Kuruma Zushi

Great place, I think one of the best near the Rockefeller centre. However a little pricey for lunch. They just have sushi and sashimi sets now, no bowl sets. The fish is high quality but I had 1 stinky piece. I’ve heard dinner is great but very expensive

Very tasty and fresh raw material. Well made and you can see the process of making a sushi when you are close to the sushi bar. Very special miso soup too! A little hard to find the exact location since it is on the second floor inside a building.

Sashimi is fine
Hokkaido uni and toro very tasty
But sushi is the worst I ever had.
The rice was dry.
I paid $ 1,000 that night and I cried cuz the kuruma skill was not that price.
Please know yourself.

This place is a hidden gem! Only if you understand Japanese culture and can recognize quality sushi should you come here! No fancy American combos — only quality sushi and sashimi with the freshest fish you’ve ever had flown in from Japan. You’re not going to find better outside of Tokyo!

KenScale: 7.5÷10
Kuruma Zushi is one of the Midtown sushi restaurants that’s been around for a while now. Unlike dinner where omakase menu starts at whopping $ 300 per person, the lunch options at this place look like a bargain by a mile, with sushi specials starting at $ 25 – 30 per person. I’ve been to this place for a couple of times before for a quick lunch outside of work, and had a chance to revisit recently.
I went with the sushi deluxe option that contains multiple nigiris along with maki rolls. While the overall quality of fish wasn’t bad, I felt it wasn’t as fresh as I had tasted at other top sushi restaurants in the city. Perhaps I’ve been pampered with all the recent sushi restaurant outings? It certainly is a great value for lunch where you sit at the bar and watch chef Toshihiro Uezo and his couple of lieutenants in action, but on an absolute level in terms of overall quality of sushi, I had to wonder whether the bar was saving the best pieces for dinner.
Getting a reservation is not terribly difficult and the turnover at lunch is quick so coming here for quick lunch shouldn’t be a problem. The space has that secret aura (you have to go up the second floor of an old building) that is welcoming without being stuffy. For quick sushi lunch, Kuruma Zushi is probably the best bet if you live/​work in Midtown Manhattan. I want to, however, reserve my judgment of where this place sits until I have a chance to visit for dinner (not sure when that is going to happen given the hefty price tag).

Here’s the deal. You won’t be blown away by this sushi (unless you don’t know what good sushi is) but for the price, the quality of the fish and rice can’t be beat. I also love that it’s not a traditional brick and mortar sushi place and is located on the 2^nd floor of an office building.
Definitely get the $ 35 sushi deluxe option which comes with miso soup, 7 pieces of sushi, 1 egg custard piece and a hand roll. You won’t regret it.

This is one of the few sashimi temples in The City.
If the subtleties of flavor are something one can recognize and appreciate, this is your place.
If not, this place will go over your head just like several of the reviewers who gave it one star and said they don’t understand the big deal.

This place is basically a little haven for sushi deliciousness. No frills when it comes to the exterior, and upstairs it is very simple and clean, with impeccable service.
Chef is always impressive. He is masterful in his craft and it shows. Do the omakase and let him showcase his talent.
Everything is beyond fresh here. They might as well have just brought it in from the ocean before you sat down. Also, always love the sake here.

Let me tell you why I rate this place 1 star:
This place is way overpriced.
This place lacks imagination.
I came here for a light dinner for two, and ate slowly but finished in less than one hour.
In less than one hour, I paid $ 750 for a light dinner for two with no drinks other than water.
I have been to many of the finest sushi places in the city, many of which have different features that determine cost including quality, presentation, ambiance, service, etc.
This place did not stand out in any category except price.
The food is pretty good, but nothing makes it unique or special. Nothing stood out to talk about or recommend.
The ambiance is average. It justifies a price point closer to $$. But I paid $ 350 each.
The service is good, but for no reason. I sat at the sushi counter and was served by the chef.
The presentation was below average. Nothing, absolutely nothing stood out. The chef literally pulled large metal trays of fish from the fridge and stacked on top of the counter in an unsightly way.
He would then then pull slices of fish out with his hands and put on my plate. Some of the fish was seared, but not when it was served, it had been pre-​seared the night before.
This place is way overpriced. Do not waste your time or money.

One of the best kept secrets in the area. Afraid to review it as I don’t want more people finding out about it!

Came here for a birthday dinner and was excited to try it since I’m an avid sushi fan and especially for omakase.
We ordered the omakase sashimi and sushi. The food is great but if you don’t have unlimited budget you’ll be quite shocked by the bill.
For two it came out to be close to $ 900 for two and this includes a little bit of sake and dessert.
I’ve been to almost all of the omakase places in NYC and other cities (including Masa) but I must say this came out to be a bit more than expected.
It was a good experience but I won’t be returning. I will stick to my trusty Sasabune which was my choice but they’re closed on Tuesdays.
Oh well…

I’ve been here for lunch (just yesterday) and dinner (many years ago). During that timeframe, almost nothing at Kuruma has changed. I have, however, I’ve since been to Japan several times, and experienced sushi at the source (Diawa and others at Tsukiji), at the ultra rarefied (Sushi Sawada), and many points inbetween — anonymous but well-​traveled business lunch sushi specialists. I don’t mention this to prove my bona fides, but to explain a perspective that I think might be useful in approaching Kuruma.
There are as many sushi styles as there are sushi chefs. You earn your stripes via apprenticeship, as Uezo-​san did, and you learn your craft, and style, from whoever you are apprenticed to. If you have seen Jiro Dreams of Sushi (and you should), you’ll know there is no room for innovation. The Master has one way, his way, for anything, and woe be to the apprentice who can’t consistently put out the Master’s rice, tomago, or Miso day after day after day. Only after years, sometimes decades, of meek repitition can the apprentice be so bold as to branch out on their own, perhaps to gently tweak the basics to their own taste. There is very little culinary innovation in Japan, more gentile refinement.
Through that lens, I must admit that I find the criticism of Kuruma a little baffling.
If everyone agrees his rice is a bit hard, and has a tendency to break, that is a sign of consistency. You might prefer softer, starchier rice, or more or less Wasabi, or more red miso in your soup. Sawada-​san toasts his Nori for crispness, Jiro-​san does not. Such choices are the privilege of the chef, at least in the eastern model, and seem a little harsh as criticism, as opposed to an expression of preference. Uezo-​san has been a sushi chef, day in and day out, for half a century this year, and when he is not behind the counter, the restaurant is closed. You may not like his sushi. But odds are Uezo-​san has been carving Toro longer than you have been eating solid food; so I would respectfully submit that what may appear like an error may in fact be a choice, and to try to approach a meal here without alot of baggage.
Especially, (and I realize the harshness that follows might dilute my point), if you are the type of patron that wipes your face with the Oshibori, tries to bite the Nigiri into two pieces, waxes poetic about the fish’s ‘freshness’, or mixes wasabi into the soy sauce. And while I’m on a rant, if the rice busting bothers you so much, eat with your hands, like you do in Tuskiji and every 3 Michelin star sushi den in Ginza (
). Also, Sukiyabashi Jiro (3 Michelin stars) is in a sub-​basement and lit like a Costco; Sushi Sawada (2 stars), is on the third floor of a random office building directly off the stairwell; Sushi Saito (3 stars), is in a office building corridor alongside dine and dash ramen joints. The entrance to Kuruma, via an office lobby and up a flight of dingy stairs, far from a disappointment, makes your heart beat faster if you have been to Tokyo. Sorry, I just had to…
So, you ask, how was the fish? It complimented the warm and slightly sour rice beautifully. For all the carping about the rice on this thread, the rice was a highlight for me. The Toro, Chou-​toro, and Otoro were of very high quality, as were the other selections. Uezo-​san serves only smoked salmon, since he does not eat fresh salmon himself, and won’t serve anything he can’t sample. I found the smoky, salty smoked salmon nigiri a wonderful strong-​tasting interlude amongst the more traditional bonito, yellowtail and tuna. The tuna roll was wonderful, accented with pungent wasabi. I thought this $ 35 sampler was an absolute steal. Uezo-​san and his apprentice are voluable and friendly, and sitting at the bar adds immeasurably to the experience, although finding a seat at prime lunch time can be tricky. I loved it, and will be back.

I had lunch here and I loved it. The location and atmosphere is perfect, being near grand central but on a quiet block, on the second floor with the most minimum of signage telling what’s upstairs. Inside, classic sushi bar, very open to the chefs, and even the dining room seems nice overlooking the street below.
I got the cheapest thing: $ 25 sushi lunch. It was a tuna roll, tomago piece, two roe ships, and about 8 pieces of nigiri. They all tasted great, rice was very good, temperatures of the fish were just right. I loved seeing the big tins of tuna the chef would draw from. I went here looking for a great, quiet meal by myself and came out finding a gem. Very happy.
Would be back in a second if I get someone’s expense account.

They have lunch sets. They recommended the normal sushi set $ 25 or premium sushi set $ 35. Both comes with 9 piece sushi, 1 roll and 1 miso soup.
Got the premium sushi set. Thought the fish was alright, rice was a little hard.
Friendly chefs and waiters though.

This is one of my favorite favorite sushi spots! First of all, chef uezo is simply adorable and makes us feel welcomed every time. The prices are a bit high compared to other places, but it’s definitely worth it. I can say that this place brought my cravings for sushi to a whole new level.

Tried the sushi deluxe lunch special for $ 35 (you can order a more inexpensive version for $ 25 but I was told the selection of fish is different).
From a place that offers an omakase starting at $ 300. I expected much better service and food.
The fish quality was decent but not superb. The rice was too dry and undercooked. When I picked up the sushi with my chopsticks, the rice wouldn’t even hold together. The seaweed was not crisp. With the exception of the fish, the sushi overall seemed only a tad bit better than your average takeout.
Our waiter seemed almost kind of snobby and was not friendly at all. I tried asking him which fish are part of the lunch special and he just said he didn’t know. An offer to ask the chef would’ve been nice.
Though I wouldn’t expect the quality of fish for the lunch special to be on par with that of the omakase, it was much more than expected. It’s unacceptable to have such varying quality of food in the same restaurant, even for customers who aren’t paying as much. Also, not sure if the lack of service and food was because I sat at a table instead of the bar. Either way, there shouldn’t be a difference…
Very unpleased with my experience here and would not recommend this to anyone. The sushi deluxe lunch special wasn’t even worth the $ 35.

WOW. After whining for years about the utter lack of quality sushi in NYC — and yes, I’ve been to Nakazawa, Yasuda, Sasabune, Azabu, Ushiwakamaru, and Gari– I finally found my match. Too bad you have to pay an arm and a leg to partake!
I first tried Kuruma Zushi 10 years ago with my father, the true sushi critic. He took me for lunch (back then a $ 50 lunch special) and confided that while he’d love to take our family out for dinner, it was just too expensive. I returned months ago, and he was not lying. Warn you, this place is easily $ 400 per person for dinner (and we didn’t order alcohol…).
But boy oh boy, it was worth it. I haven’t seen knife work like Chef Uezu’s in ages. He is a toro fanatic (like me!) and truly picks each fish with care. He’s also just crazy entertaining and playful (granted, we were speaking Japanese). The only inconsistent element was the rice. But all in all, best sushi I’ve seen in NYC yet.
You just better know your stuff though, otherwise you’ll think it’s a total ripoff.

Omg the Uni roll is SO GOOD, and the Sushi Special for $ 35 during lunch is a great deal. If there’s anything you don’t like, you can substitute it.
The sushi chef and his apprentice are adorable! Do sit at the bar if you can.

I dropped by this place before attending a meeting with a friend. I feel like I have been transported to Japan. The ambience is what I truly love and appreciate – quiet, private, totally Japanese style. The chefs speak Japanese to each other and to the waitresses. The décor is simple but the whole place is beautiful. I really want to take my boyfriend here some time, because this would be an amazing place for a date for people who are interested in good sushi and Japanese culture.
I ordered the Nama Uni appetizer, which is uni sashimi in a bowl. The uni is sweet, fresh and delicious. I have had great uni in other places like Soto and Brushstroke, but the uni here is quite good too. I also had the Ankimo liver, which I never had before. It tastes soft and unique. I like it a lot. Then I had sushi special. The tuna is what really stands out. I closed my eyes while eating that piece. The chefs are very friendly and keeps asking me how I am doing. I really enjoy dining at this place. Will return with my boyfriend soon!

Was reading through reviews of here and decided to check it out for lunch the next day. It’s not tough to get a seat but you’ll probably be at the bar. FYI, if you want any of the other specials aside from Sushi and Sushi Deluxe; make a reservation. They don’t serve the other specials at the bar.
Went with the Sushi Deluxe ($ 35). Comes with miso soup, nine pieces of nigiri sushi and a roll; that’s a steal for this quality of food. The fish here is spectacular, incredibly fresh and just melts in your mouth. While it is steep for lunch, you venture into this hidden gem because you want the good stuff! They change up the assortment daily too.
I came back here two times the next week for lunch and brought my godsister. I want to try the Tekka Special but can’t seem to get a table. Have not tried the omakase but this is my place for sushi lunch. Love it and Mr. Uezu who is fun to chat with. He does however run his line chefs like quarry workers.