Is Nobu’s Most Expensive Sushi Worth It?

The omakase menu option at chef Nobu Matsuhisa’s namesake sushi restaurants runs nearly $200 per head. With locations in Beverly Hills, Aspen, and NYC, his restaurants count celebs like Justin Bieber and the Kardashian-Jenner clan. That’s expensive, but it’s by no means the most expensive sushi in the world, let alone New York. We set out to answer whether Nobu is worth the price and how does the quality of Chef Nobu’s menu compare to an average New York City sushi restaurant? CNBC Make It compared an average sushi joint in the city to Nobu, where Chef Nobu showed us his spin on his favorite cheap rolls, as well as some of the pricier options on his menu. My wife and I eat sushi for dinner about once a month which I admit isn’t necessarily a cheap habit. My usual order at Taro, our go-to place in Brooklyn, is the edomae chirashi bowl which costs $30. It has variety of ten pieces of fish from mackerel to toro (fatty tuna cut from the belly of the fish) and uni (sea urchin) served on a bed of rice and seaweed. I find it a perfect balance between price and value. Our bill usually comes in under $80, tip included. We avoid the more expensive restaurants like Nobu Downtown where a single piece of toro costs $17. A similar cut costs $ at Taro. And Nobu Downtown is by no means the most expensive sushi restaurant in New York, not even close. Dinner at the Hinoki Counter at Sushi Noz in Manhattan consists of a 6-course tasting menu and a selection of nigiri, a single piece of fish served on rice, for $300 per person. The beverage pairing costs an additional $175 per person. A two-hour dinner at Masa costs $595 per person, not including beverages and tax. Thankfully, gratuity is not accepted. The check average at Nobu Downtown is $135. » Subscribe to CNBC Make It.: About CNBC Make It.: CNBC Make It. is a new section of CNBC dedicated to making you smarter about managing your business, career, and money. Connect with CNBC Make It. Online Get the latest updates: Find CNBC Make It. on Facebook: Find CNBC Make It. on Twitter: Find CNBC Make It. on Instagram: #CNBC #CNBCMakeIt #Nobu Is Nobu’s Most Expensive Sushi Worth It?