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    Sushi Akira

    4.8 (13 reviews)
    Open 6:00 pm - 10:00 PM

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    Patrick W.

    TLDR: Sushi Akira is a new addition to the UES neighborhood and one of the better sushi-yas offering omakase at the moment. The venue is clean/comfortable, the hospitality is fantastic and the food of course - is excellent. Sushi Akira was a place I had made a note to visit, especially after several friends who eat omakase a lot recommended them. Pricing is at $190 with 5 otsumami (apps), 11 nigiri/courses and dessert. While it's pricier than the budget omakase, it is fair for the quality, etc. Chef Nikki Zheng is knowledgeable, skilled and an incredibly friendly chef. The otsumami definitely stood out. The foie gras monaka, a French/Japanese bite with texture, lots of flavors and done very well. The apple wood smoked sawara (Spanish mackerel) I enjoyed with the micro greens, jelly and crispy binchotan skin. My favorite definitely was the abalone, grilled and served with its own liver sauce and a small ball of sushi rice on the side to mix in with that luscious richness. All the nigiri was excellent, the shari was seasoned well with a nice chew to it. For me my favorites were the uni kegani (sea urchin + hairy crab), the seared kinmedai (goldeneye snapper) cured in kobujime (kelp) and the anago which is grilled super crispy leaving a soft inside. The double desserts was great, a sliced Japanese crown melon and a hojicha pudding with actual cold hojicha over it. Sushi Akira was one of the places that I was very happy I found and will definitely visit again. Few restos leave an impression like that on me but very again - definitely should be on your list to visit.

    George T.

    My wife and I had a great omakase experience. Staff and chefs are very friendly. Service is excellent. Of course all the appetizer and sushi were top notch. Ingredients nearly all freshly delivered from Japan. Get in quick before it gets a michelin star in the next year (mark my words) and resys will become hard.

    Kyle A.

    Sushi Akira is one of my favorite omakase experiences in NYC as good as any top tier place especially for the value. Chef Nikki Zheng with chef Jeff create and intimate but engaging setting, so personable and kind, along with Queenie on staff with excellent sake recommendations and perfect amount of attention. Appetizers: Foie gras- such an intricate, artsy presentation w/ flowers and so delicious Mackerel- served in unique box initially smoky Abalone liver w/ small side of rice - FAVORITE. Tons of flavor and reminded me of Icca's abalone rice nigiri. Wagyu sando - mini wagyu sandwich, so tender w/ hint of char Nigiri highlights: Overall rice felt perfectly seasoned and cooked Madai - best madai i've had in NYC. Period. Hairy crab w/ hokkaido uni, generous pouring including for uni roll, very rich Akami and Otoro - so much umami, especially the latter and so rich Anago They have add on menu with options depending on availability - I got monkfish liver that was just incredible and so much flavor. Ended with panna cotta dessert and melon, sweet endings, though would love to see their take on tamago in future (personal love for it)

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    Marcus L.

    Can't get any better than this. Sushi Akira is simply the best when it comes to quality and experience. I was happy to celebrate my 4 year anniversary here. Thank you Sushi Akira! Food: 5/5 Price: 4/5 Experience: 5/5

    Pumpipo P.

    Sushi Akira offers an 18-course omakase that feels like a curated culinary journey--from appetizers to premium nigiri and dessert. Seating is limited (around 12 seats), giving it a personal and intimate atmosphere. Chef Jeff & Nikki Zheng is young but highly trained, with experience at top-tier sushi restaurants. His knife work, ingredient handling, and plating show clear precision and attention to detail. The menu often features premium ingredients such as uni, toro For an omakase of this quality, the price point under $200 per person is considered very reasonable in New York, especially compared with other high-end sushi counters. Despite the premium setup, the restaurant maintains a relaxed and comfortable mood. The chef engages with guests, explains ingredients, and shares stories behind the dishes, adding to the overall experience. Sushi Akira is recognized for its thoughtful course progression, high-quality fish, and meticulous preparation. Many diners praise the hospitality, pacing of courses, and consistency.

    Seared Kama Toro with Osetra Caviar!

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    2 years ago

    Exceptional meal. Every bite was crafted with care and precision. Bravo Chefs Jeff and Niki! Can't wait to return.

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    Momoya

    Momoya

    4.1
    (893 reviews)
    2.9 mi
    $$

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

    Probably my favorite sushi in nyc- been coming to this exact location for nearly a decade? At least…read moresix years if not ten. Crispy rice tuna is a must. Stay and eat or pickup and take home, both work. Patient staff. High quality fish. Idk it's just homey, always makes me feel good to be in the neighborhood. Miso soup is properly worth getting too- not just salty water like you get at some places. Proper miso with proper tofu.

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    Inside
    Inside
    Chirashi Lunch
    Chirashi Lunch
    Dessert

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    Dessert
    Sanyuu West

    Sanyuu West

    4.4
    (163 reviews)
    3.0 mi
    $$$$

    The last time I was in NYC I grabbed two omakase and one Everything don from Shinn East, so figured…read morethis time I might as well try their sister restaurant, Sanyuu West! They share a takeout menu and it's super easy to order--text what you want to the phone number on the website and pickup in ~20 minutes :). You pay on a handheld and they don't ask for tip for takeout. I love this process and truly wish more sushi restaurants in LA adopt the takeout box. The only one I know of is hefty but also $200 each lol, making Sanyuu's $69 omakase and $78 Everything don, not to mention the $30 giant salmon nigiri set, A STEAL! I enjoyed most of the pieces but I will say I don't like their amaebi or uni at all. I'm not sure what kind of uni is used here but it's the type with a very strong mineral flavor & aftertaste that I don't find enjoyable. We're spoiled by easy access to live spot prawns everywhere and fresh SB uni. Despite this, I wouldn't hesitate to come back if I lived in the city.

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

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    Sanyuu West
    (@joeynht)
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    Konban

    Konban

    4.4
    (466 reviews)
    3.1 mi

    Everything we tried was honestly amazing--nothing missed. The service was great too. Portions were…read moregood, and every bite was super enjoyable. The ube tiramisu was a standout. I'm not usually an ube fan, so I wasn't expecting much--but they told us it was just added to the menu and we were some of the first people to try it. After one bite, I literally said "wow" out loud. My friend even laughed because I never react like that unless the food is really good. Overall, everything we had was a solid 10/10. Would definitely come back!

    For a friend's birthday dinner, we went to konban, which she apparently has been visiting every…read moreyear for her birthday the past three years. The interior is minimalistic with a japanese feel through the zen garden. For drinks my friend and I had the sayonara which I enjoyed, but she thought was too strong. We ordered family style, sharing the corn ribs, zucchini, butter scallops, ebi tempura, pork katsu, mazemen, ube tiramisu , and corn ice cream amongst four people. The ube tiramisu was free since we wrote a google review for the restaurant. Everything was delicious and the zucchini was surprisingly good as well. The pork was so tender. the ebi tempura were huge, and the mazemen was thankfully not spicy. However, the scallops could've been more tender and we we were all unimpressed with the ube tiramisu. Overall, I would come back and would definitely recommend konban! Get the corn ribs, zucchini, pork katsu, and corn ice cream! My friend did notice that some menu items changed from her previous visit (instead of the zucchini they had the eggplant in the past)

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    Restaurant interior
    Restaurant interior
    Pork katsu
    Pork katsu
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    Corn ribs
    Izakaya MEW

    Izakaya MEW

    4.3
    (3.3k reviews)
    2.1 mi
    $$

    There's a reason why people have willpower for the hours-long wait here on weekends. There are many…read morerestaurants with lines that I can't say are worth waiting on, but this restaurant is worth every minute and every ounce of energy left for the wait. I've taken a lot of friends here over the course of 10 years, and without fail, every one of them has walked out mindblown--and why wouldn't they?! The wait times have gotten better over the years (probably because people are waiting for the restaurant next door), but the food and drinks here are still top-notch. Staff is always great, and they all work so efficiently. I am generally a fan of izakayas, but there are very few that offer plates that are designed to be shareable, and this is one of the reasons the food here is so enjoyable in a small group setting. I am obviously biased and think they can do no wrong, but some of my staples that have stood the test of time: Kimchi cream udon, avocado tofu salad, salmon sashimi tacos, and the kani cream croquettes. I was so excited when they opened an outpost in Flushing years ago, but sadly it shuttered during COVID. It is definitely small and there is always going to be a wait, so don't be those people who come in with a huge group during prime time because they like to move (getting customers in and out) very fast.

    I've been coming to Izakaya Mew for years and it's still great! The food is solid and the ambiance…read moreis that of a casual bar/izakaya. It can be a little tricky to find as it has a small door on the street level and is located down a flight of stairs on 35th. They have a variety of drinks such as frozen kirin beer and Japanese inspired cocktails. For food, they have a large variety of Japanese classics from sushi, skewers, fried dishes, and noodles/rice. My favorites here are the Omu Soba which has some tasty noodles inside and the salmon don which has some sashimi and sauce over rice!

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    Dining area
    Dining area
    Volcano Roll and Chikaten Roll
    Volcano Roll and Chikaten Roll
    Scallop Uni Butter Skewer

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    Scallop Uni Butter Skewer

    Sushi Akira - sushi - Updated June 2026

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