Sasabune

Perfectly seasoned rice. Taste wise this joint comes very close to what I've experienced in Japan. Extremely enjoyable! The octopus was the best I've ever had. All other items were ultra fresh and delightful as well.

Ordered for pickup last night and it was probably the best sushi takeout I've ever had. I got the 10 piece omakase, which comes with a cut crab roll as well as edamame - everything was incredibly fresh and delicious. I also got a piece of tamago sushi on the side and it was perfect. Since dining outside isn't possible for so many upscale sushi restaurants, I highly recommend treating yourself to some incredible quality sushi for takeout and supporting Sasabune! They're also offering 15% off all bottles of Sake :)

An absolutely beautiful experience. You must do the Omakase, your taste buds will thank you! I think it's best Omakase I've had in Manhattan. And the staff is extremely kind and helpful. I'll be back very soon

I've been to this gem many years ago and for some obscure reason never ended up here again. This past week I was in the neighborhood and decided to treat myself for an early dinner. There's a handful of omakase options in NYC that make me cry - first with joy while eating, then with pain when the bill arrives. Sasabune delivers the highest quality of sushi and service in the most down-to-earth, BS-free, authentic vibe possible. And as bonus, you don't need to refinance your mortgage. An absolute must to trusting omakase fans.

"Just Trust Us" is their motto and they are right. We were with friends who are "old hands" and the one thing they said was that they wanted "lite on the rice" which was a good idea. Plates kept coming.....each with 3 sushi items.......each wonderful. Our server was a terrific guy who told us when to use soy sauce and when not.....and what we were eating. Everyone working here seems happy and nice. And yes, dinner for 2 is expensive at $250/couple including tip. And yes, the place is very small with only 3 or 4 tables.......of course you can also eat at the sushi bar. These guys know who they are and are don't try to be anything else.

my favorite Omakase in NY by far. Highly reccomended

It might not look like much from a design standpoint but the sushi is absolutely phenomenal. The most standout thing is that they’ve really perfected making sushi rice. Good temperature, flavor, and stickiness.

I love it when it's all omakase all the time. I always believed that the Japanese chef knows better than me when it comes to walking me through a delicate series of appetizers, sushi, and sashimi for an hour. Since you really can't control what you'll be ordering, I guess I could just hope they give you some of my notable favorites: - monkfish liver. Wow. Just melt in your mouth creamy and an exquisite flavor. - salmon roe. It's so different when it's this fresh. - black cod with a piece of seaweed on top. I really like the taste conbo and I normally don't specifically like the cod, but this was one of the more interesting white fish from the selection. - sea urchin. Once again, a very fresh and sashimi grade cut for this place. Lovely. I also really love how they tell you exactly which dish can be dipped with soy sauce and which should be without. Hint: look for the light green onion topping. I feel like they also take great care in ordering the 12 or so plates. This is not exactly the jiro dreams of sushi land, but it is definitely inspired by it. If I were to do it all over again, I would probably go with fewer people (2 seems to be best) and sit at the front bar. My slight gripe about this place is that the rice is a little too warm. I don't think they packed it enough because it kept breaking up slightly as it was picked up. What an adventure for my tastebuds! I certainly would eat any of those pieces of sushi over anything else served anywhere.

Delicious Japanese restaurant. They have a very large range of sashimis, with amazing quality tuna. Sushis come with lukewarm rice. The oysters taste great. And the soy sauce and wasabi are home made. Everything is perfect.

People who've been to Japan, or to higher end sushi joints around the country will appreciate the quality of the fish you get here, which is just really delectable. For those of you who think sushi is a California roll, you're going to have sticker shock, and there is no California roll either.

Giving this restaurant a 5 star review solely based on the food - it exceeded my expectations. The chef and staff are experts and so hospitable!! The only drawback was the back room where we were seated. There was an old loud air machine buzzing the entire meal. I think if they added some ambient music it would help.

A wonderful place to visit and stay for fresh and tasty real sushi. Starting from a warm welcome by chef and staff that makes me feel at home and forget I’m in the US. I see a great sense of Chef’s choice (Omakase) to serve the best in season. When you go home, don’t forget to have a box of sushi for your beloved.

Ordered the "Tryout Omakase," for pickup. Everybody loved it. I would have taken better photos but I couldn't stop myself from eating one piece after another. All pieces were fresh and delicious. Will definitely come again when I revisit the city.

Loved the omakase experience. Feels like a hole in the wall joint but it's a very beloved place. My aunt understands omakase very well and still remembers this place after 7 years

Trust me about this place. Been coming to Sasabune for many years and never disappoints.

Really loved the 'tryout omakase' takeout option! The texture, taste, and freshness of the fish was incredible (especially the toro and fluke). Rice was pleasantly warm and well-seasoned. Great portion size given the relatively affordable price. I'm sure the outdoor dining is pleasant as well, but I would highly recommend the 'tryout omakase' if you're looking to take home a superbly memorable sushi experience that won't crush the wallet!

This is the best sushi restaurant I have ever been to it is so good and delicious

SO GOOD. One of the best omakase in NYC. Seriously. Better than the places you spend $600 on

Not the typical sushi place at all. Every piece is carefully crafted and CS makes sure you enjoy every moment of it.

Wandered in to this tiny spot at 530 on a Saturday and they made me a salmon avocado hand roll on the spot. The chef was super friendly!

Ben T

Ordered the "Tryout Omakase," for pickup. Everybody loved it. I would have taken better photos but I couldn't stop myself from eating one piece after another. All pieces were fresh and delicious. Will definitely come again when I revisit the city.

Yash Khemka

Loved the omakase experience. Feels like a hole in the wall joint but it's a very beloved place. My aunt understands omakase very well and still remembers this place after 7 years

L Z

Trust me about this place. Been coming to Sasabune for many years and never disappoints.

Perry Ahn

Really loved the 'tryout omakase' takeout option! The texture, taste, and freshness of the fish was incredible (especially the toro and fluke). Rice was pleasantly warm and well-seasoned. Great portion size given the relatively affordable price. I'm sure the outdoor dining is pleasant as well, but I would highly recommend the 'tryout omakase' if you're looking to take home a superbly memorable sushi experience that won't crush the wallet!

Gal Barel

This is the best sushi restaurant I have ever been to it is so good and delicious

Jamie Chen

SO GOOD. One of the best omakase in NYC. Seriously. Better than the places you spend $600 on

Ronald Laya

Not the typical sushi place at all. Every piece is carefully crafted and CS makes sure you enjoy every moment of it.

Sarena Snider

Wandered in to this tiny spot at 530 on a Saturday and they made me a salmon avocado hand roll on the spot. The chef was super friendly!

We tried the “trust me” omakase option and it was so worth it. The cuts of fish were immaculate and the rice was perfectly seasoned. Every course was better than the last. This was hands down the best sushi I’ve ever had. This is definitely not the place for you if you like to ruin perfectly good fish by drowning it in soy sauce and spicy mayo, but perfect for people who truly enjoy traditional sushi.

This was the best sushi I ever had outside of Japan. Not cheap, but really extraordinary food. Not very many seats.

Incredible find in a hidden destination. Trust me omakase... Affordable yet exceptional taste. Albacore and multiple other dishes melt in your mouth

I had the middle omakase option for lunch. Miso soup, 10 pieces of sushi , three pieces of sashimi and 1 hand roll ($98) . Amazingly delicious, fresh and filling. Service was very good! The place itself is very, very low key but your not there for the decor or ambiance ( there's 0 of that in the back room) try to get a seat at the sushi bar or front room. I would definitely go again!

Sushi Sasabune is certainly not cheap but it produces the best sushi that I have ever tasted anywhere (US, Europe, Asia included). A friend of mine suggested we pop in for a quick lunch without telling me that this was his favourite sushi place. My reaction to my first bite was apparently histerical - I honestly didn't know that it was possible to make sushi taste so amazing. For such an unassuming spot, the quality of the food is astounding. We spent over $100 a head on food and it was worth every penny.

Have been a couple of times for omakase. Love the low-key vibe but top-notch quality and service they provide. We were able to customize the omakase to exclude things we could not eat. Every plate was delicious. They also have a nice sake list with the ability to taste most bottles before committing.

The sushi is always excellent and so fresh and the staff is very kind too

Kenji Sensei was so warm and welcoming! The Omakase was an absolutely fantastic experience and the quality of sushi was top notch! Black Cod and Albacore sushi were big favorites 10/10!

Emily

The sushi is always excellent and so fresh and the staff is very kind too

Bruce Schobel

This was the best sushi I ever had outside of Japan. Not cheap, but really extraordinary food. Not very many seats.

M Cee

Have been a couple of times for omakase. Love the low-key vibe but top-notch quality and service they provide. We were able to customize the omakase to exclude things we could not eat. Every plate was delicious. They also have a nice sake list with the ability to taste most bottles before committing.

Andrew Kaplan

Kenji Sensei was so warm and welcoming! The Omakase was an absolutely fantastic experience and the quality of sushi was top notch! Black Cod and Albacore sushi were big favorites 10/10!

Angela F

Incredible find in a hidden destination. Trust me omakase... Affordable yet exceptional taste. Albacore and multiple other dishes melt in your mouth

Natalie V

I had the middle omakase option for lunch. Miso soup, 10 pieces of sushi , three pieces of sashimi and 1 hand roll ($98) . Amazingly delicious, fresh and filling. Service was very good! The place itself is very, very low key but your not there for the decor or ambiance ( there's 0 of that in the back room) try to get a seat at the sushi bar or front room. I would definitely go again!

Marc Cowley

Sushi Sasabune is certainly not cheap but it produces the best sushi that I have ever tasted anywhere (US, Europe, Asia included). A friend of mine suggested we pop in for a quick lunch without telling me that this was his favourite sushi place. My reaction to my first bite was apparently histerical - I honestly didn't know that it was possible to make sushi taste so amazing. For such an unassuming spot, the quality of the food is astounding. We spent over $100 a head on food and it was worth every penny.

Olga Prokopenko

We tried the “trust me” omakase option and it was so worth it. The cuts of fish were immaculate and the rice was perfectly seasoned. Every course was better than the last. This was hands down the best sushi I’ve ever had. This is definitely not the place for you if you like to ruin perfectly good fish by drowning it in soy sauce and spicy mayo, but perfect for people who truly enjoy traditional sushi.

it's almost military style and i was almost afraid to answer my phone by the pieces of sushi and sashimi melted in my mouth. for months after i couldn't have sushi any place else. this place ruins you for all other raw fish. NO menu. NO spicy tuna, No california rolls, and that's just fine. you're allowed to state your food limitations and then just be surprised. it's a price raw indulgence but every bite is worth it. you dip the pieces you're told into the accompanying soy sauce and some you don't but you know you've never had fish like this before and you didn't even know it comes so fresh. they serve only what was fresh in the market that day and if it wasn't there you can't have it. they don't give you a fish and tell you it's tuna just because you ordered tuna, like most other sushi places in the city (even the best ones). you probably didn't know that goes on, but yes. so if you're a raw fish lover and you can splurge, this is the place and now is the time. go and enjoy but be forewarned that it WILL ruin you for other place and you may regret it, but in the best possible way. you'll finally know what real sushi / sashimi was always meant to be.

You will absolutely get your money's worth when you come to Sasabune. Freshest food I've had in a while, and you can tell! My server was friendly and attentive, and the atmosphere was nice too. Can't wait to come back!

I was thrilled to have found this place after having been to their other name-sake locations in LA and Honolulu. The sushi is amazing, delicate, and really delicious. Actually filling, too, if you take your time with each dish. Let the chef outline your meal and you won't be disappointed. The place is a bit cramped but don't let that dissuade you. It is pricy but the meal is unforgettable. My Japanese friends swear the sushi here is equal to the best in Japan, so that is saying something. And I love the sign behind the counter that says "no spicy tuna roll, no California roll". There's no mayo, no crunch, no frills, no rainbow rolls, or monster rolls. If you're looking for that kind of fusion dining, this is not the place for you.

Went here a year ago for an anniversary dinner with my Japanese wife.... the food was decent quality but overall the experience was a real let down. The Omakase that we were served was what I would call 'white boy' sushi... it was clear they were serving different dishes to the groups in the restaurant - even though there was no choices on the menu. The waiters did not ask about our preferences or give any options.... I eat in high end sushi restaurants all the time and this is the first time I have felt like a second class citizen.

Small restaurant with sushi omakase. Waiters introduced sets with no prices, we asked to see the menu. Very attentive service. We got the $70 omakase. Food: high quality thick cuts. Unfortunately a lot of the sushi pieces were just not salty enough, including ones with house soy sauce. An aside from food, we went on a hot summer day and the air conditioner was not enough. My overall experience was not ideal so I would not go back again.

Wenlan

Small restaurant with sushi omakase. Waiters introduced sets with no prices, we asked to see the menu. Very attentive service. We got the $70 omakase. Food: high quality thick cuts. Unfortunately a lot of the sushi pieces were just not salty enough, including ones with house soy sauce. An aside from food, we went on a hot summer day and the air conditioner was not enough. My overall experience was not ideal so I would not go back again.

OK, here's the deal: this place is a $140 Omakase place masquading as a higher end sushi spot. While they are not trying to be a $400 spot, you can get a far better meal for half the price at Sushi W. Nothing "pops" here. Nothing makes me close my eyes and go mmmmmmm. For example, what they call "fatty Tuna" doesn't even taste like chu-toro. And half the nigiri are served in a cloying sauce that masks the fish, perhaps for good reason. The Wasabi is from a dry mix. If the previous sentences don't mean anything to you, you might enjoy this place. But if you are a real sushi fan, look elsewhere.

Daniel Levine

OK, here's the deal: this place is a $140 Omakase place masquading as a higher end sushi spot. While they are not trying to be a $400 spot, you can get a far better meal for half the price at Sushi W. Nothing "pops" here. Nothing makes me close my eyes and go mmmmmmm. For example, what they call "fatty Tuna" doesn't even taste like chu-toro. And half the nigiri are served in a cloying sauce that masks the fish, perhaps for good reason. The Wasabi is from a dry mix. If the previous sentences don't mean anything to you, you might enjoy this place. But if you are a real sushi fan, look elsewhere.

Beware! I small scam going on here! Went with my wife for a quick lunch. Sat at the bar. NO MENUS ANYWHERE. The chef asks if you want the Chef's selection. If you say yes, you are looking at a $280 price tag. That's for a group of 2 for a less than 20 minutes dinning in a super plain restaurant environment just for sushi. It's good sushi but NOT THAT GOOD. They definitely do this on purpose. Be careful and always insist to see the menu.

Terrible experience. Went on a second date. There was a bug in one of the sushi pieces. There was no offer to do anything other than replace the piece. I was treated as if I had done something wrong?? I called the next morning (after paying more than $300) to discuss with a manager, to only have a very loud angry man cause me of lying and hung up on me 3x. The unprofessionalism is astounding. And clearly they take no responsibility in having a dirty kitchen. They don't deserve your money or to be in business. I will now post this, and dispute the charge. Unfortunate.

Weird vibe, no music, really dated. Poor service/ communication by the wait staff. Super expensive /no selection. Menu is deceiving. $12 dollar rolls ended up being over $20 each because they were cut and I asked for Avocado? Also very small. Would not go back.

We expected the real Authentic omakase… but The rice was too soft and wasn’t sushi quality Clam was sandy Most of the fish tasted just defrost Toro was good. Sweet soy sauce tasted cheap teriyaki sauce Crab maki was canned crab with mayonnaise tasted terrible. They use powdered wasabi For $95 lunch omakase …. Also no music made us feel uncomfortable. Never go back🥲

Beware!! Ask for prices first!! And don't believe what the waiter tells you--ask for a price list, or these people will rip you off. We had 3 people eating 3 small plates of sushi and ended up paying nearly $300 for LUNCH!!! Immediately after sitting down the waiter brought out a $60 round of tuna. Had we known, or had we even been asked, about this "Chef's Special" value, we wouldn't have taken part. So, before course #2 we asked how much these tasty little morsels cost. The waiter explained that a full ten-course tasting of the Chef's Special usually costs around $100/person. So, we decided to stop at course #3, under the impression that each dish costs around $10/person. We were misled. After seeing the outrageously overpriced bill (gratuity included, which our waiter also failed to mention), we spent a good half hour pondering how we'd run up these numbers, including several items the waiter charged us for that we hadn't even eaten!!! He had to personally check his math in front of us several times! In the end we were still charged for $247 plus tax, for 18 pieces of sushi... Having lived in Japan, and having heard all the over-touted reviews of Sasabune, I was extremely disappointed in this dishonest dining experience. Is the sushi good? Sure. But it's not THAT good. The irony of it all is that the chef's motto, inscribed on every wall, is "Trust Me."

Nala’s Kitchen

We expected the real Authentic omakase… but The rice was too soft and wasn’t sushi quality Clam was sandy Most of the fish tasted just defrost Toro was good. Sweet soy sauce tasted cheap teriyaki sauce Crab maki was canned crab with mayonnaise tasted terrible. They use powdered wasabi For $95 lunch omakase …. Also no music made us feel uncomfortable. Never go back🥲

Clare Lee

Beware!! Ask for prices first!! And don't believe what the waiter tells you--ask for a price list, or these people will rip you off. We had 3 people eating 3 small plates of sushi and ended up paying nearly $300 for LUNCH!!! Immediately after sitting down the waiter brought out a $60 round of tuna. Had we known, or had we even been asked, about this "Chef's Special" value, we wouldn't have taken part. So, before course #2 we asked how much these tasty little morsels cost. The waiter explained that a full ten-course tasting of the Chef's Special usually costs around $100/person. So, we decided to stop at course #3, under the impression that each dish costs around $10/person. We were misled. After seeing the outrageously overpriced bill (gratuity included, which our waiter also failed to mention), we spent a good half hour pondering how we'd run up these numbers, including several items the waiter charged us for that we hadn't even eaten!!! He had to personally check his math in front of us several times! In the end we were still charged for $247 plus tax, for 18 pieces of sushi... Having lived in Japan, and having heard all the over-touted reviews of Sasabune, I was extremely disappointed in this dishonest dining experience. Is the sushi good? Sure. But it's not THAT good. The irony of it all is that the chef's motto, inscribed on every wall, is "Trust Me."

Buyer be aware! I came and tried the 'Trust me' $140 Omakase. I should have know better! I did not notice any difference from ordering your own rolls/sashimi and the omakase other than the price. In fact, I think i would have preferred to have chosen my own rolls. My dinner date did, and there was no difference between his and my rolls. His bill was cheaper! I was underwhelmed is the statement of the year! The oyster was not fresh, which was a shame as it had the potential to be quite delicious. (Did they shuck them earlier in day?) Same with the uni (sea urchin) I did like their salmon roe. In my opinion, the tuna and toro were not anything special that your local supermarket wouldn't supply. it tasted as if the fish had been swimming in a fish tank. And the tuna appetizers tasted like old fish. I think hmart has better quality fish. The staff was friendly and the place is cute. Other than that, I would not recommend it.