Just when you thought Aspen couldn’t get any better, Nakazawa Aspen has given us another reason to visit. In place of the Grey Lady on Mill Street, Nakazawa Aspen is now in residence. And it’s definitely bringing the competition to visitor-favorite Matsuhisa. While the Nakazawa Aspen menu is not as formal as the original, it’s still the most formal sushi in town. The restaurant scene in Aspen is constantly changing, and in this case change is a great thing. 

Nakazawa Aspen 

Location

Sushi Nakazawa started with two locations, in New York City and in Washington DC. The expertise of Tokyo born head chef Daisuke Nakazawa saw the NYC restaurant earn its first Michelin star. The success of Sushi Nakazawa has now come to the heart of Aspen. Located on Mill Street, visitors to this ski resort town can now taste the best Japanese cuisine around. Nakazawa Aspen is only a seasonal pop-up in collaboration with Ryan Chadwick though, so be quick. 

Ambiance

Like all of Nakazawa’s restaurants, you can expect only the best atmosphere. The black walls and ceiling paired with the dark wooden tables help bring out the vibrant colors in every dish. The restaurant is fully booked every day, so you’re in for a lively dining experience surrounded by people who know good sushi. The patio in the wintertime makes you feel like you’re sitting in a snow globe and have been transported to an alpine retreat.

What To Eat at Sushi Nakazawa 

If you’ve been to the West Village you’ll know that Nakazawa does a mind-blowing omakase. The fish is world-renowned for being some of the best sushi in the world. Essentially the original rendition is a “trust me” menu, with Chef Nakazawa carefully crafting each piece with the precision of a surgeon. Each bite inspires dinner discussion and analysis to take in the complex flavors. There’s no California roll on this list (or even a menu), and the focus is on the experience of the food. So if you’re feeling particularly adventurous, put your trust in the chef.

What To Eat at Nakazawa Aspen

The Nakazawa Aspen version is completely different. What we love about the Aspen outpost is that you can choose your own adventure. Yes, you can opt for the omakase, but there’s also a few a la carte dishes to choose from. The menu is extensive, with a full page of cold and hot dishes, in addition to sushi. Highlights include crowd-pleasing king crab salad, hay-smoked crudo, tiger prawn tempura and salmon crispy rice sushi. There’s even a Wagyu steak. The menu here is more accessible to families and those who are not hard-core sushi fans. But for $185, the signature Nakazawa Aspen omakase experience should still be on the table.

We always love visiting Aspen, especially in the winter months. There’s nothing quite like a winter break at a ski resort coupled with great food. Plus, you never know what celebrities in Aspen you’re going to find on the slopes. And we’re always excited to try anything that has chef Nakazawa’s name behind it. Even if it’s just for a short amount of time. His sushi chefs are certainly plating up a storm at Nakazawa Aspen, and it’d be a shame if you missed it while this pop-up is open. So dust off your skis and get those plane tickets booked ASAP. And don’t forget to make that all important table reservation before touching down in Aspen.

Note: Nakazawa Aspen is unfortunately now closed. GinJoo Ramen has now taken over its location. If you want to taste the flavorful dishes of Sushi Nakazawa, we’ll see you in NYC or Washington DC.

**This location is permanently closed.**