Third-generation sushi chef Kunihide “Nakaji” Nakajima brings his legacy to the Bowery with his debut namesake restaurant. The dual-concept space – tucked away in the Canal Arcade – features authentic edomae-style sushi omakase, rare Japanese whiskies, and craft cocktails in a sleek setting.
Intimate, wood-accented venue for curated omakase sushi meals served at a chef’s counter. Based on 129 reviews, the restaurant has received a rating of 4.3 stars. Price
✔️ Dine-in ✔️ Takeout ✔️ Delivery
Address:
48 Bowery, New York, NY 10013
Phone: (646) 478-8282
Social Profile: 
Hours
| Saturday | 5:30 PM–12 AM |
| Sunday | 5:30 PM–12 AM |
| Monday
(Labor Day)
|
Closed |
| Tuesday | 5:30 PM–12 AM |
| Wednesday | 5:30 PM–12 AM |
| Thursday | 5:30 PM–12 AM |
| Friday | 5:30 PM–12 AM |
Menu
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Photo Gallery
Order and Reservations
Reservations: nakajinyc.comresy.com
Reviews
Yeong Kim
My bf and I dined here quite long time ago, and after going to several other sushi places, we still think Nakaji was the best c: The quality of seafood was super good and the chef even pulled a different type of uni that wasn’t offered in the course when I asked for another uni piece at the end. The chef also left a kind comment on my IG thanking me for visiting
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Luna Serena
Great selection of the finest Japanese Whiskeys, bartenders are extremely friendly. The atmosphere is amazing, very intimate and romantic.
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Joe Heitzeberg
To be honest, Nakaji is not worth the money. Avoid. The cuts were unusual and that was special, however, at this price point the quality bar is certainly much higher and extends to service, presentation and — for a luxury tier sushi counter experience — craft. And Nakaji simply falls far short on all of those dimensions.
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Tian Gao
Extremely rude attitude. I came the first time and somehow the chef got really angry just because I tried to take pictures and reply messages. I am not paying 400 dollars to please the chef. I have the right to use my phone. Me and my friends were the only ones who didn’t receive toro handroll at the last. I asked the server and she be like oh they were all frequent visitors….. what a discrimination! And I didn’t have any dessert! The only place in nyc that doesn’t serve desserts in the course wow! I can’t see why anyone loves this place. Uni was not good either. The only bitter uni I have ever tasted in nyc. Heard the chef was working in a sushi place rated below 4 before. Maybe people with a bad skill have bad temper too.
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Marcus Aurelius
Nakaji is a welcome addition to the list of New York’s high-end omakase options. The “experience” starts with finding the damn place, which is sandwiched between two buildings in a Chinatown alleyway. Assuming you’re able to find the door, you’re then escorted to a bar area where $25 cocktails await. Assuming you can withstand the social pressure to imbibe (I couldn’t, and ended up getting a green mezcal-based drink with a dried-out Fuji apple), the hostess then directs you into the backroom, where an elegant wooden counter and traditional backdrop awaits. Let’s get to the food — we went with the standard omakase option (there’s another more expensive option with extra uni) — which will run you just under $300. Starting with what was good — the first few dishes were creative, well presented, and motivated an appetite. Once we got to the sushi, that’s where things got more nuanced. While some pieces were great — Jackfish and Uni were standouts — other pieces, like the fatty tuna neck and some other fish I couldn’t make out the name of, presented a rough texture you had to gnaw through. All in all, some highs, some lows, but if soft, buttery fish is what you want from your $300 omakase experience, look elsewhere.
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Camilla Strawberry
This is not a fantastic experience for the $900 spent (before tip, the upgraded menu which was NOT worth it). The Chef seems miserable the entire time and is definitely not friendly. He started the experience 30 min late (where we all just sat there in uncomfortable silence, most people on their phones) and was then absent for 60% of it (you just heard him clonking around in his wooden clogs behind a closed door). Credit should be given to him for being a great hand sushi chef and the 6 pieces of sushi that finally came 90 minutes into the experience were of the quality you would expect when booking this. The 2 Uni pieces that were part of the upgraded menu additions were also great, but the lobster was very disappointing, cooked too hard, stiff and chewy, nowhere close to delicious. The 5 appetizers served before the sushi were barely edible. I left 4 of them uneaten: squid and octopus drowned in much too much cheap tasting sweet sauce, simple potato and onion soup that you wouldn’t reorder even if it was free, a mackerel that was severely overcooked/dry and not worth putting in your mouth, abalone that was served too cold (the only app I ate), and seaweeed that was like a tasteless, glutenous soup. On top, these were all served too cold (likely kept in fridge too long/prepped way ahead of the meal), except the soup. In short, there was no elegance to the appetizers what so ever and he should be embarrassed serving them. To sum up, there is nothing impressive about Nakaji. Had we paid 150 bucks a person, we would still have felt let down. At $385 per person, plus $30+ for each drink, it’s an outrage. There are so many wonderful sushi experiences for a fraction of this price in Manhattan. Stay clear of this one and do not fall for the positive reviews.
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Jessica So
Best omakase in NYC. Chef used to train at Sushi Den in Ginza. Fish is incredibly seasonal and fresh (straight from Japan), the rice is fantastic, and the service is outstanding. Prepare for 11-12 courses (not including the uni tasting supplement) for $225.
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Jesús Pimentel
This is an exceptional sensorial experience, more of a journey through the amazing flavors and textures prepared and execute by the Chef Nakajima for your enjoyment and pleasure. It is a very intimate experience since there are only ten chairs on the bar and the chef works in detail on every piece is brought to you personally. The Chef LOVES what he does and makes this an unforgettable experience; Also, the service is terrific, the staff makes the experience just round perfect. Drinks or wine not included.
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The Sushi Guide
Omakase for $225 includes 18 courses. Chef Nakajima is one of the most well known figures in the ultra high-end sushi world in NYC.
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Michael Nehring
Tucked in a quasi-alleyway with a tasteful exterior light as the only marker, you could say this place nailed discretion.
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