Welcome to the 2024 New York City Sushi Guide Presented by Dassai Blue
A quick note on Dassai. The Sushi Legend has been around for 12 years. Despite the fact it’s grown tremendously to almost 600,000 visits per year, it is, at its core, a hobby. No money. In fact, I dread the “m” word. “When are you going to MONETIZE The Sushi Legend?” makes me want to light myself on fire, as if dollars are the only measure of value, success, happiness, etc (can you tell I’m getting old?). That said, to help support the various costs of being a sushi addict, I’m happy to partner with awesome companies that TSL readers would value, provided there’s no conflict of interest (e.g. sushi hospitality groups are a no fly zone). Airlines (message me ANA). Hotels. And of course, Nihonshu brands. So I’m thrilled – THRILLED – that my favourite of the latter, Dassai, is presenting this year’s NYC Sushi Guide. I drank the Dassai 23 long before this partnership, and I’ll drink it long after. They have a new first-of-its-kind brewery in the Hudson Valley, where they’re manufacturing Dassai Blue. Check them out here. And no, they haven’t gifted me a Beyond the Beyond yet. Maybe the 2025 NYC Sushi Guide.
None of this would be possible without you Legends, so thank you as always.
Onto the guide…
There’s not too much beauty in New York City.
I know it has the reputation for the glitz and glamour, but I promise you that fantasy will evaporate the second you see a pack of cockroaches that have somehow developed (evolved???) the ability to fly. Really, unless rats scurrying between/in/on/through subway cars is your thing, there are about 745 cities I’d recommend visiting first, including Mordor, which may or may not be a city.
But I’d be lying if I said this concrete jungle didn’t have its moments. For instance, we need to talk about Hudson River Park. I’m this close to writing a “ranking the best piers in New York City” piece, and that’s because of HRP.
Or, more relevant to why you’re here, there are no (sorry LA) places outside of Japan that have the diversity and quality of The Big Apple when it comes to sushi.
That’s fantastic, but it usually means I regularly receive variations of the following questions:
1. I’m in New York City next weekend. Do you have a sushi recommendation?
2. My partner-in-life/crime has a birthday next week. Do you have a sushi recommendation?
3. My team’s at Madison Square Garden playing the Knicks next Sunday. My name is Lebron James. Do you have a sushi recommendation?
As always, the answers to those questions are completely based on factors like budget, style preference, aversion to fish (fine?), aversion to rice (go away).
The good news is that the sheer volume of sushiya in this city – approximately 745,000 at last check – means you don’t have to spend your paycheck going to a Michelin Star restaurant if you don’t want to (but there’s no shortage of those – see below).
Below, I’ve collected all the articles/clickbait I’ve written on New York and sushi in one place. I hope it covers every question you have, but feel free to drop me a line at [email protected] or follow me on Instagram at @TheSushiLegend and slide into the DMs if not.
This page is also accessible directly at NYCSushiGuide.com.
My go-to recommendations
My five favourite sushiya to recommend for all occasions
Omakase Hunting
- Printable list of all NYC omakase options with number of courses and approximate price. Took me 20 hours. Please clap.
- Best Omakase options under $100
- Best Omakase options under $200
- Best Omakase options under $300
- The Four Hundo Club (Omakase $400 and over)
Guides to the neighborhoods
- Where to eat sushi in Brooklyn
- Where to eat sushi in Staten Island (just kidding, there’s nothing there).
- Where to eat sushi on the Upper West and Upper East Sides
General information
