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    KazuNori | Union Square

    4.3 (82 reviews)
    ModerateSushi Bars, Japanese
    Open 11:30 am - 11:00 pm
    Updated 2 weeks ago

    KazuNori | Union Square Photos

    Business Info

    KAZUNORI | UNION SQUARE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Trendy
    Intimate

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    Ruby D.

    I usually frequent KazuNori's NoMad location but when I saw that there was a new location near Union Square, I wanted to check it out. When I got there, I had to wait in a line with my friend for a few minutes. I went for dinner and the place is incredibly dim. After ordering our food, the hand rolls came out slowly one by one so we were able to enjoy our conversation and didn't feel rushed. I opted for their 6 hand roll combo this time and thought that was the perfect amount of food. As expected, all the hand rolls were amazing. At the end of the meal, we're actually encouraged to pay at our seats instead of the counter.

    Hand Roll Salmon
    Allie L.

    I was in New York visiting family and friends and we decided to go to KazuNori. We were in the Union Square neighborhood and wanted sushi. We stood in line for about 15 minutes on a Wednesday evening. Seating is around the sushi bar with a set number bar stool chairs available. The menu offers a number of different hand roll combinations for a set price or you can also order individual hand rolls. We each ordered the 3 hand roll set (salmon, scallops and crab) and ordered an additional hand roll, the Toro. We watched the sushi chef assemble the hand rolls together and place them in front of us. The seaweed was so crisp and tasty. Add the warm white rice and seafood and it created a delicious hand roll. As others have mentioned there is no tipping as the price is baked into the set menu! The restaurant is dimly lit, but the counter top uses warm wood tones to create a very comfortable and inviting sushi bar vibe. I would definitely come back here to taste the other menu items!

    Bay Scallop
    Ailun H.

    The KazuNori location at Union Square is less than a 10 minute walk from our office and is known to be a good spot for lunch. We arrived a bit before 1 PM this past Thursday and only waited for about 5 minutes before we were seated (it's all bar seats). The line grew a bit after we sat down, but it didn't seem like people waited for too long. 6-HAND ROLL SET MENU - 35 + Toro Hand Roll + Yellowtail Hand Roll + Salmon Hand Roll + Bay Scallop Hand Roll + Crab Hand Roll + Lobster Hand Roll I thought the above six options were a good set and ones I would have picked for myself anyway! The hand rolls were good, but nothing incredible. Some rolls contained too much rice, or the vinegar to rice ratio was not the same for every bite. The nori wasn't crispy, so it was a weird feeling biting into it. Overall, my favorites were the scallop (very creamy) and lobster because they were a bit heavier in flavor, which helped with the copious amount of rice. The yellowtail and scallion was great, too. I love that KazuNori doesn't do tip, so it's just the base price plus tax. Again, the hand rolls weren't the most consistent nor the best, but it's convenient and gets the job done. We were done within 40 minutes and didn't feel rushed to head back.

    Stephanie L.

    Fast, friendly service. Nice fresh rolls. And best surprise, tip is included in the price! Having just come back from my Asia trip, I was confused since I got right back to my normal tipping mode Stateside, and felt so pleasantly surprised when the server confirmed it's all inclusive. What was also cool was a 12-year old boy who showed up alone to eat, who is apparently a regular.

    handroll and sake
    Michelle H.

    kazunori is such a staple. i probably frequent this place once a month. it's predictable, good quality and super quick. you can be in and out in 20 mins (that's if there's no line). the only downside to this place is that everyone loves their hand rolls so unfortunately sometimes the line is out the door! i usually go with one of the preset handroll combo options (because it's cheaper than choosing them à la carte). i had the single serve sake once and it was pretty tasty! lastly- i love the bar seating and dimly lit ambiance - it's very chic!

    Sushi Salmon Sashim

    Worth it! Food is so delicious and made with love. Setting is worth the price. It had a calm feel to it that made me feel comfortable. Food took about 5-10 minutes

    Jonathan C.

    Walk in as party of 1, seats available at 6:30pm on a weekday. The place is so DARK it took a while to have my eyes adjust to the dark. Got 6 hand rolls and two side dishes which was definitely enough for 1 hungry diner. NO TIPPI Toro: Warm rice, crispy seaweed, toro yum yum so fresh Yellowtail: good, basic (Special dish) Shima aji sashimi: light, clean flavor, great texture with some bite (Special dish) Ankimo sashimi: ankimo is mashed up into a little ball, covered in thick sweet miso sauce. Pretty tasty, but heavier flavor profile Salmon: standard salmon, mashed up Scallop: so sweet, sticky texture. Small bay scallops with a touch of creamy mayo (not too much). One of my favorites! Crab: very creamy Lobster: also very creamy, quite similar to crab texture and flavor

    Anna D.

    I came as a party of two and there was a space in the front but they first offered the seats in the very dark back part of the restaurant. I asked if we could sit towards the light of the front. The food is good as always but the person helping us was constantly waiting and answering the people near us first even if we asked prior to them, even with the bill we asked first and they got their bill and paid out first. They seated a solo male diner next to me on a super awkward corner and he was constantly brushing my leg and arm. It's a tight space but after the first time it's invasive. They brought him a carafe of sparkling water and placed it more in front of me instead of on his other side which had plenty of space.

    Rachel L.

    YUM! my first time trying a hand roll bar ever, and it's safe to say they've become one of my new addictions. service is very quick, and all seats in the restaurant are countertop bar-style, all facing the kitchen/assembly area. prime viewing area to watch the experts assemble the hand rolls fresh right in front of you! the menu is quite simple - you can order a la carte or choose from a set menu. we opted for the 6-hand roll set, which was about $36 with tax! (and they have a no-tipping policy, which is nice) each hand roll was deliciously scrumptious. the fish tasted as if they were just swimming not 5 seconds ago. the seaweed melted into the sushi rice, the rice perfectly steamed and integrated with the fish. the concept itself is very simple. however the execution on kazunori's part is flawless. i will be back next time.

    6:00pm line on a Saturday (with 8 more people in the lobby area). The wrap-around bar looks like it seats about 20 people.
    Joyce C.

    The food and ambience is just OK for me. I feel like you can just get a $3.50 onigiri (rice ball) from a Japanese Supermarket & have a similar experience. This is a nice fast, fancy-but-quick and casual restaurant concept but I didn't find anything special about it or that I would wait in line for. I got the $19 hand roll set (flat rate, no tipping establishment). The set comes with tuna, scallop, and crab. (I overheard that they were out of seabream for the night, but can substitute anything with salmon.) I was in the area around 7:30 PM on a Saturday and noticed that there wasn't any line & went in to take a look. They have a small ramp - good design to accommodate a queue. About five couples, and one group of three were in line ahead of me. The hosts went around, asking how many people everyone had and I was actually seated within a few minutes - between 2 groups of 3 at the front of the restaurant. It's a VERY tight seating arrangement - and I'm petite & very thin, similar sized females on both sides of me. Not sure if this is to encourage fast dining. I don't see many regular-sized adults being comfortable there and you don't have much personal space. The stools are a little bit high, with a foot rest. It would be great if they had a hook underneath the bar for purses or bags. I sat eating with my bag on my lap because I didn't want to put it on the floor. My neighbors had theirs on the floor under their feet. There was literally no space to put a bag between you and the next stool, without that person getting up and stepping on it. My "waiter" greeted me from across the counter, and explained a few specials. It's all a bit awkward & tight and you hear all the conversations (very NYU college crowd). The female chef is right in front of you making all the rolls, quickly filling orders with 2 to 3 waitstaff/hosts crammed behind her. The rolls came out at a nice pace, but the activity behind the counter that you're facing makes everything seem rushed. She she goes down the bar line one-by-one placing them. The rolls themselves were fresh, the seaweed crispy. But I didn't find much seasoning on the rice, the mashed tuna was a bit too mushy for me. The scallop was the best one but lightly dressed in mayo. And the crab was just a (fresh) crab salad with too much mayo. The fresh pickled ginger was a nice contrast between bites. It's funny seeing the people next to me with huge dishes of soy sauce, drowning their rolls in it, and later ginger... The hot rice made half the seaweed soggy and leathery pretty quickly. You have to eat everything fast for that textural contrast. Overall, I found each of the separate ingredients in the hand rolls, fresh but not very flavorful or anything special besides the scallop. The seaweed kind of hides all the flavors because with each bite, it wraps around it like a burrito. I think I'd rather have this as sushi. I was full with the 3 rolls, like a light summer dinner. The restaurant is extremely dark and half of the space is covered with a giant black curtain. It feels a bit like a stage set. There's a door for the restrooms that leads to a back hallway with maybe one or two single restrooms. I saw a short line of people and didn't wait. I don't know if this is just something the hospitality field does, or recent years have brought on stress for workers; but it's really odd when hospitality folks speak in accented English. Later on you hear them speaking to other people in perfect English. Are they playing the role of a foreigner serving guests? Or do they think I'm a foreign tourist, so I don't know any difference in language? Overall, both the food and the space feel like they're trying hard, but only halfway getting there. It's not anything super memorable.

    Bar area

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    This place never disappointed me . It's 100% the wait in line . The food is fresh and the staff very attentive.

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    Ask the Community - KazuNori | Union Square

    Momoya

    Momoya

    4.1(898 reviews)
    0.6 miChelsea
    $$

    I had been to Momoya on the Upper West Side before, but this was my first visit to the Chelsea…read morelocation. The atmosphere here was a bit more lively and crowded compared to the more relaxed vibe of the UWS spot. I enjoyed my meal even more this time around. I started with the beet salad, which was delicious and offered great value given the generous portion size. it featured sliced beets, arugula, goat cheese, and walnuts. I also had my eye on the hijiki soybean salad--which is a bit smaller and reportedly homemade--so I may try that next time, along with the warm mushroom salad which looked very tasty. The edamame was standard but served as a nice starter. For my main rolls, I chose the salmon avocado and the yellowtail scallion. Both were very fresh and definitely worth ordering again. The salmon avocado roll had a nice touch of sesame seeds on the rice, while the yellowtail scallion was prepared with the seaweed on the outside. My boyfriend's sushi entree looked excellent, so I am considering that or the sushi-sashimi combo for my next visit. The entrees provide a substantial amount of food, and I especially appreciate that they allow you to choose which roll comes with your meal.

    Came as a group of 5 around 7pm on a weeknight and seated fairly quickly. Ordered a bunch of apps…read moreto share and several rolls. The edamame dumplings and the crispy shrimp shumai were crowd favorites.

    Photos
    Momoya - Inside

    Inside

    Momoya - Chirashi Lunch

    Chirashi Lunch

    Momoya - Dessert

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    Dessert

    Sanyuu West

    Sanyuu West

    4.5(168 reviews)
    0.6 miChelsea
    $$$$

    price - $87 per person pre tax…read more food - 5/5 service - 5/5 ambiance - 5/5 I got the chance to try out Sanyuu West for my birthday and I had such an amazing time! from the moment I stepped into the restaurant, the waiters were super sweet and attentive to my friend and I. the courses kept coming out and each piece was super tender and bursting with flavor! my favorite was definitely the uni, toro, and wagyu on milk bread course! I love how the flavors mix so well together, I felt like I was in heaven! the service was amazing, like the never left my water cup empty!!! (props to them) the ambiance inside was also super calm and vibey. overall, I had such an amazing time and I would love to go again soon

    Came for takeout and got the Salmon Set which includes 8 huuuuge salmon nigiri for $30. You'll…read moredefinitely want to share this one. The slices aren't thin, delicate, and melt-in-your-mouth as one usually gets in a sit down; they are extra thick, and I had to really bite down on some of the pieces. The rice was nicely seasoned and was cooked well + portions are also big to match those thiccccc salmon slices. To be honest, I was getting a little nauseated after 5 pieces, haha~ They were definitely delicious but I'd probably just eat 3 or 4 pieces and share with a friend! It was easy to text the number on the website and coordinate a pickup time, and the staff was friendly when I arrived. The restaurant is a little hard to find as the windows are blinded and the sign is a piece of paper on the door.

    Photos
    Sanyuu West
    Sanyuu West - (@joeynht)

    (@joeynht)

    Sanyuu West - (@joeynht)

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    (@joeynht)

    Mikado

    Mikado

    4.4(207 reviews)
    0.4 miChelsea

    Unbelievable happy hour prices for beers, cocktails and food - as cheap as $1 for a bowl of…read moreedamame. Great portion size, the fish tacos were super tasty (comes with 3 per serving), the sushi is fresh and contains minimal rice in each roll.

    Reviewing location in Chelsea - The food is pretty good and there is definitely an existing…read morestandard leaning towards quality, but the service! Now, having said that although the food was decent, there were a couple of questionable choices in the overall presentation and plating and the sauces that accompany the black cod bento box I ordered, which did not actually come in a box. Everything is brought out piecemeal so you don't get an actual meal before you, but a lot of little plates brought out at different times, kinda like the Japanese equivalent of Tapas. We have been to this location twice, hoping the first time was a fluke, and trying to give them a chance only for the second time to be worse. The waitstaff is entirely disengaged from the customers. They rush you through the order process and don't explain any of the menu offerings, such as what is the difference between the different platter options. When they do come over, you are greeted with the sweetness and warmth of an unemotionally flat "What do you want?" After you get your food, no one comes over to refill water and cups are initially filled halfway with too much ice. No one comes over to remove plates afterward, and they definitely show no interest in finding out if you are enjoying your meal in the least. The booth we were sat at had not been cleaned after the last party's use so there was sauce all over, and it got on the back of my pants, which I later discovered while walking home...the joy. After eating comes the best part, they come over with these tablets outlining your check on the screen. Meanwhile, the tablets are strapped to their bodies the entire time. They don't allow you to scrutinize the charges in peace, no, they stand there impatiently for the duration either swerving from side to side of tapping their foot signaling discomfort that you're taking way too long. The funny part is the straps have clips to remove the tablets so it's not like it's impossible to leave the tablet and come back shortly. The whole process feels very rushed and pressurized for you to tip with one of the predetermined button selections, which start at 25%. Ummm, service sucked so no, we're definitely NOT starting there. I guess now we're both disappointed. Eventually, you get no paper receipt for your records even if you ask for it to be printed. And the whole time, the waitstaff is with you judging you on your tipping and not even being graceful enough to restrain their reaction. So no, not going back, and definitely would not recommend as a place to have a good time. Now, if you're looking for an uncomfortable experience served by someone that completely ignores you during your entire time there and expects an exorbitant tip to boot, then yes, this is the place for you!

    Photos
    Mikado - Indoor decor

    Indoor decor

    Mikado - Happy hour taco $5 comes with 3 tacos

    Happy hour taco $5 comes with 3 tacos

    Mikado - Inside large table

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    Inside large table

    Izakaya MEW - Salmon Carpaccio

    Izakaya MEW

    4.3(3.3k reviews)
    1.1 miMidtown West
    $$

    You walk down a sketchy staircase off 35th with basically no signage and land in a basement that's…read morelouder than half of K-town one block over. That's the charm. Went tonight and the sushi was legitimately fresh, like actually fresh, not Midtown-lunch-counter fresh. Yellowtail carpaccio and the salmon tataki were the standouts, clean fish, no fridge taste. This is izakaya food though, so order like it: geso kara, aged tofu, gyoza, repeat. Frozen beer comes with that slushie foam cap they do in Tokyo and it keeps the pint cold to the last sip, which matters when the room is this warm and packed. Service is fast and a little chaotic. Prices are fair for the neighborhood, borderline cheap at lunch. Not a temple of sushi, but for a rowdy basement near Herald Square? Way better than it needs to be. Full by 6pm sharp. Come at 5 for the sake deal or book on Resy, the phone voicemail is always full.

    I came here with friends for dinner and we had a great time! We got a reservation and were seated…read moreabout five minutes after checking in. Inside is dimly lit with a good amount of seating. The waiting area is a little cramped, but nothing outrageous. The food came about 15-30 minutes after ordering. Though it was a wait, the service was nice and they refilled our waters often. Each item was good, we all had a different favorite. The Tuna Crispy Rice was just the right amount of salty that paired well with the texture. The Kimchi Creamy Udon was also flavorful without being too heavy. The Yellowtail Carpaccio was bright and light, fish was neutral tasting. The Okonomiyaki was also good and very hot---we loved to dip pieces in the kimchi cream sauce! Overall we had a great time!

    Photos
    Izakaya MEW - Dining area

    Dining area

    Izakaya MEW - Volcano Roll and Chikaten Roll

    Volcano Roll and Chikaten Roll

    Izakaya MEW - Scallop Uni Butter Skewer

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    Scallop Uni Butter Skewer

    Umami Sushi - Delicious coursed out hand rolls

    Umami Sushi

    4.3(289 reviews)
    0.4 miWest Village
    $$

    Stopped here for dinner on a Saturday on a whim and was so happy with our choice! We walked in and…read morewere seated right away. It is a really small place with around 6-8 tables so it probably gets busy at times and there may be a wait. One of the best parts of their menu here is that you can order sushi by the piece. My mom doesn't always have the biggest appetite so for her to be able to order only a few pieces instead of an entire roll was a huge plus! I had to crispy tuna rice appetizer and the dragon roll. Literally so good. I was seriously craving crispy rice and these were perfect. I would order this again and again. The sushi was fresh and taste great as well. Super glad we decided to come here!

    This evening we were going to a jazz club where a friend of our son works at, but they don't serve…read morefood, so we had to find a place in the area of where the club is at. Do of course I use Yelp to find something that catches my eye close by where we need to be. I found umami Sushi. We usually can't go wrong with Japanese food or sushi. We had no problems finding the place. The description said it was a small restaurant and as we entered the dining area was very small. Our hotel room was probably bigger. That doesn't bother me especially if we get there, there tables for us to sit comfortably. I also trust my judgment when I find a place that seems to be popular by the locals. The restaurant was empty when we arrived. We were the only ones there, but for some reason we bring good vibes to the places we eat because not too long after we placed our order, people started coming in, to the point that the small dining room was packed. I love Omakase style Service and what we ordered was a sashimi/sushi platter for three and two special rolls. I thought I got to choose the rolls but even that was chefs choice. I was just a bit worried that they would give us the cheap rolls like spicy tuna or California roll. The platter came out and it was beautifully prepared with a piece of sashimi for each of us and the rolls the chefs chose, ended up being two of my favorite rolls. The types of fish they selected were also great quality fish. We were lucky to have placed our order before the crowd came in our we might have had to wait a while because how they prepared it would have taken some time. The service was just right. Because they got busy right away, the waitress was forced to attend to everyone and couldn't really socialize with us. In fact when we finished our platter we were debating what we wanted for dessert but the waitress didn't even ask us and instead she just brought us the bill, so we said to ourselves, "I guess we're not having dessert here." So we paid the bill and gave an opportunity for someone else to take our table.

    Photos
    Umami Sushi
    Umami Sushi - Salmon handroll (least favorite)

    Salmon handroll (least favorite)

    Umami Sushi - Salmon carpaccio

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    Salmon carpaccio

    KazuNori | Union Square - sushi - Updated September 2026

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