Ever herd of the saying "good things come in small packages" or "don't judge a book by its cover?" Well, Sasabune can be described as of those kinds of phrases. Located off a main street and tucked away behind a bakery, Sasabune is a diamond in the rough. The quality and love that is put into this place is pure excellence and first class all the way. With "omakase"...which means chief's special...you will experience 9-10 courses of sushi and sashimi. Every course is served with directions from the waitress/waiter or sushi chief. Some pieces are asked to be dipped into soy sauce and some are not. The reason why they tell you these things is because they want you to really experience the true flavors of the fish and dishes. You will not find any spicy tuna, salmon, or california rolls. THere are signs plastered all over with warning to not even to ask...lol. But why ask for these rolls if you can sink your teeth into kapachi oysters (from seatle) in ponzu sauce topped with masago, rock sweet shrimp (from maine), and squid stuffed with blue crab topped with eel sauce and sesame seeds! or seared butterfish topped with special sauce & sesame seeds, steamed fluke with scallions and onions!!! A great place of anyone who is dying to get their sushi and japanese fix, fixed... ;) A little pricey...however well worth it. Break open your piggy bank and enjoy the wonders of Sasabune, you will not be disappointed! read more

Sasabune - kapachi oysters (from seatle) in ponzu sauce topped with masago, rock sweet shrimp (from maine), and squid stuffed with blue cra - Japanese Near Me - New York, New York

I have been eating lunch with KENJI (the owner)since Sasabune opened, once or twice a month. When in LA I will eat at Sasabune on Wiltshire Blvd in WLA, both when it was at the original location and now in it's present location. KENJI is from Hawaii, mentored at the Origanal Sasabune in WLA and moved to NYC 10-12 years ago. The sushi there is as good as you can get. Very fresh fish he sources himself at 4:30 in the morning at the fish market twice a week. The rice is warm, which is as it should be. It is very simple in its presentation. There are no endowments. If you like fancy, this is not your place. If value best quality, it is. You are a paying guest to have what he wishes to feed you. It is a privilege. Californian living in New York read more

Personally I prefer this place a lot more than Gari. Environment The bar is awesome up front and center with action. The head chef and sous chefs are all present making and prepping your sushi. Restaruant is small and I would definitely make a reservation. They are not obnoxiously loud. Bar can get a little crowded depending who are you sitting next. Also you must sit pretty close to the bar or the chair will intrude into the aisle. Service Awesome traditional Japanese welcome and thank you. Each Omakase item is clearly explained. They tell you what type of fish and how it should bee eaten. No soy or so. This is all delivered straight from the prep to you. Pretty awesome. After each item the plate is cleared from behind. Service was 5 stars. Food I am not going to spend to much time on food. Everyone knows the food is excellent and it was. One sushi sashimi though was served rather cold. This was the only temperature flucuation I encountered. All other dishes and accompanying rich if applicable was perfect. For some reason either rice under the sashimi tastes better than most rice. I was rather disappointed they ran out of uni. I was hoping they would have told us this before we started. While we chose the Omakase; uni is rather a staple. read more

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Sasabune, I am going deduct one star from my review. Your quality is still top notch, but our last meal had a few negative elements. A few pieces of the albacore tuna were still frozen which (obviously) negatively impacted the texture. One piece of mackerel had a bone in it (it got stuck in my tooth!!). Lastly, the service. Our waitress was very friendly and sweet, but we felt very rushed. One of our dining companions had 2-3 plates in front of him because he is a slow eater. When we said that we wanted to wait for him to finish before the next course, we still got another round of plates before he finished. That being said, the fish quality is still very high. read more

No taking away from the freshness of the fish at this place - on that basis it ranks up there with some of the best I've ever had and this place would be a 5 star. I don't know if this is a consistent item on the omakase, but ankimo was particularly good here. There are two selections for omakase here - what the staff describes as Japanese and American. The Japanese version will come with more of a varied selection of abalone, ankimo, as well as other shellfish. The American version is largely fish. As some of the other reviews pointed out, they kept screwing up the temperature of the rice so literally some of the fish is getting cooked on the way to the table. This was particularly noticeable for the ikura, which was already starting to cook and discolor by the time it got to our table. You DO get a ton of food for your money here and we could not make it to the end of the omakase. They do bill you for what you ate. At $400+ for a party of 3 with sake and tip, I would have expected more fastidious attention to detail, but the negatives outweigh the positives at this place and I don't see myself coming back here. It falls a bit short for the sushi purists and is probably too uppity for the crowd that likes their gimmicky rolls. The staff are certainly enthusiastic and passionate about what they are doing and it comes across as being aggressive and pushy. read more

Sasabune - Japanese Near Me - New York, New York

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Awesome awesome sushi. This is something we randomly came across on the upper east side and I'm so glad we did! Hypes: - Fresh high quality sushi. Took me back to Japan. Insanely good sushi, warmed rice, perfectly vinegared - That wasabi - its a sauce more than just wasabi and it is ahhhhhmazing - People may complain the omokase is priced high - but for the amount of sushi and the freshness, I think its worth it. Waiting to go back until next time! read more

You know that feeling when you are sushi so good that when you are full, you're sad? Because it is so delicious that you wish you could just have more, and more, and more? Like every bite is a mini sushi-orgasm? OK. Now think of the opposite of that. The feeling of being full, unsatisfied, and not wanting any more sushi. That is how I felt after my dinner the other night at Sasabune. This was the most disappointing dining experience I've had in a while. But of course, I was only disappointed because I expected so much more. And for at least $100/person, I would rather have spent my money elsewhere (like Yasuda). A few thoughts I had: 1) They have a sign that reads, "Today's Specials: Trust Me". So I trusted them, and now I'll never "trust them" again (I won't be back). I feel that their omakase selection was extremely "safe" (way too safe, in my opinion), and I wish there were more options, which I will explain. Yes, they did throw in some decent uni and other favorite items of mine - but ONLY after a heaping plate of tuna in a very salty broth, fluke, and about 4 other pieces of various tuna sushi. NO MORE TUNA... PLEASE!? What kind of "trust" is this, Mr. Sasabune Sushi Chef? If we are paying over $100/person for dinner here, I would like to trade in my 35 pieces of mediocre tuna for a better selection, please. 2) The sushi was fresh, but Yasuda's "freshest picks" (as they tell you straightforward, circled on the menu) are so much better than any part of the selection Sasabune gives in their Omakase. And in the battle of UNI and MACKEREL, Yasuda totally kicked Sasabune's ass. I also preferred Yasuda's Peace Passage Oyster over Sasabune's Kumamoto. I just could NOT stop comparing everything to my first Yasuda experience... sitting at the sushi bar and ordering my bites of sushi-orgasms a la carte. Mmmm.. Wait, what restaurant was I reviewing again? 3) I didn't like their choice of seasoning for the sushi (I think they used lemon - each piece had a strong tart/citrus taste over it). And I also think they used a little too much rice vinegar in their rice. Overall, I think that Sasabune is highly overrated by most of the reviews here. It is by no means "bad", but I don't believe it is worthy of the same amount of stars as Sushi Yasuda. :( read more

Sasabune is my fave fave fave of sushi in New York city. The fish and presentation deserve 10 stars. It's not for the California roll / spicey tuna crowd. Menu (or lack thereof) is omakase (chefs tasting) only. True sushi zealots will love the perfect mixture of the flavored rice and sushi and the artistic minimalist presentations. Each piece served is specified - soy sauce or no soy sauce. So why hasn't the Michelin team rated this off the beaten path restaurant on the upper east side? It's the ambiance. Basic would be kind. An unknowing person off the street would think its a typical no frills sushi joint with the only clue of distinction being the paper sign stating: "No spicey tuna roll". So if you need ambiance and are a sushi purist - sushi yasuda is Amazing (deservedly 3 stars nyt) but the nuance of yasuda is more about the fish while there is a little more presentation and preparation at sasabune. Sushi of Gari has wild zany combos but I find the service (west side) so incredibly appalling that I can't go there. And lastly masa (3 star michelin over the top!) is also an option but at 5x the price (I think sasabune is about $100 before booze), I'd go to sasabune all day long. read more

The unassuming front belies the gastronomic delights that are in this sushi gem. The no-nonsense approcah to Sushi is delightful and one soon realizes through the taste sensations of every dish that the focus is exclusively on the experience and not the 'fluff'. The omakasen is a journey through the seas of the world. From the monk fish liver to the five types of tuna it is a worthwhile journey. read more

Sasabune - One of the many dishes - Japanese Near Me - New York, New York

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Skip this place. Service - Bad. The restaurant is really small and cramped, especially in the front by the sushi bar. I sat at the sushi bar and every time the waiter walked by the sushi bar to serve the tables behind me, he would run into my chair. The people next to me had trouble getting the waiter to serve them water. Food - Eh. Medicore at best. Most of the fish had a really "fishy" taste and my stomach hurt after I left and continued to feel funny the rest of the night. I will say that the oysters at the start of the meal were delicious, but everything else was pretty much downhill from there. Even the toro wasn't that great. Take your $120+ elsewhere--Sushi of Gari 46, Sushi Nakazawa, or Tanoshi. read more

This is the best Omakase I have ever had in New York City. It is a flat reasonable price and the dishes are innovative and delicious. Every piece of sushi has a different flavor or sauce and I even love the shell fish I normally never order. The house sake is incredible though very expensive. The owner and Chef is very nice and gracious. It is a small place and you should reserve in advance over the telephone. read more

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I love Sasabune. They serve only Omakase style (of course you can request things and say if you have allergies or dislikes), and I think the quality of the fish is as good as anything I had at Yasuda..... Except Sasabune is less expensive than Yasuda, and much less pretensious than Yasuda. Come here if you like traditional style sushi (nothing modern, innovative, or crazy) and just love really fresh fish. read more

Not what it used to be. I used to frequent Sasabune relatively often a few years ago but hadn't been in over 3 years until recently. It seems the Omakase menu is still more or less the same, but the quality has come down a notch.. or several notches. The shellfish, in particular, wasn't very fresh during my last visit and tasted... off. Sure enough, the next morning, I was having some severe gastric distress. Definitely will not be heading back read more

Sasabune - Japanese Near Me - New York, New York

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Hands down the best sushi in town. Authentic, simple & fresh. Leave your dining decisions in the capable hands of the chef, sit back and enjoy. The rice is truly special here. It is moist & warm under the mouth watering fish. read more

Sasabune - Japanese Near Me - New York, New York

A charming little restaurant, with delicious sushi. It's low key and quiet, and reminds me of the better neighborhood sushi restaurants in Tokyo. I highly recommend it; it's an upper east side gem. read more

There is a sign on the wall that says' "No California roll " so we expected exceptional sashimi. No doubt, the sashimi was sensational...so soft it melted in your mouth. The rice was sweet and pleasantly warm. I was delighted that the chef was able to master the ability to couple warm rice with the fish to bring out its buttery notes. Phenomenal selection of exotic fish makes this place worthy of New York top sushi dens. The place is a bit congested real-estate wise and somewhat wanting in decor. I think a few enhancements on the walls and table settings would go well with the extraordinary menu. For the $$$$, everything should be perfect. I give a 6 for the fish and a 3 for ambiance. read more

Not what it used to be. Have dined frequently (at least 2x/month) for years. Lately, the service and presentation is frequently rushed, leading to soggy hand rolls and an overall unenjoyable meal. This is a real shame, because the ingredient quality remains generally well above average. There are many local choices where $100 spent feels like $100 value---UNFORTUNATELY, Sasabune feels like $60. The Owner should pay closer attention to their business. read more

Had high hopes for this place and was so disappointed. Very strange service here. They take away plates just as you take the sushi. Mid way through omakase, they started serving us sushi with pipping hot rice. I don't think this was a speciality but they just didn't have enough room temperature rice for the night. I would have preferred if they came to us and said, we need to wait for the rice to cool, give us 15 mins before we can serve you your next plate. The restaurant was not busy so they definitely could have done that. That said, the fish was very fresh. Slightly warm for me as I prefer the fish to be cool. But good quality fish. $ is much better spent at another tried and true NYC sushi place like yasuda, where the atmosphere, service and food are much better. read more

the best Japanese. High quality. Not trendy. Doesnt need to be. Sit at the bar and watch the owner Kenji do his magic. Authentic Japanese. 5 stars all the way. read more

Best sushi ever I dont even like sushi, but i will gladly eat lots of it here (or in japan) if its the very best. The omokase featured lots of fresh and tender fish, sometimes with flavorful sauces like soy yuzu and others. The value was not bad given all the fish we got, definiitely worth it read more

One of the best sushi places I've been to. Attentive staff that detailed what fish you're eating and what sauce you should use for each piece or no sauce at all. Went here to celebrate a double birthday and it was the best. read more

Sasabune - Japanese Near Me - New York, New York

This restaurant is unbelievably mediocre, with an outdated interior, stuffy atmosphere, and rude staff. The omakase is $150+ dollars, not listed anywhere on the website or menu. Not worth it whatsoever - and I will never be going here again. read more

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. read more

Probably my #1 favorite restaurant in NYC. Quiet, high quality food. No nonsense here! Kenji is the man. Will always be back.

Simply extraordinary. Every attention to detail and freshness that could be taken was taken. Service flawless.

Firstly the restaurant is completely out dated. Secondly we decided to try this place out because it is in our area and the reviews are good. I called and made the reservation about an hour before hand and they had availability at the sushi bar without a question. That should have been my first warning. I also asked how much the omakase was just so I would know what we're in for, the hostess said $120-$140. The only think they ask is if you have any food allergies, the they start serving the sushi. The first dish of toro sashimi did not taste fresh right off the bat, I wanted to leave right then and there but my boyfriend was embarrassed. Second was two different types of raw oysters, neither of them were enjoyable. Then came monkfish liver (which I get at sushi seki all the time and it's out of this world) we each tried one piece and left it on the plate. Then came the sushi, while the fish was fresh the rice was HOT not warm and every single piece fell apart as you picked it up. I couldn't wait for it to be over. My boyfriend left more than three pieces on his plate. While the closer of two hand rolls toro and blue crab were both fishy and not edible. Then comes the bill, they quoted $120-$140 an hour before hand when I made the reservation but charged us $350 which is not far off but still over the quoted price when they knew exactly what fish was coming out. Overall would I ever eat there again? NO. Would I recommend this place to literally anyone? NO. read more

Beware! Omakase price is not preset, they charged per piece. So, you have the option to stop them from sending food once you're full. We did not know and were not told until we got the bill. Had we known this in advance, we would have stopped 4 plates earlier. The result is that I ended up paying $40 per person more than I should have. There were two of us, so that came out to $80 more, spoiling the entire experience. Food: Fresh, tasted good, but was ordinary. Service: Disappointing! They should have communicated with us their "Omakase" as soon as we sat down at the counter. The chef was in front of us the entire meal and ignored when we mentioned several times that we were full, just keeping the plates coming. The experience is made worse by how it was ended. The chef says to us that the Omakase has ended and that if we wanted anything else, it would be *extra*. When I saw a bill with a charge per piece I was shocked and unhappy. The chef saw my discontent and when I asked her about the bill simply responded that I could have stopped her at any time. Decor/Ambiance: Outdated! I found odd that the place was pretty empty at 7pm. We were planning to go somewhere else, but all other Omakase places within walking distance of this one were full. Prices: Outrageous and deceiving! When I saw 278 for two people, before tax and drinks, I was shocked. Like I mentioned above, I would have stopped a few dishes in had I been aware that this is really a la carte with the chef selecting all the expensive items. Conclusion: This place is really a la carte posing as Omakase. The chef choosing what you're getting and, by the way, they chose all of the expensive items, and charging per piece is a scam. Just to add a cherry on top, they repeated the tuna. There are plenty of Omakase choices walking distance that are creative and rank much higher than this place in all the categories listed above with a fixed price of about $100. I will never go back and will tell all my friends not to go here. read more

Sushi and dishes are good. However, Omakase Japanese course is too expensive. We, three, had Japanese Omakase course and ordered white wine , $38, and a bottle bear, $8, the total cost before chip was $550. Staffs do not have any smile, and we could not get any hospitality. The cost definitely does not value for it. I cannot believe people can afford this price. read more

Upon getting a new job, I treated her to omakase here. It was a great eating experience. See other reviews re: California Rolls. I only wish the itamae had sliced the fish in front of our eyes, rather than just assembling the meal. I think that type of theater enhances the experience, but the quality of fish is not being questioned in that critique. I suppose the fact that the restaurant was so busy, would probably make my recommendation logistically impossible, but I look forward to the craft that the itamae has worked hard to master. This ain't your grocery store sushi. If you ain't got drug money piled in your pocket, you probably won't be able to eat here regularly. A reservation is mandatory as the space is limited. Disclaimer: I am not a drug dealer. read more

Omakase Review Food:4.5 Service:4.75 Value:5 Overall:4.5 Chef applies soy sauce SOME nigiri not all. Nigiri is served one to three pieces at a time. Specific seating times - No Seats at the sushi bar - 10 Dining room - Yes Sushi bar seats for Omakase only - Yes Excellent Omakase. One of the best. I arrived at 5:40pm without a reservation on a Thursday evening, and was the first customer. I was seated at the sushi bar at the first seat against the wall. There are ten bar seats and twenty eight seats in the two dining areas. The Omakase brings a lot of food. See pics below. It starts with appetizers, followed by a sashimi plate, eighteen nigiri, and a hand roll. To me, it equates to about twenty nine pieces. The cost of the Omakase is around $100-125. The bill is not itemized, so I'm guessing. Very worth it IMO. The meal is serves two to three pieces (on a plate) at a time. The pace is nice. The fish is very fresh and very tasty. Every nigiri was very good to excellent. Not one disappointing piece in the whole meal. The tuna was more buttery the the otoro, so good (both are on the same plate in the pics). The abalone sashimi was a little tough, but it brought some texture contrast to the meal. Some pieces were served hot, fully cooked hot. I burned my mouth on one piece because I did not heed the chef's warning that it was hot. The nigiri rice was very hot. That's the only deduction I can think of. Sasabune makes my TOP FOUR. --------------------- Omakase tips - Rice should be body temperature - so do not complain about rice being too hot - Fish should be room temperature - so do not complain if the chef used the torch to get the fish to room temperature. Also this is why some places put their fish in a wood or metal box sans refrigeration - Eat with your hands or chopsticks. Either method is fine. But try to eat it in one bite, never putting any back on your plate. I try to flip the nigiri so the fish side hits my tongue and taste buds first. It makes a difference. - The nigiri should fall apart once it hits your mouth, that why the rice is sometimes loose. *Reason to eat nigiri with your hands. - Eat each piece as soon as it is served. Fresh from the chef's hand to your mouth! That's why most Omakase places serve one piece at a time. - Soy sauce should be applied to the fish. At most Omakase's now, the chefs brush it on. If you are given soy sauce, do not dunk your rice into it. - Do not rub wooden chopsticks together. - Omakase's usually offer around ten nigiri and a hand roll, and can range in price from $45 to $100+. Of course some places serve more and charge more. ($500 for Masa) - If you're complaining that Omakase costs too much or doesn't fill you up, maybe it's not for you. Go to Key Food and pick up two trays of their sushi for $15. And don't forget the soy sauce packets. read more

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I am utterly disappointed with my omakase experience here. I found it very difficult to enjoy my meal and savor my food since everything was so rushed. It was literally plate after plate with little to no explanation on the origin of the fish. The rice to fish proportion was ridiculous, I felt like we were eating at an AYCE sushi place where they tend to overpack the nigiri with rice. The rice was just wrong in so many ways. Not only was it not holding together, the rice was hot so most of our fish were warm. As for the food, nothing really blew my mind. I was unable to taste the freshness of how high quality fish should taste. Sad to say, this place fell below my expectations. Overall, I would rather splurge my $150 at Sushi Nakazawa's instead. read more

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I finally revisited this place after my raving review 4 years ago. I'm sad to say that Sasabune has changed (and not for the better). First of all, service was really rushed..they seemed to have at least 3/4 services per night. We had a 7:30 PM reservation and by 8 PM, they were banging out the 7th sushi course (there were 12), stressing in Japanese about the next reservation at 8:30 PM and forgetting to explain each dish properly. They used to explain the origination of each fish. They used to explain the sauces and ingredients used in the sushi. I didn't get that. I want more explanation than "soy sauce, no soy sauce, mackerel, red snapper." This is SO NOT the experience that I wanted to have in a $100 (at least) per person establishment. It felt like a fast-food sushi experience. They were certainly creating the sushi factory style. My friend noticed that they were PRE SLICING the fish and not putting it on a refrigerated block. This is to keep up with the pace of the service, that is, putting 12-15 sushi courses out in 1 hour. Before, they would take the time to slice the fish in front of you and I would eat everything in 2-2.5 hours. Not anymore. And that rice is too damn hot. It should be room temperature. The infamous blue crab roll that ends the meal had a different taste from when I started the roll and finished it. My friend's rice was so hot that it changed the flavor of the crab and became simply unedible. She couldn't finish it. What bothered me even more was the fact that the sushi chefs in front of us did not even ask if something is wrong. That said, the quality of the fish is still good and the portions are generous. But I'm very disappointed with my dining experience and the turn this previously good restaurant has taken. read more

I nearly jumped out of my seat when I found out (courtesy of Dan V.) there was a Sasabune in NYC! Sasabune has been one of my all-time favorite sushi restaurants and I used to frequent the spot when I lived in LA. Now, of LA and Honolulu fame, Sasabune has made its way to NYC. Why do I love this place so much? It's purist sushi at its best (there's literally a sign that says "No California Roll" and "No Spicy Tuna Roll"). What I mean by that = melt-in-your mouth, fresh, delicious sushi made by an expert... no spicy mayo, cream cheese, big chunks of avocado or tempura flakes to get in the way. Now, I do love these types of rolls now and then but you won't find that here. In fact, you surrender to the will of the sushi chef (think soup nazi but much more civilized); no matter how much of a control freak you are, you will be in good hands... as the sign says, "trust me". You will be served a series of small platters (usually 2 sushi pieces) at a time... ranging from blue eye tuna to aji jack to red snapper to different cuts of yellowtail to scallop, etc. All of the freshest cuts you can imagine... many of the pieces come with just the right touch of ponzu sauce (waiter will tell you whether you need to dip it in soy sauce or not) and the best part... the wonderfully warm sushi rice. I don't know what they do to the sushi rice here but it is the perfect contrast to the fresh cold cut of fish... it's seriously a little piece of heaven. There are no menus here and the decor is minimalist / simple / plain. All the better to focus on the sushi. For sushi experts out there, sit at the sushi bar and request the omakase "Japanese style"... this will get you uni, ikura, abalone, mirugai (giant clam) and a few other more exotic stuff. No matter what, make sure you try the blue crab hand roll, toro "ice cream", fluke, and salmon. You can make one-off requests as well, which will get added on to your bill. No, it's not cheap but it's well worth the splurge every once in awhile. Thank goodness I no longer have to make a trip out to LA (or Honolulu!) for some Sasabune. UES is a long ways to go for my taste but I'll trek up north for this anyday! read more

NO SPICY TUNA. NO CALIFORNIA ROLL. With that, Sasabune sold me. Walk in, and 5 sushi chefs stand in front of you in this tiny spot on UES. 10 seats adorn the restaurant and the staff is incredibly professional. Their prix fixe was phenomenally delicious. Go in with a bit of an open mind to try urchin or squid. Just trust them. This is definitely not a place to go to impress someone who doesn't have a palate that will appreciate the art of sushi. If you want posh, go to Bond St. But if you want REAL sushi that is authentic and delicious and makes the hairs on the back of your neck stand up... go to Sasabune. read more

My favorite sushi place in LA is Sushi Yotsuya, and when I told Masa that I was traveling to NY, he told me to stop by his friend Kenji's place. Pretty darn good. Would definitely go back, but, honestly, I think Masa's stuff is better. Couldn't quite put my finger on it, and maybe it was just that day, but the fish at Sasabune didn't quite melt in my mouth and give me the same oh-my-god feeling. Some of the fish was also a bit too chilled. I would say that the uni was awesome, though. Other comparisons. Yotsuya has over 30 dishes, whereas the cycle at Sasabune was 18, I think (after 18, they just told us it was done). At Yotsuya, you can start at the halfway point and get a totally different meal from everybody else. The fish seemed to come almost "too fast" at Sasabune, as if somebody had prepared the fish ahead of time (our dishes came from a back room, so I don't know actually how it was prepared) Service was totally fast, which is cool and attentive, but I sort of like to relax and be slower when eating really good sushi. Maybe this is a New York thing? Bottom line - good stuff, but if any of you New Yorkers come out to LA, drive up to the Valley and check out Yotsuya. Tell Masa that Kenji sent you. read more

You know the Charlie Chaplin movie, Modern Times? Where Charlie works in a factory and is driven mad by the repetitive motion? Sasabune UES is kind of like that (cue Modern Times music). We arrived on a Friday night and sat at the sushi bar. We got a front row view of every piece the chefs made - and they made them at a sloppy, breakneck pace. The man in front of us swayed as he made the ngiri. My companion had to keep his eyes on his plate so as not to get sea sick. The seating is narrow and claustrophobic and we felt rushed through our meal. The ngiri pieces were fragile and the rice broke apart too easily. The fish was decent - and you'll pay for that. However, New York sushi has thus far disappointed in terms of value and are way overhyped. Be careful with Omakase - one of the ngiri pieces was market value tuna, and a single piece cost $12! We miss Sasabune Los Angeles - where the pieces are delicately prepared, there's room to breathe and better service. read more

Sadly, it looks like the secret is out. I met Kenji (the owner/chef) when he worked at the location in LA. You see Sasabune has two other locations, in Los Angeles and in Honolulu. LA was first, then HI and now of course, NYC. When they first arrived they got panned by the NY Times food critic. What an idiot that fellow is. Stick to burger joints buddy! As for Sasabune, I was hoping the place would remain a secret, but all good things must come to an end. So I guess it's time for my review. It's the best NYC has to offer. If someone tells you Sushi Gari is the best, run away from them. Sushi Gari doesn't even come close. I did a back to back taste test (one night at Gari the next at Sasabune - both omakase style). Sasabune wins easily. Each and every piece literally melts off your tongue. Yes, its pricey... ~$85 for the omakase pp, w/o drinks and/or tip. A bit extra if your order anything after the last roll (the crab roll). The West Coast is much better than the East Coast for sushi, even in NYC. But if you need your sushi fix, Sasabune is as good as it gets. They serve shiro maguro (albacore), while most restaurants here do not. Their hamachi (yellowtail) literally melts in your mouth. Even the mackerel which most American's aren't fans of, is one of the favorites here. If you're lucky enough to get scallop it will wow you. The butterfish is fantastic and the crab roll is the best way to end the meal. It's simply the best sushi in NYC. Period. read more

We were very excited to experience this place given its reputation. We had an 8:30 reservation on a Saturday night. We made the trip all the way from Midtown West only to be confronted by an off putting smell as soon as we walked in the front door. It smelled like rotten fish, or what a beach smells like when it is littered with washed up dead fish. Just not good. I tried to not give that first impression too much weight, and we were seated in the next room where there was no gross smell. The server was friendly and appropriately asked us about food allergies. Subsequently, he brought us our first course of tuna. It was average, nothing special. Then he brought mackerel and while my dining partner will eat anything and loves sushi, he did not like it at all. He described it as inappropriately fishy and not fresh tasting. Almost immediately, the server brought us oysters. My partner slid the first oyster into his mouth and started chewing. His face changed from "Oh, this is interesting" to, "Oh my God what is in my mouth??!?!?!?!?!?!" And he spit it out in disgust. He said, "That is awful. There is something not okay with that oyster. I might throw up." Please know that he eats raw oysters all the time and knows what fresh fish should taste like. I have never seen him so disgusted by food. We decided we could not stay and we left. This was not a good experience. We were so disappointed, grossed out, and made to feel ill. We had wanted so much more. We cannot recommend at all. read more

We tried this restaurant last night based on the fabulous review we found from Zagat, rating this restaurant on par with Per Se and Le Bernadin (two 3 Michelin star restaurants) for food, decor, service, and atmosphere. The restaurant received a rating of 29, the highest I have ever seen for a Japanese restaurant or any other restaurant besides the two mentioned above for that matter. I was hooked and wanted to see what the hype was about. As it turns out, it was all hype. I've gone to restaurants with a Zagat rating of 26 that were better than this. So Zagat reviewers, listen up and get your numbers straight. This restaurant probably deserves a rating of 25. Quite frankly, I had pretty high expectations going into this restaurant based on all the reviews I read. First and foremost, I expected the fish to be amazing, and it was anything but. There were some notable ones like the scallop sushi, but for the most part the fish was not as fresh as I expected. The rice was warm and tasty but since they were so militarian about when to use soy sauce and when to use wasabi, it didn't create the flavor I wanted. I like my sushi with lots of wasabi. The service was mixed. It started off pretty rushed. We got five plates of sushi within the first 10 minutes of sitting down. Then it slowed considerably because there was a health inspector in the restaurant, which actually gave us time to digest the sushi. Meanwhile, our server apologized for the delay and actually gave us a extra bottle of sake. The decor and atmosphere was ok. I usually like quaint tiny restaurants which this was. The setting was quite intimate which I like. But the decor certainly did not impress me. The only notable thing I saw was the sign that said "Today's special: TRUST ME" which I found kind of humorous since this is a tasting menu only kind of restaurant. Overall, would I go back? I have to say that even if the meal were free and the restaurant was only 5 blocks from our apartment, I don't think I would go back. I'm still kind of pissed I spent over $200 on this sub-par meal. At least my company was good. read more

Okay, everyone who knows me. You may not know that I hate to eat alone. But I do it, if I have to. I was starving, and after the suggestion of Dan, I had to check out Sasabune, especially since it's only a block away from me. I walked in, without a reservation and they acted like I was supposed to have one. Of course, this being my 'hood I would do no such thing. I took my chance. I got in. I was seated at the sushi bar, which was marked 'reserved,' all the way. But somehow, they managed to find me a space - the last seat, across from the kitchen curtain entrance. As if I cared. All I wanted was to be fed, and right away. There was a slight 'chill' in the air - something which certainly might have put someone off - but they were not going to get me to go away, so easily. I was determined to see if I could eat. I was that hungry and curious. Once I got seated & I was offered the menu of drinks, I said to the chef 'I trust you' - the code words - & he laughed, saying 'no, not about the drinks.' The guy was nice, and he almost seemed overwhelmed, probably due to the publicity they had received. I had no idea. He was very accommodating, if a little nervous - but I could understand. No one tried to make his insufferable existence easier. I tried to make him laugh. I even tried to talk to some of the other patrons at the sushi bar, and a couple dining at a table. I wish I felt more sociable, but I was not really in the mood. I tried my best to be genial. I think the chef was somewhat more relaxed after awhile, but he still scrambled to please his high-powered clients too much. They were there in droves. Talking about the 'Junior League' and such. I heard of this in New England, but I never expected it here. I never know what makes these people's heart beat, besides their own sense of self-importance, which does not come from real importance. (They were not artists or geniuses - they were just the petite bourgeoisie). Yet, despite all that, I could still sense their insecurity, their own need to fit in. I think way too much, when I should just try to enjoy eating. (It's a little bit like having sex, lol). I ordered a hot sake, and shortly the real Chef, himself, brought me a complimentary Pinot Grigiot. He said 'this is my gift.' I hardly expected that. In fact, I needed to order a third drink, just to continue eating the omekase. It is a lot to eat, for me. I sat next to a couple of young kids. They were painfully oblivious of this restaurant trying so hard to please them in their new location. I filled them in, eventually, and also told them about Yelp. They had heard of the restaurant through another web site called Restaurantgirl.com. I never heard of it. I told them to sign up at Yelp.com. and they promised to visit it. Anyway... The food: I kept the receipt, because otherwise I could never remember what I had had. This is part of it: Tuna: Appetizer - in a not quite familiar sauce. It was actually good, if not breathtaking. I enjoyed it and it pleased my palate. Not to die for, but still above average. White tuna and Yellowtail: very good. I like the way he puts the warm rice under each piece, giving it that buttery melt- in- your- mouth feel. I gave up on the chopsticks and used my hand, after awhile. That was the only way to have it. Okay. The sushi kept coming - each one wonderful, with just enough wasabi to clear my sinuses - although I would put more - and I did. The chef instructed each guest whether to use the soy sauce or not. I felt like an idiot, or an amateur, until I realized he was saying the same thing to everyone. Expect it. A little bit too theatrical for me - having been around sushi- and I damned well know what to do with it! Was it really necessary? Also, the chef announced where each piece of fish came from. Tuna from Canada, and Yellowtail from Tanzania. It sounded exotic and appealing that way. It made me feel uncomfortable. Wouldn't it have been more natural to want to ask? I like interaction and dialogue, not instruction. Maybe, that's just me. Anyway. I also had Kanpachi - very buttery. Then Fluke and Halibut. Both flawless. Bonito, and Skip Jack, Red Snapper and Scallop, Squid, Jumbo Clam, Orange Clam. Littleneck Clam (BTW - I don't recall eating these, even though they were charged on my bill.) I don't think I could have had 42 items. Tomorrow I must go back and clear that up. But I doubt if I will. It just isn't my style. On the whole, it was a good experience that could have been made better. It should be all about the food, not the attitude. All classic restaurants master this. They have to, if they want a loyal and lasting following. Personally, I like a level of comfort that exceeds my expectations, not an exercise in rising to the restaurateur's expectations of my own. I will eat here again. But I am going to do it MY WAY. read more