Lunchtime Omakase Recommendations For New York City for 2024
Editor’s Note: This blog is part of the “2024 New York City Sushi Guide‘, presented by Dassai Sake. The digital guide features a number of articles, collections, “best ofs” and “What to dos” for the Big Apple, and can accessed directly at NYCSushiGuide.com. As always, we appreciate your support of the blog and Dassai Blue, the first American-brewed Nihonshu line from Dassai, a world famous Sake company.
For a city with approximately 1,300 Omakase options (full list here), there are surprisingly few lunch options for Omakase hunters.
While not significant, surely there is some demand, including corporate types looking to splash their expense accounts, tourists in town with dinner plans already locked up and trust fund kids skipping their midday Antiquities class at NYU.
No surprise then that the few sushiya that do offer a lunchtime omakase are located in the heart of midtown, where the desk jockeys and visitors spend their time.
I’ve collected four I’ve been to below.
Think I missed any? Drop me a line at info@thesushilegend.com or follow me on Instagram at @TheSushiLegend and slide into the DMs.
Thanks for reading.
it’s almost impossible to tell the Big Apple Sushi Story (future kid’s book) without mentioning the 45 year old Kurumazushi. 45 years isn’t nothing – for instance, my brother was born in 1977 and he’s old as dirt.
But the most impressive part about Kurumazushi?
Same Itamae since day 1.
Toshihiro Uezo moved to New York City in 1972, and opened Kurumazushi in a different midtown location 5 years later.
Despite two moves and a shift to the second floor of an office building, by all accounts the same hospitality Omotenashi (hospitality) and quality exists today as it did then.
$300 at lunch.
The Omakase starts at $100, but in a throwback to how things used to be before the set menu took over, it’s very much “choose your own adventure”. Courses keep coming until you tell them to stop.
Our bill ended up at $150 each. Sushi Ann does offer an extensive a la carte menu if that’s more your speed.
Sushi Ann reminded me of the sushiya I visited for lunch in Japan, particularly おけいすし (Okei Sushi) in Shibuya. There is no 5 course preamble, no intervals to check baseball scores on my phone. Just nigiri followed by nigiri and on it goes every minute. If we weren’t chatting about my recent fantasy baseball championship (first time in 20 years, you may have seen it on Sportscenter), our meal may have finished in 30 minutes.
$100+ for lunch.
There isn’t a sushiya in TriBeCa that hits at lunchtime like Azabu. A known celebrity haunt, Azabu differs from Los Angeles’ celebrity hotspot, Sushi Park, by serving actually good sushi. Downstairs at Azabu is The Den, a wonderful omakase-only counter open at dinner only. But upstairs, tucked in the back, is a small lunch menu serving similarly excellent nigiri to The Den’s. Perks of being an international restaurant group – a steady pipeline of talent.
$65 for lunch.
Sushi Ikumi is the sister restaurant of Hirohisa, a well-known and revered NYC Japanese restaurant down the block. The chef, Jongin Jeong, is ex of Hirohisa, but the meticulousness remains; a staff member laid course 3 down for 5 customers with the daikon radish on the left. Nope. Jeong went to each and flipped it around, then pulled the offending party aside for a brief team talk. It’s the little things after all.
Jeong also approaches each party and explains in detail what they’re eating and where it’s from. If you read the blog, you’ll know that I’m not married to that approach. Sure, chefs should know if asked, but each course doesn’t necessarily require an open mic.
$150 for lunch.
I recently returned to Hatsuhana after 10 years away for a lunchtime omakase and I’m pleased to report it’s as good as ever. This is a sushiya that has existed since 1976 – one year before Kurumazushi – and yet it’s as popular as ever. The Hatsuhana omakase is similar to LA sushiya (and really, many Japanese sushiya). They keep serving until you say stop, and the price updates accordingly. Reservations are certainly recommended for lunch.
$100+ for lunch.
Sushi Katsuei has two locations, but its West Village sushiya that is the best bet for lunch. It opens at 2pm, so it won’t cater to everyone, but it offers an open-style omakase, in that they keep serving until you’re done. Yes, the original Brooklyn location is better, but the WV is no slouch.
$130+.
I really like Oita. I liked it when it was a small shop on the Upper East Side, and I liked it when it moved to Park Slope, where it’s arguably Brooklyn’s best (I don’t think there’s much of an argument). One thing that sets Oita apart is the knifework (check out the incisions on the Hamachi on the left).
$40+ for lunch.
Like Hatsuhana, Kurumazushi and Sushi Ann, Hoseki is located in midtown. But it provides a nice change of pace, right down to its location: tucked away in the bowels of Saks 5th Avenue. And yet, despite the energy of the location, Hoseki feels like a respite. Probably thanks to a $95 omakase, delightful itamae, and wonderful artifacts of New York City that dot the backdrop.
$95+ for lunch.