Omakase Under $200 in New York City Recommendations for 2025
Editor’s Note: This blog is part of the “2025 New York City Sushi Guide‘, presented by Ledge Headwear. 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 Ledge Headwear, the designer cap brand designed in New York and handmade in the hills of Piemonte at a generational family factory.
The rising cost of sushi in New York has forced me to expand this year’s Sushi Guide to include a $200 and under category.
12 years ago, there was one sushiya in New York over $150. Now, there are enough I can put together a reasonable list.
And for what it’s worth – this is the category I get asked the most about.
Full details on my recommendations are below.
Thanks for reading.
Omakase Sushi Dairo is the brainchild of Takashi Meguro, the Itamae and owner (as it should be). It’s been a long road for Meguro: Ten years at Sushi Iwa in Tsukiji and New York, 18 years on Long Island, 5 years as the Itamae at the legendary Hatsuhana (I dined with him and loved it) and 3 years at Blue Ribbon. That time has seasoned and refined the mostly-traditional style of his omakase, though the blowtorch and salmon do still take make their appearances (this is NYC, after all). $150.
SoHo’s Sushi Ouji was one of the most pleasant surprises of 2024. For its price point, there aren’t many (any?) sushiya that can meet its variety. My visit alone had Kuruma Ebi and Kegani, and I hope that this energy remains, since most people don’t rate variety like you legends. $129.
The West Village’s Mitsuru only opened in November, 2024, but it’s already gaining a reputation for outstanding sushi. That’s thanks to chef/owner/itamae Mitsuru Tamura, former of Sushi Yasuda. I went recently and enjoyed it immensely. $150 for Sushi Only.
Hatsuhana is one of those restaurants. Full disclosure: I was taken there for my birthday, so as long as the word “omakase” was involved without my credit card making an appearance, my mood wasn’t going to be dampened. Likely due to its age and changing customer base, the restaurant has recently undergone a transformation. Formerly famous for having a sushi bar both upstairs and downstairs, Hatsuhana now only has one sushi bar on the second level. That change only serves to make reservations even more important if you want to eat at the sushi bar – the night I went, every spot was occupied. $112/130.
Sushi Ann is another popular midtown sushiya in a neighborhood full of decades-old spots popular among tourists and office workers alike. I visited for lunch, but didn’t see the typical midday letdown (though in fairness, I have a “always smile when served Kisu and Namadako” rule). Fair warning – sit at the counter, all the way to the right. Thank me later. $125.