best sushi omakase buffet in nyc (2026) - late night all you can eat review

tldr: spent a full day eating across manhattan. highlights: the late-night all-you-can-eat sushi omakase (a5 wagyu, toro with gold caviar, uni, 40+ pieces, $100-150), the sichuan restaurant near st. mark’s (double-cooked pork that i could eat a whole rice cooker with, $15-20), the smashburger near union square ($7.50, better than in-n-out), and nomad sandwiches (steak brined for 2 days, juicy beyond belief). full reviews below.

new york city has a food scene that can fill an entire lifetime of eating. i spent one full day and night trying to cover as much ground as possible, from a breakfast smashburger to a 1am sushi omakase. the range of quality at every price point is what makes this city unbeatable.

this guide covers the places i ate at across a single 18-hour eating day in manhattan. not a comprehensive list. just an honest account of what i actually put in my mouth and what i thought about it.

if you’re looking for a complete new york city travel guide, i’ve got that covered too.

the awards (my personal picks)

• best overall: all-you-can-eat sushi omakase. 40+ pieces of premium sushi with wagyu and toro. late-night perfection.
• best value: smashburger near union square. $7.50. better than in-n-out. gooey, beefy, simple.
• best chinese: sichuan restaurant near st. mark’s. the double-cooked pork is one of my favourite dishes on earth.
• best sandwich: nomad sandwiches downtown. steak brined for 2 days. the juice flows with every chew.
• most underrated: $1 wings happy hour spotted while walking around. nyc is expensive, but deals exist.
• best single bite: toro nigiri with gold-covered caviar at the omakase. so rich it could live anywhere in nyc it wants.
• biggest surprise: the volume of sichuan restaurants in nyc now. every couple of blocks. this was not the case a few years ago.

the full list

the top tier

1. all-you-can-eat sushi omakase

manhattan / $100-150 / 9.5/10

reservations are hard to get. i could only snag a 9:30pm slot, which made this one of the latest all-you-can-eat dinners i’ve ever had. worth it.

the format: the meal starts with curated omakase courses. first, firefly squid. then a flight of four pieces: japanese seabream, yellowtail, sea bass with chili oil, and seared sablefish with yuzu. each piece is progressively richer and fattier. the sablefish melts in a way that’s almost unfair.

round two: sweet shrimp, scallops, a big chunk of uni, and seared salmon with a piece of pork crackling on top. the uni is rich and creamy with tiny brininess. the sweet shrimp is clean and buttery.

then the all-you-can-eat portion begins. they offer 4 rotating premium items each night. you get 2 rounds to order as many pieces as you want. i ordered about 15 pieces per round.

the toro nigiri with gold-covered caviar: one of the most extraordinary bites of sushi i’ve ever had. so rich it could live anywhere in new york city it wants. the caviar adds umami on top of the already fatty toro.

a5 japanese wagyu nigiri: seared, thick-cut (thicker than most places), extra juicy because of the generous portioning. smoky element from the sear.

truffle salmon: beautiful with a fragrant truffle sauce.

yellowtail with crispy onions: surprisingly good combination. the crunch adds a texture element i didn’t know yellowtail needed.

the fish-to-rice ratio is excellent throughout. big pieces of fish, modest rice. this is not one of those places that stuffs you with rice.

total pieces across the night: about 40+. firefly squid to start, curated omakase courses, then 30+ all-you-can-eat pieces. it goes down embarrassingly easily.

what to order: during all-you-can-eat rounds, load up on the toro and a5 wagyu. the yellowtail with crispy onions is the sleeper hit.

verdict: the best late-night sushi experience in nyc. guided omakase quality with unlimited quantity.

2. sichuan restaurant near st. mark’s place

east village / $15-20 per dish / 9.5/10

sichuan restaurants have exploded across new york city. every couple of blocks has one now. this one is the real deal. the staff is chinese. the crowd is 95% chinese. the menu has things most non-chinese diners won’t recognise.

the double-cooked pork: one of my favourite dishes in the world. thin slices of pork belly covered in chilies, peppercorn, and fermented black bean sauce. some pieces a little crispy, every piece fatty. the fermented black beans are the secret. they make any meat and vegetable taste incredible. the scallions are fresh and crunchy. i could eat a whole rice cooker of rice with this dish.

the crispy stir-fried large intestines: not for everyone, but if you’re even slightly adventurous, get this. crispy fat on the outside, fatty and juicy inside. covered in dried red chilies and green chilies. ultra spicy. the funk transforms into umami in your mouth. seasoned brilliantly. one of those dishes that makes you emotional about how good it is.

both dishes are fatty, rich, and designed to be eaten with rice. order at least two bowls.

what to order: double-cooked pork (must), crispy large intestines (if you’re adventurous)

verdict: one of the best sichuan restaurants in nyc, and that’s saying something given how many there are now.

3. nomad sandwiches

downtown manhattan / $15-18 / 9/10

the concept: sandwiches inspired by different world cuisines. the owner is passionate to the point where he said “take one bite. if you don’t like it, it’s free.” i liked it.

the steak and guac sandwich: the steak is brined for two days. it’s tender to the point where juice flows out with every single chew. the bread is good. there’s wonderful guac and chimichurri inside. bright, citrusy, creamy. the steak is genuinely off the hook. this is a sandwich you need to eat on-site, not take away.

what to order: steak and guac sandwich

verdict: when the owner offers a money-back guarantee on the first bite, you know the food is good.

the solid middle

4. smashburger near union square

union square / $7.50 / 8.5/10

not a big burger. two patties, cheese, pickles, grilled onions. $7.50. pretty much instant service.

the beef is very tender and juicy. tons of gooey cheese. grilled onions. the bun is nice and soft. it’s not flashy. it’s just good, honest, well-made smashburger.

i’d like the edges a little crispier, personally. but the beef quality, the cheese, the overall flavour and texture. it’s really solid. tastes better than in-n-out burger, which is coming to nyc soon. i could eat 10 of these.

what to order: double cheeseburger

verdict: the best $7.50 you’ll spend on breakfast in nyc.

5. lion cake bakery

east village area / $8-12 / 8/10

a beautiful, hefty lion-shaped cake that’s more fragrant than you’d expect. jasmine-scented, with floral notes that linger on your taste buds like walking through a field of flowers. a nice palate cleanser between heavier meals.

verdict: more art than cake, but genuinely delicious.

nyc food day tips

• start with a smashburger for breakfast. it’s new york. nobody’s judging you for eating a burger at 9am.
• the sichuan restaurants near st. mark’s place are the best-value sit-down meals in manhattan. $15-20 for dishes that would cost $25-30 elsewhere.
• $1 wing happy hours exist. keep your eyes open while walking around.
• nomad sandwiches is downtown. plan your walking route to include it.
• the sushi omakase needs a reservation. book well in advance. late-night slots (9:30-10pm) are slightly easier to get.
• budget $40-60 for daytime eating (burger + chinese + sandwich) and $130-180 for the omakase with tip.
• new york is a walking city. you’ll burn off at least half your meals just getting between spots.

if you found this useful, check out these other nyc guides:

• places to visit in new york city
• eleven madison park review

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