The stars are out. Michelin released its list of their inspectors’ favorite restaurants in New York City, handing out stars to 73 restaurants. As in 2014, thirteen of the recipients serve Japanese cuisine.

Michelin Guides cover a wide range of cuisines in 24 countries. Only three US cities – New York, Chicago, and San Francisco – have Michelin Guides. A Michelin star is a symbol of fine dining, and these Japanese restaurants reflect quality and mastery of technique in the culinary world.

Masa, the ultimate sushi establishment run by chef Masa Takayama, remained the only New York-based Japanese restaurant with a three-star rating. Three Japanese restaurants received two stars, while nine received one.

Three Stars: “Exceptional, worth a special journey”

Masa – 10 Columbus Circle, Time Warner Center
Sushi
In 2009 Masa became the first Japanese restaurant in the US to receive the Michelin Guide’s highest honor of three stars. The well-appointed sushi restaurant is considered to have this country’s most expensive tasting menu.

 

Two Stars: “Excellent cuisine, worth a detour”

Ichimura at Brushstroke – 30 Hudson Street, Tribeca UPGRADE
Last year Eiji Ichimura’s Edo-mae sushi at Chef David Bouley’s Brushstroke entered the guide with one star. This year, Michelin gave it an upgrade.

Momofuku Ko – 163 First Avenue, East Village
David Chang’s blend of American Nouveau, Japanese/Sushi, Korean

Soto – 357 Sixth Avenue, West Village
Sotohiro Kosugi’s sushi bar

 

One Star: “A very good restaurant in its category”

15 East – 15 E. 15th Street, Union Square
Japanese/Sushi

Brushstroke – 30 Hudson Street, Tribeca
Kaiseki tasting menus from Chef David Bouley – whose eponymous fine-dining restaurant also received one Michelin star – and Japan’s top culinary school, the Tsukiji Culinary Institute

Jewel Bako – 239 E. 5th Street, East Village
Japanese/Sushi

Kajitsu – 414 E. 9th Street, East Village
Shojin Ryori (Zen Buddhist Vegetarian Cuisine)

Kyo Ya – 94 E. 7th Street, East Village
Japanese/Sushi/Kaiseki

Rosanjin – 141 Duane Street, Tribeca
Kyoto-style Kaiseki

Sushi Azabu – 428 Greenwich Street, Tribeca
Tokyo-style “Edo-mae” Sushi

Sushi of Gari – 402 E. 78th Street, Upper East Side
Sushi

Tori Shin – 1193 First Avenue, Upper East Side
Yakitori

Bib Gourmands: “Inspectors’ favorites for good value”
Michelin defines “good value” as spending $40 or less – excluding tax and gratuity – for two courses and a glass of wine or dessert

Hide-Chan Ramen NEW – 248 E. 52nd Street
Ramen

Hino Maru Ramen – 33-18 Ditmars Blvd, Astoria, Queens
Ramen

Jin Ramen – 3183 Broadway, Harlem
Ramen

Momofuku Noodle Bar – 171 First Avenue, East Village
Ramen

Momokawa – 157 E. 28th Street, Kips Bay
Izakaya

SEO – 249 E. 49th Street, Midtown East
Japanese, Sushi

Shalom Japan NEW – 310 S. 4th Street, Brooklyn
“Authentically inauthentic Jewish and Japanese food”

Soba-ya – 229 E. 9th Street, East Village
Japanese Soba Noodles

Eater NY was particularly stunned by the omission of Sushi Nakazawa, the highly touted West Village sushi establishment that opened its doors in the fall of 2013. Robin Kawakami writes in The Wall Street Journal blog Speakeasy that Michael Ellis says of Sushi Nakazawa, ” . . . their cooking technique – it wasn’t pure Japanese.”

The Michelin Guide 2015 New York City goes on sale Wednesday, October 1 for $18.99. For a complete list of the restaurants in New York receiving Michelin stars, click here.