This is a wonderful dining experience. I met a friend for dinner here ,we both ordered the 18 course Omakase and shared a bottle of the chefs recommendation for sake. The food is fresh, well presented,and the chef explained exactly what he was placing in front of us. Make a reservation enjoy the experience, savor the flavor. I'm pretty sure you'll leave with a smile on your face. read more

The family had reservations for five to try the 13-course omakase meal at $85 per person. I was tempted to opt for the 18-course, but 13 turned out to be plenty of food. Seating is very limited here, so booking a reservation in advance is definitely a must. The staff took great care of us throughout the dinner. They were friendly, attentive, and took the time to explain each piece as it arrived. The pacing between courses was smooth, and every single bite was delicious and fresh. Overall, it was a memorable meal, and we thoroughly enjoyed the experience. read more

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Pretty reasonably priced omakase; some pieces were really good, some pieces were just okay. The inside is really cramped though and theres barely and space between you and the other parties. The pieces of sushi are served really fast though which is nice. I wasn't really a huge fan of the appetizer to be honest - the set of 3 all tasted pretty mediocre (the cod tasted a bit old, the yuzu did not pair with the fluke) and the snow crab tasted like store-bought crabmeat with mayo. So overall, was disappointed with these. As for the nigiri - most of them were pretty good. The fish was good quality and the one that really blew me away was the uni don - the uni and roe were EXTREMELY fresh, blew my mind. It was the best uni I had in a while. The wagyu handroll was also delicious and decadent. The last handroll - hamachi handroll - was a bit flavorless though. Dessert was good - a really light matcha pudding that was the perfect way to end the meal. Overall, I enjoyed my experience but not sure if I would come back. Note: they will charge you for water unless you ask for tap. That was an unexpected surprise on my bill read more

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Booked a reservation on Resy for a special birthday dinner. Glad I came and strongly suggest a reservation as it was consistently busy on a Sunday night between a few lucky walk-ins and reservations. No shows, cancellations or changes to the number in your party get charged $50 per person, so just be sure everyone confirms first. Great hospitality from KC and the sushi chefs on all ends. The atmosphere felt very welcoming and they are invested in ensuring you're comfortable. The type of water youd like to where you can sit to whether or not the courses are to your liking are their concerns. They ask questions regarding dietary restrictions in a way that seemed very concerned and they tailor your experience based off this. Definitely be honest about likes and dislikes. I like that not everyone in your party has to choose the same dining options. However, I strongly recommend the 18 course omasake as there are so many delicious courses. I should have opted for the 13 course as I was well full by the time the 14th course came out. I made due and shared some with my party but I felt bad as it was all so tasty. My top three favorites were the scallop with shaved foie gras, the exquisite red fish with marinated trufle mushroom, and the uni bowl and lastly the freshwater eel was like biting into a velvety dream of tasty clouds. Divine. The birthday star was especially looking forward to that wyagu course and did NOT leave disappointed. They also made a "sushi cake" for him right before our dessert that came with a candle and was a nice touch. We did not feel rushed and were done in about an hour and a half. Decor is minimal but very intentional, as is everything about this place. The exterior is simple and unassuming but the quality is all there. It felt like a fancy dinner party hosted in a friend's home as opposed to a random restaurant in the upper west side. I'd definitely return. read more

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Wonderful omakase course. Fresh and interesting pairing of ingredients. Some creative combos (foie gras with sweet shrimp, truffle etc) Good variety of fish. Would recommend visiting read more

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Give them a Michelin star, wow, amazing meal! Had the 18 courses, which they did kosher-style for me, and loved every morsel. Fish was fresh and delicious. I will definitely be back! read more

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Decent value omakase with pretty good quality fish and seafood. Only 115 for 18 course meal and 85 for 13 course as of summer 2025. The foie grais with scallop and yellowtail hamachi with pickled radish were my favorite items - burst of flavor from the radish and the foie grais was really creamy but not too gamey. The rest of the dishes were decent but not really standout compared to other omakase out there. Definitely recommend making a reservation as it's limited seating. read more

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Sushi Koya is definitely 5 stars for the price range. Our chef Ray was friendly and made each piece consistently. What sets this place apart is the aged fishes they had which I don't often see at similar omakase spots. I also had some fishes that I haven't tried before (I don't remember what they were called though). The host was also very attentive. He kept our sake and water filled and did check ins on us through the meal. I didn't have a single bad piece and some were so good that my friend and I got extras. This is more of the quiet type of omakase spot where you don't interact too much, but has the more classic ambiance. If you're looking for more lively and social omakase spot, I'd defer to maybe Sushi By Bou or M instead, but the quality will waver a bit more. read more

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Incredible and unexpected food. Wonderful service and perfect attention to detail. Love, love, love.

Never in my entire life, have I experienced anything like this. If you are a sushi lover or just a fine dining lover, and you are in the city... You absolutely must make a reservation here. Service was impeccable. I have to admit that upon making a reservation and checking out the reviews I was extremely impressed with the five star rating with the lowest review being four stars. That seems almost impossible. Given the glowing reviews, I almost expected to walk into a large fancy establishment but this is a very well maintained "hole in the wall" type and from the outside completely unassuming. The chefs, and manager were awesome. It's clear they take added time to ensure customer satisfaction from groom quality and preparation to overall experience. We went for a belated bday and walked out full and with some yuzu sake in our bellies. The warm hand towel upon sitting down was an awesome touch. We both opted for the 18 piece omakase. Call me silly, but I was partially expecting to leave hungry but boy was I wrong. While I cannot recall every single name of every single piece of sushi we had I can tell you that if I were on death row about to have my last meal, I would like it to be a plateful of the scallop sushi with finely grated foie gras. I also really enjoyed this experience because I learned so much, from how traditional sushi is eaten by hand to how the fish is supposed to hit the tongue first for optimal flavor, eating ginger cubes in between each piece as a palate cleanser versus on top of the piece itself.... and even some of the more low-key things like how the rice was already prepared with the correct amount of soy sauce, and the wasabi was always skillfully hidden underneath the fish. This is an experience I will never forget and quite frankly probably could never top again unless I was in Japan!!! read more

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Koya was one of the best omakase experiences I've ever had. The 18 course set is absolutely what you should get, the 13 isn't going to be enough food for most adults unless you augment with some extra selections. The ambiance was intimate, but not cramped. I was a solo diner but was welcomed into conversations with parties on both sides of me, as well as with the staff who were incredibly attentive, asked questions about what I enjoyed, and tailored the set to me when I said I absolutely hated shrimp. I don't often come to NY, and to the Upper West Side even less, but Sushi Koya is on my list for a repeat trip the next time I'm in the area. read more

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

Sushi Koya is definitely an experience. I visited this restaurant with family for a birthday meal. This cosy place is situated in an L seating. So you get to watch the chefs create their masterpieces. Each round was amazing and unique. The wait for each round of food wasn't long at all. Perfect for enjoying a beverage and talking with your company.... Ok...now for my real review: delicious food. I would suggest not only enjoying the sights and tastes of the food, but smell it. It will enhance the overall enjoyment of what you're eating. Take your time and enjoy each bite as they are quickly consumed. It's great to see how each portion is put together. Make sure to cleanse your palate after each portion. It helps so you enjoy each portion separately instead of it just being a bunch of plates served at different times. Very enjoyable and would definitely recommend to everyone who isn't allergic to shellfish/seafood (*Captain Obvious strikes again). That's it. If you want a review of the bathroom or seats, go and do it yourself. This is about the food. read more

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This place was AMAZING! Everything was so delicious. We opted for the 18 course for $115 and it was definitely worth it and you left feeling full. We also got a bottle of sake which went great with the meal. Every single bite had interesting flavors and the perfect texture, it felt like everything was melting in my mouth. Service was impeccable. Highly recommend this spot! read more

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If everyone in Manhattan knew about this place, it'd be booked out a month in advance. It's that good and very reasonably priced.

Was looking for good sushi on the upper west side and deciding between a few Michelin star spots and this one. The proximity to Lincoln Center and reviews won me over and I'm soooo glad they did. Literally perfection! small and unassuming on the outside, chill, warm and excellent food on the inside. Every single piece of sushi from our 13 piece set was perfect. Not one thing I didn't like more than the last, plus they made sure to check your preferences and substitute fish you don't like. Exceptional fish quality and inventive pairings that complimented and didn't overwhelm the fish while still standing out from what you'd get and any other omakase. Also the perfect level of filing without feeling over stuffed and perfectly paced, in and out in under an hour. For those of us who've been held hostage by 3 hour coursed out omakases you'll appreciate. read more

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We did the 13 course omakase and my goodness was it delicious. It was as treat to have every dish explained to us and watch every cut of fish prepared. Every single piece was delicious and the warm rice paired with the excellent quality fish was something unique I have never experienced. Service was fast and we were nice and full in probably an hour and half because we took out time to savor everything. The free glass of sake (yuzu) was yummy and honestly had a great time y ey ing some new combinations! read more

I love the omakase experience, and have dined at several Manhattan sushi bars seeking out excellent quality fish, creative preparations and a price-to-value ratio that makes sense. It is because of this exceptional combination that I give Sushi Koyo a five-star review. I was lucky to have joined a friend who frequents this small, wonderful Japanese establishment. We were greeted warmly -- as were other guests -- and each of the 18 courses was perfectly prepared and explained, even though my friend was familiar with them all. While every taste was wonderful, I especially loved the raw shrimp with seared foie gras ... outstanding! After a generous gratuity, we paid just over $300. The experience was right in the zone and well worth it. read more

I came here for their soft opening, so I got a discount on their 18-course tasting menu and a free yuzu sake on the house. Even without these perks though, this is some of the most creative omakase I've had -- some that particularly stood out were the jalapeño tuna nigiri and the wagyu uni and truffle roll. The service was still rough around the edges (e.g. one server forgot the name of the dish we were eating), but waitstaff were all attentive and delightful -- we were always checked in on our meals, and water refills were frequent and stealthy! Finally, the ambiance was incredible, and not just because it was their soft opening! The guests were excited and respectful of the food, but even putting that aside, seating is close together for a tight-knit vibe, and the manager and servers were going around and chatting up guests. Overall, Koya can count on my business coming back to them :) read more

Sushi Koya - Appetizer plate - Sushi Bars Near Me - New York, New York

15 course omakase was beautifully presented and delicious. Especially enjoyed the cold smoked salmon appetizer, yellowtail with frozen foie gras shavings on top, sweet shrimp with torched foie gras, uni salmon roe rice bowl, otoro with caviar, and waygu beef uni truffle. Sushi chef was very friendly and professional. read more

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Eat a great omakase experience for my first time in NYC. Definitely make a reservation. My friends and I chose the 18 courses. The fish melted in your mouth. We savored each bite. I enjoyed everything! read more

The UWS has been extraordinarily blessed by the sushi gods this past year. Sushi Koya opened its doors in January and One Bite Omakase a month after in February. Both are mid-tier restaurants in terms of pricing, but provide remarkable value. While One-Bite leans a bit more traditional, Koya serves the kind of rich, decadent sushi that probably appeals more to Gaijin -- e.g., there's foie gras and lots of it. Happily for me, techniques remain anchored in the traditional. Rice (shari) is a high-quality, short-grain varietal, prepared to an excellent texture and temperature, well seasoned, though with perhaps a smidgen more vinegar than some itamae use. (I don't know if a higher ratio of vinegar was in response to recent warm weather; it may be.) Chef Sean uses akazu vinegar in his sushi rice, which is a very nice touch. We had the thirteen-course omakase in front of Chef Sean, who was friendly, kind to our eight-year old, and patient about explaining techniques. As at One-Bite, the restaurant makes its own gari in house, and the small, crisp cubes of fresh ginger are lovely. And as at One-Bite, the meal opens with a trio of appetizers. On our visit, the appetizers were: fluke in yuzu garlic sauce; Kumamoto oyster with yuzu jelly, shiso flower and lime zest; and marinated smoked king salmon. These were delicately and beautifully prepared, the fluke tender, but still snappy in texture, not overwhelmed by the sauce as I feared it might be. I usually enjoy my oysters best with just a moderate squeeze of lemon, but the garnishes that Chef Sean uses in this preparation really worked for me. Yuzu, shiso, lime and oyster are quite a delicious combination! For the remainer of our savory courses, we had: - Hotate nigiri, served underneath an *enormous* pile of grated, frozen foie gras. The Pardner loved it; the eight-year-old and I would have preferred the beautiful, sweet scallops on their own, unadorned. They were sweet, rich and creamy enough as is. I'm a bit of a hidebound traditionalist, I guess. - Arctic char, beautifully aged and served with a wee dollop of miso and a sprinkling of popped rice. The textural contrasts there were fun! - Hamachi with a dab of pureed gari -- I like that the buttery, flavorful hamachi was allowed to shine more or less on its own - Akami with earthy, spicy black truffle paste. The truffles were lovely, but really overpowered the taste of akami. - Ebi with foie gras, all torched -- This is another one of those pieces where I would've loved to have just tasted the fresh, sweet, raw ebi all by itself, but foie gras fiends will love this, I'm sure. - Otoro with a nutty, gently saline kaluga caviar. The otoro was of course very rich and played very nicely with the caviar, which was delicate enough to not overwhelm. - Mini don with ikura, sweet Santa Barbara uni, wasabi and lime zest. The uni was surprisingly sweet for the season, the ikura pleasantly poppy and not overly salted. - Anago with tsume -- The eel itself was tender and delicate, but I found the generous drizzle of tsume to be a bit overwhelming and sweet. Functionally, it was a good dessert piece, though. - Salmon temaki with perfectly crisp nori, fried onions. I'm not a big fan of raw salmon / suzuki in sushi, but do have to admire the nice textural contrasts and excellent execution. We closed the meal with a dainty square of matcha pudding. It was not overly sweet, and the clean, gentle bitterness of matcha served as a perfect palate cleanser. Throughout the meal, we were offered cold sake or house-made, yuzu-infused sake, since the restaurant doesn't yet have a liquor license. What a kind and generous touch! The eight-year-old and I both found the thirteen-piece omakase gut busting; the significantly larger Pardner thought it was generously portioned without being overwhelming. Someday I'd like to try the 18-piece just to see what's there -- but I'll probably have to run a marathon, first, to work up an appropriately sized appetite. read more

First time having Omakase and it exceeded all my expectations. Sushi Koya is quite small but packs a punch with the quality and care behind every piece of fish they serve you. I had the 18 course which comes with 5 appetizers, 10 nigiri, 1 mini don, 1 hand roll, and 1 dessert. Each course was so unique and satisfying and you can tell it was crafted with so much thought behind it. The flavors were simply immaculate. The service was also incredible, I was even offered complimentary sake. I would give this place a try at least once! read more

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Amazing food, service, and ambiance! We came here for their soft opening and was able to bring a bottle of champagne (not sure if they're still allowing that). All the pieces were so so good and there were interesting pairings that worked so well together. We will definitely be back for a special occasion. read more

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Hands down one of the best omakase spots on the Upper West Side! The vibe is amazing -- relaxed, stylish, and intimate without feeling stuffy. I did the 18-course omakase and every dish was incredible. The scallop and foie gras shaven course was next-level, and the sweet shrimp with shrimp paste and caviar was unreal. You can tell how much care goes into every bite. The sake selection is also fantastic -- super smooth and pairs perfectly with the food. Definitely a place I'll keep coming back to. read more

Fresh fish, perfect rice, and super friendly staff, easily one of the best sushi spots around!

In a space that is becoming saturated ('tho no complaints) this business stands out. Delicious fish and presentation. I had the 15 course. It was wonderful. Staff were great. Its a fun and friendly vibe. They explain each piece and there is something special and unique about each piece. Be it a topping, sauce, or the fish itself. They have a dry aging fridge with fish on hooks. And you can taste what this translates into. Liqueur license pending so BYOB. Go. Nice quiet block off the fray but a stones throw from 72nd subway. My fav piece - and it was hard to choose - the Hokkaido Scallop with frozen shredded foie gras and lime zest. Yum. The handroll had seaweed paper that tasted like nothing I ever had before. The paper was so crispy. Quality matters. Now how can I accept soggy paper??! read more

SO suggested this new place in the neighborhood for dinner a few days ago, so we paid them a visit.  There is no alcohol being served yet, but the owner offered us some yuzu sake on the house, which was very tasty and accompanied our omakase very well.  We both ordered the 13 courses (they also have 18) and each piece was fresh and well displayed.  We felt 13 was just right, but we added an otoro handroll at the end.  Our favorites were the scallop, shrimp  eel and otoro handroll.  Overall, the establishment was clean, the quality was excellent, and the service was on point.  Will definitely be returning! read more

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I was on the hunt for a omakase experience while in NYC for work. My criteria were non-chain, modest price point, and intimate experience with great quality ingredients. I narrowed it down to a few restaurants and am so very happy i landed on booking Sushi Koya! The space is small yet inviting. The staff is very personable and I felt like everything was paced perfectly. I did the 18 course omakase option for $115 which is excellent value compared to my previous omakase experiences. They started by pouring complimentary sake which was a pleasant surprise. Then the food adventure began! The experience began with a great appetizer preview of the flavors and fish presented throughout the meal. Then on to the nigiris. Highlights for me were the hotate with foie gras, the botan ebi with foie gras, yellowtail with shallot puree and the saltwater eel. The saltwater eel was a wonderful surprise as I've never tasted it on any other omakase menu. Typically you get freshwater bbq eel. This just melted in your mouth. So good! The nigiri was followed with a mini don of uni and ikura. YUM! Along with a chu-toro handroll which had some lovely crunchy onions. After checking in on Yelp, I got a special treat - a piece of torched hotate topped with shaved dried mullet roe. This was such a fun sweet savory combo that I hope they put on the menu someday! Lastly, the meal ended with a matcha pudding. Usually I'm underwhelmed by omakase desserts but this was an excellent finish! It was sweet yet earthy and had a texture similar to panna cotta. My kind of dessert for sure! Definitely check out sushi Koya if you're in the city. You'll not be disappointed! Can't wait to visit on my next trip to the city read more

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I came here with a group of 6 before a show at Lincoln Center. We all did the 13 course omakase. The interior is very small and intimate; there is no real decor to speak of. The service is well paced and it's always a treat to watch food prepared in front of you. The only down side to this place is that it is BYOB. But on the plus side, there is no corkage fee. The fish is super fresh and the taste is great. I left still hungry, which wasn't great. The price is very reasonable. read more

Sushi Koya - Menu - Sushi Bars Near Me - New York, New York

Loved this spot so much. Service was fine. I thought Id be sick of omakase given what New York has to offer (too many omakase spots). But the dry aged toro and the ikura melted in my mouth. Definitely ask them about sake recs or just enjoy with your tea. Definitely recommend for a girl's night or 3rd date. Unlike a lot of the $60 omakase spots, they don't rush you out in half an hour so you get to linger. read more

Amazing omakase. 18 Course all the way. No ambiance but the food is the star and where you should be entirely focuses. Service was good. Im very much looking forward to going back. Only other thought is that since it's omakase, the menu is not necessarily readily available so you're informed of what you're eating as it's served. And while the sushi chef does tell you what's being served it would be helpful if it were visible on a menu board. Just a thought. read more

Everything was wonderful at this little neighborhood gem! Good food, service, & ambiance were the highlights! It was my 1st visit & I can't wait to return. read more

Way over-rated. Sushi rice was terrible. They put garnish on everything to make sure you can't taste the actual fish that should be the centerpiece of the meal. Not made by Japanese people. Not authentic. Really subpar omakase. read more

Found this place that opened last Friday, since they are doing a soft opening, I got the 18 pieces for $85. Yay. I like all of them and I was not hungry after the meal. I really like Foie Gras. My favorite is Wagyu, uni with Toro that we ordered at the end, they gave us a lot of Uni. Yum. read more

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A good choice when dining out. Expect fair prices for good food. The meals here show exceptional care. Their workers are friendly and supportive. Hearty recommendation of this restaurant. read more

I came early and service was personable and informative.loved the intimate setting. Each piece was delicious. Some warranted eyes closed to fully enjoy. read more

Sean and Ray were amazing to watch and made such an amazing meal for us. Incredible experience and will be back soon! Gary was an incredible server as well and catered to our every need. Looking forward to our next meal! read more

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Other reviewers have already pointed out what works well. People here create a sense of belonging. I was treated like a regular even on my first visit. The meal taste was extraordinary! You should support this restaurant. read more

Pretty good omakase though given the plethora of sub-$100 or even ~$100 omakase restaurants, I'd probably go to a more affordable spot for the same quality / pieces. read more

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I was visiting from Los Angeles, home of (probably) the best sushi in the US. Sushi Koya is as good if not better than any sushi I've had there. The omakase did not disappoint. The owner is friendly and the service perfect. read more