Sushi by Bou

If you have $60 to spare (for the 12 course) and love sushi, I’m literally begging you to come here. This is the type of sushi that makes you question if you even know your favorite fish because the quality and flavor combinations Chefs Chakma and Karl serve up are so unbelievably good that you’ll find yourself to be a tuna gal when you were a sworn salmon lover. You’ll find yourself craving fish you never thought you liked. Let’s face it: we are lucky to have a place like this in Albany. Go immediately and I promise you won’t regret it.

Every course was exceptional and more delicious than the last. This is the freshest sushi I’ve eaten in the Capital Region and it is on par with what you’d find in major metropolitan areas. The salmon roe, uni, and tuna courses are fine examples of remarkably fresh fare compared to your typical sushi offerings upstate. The Wagyuni is one of the menu’s highlights, featuring a generous serving of uni (sea urchin) atop lightly seared wagyu beef. If you haven’t experienced uni or wagyu on their own, it will be slightly difficult to pick up the nuances of each component. Still, the concept is unique and it’s a velvety, tasty bite with an interesting mix of hot and cold, tender and creamy. Sushi by Bou offers several add-ons, from drink flights to caviar experiences. We did not try them but I can say that their cocktails — both traditional and non-alcoholic — are supberb. The Shiso Southsider was a treat for shiso fans; crisp, refreshing and perfect to sip as a palette cleanser between courses. As for the slightly warmer and spicier Yuzu Honeybee, my dining partner described it as tasting “of sepia, footage from outdoors shot on 16mm film; a summer afternoon in the 1970s” — so make of that what you will. Those who aren’t interested in spirits will appreciate the Galaxy Sparkling Yuzu Lemonade, which has enough tang and flavor to mimic a real cocktail. Lastly, it’s important to highlight the terrific service and overall quality found at Sushi by Bou. The staff are welcoming and kind, and the vibe is cozy and laidback. Since the omakase experience lasts about one hour, it’s a great place for a quick bite to eat amongst new or old friends. If you consider yourself a sushi fan or foodie, you’ll surely want to visit Sushi by Bou again and again.

Best food and social experience. Get's a 10 out of 10 for me. The food was more then great and got to watch sports.

Great food for upstate New York! Will definitely visit again! The chefs are very friendly, nice, and welcoming!

Delicious! Everything tasted so so good and flavorful. Very accommodating staff and excellent service.

New this year, Sushi By Bou surpassed all expectations for its Omakase style sushi. The waitstaff were friendly and knowledgeable and the sushi chef was great and prepared an amazing 17 course meal with super high quality ingredients. The meal consisted of both raw and cooked preparations of both seafood and Wagyu beef and the chefs special hand roll that day was fantastic. Drinks were also reasonably priced and my wife and I had a wonderful date night.

Our entire experience was fantastic. The chef created the perfect 17 course meal, the bartender made great drinks and recommendations and the manager and staff made us feel welcome. This dining experience has been our favorite in the capital region.

Klara Raymond

10/10 would absolutely recommend. We were able to get a reservation a couple days ahead. It was within walking distance from the hotel but there's a handful of parking lots around and I believe street parking (but not entirely sure). We showed up a little early and were sat at the other end of the bar before our reservation started. It was a quiet and dark atmosphere. We ordered two cocktails which were both amazing (unfortunately unable to recall their names, one was a special recommended by the bartender). Once the dinner started, it was prompt service. We did order the caviar upgrade and the sake pairing. They provided the sake and provided guidance on which to drink before which servings. Everything was top quality and tasted amazing, it's really hard to choose which ones were a favorite. We did also order the Waygu Uni at the end. Service was great, drinks were awesome and I would definitely recommend coming here.

Cierra Leo Passino

I was able to make a reservation a few days in advance for my husband’s birthday, but I called same day to make a special request/accomodation. I didn’t expect anything, but the hostess, the bartender, and the chef all went above and beyond in their accommodations and I’m extremely awestruck and thankful. What an amazing place. In addition, every bite was immaculate. It’s an extremely unique, immersive dining experience that starts when you enter the building and goes till you leave. I wish I got your names but thank you all SO MUCH!

Ikraam Aslam

Sushi by Bou in Albany, NY, is an extraordinary dining experience that I would highly recommend to anyone looking to enjoy omakase at its finest. The entire setup is intimate, with only a small group of about 8-9 people, which creates a cozy and personal atmosphere for the evening. The experience is beautifully curated, with 18 courses that are each unique and absolutely delicious. Every course felt like a new adventure, and you could see the chef’s passion in the way each dish was prepared and presented. The chef was not only skilled but also entertaining, adding a fun and engaging touch to the experience. If you look at the pictures I’ve shared, you’ll get a glimpse of the artistry and variety offered throughout the meal. One highlight I highly recommend is the "Big Mac" course. Whether you choose to have it as the second-to-last course or as the grand finale, it’s a must-try and a perfect way to cap off the evening. Personally, I think it makes for an unforgettable grand finale! Keep in mind, though—you will definitely leave stuffed. Make sure to come with an empty stomach to fully enjoy this culinary journey. The pricing was very reasonable for the quality and quantity of food served. Whether you drink alcohol or not, the beverage options cater to everyone, including excellent non-alcoholic choices. Additionally, they are accommodating with substitutions, as long as you inform the chef of any dietary restrictions in advance. Overall, Sushi by Bou delivers a stupendous experience that is worth every penny. From the food and service to the atmosphere, everything was perfect. If you’re considering a visit, don’t hesitate—this is an experience you won’t forget!

Thomas Kubiak

Amazing omakase experience. We enjoyed the 17 piece option and every one was great! Chef explained each piece, but with broken English and loud music playing it was difficult to understand - we frequently needed to ask him to repeat what he was saying. Meal was not rushed, but it was quick. We arrived a little early for our reservation, willing to sit in the lounge - but the host asked if we would like to be seated right away and we were. Sushi was excellent! Rice perfectly flavored! Several suggestions to improve: 1) Music was very loud which made it difficult to hear the chef and also to talk with friends. I even had difficulty hearing the person sitting right next to me 2) Drinks were so-so - definitely not worth the high price Even with the above we still loved the evening - definitely a treat

Natalie Odynocki

I’ve been going regularly since they’ve opened and it’s been amazing every time. I cannot say enough good things about Sushi by Bou. The people are wonderful, the food and drinks and wonderful. This place is a gem and my favorite thing about living in downtown Albany. Everything chefs Chakma and Carl create is fresh, delicious, and a work of art. It’s difficult to enjoy sushi anywhere else because the quality of fish here is an entirely different level and the flavor combinations never miss! John is very friendly, funny, and makes great drinks, and Sam and Jermaine are very attentive and accommodating. My friends and I go frequently and it feels like a special occasion every time. We recently had a friend’s birthday there and I was able to coordinate plans easily with Kurtis, who was kind and accommodating. Everything went perfectly, and my friend said it was her best birthday ever. Everyone was blown away by the food and drinks, and we all had a great time. All thanks to the great people at Sushi by Bou!

Katherine Parra

If you have $60 to spare (for the 12 course) and love sushi, I’m literally begging you to come here. This is the type of sushi that makes you question if you even know your favorite fish because the quality and flavor combinations Chefs Chakma and Karl serve up are so unbelievably good that you’ll find yourself to be a tuna gal when you were a sworn salmon lover. You’ll find yourself craving fish you never thought you liked. Let’s face it: we are lucky to have a place like this in Albany. Go immediately and I promise you won’t regret it.

Jacky Lam

Great food for upstate New York! Will definitely visit again! The chefs are very friendly, nice, and welcoming!

Hrishita Badu

Delicious! Everything tasted so so good and flavorful. Very accommodating staff and excellent service.

Kira Gruber

This is the best sushi I have ever had, it is amazing, the quality and everything. Carl was the best chef and was a delight to chat with as well. The rest of the crew, Sam, Germaine and more were amazing. I want to thank sushi by bou for the great experience and the great chat, encourage everyone to go here.

Dan Danckwerth

New this year, Sushi By Bou surpassed all expectations for its Omakase style sushi. The waitstaff were friendly and knowledgeable and the sushi chef was great and prepared an amazing 17 course meal with super high quality ingredients. The meal consisted of both raw and cooked preparations of both seafood and Wagyu beef and the chefs special hand roll that day was fantastic. Drinks were also reasonably priced and my wife and I had a wonderful date night.

Vivienne

Came here for a birthday dinner in November and it was an AMAZING experience. I’ve always wanted to try omakase style dining and this was a great introduction. The bartender was very attentive and so sweet, he made me a special drink off menu just because it was my birthday. We were with another party and it still felt very special. The vibe is intimate and I definitely left feeling bad and “bou-gie” 😁

Loren McNamara

17-course meal tonight was absolutely amazing. It will bring your taste buds alive! The people and drinks are phenomenal. Also, I love the speakeasy vibe, great for an intimate dinner or a low key dinner experience. Thank you for an amazing night out

ariannethelibrarian

We had a GREAT experience. We did the 17-courses, which I highly recommend. Head Chef Chakma is very skilled, and everything he gave us was delicious. Most notably, he took my dietary restrictions very seriously. When I told him I had celiac disease and couldn't eat gluten, he carefully prepared my portions separately from the rest. He changed his gloves each time and made thoughtful substitutions to keep my meal safe. We'll be back!

Robyn Song

Every course was exceptional and more delicious than the last. This is the freshest sushi I’ve eaten in the Capital Region and it is on par with what you’d find in major metropolitan areas. The salmon roe, uni, and tuna courses are fine examples of remarkably fresh fare compared to your typical sushi offerings upstate. The Wagyuni is one of the menu’s highlights, featuring a generous serving of uni (sea urchin) atop lightly seared wagyu beef. If you haven’t experienced uni or wagyu on their own, it will be slightly difficult to pick up the nuances of each component. Still, the concept is unique and it’s a velvety, tasty bite with an interesting mix of hot and cold, tender and creamy. Sushi by Bou offers several add-ons, from drink flights to caviar experiences. We did not try them but I can say that their cocktails — both traditional and non-alcoholic — are supberb. The Shiso Southsider was a treat for shiso fans; crisp, refreshing and perfect to sip as a palette cleanser between courses. As for the slightly warmer and spicier Yuzu Honeybee, my dining partner described it as tasting “of sepia, footage from outdoors shot on 16mm film; a summer afternoon in the 1970s” — so make of that what you will. Those who aren’t interested in spirits will appreciate the Galaxy Sparkling Yuzu Lemonade, which has enough tang and flavor to mimic a real cocktail. Lastly, it’s important to highlight the terrific service and overall quality found at Sushi by Bou. The staff are welcoming and kind, and the vibe is cozy and laidback. Since the omakase experience lasts about one hour, it’s a great place for a quick bite to eat amongst new or old friends. If you consider yourself a sushi fan or foodie, you’ll surely want to visit Sushi by Bou again and again.

Christopher

Best food and social experience. Get's a 10 out of 10 for me. The food was more then great and got to watch sports.

Claire

Our entire experience was fantastic. The chef created the perfect 17 course meal, the bartender made great drinks and recommendations and the manager and staff made us feel welcome. This dining experience has been our favorite in the capital region.

Had an amazing time! The sushi was super fresh and every piece was delicious. The chefs were awesome and really fun to watch, they made the whole experience feel special. Definitely the best sushi spot I’ve been to in the area. Can’t wait to come back! (My only wish is that they had Sapporo on the menu.)

This is by far our favorite spot in the capital region, not just for sushi but also for drinks. Even with a core menu that stays the same, the chefs (special shoutout to Carl!) do such a great job adding little tweaks that make the pieces feel like they change with the season. The bougie pieces are always some of the most memorable culinary experiences. With the quality, it's a challenge every time not to splurge on some of the deluxe pieces, but we've never ever regretted doing so. Finally, I can't say enough good things about the service - Sam always does such a great job making sure that the guests are well taken care of

Matt

Had an amazing time! The sushi was super fresh and every piece was delicious. The chefs were awesome and really fun to watch, they made the whole experience feel special. Definitely the best sushi spot I’ve been to in the area. Can’t wait to come back! (My only wish is that they had Sapporo on the menu.)

Max Deng

This is by far our favorite spot in the capital region, not just for sushi but also for drinks. Even with a core menu that stays the same, the chefs (special shoutout to Carl!) do such a great job adding little tweaks that make the pieces feel like they change with the season. The bougie pieces are always some of the most memorable culinary experiences. With the quality, it's a challenge every time not to splurge on some of the deluxe pieces, but we've never ever regretted doing so. Finally, I can't say enough good things about the service - Sam always does such a great job making sure that the guests are well taken care of

Benjamin Gotzmann

This restaurant is fantastic! The ambiance is lively and enjoyable, and the sushi is incredible. The quality of the food is exceptional, surpassing all of the other sushi places I’ve been to in the area. Everything here is fresh and flavorful. The staff is incredibly kind and friendly, making the overall dining experience even better. I’ve been here multiple times and the food is consistently great. It’s well worth the money!

Chose to celebrate a special occasion for a close friend with the 17-course Bougie Omakase in June 2025, and sadly still feel regretful of that choice two months later. In short, the most memorable part of the experience was that all 17 bites tasted overwhelmingly like rice vinegar. I genuinely don't know if it was an accident and the chefs would have replaced the rice had they tasted it, or if they intentionally choose to serve rice like that every single night, but the overpowering rice vinegar flavor ruined all 17 courses. My friend and I both repeatedly considered discarding the rice to try to appreciate the fish alone, but it felt wasteful, and as if it might have seemed rude or insulting (the staff were so nice that we didn't want to complain). We were stunned by how overpowering the rice was and getting rid of it probably wouldn't have resolved the disappointment anyway. For an additional undisclosed fee (cost not written anywhere), you can request to repeat any courses you enjoyed, and also add dessert. The one food item that impressed us ended up being the frozen salted caramel mochi, which you may or may not receive depending on what flavors they have available. It is the only thing I would eat again from this restaurant, and our waitress did kindly agree to give us one salted caramel mochi to go at the end when we asked. All in all, I paid nearly $350 for two of us to eat what tasted like 17 mouthfuls of rice vinegar in a dark speakeasy setting and I will continue to wish we had gone somewhere that felt more worthwhile.

Sanuja Bose

Chose to celebrate a special occasion for a close friend with the 17-course Bougie Omakase in June 2025, and sadly still feel regretful of that choice two months later. In short, the most memorable part of the experience was that all 17 bites tasted overwhelmingly like rice vinegar. I genuinely don't know if it was an accident and the chefs would have replaced the rice had they tasted it, or if they intentionally choose to serve rice like that every single night, but the overpowering rice vinegar flavor ruined all 17 courses. My friend and I both repeatedly considered discarding the rice to try to appreciate the fish alone, but it felt wasteful, and as if it might have seemed rude or insulting (the staff were so nice that we didn't want to complain). We were stunned by how overpowering the rice was and getting rid of it probably wouldn't have resolved the disappointment anyway. For an additional undisclosed fee (cost not written anywhere), you can request to repeat any courses you enjoyed, and also add dessert. The one food item that impressed us ended up being the frozen salted caramel mochi, which you may or may not receive depending on what flavors they have available. It is the only thing I would eat again from this restaurant, and our waitress did kindly agree to give us one salted caramel mochi to go at the end when we asked. All in all, I paid nearly $350 for two of us to eat what tasted like 17 mouthfuls of rice vinegar in a dark speakeasy setting and I will continue to wish we had gone somewhere that felt more worthwhile.