Is 3 MICHELIN STAR SUSHI Worth the Hype? Reviewing Chef Masa's Sushi

Chef Masa Takayama is one of the most famous Japanese chefs in the world. He is also one of the best sushi chefs in the world, with his Masa restaurant in NYC being the only sushi restaurant outside of Japan to have 3 Michelin stars. The Masa NYC menu is a whopping $1,000 though, and they do not allow photos or videos inside.
For a while, I thought my only chance of trying Masa's 3 Michelin star sushi was the famous Masa 26 course sushi feast for $1,000, but it turns out Masa opened a restaurant adjacent to his flagship Masa restaurant, named Bar Masa. Bar Masa has a smaller omakase menu and is the same food and recipes as at Masa, but it is cheaper, smaller portions, and most importantly they allow photos and video!
We have only eaten Michelin star sushi once on this channel, at Sushi Nakazawa. We deemed that the food was good, but it was not exceptional and therefore not worth the $180 price. But is 3 Michelin star sushi worth it? We got assurance from the staff at Bar Masa that it was the same quality as at Masa so the food at Bar Masa should be a good gauge for the quality of Masa's sushi. Does the Masa omakase, and the Masa toro toro roll, live up to the hype or is Masa overrated? Tune in and see!
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Restaurant Deets:
Bar Masa
The Shops at, 10 Columbus Cir Floor 4, New York, NY 10019

[@hisroyalhighness8566]

Another great video UA keep em coming. Hope to see you in Boston some day.

[@caseywilson812]

Great content. Love the background music . The pace of the video was perfect.

[@bkkmj4250]

Great review, thanks! 👍😎🍣

[@golfrabble]

So happy that you dipped fish-side-down into the soy sauce. Thanks for the review. Such a fun video to watch.

[@huiabra]

Thank you for a good review, I hope you’ll decide to try Masa one day as well

[@jodyovsiew3671]

Excellent review! Looks amazing and perfectly prepared. Temperature is SO important!

[@wellroundedsound2422]

Dude you are an absolute savage - 15:24 two cucumber rolls in one bite!!!😉 Great review!!! Thank you!!!👏👏👏👏

[@raynorm24]

Love your content👍

[@HuhuLittleMonkey]

Hey UA, we will be in NYC next week and after binging your videos I already have some places I must visit! Thank you so much for your work! And by the off chance we run into you I'd love to grab a bite with you! Greetings from Germany

[@ajitesh_thakur]

Loved the video

[@shortconcert]

Great videos man! Your channel is gonna explode....

[@ChamP10nk1ng]

Very thorough explanation of each & every item you ate 👍 Sounded amazing 😊

[@patrickvillacreses1532]

UA- best food reviewer . love your honest reviews

[@Lawomenshoops]

A few years back I saw Masa made a burger at his restaurant and I assumed it was that $1,000 a person restaurant. But I checked and it was Tetsu. He put the entire burger, bun too, into a smoker, and served it up.

[@uaeats]

I heard good things about Tetsu! Unfortunately it seems it's no longer open

[@stevenkim6869]

btw, miso soup isn't simply miso paste dissolved in water... if the restaurant was of high quality, it would use dashi stock, which is a Japanese broth ... otherwise, great video ...

[@uaeats]

Good point! You're right. Although dashi is still very easy to prepare. I'm sure they are using very high quality ingredients though at this place

[@PatriciaRoggero]

Looks so good yummm

[@mikehunt65420]

great review UA. i really dig that you go to such a wide variety of places and give a honest review . you have improved alot and look foward to seeing many more

[@uaeats]

Thank you! Yes I want my channel to feature many different cuisines and not just make steak videos, which tend to do well in terms of views but I want to cover more of a variety of foods.

[@jeffc1736]

@@uaeats What's best value omakase in 150-250 dollar range for lunch in nyc?

[@grassroots8226]

Sushi looked amazing!

[@keanhsu-official]

Thanks for the vid, Bar Masa has been added to my list!

[@alisachamoy225]

Really appreciate the honesty in your reviews!

[@Gruskinator]

Ha! I thought you finally pulled the trigger on Masa. Did not know about this spot, but it's definitely on my list now

[@cyclopsvision6370]

I find it hilarious when sushi restaurants talk about quality to justify the price. It's raw fish that was previously flash frozen. I don't know how much of a role "quality" plays in cutting a piece of raw fish and serving it to you

[@rexiioper6920]

louder for the gullible ones

[@BioYuGi]

You still want an actual quality fish.

[@stan9100]

Appreciate this guys honesty, still very pricey!

[@roboliver9980]

Great video. Pleasing to see a KZbinr make a similarly budget conscious choice as I’d have to. Channel deserves to grow!

[@rexiioper6920]

7 pieces for $100 is budget conscious gtfoh

[@roboliver9980]

Given the main masa was $1,000 and the bar is in Columbus circle next door using same chefs and ingredients it was the budget conscious option for those that want the experience. Cheap - no. But if you don’t care for the chef, location or Michelin then look elsewhere for less.

[@danielpushman9597]

This time of year I love a good BLT. Sushi can wait.

[@100185261]

thank you UA for trying all this food for us! I wouldn't be able to justify or be able to afford even what you ate so thank you for showing us what it's like! I love your channel!!!

[@uaeats]

You're welcome! I take the money hit so you don't have to

[@user-on6wc8oj9u]

I always love the face that UA makes 😂😂😂 Keep up the incredibly wholesome content!!!!!

[@jm-gj6fn]

To me, it feels forced, like he's watched too many food review videos and thinks he has to have his own trademark reaction. It counters his best quality - sincerity.

[@silastsang5906]

i enjoyed this! i subscribed! i can't believe they put a cucumber roll on a 98 dollar plate of sushi!

[@Vincent-io2iy]

the balls to give you a cucumber roll LMFAO

[@rexiioper6920]

yep 😂😡

[@johnkovalicky3389]

Yes but it cleanses the palate LOL😂

[@Vincent-io2iy]

@@johnkovalicky3389 no thats what gingers for

[@johnkovalicky3389]

@@Vincent-io2iy well excuse me you must be a world connoisseur on Foods later Vincent

[@rj-vj8gr]

great video

[@wtfsalommy3250]

Cheers Brother, _May the Force be with You,Always_

[@Zamiroh]

Lol that statue when you walked in the mall... i had to rewind and pause, then laugh and show my wife!

[@sevzas]

The statue is by Fernando Botero. All of his figures are similarly curvy.

[@Zamiroh]

@sevzas Humm very intresting, thank you for letting me know who the artist was.

[@andrewlawson4901]

I feel that sushi is good (even the higher end ones), but it never blew my mind, probable because of the high price tag. If you think about it, it's like 15$ / 1 piece, which is pretty insane considering all the alternatives that you can buy with that money. I can't imagine the 1000$ course.. Thank you for the video UA

[@Sonasic]

man its overrated like apple products. The food itself may literally cost up to 100 tops. But he puts his name there and he attracts the wealthy americans. Some places unfortunately are only for the wealthy without a particular reason. Its not that the sushi there is 100 times better than a typical sushi restaurant in Japan. Also they 100% take advantage of people, I mean 1000$ for food isnt the taste or quality you pay the privacy the store offers and the "status" of eating there.

[@Bragglord]

There are sushi places in Japan that are better than Masa and charge less than a third the price, even in Tokyo. This lovely guy made the right call going to Bar Masa instead. Fact is: sushi can only be so good, so fresh. Once you've had it from a top sushi place in Japan, you'll never try better.

[@romuloschnitzer7722]

Hi there UA!! I’m from Brazil and I’m going for a trip in NYC and I’d like to meet one of those classic ancient Japanese restaurants but that are not that much expensive… can you suggest something?? Thank you very much, you’re content is amazing!

[@stephenlagana2090]

Enjoyed the vid and glad you enjoyed. I really had the opposite impression. IMO, it was only Ok/fine and was 3x the price of other very good sushi places even in the same neighborhood (e.g. blue ribbon).

[@seungkim8576]

I'm sure it tasted good, but I can think of many things I'd rather eat for $100 than 7 pieces of sushi. And for something that pricey, the plate presentation seems quite poor to me. I do appreciate your videos, even if often it's to let me know which places to avoid.

[@rexiioper6920]

also one of the pieces was the cucumber roll 😡

[@jimklemens5018]

It's the toro that makes it expensive.

[@seungkim8576]

@@jimklemens5018 Sure, and if a piece of fatty tuna makes it worth $100 to someone, that's completely OK. So might a bit of caviar, or a bit of gold leaf. But for me, I can still think of many other things for $100 that I'd enjoy a whole lot and end up with a full stomach.

[@jtzimm233]

I heard it’s tough to film in izakayas because they are often loud and dark, but I would love it if you turned people on to how amazing it is. Yakitori Totto is in that area, and one of my favorite restaurants in the city.

[@squawk012h]

Wonderful video. So I eat at sushi 35 west once a week thanks to you. So how much better is bar masa compared to sushi 35 west in your opinion?

[@rexiioper6920]

sure u do 😅

[@vissitorsteve]

I have eaten at several Michelin starred restaurants in San Francisco and the Bay Area. I've eaten at the French Laundry, Quince, and Michael Mina...I am not in the financial league to have gone to any of them were I not to fortunate enough to have been invited by friends who paid. My favorite though, was 'Quince'. Still, I'd return to any of them at any time if invited or I could ever afford it. Thank you so much for your honest reviews whether Michelin starred or not! PS, the first time I ever ate deep fried, crispy Sweetbreads was at Quince. It was truly an awakening and despite my every effort I've never encountered that taste again.

[@patrickwong4824]

Good to know the hype meets substance at $200, still not cheap. UA loves your reactions every time you taste the food. Look like you are having a brain freeze.

[@waynepreston542]

Great video UA. Thank you.

[@ramenair]

Thank you for sharing BAR MASA. I am Japanese but I have never known the place which serves $1,000 Sushi even in Japan. Good to know that BAR MASA serves Omakase at relatively decent price, still expensive though.

[@uaeats]

It's definitely still very expensive. But at least it's not $1,000

[@anovosedlik]

It's not worth it. You're paying for being in nyc. There are countless places that are way better. Noz, Gari 46, some places in brooklyn...Masa and bar masa are total ripoffs. Basically tourist traps at this point.

[@alanledzep1967]

Superb review as always, and your hair is looking 💯!

[@alexchainey.]

“ No matter how good food is, there is no way it is worth $1000!”. So true UA San, so true. At BarMasa, there is no way I would pay $78 US for a few pieces of raw fish, rice and seaweed.

[@Aussieman997]

Agree! I still in my 50 year existence, never understood how raw fish can be so pricey. Sh!t, it is just cut into pieces over steam rice. I could do that! This fascination with Japanese food, why? Why do not we popularize smoking next to pregnant women or idolizing school girls, since we are so Japan crazy!!!!

[@holdmyballsack]

it never ceases to amaze me how people who say theyre old as fuck and still never bother to learn. Youre 50 and you complain about the price of "raw fish" and saying you could do it. Then do it lol; theres a reason master sushi chefs train for most of their lives and never stop. Most of the work in sushi is done beforehand not that i would expect you to care enough to look it up@@Aussieman997

[@YumFit1]

@@Aussieman997 Well obviously there are fish which are rare and pricey, but not all.

[@Aussieman997]

@@YumFit1yes, I agree with you. Some cuts of fish are exotic and expensive but in this case, it is Raw Tuna and Salmon and the price is $78-98!!!!!!!!

[@ramencurry6672]

I agree and disagree. I’m single with no family and no responsibilities and food is my hobby so for me, yes I would pay and enjoy it. You kind of have to view it as a hobby. I would never pay thousands of dollars for golf or boating but for foodie stuff, yes for me,

[@Booshay__]

Bit of click bait no? You are not reviewing the 3-Michelin star spot you are reviewing the sister location.

[@wtfsalommy3250]

Waaaaaaan

[@roychin9419]

💯

[@rexiioper6920]

someone had to say it

[@eduardochavacano]

Yes

[@sam-dz4sj]

Exactly

[@kathymaske8997]

I swear...thought you were really hating that tuna because of your face expresstion. Totally shocked when you loved it...😂.

[@turtsterable]

Loved the video UA. What happened to your finger?

[@DogNamedNicolas]

You finally changed the music and lowered the volume!!! Yay!!!

[@jm-gj6fn]

UA totally looks like an extremely constipated Ray Charles when he does his Mark Wiens impression. And would you like some sushi with your soy sauce, UA? lol

[@rrastetter]

Sushi by Kuryu in Roslyn is the best sushi I've had. $50 omakase lunch, quality was incredible

[@sundaybest27]

Def cheaper getting on Long Island too. Thanks! I can work with that.

[@wellroundedsound2422]

Perhaps you gotta step out of Long Island...

[@rrastetter]

@@wellroundedsound2422 Only after you step on to Long Island

[@patshozo9158]

OMG Drooool ! thank you. Well edited video !

[@dman2509]

what is your review of the actual sushi rice they use (looks like short grain)? seasoned enough? under seasoned? some places use black vinegar in their sushi rice.

[@MarcoFD]

fun fact, if it wasnt for the norwegians lobbying for ages to the japanese to sell norwegian salmon, sushi with salmon would never have excisted today. the japanese took a long time to be convinced by the norwegians to buy their salmon.

[@FrancisYator-kv3sb]

Nice review UA! How about doing some Italian food sometime? I think you've done pizza but that is about it.

[@uaeats]

I actually ate at L'Artusi on this channel, the most highly rated Italian restaurant in NYC per Google.

[@FrancisYator-kv3sb]

@@uaeats I must have missed that one, I'll check it out.

[@pokerstar18]

nah $300 and ur gonna give me a roll with cucumber in it, i’ll pass !

[@rexiioper6920]

yeah, salt bae scam vibes

[@kevinc.3903]

Thought that Tuna nigiri gave him a migraine... 😂 He can't spend $300 on the Omakase but ordered an $80 Toro roll... I Can't

[@uaeats]

Haha. But Omakase + the $80 roll would have been $380...

[@marty-mar29]

4:02 That's how I feel about a lot of restaurants here in Waikiki HI. So far on my channel, I haven't been able to check out the highly priced restaurants over here mostly because of the lack of subscribers. But one of these days, I will get the chance to go check them out and give my review on them.

[@finnishyourplate]

Hey you should try Sushi Aoki in Fort Lee. They have an omakase that is spectacular. You might have to voiceover it though, because the place is so tiny.

[@uaeats]

Thanks for the rec! And yep I'm prepared for that. At Sushi Nakazawa I got judged really hard for even whispering so I had to film my commentary afterwards

[@philippkucia8442]

14:34 Is there any chance to find this special soy sauce served in a restaurant in Japan or the sauce with this food in general to try?

[@devilshunter]

Went to masa years ago when it was 600 dollars. Still hefty, but was an amazing and memorable experience. Cant say i would visit again at the current price tag though.

[@bridgettemarshall-greene3606]

That made me so hungry

[@jtzimm233]

Can you do The Office of Mr. Moto next? Dying to go there but it’s an investment. Would love to know if it’s worth it, in your opinion.

[@youngillest]

UA from the look of it those “greens” are thinly sliced scallions which gives it more of a umami flavor

[@michaelfouladi4961]

To me, it isn’t even the same, high quality fish that sells Bar Masa; it’s the diversity of the menu, all crafted by arguably one of the best chefs in the world. Maybe I wouldn’t pay $1,000 for sushi, but I’d definitely give this place a try

[@helenhelen7822]

Cool

[@DabsDad]

looks like Faroe Islands Salmon. It literally melts in your mouth.

[@peterquartararo3249]

question... Have you ever been tested for a seafood allergy? Too many people think they are allergic when they are not.

[@sundaybest27]

I'm shocked by this comments forum, usually UA's channel is pretty mild. My heart is sore for others like me hurting right now, even though i still love watching these videos.

[@sundaybest27]

Though I must say, and even though I know you don't control the ads UA, I'm even more shocked by the ad content running especially if there are children watching KZbin in general. That Lume deodorant one...wow!!!

[@sinwansin]

$1k ? Add an extra $500 and you can fly to Japan for 5 days and have sushi in Tsukiji.

[@luisduenas1845]

If you cleaned your whole plate what did you need a box for? @18:09

[@uaeats]

Ah yes the explanation was accidentally lost during editing. I did not end up finishing the salad from earlier so I took it to go

[@MrG-xf8sc]

The one In Vegas before New York was great also

[@lisabudd5979]

🇦🇺 wow this really shows a better qulity than average Japanese take out restaurant..which over here comes off using cheaper ingredients less of as well a lot of pre made bottel ingredients i. This place is properly true to there technique.

[@mellowyellow2576]

It's probably worth a grand plus tip. That looked yummy a good soy sauce does go miles. "A good meal is truly priceless." 💜 and a good chefs worth there weight in silver.🌀

[@roboliver9980]

Curious point Japan is a no tip culture. Has this followed to their NYC restaurants?

[@rexiioper6920]

a good meal is not determined wholly or even primarily by the chef and the ingredients

[@mellowyellow2576]

@@rexiioper6920 no one's suggesting it is. But good meal a taste a recipe can be instant time travel. I know how to cook with love same as cooking with magic in principle. But good food has the power to end wars or start them. And a master deserves respect cause they worked hard to refine there craft. In the case of a grand a head it's the experience your paying for. The tastee eats are just a bonus. 🙃

[@brianp7166]

UA, I think you kind of skipped over the word similar. A steak at Texas Roadhouse is similar to a steak at Keens. They ain't the same, but they are similar. Love your reviews.

[@i810eggs]

probably not a great idea to mix your hand grated wasabi in your house made soysauce. dab the wasabi on the fish, then dab the fish in the soy, you get to enjoy the elements on their own and not in one messy slurry. Also, next time you're eating sushi, try to sit at the sushi bar so we can see the chef at work. Love your videos btw!

[@adellis24]

Just mentioned the same thing... Its one thing to do that with the cheap stuff but if he did that at actual Masa they might toss him out.

[@wunyuelam1386]

There’s a 3 Michelins stars Sushi restaurant in Hong Kong too

[@roi3761]

"it's blissfull fatty tuna heaven" ! 😅😅😮😂😂

[@lesliesawyer4640]

I always admire your fairness. You admit that some restaurants are outside of your budget, but are not obsessed with prices. There are some people who have a chip on the shoulder populism. I do not deny that the economics of our free world cause enormous gaps in income that are not really justifiable just on merit. But to base your judgement on food on some political stance is wrong. I have no children so no college tuition or worries about coming up with the down payment for their mortgages, I was left well off by my deceased parents, so I am privileged to say I don't care if I overpay once for bad food; I just won't go back, and I'd rather learn for myself rather than relying on other's opinions. You can overpay for mediocre food, as I did at a McDonalds on I-95 the other day, like $18 for a Filet of Fish meal? If they don't salt the cardboard fries right, if the bun is stale, and the fish and cheese undermicrowaved, get it?

[@rexiioper6920]

what on earth r u on about? people get 😡 bcoz they feel like they get conned by salt bae and masa

[@khaledneanea1830]

I enjoy sushi 🍣 personally like my sister. My father on the other hand says it doesn’t fill him 🆙 & is a waste of money. 🤷🏻‍♂️🤦🏻‍♂️😅

[@DaveFromBrooklyn]

I had lunch at Bar Masa a few years ago…I was not amused.

[@pkpledn6]

I give thanks everyday I have Sugarfish here in LA

[@brandoncarpenter9681]

Always a solid choice and a good price, it has warm rice which kind of threw me the first time I had it

[@moaziz23]

We should have a Patreon set up for UA to go eat at MASA and a random subscriber.

[@rexiioper6920]

nothing stopping u cashapping him the funds 🤣

[@moaziz23]

@@rexiioper6920 Oh Im broke. If you dont mind spotting me a $20, I’ll send it to him

[@user-rf7lf5yn8p]

i dont think the way you're looking at it is correct. I agree with you it's prob similar but there is obviously something they have to offer worth that crazy price that is way different otherwise everyone would just do what you are doing? idk who knows good video though.

[@RR-fg2rl]

Great video love masa and bar masa I'm a foodie in NYC and I've been to every 4 star in times and 3 star Michelin guide restaurant. When masa opened up it got 4 stars and was $400 went a year ago and spent a thousand and masa wasn't there and said no photo which ticked me off cos every high end sushi let's me take a picture. Masa is way different then bar masa which I also love. The appetizers at masa are real good in white truffle season he'll put on one dish rest of year is black truffles. The fish is same but no rolls that's Americanized sushi. You get chopsticks for appetizer and sashimi but you slurp the soup no spoon and no chopsticks for sushi. It's a insult to chef if you use them. At Bar Masa they have the best beef fried rice and Green tea mousse I ever tasted it used to be Kobe beef now just beef and with a couple pieces of sushi meal is not bad under a hundred I take girls there all the time for rice and moose and my brother loved it go try it. By the way there's a high end sushi culture in city patrons know what appetizers they have and talk about which chef has which fish. Not worth price cos sushi is sushi but I've been to them once

[@Live4Food]

that miso is dark, looks like aka-miso; this is fermented for much longer than the more common shiro miso. I find it typically has a richer, deeper flavor.

[@uaeats]

It definitely wasn't the same stuff that you get from your local Asian market!

[@gregorykasbar2070]

What is the purpose of the background music?

[@damonmhtan9490]

Grunt! Grunt! Grunt!.... Thanks 😋

[@soowoo2246]

My nigga UA out here GRINDIN LETS GO

[@TickTock-jo4to]

They don't make soy sauce. Most top sushi restaurants make their own sushi soy sauce using soy sauce that was already made in Japan.

[@garwingcheung9617]

UA is the best KZbinr of the WORLD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!¡

[@fatdoi003]

mate.. you don't add wasabi to the soy sauce... you add wasabi to the sushi/sashimi then dip into the soy sauce..

[@jamesatlas8273]

Slimy mushrooms…and kale in innards …rather just chug fresh orange juice half gallons for heath…however really appreciate the reviews!

[@TheDrakulie]

Nobu is my favorite sushi place

[@jenniferforest5400]

At that price I wouldn’t be impressed with 3 of the rolls having just cucumber in it!!!

[@findingpeacedailyfpd6064]

💜 nom nom nom 🌀

[@cyclopsvision6370]

UA, are you left handed, or is the camera just reversed?

[@boat6float]

I'd rather drop $1k at Masa than a dime at Salt Bae

[@cainabel615]

For a $1000 a person, whatever I’m eating better be going extinct.

[@Ryguyhaan]

What happened to the reviews of the other fish?

[@therealgumby2937]

I'm sorry but 3 cucumber 🥒 rolls?!? So really it was a 9 piece omakase

[@rexiioper6920]

more like 6 pieces, its cheeky to serve a cucumber roll