Hit or Misso? Shogun Omakase NYC
It’s one of the city’s affordable omakase spots and has been around for years, making it one of the earlier restaurants to bring the concept of affordable omakase to NYC, so I was really excited to finally see what they were about.
Luckily, I happened to visit during NYC Restaurant Week, when they were offering a $60 12-course menu that included one appetizer, 10 pieces of nigiri, and one dessert.
Appetizer:
The first course was a crab soup. The soup itself was very good—warm, savory, and thick. The crab, however, didn’t taste particularly fresh, although I wasn’t expecting too much from it. In my experience, crab has always been a miss at affordable omakases. My philosophy is: if you’re going to serve crab, do it well, or don’t do it at all. I feel the same way about uni. These are ingredients where quality really matters, and I’d rather have something simpler than a mediocre version of an expensive ingredient.
Sushi:
The fish used for the nigiri was very fresh overall, and I was pleasantly surprised by the cuttlefish, which was very similar to squid. The taste and texture was almost the same, and the chef cut it beautifully, showcasing his knife skills.
I really enjoyed the madai (I always love any type of sea bream) - soft, flaky, and tasted great paired with the brightness of the lime juice they garnished it with.
Unfortunately, the rice really held the nigiri back. It was too sweet and mushy for my liking, and it overpowered what was otherwise good-quality fish. I’m a strong believer that sushi is only as good as its rice. You can have the highest-quality fish in the world, but if the rice isn’t right, the entire bite suffers. For me, the rice should complement the fish, not compete with it—and unfortunately, I felt like that balance was missing here.
They also served us a spicy fatty tuna bite on a rice cracker, which was very aesthetically pleasing. Unfortunately, I don’t think the flavor quite lived up to the presentation. The tuna had a slight fishiness to it, and the overall bite was a little too rich and fatty for my taste. I think it really needed something bright and acidic to cut through the richness and bring some balance to the bite.
Overall, I think Shogun is a solid option if you’re looking for an affordable introduction to omakase in NYC, especially at $60 for 12 courses (the regular price is $88 for 13 courses). The fish was generally fresh, and there were some creative and visually appealing bites throughout the meal. However, the rice was a major drawback for me. At this price point, I wasn’t expecting top-tier ingredients, but I do think the fundamentals—especially the sushi rice—need to be there.
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Food: 6/10 - Most of the fish was good, but rice could be improved.
Atmosphere: 10/10 - Upscale
Service: 8/10 - Initially was sat under a dripping vent; had to move. I also save my 10s for a place like Eleven Madison.
As always, these are simply my personal opinions, shared with the hope of offering constructive feedback. Every dining experience is unique.
What do you think—do you agree with my thoughts on Shogun Omakase? And more importantly, where should I review next? Drop your favorite omakase or sushi spot below!
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