Ooi Sushi & Bar — Restaurant in New York

NOTE: this place uses deals to get higher reviews - you get a free appetizer or dessert if you give them a review.

Came here on a random craving for sushi and lived nearby.

Overall food was okay, ordered the following: hamachi Kama, 2019 roll, California uni, sashimi regular, spicy lobster.

My issue was the uni - absolutely horrible. I’ve had plenty of uni everywhere and this place’s uni was just so fishy and didn’t taste fresh whatsoever. Not only that, it came late so the sushi’s seaweed was soft and not crisp, AND the sushi arrived sideways, meaning, we couldn’t even eat it properly.

We asked the restaurant to remake it, and they basically said we should have spoken up sooner about it, which we didn’t out of courtesy for other customers and in case they’re busy. To be clear, we didn’t touch the uni on our plate and we left it on purpose because we wanted a new one. They kept explaining that the uni was fresh when in reality, that was clearly not our concern (though it actually ended up being not fresh when we ate the one they remade later) They basically told us to scoop the uni back onto the rice and eat it like that, and that it’s essentially the same thing?

They also made hamachi Kama like blackened chicken, which is not how it’s supposed to be made.

The sashimi actually was pretty good, and the rolls were decent. My main issue with this place is how they were speaking to me about the uni issue and made it seem like it was my fault, and not offering any simple solution or apology. Instead, I need to insist on my issues, to the point where I basically said to the waitress that I’m willing to still pay for it as it is.

This place deserves much lower reviews - they inflate their reviews with free appetizers and their service is bad if you have any issue with the food. (Note: I rarely ever speak up about my food but cmon, uni shouldn’t come in soft seaweed and not fresh and...

Picture this: an Asian guy and a white guy walk into a Japanese restaurant. You can practically feel the cultural collision brewing like miso soup on a hot stove. As they peruse the menu, the Asian guy starts dropping Japanese phrases like he's auditioning for a role in a samurai movie, while the white guy nods along like he's deciphering ancient hieroglyphics.

They finally settle on their orders, and the Asian guy confidently asks for the chef's special, rattling off the name with such finesse that even the waitstaff is impressed. Meanwhile, the white guy, bless his heart, points to the first thing he sees and says, 'I'll have that one, please.'

When the food arrives, the Asian guy's dish looks like a work of art, meticulously arranged with delicate slices of sashimi and vibrant garnishes. The white guy's plate, on the other hand, resembles a Jackson Pollock painting—splashes of soy sauce here, a rogue edamame there.

But hey, they dig in with equal gusto, trading bites and swapping stories like they've been best buds since birth. And amidst the slurping of noodles and the clinking of chopsticks, you can't help but marvel at the beauty of cultural exchange—and the hilarity of two guys bonding over a mutual love for Japanese cuisine, regardless of their culinary proficiency or lack thereof.

In the end, they leave the restaurant with full bellies, big smiles, and a newfound appreciation for the universal language of good food and great company. And isn't that what dining out is all about? 5 stars for the food, the laughs, and the unexpected friendships forged over a...

This was my first time visiting Ooi Sushi and let me tell you: It won't be the last!

The atmosphere in this little restaurant is so cool and the decor is on point! I ordered the Shrimp Tempura App and Yaki Udon(pictured).

The shrimp and veggies were fried perfectly and the dipping sauce was the perfect mix of sweet and umami. My only issue was the sauce didn't hit hard enough to forget that the shrimp and veggies aren't seasoned and neither is the batter. The soy sauce they had on the table was also super delicious. Not sure if it is housemade but I will be sure to ask the next time I visit. 4/5 stars

Now onto the Yaki Udon. If you don't like onions, you might not like this dish but you can ask for it without onions but it won't be the same. The udon noodles were cooked absolutely perfect and were not mushy or overcooked or soggy. The chicken that was in the dish was MELT in your mouth and also delicious. It didn't need to be seasoned since the whole dish was tossed in a beautiful yaki sauce without drowning the whole thing. A lot of places I order noodle dishes from will drown the dish in the specialty sauce but Ooi Sushi coats each noodle, veggie, and chicken piece perfectly in the sauce. 5/5 stars

BONUS: The dishes that they serve all of there food on is absolutely gorgeous and I actually felt bad eating off of them! Haha

The only reason I didn't give it a 10 is because it didn't absolutely blow my mind or anything but I would definitely recommend this place for a hot meal. Next time I do, I'm going to dive in at the sushi...