#24 Sushi Yasuda
Salad
The classic salad that accompanies a traditional sushi meal. A combination of crunchy frisee, spicy arugula and two halved cherry tomatoes. Served with a dish of tangy, slightly sweet fresh ginger dressing on the side.
Sashimi
An incredible trio of delicious fresh sashimi. The fish, flown in from Japan and other countries, is made from scratch every day. From left to right: rich fatty tuna, creamy sea trout and bright, clean Spanish mackerel. We savored the nuanced flavors of each morsel, remarking on the tender and succulent meat.
Sushi roll combo
After asking for the chef’s choice, we were brought this interesting assortment of fresh fish. The simple roll was exquisite; moist vinegared rice wrapped around small, creamy chunks of tender tuna. Then more superb fish: beautiful, buttery salmon and slightly sweet, tender eel that had been brushed with a light glaze.
Green tea mochi
Refreshing green tea ice cream covered in a gooey, slightly rubbery mochi shell (mochi is sticky rice pounded into a paste). While not my favorite dish, this cool palate cleanser was tasty, of course, beautifully plated.
In the ever-expanding landscape of Japanese joints, Sushi Yasuda is a sparkling standout. The masterful Naomichi Yasuda retired in early 2011, leaving his sushi-serving temple in the hands of his deputies, Tatsuya Sekiguchi and Mitsuru Tamura. They continue his legacy consummately.
Within this modest, unadorned space, you’ll experience Japanese cuisine in its most elegant and refined form. The knowledgeable yet shy staff circulate, eventually offering to take your order in hushed tones (beware, the skilled team are a bit sticky when it comes to English). Depending on what you order, they’ll present you with another, substantial menu that lists the various fresh fish available. We recommend that you ask the chef to decide, as they’ll bring out some incredible samples of delicious, melt in your mouth meat. Most importantly, while the omasake lunchtime menu can run into the high $80s, arriving at dinnertime is a great way to experience this perfect cuisine without the pricey premium. As we did, you can get the entire menu for about $25, which is one of the best deals in the city.
204 E. 43rd St.
212-972-1001
