Japanese restaurant group Kissaki is the recent darling of the sushi scene, where the draw actually isn’t the scene. Kissaki gained its popularity the good old way – by serving high quality sushi. That’s not to say though the scene hasn’t followed, especially at the Water Mill location in the Hamptons. So it’s only natural with all its success and following that Kissaki would branch into the trendy temaki concept. This is a review of Kamasu NYC, a casual temaki restaurant in Hudson Yards by the guys behind Kissaki.

Atmosphere

Authentic Japanese restaurants are generally more austere, with clean lines and minimalist wood. That’s the case with Kissaki’s Kamasu NYC. The dining room is nondescript but plays to the Japanese sushi bar theme. So in lieu of decor, the atmosphere is driven by the people you are dining with. I was there during the summer, so it’s not quite reflective of when the offices fill all the restaurants in Hudson Yards. On previous walk-bys the crowd has been a mix of nice looking people. However on my visit, Kamasu was pretty empty with random tourists. (No offense to tourists, of course).  I’ll reserve full judgment for if I come back on whether the crowd adds to the atmosphere. Regardless though, Kamasu is about the food and not the scene. So with that said, a lot rides on the food at this restaurant.

Food + Beverage

I love temaki rolls and I continue my search to find a place I like more than Nami Nori. The nutshell is that I found Kamasu’s food to be average, with a few standouts, and a few hard passes. Kamasu is fine if you’re in Hudson Yards and you’re in the mood for sushi. However I wouldn’t go out of my way to make Kamasu NYC a destination.

A Hard Pass

We started out with the tempura which was surprisingly made with a heavy bread-y batter. It was one of the worst tempuras I’ve had at a nice sushi joint in NYC.  The shrimp and the veggies were oily when proper tempura should be light as air. Luckily we were able to quickly move past the tempura when the miso soup was brought out. Kamasu’s miso soup was both generous in portion and a little more than basic, with sesame and chives.

The Temaki

I suggested Kamasu for the temaki, so of course that’s what we ordered. We both went for a set of five to start. The fish was a little above average in quality, but as part of Kissaki, I expect excellent fish. But taking that aside, like the miso soup, the temaki all had a little something extra in a show of effort. The salmon had miso and some round rice crunch on top. The fluke was pleasant too with a ponzu and daikon. They modified the scallop for me sans mayo and added in jalapeño. It was all just a smidge above average. However for me it’s all about the perfectly crisp seaweed that gives you that decadent crunch, without being fried. The seaweed at Kamasu wasn’t very crisp, which for me is the point.

Also, while the temaki did have interesting toppings, there wasn’t a lot of flavor.  Normally I gorge myself but I didn’t double down on any temaki. The most underwhelming dish though was the baked crab roll. I think that every trendy sushi joint has their own version, from the OG Nobu to Katsuya across the street. Kamasu’s version had butter to dip which left me wondering, “Why?”. That and the tempura are a hard pass if you make it to Kamasu.

Service

All aspects of the Kamasu experience from atmosphere to food are consistent. Kamasu’s service was all pleasant enough, but unmemorable.There were some nice interactions with the sushi chef at the bar, who of course perfectly polite. However overall the service lacked anything to distinguish itself. At places like Kappo Masa Chen-San will put on a show by putting together sushi that is like art. The Kamasu approach is more mechanical and less theater.

Overall: 7/10

Kamasu NYC is a serviceable option in Hudson Yards for a casual sushi bite. I wouldn’t make this a destination but if I’m in the area and need to eat, it’s an option in Hudson Yards.

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FAQs

Q: Where is Kamasu NYC located?

A: Kamasu by Kissaki is located in Hudson Yards at 20 Hudson Yards Unit 220, New York, NY 10001 on the 2nd floor of the mall.

Q: What kind of food does Kamasu NYC serve?

A: Kamasu NYC serves Japanese food focused on temaki sushi rolls.

Q: What are the hours of operation of Kamasu NYC?

A: The hours of operation of Kamasu NYC are as follows: