Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Ushiwakamaru

    4.2 (215 reviews)
    Ultra High-EndJapanese, Sushi Bars, Salad
    Closed 5:00 pm - 9:30 PM
    Updated over 3 months ago

    Ushiwakamaru Photos

    Business Info

    USHIWAKAMARU ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Classy

    You might also consider

    Recommended Reviews - Ushiwakamaru

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Tuna special
    Alisa J.

    Amazing sushi! One of the best places in NYC for sure! Great service and all the food is delicious! The tuna special was great! I loved each unique piece of tuna and the spicy tuna roll was so good! They had the best tempura I've ever had and you can tell the quality of the sushi place by it's egg sushi! The egg sushi was amazing and the best I've ever had as well. The pickled vegetables could've been more pickled and have more flavor but still good. One of the best parts was dessert! The matcha tiramisu is a must order! It was so so delicious and my mom from Japan who usually doesn't order or eat desserts at all said it was so good and she wished she had ordered her own. The other people in my party got omakase and said that every piece was amazing. The chef is friendly and great at what he does! If you're looking for an amazing and authentic sushi and Japanese food in general experience in a laid back and friendly setting with high quality people don't look anywhere else. Can't recommend enough!

    Tansy W.

    AMAZING. There was not a single piece I did not like and I actually left feeling full (rare at omakase places for me). We got the omakase - mix of sushi and sashimi for $158, which also came with soup, choice of dessert, and a few other items (see photos). Standouts were the monk fish liver (omg I could've had an entire bowl of it) and the tuna scallion hand roll with this amazing homemade soy sauce, followed very closely by the the first fatty tuna piece (forget what kind but sweet the trio photo after the soup), red snapper, shrimp and uni. But honestly there was not a single piece we didn't like. It was all wonderful. The sake flight option on the menu that night wasn't available so we got the cheapest of the 3 sake options in the junmai gingo category. I forgot the name but it was $14 for a 4 oz glass, which I found reasonable. They also had some pretty high end bottles if you're celebrating a special occasion. The sushi chef was very friendly and funny. Loved our interactions with him, even if through a plastic plexy glass wall (ugh covid). The waiter was not as attentive (rarely came to refill our drinks and forgot to come back to take my drink order) but it looked like he was the only guy working the entire restaurant, which looked fully booked, and I assume it was just due to understaffing during COVID. In sum, HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS PLACE. Amazing sushi, excellent sake menu, and friendly chef. Can't wait to return! Easily one of the best places in the city.

    Omakase tuna
    Victoria G.

    This spot serves the freshest Edo sushi I have had in a while. The ambiance is amazing and everyone is super welcoming and polite. Loved the master's energy and he also had a snazzy blue sparkly mask on. There were plastic dividers between everyone, and the spacing was definitely more than 6 feet. Felt very safe inside. I came here for the Omakase to celebrate my birthday and it was absolutely delicious. The sake we ordered was called Take No Tsuyu, and it was super light and smooth. Such a fragrant scent, brewed gently in bamboo forests. From the Omakase, I enjoyed the mackerel, blow-torched tuna, uni, and otoro hand roll. The uni was SO SWEET and smooth, and the otoro was super tender. The sweet shrimp also deserves a mention for its fresh ocean flavor. The rice also deserves to be highlighted, it was just that good. At the end, the master asked us if we would like a few more pieces, and he made two more complimentary chef's choice sushi. One of which was an abalone that blew my mind. Hands down will return for the immaculate service and flavors.

    Bina S.

    FOOD The quality of the fish was very fresh but the way it was prepared was disappointing. The Uni was delicious but some of the pieces were a miss. I would give the presentation 2/5, very basic and incongruent with the price point. Unfortunately, 75% of the sushi that was part of the Omakase was salty. I could not pin point if it was the rice or the way the fish was prepared but there were a few sushi pieces that was borderline inedible. EDIT: I was informed, the style of this fish preparation is called Edomae. SERVICE Our waitress was great! She was courteous and attentive. DRINKS I appreciated how they offered half bottles of champagne and a good selection of sake. CONCLUSION For my party of three, our bill ended up being close to $900 after tip for three Omakases and drinks. With that said, I didn't think the experience nor the food were worth the price tag. If they address the salt issue and perhaps add one or two more pieces to the omakase, it would have improved my dining experience. I left feeling very thirsty and not quite full.

    A la cartes
    Michael W.

    Good old OG. Good ol service. Simply fish. Nothing fancy. Price is a bit high for the space. Needs a revamp so hideo kuribara can step up the omakase game. Place is just too old and boring. Overall still pretty ok with a great chef.

    Kawaba Sunrise Ale
    Chantel Y.

    Super easy to make a reservation here! Made mine two days in advance and there were some reasonable dinner times available then. I came here on Fri 2/25/22. Omakase was $170 (the menu online is outdated) which consists of "daily chef's choice you're welcome to make any requests includes daily special that consists of fresh and seasonal fish". I didn't make any special requests, but chose sushi rolls (instead of nigiri) and this is what my omakase consisted of: 1) ankimo with delicious chewy seaweed 2) chef's special nigiri (this was DELICIOUS and sooo fatty) 3) white miso soup with a shrimp head in it. yum! 4) steamed egg pudding 5) 8 pieces of nigiri 6) hand roll 7) choice of dessert (I chose green tea tiramisu). This was delicious and had red bean inside, which is usually not my favorite but this was so good! The fish was definitely fresh in the omakase, but it was not in the salmon sushi flight (wish i took pictures). I also love it when the rice is super fresh and warm, and most of these pieces were with cold rice. I also ordered a uni nigiri, toro taku handroll, and negi toro traditional style roll. Sake and beer selection were great. The tempura was also delicious and had a great mix of shrimp, kabocha squash, broccoli, carrot, and octopus. Overall the experience and atmosphere was great and service was excellent, but the omakase was just a bit overpriced for the quality and quantity. I'd come back here for the non omakase items.

    Fried mackerel with soy garlic sauce
    Tyler S.

    Ushiwakamaru is a solid sushi restaurant that offers a fairly priced omakase with an experienced sushi chef. It succeeds where other cheaper alternatives fail, prioritizing quality, seasonality, and tradition with a bit of flair. I was first introduced to the restaurant by Gordon Y. on Yelp. He shared with me his fond memories of returning to the counter over and over again to sit with head chef Hideo and encouraged me to with with the chef and buy him a beer! Hideo-san wowed me with some items I had never seen before: a special cut of toro sashimi, a seasonal matsutake mushroom soup served from a teapot, and fried mackerel with a soy garlic sauce. The chef's rice was slightly sour, a function of the vinegar he uses to prepare his rice. Each grain was separate and properly loose. The warmth of the rice balanced the temperature of the fish well. The nigiri featured a lot of wasabi; it wasn't too much, but it was a lot. While the construction of the nigiri was good, the gunkan maki and handroll suffered from engineering failures. His signature yuba piece self-destructed as the rice was too wet and fell out of the bottom, splattering on the counter; the uni piece was so tall, I had trouble fitting in in my mouth; and the seaweed of the torotaku handroll cracked and detached as I ate it creating a mess as I tried to hold it together. Though these negatives were minor in the context of the meal. My favorite courses of the night were the fried mackerel appetizer and the saba, ocean trout, akamutsu, and seared toro with truffle salt nigiri. The chef did use a few additional flavors like salt, lemon, and truffle, but thankfully no inappropriate toppings. The draft Sapporo was cold and refreshing. I left feeling very full and satisfied with the experience. 4/5 would dine again.

    Miso soup
    Patrick W.

    TLDR: If you're looking for an omakase to leave you feeling wowed, this is a good choice. Price is $158 including small appetizer, soup, 14 pieces, a hand roll and dessert. Solid value. Ushiwakamaru was recommended to me by a coworker and gave it a shot with wifey. Of all the sushi bars we've been to, this is probably the most comfortable. These are not high chairs, the bar counter is at a very relaxed level - you feel settled in and ready to coast at this omakase. They will ask you if you prefer your soup at the beginning or the end. Chef Hideo will then begin your tasting. The pieces here are a really nice size, still bitesize but every piece will make your smile. He has this care while he prepares your next nigiri and when he puts it in front of you, you know it is made with love. The squid, golden eye snapper and soy sauce marinated tuna pieces are always incredible. I've been to Ushiwakamaru several times and we keep coming because it's definitely in our top 5. The dessert choices are very generous too, ranging from a slice of Lady M to a frozen grapefruit dessert. I have a habit of finishing every omakase with an extra hand roll. Chef Hideo is the only one who will allow me to partake in my favorite commoner delight, a spicy tuna handroll. What I love about his is it's not minced tuna mixed with the srichacha mayo conction, his is more deconstructed. It's literaly pieces of lean tuna tossed in spicy mayo and it's just fabulous.

    Miso soup
    Mei W.

    I had a wonderful time enjoying the 16-piece omakase. The pieces were prepared well and everything tasted delicious. I had miso soup with shrimp head, simmered bluefin tuna, baby eel, bonito from Japan, eggplant with akami, baby anchovy, fried cod roe with green tea salt, red snapper, salmon roe, sea urchin, sea eel, fatty tuna roll, shiratama anmitsu (sweet red bean paste, rice cakes, kuromitsu syrup with agar cubes) with black sesame ice cream, and a few other things I ate before remembering to take a picture.

    Sineerat R.

    This is my first time trying this place. the course was nice and very traditional Japanese omakase style. Love it !

    Assorted Nigiri (plate #2)
    Masanori D.

    I was not impressed at all! They serve decent sushi, but I've had much better sushi on many occasions. On top of it, this place is not inexpensive. I ordered the (assorted) Nigiri: 7 pieces of nigiri, 2 piece of gunkan, half of a "thin" roll, and a piece of tamago yaki. The fish was fresh, but was not of the quality that I would expect from the price. What's most disappointing was the rice. High quality rice and seasoned well, but it was tightly packed. For this level of sushi, I would be happy to pay $35, but not $48. If you are looking for excellent sushi (in NYC), I assure you this is not it! If you must try this place, here are a couple of things to keep in mind. - When you make a reservation, you have to give them your credit card number. If you do not give them a 24 hour notice for cancellation, they will charge you $25 PER PERSON. - If you want to sit at the sushi counter, you must order omakase, which is market price. - If you order the assorted sushi or sashimi, they do not let you substitute even if you have an allergy. ニューヨークに住む知り合いからも情報を集め、その中で比較的お手頃で良さそうな店を選んだはずだったんですが、正直がっかりしました。美味しくなかったとは言いませんが、この値段でこの程度なのかというのが実感です。

    Gal R.

    A great omakase experience The main part of the sushi was amazing The first starters were good. But when the real show started it was one of the best ever. Sea perch, otoro, uni and other usual suspects, were amazing with an additional touch of flavor from the amazing Hideo Kuribaara sushi chef. The desert was great as well :)

    Andrew C.

    Fantastic meal sitting at the sushi bar across from chef Hideo Kuribara. It was fascinating to watch him work: Each of his movements was precise, purposeful, and understated. Each piece of fish was an explosion of multi-dimensional flavor. What an experience!

    First plate of sushi out of 3, unfortunately forgot to take pictures of the rest

    See all

    8 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    11 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Alisa J.
    243
    2039
    7107

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 years ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 5
    Thanks 0
    Love this 4
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Michael W.
    39
    189
    854

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Chantel Y.
    72
    147
    813

    4 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 7
    Thanks 0
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Mei W.
    3
    84
    195

    4 years ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 5
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Gal R.
    13
    117
    446

    5 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Lynn L.
    39
    50
    104

    5 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    10 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    9 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Lu H.
    369
    705
    2633

    10 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    11 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Emily C.
    3593
    1280
    7568

    8 years ago

    Helpful 8
    Thanks 0
    Love this 8
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    9 years ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Silver W.
    99
    49
    122

    5 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Bing R.
    199
    737
    4618

    11 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Laura S.
    127
    49
    195

    7 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of John H.
    0
    19
    95

    4 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    The best kept secret! Delicious sushi, authentic and attentive service. A real gem. Dine here without a doubt.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Suki K.
    501
    226
    3261

    9 years ago

    Helpful 24
    Thanks 0
    Love this 20
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Lena D.
    1357
    164
    161

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Kiran R.
    12
    53
    33

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Keith M.
    64
    47
    34

    8 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    Page 1 of 6

    Ushiwakamaru Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Ushiwakamaru

    Is it okay for solo diners? Can a solo diner order omakase?

    Of course you could. Please call us for Omakase bar reservation! Thank you!

    View All 2 Questions

    You might also consider

    Verify this business for free

    People searched for Japanese 29,533 times last month within 15 miles of this business.

    Verify this business

    Monkey Bar

    Monkey Bar

    4.3
    (513 reviews)
    2.7 mi

    Woke up at 5:55 AM PST in order to make this reservation... but overall glad I was able to. The…read morepull apart truffle monkey bread was our initial reason for coming, and although the price point was quite steep, I would say it's worth the try. The bread was fluffy and not dry, which I had seen previous reviews say before. Paired with the creamy truffle butter, it had a luxurious mouthfeel. My favorite was the pork chop (cognac, sweet prunes, bacon, rosemary) -- the sweet and soft texture of the prune was melted in my mouth like fat, and the pork was tender, with the rosemary also coming through. The vodka rigatoni was a skip, somewhat bland and one-note, we ended up putting some of the truffle butter and garlic aioli from the fries to make it more flavorful. This was especially in contrast with the spicy shrimp pasta which was much tastier. Also got the strawberry vacherin (strawberry ice cream, meringue, vanilla whipped cream), it was my first time having this dessert. The tartness of the strawberry was great with the fluffy meringue and the sweet ice cream. Service was extremely attentive, and the restaurant is beautifully decorated with moody lighting. Although the space was packed, it didn't feel too loud or crowded. We spent about two hours and didn't feel rushed.

    We finally managed to get a Reservation on my birthday August 16.. we were treated very kindly by…read morethe whole team (our waiter disappeared after we received our mains But the runners & a very sweet young lady still were so attentive) The space is a gorg vibe !! it was obviously filled, but you didn't feel like the tables next to you, were on top of you, which was great.. We basically ordered everything on the Menu .. & wow It was everything & more !! Bone In Ribeye was so flavorful & decadent The mushrooms were the star.. literally bites of heaven The Monkey Bread is a must The Cesar Salad & The creamed Spinach were the perfect iterations of the two dishes The Mac & Cheese .. so good The prime dip was good But def not the main event w everything else that touched the table The fries were the only item that lacked luster The carrot Cake was my fav I've ever had & the strawberry ice cream was so fresh & delicious Can't wait to b back

    Photos
    Spicy Shrimp scampi
    Spicy Shrimp scampi
    Truffle Monkey Bread (~$35)
    Truffle Monkey Bread (~$35)
    Truffle Monkey Bread

    See all

    Truffle Monkey Bread
    Pura Vida Miami

    Pura Vida Miami

    4.3
    (215 reviews)
    1.5 mi

    Seems like Pura Vida has popped up in a lot of neighborhoods. We stopped by the Flatiron location…read morefor a weekend brunch. This location has several tables outside. The menu is large so there is something for everyone. Various eggs, smoothies, pancakes, salads, sandwiches, bowls and wraps to choose from. We ordered the falafel crunch wrap and chicken pesto sandwich. The wrap was stuffed with fresh veggies. The chicken sandwich was cooked well and quite filling. Both were very tasty and made with fresh ingredients. Great option for a healthy and quick meal!

    stopped by on a weekday morning for a quick bakery treat. i decided to try the chocolate croissant…read more& there was only one left in the case. the croissant had a wonderful flaky, crispy texture that paired really well with the warm dark chocolate inside. compared to other chocolate croissants i've had, this one probably had a little less chocolate filling, but the taste was still great. the contrast between the flaky layers and the soft, warm center was superb. the staff was kind, and it took about 10 minutes to get my croissant warmed up. i would say it may take a little more time than expected to get your food, especially if you're in a rush like i was. otherwise, the space is really nice. they don't have many prepared grab-and-go items, but they do have a good selection of baked goods and the option to sit down and eat. i also noticed later that they had some lunch meals available to go, which is something i'd definitely look into trying next time.

    Photos
    Handcrafted coffee with latte art and a hazelnut crunch acai bowl, served in a warm and welcoming all day café atmosphere.
    Handcrafted coffee with latte art and a hazelnut crunch acai bowl, served in a warm and welcoming all day café atmosphere.
    Fresh and healthy table spread featuring vibrant salads, nutritious bowls and wraps, all-day breakfast favorites, superfood s...
    Fresh and healthy table spread featuring vibrant salads, nutritious bowls and wraps, all-day breakfast favorites, superfood s...
    The Perfect Egg Sandwich with pasture-raised eggs, avocado, tomato, arugula and mozzarella - the ultimate healthy breakfast on-the-go

    See all

    The Perfect Egg Sandwich with pasture-raised eggs, avocado, tomato, arugula and mozzarella - the ultimate healthy breakfast on-the-go
    Sandwell

    Sandwell

    4.5
    (114 reviews)
    4.3 mi

    Wish this was in my neighborhood. I remembered it from last year, when I attended a nearby concert…read more Staff is still amazing! I'm currently living for the chicken ramp special!! Had it on a wrap. Absolutely divine! I probably shouldn't wait a year to return!

    I would give this a 2.5/5, honestly. I do not wish any ill…read moreupon anyone associated with business, just want to give my constructive feedback on my food/experience! Decor/actual restaurant: This particular location is very small and tight with limited in-store seating. The interior is cute, I like the blue color theme they have here. For a restaurant designed for to-go orders, I believe that there could be more waiting room and a couple less chairs. Service: Like many "fast food adjacent" restaurants, the people who work there have good customer service but I imagine deal with the worst. I know they're doing great with the situation they're in. Kudos to them. Food: this is probably my harshest critique. I ordered a pesto chicken sandwich, and it was fine. I don't believe it was worth the $16 I spent though. The chicken was kind of bland, tasted similarly to frozen grilled chicken pieces you buy from a grocery store. I do wish there was more sauce. The pesto tasted good but overall there was too much bread. I fear you would be better off making something like this at home for a comparable price. The bread was good, just too much. I don't want to base the menu on this sandwich alone, a lot of the menu options sounded delicious, but this was just the experience I had!

    Photos
    Inside tables
    Inside tables
    Truffled Mushroom Cheese"steak"
    Truffled Mushroom Cheese"steak"
    Mac & Cheese & Peas

    See all

    Mac & Cheese & Peas

    Ushiwakamaru - japanese - Updated August 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...