When you know, you know. This year has been exceptionally strong for New York City restaurants so I’ve been lucky to have some standout dining experiences. But from the moment I stepped into Sendo NYC, I knew that this would be one of my favorite sushi spots in the city. And that was before I even had a bite of the Tasmanian trout or a mini-Kaisendon of salmon ikura. Sendo NYC is one of those places that knows it has you at “hello”.

Atmosphere

The whole experience of where Sendo NYC is located and the confusion that will initially ensue makes this new sushi spot even more intriguing. You get to an unmarked walk-up building in Korea Town and you wonder if it’s an apartment or a rundown office. The answer is that you still don’t know, even after some pretty extensive research on the internet. But regardless, it takes a certain level of confidence to open a sushi joint in this spot.

Sendo is on the second floor, but most people continue to climb the stairs as the door looks like a closet on a landing. However, if you are someone who can follow instructions to a T and can take a leap of faith, open up that second-floor door.

From there, the rundown random environs fade into the background and you will have found a beautiful oasis. Where many Japanese sushi spots are light wood minimalist, Sendo NYC has elevated decor. The normally wooden sushi bar is replaced with a sleek black marble countertop. The wood that is the base of the walls and anchors the room, is a richer, warmer, and more luxurious version. Sendo NYC kind of feels like the color palate that you would find in a very expensive bachelor’s apartment. The room is masculine and elegant and unlike other sushi restaurants, they get the lighting just right. There are only 14 seats or so, and the vibe is date night cool with Biggie on the playlist.

Food + Beverage

I’ll cut to the chase; this is one of the best restaurant openings of the year. I thought that I was coming to another trendy hand-roll bar spot. Instead, I found an authentic Japanese sushi bar, that had better nigiri than I had recently in Tokyo. These guys have only been open since July, but something very special is happening. There are no California rolls and no tempura, both of which are favorites for me. I didn’t miss either in the least, as the nigiri was really the star. You could choose one of the omakases, or for people like me, you can combine and choose a la carte as well. This is rare in the realm of serious, no modification $1,000 omakase dinners. I like that Sendo NYC doesn’t take itself too seriously, but instead focuses all its seriousness on the hospitality experience and the quality of fish. Also at $4-$8 per piece of nigiri and a top $47 omakase, Sendo NYC punches way above its weight class.

The Stars of the Show: Kaisendon + Nigiri

I originally went for the hand rolls, which were perfectly crispy-shaped cones. The sushi master dresses them in just the right amount of soy and wasabi and hands them to you freshly made. However, this isn’t the star of the show. I found that nigiri was Michelin-level art and where I doubled and tripled down. Your pieces are laid out on a leaf with just a pile of pickled ginger to the side. I normally douse my sushi in soy and wasabi. But I found that I loved the fish and slightly vinegary rice just as a chef would prepare them. My favorites were the Tasmanian ocean trout, king salmon, Hokkaido scallop, sea bream, and both prawns, in that order. If you’re looking for a little more soy and wasabi, the mini-Kaisendon bowls were perfection. When I go back I’ll probably go lighter on the hand rolls and have a second or third Kaisendon of salmon and ikura.

On Drinks

On beverage, they’re serving sake and beer exclusively, but either will do the trick. Sendo NYC isn’t a trendy lychee martini place but instead an authentic Tokyo/Kyoto-inspired sushi bar. It’s really about the exquisite sushi but the limited selection of sake and beer are high quality.

Service

These guys know they have something special going on at Sendo NYC, and yet they are still humble as can be. Although you’ll probably be put on a 2-hour wait, the host could not be genuinely nicer. When you do get seated, the team works seamlessly, almost like a family with both the front of the house and behind the sushi bar. The sushi chefs are like artists. Their style is traditional in that they don’t shoot the breeze with you, but the energy is good all around. For a relatively new place, they’re operating like pros.

Overall: 8.5/10

Other NYC Reviews You’ll Like

Temakase Nomad 
Kamasu at Hudson Yards 
Domodomo NYC

FAQs

Q: Where is Sendo NYC located?

A: Sendo NYC is located at 876 6th Ave 2nd floor, New York, NY 10001. The 2nd floor in the address is literally the second floor. Almost everyone climbs up an extra flight or two as the door of Sendo NYC is unmarked. It looks more like a closet than the gem of a sushi bar that it is.

Q: Does Sendo NYC take reservations?

A: Sendo NYC does not take reservations. It is first-come, first-served. Plan to come either early or late, though coming late will risk you not getting a spot. The waits can range up to two hours or more right now. If you’re eating solo you have the best chance to drop in and have a more reasonable waiting time.

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

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