Instagram : @yeapeats Sendo is a bit of a hidden gem--emphasis on hidden. It's walk-in only, and finding the place is part of the experience (or the challenge). You have to head up to the second floor, and there's no sign outside. The door is also closed, so it's easy to miss unless you know what you're looking for. Once inside, the atmosphere is quiet and minimalist. I noticed a surprising number of solo diners, which made it feel pretty chill and intimate. The fish was fresh and solid. That said, I had a couple of issues that held the experience back. First, the wasabi was overpowering--either the chef used too much or it was just a really strong variety. Second, the rice was drenched in sauce, which caused my nigiri to fall apart. The flavors were good, but the execution felt a bit off. One last heads-up: Be careful when selecting the tip. The lowest automatic option was 25%, which felt steep--especially when they prompted $8 on a $33 meal. Just something to watch for. Overall, it's a decent spot if you're nearby and in the mood for sushi with no frills--but there are a few caveats to be aware of. read more

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Everything was so good and affordable. We came half an hour before closing. But the chef took his time and gave us a good omakase experience. We have been to really expensive omakase for sushi in the US and japan. This place is comparable! Fish was fresh. Did my wasabi check under the nigiris (it was there!) and the sapporo was nice and cold. A MUST. Rice was a good texture. And the staff was too kind. The signage for the entrance is small so make sure you keep an eye for it! Bonus points: the bathroom is clean. We are definitely coming back. Thank you! read more

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King salmon was very good. I got another one a la carte after eating the Hokkaido menu. Everything else was good but not special. The rice was a little hard for my liking. I prefer my rice chewier. The restaurant was tiny and the wait experience was unpleasant. The restaurant is located on the second floor, up from tiny stairs case. It is very difficult to go in and out of the restaurant. However, once you make it in, the vibes are quite nice. read more

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Was recommended Sendo from my sister. She has never done omakase before and said it was the best sushi she's ever had. I went online and saw the price and thought damn for that price I'll try it! My boyfriend and I frequent Omakase. Sushi is my favorite food. In NYC there are so many wonderful choices for omakase. If you are looking for a budget option to get the an experience where you feel like you're in an exclusive sushi bar, but you don't care too much about the actual sushi itself (like my sister) this is a perfect choice. However, I do like sushi. I'm also not even that picky about sushi. I'll eat supermarket sushi and have a good time. However with omakase you're not just paying for high quality fish, you're there for the experience. We first arrived, I couldn't find it. (It's up a flight of stairs in a building I thought was apartments, felt like a hidden gem which I liked). and they said there was about an hour wait. No problem! Right next to Korea town, we venture over and go to one of my favorite bars, awaiting my text to prompt us to go back. Nearing the hour, no text, but to be safe we head back over. We go up the stairs and I say "hiya didn't get the text but we just wanted to wait inside" the woman checking me in very rudely told me that I didn't respond to the text and the seat was gone. I showed her my phone and as we were talking, the text came in. Either we had bad signal or she was fibbing, I wasn't sure. It didn't go any further than this as another lady came over and said "no no you haven't lost your seat" and then sat us down. Mistakes happen! It's okay! I wouldn't even mention this part if the girl hadn't been quite so abrasive. She even rolled her eyes and I felt like I was turning into a grumpy grandma (I'm 27) Anyways the chefs were great and hospitable, but the sushi itself was lacking anything of substance. It in all honesty tasted as good as the stuff you get at the Amish market. But they just put a blow torch on it. However! Price absolutely matches the value I'd say. I'd not go back, but if someone I knew was looking for an experience that feels fancy but is low budget I would recommend this. read more

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Unique omakase experience at great value. We did have to wait over an hour on a Friday dinner but I enjoyed the cuts of fish and meal overall. read more

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My first omakase experience and I cannot wait to go back. I can't believe more people don't know about it, but selfishly, a part of me wants to gatekeep and have it all for myself. the service was impeccable and very efficient, but not rushed. the omakase courses were delicious and very fresh. the ambiance of the space was cozy and calm. this was a very special treat and i can't wait to go back. we got the kyoto omakase course and spent about $33/each which is the cheapest omakase you'll find anywhere. highly recommend going early and getting on the waitlist. you can only get on the waitlist in person, so don't delay! read more

I can only speak to the take out. Fish was fresh and plentiful. The nigiri by itself was nothing special. It tasted like regular take out sushi with good fish. Rice was fine, but didn't have much flavor. The maki rolls were a lot better and I would go again for them. Fish ratio was very good and more flavorful than the nigiri. read more

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Had a great experience here for omakase! Arrived a little earlier than opening and was able to get first seating. The fish here was so fresh and the chef was very friendly! I liked that they there's a mini chirashi bowl at the end but wish it was a little bigger. As for the seats, they were a little cramped and hard to move in and out of since they were so close together. However, the interior was pretty and intimate. For the price point, I would definitely come back again if in the area. read more

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Came the third day they were open and it did not disappoint! Been meaning to try this place and was craving sushi, and luckily only had to wait less than 10 min for a seat. We got the Hokkaido set for $45 and you get so much for the price - nigiri, handrolls, and a mini kaisendon. Overall, I would definitely come back for a quick meal. It's on the cheap side as well for omakase so I can see myself coming here whenever I crave sushi. Will be back for sure! read more

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Came here 1pm, got a little lost at first but found it on the corner next to the pizza spot. Went up the stairs and checked in. The woman put us on a waitlist and stated 1 to 1.5 hour wait which we said was fine. We get a call at 2:50 saying that they are closing and may be unable to be seated but then we get a text 3 minutes later that the table will be ready soon so we headed over. Upon arrival the woman THEN asks the chef if we could be seated but he said no so we were then turned away. Wtheck was the point of all that. Dont book anyone/put anyone on the waitlist if you knew the timing would be too close. We waited and now wasted time when we could have went elsewhere. Very disappointing, I would say don't waste your time if you're not seated immediately read more

I visited this place just before lunch was closing, during an off-peak hour. It's tucked away next to a pizza shop. When you arrive, you'll find a hostess table where you can scan a QR code to join the waitlist. The space is quite small, so if you have to wait, it's better to do so outside. We were informed of a 25-minute wait but ended up being seated in just 15 minutes (score!). Despite seating for around 12 people, there was only one chef, which meant they could serve only about 8 at a time. As for the food, we had already decided what to order before being seated. We opted for the Hokkaido set, which totaled about $62 with tax and tips per person. Every dish was delicious! However, I was disappointed that there was no uni, which I had seen on social media. I hope that uni isn't reserved solely for influencers--kind of a letdown! While their social media featured a lower-tier set, it wasn't a dealbreaker, and I would still return but this is something they should be consistent if they are promoting this on social media which is how I found out about this place. One of the main drawbacks is that the atmosphere is quite relaxed and dim. I found it unpleasant that the chefs and staff frequently opened the kitchen door. The kitchen was very bright with sun beaming, which hurt my eyes each time the door opened. In just glad I didn't sit directly across cause I think it would have been even worse. My eyes struggled to adjust between the dim atmosphere and the sudden brightness. They opened the door at least ten times during our visit due to shift change staff arriving and preparing. I recommend adding a dark divider near the door, as it detracts from the ambiance and is harsh on the eyes. read more

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Food: I decided to try this place because of their affordable omakase. I tried the $48 Hokkaido set, which includes 10 nigiris, two hand rolls, and one mini kaisendon. This place is definitely good for its value, but the quality of the omakase isn't the best I've had. It's a step up from a regular sushi restaurant, but below average in comparison to other omakase restaurants in the city. The set included typical omakase pieces such as king salmon, tuna, yellowtail, sea bass, sea bream, scallop, and shrimp. The menu includes three different sets to choose from as well as an uni tasting and individual nigiri or hand rolls. There is also a kaisendon rice bowl on the menu for $30. As you are nearing the end of your set, the server comes and asks if you would like to add anything else. It seems that they try to keep each seating to under 45 minutes so they can turn over the restaurant. We tried to wait and finish our entire set to see if we wanted to add anything else, but the server said their policy is to add on items prior to the last piece of your set. Service: Service was good. As soon as you sit down, the server brings you a glass of water and you are greeted by the sushi chef. Both the server and sushi chef are very attentive and check on you throughout the meal and ask you how everything is. However, towards the end, I felt a little rushed, especially being asked to let the server know if we wanted any add-ons when we asked if we can just finish our mini rice bowl before deciding. Ambiance: The restaurant is located on the second floor of a building, so there is a pretty steep flight of stairs that you need to go up in order to enter the restaurant. This place is not wheelchair accessible. The restaurant is very small and only seats 12 people at a time at the sushi bar seating is very tight and you are literally touching the person next to you. The overall restaurant space is very tight, and there is not much room to walk around as you're leaving. There are other people waiting at the front of the space and in the stairwell so getting out of the place is tight as well. Overall, I would recommend this restaurant but keep in mind that it is an omakase good for its value and not the highest quality you can find in the city. read more

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Absolutely amazing sushi for a an awesome price. It is a little hard to find but that makes it a fun adventure! There is usually a wait but it's worth it, the staff is super friendly and the decor is very minimalistic and clean. The sushi is phenomenal with unique flavors and would definitely go back! read more

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I found this speakeasy omakase while i was looking for something for lunch and i love it. The entrance was pretty hard to find without sign. But that made it a hidden gem! Absolutely affordable sushi set and chef make it in-front of you just like omakase! Service was great. I went there during lunch there were not many people. Definitely be back~ ! read more

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I think this is a yummy experience to try once! While it was enjoyable, not a place I'm dying to come back to if that makes. The space is so tiny, so they can only seat like 12 people at a time. The restaurant is very nondescript from the outside, so you'd only know to come by looking on the map. They open at 5 and we arrived at like 4:45 and still did not make the cutoff for the first round of people, so we had to wait 50 minutes for the first round to finish up. We got the Hokkaido which is the 10 piece nigiri, 2 handrolls, and the mini Kaisendon. I liked the salmon, ocean trout, and toro pieces the best. I thought each piece tasted fresh and yummy! However, nothing here really wowed me as something I hadn't had before. Some omakase places experiment with searing fish, using different sauces, or using different toppings; at Sendo it is just the piece of fish with some wasabi and a brushing of soy sauce. Since each piece came pre-sauced, they just provide you with ginger on the side. Service was quick, which I imagine is to keep the turnover of seats high since they only seat a few people at a time. We were in and out in about 45-50 minutes. Would probably be a nice and intimate spot for a date since the space is very small. read more

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Got there around 630pm. Very difficult to find as there is no signage. You go in a door and up a flight of stairs and about half way up there is a door on the right, also with no signage. In here you'll find a quaint little place with room for about 12 people to sit around a bar and have sushi made for you on the fly. You eat as they make the sets. We were told the wait was 45 to 75 minutes. We got our name on the list and went shopping for a while. About 2hr later we got the call. So we get seated around 8:50, and since they close at 10pm, we are the last group, which is awesome because the chef was able to talk to us and not push us through under an hour. He had lived in Spain for 11 years, and his Spanish was actually better than his English, which was fun because we could converse en Español. We all got the Hokkaido set. Tried a few Sakes that were recommended as well. Its hand down one of the best food experiences we have ever had in New York. My wife is Celiac and she had no issues. They use Gluten Free soy and make their own wasabi each day in house. She had the rice beer which was gluten free. Get there the earliest you can and be prepared to wait a while. On weekends you may not even get in as they said the wait can be 3+ hour. We spent about $100 per person, which was absolutely worth it, and we will be revisiting. read more

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dude. bro. this damn restaurant. is so dope. lovely waitresses. AND THE COOLEST CHEF EVER. shoutout Ramiro! YUMMY ASS SUSHI MAN. every piece was so buttery and it was my first omakase ever so i was lowk scared but omg. FIRE. also the restaurant it self is so pleasant and splendid. i'm from socal and it was lowkey giving LA inside. love a nice dim lighting moment. AND THERES A GENDER NEUTRAL BATHROOM ‼‼ read more

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Super affordable and intimate little date night spot. The fish are very fresh and yummy. Combination of hand rolls and omakase. We walked in around 7pm and they had spot for us right away. Tucked away in midtown but def a hidden gem! read more

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The restaurant is upstairs and a hole in the wall type of experience. Quite cozy inside but can feel a bit too crowded especially when it's dinner time. The wait was extremely long but to be expected because there are so few seats. I think we waited about 2 hrs but was told it was 1-1.5. Very affordable omakase! But honestly nothing too special, I could tell the sushi is more mid tier which matches the price. There weren't a lot of rice in the sushi as well The servers were very kind and the chef was great to talk to! read more

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Not changing my rating, as my experience at Sendo was good and fine. I rated 4 for food, 1 for service, 2 for ambiance, 4 for value. The business has messaged me under the pretense of wanting to learn how to improve but instead offered me compensation to try again (I did not accept) and are giving me reasons why my rating should be higher. Please be aware when reviewing as I now feel rather uncomfortable. read more

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I got their Tokyo set for $38 which came with 9 nigiri, 2 handrolls, and 1 mini kaisendon and I noticed they use two sauces. Once you walk up the stairs, you can put your name down via a QR code. We got there on a Friday and waited about an hour for three people (shorter than what they quoted us!) It's a great value set, but one thing to note was that there wasn't much variety as I got the same fish twice. We didn't order any drinks but did notice that they're very generous with their sake pours! read more

Sendo - Sushi Bars Near Me - Manhattan, New York

Came around 1:30 on Friday afternoon pleasantly surprised to find hardly a line. The street entrance is very nondescript and a little hard to find, but if you look hard enough, it's there. After a 5-10min wait, we were seated. The menu is fairly simple, consisting of a handroll menu, an omakase menu and an a la carte menu. I chose the Tokyo Menu ($33), intending to add 1-2 more a la carte pieces after and my friend got the Kyoto, which is one more piece than the Tokyo (which happened to be fluke with shiso). The fish was fresh, and they had a good variety in the pieces served. The nigiri rice was seasoned well, but some of the nigiri fish pieces could've been seasoned a bit more. By the end, I had added one fluke, basically making it the Tokyo menu, but I was left still hungry. It's an affordable sushi spot, especially for the quality, but if you're hungry hungry, don't expect to get full off just the sets. I hear their takeaway menu is good, so might try that next. read more

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Everything is gluten free and the team is really knowledgeable about food restrictions so for me, a celiac this is a godsend. Team is extremely responsive and always trying to do better, so it always feels like such a personalized experience! Quality and freshness for price is amazing, like such a steal I almost don't want to write such a good review so I don't get stuck in a long line since I crave sendo like, every day. Alas, I cannot ethically gatekeep sendo, as the effort and care the team is putting into their work deserves the spotlight . read more

despite being hidden away in an unsuspecting stairway, there was a 45 minute wait on a tuesday evening. the food was definitely worth the wait though! i got the kyoto set, and it was absolutely delicious. the nigiri is on the smaller side, but the ratio between the rice & fish is perfect! really enjoyed the handrolls & the mini kaisendon -- you can taste the freshness & quality of each ingredient. the tea is absolutely phenomenal, and i'd highly recommend the sencha and soba teas. great spot for anyone who wants to be transported back to japan for a meal! read more

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I was so excited for this meal that I waited up to 2 hours to get off the waitlist but it was a huge letdown. Every piece of fish that was served in the omakase was mediocre. Not one of them melted in your mouth. I wouldn't recommend or come back here for sushi. read more

Sendo - Sushi Bars Near Me - Manhattan, New York

Great "speakeasy" style sushi place. This is an intimate place behind an unmarked door. I would recommend making a reservation ahead of time. They have pretty affordable set menus that fill you up just enough. Fantastic fish quality where you can chat with the chef and see the meal being prepared in front of you. read more

My goal is to go to everyplace I bookmarked. This was one of them. I wouldn't call this place hidden but it took a little bit of time to find the right door to head upstairs. One thing to know off the top is that this place is by no means accessible if you require a wheelchair to get around. (Stairs pictured below). The black door is after the first set of stairs and it is nondescript except for a small piece of writing. Inside it is a whole different vibe (dark minimalist) and it is economical in terms of space. There are 3 sushi chefs there taking care of 3-4 people each. Originally I was planning on doing takeout but they are walk in only and there was an open spot for one, I had to join especially since it was a Friday night. The people in front of me were given the wait time of 1 to 1.5 hours (for two people). They stored my book bag but I do believe there are hooks under the bar. The menu is relatively compact. You have a couple of sets with nigiri/handroll/kaisendon or just a some handrolls. I took the Tokyo sendo set for $39 and that was worth it for 9 nigiri, two handrolls and a kaisendon (the bowl). My favorites were the Hokkaido scallop, the kinme Dai, the sea bream and the kaisendon which had a mixture of all the fish. The served the nigiri on a leaf that served as a plate. In addition to the sets, they had a a la carte menu (I got an additional toro handroll) and a limited drink menu that had sake and beer. I tried a special sake they had recommended but it wasn't my favorite. Overall, if you are able to get in, it is worth the price. I have paid way more for omakase with only a couple more items. Next time I would do the Hokkaido set or just try take out. read more

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Very mid, simple bland pieces. Nothing wow about it. If you want cheap, more elevated flavor go to Sushi W. Place is tiny but you will finish within 30 mins. Come here if you want express basic omakase. read more

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Would go back again and again and again. The price point for this quality of fish is unbeatable and I will gatekeep this place for the rest of my life. Around $47 you get 9 pieces of nigiri, 2 handrolls, & an appetizer. Walked in at 9pm on a weekday and luckily there was no wait. The chefs are very prompt & the ambiance is nice and modern. read more

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You get to choose between a couple different set menus. It is on the cheaper side for omakase and you get what you pay for I think. Some bites were very yummy such as the salmon! But some other ones like the scallop and the tuna were super fishy. In addition, since it was walk in only, they really churn the seats (which is to be expected!! No complaints!!) just a fyi in case you wanted a long catch up with a friend, this would not be the place! This place is more like if you are craving omakase and want to scratch that itch but don't want the burden of spending $$$ for a craving. read more

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Walked in around 6:40, being told that the wait would be 1-1.5hr but actually got seated 2hrs later past 8:30. I ordered the Tokyo set and my frd got the Kyoto set, difference being blue fin tuna and eel. read more

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I almost want to gatekeep Sendo because it's almost too good to be true. We came by the 3rd day they were open (Sunday) with a group of 5 people. The restaurant sits 10 people, so be prepared to wait. We were initially told 25 mins but it ended up being around 45 mins, no biggie as they're figuring out the turnaround time for guests. Sendo offers three different sets at $32, $38, and $45. I went with the Tokyo Set ($38), which came with 8 nigiri, 3 hand rolls, and a small kaisendon. Our chef, Matsui, was very skilled and explained what each piece was. Highlights for me were definitely the Scallop and Salmon, which were so fresh and melted in my mouth. The price of the omakase was honestly unbelievable because I've paid $100+ for similar number of pieces at other omakase places. They also gave us free sake, which was such a nice touch! Service was great. They usually add broth halfway through your kaisendon, but they didn't have it today unfortunately. Speakeasy vibes on the 2nd floor of a nondescript building. Super affordable, fresh, and delicious. This place will blow up very quickly. read more

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Guy at the front of the house gave some great recommendations and explanations for the available sake. Both the Heiwa Shozu Kid and the Abe were delicious. The first one is a red sake! Super unique, as I haven't seen it at any other omakase. They've also got a new selection of teas. Chef Danny was great; the cuts of fish were thick with good technique, the shari was cooked and formed well. He was both friendly and professional. Loved my favorite piece - botan ebi. Both add-ons of uni (Hokkaido and Santa Barbara) were also generous and sweet. The default fish in the base sets are still very standard and not flashy or premium, but the price is low enough that you can easily order a set plus the special pieces you want for competitive overall price points. Overall ambiance is chill vibes, great music. This is a great value for quality sushi. I look forward to returning. read more

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It's a bit hard to walk in and get a reasonable wait time, which is at least an hour. You end up aimlessly walking around or running an errand during that time, but it's pretty worth it for the price. For their fixed omakase sets, $47 for 10 nigiri, 2 hand rolls and 1 kaisendon is about as good as it gets. There are 2 other sets, but considering it's somewhat hard to get into because of the walk in wait, I dont think those 2 make sense since they have fewer pieces. The quality of fish was very good too, I'd consider going again if I plan out the afternoon. read more

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Simply AMAZING. The fish was so fresh and the ambiance made it feel very exclusive. The service was impeccable.

This place is amazing. We started waiting around 4:30 pm to get in line. First come, first serve and only seat up to 10 customers each session. I ended up putting myself on the waitlist and overall waited an extra 40 min after it opened. I enjoy the atmosphere and vibe of this place. Everyone was so friendly, and the chef interacted the entire time while serving all the pieces to you. The food was fresh. I would definitely recommend you guys to check out this restaurant. Everything was on point. read more

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We went to this new omakase spot on Sunday at 5:30. There was a 10-15 mins before we got seated. It's a small omakase spot on the 2nd floor of the building. The overall atmosphere felt very sophisticated and personal. We got the tokyo set and the chef served us each piece of nigiri and handroll. My favorite was the seabream and scallop. The sushi tasted pretty fresh for the price of the set. In addition I ordered a toro nigiri and it was delicious. The toro was so soft that it melts in your mouth. This omakase place is so worth it. The price is amazing for the sushi set you get! read more

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The price was great but some pieces of fish was not the most fresh and tasted pretty fishy. It is also not an authentic omakase experience as they put multiple pieces of fish on your dish and we felt rushed throughout our whole dining experience read more

Sendo - Sushi Bars Near Me - Manhattan, New York

I love this place with all my heart. Super intimate setting & genuine staff. The sushi quality is impeccable for the price. Still blown away! I went here for my birthday & they made it unbelievably special! read more

I had Sendo delivered and everything from the presentation of the sushi, the packaging, and of course the sushi itself was amazing! I could not believe how fresh the sushi is! I will absolutely be ordering from Sendo again! read more