Excellent sushi for far less than the cost of a full meal at Masa. It's a drink bar rather than sushi bar so the ambience leaves a bit to be desired. But a good way to experience Masa's sushi without mortgaging your house.

Excellent experience with MASA....595USD plus tax but the price was already included the tips (hooray!)for sure will come again to try next season menu......wish next time I can become their VIP so I can post some dish pictures....Oh I just dropped my wallet.......

The legend is true, Masa is the BEST sushi in the world! Having been to Jiro in Tokyo and many of his disciples around the world we can say that Masa is the best…by far! The very first piece of toro sushi and you’ll know, this is special! Nothing else like it! From the perfect sushi rice to the slightly pungent wasabi to the toro’s texture and the overall temperature, perfection! Sushi lovers have to make this trip to Masa. Best in the world! They don’t allow any photography so the seal is all I can post.

Attentive service, excellent cocktails (wow!), and delicious food. What more could you ask for?!?!

The head chef was incredibly patient in explaining each dish, making it an absolute feast for the senses. The matcha cake for dessert was delicious—definitely a must-try!

This is not a review of Bar Masa. It’s a review of Masa. No photos are allowed of Masa dishes. My background is Tokyo and Kyoto 1-3 star Mich. I have read many of the reviews of Masa. Most are sadly wrong. I’ll explain. Masa is expensive. All the 3 stars in Tokyo and Kyoto are about the same price. Many of the reviews for Masa are about quality vs price. Forget that. It’s not about money at this level. I sat at the $1000/ guest sushi bar seating tonight. I saw the perfect cadence of the back chefs (the guys grilling) and the front chef (the guy doing sushi and talking). It was 3 star level. I had lots of interaction with the Somme, the waitstaff, and the rest of the crew. All were completely on top of it. A grain of rice gone astray? Someone comes and grabs it. An empty glass? Someone comes and fills it. Immediately. Believe me, I would be more than happy to rip this place to shreds, but no. It’s the real deal. It fully deserves its 3 star rating. If money is an issue for you, forget it. It’s super expensive. There’s plenty of other omakase places in NYC. But if you’ve had other 3 star places in Japan and money is not an issue, come here.

This place had the best sushi ive ever had in my life. When you sit down they have a lightning fast service time and quick food preparation. The sushi is perfectly bite sized and the fish is very soft and flavorful. Definitely should visit!

Must try the soba ice cream! It’s made from roasted buckwheat. Nasu den was great too.

Amazing meal! You get what you pay for. The experience was amazing! We were so well taken care of and everything is so clean! All I can say is TAMAGO!!!!

This review is for the omakase at sushi masa where there are no pictures allowed. You get what you pay for here. There is a TON of food, so prepare for that 😂. I had to say I was full long before the serving was over. We ate at the chef bar and really enjoyed eating and watching our food be prepared.

We ate at counter and watched amazing cocktails being prepared. Delicious meal ~ Uni with Foie-gras, Sushi, Miso Cod, Tacos… nice ice creams. Very enjoyable experience.

one of my favorite solo lunch splurges anywhere on earth . I actually prefer the cooked food to the raw fish here. Had 6 plates recently for lunch and it was fabulous and expensive. The noodles made of shrimp I could eat every day

Bar Masa offers a simple yet transcendent lunch experience. It is pricey but the precision of each nigiri is evident with traditional Japanese techniques. Ingredients are of the highest quality — including the best rice — ensuring freshness in every bite. The sushi is melt-in-your-mouth textures with robust flavors. Though on the pricier side, the culinary journey is worth every penny. Highly recommended for those seeking a memorable and refined dining affair for lunch or at dinner.

Great date night with wife. Food and drinking pairings on point. Experience was good. High quality food. Omakase could have felt a little more special. Limited pictures due to policy.

I love maki with Uni and scallop. It’s incredible fresh and unique. It’s not cheap- $54 ,but it’s worth it. Masa also shocked me was the service, one of the best in town.

Yes, this place deserves all three Michelin stars and yes it's worth making that reservation. No, I haven't found another omakase that is on par with this yet. Frankly, I've never had a meal in my life that comes close to this. I wish I was a seasoned sushi reviewer who could explain in detail the intricacies of each piece. I'm not up to that task so suffice it to say that I felt forced to close my eyes to truly appreciate the pure euphoria brought on by the pieces here. I was so honored to be served by Chef Masa Takayama himself and to be given the opportunity to take a photo with him. Thank you so much.

Visited Masa expecting a transcendent culinary journey. The ambiance was serene, and the service impeccable. However, the $950 omakase left me pondering the essence of minimalism. Each dish was artfully presented, yet the flavors felt restrained. Perhaps the subtlety was lost on me, or maybe my palate isn’t attuned to such refined nuances. A unique experience, but one I might not revisit.

Amazing Michelin 3 star experience. We were on the waitlist even we booked a month ahead of time. Lucky enough to get the front row seats served by the master chef Masa. The bill came up to $2100 for two with two drinks.

You will be taken care of when you're here. * Reservations through phone 10am-5pm(number and email on their website). I made my reservation a few weeks ahead on the phone a reservation (the staff had a annoyed/arrogant tone on the phone when I asked a question) * On site staff was very attentive and friendly, very humble! * Simple but thoughtful decor with elegant Chinese Quince center piece * Extensive list of fine wine(I don't know wine but those prices makes me think they know what they're doing :) * Staff let us know that food pictures are off limit, but pictures of environments and people are A ok! * Omakase by the sushi bar for the best intimate dining experience (strongly recommended) * Fuji San was our sushi master and made us felt very comfortable and made us whole with his skills and wits * Shared Omi beef plate with black truffle (YMMV we thought the beef was more lean than other top beef but it was very tender and beefy without a lot of fat, very interesting experience) * Dessert served for our special occasion(lady M green tea cake that's much more fluffy than you can buy in store). But the real dessert was taking group photo with Masa San and Fuji San (Wow! what a way to remember our experience by.) The verdict: one in a life time experience for 🍣 lovers. Price might be high, but well worth experience. We would return once we save up enough dough :)

Masa feels like coming home to the best of New York. I cross cities just for this table. Just impeccable. I’m home for two hours. I leave lighter.

We were lucky to grab a walk in spot at the bar the other night. Wow the sushi was amazing and SO fresh. Best I’ve had ever. I HIGHLY recommend stopping in to grab a bite to eat when you get the opportunity. Great for a date night or special occasion. Enjoy!

What we have is an interesting conundrum where there is spectacular artistry and tastes, but recommending it is extremely difficult as it appeals to a minute demographic. To begin, MASA is somewhat of an American mecca for Japanese gourmets. But I have to emphasize that it is a place for the gourmets among gourmets. It will simply go over the heads among foodies who are just touring Michelin stars or want to throw out names. So how is it different? Let's start with the crab and uni aioli. It's served in an upside down in the crab shell. Most foodies should know that the brain of the crab is high in fat and chock full of umami. MASA opted out of the brain (though maybe it was used in the base of the dish) and prepared the uni as an aioli to substitute, if not improve upon the standard method of eating crab head. Then there's kabocha, which is central in many Japanese comfort meals. What I thought was pumpkin was actually toasted papaya with uni custard. Again, re-introducing core dishes with a twist. Think about it, uni custard and toasted papaya? Where else but MASA? Of course, during the nigiri course, you are served masses of uni again, and maybe now, you're thinking, "Oh he just stuffs you with Hokkaido uni as an easy way to bump up the price." Wrong, absolutely wrong. What's he done is prepare uni in multiple ways that continue to give you the strongest umami without boring your taste buds. Honorable mention is the caviar and toro tartare. It's so simple, but the Osetra they chose wasn't nearly as salty as it normally is and perfectly salted the toro. Literally an adult's savory parfait. Some small feedback: 1. The pacing was about 15 - 20 seconds too fast. It would've been perfect had I been a patron who did not order alcohol. I was easily rushed through the omakase portion and outpaced even the couple next to me that were seated and started eating 5 minutes prior to me. 2. During the tiger shrimp nigiri, the towel they use for wiping the board landed on the shrimp and dragged against it. This towel has been wiping the vinegar rice off plates and the board all meal. Overall, small bumps in an otherwise perfect meal. Definitely someplace I'd visit again, though I'd pick my guests carefully.

We had to leave by a certain time and they were able to get us out as quickly as we needed while feeling still special and taken care of. Only con was portion to cost. Ribs were amazing but only 3 pieces. Generally would recommend as it is very wonderful just be ready to spend.

The ultimate vegetarian Japanese dinner. Attentive service, superb flavors and ingredients, pleasant atmosphere... Couldn't ask for more.

Incredible. Really is one of the best sushi places in the world…

You're not allowed to take photos except when invited to. We were allowed a few for my husband's birthday, and I also snapped one of the parting gifts (two menus and the paper one of our meals was prepared on) once back outside. The restaurant entry is hidden behind a banner hanging at its front. I thought it was simply decorative marketing until my husband ducked behind it and waved me over. The staff is incredibly knowledgeable and polite. To quote a server I spoke with, "Chef Masa is perfect; therefore, he expects nothing less." And the dinner really lives up to that. I didn't dislike anything we ate, and surprisingly, we were stuffed by the end of our 2 hours there. I say "surprisingly" because each item you eat is what I call a "petite serving." Basically, everything fits in your mouth in one bite, and you're done. No redos or seconds. So you must savor the flavors. Every plate is timed so you fall into a rhythm set by the chef and his staff. You even receive specific instructions on not using your tiny serving of soy sauce until you're told you may, and that's important because every detectable bite already has everything you need built into its creation. Then there's the dinnerware! It's so pretty and unique. Every piece is specially designed by Chef Masa to complement his sushi creations and then manufactured for the restaurant. We didn't sit at the sushi bar where Chef Masa and his staff were most active, but we did have the best view of their process as our table was diagonal to the right of the bar (as you look at it from the front) so we could see every roll made, every bit of sashimi sliced, etc. Dining at Masa is an experience, and although I'm not rich enough yet to go on a regular basis (our dinner, additional appetizer, and 4 alcoholic beverages were almost $2k), it was worth it.

I can't rave enough about this place! We came for lunch to celebrate our 20 year anniversary and were blown away! The food of course was the best sushi I have ever eaten, but what was even better was our experience. Chef Masa's team led by our man Geno was ridiculously amazing. They took care of us like family and it really felt like a celebration. Thank you for making it such a memorable experience! By the way, we didn't forget about the cigars!

Every course was excellent and the sake was my favorite I’ve ever had. You pay for the fantastic food but also the service and the intimacy of the experience. It’s expensive but a very cool experience and we enjoyed it a ton.

Bar Masa delivered an outstanding lunch. The Spicy Tuna Carpaccio was fresh and delicately spiced. The Peking Duck Foie Gras Tacos were a rich, inventive delight. Finally, the Sushi à la carte showcased perfect craftsmanship and premium ingredients. A must-visit for top-tier sushi in NYC.

+1

My wife and I had a wonderful time, and enjoyed a great meal. . I don’t know why it is taboo to take pictures, and be able to post them to Google reviews if you ate there. I think Google is doing disservice to the public.

Everything was delectable and I can't say enough good things about the quality of the food here. Everything was prepared finely and with thought put into quality and presentation. Not for the light-hearted or they bargain eater as you can easily rack up a tab. All in all this was an exquisite establishment with great service, ambience and fine Japanese cuisine.

+6

We tried the omakase and it was amazing. The quality of the ingredient is very fresh. The service is great, they help me open my coat and push my seat. They also give a good alcohol recommendation. The atmosphere is also very calming. Sadly when we went there, we just had a big celebratory meal for Ramadhan and we were full coming there, so we couldn’t finish all the meal. And I was very fatigue from preparing the party the night before. So we couldn’t really enjoy the meal throughly. We decide to come again sometimes on an empty stomach. It’s sad they did not let you take photo. I couldn’t remember the dish I like without a picture. They only let you take photo with the chef afterwards and gave us a handkerchief and menu list.

Excellent experience eating here. The food and service were fantastic. We sat at the bar and the bartender Patrick was outstanding. He is attentive and strives to give the best experience.

This is simply perfectly done. The menu screams of rare and delicious ingredients that aren’t masked in crazy preparation. Service, wine pairings, and environment are all 10/10. We will absolutely be back.

Absolutely amazing omakase dinner. Best Sushi we ever had. Ingredients are best you can find, the taste is phenomenal and the service was fabulous. We had took the extra course with the wagyu and truffle- which was unbelievable!! Although it was the most expensive meal we had-it was worth it. Mind that you can’t take any pictures during dinner

I’ve been going to this restaurant since its opening, about 20 years ago. To me, it’s the best Japanese restaurant in the world. I make this claim after having been to some of the best restaurants in Japan. Masa is not tied down by limitations of traditional Japanese sushi restaurants in Japan, in terms of cooking style, ingredients... Though Masa keeps the finest traditions of sushi making, he’s very creative and fusion in its appetisers. All very good, but you would have to say up😵‍💫😵‍💫

This review is for Masa NYC! I am not sure why bar masa shows up when I actually google it. It's a very upscale place offering equally upscale services. Cell phone usage inside is not permitted. This omakase spot is stunning, with a remarkable dining experience. The meal itself was substantial, taking us two hours to savor. At the sushi bar, we had our own chef who meticulously prepared and explained each course of the omakase. The venue offers a great selection of drinks as well. The food, especially the otoro and caviar, was exceptional and memorable. Dress code is pretty casual considering it being one of the most expensive restaurants. I highly recommend this place not only for its dining experience but also for its food quality and ambiance.

Visited Masas March 2025 for lunch and really enjoyed the experience! They had a Toro with Cavair that was amazing! Its too bad they dont allow photos and lost one of their stars.

M P

My first visit was actually in December 2023. We had the omakase and really, this was one omakase worth every dollar. While I had couple of my favorites, every single dish was absolutely divine and the sevice, first class all the way. Among others, food and service are two categories I value the most when visiting a restaurant, no matter what $-$$$$ category. I was so impressed that I made another reservation for my son’s 24th birthday (January 2024) on my way out. Second time around, they more than fulfilled my expectation. Thank you everyone. I shall see you soon!

Unfortunately, you cannot take pictures when your enter the restaurant, but that is also its charm. The experience of getting served one piece of sushi at a time is magical. Watching searing of a piece of tuna with a hot poker is something that is so unique and unusual it'll make you forget about the dinner's price tag. The taste is nice, no better than you will probably find in your local sushi restaurant, but the visual of the process, army like coordination of orders being shouted from Chef to his support staff is not like anything you'll ever see anywhere else.

Bryan Shu . The truth

To taste what may be the continent’s best sushi, experience the contemplative and very exclusive ceremony of Chef Masa Takayama’s omakase. Everything here carries a certain weight, from the heavy wooden door to the bill. Attention to detail is unsurpassed and at times it may seem like a bit much, but a reverential spirit is part of your meal here. Service displays the same smooth grace, with servers at the ready. Awaken the palate with a sweet chunk of hairy crab meat dressed in citrusy yuzu beneath creamy tomalley. This may be followed by the chef’s signature glass coupe of minced toro and a very fine—and generous—pile of Osetra caviar. Maine uni is wondrous, served in its shell with caramelized custard and paper-thin white truffle.

+6

Excellent sushi and cooked fish dishes served in a fairly casual setting. I was less impressed by the non seafood options I tried on the menu, but clearly you come here for the fish, so I think it still merits five stars.

+4

David

An extraordinary fine-dining experience and truly one of the most exclusive restaurants in New York. Every detail is executed with absolute precision, from the exceptional quality of the ingredients to the flawless service. The omakase experience is refined, elegant, and focused entirely on craftsmanship. While the price point is very high, the level of quality and attention makes it a memorable and unique culinary experience worth experiencing at least once.

M

Delicious food and cocktails. Service was extraordinary and very attentive. Restaurant on the smaller side, which led to a more intimate dining experience. Only item I ordered that I didnt believe to be worth it was, sushi assortment for $110. Price doesn't make sense for the small portion. All food noticeably very fresh and perfectly prepared.

Reem Wahoud

It was my first time visiting this restaurant, and I was fascinated by the impressive display and delightful taste. The highest quality ingredients and mesmerizing flavors, not to mention the top-notch service, made the experience unforgettable. I can't wait to return to New York for another visit. I ordered the shabu with foie gras and Wagyu. Omg , I still vividly recall the taste lingering under my teeth. Additionally, the tuna with caviar, the makis, and king crab, the Udon, the duck tacos , the beef carpaccio with truffle and the miso code. The dessert is another story.

+6

A R

Have always wanted to try Bar Masa, I had lunch there for the first time recently. The food, service, and atmosphere were all great. Yes, the sushi is very expensive, but it was worthwhile to try at least once. Bar Masa is definitely more of a special occasion type experience. A reservation in the main dining room, which is next door, is now around $1000 per person. No thanks on that!

+6

Noah Lam

I was very happy with my experience at Masa NYC Hinoki Counter for $950 per person. You can get more detail at my youtube channel Noah Eats. This is not the Bar Masa location. This place down the hall from Bar Masa. This Masa is next to the another 3 Star Michelin Per Se. As opposed to the Blue Door at Thomas Kellers spot, Masa has a Blue Curtain signifying the are open and if located outside would provide shade. After you pass the curtain a Huge Cypress door guards whats inside. You are quickly acknowledged and locked into your bar height chairs. And you can put your elbows on the Inviting Hinoki Counter and you will find a block of ice to keep some ingredients chilled for service. Unfortunately there is a no photo policy so for my video review I had to tap my artistic side, so I hope you enjoy my youtube review. It's definitely a bucket list item for most of the world. I hope you do enjoy my Channel, Noah Eats well!

+1

Squirrel Friend

I got the hinoki experience. Everything was amazing and, dare I say, perfect from taste to presentation. It was the best 3-Michelin meal that I had in NYC. The sushi was out of this world. The sake recommendation was on point. The no photo policy is a shame since everything was so pretty.

Nader Al-Naji

Sat at the counter. Incredible experience. Favorite dishes were: 1. Taro tartare with caviar. Every restaurant I've been to tries to upselm you caviar at exorbitant prices and then is stingy with it. Here it's just part of the menu and it is an extremely generous portion, and paired with the best cut of tuna. 2. Omi wagyu and truffles. Omi is the best cut of the agyu called the emperors beef because it was saved for the emperor. But the emperor never had truffles on it. What. Surprisingly good combination. 3. The rest was a tasting menu of pieces of sushi and every one was really good. 4. The Japanese melon was special. Sometimes they have a strawberry. Either way it's the same place that gives erewhon their $19 strawberry. We skipped lunch to fully enjoy it but it wasn't a crazy amount of food. Felt happily full after. If it's your anniversary or birthday you get some lady M cake at the end, which was great. Otherwise the only dessert is the melon so you can even plan to go have dessert somewhere after if you didn't want to have lady M. Overall I feel like the innovativeness of the caviar and truffle dishes will be lost on more casual diners but those two make the price tag pretty worth it in my opinion.

LIA

We celebrated our anniversary at Masa Hinoki Counter. The food and service were both excellent, and the experience was very enjoyable overall, although I wasn’t able to eat as much as I would have liked. At times, the atmosphere was somewhat lively due to other guests, and I had hoped for a calmer, more reflective ambiance.

Sharonuz Obanastasija

Ultra-luxury omakase sushi experience near Columbus Circle with pristine fish and an intimate, serene counter seating. Service is impeccable and the chef’s choices feel like an art form. It’s extremely expensive, but for sushi enthusiasts, it’s one of those bucket-list meals that lives up to the hype.

T. V.

I visited Masa for lunch at a time when it held three Michelin stars, and it remains one of the most formative dining experiences I have ever had. I was seated at the sushi counter with my own sushi chef, which created an intensely focused and almost meditative atmosphere. The quality of the fish, the precision of the technique, and the absolute calm and confidence of the chefs were extraordinary. I paired the courses with carefully chosen spirits, which complemented the progression of the meal beautifully. What made this experience truly exceptional was how fundamentally it changed my understanding of sushi. After that lunch, I finally understood what top-level sushi is truly meant to be. It became a benchmark against which I have measured every other sushi experience since — and very few have come close. The craftsmanship, restraint, and purity of flavour were simply outstanding. One minor drawback was that a couple seated nearby ignored the strict no-photography policy and took photos throughout the meal. Unfortunately, this was not addressed by staff, which slightly disrupted the otherwise disciplined and serene atmosphere. That aside, the experience was phenomenal. The price point was undeniably high, but at this level — and based on my experience with three-star restaurants — it felt fully justified. At the time, Masa unquestionably deserved its three Michelin stars.

Robert W. Reeder IV

When my wife informed me we were sitting at the counter for my birthday & paying $950/head, admittedly I was a bit skeptical. Any doubt I had was quickly removed. Our experience at Masa was spectacular. It was—quite literally—the best meal I’ve ever had. Each piece of sushi is carefully curated & the flavor profiles will blow you away. The wood they burn to sear the fish is imported from Japan, giving each seared piece of sushi a flavor you won’t find anywhere else in the United States. I can’t speak highly enough about this place… like I said… it was literally the best meal I’ve ever had

The chef is really nice and made good sushi! The Uni is the best Uni in my life! I like the sweet shrimp too. However, I think the water (and sparkling water) is a total scam! (Green tea too) They continuously pour water to you non-stop. Literally will not wait to let you ask for water. First, they didn’t even tell us water needs money, which is not unacceptable. The most stupid part: In the end, we find out that we are charged 4 bottles of water(and sparkling water) $10/each! I am kinda angry! Did you ask for our permission before opening a new bottle? I think it is a total scam! We didn’t know this until we get the final bill. Totally unexpected!

Just had dinner. My review will be simple and to the point. Masa food is good. Service is great. Sushi chefs are nice. Even with all these positives I wouldn’t pay more than $250 a person. For the price being charged I was looking for a wow and it wasn’t there. Hope this helps!

👍

Tucked away on the 4th floor..very serene atmosphere but damn it's expensive. The omakase is over $100 a person. I found the rice under my sushi soggy n unable to hold up to my chopsticks. Good choices on the menu...fine attentive service.

文句無いです👍　I approved. No complain except the overpriced cocktails🍸. Great thing is they have coffee which is super rare for expensive sushi🍣 restaurants.

Since my tab was 5000$ which is actually a bit cheaper than I expected it to be I think it’s fair to leave a review for this place. My honest experience was great, seafood was fresh, service was up to par, and overall I don’t have any complaints neither did my partners, the reason for a 4 star review rather than a 5 star review is because the pricing is not always clear and can build quite fast if your looking for a satisfying meal. For me personally it’s not a issue but may be for others so keep that in mind but other than that the place definitely lives up to its reputation and I will also visit again if the opportunity arises during my travels to the city! Enjoy!

I like this place, it delivers. Good food but nothing super crazy, good service and atmosphere!

We made a reservation at the counter at Masa. With a $1000/person price tag and 3 Michelin stars, we obviously came with extremely high expectations. The experience was overall quite underwhelming. The sushi was good but definitely not the best we had in NYC and definitely not worth the insane price. The service was great.

My wife and I dined here on 6/17/2022. The staff was very friendly and approachable when we had questions about the wine vs sake pairing. The food was excellent. Not as much sushi/sashimi as I would have thought (personal opinion), but had a lot of other seafood/food. For the best overall experience, I'd suggest sitting at the counter, in front of the Chefs. It costs more but if you want a more elevated experience, that would be the pinnacle.

A few items were exceptional such as the Uni & ceviche appetizer and the foie gras tacos, but the rest really fell flat. The fried chicken had no spices, we tried two rolls and they were okay at best, and the grilled octopus was good but nothing special.

Food is not as good as other NY restaurants, however the mood and service is on par with the best around the city.

We had reservations here on a Saturday evening. The restaurant is small so reservations are recommended. We had drinks at the bar first. Pretty bar. Nice bartender. He made alterations to my drink to accommodate my taste. Big a la carte menu. We enjoyed the ribs (spicy), wings, duck rice, hamachi kama, a sushi roll, and sesame ice cream. Everything had good flavor. Prices are high so that's a good thing.

Great experience with amazing variety of sushi. Number of portions were more than other omakese. We liked the intimate experience as we were sitting on the counter and had an amazing chef (Gino) serving us. The only reason I gave 4 (instead of 5) starts, were the crowdedness of chefs behind thr counter and the level of noise.

Decent food, convenient to get here if you're in the neighborhood shopping or meeting friends after work. Not as pricey as the Kappo Masa but the food is decent and can meet interesting characters at the bar sometimes.

Masa, located in the Time Warner Center, is widely regarded as the most expensive and authentic sushi experience in the United States. Chef Masa Takayama prepares an omakase menu featuring rare and exquisite ingredients such as Toro (fatty tuna), Uni (sea urchin), and Bluefin tuna, often flown in directly from Japan. The minimalist and serene environment directs full attention to the artistry of each piece. Pricing typically starts around $650 per person, excluding drinks, reflecting the rarity of ingredients and craftsmanship. While some may find the cost prohibitive, sushi connoisseurs will appreciate the unparalleled freshness and precision. Reservations are mandatory and tend to fill quickly.

Habib Al Mulla

High end authentic Japanese restaurant. It is a fixed price menu and it is not cheap probably one of the most expensive restaurants in New York. But the quality is high. Some of the best sushis that you may find in New York. Some of the dishes however were not to my like. It could be a personal taste. Decor and ambience is authentic and pleasant. Service was excellent. They have no photographic policy which I find to be unrealistic and meaningless.

+6

Jasonn Denard

Bar Masa offers a great space to enjoy a really good meal. I had the Sushi Assortment which featured the chefs choice of various cuts. I also enjoyed a salad and a shrimp tempura roll. The server was very attentive to my needs, even though she was very busy with a neighboring table who had trouble ordering, though no fault of the server or establishment. At one point my server was kind enough to send another server to my table to assist since she was caught up at that table for a longer period of time. Over all, Bar Masa is a great place to visit. The location allows you to eat and then shop all without ever leaving and e steering the cold!

Kiwi Ki

Masa delivers an exquisite, ultra-refined dining experience—easily one of the most elegant sushi meals you can find in the U.S. The ingredients are exceptional, the flavors are clean and precise, and the presentation shows an unmistakable level of craftsmanship. Certain courses, like the toro, uni, and seasonal sashimi, truly stand out as world-class. That said, for the price point—which is among the highest in Manhattan—I found myself wishing for just a bit more emotional impact in a few courses. The execution is undeniably top-tier, but not every bite felt as memorable as the very best sushi experiences worldwide. Still, Masa remains an exceptional restaurant and a must-try for anyone seeking a high end omakase in New York. A beautiful experience with impeccable technique—just shy of perfection, but absolutely worth visiting at least once.

Unless you really, really like sushi, the value for the price is challenging. Great ambiance and service. There were six of us , one being a vegetarian. There was no discount for the vegetarian, which was disappointing given the person was served 5 types of vegetables over rice for the evening.

Decent service but not exceptional. The sushi is okay but can’t justify its price. Had much better omakase experience at one third of its price.

First let’s talk ambience. Cramped and bar atmosphere. If you want a more private setting do not dine here. The food in my opinion was average. The oysters with a hint of their own cucumber vinaigrette was the best part of the meal. The sushi in my opinion was overpriced for the quality. It’s fine just not anything special. Oseki’s in Vail Colorado is superior. Or Sushi of Gari in NYC. Not impressed. Service was excellent but that is the gold standard for NYC. This is definitely a one and done.

Peter Glickman

1. Note there are 2 restaurants conflated here - Masa, a super high end omakase restaurant, possibly the most expensive in the city, and Bar Masa, a related lower end (although still good), creative menu’d more casual place. This is review is for the latter, because they are not listed separately by Google maps. 2. Bar Masa used to be a favorite sleeper restaurant of mine, with many relatively reasonable very creative tasty dishes (e.g. delightful fish-based pasta with no wheat, roasted uni in its shell, fois gras peking duck tacos, etc). On my last visit yesterday, however, the food portions were smaller, the quality not as high, and in some cases the prices higher. E.g. the shishito pepper were bland, and the sashimi was woefully scant and only medium quality. Another fallen hero. Sigh.

Zachary Dennett

Undeniably good sushi. But, Bar Masa proved to me that sushi quality can only rise so far, while the price can rise seemingly uncapped. The sushi is on par with a few other sushi spots in NYC. On a per dollar level of enjoyment, many other NYC sushi spots do better. The restaurant was unexpectedly brisk on timing. They told us as we sat down we had only 90 minutes. (Had not mentioned when we called to make the reservation). They then relatively unceremoniously pushed us to leave the table 90.0 minutes after our reservation. The sushi sampler had some great pieces. I would have preferred the role was something with fish rather than boring vegetables. The duck tacos were great.

+1

The quality of the food and the level of service were undeniably excellent. However, one very important issue significantly affected the overall experience. Although the pricing at this restaurant already includes gratuity, this was never clearly explained or communicated to us in advance. As a result, we added an additional tip after the meal, which led to nearly $600 being paid in gratuity alone. At this level of fine dining, clear disclosure about whether gratuity is included is essential, especially for international guests. This is not a minor detail and should be explicitly communicated before or during the dining experience. The issue is not the price itself, but rather the lack of transparency, which ultimately left a disappointing impression. For those considering a visit, I strongly recommend confirming the gratuity policy beforehand.

If you are looking for an authentic omakase experience at a high end, go somewhere else. This is definitely not worth it. Over a thousand dollar per person, you will get plenty of food, don’t worry you definitely will be full, yet the chef will be rush to finish your section then move on to the next person after you. Every dish will be rush to bring to you and remove from you. You will be under watching from every corner of the room. I felt the pressure for entire of the experience. Definitely not coming back.

We thought about going to Masa but looking at the prices $950 before tax for the Omakase we decided to try Bar Masa first. If Bar Masa was a good sushi place then let's try Masa. The problem is that Bar Masa is not a good sushi place; it was overpriced and the sushi were not good. I had better sushi at Whole Food... So, a bit disappointed by this restaurant.

This place is very so-so. We do not understand the hype. We ordered from the regular menu and had a sampling across the various categories. Every dish was mediocre at best - lacking a flavour, salt, weird texture etc. we expected to be wowed and were left disappointed. Bad night celebrating my hubby’s birthday. Our server chipped my husband’s glass of beer and replaced it with a quarter of a pour from a new bottle. Like just have class and leave us the full bottle. At the end of the meal the servers assumed we were done and said “no more food right?”. Meanwhile we still were unsatisfied. The atmosphere was very loud, hard to talk. I can’t recommend anything from the menu. And it was expensive. Better off going to a sushi resto on the upper east side.

Ridiculously priced. Atmosphere cold and uncomfortable. Sushi good but too much of the same thing. Drinks not included. Some wine and a few non alcoholic drinks. Additional $900. Crazy.

We had an early dinner at Bar Masa on a Saturday night. Our initial contact with staff was cordial. The space is beautiful and menu sounded terrific. We both love truffle and ordered a few dishes with truffle in the description. There was no truffle detected in either dish. I'm willing to pay big money for small portions if they are delicious, but this was not. The other dishes were mediocre. My original review also contained a few words about the waitstaff which have mysteriously disappeared. So I’m adding them again now. My plate was taken away while I still had food on my fork. Literally mid-bite.

Had dinner here with family, their foods were not that good. I won't bother to eat here if you are looking for a good Japanese food. However, great services by their staffs. Their Sushi was just simple nigiri sushi, nothing special about their sushi. Way overpriced for this restaurant. Not recommended.

+1

Bar Masa is the casual offshoot of 3 Michelin star Masa, next door, often described as the most expensive restaurant in the US. So, we were ready to pocket out "beaucoup d'argent" for our lunch there on a quiet July Thursday (only one other couple was present during the lunch). However, the lunch itself and a few questionable practices on the part of Masa felt like a major disappointment, if not a turndown. First, the restaurant's website advertises "Omakase tasting served with miso soup and kale salad", with seasonal nigiri sushi selection priced at $56 and seasonal sashimi selection at $76. Nonexistent. Instead they got sushi or sashimi tasting, with neither miso nor kale salad. The prices are equally higher, in reality vs website. The sushi tasting small is $60-plus and the "large" version is $115 or so. So, we ordered 2 large sushi tasting. Wasn't an omakase, but rather a shmomokase, just a plate featuring 2 kinds of rolls (6 pcs) and 13 pcs of sushi (nigiri). Wait! How 13 nigiris can be divided by 2, to constitute 1 portion? Each person gets, what, 6.5 pieces of sushi? To add insult on injury, the server inquired if we wanted a freshly grated wasabi. Sure enough, it resulted in extra $20 on the bill. Should have been disclosed, and then we still would have ordered 1 freshly grated and 1 regular to compare the experiences. Michelin Guide habitually deducts stars from restaurants deemed overpriced. Masa is an epitome of this shameful practice. A Chef Tasting Menu is Per Se next door is priced at $355 pp for a truly unforgettable gastro journey. $405 for a few pcs of sushi is as bad as it gets. Was the quality of the product served better than a sushi lunch served everywhere in NYC for $30? It was, somewhat. Wasn't better that much. Spend your money elsewhere for a comparable experience.

+3

Syming Hwang

The sushi is good but not excellent. I have the same level of sushi in Japan at a quarter of price. The chef serving me does not know Japan. Only thing he says is the name of the sushi fish, not any other details of the fish. I asked for mocha, but they didn’t have. There are chefs chatting for a long time. The decoration looks old. The hinoki counter maybe the only one that can be a little bit special. Anyway, I was disappointed to this Michelin three star restaurant.

Such a scam! The food is so bad that it's embarrassing. I have had far better omakase for a quarter of the price. The appetizers were bland and honestly didn't pair well with each other and the meal as a whole. Some of them tasted like a waste of ingredients. The nigiri was even more mediocre. The quality of the fish was alright, but not amazing and certainly not $650 quality. The nigiri was also flavored in a very underwhelming way that did not bring out the flavor of the fish at all. I kept hoping to be impressed by something, and I came away feeling utterly disappointed in the entire meal. Ironically, the best part of the meal was the Lady M cake they gave us for our anniversary. We might as well have bought a $15 slice from Lady M and called it a night. Michelin should seriously reconsider it's rating and the chef should seriously consider retiring. The people who say this place is good sound like they have never had omakase before. I guarantee that your money will be better spent elsewhere.

After couple of years I want to sill come back and give you one star because I saw there are still a lot of complains on the internet about this restaurant , not surprised you guys deserve every one star or even zero star with your servants and food. Both are the worst in Manhattan. Hope you enjoy your “Michelin three stars”. Have fun :)

Masa was a bizarre experience found within a shopping mall. Given the best sushi restaurant in the world is found in a subway in Tokyo, we chose to look past the poor location and give it a try. You are greeted by abrasive and paranoid staff monitoring and micromanaging the guests with their belongings and phones. The staff also informed us when the restaurant received poor reviews from pictures posted online of food causing the restaurant to lose reservations and ban photography. The reason for no cameras or phones allowed became apparent when the flat line of culinary excellence was absent and dishes presented were thoughtless appetizers and mediocre nigiri. The caviar had no flavor and the truffles were old and bland. For those (us) who gave it a try despite a clear online presence, let us warn you it was not disappointing but a clear infuriating scam. With no culinary innovation, excitement ,or true original flavor. One would best go to an upscale sushi restaurant without a Michelin star. For those willing to brave the $2,500 bill, this is a restaurant for new money looking for prestige with no taste happy in mediocrity. There are far better one star experiences in NYC.

I’ve tried all the best restaurants in New York and I can say Masa was pretty average. Maybe 3 dishes were great the rest were ok. Not to mention the meal was 2k$ for 2ppl for the standard menu and an extra order of a 360$ bottle of sake and 2 cocktails. We also mentioned there was a birthday and nothing was done for that. I will never come here again. There are so many other places in New York that are far better ex: Sushi Ichimura , Noda, Bom, Noz 17 . Take your money elsewhere.

the guy work at the front is rude and disrespectful, as a return customer this is unacceptable! will never came back!

I visited Masa for the first time with high expectations, the food was indeed exquisite and worthy of its Michelin 3-star recognition. However, I was left with a disappointing impression due to a serious lack of transparency regarding their tipping policy. I was not informed that a service charge was already included in the price of the meal, and ended up tipping an additional 20% without realizing it.🤯 To my surprise, I later found out that this policy has been in place since 2016. It’s incredibly frustrating that such a long standing policy wasn’t clearly communicated by the staff, especially to first-time guests.

Feeling so bad today!!! Today is me and my husband 5 years anniversary, here treated like I was lower class!!!! I remember When my husband doesn't feel full after eating omakase, and then we ask for menu and try to order more food, and we ask for more wasabi and ginger, a Mecican man (Bartender) He gave us despise expression and walk away. And I can hear the waiters whispering that we ordered a lot of food and ate a lot. I am like, What!!!???? Is the service for three Michelin stars like this??? Is that any requirement we can not ask more food after Omakase????? We have money pay for it, but we really don’t want to pay for this worse service, we won’t come back next time for sure.

Jarred Abel

My wife and I dined last night at Masa. Our experience was very disappointing. Certainly our expectations were high given Masa’s reputation and 3 Michelin Star status. Regardless, our dinner fell significantly short of enjoyable. The food itself was quite underwhelming. There was much to be desired in flavor, mainly in the appetizer courses (the sushi was very good, but not outstanding). Additionally, presentation of each dish wasn’t noticeably creative. The coordination and delivery of our sake was very poor. Our server unintentionally poured the bottle’s cap into my glass and immediately took the glass away (which still had a full pour of the expensive sake in it). Only after a few minutes did I ask what happened to the glass, not wanting it wasted, did the server suggest he make it up to us by providing 2 complimentary glasses of a higher end sake. On the next pour, he almost repeated the mistake of pouring the cap in the glass again. Furthermore, the delivery of our second bottle of sake wasn’t efficiently executed. The delay led to 2 courses being served without our ability to pair with our sake. During the dinner, my wife attempted to use the restroom, but was told to remain seated since the facilities were in use, not wanting her to wait around standing. After around 15-20, she requested again to use the restroom since no one had bothered to update her that the restroom was free to use, which it probably had been for quite some time. For all of these aforementioned reasons, we are quite displeased with our visit. And not to mention the price tag of $750/person, we would expect near perfection in every aspect of a 3 Michelin star dining experience.