The Most Expensive Sushi Actually Worth The Money

Sushi can be a pricer-than-you're-used-to lunch or dinner option, and there's nearly nothing worse than excitedly ordering (and eating) all of your favorites, then getting the bill and feeling as though you're spending way too much for way too little. But that's not always how you'll feel after paying a hefty sushi bill — some pricier sushi dinners are actually worth the steeper prices. Read on for the best of the best. These sushi restaurants might come with hefty price tags, but they're worth it.

Masa, New York City

Masa, in New York City, is the most expensive sushi restaurant in the entire country, according to Food & Wine. Dinner at Masa runs nearly $750 per person, without beverages or tax, and while Masa does not accept tips or any other gratuities, that's still a seriously large sum to spend. That being said, as Food & Wine noted, it's consistently been considered one of the absolute best sushi restaurants in New York City since its opening in 2004. It probably won't be your typical Friday night haunt, but you won't regret your trip.

Kai Zan, Chicago

According to Business Insider, Foursquare users say Chicago favorite Kai Zan is worth the money. The restaurant offers two different omakase (chef's choice) menus, curated by chefs Melvin and Carlo Vizconde, in addition to plenty of high-quality a la carte offerings. The restaurant also received a 2016 Bib Gourmand award, given to restaurants with "quality food at a reasonable price," according to Eater Chicago. Locals say it's totally worth a trip.

Hashiri, San Francisco

According to Bravo, Hashiri's San Francisco location is an extension of its original Tokyo restaurant, and combines both sushi and kaiseki, another traditional Japanese culinary art. "Hyper seasonal" omakase (again, a special, chef's choice menu) in the restaurant's private dining area range from $200 to $500. According to Bravo, it's well-worth the price.

Sushi Taro, Washington D.C.

Sushi Taro, in Washington D.C., is a Michelin-starred sushi restaurant that, according to Business Insider, is popular with staff members at the Japanese embassy. Like many others, Sushi Taro offers an omakase, but at Sushi Taro it's offered at the omakase counter, which only has six seats. Pricing on the omakase at Sushi Taro starts at $140, but according to the restaurant, usually averages around $160 per person.

O Ya, Boston

According to Food & Wine, O Ya, located in Boston's Leather District (there's also a NYC location), is some of the smartest sushi in town. Chef Tim Cushman, who's won a James Beard Award, is at the helm of the kitchen, turning out all manner of modern sushi dishes. Like elsewhere, O Ya offers omakase. Its premium omakase offering is $295 per person and mixes sushi with more composed dishes. As Food & Wine noted, it's well-worth the price.

NAOE, Miami

According to Bravo, you should just go ahead and add Miami hot-spot NAOE to your restaurant bucket list right this second. Chef Kevin Cory is in charge of each and every night's omakase menu, which starts at $280 per person, not including the 20 percent tax and service charge. NAOE's largest capacity is eight guests per seating, which means your experience is extremely individualized. If you have a couple of hours — and a few hundred dollars — to devote to a beautiful Japanese meal, NAOE is an excellent choice.

Sushi Nakazawa, New York City

The sushi at Sushi Nakazawa is what Bloomberg food writer Tejal Rao called "the most exclusive sushi in NYC," but it's somewhat less exclusive now that the restaurant has expanded. Still, the sushi prepared by Chef Daisuke Nakazawa, who studied under the famous sushi chef, Jiro Ono, comes in flights and other offerings at the expanded part of the restaurant (the main, reservations-required restaurant is still as exclusive as ever) and is worth the money. If you're looking for just a taste of the Sushi Nakazawa experience, sidling up to the bar and ordering as few or as many rolls and flights of sushi as you like might be just the experience for you.

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