Address and Contact Information
Address: 342 Bowery, New York, NY 10012
Phone: (917) 444-1988
Website: https://www.yoshinonewyork.com/
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YOSHINO · NEW YORK
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Reviews
We were lucky enough to get some prized tuna (no. 1 at the Tokyo auction the previous day). This was presented as a trio (pictured). I also really enjoyed the uniqueness of the non-nigiri courses. Standouts for me were the Karasumi Mochi, Umaki and Menuke. Lastly, the tamago was also different than all others I’ve had. A brûléed top with a much more custardy interior than I’ve typically seen.
The wine list was fairly short but heavy in burgundy and champagne, great for the cuisine.
Otherwise, everything was excellent, as you’d expect at this price point. The atmosphere is definitely that of a high-end restaurant (no hats allowed, by the way), and the food preparation, presentation, and ingredients were all top-tier.
Is it THE BEST omakase in NYC? I wouldn’t say so. It’s also quite pricey for what it is—$640 per person before drinks, and with gratuity, you’re looking at around $900–$1,000 per person.
To me, it wasn’t a solid five-star experience, but giving it anything less than that would feel unfair. I’d still recommend trying it at least once and deciding for yourself. I’ll give it another chance.
From my experience, a few highlights set this restaurant apart from other top-tier Japanese establishments in NYC:
1. Exceptional Handling of Traditional Ingredients
The chef’s mastery of Japanese culinary techniques shines through, especially with rare and luxurious ingredients like hairy crab, cod milt, and nodoguro. These items, typically found only at the finest restaurants, are elevated here with flavors that are distinct and memorable, offering a fresh perspective even if you’ve tried them elsewhere.
2. Creative Signature Dishes
The chef’s original creations are remarkable. For example, the charcoal-grilled mackerel is perfectly cooked with an impressive preparation style that adds a touch of theatricality to the meal, leaving diners both entertained and impressed.
3. Premium Ingredients and Impeccable Knife Skills
The quality of the ingredients is exceptional, and the precise knife work combines them in perfect harmony, turning each dish into a true work of art.
4. Warm and Enthusiastic Service
Both the chefs and the staff are incredibly friendly and passionate, showing genuine care for their guests. It’s touching to see such a famous establishment maintain this level of hospitality and dedication to providing the best dining experience possible.
5. Seamless Teamwork in the Kitchen
Observing the chefs at the counter, you can sense the efficient harmony of the kitchen. Their collaboration is seamless, showcasing the precision and professionalism of a well-run operation.
Despite their Michelin-starred status and well-deserved acclaim, there are a few areas where they could improve:
1. Limited Innovation in Modern Japanese Cuisine
While their dishes excel in traditional flavors, there’s less focus on modern Japanese innovations or fusion cuisine. For instance, their combination of ice cream and white truffle, though interesting, doesn’t rival the creativity of some renowned French-Japanese or modern Japanese restaurants in NYC. It would be exciting to see them explore more inventive directions in the future.
2. Pacing of Sushi Courses
The sushi courses are served with relatively long intervals, as one sushi chef handles all the sushi for the entire counter. This disrupts the flow and makes it harder to compare the flavors of similar items like lean tuna, medium fatty tuna, and fatty tuna. Having multiple sushi chefs could improve the pacing and enhance the overall dining rhythm, allowing guests to better enjoy the progression of flavors.
3. Inconsistent Plate Presentation
The choice of plates feels a bit eclectic, with some leaning toward modern Western styles and others embracing traditional Japanese aesthetics. Some plates have overly busy patterns that distract from the presentation of the food. A more cohesive and complementary plate selection could elevate the visual aspect of the dining experience.
Overall, this restaurant is an outstanding representation of traditional Japanese cuisine and delivers an exceptional dining experience. I hope they continue to maintain their high standards while also pushing boundaries to innovate further and solidify their place as one of NYC’s top Japanese dining destinations.
Ridiculous price tag for normal food. I guess it’s appealing just for people wanting to show off on social media.
The staff was rude and after leaving an already included 20% tip they demanded an additional one for pouring water. We decided to go along with this and left an additional tip but the staff brought the check back saying that the tip was not enough and making a scene in front of everyone. I understand complaining when you don’t receive a tip but doing that after receiving already more than 20% (~200$) it’s a low class and extremely disrespectful move, especially for a place that’s supposed to be “classy”. Also, the only bill they doubled-checked was ours (only non Japanese speaking people in the place).
Part of the Omakase experience is supposed to be the interaction with the chef, but in our case the sous chef, only interacted with Japanese speaking customers not explaining most of the dishes leaving us wondering what we where about to taste.
On a positive note, the food was very fresh, but not worth the extremely high price tag and you could see that the chef was very passionate about his job.
In conclusion, this place is not worth it!
NYC has some amazing sushi and this one is unfortunately not one of them.
I’m sorry for the chef because you could see his passion but his staff ruined our experience and it is unacceptable for a restaurant that aspires to be great.
Is it possible that Yoshino is the best Sushi master in NYC? very highly possible. In the world? I would bet money on him. Im addition to be very nice and charismatic, Chef Yoshino have an amazing team around him.
TOP 3 PLACES IN NYC WITH G. KEUTHER AND THE MODERN.
Yoshino has stolen the show and is now my favorite Omakase place of all time. The ingredients used were classic but also creative, everything was top quality and you can taste the freshness and premium perfection of the fish. A holistic journey of different pieces and plates, and there was just the right amount of courses. They clearly took that extra step to prepare everything beautifully and precisely. Chef Yoshida does a spectacular job with the nigiri, and his saddle-shaped rice is unique and incredible. If you do get a reservation, you HAVE to go.
A few of my favorite dishes:
Aokri ika / big reef squid: the first dish. The crunch of the seaweed was refreshing and paired perfectly with the smooth texture of the squid
Monkfish liver: also outstanding, so much better than foie gras. Light and airy, yet somehow creamy at the same time
Karasumi Mochi: as someone who is very much obsessed with mochi, this was the perfect addition to the meal. Freshly made mochi, along with bottarga. I made sure to savor every bite, and I ended up eating the slowest among all the diners haha
Chiaigishi Chutoro: a gorgeous gradient of hues, a generous amount of tuna, put together through a legendary craft, produced this outstanding piece. Might be the favorite one of the night, and apparently they only serve this piece once every ten days because it’s very difficult to obtain
Atmosphere 10/10
Light wood interior, a super subtle entrance that guides you into an intimate yet not too tight dining room. There are limited amounts of seating, which is probably why it’s so so difficult to get a reservation here. Bright lighting that creates the perfect stage. Subtle and minimalist designs keep this place feeling relatively lowkey. There’s a bonus: a spaceship-shaped toilet, beautiful and sleek.
Service 10/10
There was absolutely no sense of snobbishness or elitism that can commonly be felt at fine-dining restaurants. With Omakase experiences, there is a history and a tradition to it, and I really appreciated the interactive elements throughout the entire meal. All of the servers were friendly and homely, I felt really comfortable and enjoyed every part of the dinner.