Japanese Restaurants in NYC Earn Michelin Stars
Michelin released its 2023 New York guide on November 7, and of the 71 restaurants on the list, 20 are Japanese. Well, technically two of the restaurants are considered French, but they are run by Japanese chefs. (I’m taking liberties in the name of All Things Japanese in New York City.) Sushi Noz and odo earned promotions from one star to two, while Sushi Ginza Onodera, which closed this summer, and East Village sushi outpost Kanoyama failed to make the list.
Famed sushi restaurant Masa continues to sit atop the list with three stars. As usual, most of the Michelin Guide entries are pricey sushi spots, while a few serve kaiseki fare. Tempura Matsui and Torien are the lone tempura and yakitori restaurants, respectively.
If you’re not into spending $600 on sushi, you’ll find the more practical Michelin Bib Gourmands at the bottom of this list.
Here are the 18 Japanese and two French/Japanese restaurants with Michelin stars for 2023:
Three Stars ("Exceptional cuisine")
Masa
Type of Cuisine: Sushi
10 Columbus Circle, Time Warner Center
Website: https://www.masanyc.com/
In February of this year, Marian Bull reported in Food & Wine that not only is Masa the most expensive sushi restaurant in the US, “it is arguably the most expensive restaurant, period.” Despite an omakase price tag of $750 (exclusive of beverage and tax), Masa has consistently earned three stars since 2006, when the Michelin Guide started covering New York City restaurants.
Sushi Noz in the Upper East Side
Two Stars (“Excellent cooking”)
odo (up from one star in 2022)
Type of cuisine: Kaiseki
17 W. 20th Street
Website: https://www.odo.nyc/
In addition to crafting high-end seasonal kaiseki for lunch and dinner, Chef Hiroki Odo hosts art exhibitions in THE GALLERY, which is attached to the restaurant.
Sushi Noz (up from one star in 2022)
Type of cuisine: Edomae Sushi
181 E. 78th Street
Website: https://www.sushinoz.com/
Experience omakase at an eight-seat, 200-year-old hinoki counter run by Chef Nozomu Abe, who was inspired by the fish from his grandfather’s Hokkaido seafood company.
Hirohisa
One Star ("High-quality cooking”)
Hirohisa
Type of cuisine: Kaiseki
73 Thompson Street
Website: https://www.hirohisa.nyc/
Chef Hirohisa Hayashi uses exceptional ingredients for an incredible seasonal kaiseki experience.
ICCA
Type of cuisine: Sushi
20 Warren Street
Website: https://icca.nyc/
Chef Kazushige Suzuki serves only fish from Japan for his omakase and tasting menu.
Jōji (new)
Type of cuisine: Sushi
1 Vanderbilt Avenue
Website: https://www.jojiny.com/
Chef George Ruan leads an omakase experience that pairs premium sake and fine wines with seasonal ingredients.
Kosaka
Type of cuisine: Sushi
220 W. 13th Street
Website: https://www.kosakanyc.com/
The Michelin Guide says Kosaka “offers a stellar omakase in an elegant setting.”
l’abeille
Type of cuisine: French (with Japanese sensibilities)
412 Greenwich Street
Website: https://www.labeille.nyc/
Executive Chef Mitsunobu Nagae is a veteran of Michelin-starred restaurants, including Château Restaurant Joël Robuchon in Tokyo.
Noda
Type of cuisine: Sushi
27 W. 20th Street
Website: https://www.noda.nyc/
Chef Shigeyuki Tsunoda serves a 20-course omakase twice a night.
Noz 17
Type of cuisine: Sushi
458 W. 17th Street
Website: https://www.noz17.com/
At this companion restaurant to Sushi Noz, Chef Junichi Matsuzaki, Chef Nozomu Abe’s protégé, serves a thirty-course, Edomae-style sushi tasting menu in this seven-seat space in Chelsea.
Restaurant Yuu (new)
Type of cuisine: French contemporary, Japanese
55 Nassau Avenue, Brooklyn
Website: https://www.yuunewyork.com/restaurantyuu/
An alumnus of Guy Savoy in Paris and Mifune in Manhattan, Chef Yuu Shimano serves French dishes that highlight Japanese ingredients. A recent addition to the emergence of Japanese business in Greenpoint, Restaurant Yuu is the only new Brooklyn restaurant to receive a star this year.
Shion 69 Leonard Street
Type of cuisine: Edomae Sushi
60 Leonard Street
Website: https://www.69leonardstreet.com/
Formerly of Sushi Saito in Tokyo (three Michelin stars) Executive Chef Shion Uino creates an Edomae-style experience in an intimate setting.
Sushi Amane
Type of cuisine: Sushi
245 E. 44th Street
Website: https://www.sushi-amane.com/
The Michelin Guide reports that daily fish deliveries to Sushi Amane allows “guests to experience the freshest and most seasonally minded product possible.”
Sushi Ichimura (New)
Type of cuisine: Sushi
412 Greenwich Street
Website: https://www.sushiichimura.nyc/
Legendary Executive Chef Eiji Ichimura, formerly of David Bouley’s Brushstroke and earned two Michelin stars at Uchu, helms this omakase experience at l’abeille.
Sushi Nakazawa
Type of cuisine: Sushi
23 Commerce Street
Website: https://www.sushinakazawa.com/new-york
Everyone’s favorite former Jiro Dreams of Sushi apprentice continues to earn accolades of his own.
Sushi Yasuda
Type of cuisine: Sushi
204 E. 43rd Street
Website: https://www.sushiyasuda.com/index.html
The Guide lauds Sushi Yasuda for its “classically assembled sushi,” saying, “Each item is handled with care, highlighting their robust flavor.”
Tempura Matsui
Type of cuisine: Tempura
222 E. 39th Street
Website: https://www.tempuramatsui.com/
Tempura Matsui is the first authentic Japanese restaurant in New York that focuses only on tempura.
Torien
Type of cuisine: Yakitori
292 Elizabeth Street
Website: https://torien-nyc.com/
Chef Yoshiteru Ikegawa presents a 13-course yakitori experience devoted to all parts of the chicken.
Tsukimi
Type of cuisine: Kaiseki
228 E. 10th Street
Website: https://www.tsukimi.nyc/
“Tsukimi” means “moon viewing” in Japanese, and this seasonal Japanese kaiseki restaurant pays homage to the mid-autumn harvest festival.
Yoshino
Type of cuisine: Sushi
342 Bowery
Website: https://www.yoshinonewyork.com/
This LES sushi spot is named after the chef’s father’s hometown in Nara Prefecture.
Tonchin
Bib Gourmands (“good quality, good-value cooking”)
Michelin defines “good value” as spending around $49 or less—excluding tax and gratuity—for two courses and a glass of wine or dessert. The Guide considers these restaurants “places that serve phenomenal meals that don’t break the bank.”
DOMODOMO
Type of Cuisine: Sushi
138 W. Houston Street
Website: https://www.domodomonyc.com/
Nami Nori
Type of Cuisine: Temaki
33 Carmine Street
Website: https://naminori.nyc/
Shalom Japan
Type of Cuisine: “Authentically inauthentic Jewish and Japanese food”
310 S. 4th Street, Brooklyn
Website: https://shalomjapannyc.com/
Soba-ya
Type of Cuisine: Soba Noodles
229 E. 9th Street
Website: https://sobaya.square.site/
Tonchin
Type of Cuisine: Ramen
13 W. 36th Street
Website: https://www.tonchinnewyork.com/
For a complete list of all the New York restaurants that earned stars—not just the Japanese ones—please visit Michelin’s website.
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