This is absolutely our new sushi spot in NYC. Went for my boyfriend's birthday because my usual spot was closed on the day. Beginning to end this was a phenomenal experience worth SO much more than they charge. The spot is subtle and well decorated and feels like a secret no one else is in on. There's a lovely seating area when you arrive where you can order a drink before being seated for your dining at the sushi bar. We had 4 people to one chef, and three wonderful women attending to absolutely every other thing. Received an excellent sake recommendation, and immediately started in on the 17 course omakase. Each piece was beautifully crafted right in front of us with delicacy and precision that felt like it was out of a film. Truly truly delicious, fresh pieces flown in from Japan and seasoned in unexpected but beautiful ways. We loved every second of it. The chef was even attentive enough to notice that my boyfriend was left-handed, so he angled the nigiri at the proper angle for him to pick up. The attention to detail of everything in this place was amazing. Because it was my boyfriend's birthday, and the end of the omakase menu they made him a beautiful little sashimi don with a teddy bear candle in it. So cute and thoughtful! For a long time I've been a Gari devotee, but I've been entirely converted. In addition to excellent quality sushi, this was a whole experience that felt intimate and authentically Japanese. To get that kind of experience for such an unbelievably reasonable price is not something I thought I'd ever experience in NY. So glad we found this place and we will definitely be back! Cannot recommend enough! read more

Came here to celebrate my sushi loving son's birthday. The intimate counter seating and attentive service made for a relaxed dining experience, and the chef's progression of the meal was thoughtfully planned. The omakase began with delicate white fish before gradually moving into richer flavors, ending with A5 wagyu, which made the entire meal feel well-paced. Even though the seating was only about 1.5hrs long, we didn't feel rushed at all. The three seasonal appetizers started the meal on a high note. The tofu with apple vinegar jelly was light and refreshing, the Japanese honey apple paired beautifully with the madai, and the A5 wagyu tart topped with ikura was rich without feeling heavy. One thing I especially appreciated was that they use real fresh wasabi, which added a clean, aromatic heat that complemented the fish without overpowering it. The nigiri throughout the meal was consistently fresh, with highlights including the sweet botan ebi, buttery toro, creamy hotate, and rich uni. Each piece was complimented well with seasonings, allowing the quality of the seafood to shine. The meal concluded with miso soup and A5 wagyu. The wagyu itself was tender and flavorful. However it was paired with foie gras and personally, I'm not a fan of it as I thought it was too rich for my liking. Dessert was a light panna cotta that provided a refreshing finish and I appreciate an actual dessert because we're normally only offered a mochi or a fruit as desserts for omakase experience. Overall, Sushi Saikou offers a thoughtfully curated omakase with high quality ingredients, excellent progression, and great attention to detail. At $120pp, they offer great value given the quality of the ingredients. We would definitely come back when they change their menu for the next season. read more

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One of my favorite omakases ever‼ Every piece is crafted so intentionally and with amazing creativity. Quality is also outstanding, with each piece melting in my mouth. Some places include wagyu and toro just to follow a trend and as a marketing gimmick only for it to be tough and poor quality. But this place sources amazing ingredients, so their wagyu and toro were pure bliss. The chef was also super nice, talking more to groups that were quieter and giving space to groups that were deep in conversation. Considering the quality, creativity, service, and ambiance, I think the price is worth it. read more

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I thought at this price point for $120/person for 17 courses, it's got a pretty high quality/price ratio for omakase. The way they prepare some of their courses is much more unique in terms of flavor pairing as well. I was a fan of both the quality and the choices available for a la cart after the omakase. I'm definitely going back again to have more sea perch and toro. read more

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The most outstanding meal I've ever had!! My boyfriend and I came here to celebrate our anniversary this past weekend and had the best experience. The vibe of the restaurant itself is so sleek and beautiful, and the service was incredible. Our sushi chef was so kind and explained all of the pieces to us in detail, answering any questions we had. As for the food itself, each piece blew us out of the water. Easily the best omakase I've ever done, and I will be thinking about this meal for a long time!!! read more

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Excellent omakase experience. Every bite delicious! I tried to take notes of the additional seasonal dishes which were: -Kumamoto oyster -Monada Japanese cracker w toro and beef (tartare?) -Sea urchin and roe w shush (?) flowers on top (i think i made a typo in my phone. lol) -Fluke - seasonal fish -Bonito fish Really, really yummy. Friendly staff and the place is also super comfortable. read more

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Great flavors and stellar service here!! My favorite bites were the firefly squid (a seasonal fish), chutoro, scallop, and the coconut panna cotta. The fish slices could have been bigger and thicker though, and there wasn't salmon in the line up. It's a good size bar, lots of seating, but the seats could have been more comfortable read more

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An excellent omakase experience in the city. Fresh fish flown/shipped from various ends of the world, and clear explanations of what you're getting with every course make the experience highly engaging and enjoyable. The flavors are fabulous and the variety is vast - there's something enjoyable for every palette. The proportion of rice to fish pays perfect respect to the assorted array of fish presented. The staff is incredible thoughtful - all the way from our hosts for the night to our dedicated chef. And it's the little things, like the way waiting lounge is set up to the way the restaurant shares a sense of community with the bottles lined up and signed by past diners, that add aura points to the entire experience. 10/10 read more

Sushi Saikou - Joyful chef - Sushi Bars Near Me - New York, New York

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My favorites were the Cold Smoked Salmon, Kamatoro Fatty Tuna, Uni (super sweet). Service was great, very attentive. Loved this spot! read more

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Every bite was incredible. After the 17 courses I was ready to eat it all again it was so good haha. And for the price ($120/person) it's really affordable for the level of quality. read more

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Sushi saikou is one of the best value omakase in NYC at $120 for 17 courses. The fish are solidly above average quality and though the rice was pretty plain. They serve typical omakase offerings like toro, uni, shima aji and also wagyu. The chef's counter is handled by two chefs with even, intimate distribution of guests between them. My chef was quite personable and engaging, clearly enthusiastic about the courses and easy to talk with. The diner next to me had been there more than five times indicating loyalty and of the restaurant's qualty. Most ingredients were sourced from Japan and flown fresh. The chef's tailored amount of rice and wasabi closely to each diner's preference. The sake and overall drink menu had ample offerings. Vibes were lively but not too loud. Overall a good meal for the value and if I lived in the neighborhood I would most likely be a regular there! read more

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Celebrated my friend's birthday at Sushi Saikou and we both thoroughly enjoyed the experience. The chefs and servers were really friendly; chef also tried to make it very interactive which we loved. The chef even made a sushi cake for my friend! There's a waiting area when you enter and then the staff will lead you to the sushi bar. It was definitely a lot more spacious than most omakase in the city. Most of the pieces were fresh, a few can be better like the sweet shrimp but honestly all the pieces were solid. Love the sauces they pair the fish with. Highly recommend for omakase lovers read more

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It is just ok for $120. The sushi rice tastes like it came straight from a rice cooker; very lightly seasoned. Many of the sushi cuts are pretty thin, and the sushi is not quite built properly for some. Your fish may fall off or the sushi may roll over. The chef usually makes around 4-6 nigiri at a time. Which is fine, but kinda defeats the point of omakase. The fish is largely underwhelming, including the sweet shrimp. The tuna tasted like it was not fresh and pretty mushy. There are some theatrics with the smoke for the salmon. But overall very forgettable and I didn't really feel like I enjoyed it. It's not bad by any means, but I would rather go to Sugarfish for half the price if this is the quality I am getting. read more

My friend was interested in trying out Sushi Saikou after walking by it one night, so we made a reservation at 5pm on a Saturday night. They only have 4 reservation times daily (5:00pm, 6:30pm, 8:00pm, and 9:30pm) and each time only has 14 spots. Around 30min prior to our reservation time, we received a text asking about our ETA because they want you to arrive 15min prior. Despite opening at 5pm, if you come earlier, they still allow you in to their comfortable aesthetic seating area. The omakase was a 17-course tasting menu for $120. I was really impressed with every course. The fish selection was extremely tender and fresh. There were even a few pieces that I have never tried before, so it's not the typical basic fishes. Combinations were unique and worked very well together. I am not used to fine dining, but I found the attention to detail is top notch here. Chef explains each course in detail before presenting. Staff quickly removed dishes when we were done and drinks were poured when appropriate. Since you use your hands to pick up the sushi pieces, a damp cloth was given for us to use in-between pieces. I would love to come again. read more

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Amazing sushi omakase course for a decent price! The sushi chefs provide a great variety of fish they prepare and prepare each and every sushi with great skill. Our chef was chef Alvin, he was nice and friendly and gave us good insight on the different sushi we had. The waiters & waitress were also very kind and they were on top of everything from filling our water and refilling our sake, so that I was always ready to have a sip of sake. I loved the aesthetic of the restaurant as well. It didn't try too hard to be overly fancy or overly Japanese themed. It was the perfect balance that helped the atmosphere not feel stuck up which is what I personally enjoy. read more

Sushi Saikou - Chef Alvin presenting our course for the night - Sushi Bars Near Me - New York, New York

A 17-course omakase with a base price of $120 at the time of this review with the options for add-on's. This was our first omakase experience, so unsure how this compares to others. Still processing how amazing this whole experience was. Sushi Saikou has only been open for 2 months and will for sure be a hot spot soon. Set-up: You sit in a waiting area until the dining area is ready (they start right on time). An intimate bar seating area with 3 chefs catering to their section of guests. You get seated and are given the option to order drinks and to inform the waitress/chef of any food allergies. Located in the center of the prep station is a box of freshly flown in fish filets/wasabi. It was nice to see how the chefs transform a seemingly plain piece of fish into something that tastes complex and simple at the same time. Food: The chef asked us after each piece if we enjoyed it. I can truthfully say that each bite I had was absolutely delightful. The fish was so fresh and prepped differently to highlight the best parts each type of fish had to offer. Our favorites included the Kanpachi (delicious yellow-tail), akami (the most complex in flavor, really enjoyed this piece), shima aji, unagi, and nodoguro (add-on). Other: If you're visiting from out of town, please be aware of their cancellation policy and plan accordingly. We almost missed our reservation due to travel delays and would have had to pay $120/person. Am looking forward to the next time we return. read more

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a great new omakase in soho, i think this could be right up a lot of people's favorite omakase lists but with my personal preference it's wasn't the best of the best. but worth a try! the food: everything is so fresh and delicious, obviously! i think this should be a requirement when going to any omakase with a price point of over $100. something unique about saikou is their flavor pairings, rather than the freshness of the fish alone, everything is paired with a surprisingly element like smoke or even a flower of a shiso leaf. i personally enjoyed the newness of this, but prefer a more traditional menu. the service: very friendly and there are a few chefs working together to service a set group of people. personally i prefer a quieter experience, but i did very much appreciate and was thankful for the mini heart sushi cake since i came here for a celebration! read more

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Came here for a special occasion with a reservation on Sat at 6:30p. Plan to arrive 15 minutes early to get seated. You'll wait in the waiting area until your full party arrives. The venue is very elegant with a hip music vibe. It felt a little bit at odds with each other. There was a total of 3 chefs at different sections. Loved the box of fresh fish. The 17 pice omakase was delicious. They had complex flavors with a good fish to rice ratio. The portion sizes are on the smaller size. They have a few special add-ons you can order. We tried the white tuna piece that is special and only eats certain foods to retain that color. It was so interesting and would def recommend! Overall, a great experience - the staff was super friendly and attentive as well read more

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Disappointing to say the least. Sushi was ok, however def not worth the hype. Very programmed presentation- our chef was flat compared to the main chef down from us who interacted with and enjoyed guests rather than just using programmed items together to put in front of us. Very rushed experience. Waitress pushed extras at us as part of the experience. I'm paying $150+ and should feel fulfilled without overpriced sales pitch. ANNOYING. They started clearing before we were ready as they had to clear to get next group in on time. Saki was overpriced and meh. Look elsewhere for better sushi & service! There's plenty of other great options. read more

To. Die. For. You must go. This place deserves a Michelin. They've only been open for 6 months but man, what a meal and great service. My fiancé and I are regulars at a Michelin in San Diego (our home town), but we wanted to try something in NY. This place did not disappoint and was definitely comparable. The place was quaint. Quick note that 301 brings you to the front of the building and the restaurant is off to the side. They start the night by taking your coats and then seating each party. Be on time because they do multiple seatings and have a strict schedule to adhere to. Show up 15 min early! The meal itself was so delicious. I have a shellfish allergy so it was much appreciated they could accommodate that. The fish was so fresh. My favorite was my toro hand roll and the a5 topped with foie gras. For $120, 17 courses, the price can't be beat. What we really liked was the unique pairings and creations. Each creation was delicious. The pairings are what to me made things shine. The individual dishes were so good they didn't need the extra toppings, but for us, the extra toppings add a high level of creativity and makes this better than the average omakase experience. I would 100% recommend and come back when we're back in the city. read more

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Really good new omakase spot. at $120 for 17 courses, it lands firmly in the 100-200 range of options. Fish quality was excellent and even tried a couple of fish I've never had before which is rare these days. Service was solid and they have a cute waiting area before/after your seating in case you want a pre-drink or finishing up your sake afterwards. If you're big on omakase sushi must check this place out before it becomes more popular. Food: 8/10 Service: 9/10 Vibe: 8/10 Value: 8/10 read more

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Great food, great service, even better vibes!! The chefs make it a special experience!

Sigh. I should have done more research. Is it good omakase? Sure. Pretty basic. A couple of the pieces are gimmicky. It's all instagrammable. What follows is going to sound obnoxious and spoiled, and it is. But that's because I know great sushi, and this wasn't it. You're rushed through a 17-piece omakase. For the most part it's decent quality but a couple pieces are slightly less fresh than you'd hope for given the price point. Fresh wasabi is a good sign, but the rice they use is mediocre, their tea is bagged, hand towels come in a plastic wrapping. The staff don't know shit about sake and the sushi chefs couldn't answer a single specific question about, well, anything. Where did the trout come from? "Japan." Ok, but where in Japan? "The islands." What kind of flower is this? "Hanako." It felt like I was being punked. And they definitely couldn't answer questions in Japanese. Here's the thing: better doesn't have to be more expensive. It just has to have thought and intentionality behind it, something that this place, with its clear burn and churn mentality to sushi, does not have. I will not be returning and if I could trade a trip elsewhere for this dinner, I would do so in a heartbeat. read more

Very professional, clean, beautiful dining environment. chefs knew what they were doing and were decently great at convo with awkward ppl (us). Loved the plating, lighting, etc. the perfect fancy dinner experience. Everyone was kind, and the sushi was amazing. Described well, made well with good touch and balance. The starters were great as well. Much to be said about the pacing. Not easy for me to splurge on this type of meal all the time but when in need, I will go back read more

Sushi Saikou - Starter - Sushi Bars Near Me - New York, New York

My wife and I recently got back from a trip to Japan and were looking for a place that reminded us of our time there and this place did not disappoint. Sure there are some differences but this is the closest we've experienced to being back. Everyone there was incredibly friendly, from the host who guides you into a lovely waiting room with cozy and cute decor, to the servers who expertly help you choose sakes to pair with your dishes, to the manager coming around making sure everything is great and sharing fun anecdotes, to the chefs themselves who are not only masters of their craft but also add some fun to the experience by telling stories and proposing cheers between every few dishes. The food itself was top notch and their uni was even fresher tasting than I recall having in Tokyo. Everything about the meal was excellent and we'll for sure be back. read more

Sushi Saikou - Menu - Sushi Bars Near Me - New York, New York

My girlfriend treated me out here for my birthday. Made her my wife the next day. She found this place from Youtube. A well worth $150 PP meal including tax/tip for 17 course omakase. Seated at 5pm on a Saturday with chef Avery (interactive and friendly). The waiting area is cozy. Each piece delicately crafted. Absolute experience at an affordable price with peaceful dining. 1) Sesame salmon with seaweed (55/100) 2) Wagyu hamachi tartar caviar cookie (33/100) 3) Kumamoto Oyster, Washington state (72/100) 4) Seabream (99/100) excellent 5) Sujuki, Japanese sea bass (85/100) chewy 6) Red snapper. (500/100) the best so far ! 7) Yellowtail buri (60/100) little fishy taste 8) Lean blue tuna Spain (87/100) dissolves well 9) Shima aji, striped jack, monkfish liver (77/100) most interesting piece and new flavor profiles, smoky, sour, fatty monk liver paired w lean fish 10) Botan ebi - sweet shrimp Canada (100/100) sweet and sticky taste 11) Hotate scallop Hokkaido (100/100) perfect 12) Salmon New Zealand - smoked salmon like on a bagel (80/100) 13) Toro black truffle caviar (999/100) so good 14) Uni Hokkaido- so so so fresh (95/100) 15) Wagyu with foie gras (300/100) fatty and good 16) Eel (100/100) just solid end to meal 17) Coconut matcha - yummy finish read more

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This is the best omakase I have ever tried so far. All the pieces are very fresh. Especially the Hokkaido uni, it's very sweet and creamy, that melts in your mouth. The chefs are very nice and friendly. read more

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Definitely one of the premium omakases in East Village. The omakase bar is spacious, modern and there's even a separate seating area where you can enjoy a drink before or after your meal. The pieces are a bit simpler, but this allows you to really taste the quality of the fish. The chefs and staff are incredibly knowledgeable, and I loved how engaging the dining experience was. I highly recommend this spot if you're an experienced omakase enthusiast so you can truly appreciate the quality of the fish. Loved all but my top favs: *Smoked Salmon *Toro Caviar Truffle *Striped Jack (Shima Aji) *A5 Wagyu *Kinki Julian and chef Alvin were great! read more

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I absolutely loved my experience at sushi saikou and I hope to go back soon! It's a great spot to celebrate something special. The moment you walk in, you're greeted by the host who seats you in a cozy waiting room. There's also a coat rack which is nice. I loved the ambiance, the lighting, drink options, food, plates/silverware, and the super attentive staff. The staff and hosts explained everything very clearly and gave lots of suggestions to optimize my experience there. They were all as enthusiastic as I was for the course and were very friendly. The omakase course and menu was phenomenal and every piece really melted in my mouth. My favorites were the toro, Uni, oyster, and shima aji. The dessert was also the perfect ending to a beautiful meal. The matcha pudding was very refreshing. The chefs were also very friendly and ensured that you were enjoying the experience throughout the entire time. The fish, seafood, and ingredients were all fresh and I felt like I was really able to appreciate every piece. It was a perfect pairing with dassai 39. Although I wasn't stuffed by the end, I was definitely satisfied with the meal. It was worth it for the price! Especially in comparison to other places. I hope to be back again soon! read more

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Absolutely loved every piece. My fav was the toro and red snapper- which is super hard to nail to a few. I did the dinner course for $120. Every piece was amazing. Staff was so sweet and chef was super friendly. One of my fav omakase places in the city. The inside of the restaurant was aesthetically pleasing too. Can't wait to come back! read more

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Friend heard about this place from a YouTube food blog and I'm so glad he did. The amount of care that the chef put into each item in the omakase menu + the attentiveness of the service was mind blowing. Fresh fish and even offering white salmon a la carte (super interesting and meaty). read more

Exceptional food, service and sake selection. Intimate setting with highly skilled chef. Try the Kinki and Wagyu and foie gras temaki!

Not only was the food amazing but the service made this experience one of the best omakases in the east village. Our chef was communicative and entertaining, asking us what our favorite was and our ranking of the nigiri. After our sake the hostess opened a bottle of sake and asked us to try it and give out opinion. The sushi was amazing and we even ordered extra pieces. For 120 per person the extra 40 bucks beyond the "cheap" omakase is worth every penny. read more

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Japan omakase as it is! Food is delicious and from Japa, chef are great and talks to guest, about every dish. Try menu with sake or beer. Service is on to. ambiance im minimalism style, soft Light, quiet music read more

Incredible on all fronts! One of the best meals we've ever had, along with attentive and kind service in a welcoming and fun atmosphere. Cannot recommend them enough! read more

This team understands the objective of preparing an experience. They explained the service well, the host was extremely engaging and the chef was convivial and made the evening fun. The fish was also obviously quality. Great new place read more

Food FOOD is great. Portions very generous, and the two for one offer amazing. I would strongly recommend this option for those looking for great Japanese food read more

This place was absolutely fantastic. The level of hospitality is unmatched - I haven't been to a restaurant where the staff and chefs were this friendly. The whole vibe of the restaurant was so cozy and welcoming, yet felt higher end and intimate as there is only room for 14 customers. The toro with white truffle and caviar was easily my favorite, it melted in your mouth. That being said, the entirety of the 17 courses were delicious. They've only been open for 2 months, so there's few reviews, but for $120 pp this place is a MUST. read more

Amazing food, excellent service, and perfect ambience for night out. Best Omakase experience ever!! read more

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My current favorite omakase spot in the city! High-quality fish, perfect preparations without covering up the taste of the fish, and friendly and attentive service make this place a must! Even if you think you don't like sake-- you can probably find one here that you do like! read more