away by the experience. Although Chef Kevin is a maestro and master at his craft, he is also humble and patient, willing to explain any detail you're interested in knowing more about, from the sourcing to the preparation and techniques.The atmosphere at Sushi Zo was also top-notch. The intimate setting and quiet atmosphere allowed me to fully immerse myself in the meal and appreciate all of the intricate flavors and textures. Honestly, it's difficult to even select a favorite dish as they were all amazing. But if I absolutely had to choose, I think the abalone with the liver sauce/topping was probably my favorite as I had never had that before and it was so savory and delicious.Overall, I would highly recommend Sushi Zo for anyone looking for a truly exceptional dining experience. The Valentine's Day special omakase was a once-in-a-longtime treat, and I can't wait to go back and try more of their incredible creations. 5 Star experience for me, thank you so much Chef Kevin and team!
Great food, unique, well curated and the staff are amazing. You may spend your rent in one night but it will be an excellent night! #zimmermanssuck
Yesong Cho
Dined at Sushi Zo Hanare on a thursday evening:)There are many omakase spots in NYC and we considered many other places before choosing Sushi Zo; but I am so glad we ended up deciding to come here!I loved that there were more appetizer courses before the nigiris started. Uni tasting was so good and every single bite was delicious.I could tell that the ingredients were high quality and selected carefully. I enjoyed generous use of uni and truffle, as well as excellent pieces of wagyu and tuna.Although the nigiri pieces are not very big, we definitely left full and satisfied after all the courses.We will definitely come back and would recommend this place to friends without hesitation.Thank you to all the chefs and staff for a wonderful experience!
Joon Bae
Today, Sept 21st. My friends and I had an exceptional experience. Chef Kevin served our Omakase. The quality of the sushi is one of the best in the world. And his professional sushi is definitely world class! I've been to Japan few times, I didn't expect this quality in NYC. His service was extremely great! Highly recommend. Chef Kevin and his team made our night very very very special. I will definitely recommend to everyone to this place. Must go here if you are the sushi lover. Will never let you down. One of the best place in this NYC. Thank you again Kevin! Hope yo see you again soon!
Sara J.
First omakase experience and I was so glad it was here!! Each bite stood out from the last. Not one piece or combination was like another. Everything was fresh and an enjoyment to see prepared right in front of your eyes. Great conversation and amazing food and drink!! I missed a couple of courses in photos. If you are at al on the fence, just do yourself the favor and make the reservation... it will be one to remember!! Cheers chef!!
Myriamm G. Ord
I ordered the jasmine tea and it tasted like nothing . Also the egg rolls were extremely greasy
Staff was incredibly unreasonable with how they handled my reservation. There's plenty of excellent omakase choices in the city, and I certainly won't be coming here.
There's no dearth of omakase restaurants in NYC these days and I've tried more than a few of them. However my experience at Sushi Zo Hanare is among the best I've had anywhere, including Japan. Chef Kevin is highly skilled, very affable and more than willing to discuss and educate his customers about Zo Hanare's delicious offerings. The space is intimate, with a beautiful walnut counter accommodating just about 8 people per seating. Among the 20 (!) courses of culinary ecstasy, the red uni (a rare type from Hokkaido), chu toro with caviar, chawan mushi with mushrooms, and lean hamachi were standouts. I can't remember the names of every course but they were all fantastic. Zo Hanare offers a nicely curated sake menu from which I chose a bottle of Black Dragon, well balanced and nicely priced. When I mentioned it was my birthday month Chef Kevin presented me with a deliciously light slice of Japanese cheesecake. So thoughtful and a great ending to a very special meal.
Had such a wonderful experience at Sushi Zo Hanare. When we arrived it was just two parties for the night (4 people).It felt so intimate and private almost like a private dinner with the chef.The courses were all so delicious, the fish was fresh, and carefully curated. You could see that a lot of creativity went into creating the menu. I thoroughly enjoyed each bite.By the end of night (almost 2.5 hours) I was stuffed. Incredible experience would highly recommend.And yes, it is expensive but I truly believe that the money was well spent for the experience and the top notch quality omakase. Spoil yourself and have dinner here.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Omakase
What an amazing experience this was - I came across Sushi Zo while driving by in a taxi, and was intrigued by the tiny storefront and minimal advertising - so glad I googled it!!Chef Kevin was incredible - so passionate and excited about his craft. You could see him light up as he described each course and his (deeply involved and time consuming) preparation techniques. He is definitely a chef to watch - he seems to borrow from many influences and the result is an increibly unique and tasty sushi exeprerience.Once you add a few bottles of sake, it gets expensive quickly, but is definitely a meal you will remember!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Omakase
An amazing omakase experience! One of the best in NYC for sure. Chef Kevin is so passionate and dedicated to his craft. Listening to him talk about the meal reveals how much he cares about his menu and how much thought goes into every dish. Fish is beyond fresh, flown in overnight from Japan direct from their own buyers. A must try!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Omakase
In the sea of omakase options that is NYC, Zo does stand out and warrant a visit. I struggled between 4 and 5 stars for this entry but after some reflection realized that the meal here was more memorable than many other omakase spots I have visited this year which gave it the final edge to justify the 5th star at this price point. The atmosphere is intimate as there are just 6 seats at the counter. The restaurant is clean, private, and tasteful but a few details break the premium feel - they use a simple toaster oven that could be found in a college dorm, for example, to broil certain items. The chefs are relatable and welcoming but do give a more casual vibe than I expected for this price range. The other staff could have done a better job explaining the sake options - it felt like it was the first time they had been asked what they recommend. The omakase was upwards of 20 courses and none of the usual suspects were missing in terms of high end fare (black caviar, uni, wagyu, toro). The presentation was beautiful, as expected. The meal was also dotted with warm dishes which were just as tasty (like custards and soups). My favorite item was the sea perch which I had not had anywhere else and still think about to this day. This specific nigiri had fattiness that surpassed even toro and was expertly torched to highlight this. Is it overpriced? Maybe. Do I regret my meal? Not at all. I will come back for an occasion (more likely celebrating an achievement at work rather than an anniversary).
Imaginative, innovative and creative - Sushi Zo is a must for any omakase lover. What I appreciated most was how each dish revealed a deep reverence for the Japanese tradition while also showcasing the chef's creativity and knack for innovation.The menu is extremely thoughtful and the priority is always to let each of the high quality ingredients shine (not to pander to Instagram). Make sure you save room for the handroll, which imho is usually the least exciting part of your average omakase. But at Sushi Zo, the handroll is bursting with flavorful, fatty fish. (It's like 80% fish and 20% rice!) Another standout was the beef tenderloin towards the end of the meal. It was coated in butter and topped with truffle for an intense umami experience. There were a lot of delicious dishes that I had never tasted before like a shitake mushroom pudding and another dish made up of tiny shrimp. Chef Kevin is super knowledgeable and provides recommendations on the best ways to eat everything, which I very much appreciated.The restaurant is small and intimate and service was impeccable throughout the evening. I would highly recommend to anyone looking for a truly exceptional omakase experience.
Outstanding diverse fun but rooted in expertise. Loved my experience at this location. There are a surfeit of omakase options in NYC now but Zo stands out for some of its artistic appetizer plates and Japanese sourced fish but slightly warmer Shari (rice) that is popular in LA. Service is kind and attentive. The head chef here is extremely personable and has great drink recommendations. His attention to detail and inventive plates and wonderful tastes really strike a chord throughout. There is a good mix of warm bites such as custards soups and aburi nigiri to a bevy of raw dishes. Great diversity of flavors of fish vegetables and even flowers from Japan. Highly recommend.
Amazing fish and gluten free friendly
I came here for the valentine's day dinner special omakase, a 24-course journey through some of the freshest and most delicious fish I've ever tasted! I was blown away by the experience. Although Chef Kevin is a maestro and master at his craft, he is also humble and patient, willing to explain any detail you're interested in knowing more about, from the sourcing to the preparation and techniques.The atmosphere at Sushi Zo was also top-notch. The intimate setting and quiet atmosphere allowed me to fully immerse myself in the meal and appreciate all of the intricate flavors and textures. Honestly, it's difficult to even select a favorite dish as they were all amazing. But if I absolutely had to choose, I think the abalone with the liver sauce/topping was probably my favorite as I had never had that before and it was so savory and delicious.Overall, I would highly recommend Sushi Zo for anyone looking for a truly exceptional dining experience. The Valentine's Day special omakase was a once-in-a-longtime treat, and I can't wait to go back and try more of their incredible creations. 5 Star experience for me, thank you so much Chef Kevin and team!
Restaurantji Recommends
Great food, unique, well curated and the staff are amazing. You may spend your rent in one night but it will be an excellent night! #zimmermanssuck
Dined at Sushi Zo Hanare on a thursday evening:)There are many omakase spots in NYC and we considered many other places before choosing Sushi Zo; but I am so glad we ended up deciding to come here!I loved that there were more appetizer courses before the nigiris started. Uni tasting was so good and every single bite was delicious.I could tell that the ingredients were high quality and selected carefully. I enjoyed generous use of uni and truffle, as well as excellent pieces of wagyu and tuna.Although the nigiri pieces are not very big, we definitely left full and satisfied after all the courses.We will definitely come back and would recommend this place to friends without hesitation.Thank you to all the chefs and staff for a wonderful experience!
Today, Sept 21st. My friends and I had an exceptional experience. Chef Kevin served our Omakase. The quality of the sushi is one of the best in the world. And his professional sushi is definitely world class! I've been to Japan few times, I didn't expect this quality in NYC. His service was extremely great! Highly recommend. Chef Kevin and his team made our night very very very special. I will definitely recommend to everyone to this place. Must go here if you are the sushi lover. Will never let you down. One of the best place in this NYC. Thank you again Kevin! Hope yo see you again soon!
First omakase experience and I was so glad it was here!! Each bite stood out from the last. Not one piece or combination was like another. Everything was fresh and an enjoyment to see prepared right in front of your eyes. Great conversation and amazing food and drink!! I missed a couple of courses in photos. If you are at al on the fence, just do yourself the favor and make the reservation... it will be one to remember!! Cheers chef!!
I ordered the jasmine tea and it tasted like nothing . Also the egg rolls were extremely greasy