This isn’t a trendy Japanese restaurant like Tao or a commercialized sushi place like Nobu. It’s also not a Japanese restaurant like En Brasserie with an encyclopedia of options. If you’re looking for a fine dining $1,000 dinner like at Shion 69, this isn’t your place either. Instead, if you’re looking for a modern omakase restaurant in NYC that could become your go-to during the week, Shogun Omakase is for you.

Atmosphere

When I walked into Shogun Omakase I immediately felt like I would have a good experience. The atmosphere is casual and filled with tables of people catching up. There’s no quiet reverence or austerity to Shogun Omakase. Instead, the atmosphere is one where you know that people are enjoying their food.

The space is nice enough but not too chi-chi, with a large sushi counter and maybe a dozen tables. It feels exactly the kind of insider place that makes NYC the dining destination that it is.  I wouldn’t venture to this neck of the woods near Grand Central on a weekend, but I would come anytime during the week. However, you’re not here for the atmosphere or location. Shogun is an omakase restaurant in NYC that delivers on the food.

Food + Beverage

My friend, who has tastes similar to mine when it came to sushi, went to Shogun the night before we dined there together. She liked it so much that, as someone hailing from LA, she said it was the first omakase restaurant in NYC that measured up. Lately, I’ve been less purist when I eat sushi, so the omakase format when someone else decides what you eat has not appealed to me that much. However, with my friend’s endorsement, my curiosity was piqued.

I’ll cut to the chase; I liked the whole experience and may be back on Omakase after my experience at Shogun. I would say that this is a modern omakase restaurant in NYC. They stay true to the principles of high-quality fish but do more than just serve you pieces of raw fish. They are also light on the rice so you don’t feel over-fed at the end of the meal. On the spectrum of sushi restaurants in NYC, Shogun is above Sushi of Gari and below Nakazawa. It punches way above its weight class for the 15-course $100 Omakase.

A Few Highlights

We opted for the 15 courses, which are actually served to you in 6 courses, so this isn’t a long drawn-out meal. It’s also the reason why this could be your go-to place for easy omakase any night of the week. The meal started out with an oyster with roe, then a second course of snow crab soup. Every single piece of fish is crafted with the right lemon and fleur de sel or the perfect dot of jalapeño oil. I had a million likes and don’t likes that I conveyed to Chef, and he happily worked with me. There were so many highlights in the 10 pieces of my evening. The sablefish with a chili oil concoction, the toro with caviar and gold leaf, and the fluke with lemon salt were just a few. Everything was interesting, and nothing was weird that I had to wonder what the heck I was eating.

Note, though there is no bar they do have a full menu of sakes. Like the omakase, it’s all reasonably priced, but unlike the omakase, it’s not the best list compared to a higher-end omakase restaurant in NYC.

Service

The team here probably didn’t train with Jean-Georges or Daniel Boulud, but they are genuine and endearing. Unlike other omakase restaurants in NYC Shogun is flexible. You can tell Chef your preferences, dietary restrictions, and items you flat-out don’t like. There’s no judgment and they are more than happy to accommodate. This sincere attitude scores high points in my book. At this omakase restaurant in NYC, they operate under the premise that the customer comes first.

Overall: 7.9/10

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FAQs

Q: Where is Shogun Omakase located?

A: Shogun Omakase is an omakase restaurant in NYC. Shogun Omakase is located at 295 Madison Ave #101G, New York, NY 10017. The entrance is actually on 41st Street and currently under scaffolding so if you blink you may miss it.

Q: What are the hours of operation at Shogun Omakase?

A: The hours of operation at Shogun Omakase, an omakase restaurant in NYC, are as follows:

Q: How much is the Omakase at Shogun Omakase?

A; Shogun is an omakase restaurant in NYC. The lunch omakase is 12 courses and is $68. This includes 1 appetizer, 9 pieces Nigiri, 1 Hand Roll and 1 Dessert. For dinner, there are two omakase options. Omakase A has 15 courses and is $100. This includes 2 appetizers, 10 pieces  Nigiri, 1 Hokkaido uni rice, 1 hand roll and 1 dessert.  Option B is 19 courses and costs $150. Some of the supplements include Waygu beef under this option plus an additional appetizer.

Q: Does Shogun Omakase have an a la carte menu?

A: Shogun has several omakase menus plus a few a la carte items. This is not an Americanized version of Japanese food as there is no California roll. Sometimes you just have to trust the sushi chef knows best.