I get to travel alot with work, and I try to pick my layovers based on where I want to eat and explore, so I'm looking for recommendations of "travel to worthy" sushi restaurants. Everyone has their favorites in their home town, so this needs to be somewhere you'd travel to, get a hotel room and make a weekend out of eating there.
10 years ago a date took me to a little strip mall looking sushi place in LA called Matsuhisa. We had the Omakase at the bar with sake pairing and it was mind blowing. Sushi had been a novelty up till that point, and it was all soy soaked stuff i gulped down without tasting, and suddenly it was something to savor, and now it's something of an obsession.
Nobu to me has become a chain. NY, Miami, Aspen, San Diego, Vegas, Bahamas, Milan, Doha, Dubai...the experience at each was consistent and good, but not "great".
I've been recently eating at Nakazawa in NYC (going again this Saturday). I think it might be better than Matsuhisa but it's been 3 years since I was last there so I need to get back soon. It is 100% worth coming to NYC for! Trying to also get a seat at Sushi Seki in Hells Kitchen same weekend so I can do a back to back comparison. Was also invited to check out the new Akashi, so it might be a very interesting weekend.
I went to NY's 15 East last winter and was one of the worst meals I've ever had. Our group stopped the omakase service with 4 pieces to go and just got our check to leave. Forget losing the star, I'm surprised Michelin still has them even in the guide!
Masa NY is on the list, and I have a friend who invites me to his "business dinners" there, but schedules haven't lined up yet. Masa Vegas was pretty disappointing and I have not gone back.
O-Ya NY was amazing (but Nakazawa was just a bit better)
Ichimura Brushstroke is also on my NY list for next visit.
In Philadelphia, the son of Fuji restaurant's owner just opened an omakase back room 7 seat bar (http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/the-insider/Sushi-bar-opens-at-Royal-Jesse-Ito.html) and it was excellent. Not worth traveling to Philly for via flight, but def. worth going through the effort of securing a reservation if you're close to the area or driving distance. It's only been open a month or so, so in 6months after he works out some kinks it's going to possibly be worth a flight to visit.
Sukiyabashi Jiro in Tokyo is top on my list, and I'm trying to do a Tokyo layover on a trip this fall.
So, where else is there omakase Sushi I should buy a plane ticket to come experience?
10 years ago a date took me to a little strip mall looking sushi place in LA called Matsuhisa. We had the Omakase at the bar with sake pairing and it was mind blowing. Sushi had been a novelty up till that point, and it was all soy soaked stuff i gulped down without tasting, and suddenly it was something to savor, and now it's something of an obsession.
Nobu to me has become a chain. NY, Miami, Aspen, San Diego, Vegas, Bahamas, Milan, Doha, Dubai...the experience at each was consistent and good, but not "great".
I've been recently eating at Nakazawa in NYC (going again this Saturday). I think it might be better than Matsuhisa but it's been 3 years since I was last there so I need to get back soon. It is 100% worth coming to NYC for! Trying to also get a seat at Sushi Seki in Hells Kitchen same weekend so I can do a back to back comparison. Was also invited to check out the new Akashi, so it might be a very interesting weekend.
I went to NY's 15 East last winter and was one of the worst meals I've ever had. Our group stopped the omakase service with 4 pieces to go and just got our check to leave. Forget losing the star, I'm surprised Michelin still has them even in the guide!
Masa NY is on the list, and I have a friend who invites me to his "business dinners" there, but schedules haven't lined up yet. Masa Vegas was pretty disappointing and I have not gone back.
O-Ya NY was amazing (but Nakazawa was just a bit better)
Ichimura Brushstroke is also on my NY list for next visit.
In Philadelphia, the son of Fuji restaurant's owner just opened an omakase back room 7 seat bar (http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/the-insider/Sushi-bar-opens-at-Royal-Jesse-Ito.html) and it was excellent. Not worth traveling to Philly for via flight, but def. worth going through the effort of securing a reservation if you're close to the area or driving distance. It's only been open a month or so, so in 6months after he works out some kinks it's going to possibly be worth a flight to visit.
Sukiyabashi Jiro in Tokyo is top on my list, and I'm trying to do a Tokyo layover on a trip this fall.
So, where else is there omakase Sushi I should buy a plane ticket to come experience?