Phenomenal!! What a fun and memorable evening! We had an incredible dinner at this intimate omakase spot, where co-owner Alex creates an experience that feels warm, personal, and unlike any other. It feels less like dining in a restaurant and more like being welcomed into his living room, where his goal is simple: make sure everyone has an amazing time. The energy is contagious. The music keeps the atmosphere lively, guests find themselves singing along, and the entire experience feels like one big dinner party. Every course was beautifully presented, exceptionally fresh, and crafted with obvious pride and attention to detail. This is so much more than a meal- it's an experience. We can't wait to return. read more

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Wow. IYKYK. After what I'll call the "Great Rise of omakase in NYC," it was like you could find omakase of all types and caliber on every cover of the city. I will admit, I was curious when my date suggested it, and did some sleuthing. 4.9 on Yelp? I really have been away for too long, because the place didn't sound familiar to me. Let us tell you― this is the real deal. I was early to my date, and Alex greated me kindly and I already felt like I was being invited to someone's home to have dinner. Clean and minimalist interior, everything is immaculately clean including the restroom. The restaurant is tiny, only 12 seats total. We went on a Monday night, and it was very pleasant to have a perfect view of Chef working his magic at the counter. We selected a lovely Junmai Ginjo sake to pair with our omakase. The first course was so memorable- the sauce was so good that both my date and I low-key wanted to ask for rice to sop up the rest. The entire omakase featured incredibly simple and straightforward ingredients yet played with variations that were delightful and surprising, whether it be the smokiness with the torching or textural components such as when/where the nori was used. The types of sake Alex let us try were all phenomenal. Next time I'd love to try the sparkling rosé. Alex was very quick to adjust the courses that needed adjusting due to my dietary restrictions. I would have loved a vegan dessert option in the future (sugar addict here), but was not disappointed with the ikura I received in lieu of dessert. Okay now as we moved through our lovely dinner, Alex came through with such a celebratory, happy vibe. He made things very personalized, had such positive energy, and I can definitely see why he has so many regulars. My date and I later debriefed and said how much we loved that Alex "broke the fourth wall" ― which in performance art is a narrative technique where characters directly acknowledge the audience, shattering the illusion that they are separate from the fictional world. I loved that we felt like we had known Alex forever, and that we want to be his friend. His passion for creating an uplifting atmosphere where people can let go, be themselves, and feel safe during such a fraught geopolitical time, is, frankly, heroic and a statement in and of itself. When the Dirty Dancing song came on (oh you all know the scene), Alex and the other diners looked on laughing and amused while my date convinced me to try The Move. I got a running start, and you'll have to meet Alex and ask him about the rest. It was seriously perfect ingredients and immaculately fun atmosphere. With a name like YOLO, it really lives up. If someone could please find me some vegan black sesame ice cream to bring for myself next time to share with Alex... I'll bring the bourbon I can't wait to go back. read more

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My favorite omakase place in the city that I have been to the most often. The place is not over the top / crazy fancy, but the fish selection and quality are well curated to feel like a special meal/experience. I also appreciate the approachable selection of sake. To me, this is the perfect omakase bar for a quarterly visit :-) Chef and hosts are all very nice and kind to share stories and experiences. read more

I've been to Sushi YOLO a few times now, and I keep coming back--most recently to try their new winter omakase menu, and it was absolutely exceptional! The seasonal selections highlighted the freshest fish with incredible flavors;every course was a standout. The service is top-notch--the chefs and owners are incredibly attentive and engaging, sharing stories about the ingredients and making the experience feel personal. It's an intimate 12-seat counter, so you end up chatting with the chefs and other guests, which adds to the warm, communal vibe. They have a great selection of sakes that pair beautifully with the meal. For the quality and this level of omakase in Manhattan, the prices are very reasonable. Highly recommended--book ahead, as it's a hidden gem! read more

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Sushi Yolo provides an intimate omakase experience in Midtown West. There are very few seats, all at the bar, so enjoying a meal here feels very special. Servers are friendly and accommodating, prices are par for other omakase places. They don't rush you through the experience, which is very nice. Below is my live comments as I was presented each dish (read the exclamations as good things) Fluke in ponzu ! Scallop with lobster bisque Amberjack Spanish mackerel Langostine? From canada Lean tuna Tempura tilefish !! Snapper Otoro with caviar ! Mini uni roll! Cold noodle with lobster !! Smoked king salmon with apple smoke !! Pretty! Sea eel, very creamy Tuna hand rolls with pickled radish Dessert black sesame ice cream Its worth it. You should go if you're willing to splurge. Reservations recommended. read more

Hands down a great sushi restaurant. Byob omakase in nyc a rare find you will find locals and in the know travelers dining here . Two seatings a night, very reasonable price wise and top notch sushi. We have been to far pricier omakase in the city and sushi yolo tops them. Bring your best bottles read more

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What a wonderful night. I agree that this spot definitely has minimal frills, but that atmosphere allows the food and the joyful environment to shine through. Everyone here - customers, chefs, and hosts - seemed to be all smiles throughout the 1.5 hour experience. We had 14 (or 16?) courses. They were all worthwhile and delicious. We watched salmon smoke before our eyes and the amazing crafting of each and every piece. Short but delectable sake menu. I'd have their sparkling specialty sake any day! As a small gesture for my birthday, they also had a piece of cheesecake and a candle and a quiet "happy birthday" singing. It was sweet. Very memorable and highly recommend. read more

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First off great crew very nice and attentive. This place for me is more of a 3.5. I think you pick this place strictly for value. Overall the fish is decent but definitely have had better. Overall the nigiri's had very similar profiles not much variances. If you are looking for a no frills straightforward omakes for value this is it but if you are looking for more creative variance than I would look elsewhere. I think it's worth a try at least once . read more

Sushi Yolo - Custard...decent - Sushi Bars Near Me - New York, New York

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This omakase spot does a well thought out 14 course that includes everything - from apps to nigiri to desserts at an affordable price. What I really enjoyed about Sushi Yolo compared to other omakase spots in this price range is how it's nicely paced with your entire meal spanning 1.5 hours (other spots are usually churning out guests within 1 hour). As I said before, all the dishes were so well thought out and the pieces that were presented were so beautiful. My absolute favorite was their steamed egg topped with ikura and uni - it was so warm, smooth, and custard-y with the ikura and uni providing the perfect umami balance. As expected, service was amazing and Alex, the host, was so thoughtful to offer me tea throughout my meal as I was the only one in my party who was not partaking in sake. Highly recommend for a date night or a fun outing with a group of friends. read more

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The ingredients ay Sushi Yolo are extremely high quality. No frills, no overly decorative toppings, classic nigiri and fresh fish. While all the nigiri were super fresh, I docked one point for: -Appetizers: somehow, the tuna in the appetizer did not taste as fresh and the chawanmushi was only mediocre. -Rice: the rice was a huge letdown. It tasted extremely bland and a bit like brown rice --not vinegar-y enough and super thick. My favorite pieces included: the uni, cherry smoked salmon (super unique!), double layered toro, and of course the toro handroll. It was also a bit expensive for the price considering the quantity of food, but I guess that is the price you pay for high quality fish. read more

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My friend had a birthday meal here last week. The staff was very friendly and stored the cake we brought until the end of the meal. There is no cake cutting fee. Every bite was so fresh and flavorful- highlight that day was the Japanese mackerel as the chef told us it had just come in that day from Japan. I like that the course had some appetizers and a dessert instead of all nigiri. It is also byob and they gave us buckets of ice to keep our sake bottles cold. We also purchased a yuzu sake from their drink menu and it was dangerously good. We poured the chef a couple of shots of sake and he drank with us :) great atmosphere Would definitely return read more

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Excellent!! The omakase special is a great deal. We went twice in one week! Great service and great food!!

We've been to Sushi Yolo 3 times and have thoroughly enjoyed it each time. This is an omakase style restaurant where the chef decides the menu. The menu changes depending on season, which we really like because it allows us to try new things. Each piece of sushi is so different and inventive, and watching the chef's do their thing is very rewarding. The service is beyond good and they don't charge a corkage fee, if you want to bring your own special bottle of wine or sake . I highly recommend this restaurant. read more

It's been a while since I tried a new omakase restaurant and I'm glad this was my first in 2024. For $109, you get 3 appetizers, 9 nigiri pieces, one hand roll, and a dessert. Everything was delicious but the standouts were the smoke-infused salmon, squid with rainbow sesame, and the fried fish appetizer (it was fried to perfection - not too much batter and extremely crunchy). The portion size was pretty generous (uni was served twice, the hand roll was stuffed with tuna and the otoro nigiri was double layered). This place definitely has the potential to be a 5/5 but a few reasons why I docked a point: 1. There was only one sushi chef serving 9 people so the wait time between each piece was longer than other places I've been to. This probably wouldn't have bothered me if I wasn't starving. 2. The sashimi platter was blah and could be replaced with something else. I'm surprised they didn't make this dish more interesting given the creativity of some other dishes. 3. The toro nigiri was marinated with soy sauce. WHYYY Was the fish not fresh and they tried to mask it? read more

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

I love omakases, and I love BYOB. This being both is just such a treat. for $109 you leave very full with some solid apps, a good number of nigiri, and a hand roll. None of the pieces are boring, and there is everything from untouched to smoked included. I've come on multiple occasions and they've remembered us each time, the vibe is much more chill than some of the counterparts downtown. Honestly I would keep coming here if given the option - it's a really great spot. The staff is friendly, the prices are right, and the BYOB is even better. Also the dessert is just fantastic - it's not like you can choose to get less, but trust me you'll appreciate it. read more

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

Went last week and going back tonight. Really good value! Competitive with Masa for a fraction of the price

We were here for my wife's birthday. The way the staff made it a great night was exceptional. The food was fantastic, especially for the price of this location. The ambience was nice but pretty basic. Would return with anyone not needing fancy treatment. It was really a great time. read more

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Food(4 stars): I really enjoyed the omakase experience here! This place is a little more causal than other omakase restaurants. The staff is very sweet and made the experience so enjoyable! Favorites: Golden snapper Mackerel Scallop Salmon Roe Uni from Maine Double Toro Tuna hand roll Black sesame ice cream read more

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Tried this new omakase spot and was not disappointed! The service is friendly and entertaining, and the fish tasted fresh. Sushi Yolo definitely adds creativity to their omakase menu, which many unique flavor combinations. High recommend! read more

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Came here for dinner on our anniversary. Great sushi, awesome owner named Alex he makes the customers feel like family. 10/10 recommend for omakase. read more

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Sushi Yolo was straight up incredible! One of the better 16 course omakase meals I have ever had, the setting and staff here are great. Very cute and intimate ambiance! All of the courses from the sea scallops to the fatty tuna to the A5 Wagyu were very memorable! With a great location on Columbus circle it's a no brainer, and I cannot wait to go back soon! read more

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Strong 4 stars. Rez for 3 with the family. They have 90 minute seatings. Wasn't exactly rushed out but there isn't much time to linger especially if you add on bites. Space is clean and well lit. Sparsely decorated. Room was a bit warm. Ventilation might be weak so you'll know when they're grilling or smoking the next plate. Nice touches in the bathroom like a shelf over the TP preventing stray drops, good napkins and a waste bin close by the door. Food is solid if unspectacular. I appreciate the relative restraint but if you're looking for the current NY style of heavily garnished bites, you might be a little disappointed. Still, the quality is good enough, even if I find some of the garnishes out of place or overpowering (pickled jalapeño, fried leeks). I actually preferred the chutoro (marinated in soy I believe) over the double toro caviar bite that might have been too cold. They have nodoguro, my favorite bite, but it's a bit of a flop here. I couldn't figure out what the flaw was but I didn't get the richness or sweetness I normally expect. Disappointing, but take it with a grain of salt because my expectations are sky high for this fish. Maybe it's too early in the season. So what makes them stand out? Hospitality. Alex, the host/owner, works the room like it's a personal dinner party. Drinks and conversation. He heard my sister's concern that the yuzu sake we were ordering would be too sweet (it wasn't) so he offered us tastes before we committed. And even after we ordered the bottle, he still brought me a pour of something else. Very nice touch. Honestly, the hospitality is what makes this place special. It should go without saying but the service was top notch. Highly recommended, especially if you're in the area. Seems like a good place to be a regular. I feel bad not giving them 5 stars given the obvious passion and enthusiasm from the chefs and host, but if they shore up a few more of the bites then they're golden. read more

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We sat right in front of the chef in this tiny little omakase spot and what a wonderful journey it was. From the very first second everything was on rails. They recommended a sake which we absolutely loved. They put course after course in front of us that just blew away our expectations. Highlights for me: the toro caviar, the toro hand roll, the yolo special, and believe it or not - the black sesame ice cream for dessert. They pair it with a hot brown rice tea that for some reason compliments the ice cream in a crazy/beautiful way. This place is such a goddamn slam dunk it's crazy that it exists and I've only just now found it. For $109/pp you'd be hard pressed to find a better option in NYC. For the record my wife and I have been to many of the top omakase spots in the city. We've spent $400+ per person at Oya, Yasuda, Nokazawa and so many more. Those places are spectacular for sure - but are they 4x better? Absolutely not. Find an excuse to eat here and make a reservation asap. yolo! read more

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What a fantastic meal. Both decadent and delicate. Prefix meal served bar side. 16 courses over, and an amazing experience throughout. Sushi chef was fantastic. Friendly, atrentive and explained each course. Couple that with a nice bottle of wine and the evening was perfect. Venue is small so recommend a reservation. I suspect they only turn the tables once or twice an evening due to the length of the meal. But definitely worth it. read more

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I've been back to Sushi Yolo and given the excellent experience across hospitality and food quality I have to update my review. The meal here is delicious with good variety and value that will satisfy veterans and newcomers to omakase alike. Do not hesitate to try this great spot. read more

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Fun and slightly different than traditional takes on sushi (sichuan peppercorn seasoning, for example). The sake that we ordered was exceptionally tasty. I believe it was kohoku gold. Overall a good time for the price and a great spot for omakase! read more

This was a really fun experience! A little different from the usual omakase where they're usually just fish courses. There was a chawanmushi, cooked crispy fish, and sesame ice cream that were all delicious. The fish was really fresh, the chefs were really friendly, and they brought out sake and cheesecake for my friends birthday read more

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Great spot for omakase! Good deal and friendly staff/chefs. I enjoyed my dining experience here sitting at the bar! I would recommend making reservations ahead of time via Resy. read more

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

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checked this place out on a whim -- i always walk past it on my commute home from work and as someone who loves omakase, i thought i had to stop by at least once. one of my best decisions this year so far, i think. the server/host (alex) was super personable and attentive -- made some good conversation in the downtime between each dish. i nabbed a seating for 6:30, so it was just me and another party of two. vibes were casual and laid back, as i usually see with earlier seatings, but it doesn't detract from the entire experience at all (there's no need for dim lights and fancy dress when the food is that good). also, they offered drinks on the house, which absolutely helped (sakari "yuzu" japanese citrus liqueur -- 5% ABV, and it's perfect if you're like me and don't drink regularly / don't normally like the taste of alcohol). as for the food, where do i start? the starters were solid, although not the strongest part of the night -- that is to say, the plating for each piece was beautiful and the flavors for each balanced nicely without being too heavy, which works as a lead up for the main attraction of the nigiri. at some point the chef asked for a favorite dish of the night, and i didn't have an answer (i still don't) -- each piece was phenomenal. the fish was fresh and tender, and each one was obviously prepared beautifully. my note for the double smoked king salmon just says "holy crap", and the one for the ebi says "i want to eat this forever", which both pretty much encapsulate the theme of the whole night. all in all, high quality fish and preparation crafted into both classic and more experimental dishes that pays off in the end. will probably be back way too often for my poor wallet. read more

I thoroughly enjoyed my meal here. It's a casual but fun atmosphere. The food was really simple but good. The quality of the fish shined through and it wasn't over dressed or overly complicated. They allowed the fish to just shine through. The sake was well priced and pretty good. The manager/ owner was always available asking how things were. They ran pretty much on time in terms of the seating if not slightly over. We will definitely be going back! Uni was outstanding read more

Sushi Yolo - Wagyu uni bite - additional cost to omakase menu - Sushi Bars Near Me - New York, New York

My boyfriend & I were able to make a last minute Valentine's Day reservation for dinner here. Knowing nothing prior, we were unsure of what to expect. It ended up being one of the best restaurant experiences we've ever had. One of the owners, Alex, is incredibly warm and welcoming. The chefs (the other owners) looked gleeful the entire time they cooked for us. They gave us a quick synopsis of each piece and the best way to enjoy. The wonderful thing about Sushi Yolo is how interactive it is! We ended up hitting it off with the couples sitting around us and it was such a special evening to enjoy. The sushi is simple and delicious. We have raved about this restaurant every single week since we've been, and are looking forward to returning for my birthday dinner. I highly recommend making a good evening out of your visit. Thank you Alex!!!! read more

I love this new place in the neighborhood and I'm so glad it's here! - Ambience: cute little place where you get to see the chefs make the sushi in front of you. Very interactive and fun, also at some point you end up talking to the guests near by - Service: really attentive and even gave me a little cake as we celebrated my birthday here. The server was very helpful and the chefs were engaging us in conversation and the whole experience was interactive. They were doing so much with the food to make it meticulously in front of you! - Food: absolutely delicious and packed with so many flavors! Loved the scallops, the salmon, unni, tuna and really everything! Everything was made with so much attention and care. - Value: the price point for an Omakase of this quality in the city I think was really good, also it was byob with a wine shop right next door! Will definitely be back. read more

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Highly recommended if you are in New York The fish was Fredy and it was so good Is a nice dinner date read more

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

Came with a group of friends on a Friday night, we had a large group so 9:30 pm was the only time slot that was available. We were seated slightly late, since the previous group had a birthday they were celebrating. The restaurant is very small, seating ~10 people. Two chefs work in unison on the same dishes, each serving the food for their respective halves of the table. It's a very intimate setting, like if you had a hibachi chef in a private room, but much more elegant. I had never been to omakase, and for $110 I definately expected really good quality, but I've never had fish this good before. Each piece of fish was so high quality and the flavor was outstanding. The chefs were very friendly and answered all the questions we had about the food/their experiences. The restaurant is BYOB and we brought a couple bottles. We arrived slightly early and the host offered to take the bottles and store them in their fridge. When we began eating, the server brought our bottles on ice and poured rounds for us. No corkage fee! I don't have any frame of reference since this is my first omakase, but this blows away any sushi/sashimi I've ever had before and is in the top meals I've ever had. In terms of quality for price, I'd say this was worth it and I'll keep this place in the back of my mind the next time a special occasion comes up. read more

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It was okay at best but unimpressed by the quality of the fish and the preparation. Comparable to similar spots serving the same thing. Some pieces were still cold and not room temperature. Could be that I'm just tired of eating this mid range quality of sushi. People were super nice though. read more

If you've been paying any attention at all to The Sushi Scene in NYC you'll know that Manhattan is currently The Omakase Capital of the whole, entire globe. And I'm here for ALL of it. Covid created an "opening" in the restaurant business that has allowed all sorts of chefs to take a shot at owning their own spot. A lot of these people are young and not only are they WERKING at owning/running their own spots, they are also eating at every new place that opens up and learning everything they can. They've worked at all the "big" "fancy" places and they fill in all over the city, as needed, to support fellow sushi chefs. There is an amazing sense of community and support and serious love for the craft of sushi in this group of twenty-somethings currently, mainly staffing the Omakase counters at whatever spots you have been to. How do I know all this?? I talk to people and, more importantly, I LISTEN to people. And, I make connections. When I returned to NYC "after" Covid I ate at SushiLab Rooftop on W 47th. The location was just perfection and when they opened The Chemistry Room down on the first floor I started also going there. And I talked to my sushi chefs and we all followed each other on Instagram and I dialed directly into the whole Omakase scene and young, sushi chef life of NYC. I met Jake Weng at SushiLab/Chemistry Room. Jake is now head chef and co-owner at Yolo Sushi. I made a special trip from Vermont to Manhattan on 4th of July just so I could eat at Yolo as soon after soft opening as possible (Pro Tip: If you want to visit The City, 4th of July is a GREAT time to go, because everyone else is NOT visiting the city...just sayin'). In all reality I have no right to say this, but I am SO PROUD of Jake and Yolo. Opening your own restaurant on the whole Upper West Side at the age of 26. COME ON NOW!!! Let's be straight: I am HERE for the chef owned, independent restaurants. I am HERE for Generation Z finally taking over this beleaguered planet/country/society/restaurant industry. They are everything we older generations failed to be! As entrepreneurs, workers, bosses, co-workers, artisans etc etc etc. Yolo Sushi is an Omakase Counter offering 3 seatings each night. As far as I know they are the ONLY Omakase spot in this area (Columbus Circle, Lincoln Center, UWS). The location is FANTASTIC. Yolo is aiming squarely at the $100 Omakase trade in NYC and, may I just say, shots have been FIRED. Because, again, if you've paid even a scintilla of attention you will KNOW that there is a proliferation of $100 and less Omakase in NYC right now. Don't get me wrong. I kind of also think this is pretty great. Because it's "gateway Omakase." People can dip a toe in these here Omakase waters without breaking the bank. You don't have to make a huge financial commitment, but you can still try Omakase. And 99.9999% of those spots are serving the exact, same pieces. Which, again, are FINE for the whole toe dipping thing. And the more people who try Omakase and LIKE Omakase the better. Because y'all are going to eventually be supporting the spots the rest of us want! Here's the whole thing about Yolo: They are pricing themselves right at that $100 "sweet spot" and offering you an Omakase experience unlike anything else you will find for that price point. I feel pretty confident in saying there is no other $100 Omakase out there in all of NYC that can hold a candle to Yolo. Jake and Nikki Zheng (GUEST STARRING a few days a week right now fresh off a few years at Masa...!!!) are serving up fresh, seasonal, inspired, creative. SKILLED Omakase unlike anything you will get anywhere else at this price point. They spent their time working EVERHWERE In this Greatest of cities and soaking in all the knowledge and learning all the skills and now they are using all that at Yolo. Here's the thing about food and cooking and the restaurant biz and Omakase: if/when you've lost your fire and curiosity and creativity it's over. I personally do not want to eat anywhere that the chef/owners have lost their fire for food. AND I OWN A RESTAURANT. AND I'M THE COOK. You can TELL when the people cooking/serving your food to you don't care. Yolo is a REVOLUTION at the $100 Omakase price point. There is NOTHING else out there that even comes close. Honestly?? This Omakase could easily be $200. THAT is the quality, creativity and skill level being served up at Yolo. Oh wait! I forgot to mention the playlist!!! BEST MUSIC PLAYLIST I HAVE EVER HEARD AT ANY OMAKASE. Vibe Perfection!! GET HERE. read more

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Food: 5/5 | Service: 5/5 | Experience: 5/5 Came here on a date and had an amazing experience. Sushi Yolo is quite new to the neighborhood, but in a great location along with amazing food, I hope they are here to stay! Everyone was so friendly and attentive. The host is very bubbly and fun and made our experience even better! The chefs were incredible and curated some unique pieces that were very soft and flavorful. I had never had some of the dishes they serviced, but I thoroughly enjoyed every piece of this meal. read more

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Sushi Yolo just opened near us and we have been so excited to go here and the hype was met and exceeded. Alex (one of the owners) is so friendly and made the dining experience more like meeting up with friends. After the meal, i really felt like we were BFFs. It is a small place seating about 10 people but there is plenty if space. Intimate but not uncomfortable. We made friends with others sitting next to us. The food was great and fresh and made right in front of us. It truly was dinner AND a show because presentation was beautiful. For everything we got, it was so reasonably priced . We will definitely go back! Also, it is BYOB, which we didn't realize until we got there. There are many liquor stores in the area if you forget, you can grab something for yourself and to share with your new friends. read more

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The best of the best. This place is worthy of 6 stars! Food quality is perfect Service is terrific! Atmosphere and location are perfect! read more

Sushi Yolo - a bottle of dragon god - Sushi Bars Near Me - New York, New York

Wow! It's an omakase style restaurant that just opened and will probably blow up soon. Everything was fresh and delicious. My favorite was the smoked New Zealand salmon which is smoked right in front of you - it's a bit of a show but works. They're priced the same as the 1 hr omakase places in the city but the seating here is 90 minutes which feels much more relaxed. The host, Alex, is also very engaging and he helps to create a really fun atmosphere. Service was great and we never felt rushed. Definitely worth visiting! read more

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