My husband and I celebrated our anniversary at Masa by enjoying the Hinoki Counter Experience for $950pp. Was it worth the price? For me, no. For my husband, absolutely yes. Masa is my husband's favorite restaurant of any cuisine. He's been there multiple times. My favorite is E by Jose Andres in Las Vegas. E by Jose Andres is over the top, experimental, and bold. Masa is subtle perfection. If you value subtle perfection as much as my husband, then you will love Masa and the price will be worth it. The purpose of the subtle flavors is to maximize the flavor and texture of the fish without overpowering it. At Masa, I've tried unique fish that I have never had anywhere else. Every course was delicious. I don't think I've ever had such fresh fish, either. Don't get me wrong - I absolutely loved Masa. While I understand the price, $950 is a lot. For the $200 price difference of sitting at the bar and watching sushi masters execute your meal with precision vs. enjoying the same meal at a table, I would say pay the $200 difference and make this a true experience. Our sushi chef was outstanding and very friendly. The servers were attentive to the extreme, but it felt a bit intrusive. A single droplet would be wiped up immediately. However, they would switch from side to side constantly and I felt like it took away from the experience a bit. The ambiance was wonderful, but the best view was right in front of us. Everyone at the counter was well-dressed, despite the website stating the dress code is "casual and comfortable." Looking around the restaurant as we were leaving, luckily, I didn't see anyone wearing casual clothes. If it wasn't for the price, I would be back in a heartbeat. Since my husband loved it so much, we will likely be back at some point, anyway. read more

Does not warrant 3 Michelin stars. I would not go back. Plenty of other omakase in nyc that are as good and not as expensive

Ok, you will spend a lot of money. Unlike some other restaurants (like EMP) you know where the money is going and why this meal is special. We also had the saki pairing and extra Wagyu beef. So what if the bill was larger than my mortgage. The smiles on everyone's face and guffaws at the presentation and taste made it more than worthwhile. Oh they don't validate parking and tax and tip are extra read more

One of the most memorable meals for sure. Sitting at the counter at Masa is a great experience for me friends. I love sushi and making omakase , steak , will come back here every month for a meal of sashimi and other dishes that will definitely be enjoyable... read more

We cried during our dinner, not just because we were celebrating my wife's birthday, or that we left our baby at home with the sitter, or the fact that we couldn't take any photos of the meal, but because the fish was just that DARN good! My wife and I saved up a lot of money to be able to dine at the best and most expensive omakase and I must say that the experience is incomparable. Given that much of the menu is a secret, I won't spoil any surprises, but here are my suggestions on how to maximize your experience. 1. Sit at the chef's counter - this is an absolute must! You get to see world class sushi experts practicing at the peak of their game, slicing delicate fish with large knives with gentle ease - like cutting sheets of silk. There are smaller tables at the periphery of the restaurant, but they are just regular tables...not really anything special and I'd avoid. 2. Get the wagyu special - yes, I know it's a few $$$ extra, but as my foodie friend told me once, if you have one opportunity to eat world class sushi and Japanese food, what's another few $$$ to experience melt-in-your-mouth beef? 3. Get the wine pairing/sake pairing. This is a hard decision, as we ended up trying the hybrid wine (mostly white) and sake pairing. I will say that while the white wine worked beautifully with many of the fish, the sake that were served were exquisite and definitely worth trying. You can't go wrong. 4. Come hungry - I don't think I've ever left a sushi place full, but Masa, with its 27 course dinner will not disappoint you. Your wallet will take a beating, but your gut will swim with the fishes. This is pretty much it for my limited review. Everything was perfect, from the roasted fish cheeks, to generous helpings of truffles, to the fattiest tuna the ocean can procure, to mounting piles of caviar and terrific mixed drinks, Masa does not disappoint. It is with great sadness that I couldn't photograph my experience, but it will always remain as the Michelin restaurant where I slipped out of my chair out of nirvana. read more

Masa - Sushi Bars Near Me - New York, New York

Came with another couple gratefully, so we had an amazing time....because of the company. Not the food or service. Laughing at the waitstaff's rude behavior while eating many many courses(tastes) of an omakase menu Sat at a table by the pool so warned to be careful not to fall in when being seated. Hahaha I'm a lefty so I kept putting my chop sticks on the left side of my plate The waitress kept coming over to place them on the right (really in the center of the bottom of the plate)...every course I had to finally raise my hand as a stop signal to keep her away from my chop sticks We also had to stop speaking while we were being told what we were eating even though we couldn't understand a word she said. The food was good. The sushi not better than other places we've been to Fun time. $2000 per couple. Guess it's worth a try if you really want to give it a try read more

I feel so lucky to be able to say I have been to Masa NYC. The food and service was impeccable! Ambiance was of course on par. I ordered a bottle of Kubota manjyu Junmai Daiginjo to pair with dinner and share with my bff. The Stone Crab with uni aioli, Toro tartar with caviar, and Roasted Sea Urchin Uni on the Half Shell were my favorite appetizers. Dinner was unforgettable and I will definitely be back but I hope to sit at the bar next time. read more

Hands down to the best Japanese restaurant and the most expensive meal I've ever had in my life. Too bad I didn't get to see Masa, he was at his new restaurant preparing for grand opening. The dishes was exceptional, sashimi melts in your mouth. The service was phenomenal, 10 stars for them. They don't allow you to take pictures of the food.... so many times I wanted to sneak a few pictures but the waitress/waiters were standing right behind me :( read more

Masa - My birthday cake - Sushi Bars Near Me - New York, New York

this is a heartbreaking review to write but one I feel I must. DO NOT go here if you want to enjoy your experience and linger and order and order more the way you can at any other beloved, Michelin starred space. never have I been so rushed. the plates were being taken from under my chin the SECOND I put a chopstick down. I was given 2 hours exactly to enjoy a $3,000.00 meal and I would have paid more if I could just ENJOY it. in fact I ASKED to pay more. my party of 4 wanted more drinks at the end and were quickly told there was another table coming and we HAD to leave. I don't mind dropping that kind of cash if it's a memorable experience (perse or Daniel etc), but typically you are allowed to just delight and dine knowing the price tag. the food was IMPECCABLE -- but the service was sped through at such a tempo that I felt like I was at a diner with a huge line behind me. so sad. took away everything we had looked forward to. truly. will never return. read more

Nothing was spared in creating the food here. Gastronomical experience not to be missed.

Wonderful experience. Booked a 5pm seat at sushi bar and was the only customer for the first 30 mins. Most of the dishes were 5 stars but a few were disappointing, like the lobster. Was it worth $1400 with food and wine? Yes, but I would not do it again. Staff were great and my only complaint was that I was so full at the end of the meal that I thought I would explode. read more

THEY LOST OUR RESERVATION AND PROCEEDED TO BLAME IT ON US!!! We planned an entire trip to NYC specifically to eat as Masa. Our colossal mistake was to still eat here after being told they could "accommodate us" despite their mistake. When we walked in the door they said they couldn't find our reservation despite having a confirmation email from September 3rd. We were so excited to eat here we made sure to make the reservation as soon as their policy allowed. The hostess became snooty and claimed there was an "additional reservation step" that we didn't do--despite them having confirmed the date and having our credit card and allergy information and zero indication in the email that anything more was to be done. We became irate and about 4 staff members came over to try to avoid our making a further scene. I said "we can't have been the first ones this has happened to" and one host admitted they were trying a new reservation system and were having problems. We had booked seating at the bar but they could "accommodate" us only at a table. I'm sorry?! You screwed up and your attitude is you are doing us a favor? At this price point? We should have walked out the door at that moment but were so angry and flustered and flabbergasted we accepted the table. My blood was boiling! They put us at a dark and cramped table that left us feeling the we were in steerage on a ship. No bright and shiny bar chatting it up with Mass. Nope. The table was 6 inches from other guests such that the wait staffs' clothing kept brushing my drink. There was ZERO apology for the screw up and they gave exactly ZERO f@&$s whether we enjoyed the food or the experience. To add insult to injury the food was mediocre and the staff uptight and condescending. They don't deserve a Michelin star. I have a shellfish allergy and the lack of creativity for my substitute dishes was astounding. Another piece of tuna? No thanks. A very narrow fish selection. They rice was off too. Mealy and grainy. They can't hold a candle to Eleven Madison Park or Atelier Crenn. For this price point you should be blowing my mind not just blowing my cash. So upset at this experience I almost cried at the table. Believe the one star reviews. The Emperor has no clothes indeed! read more

Was expecting an amazing dinner but ended disappointed. I have been to Michelin started restaurants before like Jean Georges, le Bernardin and the likes so my hopes where up. How wrong! $1500 for a meal with nothing spectacular about it. Good flavors and combinations but not for 3 Michelin stars. read more

If there is five star, I will give ten; if 100 is the full points, I will give 200 to Masa. If somebody has ever commented Masa something like: "it's not worth a try" "too overpriced", they definitely have not ordered the right thing. Usually, for an really high-end, high price setting Michelin restaurant, it's hard to appreciate the Michelin criteria, however, Masa delivered the authentic world renowned, top-notch Japanese Omakase, the best among all the restaurants I've ever been. Admittedly, it's also the most expensive Michelin 3-star ever, but it is also the most fantastic restaurant. It's no doubt worth everything to have a try. My friend invited me to this private dinner at Masa, which turned out to be a mysterious journey in sushi world. The entrance to the bar is under decent decoration, bringing me back to the Asia tradition. As my friend has close relationship with Chef Masa, I got great exposure to chat with the Chef closely and discussed details of stories behind each sushi pieces. The waiters even allowed us to take photos of food, but to show the highest respect to Chef Masa, I will not post every picture here, as you will find out the mystery once you have the opportunity to come here. We've had seven appetizers and around 18 sushi including the hand rolls. Among all of the dishes, there are so many of my favorites. I cannot really decide which one is the best but I will name a few for heads up. I would say the appetizers were amazing here, much much better than any Japanese restaurant I've ever been to. The sushi, so traditional and authentic. Starting with the appetizers, the most classic signature would be the toro tartare with caviar. I've mentioned so many times that I am a huge fan of caviar, however, I'm not that into toro before I came to Masa. The Otoro here is so fatty and declicious, but not too oily. The combination of toro and caviar really makes the whole dish as tender as possible. You can feel the fresh toro and caviar melting together in your mouth. Amazing and impressive! The roasted Uni with white truffle also brought my great attention. It's really unique to have Uni hot cooked while not losing its fantastic taste. But Masa accomplished this well. It's really the white truffle season as our next signature is the wagyu with white truffle. The wagyu was cooked just at the perfect taste, with the additional flavors from white truffle, love it so much. Speaking of the sushi pieces. The most startling pieces are definitely the toro. We had the double portion, so it's plenty enough for me to enjoy the tenderness of toro. I would admit, I've now become a fan of toro now tho I thought it was too greasy in the past. I also love the smoked mackerel and the truffle in the sushi series. I'm so so so satisfied that I've tried that many truffle during this season :) The two hand rolls were also the highlights at the end. One with Uni, the other with sliced toro, both with a great portion!! (So satisfying!!) Every time I had a bite on the roll, I could feel the softness of the ingredients, with special sauces within it, wish I could finish in one bite. The experience here, I should say, is irreplaceable. There is no another Japanese restaurant in town that can replicate what Masa offers. It is really expensive though, think in the other way, it offers the world top services and food here, bring you to heaven with amazing food. I definitely wish that I could come visit again :) cheer me up in this cold winter:) read more

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It's been my goal to eat at every Michelin 3-star restaurant in NYC (aside from Chef's Table at Brooklyn Fare, due to the racism controversy). Masa was the last one for me to cross off because it was the most expensive, so I decided to splurge for my birthday. In the context of both the fine-dining and omakase experiences I've had both in NYC and around the world, I have to admit that I found Masa to be NOT worth the price. Don't get me wrong, it was still excellent sushi and great service. But I've been to 1-star omakase restaurants in NYC that serve even better sushi with better service for at least half the price. Even Per Se just next door to Masa is cheaper and the space is larger, so it can't be the location. I think the thing that clinched it for me was the dessert. I saw other Yelpers complain about only getting cut fruit for dessert, but I also saw reports of more elaborate dessert offerings like grapefruit granita or white truffle ice cream on other reviews. Alas, the dessert we got was indeed the cut fruit that couldn't have been worth more than $1 each -- it was a few slices of white peach and 2 longan fruits. I mean, I get that fruit can be very expensive in Japan because it's difficult to grow there. But in NYC, you can get bags of this stuff in Chinatown for a couple of bucks and it's just as good. It really ended the meal on a very low note. And because it was my birthday, they gifted me a piece of Lady M green tea crêpe cake to share with my husband after the official dessert. If it wasn't my birthday, this wouldn't have been offered. But again -- I could get the same piece of cake myself for like $7. Like really? With the rent-check money they get from each diner every night, you'd think they can hire a pastry chef! Or at least source some more elaborate/special Japanese sweets. Might I suggest some wagashi or other similar sweets from Minamoto Kitchoan? It was a very expensive cross off my bucket list, but I don't feel compelled to ever go back again. And if you just want a really great fine dining and/or omakase sushi restaurant, save your money and go elsewhere. I really don't get how this place still has 3 Michelin stars. read more

Okay so my bf and I went here the day after Valentine's Day (it was $150 more for V day for the same omakase and I just couldn't justify the price difference), and while the food and service was amazinggg, I knocked it down a star because I didn't felt like...it was worth $800/person. Masa's widely known to be one of (if not THE) most expensive restaurant in the US and so I had ultra high expectations and I felt like the food wasn't worth the price. I'd go again if the price was ~$400 or even $500/person but....yeah. However, the service was definitely an experience on its own. The day we went, there were only 3 tables (2 per table) and the chef's table (so maybe 12 people total in the restaurant?) but at least as many waiters. I never felt like I had to ask for anything, my water was refilled immediately, ginger immediately replaced, my bf's napkin fell on the floor and another was in his hand before he even picked it up, etc. The people were also soooo nice there. Usually I'd take lots of photos in a place like this, but they asked for no photos inside the restaurant :( but peep the handwritten envelope they give all their customers! read more

Masa - Sushi Bars Near Me - New York, New York

Very overhyped. Attention to detail is not present. Food was good but not great. They even charge you for dinner before you get to eat it... read more

Everything was perfect! There wasn't a single dish that wasn't excellent. Beautiful restaurant and we were lucky to be seated at the sushi bar served by Masa. Incredible experience! read more

Fantastic. Stunning interior, impeccable service, and the best sushi we've ever had. The host will begin with an apologetic request for no phones or photography. Which helps preserve the serene atmosphere. This is omakase - so no ordering from a menu, the chef sends out what he wants. Every bite is well thought out and perfectly balanced. I prefer omakase's that include a variety of cooked dishes as well as sushi, so I enjoyed this menu quite a bit. Standout dishes - Toro tartare with caviar, truffle sushi, shiso ume, Saba, hairy crab with uni and yuzu. The price puts this as a very special occasion event. I am lucky to have a local DC omakase that is *pretty close* in quality and at a much lower price point for more frequent visits. But Masa is definitely a must do at least once in your life. And Chef Masa was there at the counter. He also came around to all the tables at the end of night, and let people take photos with him. He was gracious and sincere. read more

I am writing this review for the customer service team here. I made a reservation for a Wednesday and wrote to cancel the reservation the Thursday before, so it is 7 days in advance. Yet, they charged a $1000 cancellation fee on my credit card because they claimed it was past the cancellation window of 1 week. I cancelled SEVEN days before the reservation. I left my name and phone number for the manager to call me back but he never did. I had to call the restaurant 5 times to get a hold of the manager. This is a 3-michelin restaurant, and I would've expect much better service than this. read more

I credible food and service and price!! Great Uni and special roles.... I highly recommend this over and Sushi place.

Came here for a Valentine's Day dinner last year - the food is amazing and the service is perfect. The chef came out to great everyone as well which was so sweet. We did the tasting menu and had a late reservation so we came hungry but left stuffed! read more

Having dined at Per Se just across the walkway, Masa's unassuming entrance will not leave you in awe. You enter by swiping clear its name on a banner just as you would any noodle shop in Japan, then a bamboo-themed door takes you inside a small, none-windowed "sushi bar". No dress code. What immediately caught my attention is the actual sushi bar at one-o'clock of my sight, where eight guests were loud and giddy, interacting with the sushi chefs. We were a table of two at 7:30 pm. There was a table for two to our right, and two more for four to our left; that is the extent of the restaurant. Directly in front of my view is a longer table for 12, which was empty at the time. What was unexpectedly pleasant was that service was immediate and continuous; there was no lag in between all the courses. For our Omakase Menu, we will be presented with 24 courses. We weren't given a menu prior to coming here; the chef serves what he recommends and that's what you shall have. I really didn't mind this part of the rule; I DID mind the casual setting. I don't know, maybe it's just me. I just don't think for occasions which aren't the norm for people like myself, there should be tighter parameters. So if you don't LOVE sushi, this will not be a good place for you to be at; because this is ALL about sushi and the delicacies surrounding the enjoyment of sushi. I had a glass of roussette and my brother, who's the heavier drinker between us, ordered a bottle of junmai daiginjo. Six courses of appetizers, which was highlighted by the server asking us, as a special addition, that this evening's menu has available Ohmi Beef Tataki with truffle at $150 (extra, $300 for both). How much?!? But of course; why wouldn't we?!? And why wasn't this ALREADY part of the menu?! So glad we added this; don't think I've ever had beef this tender, evenly cooked throughout, and flavorful. Listen, there's no real way to describe each dish; you just have to try it yourself. With the exception of two sushi which I felt were "fishy" (I smell the sushi before I eat them), every single offering was small pieces of delectable heaven. Both of us agree that the first sushi with the seaweed shell recommended to consume in two separate bites, was the absolute best. It included a wasabi sauce already dressed which will continue to stir your palate long after you swallowed it. There was a fried crab leg which was a welcoming change from all the sushi, which ended up as my second favorite dish on the menu. Very simple dessert, which was grapefruit and tea; loved the grapefruit, didn't really cared for the tea. I felt the sesame just wasn't quite what this tea should be about. We discussed briefly about the order which the sushi was served; apparently the chef wished for us to experience the contrast in his creation. I felt having tasted the best sushi towards the end, which three more followed, somehow took away the presentation. Because for us everything after that was not in comparison to how magnificent the first seaweed sushi was. It's just me; you may have nothing against it. I would have wished to end on a high note, rather than having to savor the best already long served. I also questioned why sashimi wasn't served. That's a bit odd, isn't it? Isn't sashimi and sushi the peanut butter and jelly of a "peanut butter and jelly sandwich"?! There was a sushi with foie-gras. I absolutely HATE foie-gras. Why is foie-gras on a sushi?!? Now for a foie-gras lover such as my brother, this was a fantastic surprise. Is this the reason why Masa is a THREE Michelin-Star restaurant for fusing French Cuisine into the Japanese culture? They turned on some jazz music when the larger table across from me had guests. I wish the music would have been on the entire time. I thought the ambiance was very plain. The rehearsed "Sorry for my interruption" before describing every dish was a bit impersonal. Hey, I appreciate every part of politeness so this is not a point deducter. I guess on a humid evening with outside temperature near 80 degrees, it was great that I was able to take my jacket off during dinner. Glad MY presentation without the jacket was still above par ;) Our bill came to $1,769. So much for the fifth "world's most expensive restaurant", and also the conclusion for our dining at every 3-Michelin star restaurants in New York City. I don't think I'd return to Masa. My brother, on the other hand, who also paid for the meal, will gladly do so. I don't know; food's great, service was attentive, but for the value, I don't know if this is the absolute best that I'd recommend. On a 3-Michelin-Star level, Per Se hands down is my absolute favorite. Masa could be number two, but it's teetering next to Jean-Georges and Daniel (I will continue to count Daniel as a 3-Star because that's its listing when we were there). I love sushi, but Masa quickly educated me that I'm in no way a REAL sushi lover. In the end, I don't know if that is a good thing. read more

Masa - Masa - Sushi Bars Near Me - New York, New York

Is it expensive? Sure. Worth the price tag and experience though. Like many reviewers has commented, some of the fishes are available at other omakase at lower prices, however, I was impressed with the appetizers (crab, papaya) and some of nigiri (shima aji and truffle). I love food and traveled the world to star chase, very hard to find new dishes to be impressed now. But I was impressed by those dishes. Too bad no phone or camera allowed in the restaurant. read more

Paid $800 + and got a newbie sushi chef for the price we paid I was hoping to get a more experience chef.. our sushi wasn't the best rice was mushy and almost scared of it falling apart. Nothing spectacular about this place there are some great food items but sushi was quite disappointing... very small pieces compared to other omakase. Overall glad I tried it with my husband but will not recommend or come again. read more

This was my first eyepiece at a Michelin 3-star. My expectations were high. From the moment we entered the service was impeccable. Our seat at the sushi bar, you do not want to sit at a a table, was not ready, so we were seats at a table while waiting. That 10 minute wait gave us time to select our wine and begin to enjoy it. Then we were seated at the sushi bar. The 25 courses started with about 5 appetizer courses, most hot, served from the back kitchen. The papaya with purée urchin was magnificent. To was the tuna tartar with caviar served with toast. If there was one item in the whole evening that did not wow me it would have been the final appetizer of a soup with ginger. The the sushi courses began. Wow, served one piece at a time, our chef explained each one and how to eat it. Some dipped. Some eaten as is. Most already had some of the fresh wasabi our chef made to begin the sushi courses. My wife was getting a little full, so the chef willingly started to reduce her portion sizes. Others she just gave to me. This is unquestionably the best sushi I have eaten. The fish was all direct from Japan. Delivered every other day and usually arrives 24-48 hours out of the ocean. This is not an inexpensive meal, but I am glad I went. This was a bucket list restaurant for me and worth every penny. read more

DO NOT COME TO THIS RESTAURANT! Despite all the hype, chef Masa is actually a really terrible person - my date accidentally spilled a drink on the sushi counter because it's a cramped space (it was a complete accident) and subsequently was screamed at by Masa, who accused him of destroying his "precious wood countertop" that apparently isn't fit for handling any kind of accidental spills because it's not lacquered (ridiculous design choice for a restaurant). We paid $2,400.00 for the dinner. The vibe inside the restaurant was so depressing and sad that even the staff secretly acknowledged to us that Masa is a complete asshole and they are all afraid of him. He treats his staff and clients horribly and you can feel it, and we also noticed him watching us as our food began to taste more and more strange. The craziest part is that my date, who NEVER throws up or gets sick because he has a strong stomach, suddenly became sick after finishing his meal and ended up vomiting up his dinners in the bathroom. What's even more bizarre, is that he mentioned the same exact thing happening to him last time he was there - he accidentally spilled soy sauce on the counter, and subsequently vomited in the bathroom following his meal. Out of everyone else in the restaurant, the previous time and including myself this time, he was the only one to have this problem. There are other accusations of Masa intentionally poisoning his customers. The man is a psychopath and the energy in his restaurant is so uncomfortable. DO NOT GO unless you are sure you won't accidentally offend the chef in some way. And if you do end up going, take note of the fear and stressful look on the face of all his employees. Even the clients seem afraid to speak, god forbid they say something he disagrees with. And in all honesty, I've had better omakase in Manhattan at places that cost far less. Save your money, and save your body. Do NOT trust this man and trust your instincts if you go and feel that you're receiving a strange/negative energy...it's because you are being poisoned. read more

What a treat. The ambience was luxurious without being obnoxious, the service was simply perfect and the food was pure culinary innovation. While a dinner can reach close to a thousand per person you expect a certain standard to be met. Mass met that standard without being overwhelming or the contrary. I've heard getting in can be tough but it's worth the wait. read more

Note: On Yelp I review exclusively sushi bars. Summary: Yep, the best sushi meal I've ever had. It IS a 3 star Michelin joint. A well balanced meal of variety, creativity, and precision. If price is not a consideration, and you enjoy the over the top individual service, Masa will be exceptional. If price is a concern, and for most of us it is considering the final bill, then you can find other sushi bars that will be very close in experience for a quarter of the Masa bill. Full review: So let's start with the negatives. I don't begrudge Masa for their pricing. The food, service, & decor are all exceptional. He is operating in a high rent, Manhattan spot right off Central Park. It is well staffed by professionals who deserve to make a living. That comes with lots of overhead. However, the reality is that this restaurant is outside of the price range for most. If that is the case for you, take solace in the fact that the food is incrementally better than other top joints, but exceptionally more expensive. My only other drawback was we had a little bit of a language barrier with our chef. His skill was top notch, but we couldn't have the conversation with him we had hoped. We could hear the conversation from the next seat over and certainly would have enjoyed the engagement of that chef. Not only did he speak fluent English, but he was outgoing and we would have surely learned more about our meal and Masa had we sat there. Next time I would ask about the chefs when we are seated. For the positives. The best thing I can say is that it was a balanced meal. There was no after thought that it was to soy based, or I only got the favorites. There was an exceptional, balanced, variety in the meal. That is something I feel lots of chefs struggle for. We started with sitting at an amazing counter. A beautiful unfinished piece of wood the length of the bar. The decor and back bar was fabulous. It was enjoyable to watch the assistants work the charcoal grill. The waitstaff were certainly all friendly, considerate, helpful. Nothing less than you would expect. Our courses included gigi berries, Caspian caviar, truffle and Parmesan on rice, cho-toro, mackerel, winter snapper, Hokkaido uni, saba, eel, and wagyu beef. There was more I can't remember. I enjoyed the cho-toro as having more flavor and subtlety than an o-toro and very glad that was the tuna cut chosen. It was also perfectly aged. The Caspian caviar is not something that often shows up in a sushi bar, but of course was a fantastic part of the course. The mackerel for both of us in my party ended up being our favorite piece of nigiri. There was a wrap, a lotus root with a perilla leaf towards the end that refreshed our palette. You can see a picture on his website, it was delicious. There were all the little things you'd expect from a high end counter. Fresh grated wasabi, individually served nigiri with warm rice, cool fish, nikiri sauce on a serving plate. So I'll just mention the differences. The nori was crisped right then at the charcoal grill for us to watch, and that was definitely a standout to the meal in adding a step above the competition. The nikiri sauce was pretty light compared to other chefs and I highly enjoyed it with the meal we had. It made a much more subtle addition to the food than the sometimes heavier handed sauces from other chefs. Finally, the rice was spot on. Of course it wasn't over packed, but I also found it to be exceptionally balanced, not to sweet. Should Masa be an experience you are able to have, enjoy! read more

I don't understand why this can be a top restaurant in NYC. Staffs were so rude. Sushi is OK but nothing exceptional. read more

Masa - Sushi Bars Near Me - New York, New York

Guaranteed sticker shock. But also the finest Japanese in the City since Sugiyama closed. Perfect for special occasions.

Facemeltingly good. Walletmeltingly expensive. But damned to I want to go back as soon as I can (probably 10 years from now). The meal is split between some prepared appetizers, generally on the charcoal grill you can see from the sushi bar and the actual sushi. The prepared stuff is excellent with a snowfish dish in a garlicky broth being especially memorable. The fish they use is probably the best I've ever had, including some fancy joints in Japan. Our sushi chef was also very charming and interacted with us quite a bit to discuss the meal. Perhaps my favorite thing about Masa is you're not allowed to take photos. I kind of hate taking photos of food during meals. The food gets cold and your photo is not going to look great probably (professional food photography uses a lot of gear and a lot of tricks) and interrupts the rhythm of a meal. I might take photos every now and then but by and large leave it to the pros and eat your food hot. I think Chef Masa agrees. read more

I've been to many of the Michelin-starred and similar omakase venues in Manhattan, so I hope this review offers a bit of insight into the comparative value of the holistic dining experience at Masa. During my visit, there were three sushi chefs at the bar, Chef Masa taking the center position. Though he didn't prepare my food, he did introduce himself and shake my hand after the dinner, with a very warm demeanor. However, due to the hustle-and-bustle of the restaurant, the experience with the sushi chef who served me was not so intimate, and there was little interaction overall (especially compared with other omakase experiences). The food itself was great, as expected. Relatively simple and therein elegant, without the adornments (flowers, gold, decadent plating, etc.) that many other spots employ. However, was it orgasmic? Breathtaking? Unfortunately, it didn't pass that bar. That being said, other venues (a few one and two-starred restaurants), have provided me with that feeling. For the reasons above, I have to give Masa three stars--admittedly, a rating of the bang-for-your-buck with such a high price tag. I came here for a special occasion, and would have likely been just as satisfied, if not more, with a different high-end omakase experience. However, if you have the money to blow and enjoy the prestige of a three-starred restaurant, then Masa's trendy-yet-elegant vibe creates a great ambiance. The modern cocktails in particular add to this description. Overall, Masa is expectedly great, but didn't exceed my expectations as so many other places have. I'm not sure that many who have tried other spots in Manhattan will immediately find the comparative experience at Masa a justification for the exceptionally high price. read more

Another restaurant where I'm not even sure why I'm submitting a review. 3 Michelin stars. Best sushi I've ever tasted. A gluttonous adventure in the best the sea has to offer, generally raw as it should be. So the real question is: was it worth the $$$$$? If you are serious about your sushi, this has to go on your bucket list. Anthony Bourdain called this the best sushi in North America, I'm not sure I can beat it worldwide. read more

At $800+/person price point, food was great. Nothing to complain about. The restaurant had super good vibes everyone was friendly including the chefs, service was attentive. Also loved the fact that chef Masa designed many of the dishes himself to perfect the presentation of each dish. I do think that there are other Omakase restaurants that are half the price and the food is on par. But you are paying for more of an experience as you get to meet Chef Masa (he wasn't our chef, depending on where you are sitting he could be making your sushi), get a picture with him and an autograph. read more

A GAZILLION STARS! Masa is a 3-Michelin-starred Japanese restaurant located in the Time Warner building (next to Per Se). Owned by Chef Masayoshi Takayama, Masa only offers omakase (which is thought of/prepared by the Chef himself). You can request seating either at the sushi counter (made out of the rare Hinoki wood that is sanded daily (!!!)), or be seated in the regular dining area (I highly recommend the sushi counter!). When you make reservations, you can also request Chef Masa himself to serve you - UM, HELLO, YES, OF COURSE, YOU SHOULD REQUEST THIS!!! It's not guaranteed, but just cross your fingers that the lucky stars align for you (which it did for us, and I had tears of joy (yes, literally!)). The hubsters and I came to Masa to celebrate my birthday - so, you bet your tootin' bootin' I was extremely excited! We actually got to the restaurant a little early, but we were seated without any questions - Chef Masayoshi was right there, in the flesh, who greeted us - I almost lost it, because I become so fan-girly :x Since the restaurant does not allow pictures (which was so painful for me with my OCD (you can still use your phone to email and text)), I tried my best to just relax, enjoy, and soak in everything. We had fatty toro tartare with caviar (which was unbelievably generous in portion and oh-so-delicious!); yellowtail sashimi that had a lovely complement of ginger; grilled yellowtail collar (yes, it was recommended that we use our fingers - I'm all for that :P; bbq-ed membranes/toro sinew; shabu shabu with foie gras and grouper; Omi beef with white truffle slices (YES, OMI BEEF, WHICH IS BETTER THAN KOBE!!! It comes at a supplemental charge, but totally worth it; literally melts in your mouth!!!); and, an extensive selection of fresh nigiri, ranging from red snapper, squid, uni, yellowtail, scallop, eel, shrimp, mackerel, etc. Each and every single bite was distinct, and each and every single bite was oh-so-fresh! In addition, the service was impeccable (Jason and the rest of the serving staff were so sweet and courteous!); bowls of hot water with a slice of lemon was replaced for every nigiri touched (yes, you eat the nigiri with your hands - that's what Chef Masa said!), with a hot washcloth to wipe/dry-off. We had hot buckwheat tea (which was soothing), and our glass was always refilled with cold and refreshing Evian. For dessert, the hubs and I shared a Green Tea Mille Crepe, which was absolutely divine - not too sweet, had a great green tea flavor, soft & creamy, and a great way to end the evening. I loved how Chef Masayoshi was focused on us and served pretty much every part of the omakase - it was lovely to watch him prepare everything, his execution, his preciseness, as well as his extreme meticulousness; he had a great sense of humor, and we had a total blast - we had a running joke of 'soy sauce,' and we even got to take pictures with him at the end :D Chef Fuji and Chef George were also both very sweet and attentive as well! Our experience at Masa was unbelievable, and, while a splurge, it is DEFINITELY a place worth trying - we'll be back again! :D +omakase only! +request Chef Masayoshi! :D HEART HEART HEART +don't forget to request the OMI beef!!! +request seating at the sushi counter! +Chef Fuji & George were both awesome! +Jason and the rest of the serving staff were the BOMB! :D read more

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This is a review for the Temaki Box for 4. Let me first start by saying that I wanted to enjoy this very badly. Masa is one of just a handful of high-end, Michelin starred restaurants I had left to try, and the main reason I hadn't tried it had to do with the price. But I'll also put out there that I've been to Alinea, for which a New Yorker would also need to factor in a plane ticket and the price of a hotel, along with the high price. When Masa started offering these take-home options during COVID, I had doubts and refrained from ordering, until I saw a feature on youtube. As mentioned earlier, I really wanted to enjoy this; but it turned out to be very disappointing. Was the food bad? No way. Was it worth the $800 price tag? Absolutely not. I don't even know if I'd price its worth at $400. First - contrary to what was mentioned in the youtube video, there were no instructions on how to make the temaki. One might think it's quite simple; but we've never made them before, and were not sure of the proportions. I love Japanese dining because there's a culture of thoughtfulness in how they present and make the food. I don't believe there was much thought put into this at all. The most compelling evidence of this? This was advertised as a box for 4. There were just 3 of us who shared this, and they provided only 20 piece of nori. At this point, I'll mention that there are 10 different types of prepared fish. One is meant to be enjoyed with the toast, so this leaves 9 for temaki. With 9 types x 4 people, one would think that there would be at least 36 pieces of nori provided. With the 20 provided, and 3 of us eating instead of the advertised 4, we all ran out of nori to make temaki before we had a chance to sample each type of fish. I cannot believe that for $800, they didn't have the decency to provide a reasonable about of nori for the temaki. As mentioned, while the food was good, it was not worth the price. I've had better sushi for much cheaper. I was hoping that this experience would be the stepping stone to dining at the actual restaurant; but this whole experience left a bad taste in my mouth. It has also made me sad, as Masa himself seems like a decent guy; but this is a review about the food, not about the man behind the food. read more

As foodies, my husband and I love to plan our vacations around destination restaurants. We have been incredibly fortunate to be able to eat at some of the finest restaurants around the world. Being that Masa has 3 Michelin stars, it was a restaurant that my husband had on his bucket list. We were in NYC for the holidays, and were able to reserve for 3 people. As this was a tasting menu, we expected the experience to run anywhere from 2.5-3 hours. We had a musical to catch, and wanted to leave by a particular time. Our chef executed a well timed meal, that didn't feel too rushed, while ensuring we left on time. Initially, we were apprehensive that our 7 year old daughter would not eat sushi. To our surprise, she tried everything and enjoyed the majority of her dishes. They made a mock cocktail for her that was a lemonade yuzu with iced tea. That was so delicious, that I ordered one myself. At the end of the meal, she was given a personalized gift by Masayoshi "Masa" Takayama. He enjoyed the fact that though she refused to eat sushi in the past, that she ate the sushi at Masa. The quality of the fish was undeniably fresh. The uni in particular was such a rich orange color, with an umami taste that was utterly superb. They served uni in several ways, but the most unique was on top of a perfectly ripened Hawaiian papaya. The uni looked almost caramelized in its preparation. Who would have thought the two go so well together? Just brilliant. My husband and I discussed the meal later, and felt that there could be a few improvements. At such a high caliber restaurant, service is imperative to the overall experience. Thoughtful service that is attentive yet avoids hovering, is an elusive ideal. The other improvement would be in offering a sake and/or wine pairing option. Overall a wonderful experience that we thoroughly enjoyed. Thank you! read more

The verdict: one in a life time experience for sushi lovers. Price might be high, but well worth experience. We would return once we save up enough dough :) 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) Note: no pictures of food is allowed. You are however, welcome to take pictures of the decor and settings. * 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.) read more

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The $750 per person price (without alcohol) does not equate to what you get. The experience is a once In a lifetime event, but really $750/pp. The service is unmatched and everything is timed right when the dishes arrived and served. Everything meets Masa perfectionist style. The wooden tables you sit at are hand sanded everyday so it is fresh for the next guest. Every plate and setting put on your table is perfectly placed. I lost count but there were about 6-7 dishes before the sushi, including and all were good. The wagyu capriccio with truffle was a big disappointment. The truffle overpowered the flavor of the beef. My wife toro dish was amazing though (this replaced the wagyu as she didn't want beef). I can honestly say our fish in Hawaii is just as good as the east coast, if not better. Sushi are small, but delicious. My fav was shima aji and saba sushi. Dessert was a simple grapefruit sorbet. read more