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, in New York City, is the most expensive sushi restaurant in the entire country, according to Food & Wine. Dinner at Masa runs nearly $600 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.

Hiroyuki Urasawa previously worked for chef Masa Takayama (perhaps unsurprisingly, the chef in charge at Masa in New York City), according to the Los Angeles Times, and flies his fish in from the same Japanese fish market. Dinner at this two-Michelin starred sushi restaurant, the most expensive in Los Angeles, according to Eater, promises a similarly spectacular experience, as well. According to Food & Wine, the omakase at Urasawa is well worth its large, $395 a person price tag. Just make sure you eat each piece you receive within 10 seconds — one of Urasawa'a rules. 

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.

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. Dinner for just one will cost about $500 if you plan to go the omakase (again, a special, chef's choice menu) route in the restaurant's private dining area. According to Bravo, it's well-worth the price.

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.

Sushi Ginza Onodera is a global sushi chain, but that doesn't make its New York City location any less impressive. According to Eater New York, the restaurant offers three omakase offerings, one starting at $200 per person, one starting at $300 per person, and the other, more "premium" offering that starts at $400 per person. While Sushi Ginza Onodera is a "service included" restaurant, meaning that any and all gratuities are included in the price and there's no need to leave an additional tip, some sushi lovers may still reel at that ticket price, and yet reporter Kat Odell says it's worth it. Add it to your list.

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 $285 per person and mixes sushi with more composed dishes. As Food & Wine noted, it's well-worth the price.

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 $200 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.

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.