Barnyard Barbeque
765 St Rte 17C, Owego, NY, 13827
Barnyard Barbeque Menu
Sorry, We are updating this restaurant menu details.
Visit below restaurant in Owego for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Owego for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Owego for healthy meals suggestion.
Sorry, we don't have Q&A for this restaurant.
Sorry, No Coupons available for this restaurant.
-
Address :
765 St Rte 17C
Owego, NY, 13827 - Phone (607) 687-2930
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
Sorry, Store hours have not been updated. If you are the owner of this restaurants. Please update the store hours.
Specialities
Sorry, No additional information is available to display.
WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES
Looky Weed - Buy Marijuana Online
Looky Weed is here to help you navigate the maze of legalized marijuana. We provide you with a complete dispensary directory.
Nick C.
So far a few of the reviews have bashed the service, but ours was helpful and fun. The food is good, not the best, but very good. We had a four top, ordered an app per person, a roll per person, and a few orders of sashimi. Plus a couple large sake's (which may have been the best sake I have had, honestly) a couple of beers, and a glass of wine. All of this, plus a generous tip for under 2 bills. Good sushi in the City, for under 2 hundy sticks with full & drunk belly's on the way out, that is worth a 4 star for me. For the apps, the top gets are the avocado; it was sliced with sesame seeds and sesame oil on top, tasted perfect; & the gyoza. These were pan fried to perfection, not burnt, but a real nice crisp to them. The Tuna Tataki was close behind for another solid get. Real good taste here. The sashimi we got were yellow fin, tuna, salmon, and fresh scallop. Of these the salmon was the best, tasted almost buttery. The tuna however, the cuts were way too thick, and it was too much tuna for one piece. Tuna overload! Normally the generous cuts in this place are nice to see, but just not with the Tuna. The rolls, take your pick, there are so many to choose from. Me, being the nerd I am and seeing all the Godzilla memorabilia around, I had to go for the Godzilla Roll. Simple enough that it was spicy tuna and avocado with flying fish roe on the outside, but the taste was just great!! Highly Recommended; Are there better sushi places in town? Of course. This is NYC. But if meeting friends or shopping in the area, this place is more than worth the money. Just be careful when ordering the sashimi, the cuts are too thick for certain types of fish.
(4)Josh d.
Met up with a friend here while he was visiting from the mountains, as we both train in this neighborhood, so it was close, and he wanted some sushi. For all intents and reasons, the meal itself was forgettable. Nothing special, the fish was not as fresh as I've had, the rice was over cooked and soggy, the service could have been quicker, better, and more pleasant. 2 stars is not really meant to be an insult, but more of a reminder to myself, that there are far better around.
(2)Steve L.
Saying that Monster Sushi is the best sushi place in Flatiron/Chelsea area is sort of like saying that the Mets are the best sports team in Queens. It may be technically true, but admittedly the pickin's are a bit slim to begin with. I came here for the lunch special. This is a deal and a half. For $14.95, you get a bento box special including miso soup, salad, your choice of shumai or a spring roll, your choice of sushi rolls, and an entree. The decor is that "fake kitschy" you see in a lot of restaurants in New York. The ceilings have an "underwater" feel about them, and the walls behind the bar are filled with Godzillas. The service was great. Overall, I'd say this is the place to go for sushi if you're around the area, but of course there are much better options if you go uptown just a little.
(4)Sara R.
I was craving sushi, so my sister and I decided to check out Monster Sushi. The decor was very cute and modern, with lots of Godzilla figuerines towards the back. Service was great, our waiter was attentive without overdoing it. The miso soup was yummy and the sushi rolls we ordered were fresh and delicous.
(5)Danielle T.
Fresh sushi. The Monster Roll (I had baby monster though because the regular one is too big!) is delicious. Great flavors and just the ingredients I like. Unique rolls I'd like to try again. Friendly and efficient service too! Really comfortable chairs. Some tables even have executive leather chairs... Fancy! Decently price for sushi in the city.
(4)Reana K.
Went here for lunch on a weekday with my best friend. Reasonable amount of people when we arrived but not crowded at all. The atmosphere is cute and kitchy with lots of godzilla themed toys at the sushi bar. We took two seats at the bar and enjoyed watching the chefs. We ordered: Salmon skin roll, hamachi and scallion roll, Spicy Girl roll. All the fish was amazingly fresh and beautiful. I'd be confident in ordering a large sashimi platter here based on the quality of our fish. Not to mention when we were eating a diner came up to the sushi counter just to thank the chefs for an amazing sashimi platter. Spicy Girl roll was delicious and worth the extra bucks as one of the special rolls. The special "Monster maki" are definitely more expensive, but our simple rolls were affordably priced and equally delicious. Pairing an expensive, larger roll with the simple ones worked out well for our taste buds and our wallets. Atmosphere was cute and clean, staff were very gracious.
(4)Alexis G.
I am so sad. This place isn't what it used to be. Sushi is good, bit mushy. But the service..... My waitress had terrible BO which basically eliminated my appetite.
(2)Kelly O.
For some reason, when I first looked up sushi places that deliver by our hotel (Wyndham Chelsea) it only showed 4 places. The concierge told us about Monster and thank heavens. They were open, they deliver! We ordered a ton of sashimi and the salmon was like BUTTAH. I ordered the white tuna-- that was not WHITE by any means but it was still good. Miso soup- HUGE portion, seaweed salad as well. I did the Monster roll and one other one -- only thing I didn't like is that they use the fake crab. To me, that's a #FAIL. But other than that-- fast delivery, great food, nice presentation. Total score.
(5)Amy A.
We ordered for two the: Sashimi Appetizer - good portions, fresh World Series Roll - so so so good - recommended by a fellow Yelper and I would do the same Tuna Belly High Fat Sashimi - Tempura Ice Cream w/ Taro All for under $50 including tax and tip. I left so full and so satisfied. The service was pretty good - didn't wait long for dinner time on Sunday. The interior design is a bit funky but pretty appropriate given the name.
(3)Leah D.
Ohhhh, back in the day, this was my spot for sushi. There's not many things I miss about New York City, but its plethora of good sushi restaurants is definitely on that shortlist.
(4)Jasmine O.
Really good quality sushi. A little pricier than what we get in Vancouver but worth it! It was lovely.
(4)Iggy D.
Really great sushi, everything was really good
(4)Joyce I.
Great uni and spinach dish! Service great. Sushi fresh and presented well. It's not super traditional but good for solid 'standard' sushi, it was also 2 blocks from my hotel.... Needs natto...it's not just for breakfast anymore....
(3)Christopher D.
The sushi nigiri at room temperature is highly appreciated as it should be. The turn off is the size of each piece of sushi. Too big. I feel when nigiri or a roll get too big they become unappetizing. I do though like their thinking outside of the box by welcoming customers bicycles inside the dining room.
(2)Alexandra K.
I came here late one evening with a friend after a networking event. We had a bit to drink and were pretty hungry, and Monster Sushi hit the spot. I had a vegetarian roll with brown rice and a seaweed salad, while my friend had some salmon rolls. Service was quick, and didn't mind my friend's exhausting nature. Not too expensive, and at that hour, under those circumstances, it hit the spot.
(4)Chuck 'n Carden T.
Ok... we love sushi. Love, love, love it. We've been known to have it at least every other week, and have 3 or four places that we go to on a regular basis. Most notable find as of late has been Kiku in Park Slope (see other review)... That place is off the hook. But we live in Chelsea now... a culinary center of variety and excellence. So we thought we'd go out and treat ourselves to another decadent night of sushi treats on our way back from a bit of furniture shopping. So we pulled out our smartphones, hit up the Yelp site and found 4 options within 2 blocks of us... Picked "Monster" after doing a drive-by on the first & closest one "Ichiban" I think, only to find the place to be empty but for one small table. On the other hand, Monster was crowded on this Friday night... not surprising and usually a good sign. We walked in and were immediately seated in the back at a nice table. The decor was cool, the place was clean, and the servers were nice -very friendly. Everything was great except the food... and we tried alot of it. We started with the Tuna Tatake which came out over cooked and veiny - actually the first TT I've ever had that was chewy - gross. We left 2 pieces on the plate they cleared. Then we ordered 4 rolls (Spicy girl, Lobster, Dream, and Wasabi), and 3 orders of Unagi Nigiri -my favorite, and 1 order of red-yellow snapper sashimi (on special - and something I'd never heard of b4) and 1 order of regular yellow-snapper sashimi. Food came out on two plates - and we were psyched! Then we tasted it... In general the rice was soft & soggy and the fish was slimey... Disgusting! We really wanted to like it -we even kept eating pieces hoping we were wrong - but it just wasn't possible. For the first time ever we left a lot of pieces uneaten on our plates. What a disappointment... What a waste of money ;-(
(1)Brittany K.
I LOVE this place...100% amazing every time. We always sit at the sushi bar and watch them chefs, they put a lot of time and concentration into the rolls. I haven't been here for dinner, just lunch- and we usually get a few special rolls, if I remember correctly...the Unbelievable and World Series roll are awesome if you like eel and avocado. Last time we had the pistachio ice cream and it was literally some of the best ice cream I've ever had! We get a basic roll or two, usually salmon and avocado or tuna and it's always so fresh and flavorful- I'm definitely a fan!! Oh they have a couple TVs, last time we were there they had the Travel Channel on- which is an added bonus because I'm sick of watching the depression of the news everywhere I go, it's bad enough I work in TV and am exposed to it at work! I definitely recommend Monster Sushi, for a variety of reasons :)
(5)Alice G.
I know that I am supposed to be thankful for the sushi for the price, but I'm sorry, the food was quite bad. The sushi rolls were uninspired and the fish did not taste that fresh. The service was ok, but the poor food just overshadowed everything else. The only reason I've been a few times is that our kids keep saying "We want monster sushi" because they like the word monster and the very cool collection of toys on the shelf. But please, do something about your food!
(2)Mark M.
We had two meals in three days. Meal 1 - sushi sushi sushi. It was all very tender, tasty, interesting, nothing crazy, but very predictable. Meal 2 - Noodle soups...loved it! It took quite a while to whip up four bowls of noodles, but once they arrived, we all ate them to the very last drop. It's not fancy. It's not special. It's good!
(4)Mon C.
Came here for a late night snack last Sunday. The service was fast and friendly. I got the Godzilla roll, which was pretty good (nothing amazing, but I'd get it again).
(4)Alexandra C.
We loved it! Gread size rolls and all very fresh. Must go for the special rolls. The Godzilla was excellent. The Jan roll was one of the best I've ever had. Everything was great. The roll with mango was our least favorite. The only problem was it was so good my friend and I just wanted to keep ordering more....and then you get the bill.
(4)Art L.
To be a fan of any sushi restaurant, one must dine with a certain baseline of expectations. I have been to Monster many times and have taken out many times, and through the years, they have been consistent. Now, many people talk about sushi not being authentic, not being fresh, etc. etc. as main points of their criticism. However, what Monster does well is to satisfy my expectations every time I go. What are those expectations? 1) Big slabs of fish. 2) A sushi deluxe that has 17+ pieces of fish 3) Large specialty rolls 4) A little larger than normal regular maki rolls. 5) Adequate service 6) Fish that is not "top quality fish" but still fresh. (this is for those who question the quality of their fish) 7) Leaving full. Alright, so if this is what you're looking for, you'll be wonderfully satisfied. Finally, the recent renovation 2 years ago has made Monster a much nicer place to dine. Prices are still in the moderate level.
(4)Angela K.
I wish I could give them a 3.5 stars... Nothing was bad.. everything was reasonably good and priced.. just nothing outstanding and certainly not an outstanding atmosphere! Not a whole lot of variety for a vegetarian.. but decent.. ask for spicy mayo., makes everything taste good haha :)
(3)Evan G.
This is an OK place to find sushi. I never go out of my way to go here - when someone suggests it to me, my general response is: "Yeah, I guess I can do that." Shrug. Their asparagus appetizer is very good. The sashimi just isn't terribly exciting. And if I can't get excited about your unagi, there's a problem. "I'm sorry, babe. It's not you, it's not me, it's the unagi." In the few times I've been here, service has always been friendly, and the bathrooms are always clean, which - to me - means the kitchen has got to be in pretty darn good shape, too. Prices for what you get are just too high. I should say "Mmm!" at least once. But I just don't.
(3)Helen K.
I was staying at the Hilton (Fashion District) for work and was recommended this place by the concierge for a late dinner. We walked over and was seated quickly. Since it was around 10 PM, the place was fairly empty with a few patrons. We sat at the bar and ordered some sushi and sashimi plate. The nigiri is really big. Definitely too much rice. Also, they were out of uni, so that kinda sucked. I'm guessing this place is better known for their rolls than their nigiri, so we probably ordered the wrong things. The sushi wasn't bad, but it wasn't great either.
(3)Maria F B.
Very disappointed, this place used to be my favorite sushi place in the area.. I spend way too much for sushi that had no taste nor presentation. Tuna and salmon seem to be cut by a 5 year old.. Sushi looked nasty and whatever was fried ( spring rolls, shumai, flakes in sushi) tasted like old oil in my mouth ...
(1)Jamel O.
Oh my god...a Monster! There was no huge sushi on my place...Asking myself where the hell the Monster was, I knew it was gonna be the guy that brought the check. The place is pretty clean and the portions pretty decent, but not monster by any stretch of the imagination. All and all, I have no complaints, but I have been spoiled by the higher end, low end places (isnt that a mouthful). I guess I know know what the mid range sushi spot looks like. Its pretty decent.
(3)Mike O.
Visited here last Friday after a movie in Chelsea. At 6:30pm, it wasn't very busy. Ordered some edamame, which was good, but it was way too salty. If I came here again I would ask to hold the salt. The rolls were fresh and tasty. I ordered salmon and veggies. Three rolls was filling to me, a notorious overeater! Overall it was fine. Not astounding, but not bad. Better than some of the other sushi places in the neighborhood.
(3)Rachel D.
I've ordered take-out from Monster Sushi a few times and was always really happy with the food.... but it wasn't until I met a friend at the restaurant for dinner this week that I fell in love. Behind the bar is a wall full of Godzilla action figures! The decor is quirky, but then again so is their menu. They have all the standard fare you'd expect at a great sushi joint, but they have a nice selection of really inventive rolls and appetizers as well. My friend and I ordered the fried tofu app and it came floating in a bowl of magic sauce. Totally unexpected. Totally delicious. I'm on a mission to try everything!
(4)Chris L.
Stopped here with three other friends for lunch before our July 4th festivities began. The waiters were both attentive and service was very fast and friendly. The hot dog eating contest was on and we were all watching it with the staff. We ordered 5 rolls and 2 orders of edamame and we were all completely stuffed when finished. The rolls were all very good. We ordered the dragon roll, spicy tuna roll, white tuna roll, and had our server pick out 2 rolls that he likes. I would definitely stop in again if I were in the area.
(4)Luca T.
The best sushi than I ever had at a very reasonable price. Not a place to recommend for the particular atmosphere (very simple) although very clean. The service is very good
(4)Colette N.
Hands Down.... for the price and the unique sushi rolls... this is one of my favorite sushi bars in NYC! When you order a Sashimi Delux you don't get tiny pieces... they give you somehting substantial. If you are a low carb dieter try the Tiger Eye and Elephant roll which use Squid instead of rice to make the roll. They also have a Magic roll with no rice and use avocado to roll the fish - simply delicious. If you are looking for a sushi bar that is affordable yet beyond amazing... this is your place!
(5)thermopylae x.
fresh, large-portioned fish excellent service comfy chairs a bit bright, but not terribly distracting one of the better spots in chelsea
(4)Sandra M.
My beaux and I stopped by here during a NYC Walking [Self] Tour. For the appetizer we shared a Tuna Tataki - it was delicious!! Then for my main course I went a la carte with a Salmon Skin Roll (it was boiled - I'm not sure if thoat type of roll is normally broiled but it was very yummy still), 2 Unagi (Eel) Sushi, and 1 White Tuna Sushi. I ordered tea though the tea cup was too hot to handle for several minutes. Regardless, if I could go back in time, I would do it all over again. SO GOOD!
(4)Rhonda R.
Love this place. Been coming here for years. Consistently Excellent quality, freshness and good portion sizes. prices are right. I always leave satisfied!
(5)Dela C.
Dear Monster Sushi, We're the ones who have been calling 2-3 times a week for your black cod bento box. My husband and I are obsessed. Thank you, also, for keeping a clean kitchen. After discovering the NY Health Department website, which allows one to see the hygiene reports for local restaurants, I had to throw out all of my other sushi delivery menus. Yikes. We truly appreciate you, Monster (formerly Godzilla) Sushi. xo
(5)Denis S.
My friends were once regulars here, but this was my first time. We came with a fairly large group on a Saturday night, and we were instantly given the seat in the back room (my friend told me that's the usual). The service was attentive and really friendly. This is a great place for groups to come and sake-bomb. They let you make noise, they are good at keeping the sake and beer flowing. The sushi itself wasn't bad. I think that Sushi in NY is generally not as good as California's, so my standards have been somewhat adjusted, but I really enjoyed it. The rolls are fairly cheap if you keep it simple, but start getting fairly pricy as you get more fancy. So it all depends on what you want. The 5 stars are more for the service and the good times than the food, but since I have no doubt I'll be back, 5 stars it is!
(5)Samira S.
Having a gaggle of Japanese girls dote on me is always the best, and even better when they're serving me large plates of eel sashimi. The staff here is incredibly nice to its regulars ( yes, I am one ) and just that alone gives Monster Sushi 4 stars. Of course the sushi here is memorable as well. Their tuna tataki is juicy and succulent, and the thought of the dipping sauce it comes with makes me salivate. The lobster roll is AMAZING and tastes just like sex would. If sex was a food. They also serve 24 ounce Sapporos and Kirin Ichiban. Uhh, yes please. Monster Sushi is a staple everyone should visit at least once. I've never spent more than thirty bucks here and always feel satisfied.
(5)Jodie S.
Good service, good food, no complaints. Their sushi is fresh and reasonably priced. Order the chirashi for a variety in sashimi, but their special rolls are what draw me back to this place. Their "spicy girl" roll is one of my faves; shrimp tempura, asparagus, cucumber topped w/spicy salmon & tempura flakes.. yum!!
(4)Katie I.
I really love the decor in this place, and the monster fish is cute. Staff always friendly. Just wish the food wasn't so meh. I mean, it is okay, nothing is bad. It is a lot more expensive then the neighboring sushi joints for sushi and bento boxes. And every time I've ordered it, the sushi is room temperature which kinda irks me, I like my sushi with some chill to it. Definitely one of those places I am happy to go to if the company is taking me out, but not for going to lunch and keeping it under $12.
(3)Roberto A.
Everything was incredibly tasty: Shrimp dumplings. Salmon skin roll. Tropical roll (mango + eel, yum) The biggest surprise, though, was the peanut avocado roll. Who knew avocado and peanuts could go together so well? Delicious. The decor was amusing - the monster fish logo is cute, printed on everything from napkins to plates to sake cups and even projected onto the sidewalk outside. Shelves on one of the walls have a huge collection of Godzilla toys.
(4)Andrew W.
I used to love Monster Sushi. I used to love them a lot. That was when the "Monster" part of their name had meaning. Maybe it's the recession. Maybe it's declining fish stocks. Maybe I spontaneously doubled in size and my sense of quantity has diminished. Whatever the explanation, I just ordered 17 dollars worth of sushi that's hardly enough to feed Rachel Zoe before the Golden Globes and I'm slightly pissed. I'm also slightly hungry. On issues of food, I belong to the quality over quantity school. Sadly, this fell short of either. Had the quality been better, this Yelp might have carried a different tenor. Unfortunately, they've again forgotten they're called Monster Sushi, not exactly a name that suggests a product of peerless refinement. Bottom line, I came for cheap sushi and I got it. I just wish I hadn't paid so damned much for it.
(2)Kristen B.
My boyfriend and I went here on a Monday afternoon for lunch. We didn't have to wait to be seated, which was great. The food, however, was rather unmemorable. The prices were fair for the portions we received, but nothing to write home about. The lunch specials were a little on the pricey side, so we just ordered a couple rolls like we normally do when trying out a new sushi place. I think I would try some other sushi places nearby before venturing to Monster Sushi again.
(3)Keejoo L.
My boyfriend had heard about this place from somewhere so we decided to go here to celebrate his birthday. At first glance from the street the sign is very cute I must say. The fact that the place is called 'MONSTER SUSHI' haha I could just feel that I was going to get a good dinner. The place is quite pricey compared to the places that I normally eat at in St.Marks but it is worth the price if one is looking for good sushi. They serve good portions and you will def. not LEAVE HUNGRY. Drop in if you want some good sushi and have a few extra bucks to spend.
(3)Dana M.
I went there yesterday and was really disappointed because I had gone a few years ago and remembered them being better....was I high? The help was very nice and the office chairs that you sat in, however odd, were comfy, but the fish was just not that melt-in-your-mouth heaven that good sushi is...:( bummer....no taste-sations here.
(1)Maria P.
I stopped in here for a meal with my sister and brother in law and boy was it good. Going to get sushi with them is no joke. We tried a lot of different roles and all of them had great flavor. They were hearty too. Packed full of the actual fillings and not just rice. The place is quite stylish as well. You walk in and get an under the sea spacey kinda vibe. I totally dug it and will definitely go back.
(4)Randy S.
Not bad for sushi on the go. The sushi is pretty fresh and yummy, but not Blue Ribbon quality. You get what you pay for, so for the price the food is good. The miso sea bass (Nobu inspired) was pretty good too. Not the best cut of fish, but it won't break the bank!
(3)Sundeep K.
I'm sorry I have to write this review, because I love food and appreciate the effort that goes into it.. But my multiple experiences at Monster Sushi were all failures. Visit #1: I found a large bone in one of my rolls.. and unfortunately, I found it by biting into it... and it wasn't one of those small thin bones.. this was a legitimate substantial bone. Shortly after finding the bone, my waitress spilled an entire glass of ice water on my lap.. she said she was sorry. At the end, they didn't do anything but apologize for the giant bone and wet lap. You'd think they'd take something off the bill or something? I'm not one that ever demands that of restaurants, because I tend to forgive restaurants that show courtesy and pickup the bill or parts of the bill when they screw up. I left this place out $30 pp, feeling naucious from the bone I bit into in raw fish, and with a wet lap... Visit #2: why did i go back you ask? well, 8 months had passed by so I forgot how bad the first experience really was and we were pressed for time and Monster is close by my apartment. This time, thankfully no bone or wet lap... but one of the rolls, the seared tuna, was just plain gross.. and thats probably my own mistake for ever thinking seared tuna would be good in a sushi roll. The other roll was so "fishy" it made me queasy... Whats really sad, is the last roll we ordered came out completely DEEP FRIED... not like tempura pieces, like the whole roll was deep fried.. and sadly, that was the only roll we actually finished. Sorry Monster, your oversized and oversauced rolls and godzilla/moster toys just don't do it for me. Momoya down the street (21st & 7th ave) is a bit more expensive, but totally worth it
(1)Gabriel H.
Great sushi restaurant. Both affordable and delicious. They have an ingenuity when crafting rolls. Great use of avocado in design of rolls. Delicious miso soup and Chuka Salad (Seaweed Salad). The edamame is delicious and refreshing. The Maguro Sashimi appetizer is some of the most delicious sashimi grade tuna I have ever had. Some of my favorite rolls (among many others) include the Monster Roll, Yellowtail Special Roll, Dragon Roll, Shitake Mushroom Roll with Avocado. Start the meal nicely with hot towels. For sake, the Nigori Genshu Sake is amazing unfiltered sake.
(5)Fronco Da Bronk O.
The hostess was rude, the server was rude and incompetent, the "monster-sized" portion couldn't satisfy a baby gremlin, and even the salad tasted like old fish. Gross experience. A guy named Allen, who I believe is the owner, asked me how everything was. I replied, "Well... I've had better experiences," to which he said, "It's a free world, eat where you want." Thanks, asshole, I will, and it will not be at your shit hole.
(1)Alice G.
The sushi is great and one of the freshest in town...has to be as the place is always so busy they can't keep anything for very long. They stay open all day so it's convenient and the seating is super comfortable so you are not anxious to get out cause your butt hurts. Lee and Carl are hospitable hosts and really make sure everyone is happy. It is my favorite sushi in Manhattan and I'm sometimes there five nights a week. Yes, I'm a sushi addict...there are worse things.
(5)Tim L.
I'd have to say that Monster Sushi is one of the better delivery sushi places you can order from in the Flatiron/Chelsea area. The fish and other seafood is definitely of a higher quality, however the drawback is that some of the rolls are relatively small for how much the price is. I suppose the quality to price ratio is expected, however if you have an appetite be prepared to spend quite a bit of money. For example I got both the Alaska & New York roll. Because of how similar they are I didn't realize that my two rolls were actually in the same container the first time I ordered. I thought it was just one roll based on the portion size. Boy did I look the fool when I called them back inquiring about my missing roll. :)
(4)Alexander P.
Sushi was fresh, service was good, prices were incredibly reasonable. All my rolls were delicious. I highly recommend it for well priced sushi.
(4)Kara C.
Price: Not too Highlight: Attentive Service; The Ginger So it was 3 of us, afterwork ending up with a bill of $69 not including tip. We had: Gyoza The Monster Roll The World Series Roll Some Mainly Tuna Based Creative Roll Normal Spicy Tuna Roll Green Tea Ice Cream Oreo Tempura and Vanilla ice cream The World Series Roll was the highlight for all of us, the combo of crab meat, avocado etc with tempura flakes sprinkled and salmon on top was great and is the stuff cravings are made of and the Mainly Tuna Roll (So sorry for forgetting the name) was second. Why go: Good for groups or when in need of a craving fix for one of their specific creative rolls or to keep going back to sample more and more creative rolls until you find one that sticks with you. But we still all felt a bit hungry after the meal and could have possible been sated elsewhere for the same price. All in all... its okay.
(3)Jack T.
This place is in a prime Chelsea location and is often frequented by the people working in the area. They serve good sushi with interesting rolls. I personally tried the "Monster Roll" and it was quite delicious. I felt like a monster eating it because it lived up to it's name. Let's just say I was filled up for sure. Counter experience is fine, service becomes worse when it's packed. I like this place overall but I don't dream about it like other sushi joints.
(4)Steve S.
Very good quality sushi. Willing to do custom rolls. Extremely friendly, attentive and accommodating service (with smiles). Take-out is top-notch too. Always gets the order right and it's fresh. I travel 15 blocks from my home for their sushi rather than eat mediocre sushi in my hood.
(4)Dan G.
Brought my 6 and 10 year old nephews here. It is now their favorite Sushi place. Yummy rolls, tasty entrees, decent service and lots of Godzilla/Gamera/Ghidira dolls. I got the Bento dinner box. Lots of food for $18.
(4)Brittany S.
A little pricey but you only need to order 1 thing. AVOCADO AND PEANUT ROLL. DONEZO.
(5)Divya P.
This place has overpriced sushi that taste pretty average. It's really nothing special here, despite the name. On a positive note, the rolls they serve can be pretty large so it can fill you up, but I still feel like their prices are a bit too much for mediocre sushi. Friendly service, okay food. I might come back here if I'm around the area, but I'd prefer another place.
(3)Nick S.
I'm not sure why this sushi place always receives low reviews. I have been eating here for about 7 years and every time I go, the sushi is fresh and service is great. I vary on places that I actually eat tuna at, this place is for sure in my top three! The miso soup is always hot and has just enough seaweed and tofu in it. It's delicious. The staff at Mknster is always polite and attentive, maybe with a few missed opportunities for a refill on a soda but that is no big deal. The only thing I can say is that I don't care for the roller chairs they have at some of the tables. Every time I see them I wish they had a back massager built into them. If they had that then I'd eat there every week.
(4)Liz C.
*** Tons of options, Great location, Decently priced *** There is a million options at this restaurant. Their menu just has a TON of options which, to be quite honest, is really a headache to read. The raw salmon I ordered was monstrous though so you definitely will get your moneys worth. I just was not a fan of the seating; half couches, half what seems like nail salon seats. Great location though.
(3)Joel L.
A-OK sushi. I had dinner on a weeknight and it was 90% full. Everyone should visit solely to view the furniture. The rolling desk chairs is an interesting selection and makes Monster Sushi stand out. The VIP chairs look amazing. Despite the food and service, I would go back just to sit at that VIP table. The service was a bit much. I was alone and a different server would approach me once a minute to see if I was ready to order. I appreciated the extra effort but each person came off as being pushy rather than attentive. The Deluxe Sushi plate was good. It was on par with a typical sushi restaurant.
(3)Joanne T.
I've never understood how serves can be so rude. It's like, seriously man, I'm going to tip you and this is your line of work, why are you so rude? That kind of sums up the experience in Monster Sushi. A bit monstrous. It was the first time my mother was trying sushi, and this was the wrong place to do so. Not because of the quality of the food but because it wasn't the experience you're supposed to have when you're eating such a delicious type of food such as Japanese. I'm giving it a 2* just because the sushi was very fresh and tasty but I'm pretty sure you can find good sushi in NYC better than this place. It's a bit overpriced for the experince as a whole. Here you wont find a very good service (besides from the busboys who are surpassingly nice, we were speaking in spanish though) our waitress was just rude. Rude in a way where you feel like you're bothering someone who's supposedly there to offer you a service and make you feel good.
(2)Michelle P.
Not only was the delivery an hour late but the food was below expectations (then again I'm from Los Angeles with amazing sushi culture )
(2)Mariya E.
Come for the Sushi, stay for the freshness ! The freshness NEVER fails with such a high quality sashimi. A great appetizer to try is the beef Negimaki Appetizer. Normally I find places over salt their Negimaki but this one is season perfectly with just the right amount of sauce. Seared Tuna Salad is OUTSTANDING! the dressing is so light and the tuna is so fresh, really refreshing. The standard rolls are just exactly that, standard. As far as the specialty rolls go; Calamari Roll is really good especially if your not the adventurous sushi eater. Creature Roll and the Magic rolls are top notch. Service is a hit or miss depending on who is working or how crowed it can be. I personally stay away on Fri - Sun due to that. Overall, great spot!
(4)Anna S.
Was looking for a place to get some rolls and found this one next to me. Wish I could have gone to a different place instead...the choice and quality of food is poor and food is way overpriced...
(2)Valentina M.
One of my favorite sushi places to go to while I'm in Chelsea. It's pricey for mediocre sushi, but if you're cautious about eating raw fish this place is clean & fresh. If you're into spicy tuna roll I'll be one of the first to tell you they do not have spicy mayo, they use sirachacha sauce which sucks when I go there & am in the mood for spicy mayo. Other than that service is friendly, prompt & the food is delicious! I always like to try something new when I go because I know I won't be disappointed.
(4)Miguel C.
The food is delicious although a bit pricey. Overall I'm pleased. The 4 stars rate is due to the price but when I comes to quality something's gotta give I guess.
(4)Christine D.
Delicious food, fun décor, cool atmosphere. I ordered the tuna tataki seared rare and the avocado roll with soy paper. I wish the menu was more descriptive for the tataki than "special sauce," because it was some sort of caviar-looking stuff that was very hard to scrape off. That aside, it was great and I'll be back.
(5)Shannon D.
Yummy and super fresh! Great service- miso soup delish sushi was perfect. Awesome sushi dinner in Chelsea!
(4)Gloria F.
I would love to give monster sushi a higher rating but I find the sushi so meh. The rolls have a cloying amount of sauce swimming with msg and sodium. The fresh sushi pieces are usually ok and if a daily special the price is right. If you are in the hood, there are so many better choices like Momoya or sushi asaku. Even whole foods has better quality rolls. The price is right but hey you get what you pay for.
(2)Blue L.
Average sushi but I give it a two because the portions are so tiny. Every time I order a salmon teriyaki the piece is literally just three inches long and thin. Cheapos. I order from my office and won't be in the future
(2)Jamie H.
Hands down, this is my favorite sushi spot in the city. The fish is always fresh and it's one of the few places in the city that I can trust for top quality sashimi. They have an amazing selection of rolls - and rather than slathering mayo in the spicy tuna roll, they use chili and scallions (a much healthier alternative). Monster Sushi also has great soups, noodle dishes etc. (for those finicky eaters who don't like raw fish.) On top of it all, the eclectic charm of the Godzilla figurines, the amazing staff, affordable prices, and ambiance make this place such a treat to go to. I always recommend going to this place when my friends and I are thinking of a place to eat and have a nice time. Cannot say enough amazing things about this place! I would be absolutely heartbroken if it ever closed.
(5)Domi W.
This place has great food, from what I tried and great service. I lived in Hawaii 3 years, and this sushi gives them a run for their money. I would have not expected this from a small place in Manhattan.
(5)Jully H.
i love thier spicy tuna roll but one time they gave me all mayo and barely any tuna and when i complained they looked at me with the dumbest face...fresh salads and fish..(most of the time) go during when its packed! cheap prices
(3)Preeyam P.
Cool ambiance and great sushi. We had great service the night that I went and the rolls here are very creative. I recommend any of the Monster rolls!
(4)Mia M.
Decided to drop in here for lunch and the restaurant was very empty. We sat at the sushi bar, but the VIP table with the oversized office chairs looked pretty cool. Also the Godzilla and other action figure type tchotchkes along the sushi bar were something interesting to look at. Anyway the sushi was average. We had the Yellowtail Special Roll and the Unbelievable Roll with edamame for an appetizer, and it tasted fine, but for the price I probably won't come back. Given the neighborhood it is located, I think it is pretty easy to find a better sushi spot.
(2)Allison C.
The sushi is fresh and portions are plentiful. I'm still recovering from my food coma three nights ago. I know I didn't have to eat it all, but I did.
(4)Jonathan Z.
I had a surprisingly good time at Monster Sushi over the weekend. I met a friend who recommended it for an early dinner on Saturday. While the place is hardly fancy, it does offer several nice amenities. First, if you don't sit in the first set of tables, the tables in the back have comfortable leather armchairs to relax in. They look like the kind of chairs you'd find at Staples for your home office; nevertheless they're more comfortable than the typical restaurant chair with a cushion for your tush. We were given warm towels to wipe our hands and a few minutes to review the menu. I enjoyed the shrimp gyoza, Park Avenue and Godzilla Rolls, and a bottle of cold sake (they had maybe 15 options to choose from). Polite staff, reasonable prices and fine décor - overall a solid option in Chelsea for sushi.
(4)Margaret P.
A nice , easy going , sushi restaurant with good food and good service. You can't go wrong. Also, very clean bathroom on first floor. No steps. Always a plus !
(3)Casti Marco F.
simple low key restaurant, with some of the best money value foods, the tuna and salmon salat is spectacular!
(4)Jason G.
McDonalds would have been better. Overly breaded tempura. Miso soup was salt water. Dynamite roll had no spice to it and was smothered in avocado. Never going back.
(1)Maria E.
Enjoyed my experience here. Went on a whim, was just walking by, looking for a dinner place. Sushi was pretty good, not amazing but definitely hit the spot. They have a large menu but I didn't love all their special rolls. A lot of stuff with asparagus (I love asparagus but not on sushi). It is a vegetarian friendly menu with a bunch of veggie options. A bunch of sake options as well, hot and cold. Ambiance is comfortable but odd (not a bad thing). Office chairs as seating which is strange. Best part is behind the sushi counter so make sure you go look.... at the collection of Godzilla figurines! They are awesome!!! Service was great. I was actually impressed because I had asked to keep the Aladdin sake bottle (shaped like a health-regenerating potion bottle from Prince of Persia or something) and they were so nice about it. Told me to peel the label while it was still cold and then even brought over another bottle from another table in case I wanted that one too. Then like 3 people asked me if I wanted a bag for my bottle... I appreciated it : )
(4)Kathleen O.
Fresh sashimi with very creative rolls at this little off the beaten path sushi restaurant in Chelsea. Prices are very fair too!
(4)K M.
Just realized that I confused this with another sushi place on 23rd st., whoops. I actually really like this place! I've been here a few times and each time the service is quick and courteous and the food is pretty banging. There's ample seating and the rolling office chairs are pretty great. I ordered the Yosenabe the last time I was there and even though the price is a bit steep, it was delicious. My friends liked it more than their sushi rolls!
(4)Verunchik K.
What's happened to my favorite sushi spot? Did you change cooks or recipes? Every time we would go out or a friend come from out of town we would always take them here, but the last time no sushi not even miso soup were good. I'll give it another try one more time, only because we've been going here for the past three years and food always was good, but unfortunately not this time.
(2)Hila F.
This is my first time here but overall a good experience. It's a very neat sushi place because most of the chairs are very cool leather office chairs so definitely very comfortable and different setting for a Japanese restaurant. Food was good but the only downside is that they don't really have the typical 2 roll lunch special so it's a bit pricier than most of the sushi places around here.
(4)Jim B.
Was in New York for a week and then a weekend and both trips stopped at Monster Sushi. Highly recommended. First night was a Sunday (late) and then a Saturday night (early). Both times I was lucky and the crowds were very small and I was seated immediately. Wait staff was excellent (I was by myself) and didn't see too bothered by my slow order method of ordering (drink, pause, appetizer, pause, sushi deluxe). Miso soup/seaweed salad were very good (especially the seaweed salad) and the deluxe sushi ($25.00 I believe) was very good with a good sized portion of sushi. Used wifi at the restaurant and seemed to work pretty well. Enjoyed the times I went as I can imagine it would get crowded and its a fairly small restaurant.
(4)Tonya R.
They are very stingy with their discount lol. They made sure we didn't get the 10% off which is only applicable to one person. If you are splitting the check they will try to deny you the %10 off. My business partner and I eat here whenever we are in the area. Spacious clean establishment. Great Sushi that is fresh. I love that they give you the warm hand towels to clean your hands before your meal. Definitely a notch up from the sushi restaurants on St. Marks. If you like cooked rolls you must try the Tokyo Roll. It is absolutely amazing.
(4)Tiffany W.
I can't even justify one star for this place. I came in and ordered four rolls and seaweed salad for my bf and me. It was sort of busy, so I specifically asked if it was OK not to have ordered ahead. The hostess said no problem. Arrived at 6:50 pm. Ordered (after standing in line) at 7:08. I went outside to run a quick errand and came back 10 mins later. The hostess said my food should be 5-10 mins. Said no worries and sat down. 20 mins later, still no food. Asked the hostess, and she said it should be 5 mins. They were making it as we spoke. Another 15 mins pass. No food. I again as the hostess. She gives me the 5 minute line again. I ask for a manager. She says there is no manager and no way to get in touch with a manager until Monday. It is impossible. I ask for a refund. She says no. I ask for a discount. She offers 15%. (I'd already signed the receipt and left a 15% tip.) I wait. And wait. 10 minutes later, still no sushi. She insists the problem is that it takes a long time to make a sweet potato roll. I am skeptical, and express my skepticism. I have, at this point, watched people in the restaurant come in, be seated, order, eat, chat, pay, and leave. I have watched multiple people order after me and leave with their takeout before me. And I've been told three times that my food is 5 mins away, the first time being 30 mins ago. I have not aged gracefully. I am hungry. I am also running late. The hostess sticks to the sweet potato roll story. Confusingly, my offers to leave without that one roll do no speed up anything. I finally left the restaurant with my sushi at 8:00, more than an hour after I arrived. And really late for my date. Meanwhile, a dozen people are waiting for their takeout orders behind me. Good luck with that guys. And after all that, I was hoping that the sushi would at least be decent. It was awful. It's unclear whether it had just been sitting around for an hour, or if they purposely f-ed it up or what. But it was bad, guys. Like baaaaad. Obviously not going back. WTF is wrong with this place? Are they really this incompetent?
(1)Moe I.
I ate here for the first time last night. This place most have the best sushi in the city, that's all I'm going to say this place is a most!
(4)Rhoda B.
Despite the look inside, this place isnt all that bad. It looks really tacky with the rolling office chairs at the dining tables and bar but the fish was good. I was a bit afraid of eating the fish there considering the decor but it wasnt bad at all. And the waiters and hostess were kind. I'd go back. Keep your expectations low and you'll enjoy it more...
(3)Laurel C.
I have been coming to Monster Sushi for a few years. I usually come there alone after my dance class or practice. I love the Spicy Girl and Unbelievable rolls, and the sashimi appetizer. The quality of the sushi is always good and fresh. But, one of my favorite things about this place is the staff. They remember me and remember what I order every time. They are very friendly and accomodating. I find it a relaxing place to dine alone. It might not be as high end of sushi as some of the other places mentioned by other reviewers, but I find it's very reasonable quality for the money and a very pleasant experience to be there. Recommend highly.
(4)Sylvia L.
I'm surprised how good tasting a dinner special is. I paid a little under $20 for the whole meal and I still couldn't believe how great tasting it is. (****) Very cute how I got seated on computer chairs. The tables were really close to one another so don't come here if you want to talk secrets because people can hear you. I saw the couple next to us eavesdropping on our conversation. I'm guessing they are on their first or second date and I can assure you they were more interested in our conversation then each other. There was a sushi bar in the back of the restaurant. The service was great. Water was filled whenever needed and they wouldn't both you until you are ready to pay the bill. (****) I had the chicken teriyaki, California roll, spring rolls, miso soup salad and rice and I finished everything and I mean everything. If you want a full meal I highly recommend this place. (*****)
(4)Jeff H.
Very clean small sushi restaurant with an extensive menu and comfortable, reclining leather office type chairs at the sushi bar. Nicely decorated with blue hues and large fish and godzilla figures around the place. Servers are friendly and attentive and speak English fairly well. What surprised me the most was the quality of the sushi and the careful attention to detail the sushi chefs demonstrated. They were also able to tell me exactly when where their different types of fish are brought in from which I appreciated. No one wants spolied uni. Have eaten here for lunch twice, once on a busy day and once on a slow day. Both times the service was great. Prices are on par with midtown sushi joints.
(4)Eyal R.
Very modest restaurant with great service and attitude. We have eaten there twice in one week just because we've enjoyed the first visit so much. The kitchen is quick and the food is very tasty with a great selection and variety. Portions are quite big. Great Dinner/Lunch if you are around Chelsea for a very reasonable price.
(4)Tessie V.
This place is a joke. There's nothing special about it all. The decor is sort of nice. But it's a generic sushi place. Won't be going out of my way to come back.
(2)LaReisha R.
What a fitting name. Monster sushi. I ordered a bento box which was subpar and not even an 10 minutes after paying, I was walking in a bent over position walking across 6th street. I immediately went to back up to my office, my co-workers who were with me figured that I had food poisoning. I got back to the office around 2 .p.m, I immediately ran to the restroom, while in the restroom I puked 3 times, and *amongst other things*. I didn't leave the restroom until 5:30 p.m, My boss called a cab to take me home because I literally could not walk. They had to walk me outside to the cab. That night at home, I was in fetal position until 10 p.m, I was going to call the ambulance because I couldn't even walk to the pharmacy to pick any pain medicine up. However, I decided to call a cab to take me to CityMD, I arrived around 11:30 and stayed until 1 am. The doctor came in and told me the food I ate (bento box) had some form of bacteria in it, and I had a flare of gastroenteritis. I was in the worst pain ever, it took 2 days to feel okay to walk w/o vomiting or excruciating pain. I am almost sure this is a rare occasion w/monster sushi but I just wanted to share my experience, in case any others have had a similar experience. Safe to say, myself nor my co-workers have ever been back to monster sushi.
(1)Reid C.
First of all, why is ZERO stars not an option?! I have to give this place a star?! You can get a 0 on a test... you can have 0 teethe... so, for the record, my rating is ZERO, not 1. I had Monster last night. The places is scary weird. I sat in their "VIP" section, which means that we sat in car seats. Sweet. Well, the service was certainly NOT VIP. 30 min waits for anything... in an empty restaurant... But normally I'm a pretty reasonable guy. I still left a 15% tip (I almost always tip 20%, but this was pretty abhorrent). BUT, the reason for my ZERO star rating is the sushi was just straight up WACK. Chewy. Sketch as @#$!. Bad cuts of fish. I spit quite a few pieces of sashimi into my napkin and discarded them under the table because I just got that feeling... you know that feeling... that "Oh, @#$!, I'm eating wack seafood and this $%@! is gonna @#$! me up" feeling. Well, it did. I've spent today on a one way track from my desk to the bathroom. EXPLOSIVE diarrhea. Not the best day to free ball. Awesome. P.S. Why isn't PeptoBismol Max on Yelp. Because it's not a location? Yeah it is. I'm in it. It's called heaven. 6 stars.
(1)J G.
WOW! Did I say WOW? Yes I DID! AMAZING Sushi. GREAT Service. Very Nice Atmosphere and Very Friendly. Open Late.
(4)Mel W.
I Loooove this place for date night or with a friend, Its very small so not so good for big gatherings but the food is sooo yummy I am in love t=with their Bento boxes very filling and yummy always my top pick for sushi nights!
(5)Monica W.
I've been going here for years and I absolutely love it. The sushi is always delicious (Tiger Eye and Dragon rolls are my faves), service is pretty good, and the prices are nice. Never seen a day where it was overly crowded, so I never had to worry about waiting for a table or being cramped next to another set of people.
(4)Sami F.
I have been going to Monster Sushi every week since I was not even a month. That is 19 years. And through every year I have enjoyed all of their food. I may seem biased, having been going there since I was not even old enough to decide weather I liked food or not, but I have brought so many people there, and every one loves it. This place is like a second home to me, I have had countless celebrations there, from birthdays to my high school graduation party. The staff is so incredibly nice. They are so accommodating, and somehow manage to put up with my family. Every time we walk in there, the first person to see us swaps my mother's chair because the swivel chairs make her nauseas. I have a very intense fear of bathrooms, probably has something to do with my dad reading captain underpants to me when I was younger, any way, this is the one place where I am not HORRIFIED of the bathrooms. Well lit, CLEAN! SO CLEAN! The whole restaurant is clean! OH! and the hot hand towels.... I love them so. Through my years I have become a pickier and pickier eater. But at Monster Sushi, they have so many options I never have to worry. when I was grossed out by sushi as a kid, it was Udon. Their Udon noodle soup makes me drool (see drooling right now). The sushi has the same effect on me. not a fan of raw things or soup? there are cooked dishes as well. AND if you go to Monster Sushi, do NOT forget the Tempura Ice Cream. I always get the green tea ice cream. oh and another thing... their green tea is delicious! Scenery is great, food is amazing, staff are sweet! Honestly my favorite restaurant in the whole world.
(5)Isabel S.
If you're looking for a solid, laid-back sushi joint near the f train/path train, try this place. Good sized portions and nice service. Try the World Series roll! Some of the better miso soup I've had as well.
(5)Michelle L.
Was craving sushi post-workout and stumbled upon Monster Sushi. I didn't mind the interior having computer chairs at their tables, but it was a little off. Regardless, I sat at the bar and waited. My server had an attitude, per usual though for these type of places. She was rushy and clearly wanted me to order fast. I chose three rolls that I was super excited about -- they do have a very large menu. Prices were a little intimidating since they were more expensive than a lot of places I've been too, even for their basic rolls such as spicy tuna and eel and avocado. When my order came out it looked great, but something was off. The tuna was fresh but it was the kind of tuna you'd be served when ordering a tuna steak - it was seared to a medium-rare temperature. I like my sushi raw. Completely raw. The tuna was cooked and so was the eel, although they did mention that the eel would be cooked on the menu. Not sure why though. But why? I like RAW tfish in sushi, not cooked pieces. It was off and overpriced and I only enjoyed 1 of 3 rolls. I will saw the spicy srirracha sauce they made was tasty, but no. Not coming back. Not paying more $$$ than necessary for sushi I have to pick the fish out of.
(2)Melly J.
So, I freakin' LOVE this place. The vibe is chill, fun, kinda family but without kids really.. The place is busy and packed at dinner time and the feel isn't fancy, it's kind of straightforward and lively, really it's about the fish, and frankly that's how it should be. I love that the sushi bar is lined (and the wall behind it) with various figurines and action figures from Japanese culture, including some anime figures and of course Godzilla. The service is fast and friendly. If you are a serious sushi eater without pretensions and a basic understanding of quality, this place is a must-go because the portions are sizable, the fish is fresh and healthy (I mean yes, I am sure there are dyes and mercury to some extent as there is in most mainstream available fish) and the sushi is perfectly prepared. This is not a romantic, gaze at each other through candlelight place, or a sit and linger over your drinks place, or a place where you would really get desert. This is a place to overindulge in awesome sushi with your buddies without totally breaking the bank. And I love that!
(4)Lukas J.
Quick service and laid back atmosphere. Good appetizers. The World Series and Dragon Rolls were delicious. This place is solid, it hit my sushi craving- right in the sweet spot. Definitely deserves more than 3.5 stars. Will come again!
(5)Kamal G.
This is my first time here and I am from San Francisco California. The sushi chefs here are awesome and very skilled. The meso soup was excellent and the seaweed salad was the beat I ever tasted. Now, the sashimi was the freaking best I ever had, moist, tasty, and very delicious. I recommend this spot to all. I will be back tomorrow!
(5)Jeff S.
Mediocre sushi, nice waitresses, but lousy chefs. I was visiting NY and staying in Chelsea so I looked up near bye sushi restaurants and this came with decent ratings and reviews. But I was pretty disappointed. First-it was a little strange that all the chairs were office chairs. I have no idea what that's about. But I should have known something wasn't right when I sat at the bar Not one of the chefs greeted me. Whenever I go to a sushi restaurant just about anywhere the staff invariably greet the customers as the enter. Even though I was at the bar, a waitress took my order. Half the reason to sit at the bar is to talk to the chef and ask what's good. But I ordered from the menu to the waitress. No specials. When the sushi was ready the waitress looked at it and exchanged words with the chef who unceremoniously then placed some green onions on top of one of the pieces. It was as if she told him what was missing and he grudgingly complied. The fish was just ok. Nothing special. Hamachi. Unagi. Mackerel . Salmon. Maguro. This last item did not have much flavor. Some woman who worked there was walking around with a hair net and they had the FM radio playing. When i was done only the waitresses said goodbye. Not once did the chefs ask how anything was. They just sat back there and drank a soda. I actually don't think that this place really understands Japanese food at all. In fact, another reviewer said that the staff is actually all Chinese and that might explain why this just wasn't a very compelling sushi experience. Bottom line - I would not go back here. I have got to believe NY has better places than this and I will look elsewhere. In the meantime, my appreciation for Mitama - my neighborhood sushi restaurant in Oakland - has increased.
(2)Shirley Y.
I came across Monster Sushi on my way to the movie theater and boy was I glad. My bento box included miso soup, 6pc of salmon sashimi, salmon roll, rice, shumai, and salad. They severed us our miso soup first. The bowl was larger than most places. The miso soup was piping hot yet not too salty which was a huge bonus. Most places added too much salt and serve it luke warm. Next came my bento box. The slices of salmon were very thick and the salmon roll had more fish than rice. The rice in the salmon roll was slightly too vinegary is my only complaint. They didn't get skimpy with the salad dressing. It all tasted very fresh and delicious. They sure know how to make my tummy satisfied. Besides the generous portions service is great.
(4)Leslie C.
All and all, we've probably been to Monster Sushi 5 times together, her plenty more than I. We eat Sushi a lot and although this is not the best place we've been, it is better than average. First and foremost, we love the waitress. We have the same one everytime, and she is lovely. Very sweet and knows our habits. In terms of favorite dishes, our favorites are: - Yellow tail jalapeno appetizer (unlinke most places, Monster sushi gives you nice full pieces of yellow tail and not thin slices) - Uni (sea urchin); it's a unique flavor and texture, but we have always found that it is fresh and tasty - Godzilla roll; plain and simple and a good flavor MY FAVORITE (and yes, it deserves caps): Hamachi Kama If you have never ventured into the territory of hamachi kama, grow a pair, and go for it. What it is? Broiled yellow tail neck. It is delicious. The neck is surprisngly meaty and does not have a fishy taste. It is served with panzu sauce and I get it every single time we go for sushi (not everyone has it though). And before I end.....let's talk about the comfy business chairs you get to sit in. They are incredibly comfortable, but be careful, you may roll away! We will continue to go here and I would recommend it for a quick bite (kitchen is open until midnight on the weekends as well).
(4)Tony M.
Our group was visiting and was looking for a good place to have some Sushi. We located Monster Sushi since it was nearby our Hotel. We were very impressed on how delicious the food was. It had so much flavor and loved how fresh it was. I would recommend this.
(4)Garam P.
Doesn't even worth a single star. They're freakin amateurish. Don't be surprised if they don't put your food on your bag twice in a row when you make it to go or deliver. It had never happened in my life before. I strongly recommend the other sushi places around there. Tons of better alternatives.
(1)Steven a.
I have no idea why this is a labeled as 11-30 per person. I think it depends on what you eat i guess. Now that thats been addressed, welcome to my review. I love monster sushi. I think that its probably one of the best sushi places in New York. Now i will admit i've only gotten their rolls but i mean, its a sushi spot right? Fast service and a cheap bill is what i like to hear. Their rolls taste delicious. I typically get the Godzilla roll (mostly because i like vanilla) (not that it taste like vanilla) (its a figure of speech) Give it a try. Food is fresh and the price is right.
(4)Dejenerate A.
I am amazed people are not raving about this place more! Shame, as it is some of the freshest, most innovative, and delicious I have found in the city. I had a friend in town who was used to Nobu on the corporate card, but I decided to try a funkier ambience, and one that I don't feel I need to offer him a kidney after he paid check. Even he said he felt mislead in thinking these $$$$ spots were where it is at! (Though I know good quality in sushi is a bit pricey but worth it) Nope, Monster Sushi, you are now my go to spot for a quick roll, or for guests looking for the best NYC sushi experience. (Their sunomono is reason enough to return. Simple dish, but I am full, as is my wallet after.) The artistry of the rolls is as eye catching and vibrant as the inside design. And the captain's chairs in the center of the restaurant? I love a comfy chair as a woman on her feet most of day!:). No, this isn't your mama's sushi restaurant, but it is as eclectic and colorful and enchanting as the city it is nestled in. Keep up the good work, Monster Sushi!
(5)Kevin M.
Came here after a colleague gave it a strong recommendation. They have a lunch special that is $17.00 and includes two rolls of your choice, a side of rice, a side of salad, an order or soup and a spring roll. You literally cant beat a deal like this, especially in Manhattan. The sushi is pretty good and the service was great. I had the shrimp and broccoli roll and it was delicious and so was the spicy tuna. This place also has a VIP section with large leather chairs that look pretty intense. Compared to to other sushi places in the area, this place far is better, especially for the amazing deal that you get.
(4)Andrew M.
The sashimi is good, the eel nigiri excellent, the spicy tuna roll awesome, but the beef tataki is amazing. Had two portions, could probably have squeezed more in.
(4)Jess D.
SOOOO lets kick this review off with Yelp NOT letting me post my "million dollar photos" of the incredible sushi rolls they have their called: American Dream Rolls. Funny thing to call a sushi roll but the name does live up to its Expectation. It is served on the side with spicy mayo that is 110% FANTABULOUS ......... although i probably made that word up? All you need to know is its really good ;) OK So i should stop trying to sell that sushi roll since I'm not even working for them! However they also do have a very Huge selection of these crazy combinations sushi ... surprisingly most of them work and taste Delicious!! FINALLY my only complaint would be that some of the staff is a tad Snooty so watch out for that. Everything else is Superb which is why i give them 4 stars :)))
(4)Amanda G.
Monster is a staple of mine. I love the fact that they offer real crab meat in their Californis Rolls. It's a bit more expensive but I always opt for the real stuff. Their chairs are comfy and the environment is energetic. The price is a little high for regulr entrees and I like to stick to the maki, which can get a little crazy as well. They do have lunch and dinner specials, though, if you don't want to break your wallet. I have a nice, fresh and inexpensive sushi spot near my home, so I don't go into withdrawal but if we are ever near Chelsea, Monster is one of the places in which I like to splurge.
(3)Jacqui V.
So, I woke up this morning in Manhattan craving sushi, nothing new. Looking through Yelp, many minutes of wandering around to see which sushi place is actually opened on this very Sunday, we came across Monster Sushi. My corny joke aside, whether we will be served monsters, we went inside. The ambience is inviting, although there was one tv showing sports games, a pet peeve of mine, in the back of the dining room. The chairs were office chairs, weird idea, but it's different, so let's go with it. The sushi menu was average, but that doesn't imply badness. We ordered sashimi and a roll plus my beloved ikura. The fish was fresh, no 'oh wow' factor, but it hit the spot. The rice was perfect, and that in fact did stand out. Overall, the presentation was beautiful, the flavors were great, and the wait staff was very attending and nice; I never had an empty green tea.
(4)Kenda T.
How great is this place? I enjoyed the sushi appetizer and the spinach gyoza with the spicy mayonnaise. I sat at the bar today and the server was so kind and attentive. She gave me extra spicy mayonnaise, extra picked ginger and was very patient. The Sushi was so pretty and well tasting. I also thought the VIP area was cute. they have a place to charge your phone as well. it doesn't hurt that doughnut plant is right up the block. Definitely worth going here either alone or with friends. They give you a warm towel to clean your hands when you first enter which I think is darling. The sushi takes a while to come out but that is because they are really taking their time in making them. They are so fresh and taste wonderful. each sushi piece tastes distinct. I paid about 10. 95 for 5 pieces and they were pretty big. The spinach gyoza was so cute in its green color and tasted awesome. very light. Just dont dip in the mustard dollop unless you want fire and brimstone in your nose..i'm just saying....
(4)June L.
I love monster sushi! The vibe is awesome when you want to just hang out with friends and grab a decent dinner. The Shrimp shumai, yellowtail special roll, Philadelphia roll and soft shell crab roll is the way go. The rolls are a lot bigger than a lot of other restaurants so sharing 3-4 special rolls with 2 people is enough.
(5)Sara R.
Yum! I think the Spicy Salmon Roll was the best I've ever had. Big yummy pieces of fish. Atmosphere is a bit funny. They have office chairs around some tables. I'd probably order lunch from here twice a month if they had a reasonable two sushi roll lunch deal. This is the place you pay more 2-3$ more per roll/piece cause its worth it.
(4)Michele G.
This place is kind of kitschy but cute. With their logo, this huge Orange fish with a funny face which is (if I'm being honest) the major reason why it drew me in. The service was good, attentive and not pushy or rushing us. The sushi was delicious and the Bento Box was good too. We ended up eating Fried Ice Cream too for dessert which they offered in a number of ice cream flavors. I believe I ordered off the "Monster rolls" portion of the menu and assumed they would be ginormous or "monster size" but were pretty average. Their menu is large though so I can definitely say try it out if you are not afraid of options.
(4)Brittany A.
Walk into monster sushi and you are walking into a very interestingly decorated sushi bar with a monster slash underwater theme. I am not sure what they were completely getting out in their choice of decoration, but the ambience in general as best described as just weird- for lack of a better word. Instead of restaurant or dining room chairs, you sit at a comfortable office chair, while although not necessarily aesthetically appealing, it was very comfortable. On a Thursday night, I waited no time to be seated. They even seated me without my dining partner there yet, which was a pleasant surprise at a NY restaurant. Tables are placed in perfect locations so that you are not sitting on top of others while you eat, which is also a nice surprise for a NY establishment. Now, the food. Delicious sushi rolls. You won't go wrong with a specialty roll. Just note they use crab with a "k" (aka fake crab) for a lot of the rolls so I would just stay away from those. Other than that, the food is pretty tasty. My favorite roll, the spicy tuna, was just subpar. Regular rolls go from $4-$6 while specialty rolls go from $9-$16 dollars. A little pricy, but worth the price. Note. They do not get refills on their drinks. I ordered an iced tea and they kept giving me new ones as I finished and they will charge you for each one! Never heard of paying money for a refill of iced tea which I think is a bit ridiculous. However, since I complained the waiter allowed me to only pay for 1 iced tea. I know for next time.
(4)Bonnie L.
The name of the restaurant really explains it all. Monster Sushi lives up to its name with its monstrous sized sushi!! Rolling in around 10ish for a bite before a comedy show, the service was pretty quick. Personally, I think their menu has way too many options, but it could be because I strolled in super hungry. For two, an appetizer, soup, and 3 rolls was already way too much food (surprising)! The rolls were gigantic, and not just stuffed with rice, but plenty of fish and avocado (they do not skimp)! Highly recommend their spicy salmon tartar (ask them to make it a tad more spicy! -$10.95) and Crazy Tuna Roll (12.95, also had the Godzilla Roll but it was nothing special). The Crazy Tuna Roll was fresh and fantastic! You could really get full off just one roll (WHO KNEW?!) After dinner, food coma kicked in and I seriously wanted to curl up in their big ol' leather chair (the ones you see in someones office) and take a quick nap.
(4)Scott V.
Awesome place
(5)James K.
I used to come here all the time with my friend for special sushi roll cravings. After a hiatus, I came here again recently. The place has been redecorated and I wasn't used to it at first but then I ordered sushi, they came, and I stopped thinking about the decor. I got the scallop surprise and the elephant eye roll. Both were delicious, and I especially liked the elephant eye. It was sliced stuffed squid, which is a "roll" I haven't seen anywhere else yet. I can't say it's the best sushi I've ever had, but it's pretty good and not too-too expensive.
(4)Robert B.
Sushi here is amazing !...very large pieces, tasty and fresh ...!prices are good !...very good sushi !!...deserve a visit !!
(4)Maria O.
My fellow Foodie Entourage member turned me on to this place and boy, am I glad she did! - If you are a big avocado fan, the Magic Roll* is a must - spicy tuna, salmon and kani wrapped in avocado - NO seaweed or rice - so yum! - The sashimi* also meets the 3F's criteria: Fresh, Flavorful and Fulfilling; plus, the sashimi sauce is a great accompaniment. - The Shrimp Tempura* was crunchy and quickly gobbled up by my little one. - I would however, not recommend the California Roll. It was puny and the rice did not look or taste fresh. I originally chalked this up as a fluke when my husband got his, but my son ordered another later on which sadly, came out looking and tasting the same. This does not affect my rating simply because I don't order California Rolls myself, but just a heads up for those who do. Also, there is a nice waitress and a not-as-nice waitress which my friend pointed out the first time we were there, so avoid/expect this, grab one of the comfortable plush armchairs, order some sake with your meal, and enjoy! photo*
(5)Travis W.
Best sushi that I've had in a long time... And I had some several hundred dollar sushi in San Fran a couple of weeks ago. We ordered the Godzilla Roll, Monster Roll, Philly Roll w/ jalapeño, and the Inconceivable Roll. Soooooo good and fresh. 4 huge rolls under $60? Yes please!
(5)David L.
NEVER GO HERE. THEY ARE CHEAP WITH EVERYTHING. Wasabi, chopsticks,napkins, the ginger. This place is the stingiest place you can ever go to or order from. Do not, I repeat do not go or order from here. The rolls are bad and low quality while service is mediocre. But The extent they would go to save a penny is despicable.
(1)Cameron L.
Came here for dinner for a bento. First, you should just come at lunch time... its the same bento box for a higher price at dinner by like 4-5$ i believe. The dinner was around 20$ very average around the area. The spring rolls are actually eggs rolls and the California rolls are not California rolls. the portions were okay and the food was fine but nothing to rave about. If you happen to be in the area and want some japanese food stop on by. The staff were all polite and lovely.
(3)Chelsea B.
This place is very "whatever" Swivel chairs and lack of general ambience already kind of make me less than excited. Couple that with the high prices for mediocre sushi? Over it, sorry :/
(2)Siv S.
I went on a Saturday, right after missing the lunch special. The service was great at this place...but it was way overpriced, and the sushi wasn't that great. some of my sushi felt like it had a rubbery & plastic like flavor to it . maybe it was just that day, but something about it felt off, and i couldn't finish it.
(3)Kim N.
Great place! The staff is so friendly and helpful! The sushi is also excellent. Very fresh, well prepared, and also filling. My favorite rolls were the Dragon and Monster Rolls! I definitely recommend trying them. Next time I'm in New York I will definitely stop by again!
(5)Leigh P.
God help you if they make a mistake. My household spent thousands of dollars at Monster Sushi Chelsea over the last few years. We live so close that we'd often use it as our go to take out place. About a year ago we placed an order and the restaurant made a mistake. When we called and told them that they got the order wrong we were told that we were the ones that were wrong. After arguing with them for a few minutes they agreed to bring us the roll that we ordered but we were asked to give the roll they gave us by mistake back to them (I wasn't sad about letting it go, I didn't want it and we didn't pay for it, but that was weird...what did they do with it I wonder...). It was like pulling teeth to have them just give us what we paid for. When this happened we decided to take a break from Monster Sushi (which only lasted for like a week). A few weeks ago they made a mistake in our order. I asked for a cucumber roll and they gave me a cucumber roll with tuna. I don't eat tuna. I even went over the order with the women on the phone to be sure it was right. When we got the order and saw it was wrong I wasn't going to say anything about it (it was a take out order) since we had such a problem the last time this happened. My girlfriend insisted that we call, so she called and spoke to the woman who took my order. She yelled at my girlfriend and told her that we asked them to add tuna. The whole thing was so ridiculous. What happened to "the customer is always right?" With all the money we spend there, it was horrible that we were treated like that. We did end up getting the right order, but the fight we had to bear through wasn't worth it. This will now be our last choice for take out options moving forward.
(1)Douglas K.
Came here last night for a late dinner. We walked in and it was pretty busy which was good to know. It didn't really have a nice decor, actually it was pretty weird - they had business computer chairs at the tables. We were seated promptly and the staff were very attentive. We ordered a spicy tuna roll, a deluxe sashimi platter with a salad, and a hot sake. The roll were delicious and the sashimi had 21 giant pieces. The sushi was fresh and delious and the sake was great as well. By the end of the meal, we were both stuffed. The service was outstanding. I recommend if you're looking to grab sushi with a friend - although it is a bit pricey.. Would not recommend for a first date as the decor is not very romantic.
(4)Chris B.
I've been going to Monster Sushi on 23rd St. for lunch on and off for about the past 10 years. The fish is fresh, the price is affordable (particularly the Bento box), and the service is usually just fine. I'm not saying the quality compares to Sushi Yasuda or Nobu, but you can have a nice lunch or dinner at Monster with a couple of drinks without breaking the bank. The decor is nothing special, though the oddly shapes ceiling lamps are interesting and I *do* like the car-style seats near the front (on the right as you walk in) complete with massage! Probably not the best place for a date, but a solid choice if you're in the mood for affordable (but good) sushi.
(4)Swan Z.
The first time I came here, I was impressed. Bf & I ordered the crazy tuna lovers roll & a bento box. Yum. The second time I came here, I decided to order the deluxe sashimi because everyone raves about it and the pieces looked huge. Bf got the special meat and seafood ramen. Both was just HORRIBLE. The sashimi was so fishy (even after wasabi)! And the ramen (if you can even call it ramen) was tasteless. This place is not a legit Japanese place. It's easy to tell from first sight--all the staff here are Chinese and they serve weird fish like super white tuna (which isn't even tuna). I'm kind of a snob when it comes to authenticity but the first time I was here, I liked this place so much! The second time is when their true colors showed. SO. Lesson learnt. Stick to the specialty rolls that are covered with sauce and crunch and what not. And the cooked food is not bad. If you're looking for authentic fresh fish--this is not the place for you. They serve their sashimi extra cold--after eating authentic sushi, I prefer my fish to be closer to room temperature. And one last bad thing: I kept on finding small hairs in my food. I'm not sure if they were my bf's hairs or from the kitchen. Just a warning. The staff here are really nice though. And the salad dressing is so good. But probably won't be returning unless I have some weird craving for specialty rolls.
(3)Art A.
This is based on one visit: 5 stars: The "red yellow tail" on special was spectacular. I had the sashimi version. This is sushi at its best. 0 stars: The rainbow roll is embarrassing. I would call it a cucumber roll! Very little fish and in lieu of avocado they put cucumber. Fake crab meat. Great sake selection but I had the simple hot sake. It was quite good. Overall, I call it a mixed bag. Get simple, well defined dishes (e.g. sashimi) and you should be ok.
(3)Mihir R.
The rolls were good and fresh. The standout was the Elephant Eye roll, a concoction of eel, salmon, and tuna, stuffed into squid and baked. Not a raw dish but unique and delicious. Not crowded at all @ 12:30pm on a Friday. Check out the wall of toy Godzillas behind the sushi bar.
(4)Marina C.
Haven't been here for yrs... Huge improvement in the decor, yet still pretty casual. Sushi was fresh, prices are reasonable for the area. My friend loved his rolls, I had the chilean sea bass bento box which I didn't really care for. I'll just stick to the rolls if I go back again.
(4)Nakeeta W.
Great food. We were seated right away. I didnt like how the waitress wasnt sure about what to suggest on the menu for sashimi and roll platter. I felt rushed by the busser coming to take my plate and wiping the table while im sitting. Nor did I like the waitress never coming to check on me but coming to give me the bill and not asking about dessert (EVEN IF I SAY NO) This place is always better when my job orders in. VERY TASTY THOUGH!
(3)Athena C.
Great service and awesome and creative rolls! I actually really like their humongous rolls. Didn't try their sashimi or sushi but at least their maki rolls are very creative and fresh. The atmosphere was very casual and seems like there were some regulars that night. Price was a little high for a place like this but it is in Chelsea. So go figures. Wouldn't mind coming back!
(3)Audrey C.
This place has huge rolls and the price is decent. Fish is fresh and they're really good.
(4)MehMeh M.
Just ok. Had the tuna, salmon and cucumber rolls. Bland rice with no rice vinegar, no wasabi at all in the rolls. The gyoza stank and tasted off - I didn't finish them. Other than that, it's cheap and quick. If you have a hankering for sushi and can't find someplace better....meh.
(2)Denisa R.
I went to Monster Sushi yesterday afternoon to grab a bite to eat with my boyfriend. When I walked in the place was very original in its decor. The staff was extremely friendly and attentive, as well. They have a happy hour beer special until 6PM, Monday through Thursday, I believe. A regular beer is $2, while the large is $3. We ended up ordering Bento Boxes, which we thought we'd get more bang for our buck. The Bento Box is like $20 and you get rice, salad, soup, the choice of a spring roll or dumpling, choice of a California, tuna, or salmon roll, and an entree. I chose the spring roll, tuna roll, and shrimp & vegetable tempura as my entree. I loved everything except for my entree. The shrimp were small in proportion and I received 2 and 3 vegetables (eggplant, onion?, and something else that my bf grabbed before I had a chance to look). Overall, if you're in the area and want some sushi for a decent price I would say stop by here.
(4)Marianne H.
i got some take-out Sushi at Monster Sushi tonight. I bought two "special Rolls": the Alaska Roll was yummy and the salmon just melted in my mouth. I had left my favorite for last: the Dragon Roll (eell, avocado etc).The first bite left a slimy after taste in my mouth. Don't read on if you have a weak stomach: Each piece of the dragon roll looked and felt like slimy eel fish guts. There was black/ bluish skin and I got sick to my stomach. Definitely not cooked eel what I've ordered in various Sushi places in the past and is my favorite. Horrible.
(1)Nick B.
Very good sushi. Fresh and always ready quick. I usually order through the Yelp app and it's ready in 10-15. They have the best Philly roll around. Light on the cream cheese...
(5)Brandon G.
DO NOT ORDER DELIVERY FROM MONSTER SUSHI. Of the last 5 orders I've place, they have a 100% error rate. For years, this place was flawless. Now, it's basically guaranteed that they will mess up your delivery order. Just not worth the trouble. Order elsewhere.
(2)Jae Z.
When raw fish is flaking, you know there's a problem with freshness.
(2)Jim D.
If it weren't for the generous cut of fish they give you for sashimi, I'd probably only give 3 stars because the service is pretty incompetent. Everyone was very nice and the fish was high quality, don't get me wrong. The waitresses just aren't very good at their jobs. Hey waitressing isn't for everyone! Next time I'll sit right at the sushi bar to avoid placing orders through the wait staff.
(4)Sammy C.
My FIRST time and my LAST. I thought I would tried this one out since I been to the one uptown on 46street between 5/6 ave . This one in the village left me the wanting to call the Department of Health 1/ The hot towel looks like they were just rinsed out with hot water and back into he steamer !! - I smelled one the other day, Smelled like Body odor Stink!!! 2/ During our meal, A piece of dirt flew out of the Ventilation that was above us, luckily we were finish with our meal. I pointed out that this piece of dirt came from the vent directly above us and landed on Fred's Rice. The waiter took it and told the other waiter and they basically nothing about it. Didn't apologized or comp us for anything other than slap us the bill. 3/ Monster Sushi are not owned or operated by Japanese people at all. why would you think you going to get the Japanese experiences. People GROW UP!!!
(1)Gloria D.
Seared tuna roll with spicy mayo? Yes, I will. Eating said seared tuna roll while receiving a free massage? Make that a double YES! This place is awesome. The food is fresh, fast and delicious, the decor is nice, the tables are comfy, the massages are a great touch, and the wines are fine. My hubby and I go to Monster quite a bit and it is definitely my favorite sushi joint in Chelsea.
(4)Jasmin Z.
Ummm why didn't anyone how pricey this place was? For a place that was not so fancy this place is def overpriced. A regular roll was a little over $10 and specials were ~15 for lunch hours considering they had no lunch special. The decor was almost pointless although they did have computer chairs at one of the tables for executive kings? I have no idea. The reviews on yelp def let me down. The service was horrible. Took over 30 min to get 3 rolls. Got the elephant eye which was squid stuffed with sushi. It was unappetizing to say the least, but maybe it was just the outer squid that threw me off. I was not pleased.
(2)Maria N.
This is one of the nicest Japanese restaurants I've been to in NYC. Starting from a very nice restaurant design and location and all the way to fast service and affordable prices, I'd recommend checking it out when you are looking for a place to eat in NYC's Chelsea. I particularly liked their bento boxes and both sushi and sushimi were fresh and delicious. They also have a bunch of specials that they are running every day and they pack very nicely for takeout.
(4)Erica B.
My first experience was at Monster Sushi with co-workers. In the beginning, I would only order "junky sushi" with tempura batter or the artificial crab meat, so I could slowly get used to the texture before diving into the raw fish. Monster's fish is the freshest fish around. I've tried almost all the rolls during my numerous trips here. I like to try something new each time and I've never been disappointed. The servers are very welcoming, prompt and courteous. Great for lunch with friends or dinner dates.
(5)Nancy O.
This is a place I could go to everyday for lunch...get a few rolls or their bento box lunch, and chat with friends. I love their generous use of avocado in their rolls! I love the quality of their sashimi and the vinegar sauce they serve with it on the side. I even love the decor and service! It's a bit out of the way for me to go here often, but if I know I'm going to be in the area, I make it a point to stop in and enjoy!
(5)Evan L.
Our weekly treat is sushi on the weekend. So we've eaten alot of sushi in the city at remarkable places and places that are decidedly less remarkable. Monster falls deeply into the second bucket. We desperately want Monster Sushi to be good 'cause it's two blocks from our house. But the first time we tried Monster, we did take out and it was below average. Nope, that's not true. It was just flat out bad. A year later and we decided to try it again, but this time we would eat at the restaurant to remove the take-out component from the equation. The result was not much better. The fish was fine, but nothing out of the ordinary. You're not going to get sick from it, but you're not going to remember it 5 minutes after leaving the restaurant. In fact, you'll probably do yourself a favor if you forget it. The second part was that they didn't deliver a roll. And when I brought it up to the waiter, he insisted they did. On a $110 bill, I'm not going to get worked up about an $8 roll. But believe me when I tell you that the roll did not arrive. And so Monster receives its second - and final - blow as far as we're concerned. Combine distinctly below-average food with bad help and you have a restaurant we'll never visit again.
(1)Tony T.
Got delivery the other night from Monster. The delivery was fast and the food was pretty good. Got some rolls and miso soup. The soup was good but overpriced at $3.25. The rolls were all very good. The monster roll and spider roll are both large. The fish was fresh in both. Also got the spicy tuna roll (which I always get), and the super white tuna special roll. Make sure you ask if there are any sushi or sashimi special pieces. That night it was the yellowtail, which was superb. Monster is a decent option for sushi in Chelsea.
(3)Mary J.
The restaurant isn't very fancy but the food is good quality for the price. We had the Omakase for two and it was enough food to to share with one more person. If you are in the mood for good quality sushi, good service and good price then you should check it out.
(4)T L.
Wasn't sure what to expect when I met up with a friend here last weekend at this small restaurant. Despite it's tight spacing, we waited less than 10 minutes for a table. I was delightfully surprised when our food came. The back seating didn't feel crowded. The sushi was fresh (loved the lobster roll and variety of sashimi) and the service was great! Will definitely be back!
(4)kelsea b.
Pretty loud. The waiter rushed my friend and I, and I'm not a fan of places where the tables are separated by a mere six inches. The service was speedy, but I expected the Udon Noodle soup to be much bigger for what I paid ($15.95!). Not worth the price, not very authentic. (I recommend Kiku Sushi on 9th between 24th and 25h!)
(2)Aria v.
RAWR!! I am a monster, come to eat your sushi!! FEAR ME FISHIES, RAWR!! Food: I went here with Teri Y last week, and although I've passed it a million times, it was the first I actually got to eat here. He ordered the sushi bento box, and I got the zaru soba with a shake (salmon) hand roll. The fish was fresh but I have a couple of gripes. 1) My temaki was supposed to be shake and seasoned rice, it was just plane rice. 2) My salmon was way too fatty, this wasn't King Salmon, for sure. Probably farmed Atlantic salmon, and that's cool, but I prefer less fatty and oily salmon. 3) The soba was very gummy. Good soba should not be like spaghetti, it has it's own unique texture, but similar properties. If left soaking, or not chilled quick enough, it can become too chewy. A little gum, a bit of chew, you're right on the money, but this was like those last dregs of pasta that have soaked in the water too long at the salad bar. The sushi that Teri had, however, looked good. And the whole menu is very reasonably priced. It's a step above fast food take-out sushi, but not as good as it should be for a sit-down restaurant. It's reliable, and it's better than supermarket sushi, so if you're looking for something to grab quickly, or to take with you on your way to a friend's house in Chelsea, check it out. But you can find better places in the city for cheaper that will blow your socks off, trust me. Venue: The decor at Monster Sushi is actually kinda cool. It has an underwater vibe with plate-glass windows and lots of blue and turquoise hues. Big monster fishies on the wall and with a modern feel. Automatic everything in the bathroom makes it very Japanese. It's not a big place though, and probably only has seating for about 45 max. They don't take themselves too seriously, though, and there seems to be a relaxing requirement as you hang out with your bottle of Sapporo.
(3)Jenna W.
Fresh fish and veggies. Swanky decor. Moderate prices. Decent service. I recommend the Chilean Sea Bass appetizer in a light soy sauce. Now, I know everyone loves ginger dressing on Japanese salads, but this ginger dressing on the house salad was unbelievable! It was absolutely delicious and not at all watery like some of the dressings are. It's the little things in life that matter... A few other reviews mention that Monster Sushi is reliable... I agree - and what more do you really need in a sushi place? Great food, reliable freshness and delicious ginger dressing.
(4)A. K.
Nothing fancy schmancy here, just good reliable fresh sushi. I wasn't too hungry, so I just got a couple of appetizer dishes, including the sashimi. The portions here are very decent, I never leave hungry. The waiter was really friendly and so I decided to ask him if I could get all salmon instead of the usual assorted variety for my sashimi appetizer. He was nice enough to oblige :) The salmon that day was sooo fresh and I didn't even have to chew. This place is a good neighborhood sushi joint. No frills, no complaints.
(3)Margarita M.
Yumm. If you're looking for affordable, fresh, tasty sushi and a wide variety of sake as a pairing - look no further. This particular location underwent renovations recently and I was pleasantly surprised when I came here after a year long absence. I sat at the sushi bar and had an excellent bottle of sake (kudos to the helpful waitress for recommending it) and some delicious special rolls. I also had two pieces of salmon sashimi which were excellent. I ended up paying about $40 and left full and happy. Next time I plan to actually talk to the cute guy with the tattoos and the business suit sitting next to me. He seemed like a regular so I think I have a shot at running into him again at Monster Sushi.
(4)Karin G.
We eat here about once a week or so. Its our favorite and reliable nearby sushi joint. Service is always very pleasant. Sushi is above par qualitywise for sure, definitely respectable and nicely portioned for the money. I always get sashimi with consistently good outcomes, which is about what you hope for with raw fish! The pieces are big, but not crazy big. I mean, how much fish do you want to stuff in your mouth at once? I often ask them to cut the pieces in half so I can enjoy them longer Nice selection of drinks and, again, service is great Our only complaint is that my BF always orders several apps instead of a main course, and I order a big plate of sasimi and they dont time them so we get our food at the same time Next time, we wont just assume they know how we want them and ask that they bring our food out together. Small thing. I would not go out of my way to eat here, but I am very glad its in the hood. Update: went tonight, had our usual app and sashimi dinner, asked that they bring it in a particular order. They did so without a hitch or bit of fuss. Awesome.
(5)J P.
If you like fresh, then you'll love it! Get a sapporro when your there makes the sushi tast Ten times better!!
(4)Kristen U.
I got takeout here this week. Everything was very fresh and tasty. I am looking foward to ordering from here again.
(4)Neill H.
Not bad, not great, but not bad.
(3)Kelli S.
Steamed shrimp dumplings, seaweed salad, american dream roll, spicy tuna roll and sashimi are all tasty. If you like specialty rolls, this place has a lot of them. Not a huge fan of their yellowtail sashimi, which I usually love...has a weird after taste. The servers are really attentive, which is nice. I don't know that I would go out of my way to go to here since there are so many great sushi places in the city, but if you're in Chelsea and need a quick bite, Monster's pretty good.
(3)Joan H.
No problems being seated on a cold day, and courteous staff... but you couldn't help but hear this one staffer yelling from somewhere hidden in a language that was not Japanese (my waittress was Japanese, if that matters to anyone). The food was acceptable, but nothing particularly special. I thought some of the fish was on the fishy side, however, and not fresh. I wouldn't come back here. Too many good sushi joints to try to waste time here again.
(3)Ash T.
I chose this place when I was in Chelsea because it was packed and had some decent Yelp reviews... and that's what it is -- decent. Nothing that's out-of-this-world. The waitstaff was incredibly rude, but I usually let that slide to a certain extent as long as the food is good (since that's what I'm there for, after all). The miso was good, but that's generally hard to screw up. I tried the spicy girl roll and the soft shell crab roll and they were pretty tasty. The menu covers a variety of ingredients for American-style sushi and should have something to suit everyone. Keep in mind that it's called MONSTER for a reason -- the rolls are HUGE! It's also fairly cheap for what you get. The decor is a bit cheesy but that's of no matter because it's clean and the fish tasted pretty good... not the freshest I've had but certainly fresh enough. I'd probably go again if I found myself in Chelsea and in the mood for sushi.
(3)Yum Yum H.
Monster Sushi is a convenient go to place for fresh and reasonably priced sushi. We've gone multiple times now and they always serve really large and fresh sashimi slices. The ambiance is basic but the staff is friendly and you get good sushi/sashimi for the price.
(3)Megh D.
I have loved sushi (caveat: vegetarian sushi) for a while now, though I have never actually been to a sushi restaurant. (An enigma, as ever.) Monster Sushi was my first time. -And I have to say, "A-OK" just about sums it. The appetizers were good, well steamed and salted edamame, crisp pickled vegetables, and piping hot spinach um...thingies...with hot mustard (one of the best condiments ever invented...). The rolls and goods themselves left a little to be desired. First of all, I ordered an Umekyu with pickled plum and cucumber in addition to a teriyaki squash roll. The umekyu had hardly any plum at all, and so besides the trappings of rice, nori, 'sabi, and soya, was nearly flavourless. The squash roll was well filled, but still, not flavourful. In addition, they were both poorly wrapped, so presentation was a disappointment. My friends and hosts ordered a Godzilla roll, a mushroom roll, and adventurously asked the waitress to prepare a sampler plate with the stipulations of variety and spice. Apparently, the godzilla roll was good. The 'mystery' plate was a let-down to my host, who likened it to your average tuna sampler, and not containing much spice at all. The service was excellent, however, and I never had want of water, which is no small feat considering how much I tend to drink. I cannot speak to price, as it was my hosts' treat (I know my rolls were about $4 a piece), and I have no real comparison point. I might try Monster Sushi again, service and atmosphere go a LONG way in my book (trust me, I have forgiven many a sin based on those redeemers...), but like I said, overall, just "A-OK"
(3)Jeffrey C.
Staple in Chelsea for sushi. Decor is fun.
(3)Serena B.
For the longest time I had a hard time understanding the 'greatness' of sushi. The idea seemed to be a waste, spending 'X' amount of dollars on a couple pieces of fish, rice and veggies. And then I stumbled upon tempura. If there is one thing that can win my heart over with any sort of food is for it to be fried. Little crispy bits of tempura hidden is the sushi is just what I need to enjoy sushi. The 'monster' rolls that they have are decently filling if you get 3 for yourself... but it comes at a decent price which is around $12-15. My personal favorite is the 'wold series roll'. A huge plus for me is the ginger salad dressing. My mouth waters thinking about it. If they had the dressing available in stores, I would buy it.
(4)Diana B.
This cool and sleek spot. It is a great place to have dinner with friends and have some cocktails. We all had the bento box special which included soup, salad, salmon roll, shumai and an entree in a cool tray with compartments for each. They had a great selection of drink special buy 2 get one free. We finished off the evening sharing a fried vanilla ice cream. Next time we will try the red bean ice cream. So go in and have a seat!!
(4)Amy S.
Favorite Sushi Ever. Two words: Calamari Roll. They have a huge menu, and their food is ALWAYS good. The service is also great. Even their miso soup is outstanding, and their ginger salad dressing is not to be missed. While I've tried numerous dishes on their menu (Chilean sea bass was excellent, as well as their nabeyaki udon), I continually return here usually for their calamari roll. This is my ultimate comfort food in NY. It's a MASSIVE roll (8-10 pieces at least as big around as a golf ball) filled with cucumber, lettuce, avocado, and-- most importantly--tempura battered calamari. It's heaven in my mouth. The texture! The flavor!! THE BEST!!! I HIGHLY recommend this restaurant! They have other locations which are ok, but the Chelsea restaurant has the best staff and best food (in my opinion).
(5)Lucy L.
The name explains everything.. MONSTER.. if you are hungry. this is definitely the place to go. I wouldn't use I LOVE THEIR SUSHI, instead I rather use I like their food. once again if you are looking for big portion. this is your place Few of us went there after a rejection of another sushi place, we were sitting in the back and playing sake bombs all night long. The host was friendly about it, i guess the more drink the more $$ they make. Overall I wouldn't mind go there again =)
(4)Germaine C.
While I have had Monster Sushi delivered from other locations, The 23rd Street location is the only one that I've actually sat in and ate. Let me also preempt this by saying that I haven't been there since the renovations. Monster has a nice, quiet, family run vibe to it. The rolls are varied and interesting. There is a peanut roll(great choice for vegetarians) that is inventive and inexpensive. Suffice it to say that I've never had Monster's Sashimi, but the chefs seemed very experienced in the art and the Tuna looked really, really good. Suprisingly, the Fish Katsu was really clean and breaded with just enough Panko. Yes, the Katsu definitely was a good dish here. Try Monster for 'mid-level' Sushi. You might like it.
(4)Mandee N.
I was recommended Monster Sushi for lunch today. There was no lunch menu! Instead, I mistakened the overpriced lunch prices for the actual dinner prices! Upon looking at the menu, I was ready to walk out. But thinking that I already walked 20 blocks for this place, I sucked it up and placed my order. I, originally, hoped that they had a lunch combo deal going on where you'd get 2 rolls, and a soup and/or salad for no more than $8. My lunch turned out to be $18 for one Philly roll and one New York roll... and that was it. =/ The size of the maki rolls weren't that big either. On a brighter note, the fish was fresh. The selection of special rolls were decent. I won't be coming back here again. Overpriced for the quality and quantity of their sushi. I've decided that I'm gonna suck it up for a few more blocks and find a better sushi place.
(2)Rachel M.
LOVE it. I get delivery from them religiously and the food is always fresh, fast, and moderately priced. My personal favorite is the Godzilla Roll, which I like to add crunch too, and the edamame. The edamame is perfectly cooked so it isn't mushy and not overly salty. I've had other rolls here, like the Christmas Roll and the Crazy Tuna Girl Roll but I wasn't as into it as I am the Godzilla. The good thing about this place is that they are consistent. You can order online, but you have to be careful because it looks like you're order is completed after you click submit the first time, but its not true! You need to scroll down to the bottom of the page that says you're confirmed and click "submit" again. I wish someone had told me that!!!
(4)Arben S.
Huge pieces of sushi, which turns me off. Nothing was bad.. everything was decent just not outstanding.
(3)Val S.
The fresh garden salad tends to be all I ever get here, but their homemade ginger dressing is absolutely amazing and deserves 5 stars on its own. Today, I tried the New York roll, which cost around $9. Given, the rolls here are really expensive, but when I got back to work and took said roll out of the bag, it was HUGE. Filled me up for the day, I'm still not hungry, and it's been 8 hours. I'm pretty sure that unless your stomach is the size of a dump truck and you can inhale everything in sight, you'll be fairy good here, even money wise. Oh, and the roll was VERY good.
(4)Chris D.
The chirashi bowl was perfect. Nice sized cuts of sashimi. So fresh I could taste the ocean and the delicate flavors of each type of fish. Best hamachi I've had anywhere. I also had the oshinko maki, which was made extra delicious by the fact that it included carrot and red seaweed in addition to the radish. While I was eating I watched the chef making spicy tuna from a prime, extremely fresh looking cut of tuna. It looked delicious; I will have to try that next time.
(5)Bellah E.
I really enjoyed dining here. Everything was very fresh, including the fish and veggies. I highly recommend this place! If you happen to go, and you're a fish lover, try the Black Cod Fish. It's to die for!!!
(4)Michael J.
This place is a MONSTER FAIL, When you walk in you are greated by a narrow walk way and a waitress runs down it and greets you and asks you how many in your party so you say um i dont know three. She offers you to sit in the back to which i agreed. After walking to the sitting area though the whole resturant, you notice everything is light blue with bubles on the wall. First reaction, WT* and where am I, bc i feel like im an underground 3 y/o buble. You sit down open the menue and with in 1 minute you are asked you ready to order, UM NO. Ok then i get the intor of buy 2 drinks and get one free. OK so it is not a bad deal. So three of us sit there we all order a drink so that is 2 and oen of our drinks is free. Doing simple math and thinking after asking the waitress that she was dumbfounded, like i asked to build a space ship out of chop sticks. Ok so she said ok and we get anothe round of drinks. I tried everyones drink b/c we all got diffrent ones just to try, im sorry but did you take bartender school or did you practice at home with water. One of them had so much alchol it was not dirnk able. Onother one was just so bad tasting, so to save your self some money you can do this go home get a glass, fill it with ice pour all your alchol in it then add a table spoon of salt and chug. There you go you have tried most of there drinks. We all got beto boxes, im sorry but that was the sadest looking bento box in my LIFE. The lettice that came with it was frozen cold and looked lonley with a small dap of chunkcy ginger sauce. The 3 pcs of sushi that where there was so warm i didnt want to take another bite, do they use defrosting sushit seriosly WTF. The rice looks like it was picked up by your hand and just dumped there so cluncky and dry EH. The eel was good thoug the only thing there and i just had to keep on drinking water to just to forget what i was eating. The desert was nice, the green tea ice cream was the best part of the whole dinner b/c come on you can not mess up ice cream and deep fry it. O ya i forgot the godzilla that was every where hwo you say makes me feel of Mcdonalds kids play room, so sad and bad. Just the over all experince was so bad and sad, and defently BLUE, b/c that is the only paint color they have there. Ya defently not going back, just over all BAD. Save your money and go some where else. This place was a monster fail and a disipointment.
(1)Tina C.
Sushi galore! I've tasted better sushi than this. They have a lot of options for sahami and sushi. They serve sake which is a must for Japanese cuisine. Although it was average it somewhat satisfied my appetite. Some of their sushi was rather small portions for a huge price which was just crass. The decor needs a major renovation with a lot of TLC.
(3)Erin L.
Three of us got a sushi/sashimi combo for 2 (~$68). It was more than enough for us girls. The waiter was really nice. The quality of the fish was fairly decent. They even sang happy birthday to my friend, haha. For the price that we pay, I'm not complaining. =)
(4)Victoria A.
Good place for sushi. I enjoyed it a lot and it is a very good place for people watching when you're sitting outside. It's in a very nice neighborhood that makes me happy. :) The prices aren't half bad. The sushi is decent but I've had better edamame. I would go back again. Plus they set out a bowl of water for your dog without asking.
(4)Jennifer S.
Nice atmosphere, great sushi! I'm not one of those crazy sushi lovers, but this place was good. we got the creature roll, philly roll and seaweed salad.
(4)Melissa A.
I've had better, but I've also had waaaaaaay worse. All-in-all Monster ain't bad and it's the cheapest good sushi I've found in the hood. Some of their rolls are frighteningly large, but I guess that wasn't such a surprise...with, ya know...the name and all. I'm all about their ginger dressing. I could easily drink it, if dared or something.
(3)Diana F.
I just got back from spending a week in NYC and I went to Monster Sushi on my first night in town since it was close to my hotel. I didn't see what the big deal was ? The sushi was normal size, if not a bit smaller. Maybe they can tell a tourist from a local and think they don't have to impress a tourist ? The sushi was just okay and I don't see where the monster comes from ??
(3)Jimena V.
Came here after my yoga class with my classmates and had a good time with the huge rolls and some sake-ok A LOT of sake. The food was ok but I've tasted better. Some of the rolls were overwhelming and but since I am down to try new things this was a good experience-got to try some weird yet yummy rolls that I've never seen anywhere else. Want a big variety of rolls and are open-minded, then give this place a try but don't expect anything great.
(3)David R.
I live 2 blocks away so I have to eat here at least once every 3 years. The Sushi is decent. Not exceptional, but decent. If they had the same prices as st marks, i'd be sold. Went here the other night and dropped 40 on a combo and some Saki. Good food, big portions. I left full, really really full. Monstrously soo MWahaha, really... really. Ok so big portions, average sushi. My friend tried the 16 dollar monster roll, and having tried 1 piece, I can say i'd be happy to save the 20 bucks on that. Did have a nice buzz, and after a couple of burpes, squat thrusters, and general screamery, we weren't asked to leave. It seems sushi places love me. Also, I didn't like the salad to much, but I was real hungry. I told the waiter after I had finished the salad that I wanted the soup instead. It wasn't a problem! Ok - maybe i'm being harsh. All and all a solid Sushi place, but not exceptional, and a tad over priced.
(4)Karyn S.
I'm so into this place. I can't stop ordering - to the office for lunch, to the house for dinner. Have never been in but would like to give that a shot too. I try a new thing every time and pair it with the Spicy Girl Roll because that is the hot jam right there.
(4)Danielle S.
The sushi is good here but nothing special. You could do better in this city but if you're in the neighborhood and have a sushi craving this place could work. When I first moved to NYC this was my go to sushi place. And then I explored the city and found other favorite spots and I forgot about Monster Sushi for awhile. I came back here the other day to give it another try. I walked right past it because they redecorated or maybe moved a bit down the street. I'm not sure. But it looks different and I don't like it. It's not as cozy. And it was not as busy. Actually there was no one in there. Could be to do with the prices? Didn't seem worth it.
(3)Nick S.
Decent sushi, fairly expensive for the quality. Probably not going to head back.
(3)Russell D.
This is my favorite place so far in the city for just good ol' sushi rolls. I tried some sashimi here, but I didn't like it as much as other Japanese restaurants. The rolls are well done and they have some unique ones too. The house salad's ginger dressing is much better than most places. They put a unique spin on it. The service is top notch and I love the comfortable chairs at the sushi bar!! It can get a little expensive compared to most run of the mill sushi bars.
(4)A D.
best tofu teriyaki... EVER! great sake list, amazing sushi. agh, mouth is watering just thinking about it! really great place to go. the decor is cool too although the computer desk wheelie office chairs as dining chairs are kinda weird its whatever, its about the food anyway. slamminnn!
(5)Chris P.
I love Monster Sushi, especially because you can get rolls or pieces of sushi with brown rice. Definitely great for lunch during the week.
(4)Annabel A.
I really don't understand how Monster Sushi has received such positive reviews. Firstly, the Sushi isn't as "monster large" as what others have yelped about. The rolls are a good size though to fill you up. If there is anything "monster" about this place, it is the decor. I felt as if I was entering the souvenir shop/cafe of an aquarium. The sushi bar shelves were lined with japanese action figures of godzillas, aliens and flying dragons. The sushi here isn't bad, but i felt that it was rather pricey for quality of the food and the theme of this restaurant. Expect a standard lunch to amount to about $20 to $25 including tip and tax. I tried the Dragon roll, Tonkatsu Don and Shumai. Needless to say, the sushi was the only dish worth trying. Monster Sushi serves a variety of creative selections. I stopped in here for lunch randomly, and from my understanding, the crowd that frequents this place is mostly people working in the area who enjoy sake-bombing happy hour. I might return if I worked in the area. But at the end of the day, there is just something about the overall atmosphere that bothered me. Perhaps if I were crazy about anime or trendy japanese style, then this is place would have been more appealing.
(2)Chantal C.
Best Sushi I've had at such a phenomenal price! The waiters are very attentive and the rolls are so yummy and filling! I'm seriously in there every week!
(5)T R.
Really big pieces of sushi and very tasty! This place doesn't serve cheap Saki though. WAY expensive compared to other places I've been to. It's also not a "romantic" setting, very cartoonish but fun and interesting! I want to bring my 19 year old brother here because he would think it's the coolest thing ever. OH, and my boyfriend and I sat in leather office chairs that were mad comfortable! I don't use the word "mad" often but I had to here! I would go again.
(4)lisa n.
I get the criticism that the decor is a little kitschy. I wrote a review of Blue Ribbon Sushi a few weeks ago so you would have to call this "Diner sushi" rather than cuisine sushi. But I didn't have a problem with the Godzilla doll decorations. Basically this was really good sushi, large portions, but here is the punchline: the food was good and the price was great. This is the perfect place to go when you're more concerned about the food and the value more than the decor
(4)Willis W.
Very tasty rolls here. Service was pretty good. Honestly, it wasn't the best sushi I've ever had, but it served its purpose for my ISS (Immediate Sushi Satisfaction). Seriously, my ISS was acting up and if don't get it treated soon... you might see me on NY1 with cuffs on bloodied looking at the camera saying only one sentence..."it was worth it." ISS - get help. get cured. if you need pamphlets or a counselor, call 1-800...
(3)Emily H.
While I wasn't completely disappointed in Monster Sushi, I was not at all impressed either. The inside of the restaurant is very cute. We were seated and waited on promptly. However, once our rolls came, everything went downhill. I ordered two vegetarian sushi rolls. Nothing intricate, but both rolls were completely falling apart. It became incredibly messy to eat. I was hoping that the flavor would make up for the poorly crafted rolls, but unfortunately the flavor was just so-so. I've had the same quality of flavor for a much lower price. Then we sat around after we finished our meal for over 30 minutes before anyone took our dirty dishes or gave us a check. We weren't rushed or anything, thankfully, but I'm not used to sitting around that long to wait for someone to notice that we've finished.
(2)Lawrence O.
I go here a lot after my study sessions and its pretty good place to eat. Fair prices for NYC. Its good and theres one waitress that looks like an Asian version of Tegan and Sara. You'll see.
(4)Naima C.
I use to work around the corner so I ate here quite regularly the sushi was fresh and always good and I love the miso soup. I love simple sushi here the calafornia roll, spicy tuna roll, yellow tail roll and smoked eel roll are my faves.This place was the first place I ever had sushi so I hold it near and dear .
(4)Clarence V.
Monster Sushi is at the bottom of an apartment building on W 23 Street. It can get crowded at the night times during the Fridays and Saturdays, but if you are smart and go during the week, you'll get a table. I like the big bottles of Sapporo and sometimes order the sake (especially when I'm on a date! :0) As for the sushi, I don't like it when my date orders california rolls. It's foretelling of a disasterous date. Anyway, the time I went my date ordered the twelve piece of sushi from the a la carte menu -- I quickly did a behind the envelope calculation and realized she should just order the sushi combination! Was she talking advantage of me? It was our first date. What was the saving grace was that she loved every piece of the freshly prepared sushi: the tuna (toro and blue fin), yellowtail, mackarel, eel, sweet shrimp were all succulent. The only pieces we didn't like were the Uni (tastes like mushy peas) and the fluke (it just doesn't register with me). We also enjoyed two large sakes and even shared a green tea ice cream for dessert! Luckily, she didn't order the california rolls, and at the end of the night I got lucky too! ;-)
(4)S. K.
One of my favorite Sushi places, I always get the Sashimi appetizer. By the way who needs rice on their fish? I don't. If you want rice, get rice. Great cooked fish salad, lunch specials. FRESH, fresh, fresh fish. Believe me, I know my fish.
(4)Andrea K.
My husband and I ate at Monster Sushi after a long day at the shows during NY fashion week. We are big sushi fans back home in Portland so we had high hopes for a great sushi experience in New York. We were looking for great sushi at an affordable price in a laid back atmosphere and Monster Sushi fit the bill on all levels. The service was great, the food was fantastic and fresh and we enjoyed sitting at the sushi bar while catching a little of the NBA all star game. We ordered one of the complete maki/sashimi meals and it was a ton of food for the price. We will definitely come back the next time we stay in Chelsea!
(4)Monica T.
Their name is an overstatement..the rolls are not that monster, rather decent however. Their chilean sea bass is to die for! It melted in my mouth and it was so good, I order two!
(4)Patrice P.
This is pretty decent sushi but it's way overpriced. For the location it is in (right on noisy 23rd next to a 24-hour gym) and the cheesy dining atmosphere (a spotlighted large fish on the sidewalk right before you sit at a plastic table) I do not expect to pay near the higher end for a dive sushi experience.
(3)Sasha Z.
Yummy yummy!! Seaweed salad was super-fresh and huge...no carrot/radish filler hiding underneath, just a lovely pile o' seaweed! Sushi was fresh and scrumpy...great portions, great prices. Been twice for early supper and both times a win!
(5)Brenda R.
I ordered some rolls to go, I believe on the menu it said it was 'monster' sized but it wasn't at all.. prices were all right, food was good.
(3)Stacey G.
Fresh fresh fresh is all I have to say about this place. The tuna was just perfect and tasty. I could eat here everyday!
(5)Tushar T.
Monster Sushi provides fresh dependable sushi. The pieces are definitely big (Monster!) relative to most other sushi places. Average piece of sushi is two good sized bites. I generally order take-out and the fish has always been good. Nothing dazzling but good taste and quality. The salmon here has always tasted like butter to me.
(4)Lindsay D.
Back in the day when I ate fish, I was a huge sushi fan. HUGE. I would eat Spicy Tuna roll after California roll after Unakyu roll... I digress. As a vegetarian, I've found it hard to find delicious, fish free sushi. don't get me wrong, I've found acceptable rolls out there - some in Boston, some in New York, but none of them have even come close to the lovingly hand rolled raw fish perfection that I so loved. That is, none until now. I had Monster Sushi a few days ago and holy vegetarian roll nirvana was I happy with the food that I got. The Umekyu roll = awesome. The Peanut and Avocado roll = delicious x26. So, why not 5-stars? In addition to my two rolls of bliss I also ordered the tofu teryaki; aka the purgatory of food. Not great, not bad, just sorta blah. Next time, I'll just order a million sushi rolls.
(4)Jenny L.
this is by far the worst sushi place ive been to for a long time. i'm surprised that people here are saying that the food was fresh and reliable..maybe i just went at a bad time, or that we ordered the wrong things, but you will NEVER see me there again. i had the crazy tuna roll and a friend had the monster roll. the monster roll was ok but the sushis fell apart whenever we tried to pick them up.. someone had pretty poor skills at rolling sushi. the crazy tuna roll was disappointingly bland. the "spicy tuna" part of the sushi was made with a chinese spicy sauce, and the "seared" tuna in the middle of the roll was overly cooked, seemingly in a pan rather than with a torch. i also ordered a piece of uni sushi as i love uni and never fail to try some whenever available. it came out with the uni unrecognizable (it was like mush rather than actual pieces of uni) and WARM. the nori was also soggy. how disgusting is that? the waiters were kind of weird, and uninformed. and kept on chit-chatting with one another in chinese rather loudly. the strangest thing was when one of the waitresses came over, picked up our towels from the towel plate (one in each hand), and shoved the towels in my friend's face and my face..all without looking at either one of us. decor was a bit off, but i enjoyed the swivel chairs at the sushi bar. the quality of the food failed to justify the price. glad i didn't go for the set menus.
(1)Amy L.
Pretty serviceable sushi; good "Jan Roll" with crabstick, cucumber, tobiko, and salmon on top; very attentive staff; relaxed enough atmosphere on a Saturday night. Our yellowtail and eel rolls, though, were both slightly fishy-tasting -- and prices for some of the special rolls (and definitely for certain dinner entrees) seem a little spendy for a chain like this.
(3)S E.
My love took me there one day after work, loved it! Great fresh sushi, and the staff is so welcoming and warming. Will go there again!
(5)Nevin C.
It was a blah experience. For my bento special, the shumai was soggy, and the marinated seared tuna was almost well-done (I ordered rare). The other folks in our party weren't impressed either. Maybe just an off night, but definitely left unimpressed.
(2)Romana Claretta H.
great sushi for an affordable price. good place for groups.
(4)Steve C.
Good sushi, good service and sushi bar. Good for quick sushi at lunch or takeout.
(4)Peter F.
Bad sushi is cheap Good sushi is expensive Great sushi is *way* expensive. Can you get cheaper sushi than this? For sure. Can you get better sushi than this? Yep Can you get better sushi for this price? Not that I know of, at least in this hood.
(3)Lily R.
Yay! I had sushi in NY finally! The menu here is a little strange. Some things are very reasonably priced and others are too much (entrees). I ordered spicy tuna rolls, king crab CA rolls, tempura and Salad. All were amazing! The ginger dessing on the salad is SO refreshing and the rolls are fresh and the rice and seaweed taste great. My friend had the seaweed salad and that was very yummy!
(4)kimanne L.
Delicious, fresh sushi...would definitely recommend! Quick & awesome customer service!
(5)Melissa S.
Conveniently located in the heart of Chelsea, Monster Sushi always serves fresh fish. The sushi melted in my mouth it was so good. The decor was plain, but that's not unusual for a Japanese restaurant. The prices are around $6 for a roll and $20 for regular sushi. The service was decent, not outstanding. If you want to go to a nice restaurant but not pay through the nose, this hits the spot. This restaurant is packed at dinner time, just to warn you.
(4)Lori C.
We go to Monster Sushi on 23rd Street once a week and only get the best sushi and the best service. All of the fish is very fresh and the portions are large. Definitely one of our favorite sushi spots (especially for the price) in Chelsea.
(4)Norman S.
i've eaten here since the days this place was called godzilla sushi. then they got into some trademark violation and had to change the name to monster sushi. they just can't let it be, damn corporations want to squeeze every penny out of the little guy. anyway the food stayed the same and they kept all the godzilla memorabilia. you need a big mouth to eat their special rolls, otherwise you might get TMJ. you can definitely get better tasting sushi elsewhere but you'll also pay way more. you just can't beat the value of this place. the ingredients are fresh, the portions are large, the drinks are good, the staff is attentive, and you can be as loud as you want in this casual place. this is a great place to come with friends if you are famished; i like to get the chirashi because the fish is very fresh and you are totally stuffed after washing down the fish with that big bowl of rice.
(3)Fawn V.
Solely based on take out/delivery. Decent prices and generous sashimi slices. lovely bento boxes.
(4)Natalie W.
Eh. I could take it or leave it. The sushi was decent, the place was clean and new but totally predictable. I liked the miso and Michael like his $7 Boston Roll, so all and all a good stopover for lunch, but nothing spectacular.
(3)Minjae O.
I lived across the street from Monster Sushi in Chelsea, so it was very easy for me to fall for the temptation that is good sushi at a relatively good price. I do agree that most things on the menu, including sushi, are a bit on the overpriced side, but for the convenience and consistent freshness, I didn't mind paying for it. My favorite was the salmon and avocado temaki (handroll - the one that comes in a cone shape). I think what is most appealing about Monster Sushi to me is that despite being a chain, they do a great job with the quality of fish they use. I don't know why I have this connotation of chains vs. freshness as an invert function (think McDonald's, Olive Garden, etc.) but Monster Sushi helped me overcome this somewhat. I wish we had a chain sushi restaurant as good as this in DC.
(4)Sony J.
Mediocre sushi at best. The salon and tuna, and spicy tuna rolls were definitely lacking in taste. The unagi was decent. The highlights were the Hamachinegi roll (to my surprise, actually really good) and miso soup. Major points off for messing up the delivery order though -- we had ordered the New York Roll, but upon opening the delivery box found a Godzilla Roll instead (no biggie, but it didn't taste particularly yummy!).
(2)Trevor A.
Monster sushi, good time, excellent service, fresh extensive menu. Cool atmosphere with japanese action figures above the sushi bar. Can't wait to go back...
(3)Nikki A.
Fast delivery and friendly service. The sushi is the best in the area (that I've tried). Mostly prettty fresh, sometimes not so fresh (especially if you order late at night. I like the fact that it is open unitl midnight.
(4)Jocelyn B.
Just okay. The rolls are fine, the gyoza fine, the shumai fine. If you're in the neighborhood and crave sushi, it's a decent place to stop, but I'd never suggest anyone make a special trip to go there. I did see Ethan Hawke there once.
(3)Josiah L.
They don't called themselves Monster Sushi for nothing!!! aside from the monster theme (aka gozilla), the portion is pretty big. very fresh fish. we had 8 people (7 guys and 1 girl) and we were VERY full after a 4ppl set + 2ppl set. place is small so you def can't go there with a big party during the peak hours.
(4)David X.
The sushi was very average. I got a tekkamaki (super-white) and a unagi roll. The tuna in the tekkamaki was kinda tough and not the melt-in-your-mouth variety that I like, while the unagi was ok.
(3)Robert M.
Monster Sushi ain't kidding. The sushi is BIG. And tasty. Let's see... lots of Godzilla memorabilia hanging around, but don't let it ruin your appetite. (And don't miss the seared tuna salad.) Check out Monster when you crave sushi sans hype (and when your wallet craves a bargain).
(3)Brave G.
monster can feed you like a millionaire but needs to learn the buddhist art of patience. some people don't like big sushi. i do. especially if it's good fish, which at monster it is. big fresh juicy high quality fish makes eating sushi feel like wallowing in an ocean wave. you just need a really big mouth because whatever the trick is to cutting a piece of nigiri in half, i can't figure it out. they have something called super white tuna that's a more extreme version of white tuna, which as you know is a more extreme version of yellowtail... and the signature rolls are pretty great too. for the price it can't be beat. i've been mostly getting takeout, and it's the best. fast & furious and how often do you get full from a sushi regular dinner? the only downside is when you eat there, they tend to be very fast at the tables, so you feel like you are being rushed through so they can fit more people in. very un-asian feel in that regard. but if you come later (after 9 or so) the crowd thins out and you can take your time. not that you can't but you don't feel guilty about it.
(4)diana m.
I like the decor in this place I think it's different and I like that it's great that it pokes fun at the whole godzilla thing. The menu is pretty good and the food was pretty good for the price. The only drawback is that my rolls came apart a little bit.
(3)regina s.
This place is close to my office so we eat here pretty often. The place is consistent and good. The rolls and the sushi is fresh and the portions are generous. We always pop in when we get a craving for sushi.
(4)Billy A.
Very nice! The rolls beat the sashimi here, definitely, but the service is tops and I recommend sitting at the bar to watch the chefs work. Bonus points for the subtle but festive white painted sticks for winter holiday decor.
(4)H S.
I'm a big fan of Monster Sushi. I love the menu, and the set up of the place. It looks small, but it goes back really far and fits a lot of people. However, it might be tough getting a table for a group of more than four or five. I think the sushi is pretty good, for its moderate prices, and they are happy to see customers doing sake bombs at the sushi bar. Just my kind of place.
(5)Hen A.
one of my favorite place in the city for sushi rolls...as other reviews suggest..the dragon roll is fantastic....the portions are excellent..and the price is just right.....
(5)Wesley M.
You can't fit the whole sushi in your mouth....you have to take at least two bites. Good sushi, fresh and friendly service.
(4)Adrienne R.
This place, in my humble opinion, has some of the best sushi this city has to offer. They're huge special rolls such as the "dragon" are not only creative and large but delicious. No more expensive then the average Japanese restaurant.
(5)Jaime S.
pretty solid. didn't blow me away or anything but the fish was fresher than most and the rolls were yummy. it was much more crowded than i would have expected for a thursday night... which is probably a good sign
(4)Divya P.
This place has overpriced sushi that taste pretty average. It's really nothing special here, despite the name. On a positive note, the rolls they serve can be pretty large so it can fill you up, but I still feel like their prices are a bit too much for mediocre sushi. Friendly service, okay food. I might come back here if I'm around the area, but I'd prefer another place.
(3)Nick S.
I'm not sure why this sushi place always receives low reviews. I have been eating here for about 7 years and every time I go, the sushi is fresh and service is great. I vary on places that I actually eat tuna at, this place is for sure in my top three! The miso soup is always hot and has just enough seaweed and tofu in it. It's delicious. The staff at Mknster is always polite and attentive, maybe with a few missed opportunities for a refill on a soda but that is no big deal. The only thing I can say is that I don't care for the roller chairs they have at some of the tables. Every time I see them I wish they had a back massager built into them. If they had that then I'd eat there every week.
(4)Liz C.
*** Tons of options, Great location, Decently priced *** There is a million options at this restaurant. Their menu just has a TON of options which, to be quite honest, is really a headache to read. The raw salmon I ordered was monstrous though so you definitely will get your moneys worth. I just was not a fan of the seating; half couches, half what seems like nail salon seats. Great location though.
(3)Joel L.
A-OK sushi. I had dinner on a weeknight and it was 90% full. Everyone should visit solely to view the furniture. The rolling desk chairs is an interesting selection and makes Monster Sushi stand out. The VIP chairs look amazing. Despite the food and service, I would go back just to sit at that VIP table. The service was a bit much. I was alone and a different server would approach me once a minute to see if I was ready to order. I appreciated the extra effort but each person came off as being pushy rather than attentive. The Deluxe Sushi plate was good. It was on par with a typical sushi restaurant.
(3)Joanne T.
I've never understood how serves can be so rude. It's like, seriously man, I'm going to tip you and this is your line of work, why are you so rude? That kind of sums up the experience in Monster Sushi. A bit monstrous. It was the first time my mother was trying sushi, and this was the wrong place to do so. Not because of the quality of the food but because it wasn't the experience you're supposed to have when you're eating such a delicious type of food such as Japanese. I'm giving it a 2* just because the sushi was very fresh and tasty but I'm pretty sure you can find good sushi in NYC better than this place. It's a bit overpriced for the experince as a whole. Here you wont find a very good service (besides from the busboys who are surpassingly nice, we were speaking in spanish though) our waitress was just rude. Rude in a way where you feel like you're bothering someone who's supposedly there to offer you a service and make you feel good.
(2)Michelle P.
Not only was the delivery an hour late but the food was below expectations (then again I'm from Los Angeles with amazing sushi culture )
(2)Mariya E.
Come for the Sushi, stay for the freshness ! The freshness NEVER fails with such a high quality sashimi. A great appetizer to try is the beef Negimaki Appetizer. Normally I find places over salt their Negimaki but this one is season perfectly with just the right amount of sauce. Seared Tuna Salad is OUTSTANDING! the dressing is so light and the tuna is so fresh, really refreshing. The standard rolls are just exactly that, standard. As far as the specialty rolls go; Calamari Roll is really good especially if your not the adventurous sushi eater. Creature Roll and the Magic rolls are top notch. Service is a hit or miss depending on who is working or how crowed it can be. I personally stay away on Fri - Sun due to that. Overall, great spot!
(4)Anna S.
Was looking for a place to get some rolls and found this one next to me. Wish I could have gone to a different place instead...the choice and quality of food is poor and food is way overpriced...
(2)Valentina M.
One of my favorite sushi places to go to while I'm in Chelsea. It's pricey for mediocre sushi, but if you're cautious about eating raw fish this place is clean & fresh. If you're into spicy tuna roll I'll be one of the first to tell you they do not have spicy mayo, they use sirachacha sauce which sucks when I go there & am in the mood for spicy mayo. Other than that service is friendly, prompt & the food is delicious! I always like to try something new when I go because I know I won't be disappointed.
(4)Miguel C.
The food is delicious although a bit pricey. Overall I'm pleased. The 4 stars rate is due to the price but when I comes to quality something's gotta give I guess.
(4)Christine D.
Delicious food, fun décor, cool atmosphere. I ordered the tuna tataki seared rare and the avocado roll with soy paper. I wish the menu was more descriptive for the tataki than "special sauce," because it was some sort of caviar-looking stuff that was very hard to scrape off. That aside, it was great and I'll be back.
(5)Shannon D.
Yummy and super fresh! Great service- miso soup delish sushi was perfect. Awesome sushi dinner in Chelsea!
(4)Gloria F.
I would love to give monster sushi a higher rating but I find the sushi so meh. The rolls have a cloying amount of sauce swimming with msg and sodium. The fresh sushi pieces are usually ok and if a daily special the price is right. If you are in the hood, there are so many better choices like Momoya or sushi asaku. Even whole foods has better quality rolls. The price is right but hey you get what you pay for.
(2)Blue L.
Average sushi but I give it a two because the portions are so tiny. Every time I order a salmon teriyaki the piece is literally just three inches long and thin. Cheapos. I order from my office and won't be in the future
(2)Jamie H.
Hands down, this is my favorite sushi spot in the city. The fish is always fresh and it's one of the few places in the city that I can trust for top quality sashimi. They have an amazing selection of rolls - and rather than slathering mayo in the spicy tuna roll, they use chili and scallions (a much healthier alternative). Monster Sushi also has great soups, noodle dishes etc. (for those finicky eaters who don't like raw fish.) On top of it all, the eclectic charm of the Godzilla figurines, the amazing staff, affordable prices, and ambiance make this place such a treat to go to. I always recommend going to this place when my friends and I are thinking of a place to eat and have a nice time. Cannot say enough amazing things about this place! I would be absolutely heartbroken if it ever closed.
(5)Domi W.
This place has great food, from what I tried and great service. I lived in Hawaii 3 years, and this sushi gives them a run for their money. I would have not expected this from a small place in Manhattan.
(5)Jully H.
i love thier spicy tuna roll but one time they gave me all mayo and barely any tuna and when i complained they looked at me with the dumbest face...fresh salads and fish..(most of the time) go during when its packed! cheap prices
(3)Preeyam P.
Cool ambiance and great sushi. We had great service the night that I went and the rolls here are very creative. I recommend any of the Monster rolls!
(4)Mia M.
Decided to drop in here for lunch and the restaurant was very empty. We sat at the sushi bar, but the VIP table with the oversized office chairs looked pretty cool. Also the Godzilla and other action figure type tchotchkes along the sushi bar were something interesting to look at. Anyway the sushi was average. We had the Yellowtail Special Roll and the Unbelievable Roll with edamame for an appetizer, and it tasted fine, but for the price I probably won't come back. Given the neighborhood it is located, I think it is pretty easy to find a better sushi spot.
(2)Allison C.
The sushi is fresh and portions are plentiful. I'm still recovering from my food coma three nights ago. I know I didn't have to eat it all, but I did.
(4)Jonathan Z.
I had a surprisingly good time at Monster Sushi over the weekend. I met a friend who recommended it for an early dinner on Saturday. While the place is hardly fancy, it does offer several nice amenities. First, if you don't sit in the first set of tables, the tables in the back have comfortable leather armchairs to relax in. They look like the kind of chairs you'd find at Staples for your home office; nevertheless they're more comfortable than the typical restaurant chair with a cushion for your tush. We were given warm towels to wipe our hands and a few minutes to review the menu. I enjoyed the shrimp gyoza, Park Avenue and Godzilla Rolls, and a bottle of cold sake (they had maybe 15 options to choose from). Polite staff, reasonable prices and fine décor - overall a solid option in Chelsea for sushi.
(4)Margaret P.
A nice , easy going , sushi restaurant with good food and good service. You can't go wrong. Also, very clean bathroom on first floor. No steps. Always a plus !
(3)Casti Marco F.
simple low key restaurant, with some of the best money value foods, the tuna and salmon salat is spectacular!
(4)Jason G.
McDonalds would have been better. Overly breaded tempura. Miso soup was salt water. Dynamite roll had no spice to it and was smothered in avocado. Never going back.
(1)Maria E.
Enjoyed my experience here. Went on a whim, was just walking by, looking for a dinner place. Sushi was pretty good, not amazing but definitely hit the spot. They have a large menu but I didn't love all their special rolls. A lot of stuff with asparagus (I love asparagus but not on sushi). It is a vegetarian friendly menu with a bunch of veggie options. A bunch of sake options as well, hot and cold. Ambiance is comfortable but odd (not a bad thing). Office chairs as seating which is strange. Best part is behind the sushi counter so make sure you go look.... at the collection of Godzilla figurines! They are awesome!!! Service was great. I was actually impressed because I had asked to keep the Aladdin sake bottle (shaped like a health-regenerating potion bottle from Prince of Persia or something) and they were so nice about it. Told me to peel the label while it was still cold and then even brought over another bottle from another table in case I wanted that one too. Then like 3 people asked me if I wanted a bag for my bottle... I appreciated it : )
(4)Kathleen O.
Fresh sashimi with very creative rolls at this little off the beaten path sushi restaurant in Chelsea. Prices are very fair too!
(4)K M.
Just realized that I confused this with another sushi place on 23rd st., whoops. I actually really like this place! I've been here a few times and each time the service is quick and courteous and the food is pretty banging. There's ample seating and the rolling office chairs are pretty great. I ordered the Yosenabe the last time I was there and even though the price is a bit steep, it was delicious. My friends liked it more than their sushi rolls!
(4)Verunchik K.
What's happened to my favorite sushi spot? Did you change cooks or recipes? Every time we would go out or a friend come from out of town we would always take them here, but the last time no sushi not even miso soup were good. I'll give it another try one more time, only because we've been going here for the past three years and food always was good, but unfortunately not this time.
(2)Hila F.
This is my first time here but overall a good experience. It's a very neat sushi place because most of the chairs are very cool leather office chairs so definitely very comfortable and different setting for a Japanese restaurant. Food was good but the only downside is that they don't really have the typical 2 roll lunch special so it's a bit pricier than most of the sushi places around here.
(4)Jim B.
Was in New York for a week and then a weekend and both trips stopped at Monster Sushi. Highly recommended. First night was a Sunday (late) and then a Saturday night (early). Both times I was lucky and the crowds were very small and I was seated immediately. Wait staff was excellent (I was by myself) and didn't see too bothered by my slow order method of ordering (drink, pause, appetizer, pause, sushi deluxe). Miso soup/seaweed salad were very good (especially the seaweed salad) and the deluxe sushi ($25.00 I believe) was very good with a good sized portion of sushi. Used wifi at the restaurant and seemed to work pretty well. Enjoyed the times I went as I can imagine it would get crowded and its a fairly small restaurant.
(4)Tonya R.
They are very stingy with their discount lol. They made sure we didn't get the 10% off which is only applicable to one person. If you are splitting the check they will try to deny you the %10 off. My business partner and I eat here whenever we are in the area. Spacious clean establishment. Great Sushi that is fresh. I love that they give you the warm hand towels to clean your hands before your meal. Definitely a notch up from the sushi restaurants on St. Marks. If you like cooked rolls you must try the Tokyo Roll. It is absolutely amazing.
(4)Tiffany W.
I can't even justify one star for this place. I came in and ordered four rolls and seaweed salad for my bf and me. It was sort of busy, so I specifically asked if it was OK not to have ordered ahead. The hostess said no problem. Arrived at 6:50 pm. Ordered (after standing in line) at 7:08. I went outside to run a quick errand and came back 10 mins later. The hostess said my food should be 5-10 mins. Said no worries and sat down. 20 mins later, still no food. Asked the hostess, and she said it should be 5 mins. They were making it as we spoke. Another 15 mins pass. No food. I again as the hostess. She gives me the 5 minute line again. I ask for a manager. She says there is no manager and no way to get in touch with a manager until Monday. It is impossible. I ask for a refund. She says no. I ask for a discount. She offers 15%. (I'd already signed the receipt and left a 15% tip.) I wait. And wait. 10 minutes later, still no sushi. She insists the problem is that it takes a long time to make a sweet potato roll. I am skeptical, and express my skepticism. I have, at this point, watched people in the restaurant come in, be seated, order, eat, chat, pay, and leave. I have watched multiple people order after me and leave with their takeout before me. And I've been told three times that my food is 5 mins away, the first time being 30 mins ago. I have not aged gracefully. I am hungry. I am also running late. The hostess sticks to the sweet potato roll story. Confusingly, my offers to leave without that one roll do no speed up anything. I finally left the restaurant with my sushi at 8:00, more than an hour after I arrived. And really late for my date. Meanwhile, a dozen people are waiting for their takeout orders behind me. Good luck with that guys. And after all that, I was hoping that the sushi would at least be decent. It was awful. It's unclear whether it had just been sitting around for an hour, or if they purposely f-ed it up or what. But it was bad, guys. Like baaaaad. Obviously not going back. WTF is wrong with this place? Are they really this incompetent?
(1)Moe I.
I ate here for the first time last night. This place most have the best sushi in the city, that's all I'm going to say this place is a most!
(4)Rhoda B.
Despite the look inside, this place isnt all that bad. It looks really tacky with the rolling office chairs at the dining tables and bar but the fish was good. I was a bit afraid of eating the fish there considering the decor but it wasnt bad at all. And the waiters and hostess were kind. I'd go back. Keep your expectations low and you'll enjoy it more...
(3)Laurel C.
I have been coming to Monster Sushi for a few years. I usually come there alone after my dance class or practice. I love the Spicy Girl and Unbelievable rolls, and the sashimi appetizer. The quality of the sushi is always good and fresh. But, one of my favorite things about this place is the staff. They remember me and remember what I order every time. They are very friendly and accomodating. I find it a relaxing place to dine alone. It might not be as high end of sushi as some of the other places mentioned by other reviewers, but I find it's very reasonable quality for the money and a very pleasant experience to be there. Recommend highly.
(4)Sylvia L.
I'm surprised how good tasting a dinner special is. I paid a little under $20 for the whole meal and I still couldn't believe how great tasting it is. (****) Very cute how I got seated on computer chairs. The tables were really close to one another so don't come here if you want to talk secrets because people can hear you. I saw the couple next to us eavesdropping on our conversation. I'm guessing they are on their first or second date and I can assure you they were more interested in our conversation then each other. There was a sushi bar in the back of the restaurant. The service was great. Water was filled whenever needed and they wouldn't both you until you are ready to pay the bill. (****) I had the chicken teriyaki, California roll, spring rolls, miso soup salad and rice and I finished everything and I mean everything. If you want a full meal I highly recommend this place. (*****)
(4)Jeff H.
Very clean small sushi restaurant with an extensive menu and comfortable, reclining leather office type chairs at the sushi bar. Nicely decorated with blue hues and large fish and godzilla figures around the place. Servers are friendly and attentive and speak English fairly well. What surprised me the most was the quality of the sushi and the careful attention to detail the sushi chefs demonstrated. They were also able to tell me exactly when where their different types of fish are brought in from which I appreciated. No one wants spolied uni. Have eaten here for lunch twice, once on a busy day and once on a slow day. Both times the service was great. Prices are on par with midtown sushi joints.
(4)Michele G.
This place is kind of kitschy but cute. With their logo, this huge Orange fish with a funny face which is (if I'm being honest) the major reason why it drew me in. The service was good, attentive and not pushy or rushing us. The sushi was delicious and the Bento Box was good too. We ended up eating Fried Ice Cream too for dessert which they offered in a number of ice cream flavors. I believe I ordered off the "Monster rolls" portion of the menu and assumed they would be ginormous or "monster size" but were pretty average. Their menu is large though so I can definitely say try it out if you are not afraid of options.
(4)Athena C.
Great service and awesome and creative rolls! I actually really like their humongous rolls. Didn't try their sashimi or sushi but at least their maki rolls are very creative and fresh. The atmosphere was very casual and seems like there were some regulars that night. Price was a little high for a place like this but it is in Chelsea. So go figures. Wouldn't mind coming back!
(3)LaReisha R.
What a fitting name. Monster sushi. I ordered a bento box which was subpar and not even an 10 minutes after paying, I was walking in a bent over position walking across 6th street. I immediately went to back up to my office, my co-workers who were with me figured that I had food poisoning. I got back to the office around 2 .p.m, I immediately ran to the restroom, while in the restroom I puked 3 times, and *amongst other things*. I didn't leave the restroom until 5:30 p.m, My boss called a cab to take me home because I literally could not walk. They had to walk me outside to the cab. That night at home, I was in fetal position until 10 p.m, I was going to call the ambulance because I couldn't even walk to the pharmacy to pick any pain medicine up. However, I decided to call a cab to take me to CityMD, I arrived around 11:30 and stayed until 1 am. The doctor came in and told me the food I ate (bento box) had some form of bacteria in it, and I had a flare of gastroenteritis. I was in the worst pain ever, it took 2 days to feel okay to walk w/o vomiting or excruciating pain. I am almost sure this is a rare occasion w/monster sushi but I just wanted to share my experience, in case any others have had a similar experience. Safe to say, myself nor my co-workers have ever been back to monster sushi.
(1)Reid C.
First of all, why is ZERO stars not an option?! I have to give this place a star?! You can get a 0 on a test... you can have 0 teethe... so, for the record, my rating is ZERO, not 1. I had Monster last night. The places is scary weird. I sat in their "VIP" section, which means that we sat in car seats. Sweet. Well, the service was certainly NOT VIP. 30 min waits for anything... in an empty restaurant... But normally I'm a pretty reasonable guy. I still left a 15% tip (I almost always tip 20%, but this was pretty abhorrent). BUT, the reason for my ZERO star rating is the sushi was just straight up WACK. Chewy. Sketch as @#$!. Bad cuts of fish. I spit quite a few pieces of sashimi into my napkin and discarded them under the table because I just got that feeling... you know that feeling... that "Oh, @#$!, I'm eating wack seafood and this $%@! is gonna @#$! me up" feeling. Well, it did. I've spent today on a one way track from my desk to the bathroom. EXPLOSIVE diarrhea. Not the best day to free ball. Awesome. P.S. Why isn't PeptoBismol Max on Yelp. Because it's not a location? Yeah it is. I'm in it. It's called heaven. 6 stars.
(1)J G.
WOW! Did I say WOW? Yes I DID! AMAZING Sushi. GREAT Service. Very Nice Atmosphere and Very Friendly. Open Late.
(4)Mel W.
I Loooove this place for date night or with a friend, Its very small so not so good for big gatherings but the food is sooo yummy I am in love t=with their Bento boxes very filling and yummy always my top pick for sushi nights!
(5)Monica W.
I've been going here for years and I absolutely love it. The sushi is always delicious (Tiger Eye and Dragon rolls are my faves), service is pretty good, and the prices are nice. Never seen a day where it was overly crowded, so I never had to worry about waiting for a table or being cramped next to another set of people.
(4)Sami F.
I have been going to Monster Sushi every week since I was not even a month. That is 19 years. And through every year I have enjoyed all of their food. I may seem biased, having been going there since I was not even old enough to decide weather I liked food or not, but I have brought so many people there, and every one loves it. This place is like a second home to me, I have had countless celebrations there, from birthdays to my high school graduation party. The staff is so incredibly nice. They are so accommodating, and somehow manage to put up with my family. Every time we walk in there, the first person to see us swaps my mother's chair because the swivel chairs make her nauseas. I have a very intense fear of bathrooms, probably has something to do with my dad reading captain underpants to me when I was younger, any way, this is the one place where I am not HORRIFIED of the bathrooms. Well lit, CLEAN! SO CLEAN! The whole restaurant is clean! OH! and the hot hand towels.... I love them so. Through my years I have become a pickier and pickier eater. But at Monster Sushi, they have so many options I never have to worry. when I was grossed out by sushi as a kid, it was Udon. Their Udon noodle soup makes me drool (see drooling right now). The sushi has the same effect on me. not a fan of raw things or soup? there are cooked dishes as well. AND if you go to Monster Sushi, do NOT forget the Tempura Ice Cream. I always get the green tea ice cream. oh and another thing... their green tea is delicious! Scenery is great, food is amazing, staff are sweet! Honestly my favorite restaurant in the whole world.
(5)Isabel S.
If you're looking for a solid, laid-back sushi joint near the f train/path train, try this place. Good sized portions and nice service. Try the World Series roll! Some of the better miso soup I've had as well.
(5)Michelle L.
Was craving sushi post-workout and stumbled upon Monster Sushi. I didn't mind the interior having computer chairs at their tables, but it was a little off. Regardless, I sat at the bar and waited. My server had an attitude, per usual though for these type of places. She was rushy and clearly wanted me to order fast. I chose three rolls that I was super excited about -- they do have a very large menu. Prices were a little intimidating since they were more expensive than a lot of places I've been too, even for their basic rolls such as spicy tuna and eel and avocado. When my order came out it looked great, but something was off. The tuna was fresh but it was the kind of tuna you'd be served when ordering a tuna steak - it was seared to a medium-rare temperature. I like my sushi raw. Completely raw. The tuna was cooked and so was the eel, although they did mention that the eel would be cooked on the menu. Not sure why though. But why? I like RAW tfish in sushi, not cooked pieces. It was off and overpriced and I only enjoyed 1 of 3 rolls. I will saw the spicy srirracha sauce they made was tasty, but no. Not coming back. Not paying more $$$ than necessary for sushi I have to pick the fish out of.
(2)Melly J.
So, I freakin' LOVE this place. The vibe is chill, fun, kinda family but without kids really.. The place is busy and packed at dinner time and the feel isn't fancy, it's kind of straightforward and lively, really it's about the fish, and frankly that's how it should be. I love that the sushi bar is lined (and the wall behind it) with various figurines and action figures from Japanese culture, including some anime figures and of course Godzilla. The service is fast and friendly. If you are a serious sushi eater without pretensions and a basic understanding of quality, this place is a must-go because the portions are sizable, the fish is fresh and healthy (I mean yes, I am sure there are dyes and mercury to some extent as there is in most mainstream available fish) and the sushi is perfectly prepared. This is not a romantic, gaze at each other through candlelight place, or a sit and linger over your drinks place, or a place where you would really get desert. This is a place to overindulge in awesome sushi with your buddies without totally breaking the bank. And I love that!
(4)Lukas J.
Quick service and laid back atmosphere. Good appetizers. The World Series and Dragon Rolls were delicious. This place is solid, it hit my sushi craving- right in the sweet spot. Definitely deserves more than 3.5 stars. Will come again!
(5)Kamal G.
This is my first time here and I am from San Francisco California. The sushi chefs here are awesome and very skilled. The meso soup was excellent and the seaweed salad was the beat I ever tasted. Now, the sashimi was the freaking best I ever had, moist, tasty, and very delicious. I recommend this spot to all. I will be back tomorrow!
(5)Jeff S.
Mediocre sushi, nice waitresses, but lousy chefs. I was visiting NY and staying in Chelsea so I looked up near bye sushi restaurants and this came with decent ratings and reviews. But I was pretty disappointed. First-it was a little strange that all the chairs were office chairs. I have no idea what that's about. But I should have known something wasn't right when I sat at the bar Not one of the chefs greeted me. Whenever I go to a sushi restaurant just about anywhere the staff invariably greet the customers as the enter. Even though I was at the bar, a waitress took my order. Half the reason to sit at the bar is to talk to the chef and ask what's good. But I ordered from the menu to the waitress. No specials. When the sushi was ready the waitress looked at it and exchanged words with the chef who unceremoniously then placed some green onions on top of one of the pieces. It was as if she told him what was missing and he grudgingly complied. The fish was just ok. Nothing special. Hamachi. Unagi. Mackerel . Salmon. Maguro. This last item did not have much flavor. Some woman who worked there was walking around with a hair net and they had the FM radio playing. When i was done only the waitresses said goodbye. Not once did the chefs ask how anything was. They just sat back there and drank a soda. I actually don't think that this place really understands Japanese food at all. In fact, another reviewer said that the staff is actually all Chinese and that might explain why this just wasn't a very compelling sushi experience. Bottom line - I would not go back here. I have got to believe NY has better places than this and I will look elsewhere. In the meantime, my appreciation for Mitama - my neighborhood sushi restaurant in Oakland - has increased.
(2)Shirley Y.
I came across Monster Sushi on my way to the movie theater and boy was I glad. My bento box included miso soup, 6pc of salmon sashimi, salmon roll, rice, shumai, and salad. They severed us our miso soup first. The bowl was larger than most places. The miso soup was piping hot yet not too salty which was a huge bonus. Most places added too much salt and serve it luke warm. Next came my bento box. The slices of salmon were very thick and the salmon roll had more fish than rice. The rice in the salmon roll was slightly too vinegary is my only complaint. They didn't get skimpy with the salad dressing. It all tasted very fresh and delicious. They sure know how to make my tummy satisfied. Besides the generous portions service is great.
(4)Leslie C.
All and all, we've probably been to Monster Sushi 5 times together, her plenty more than I. We eat Sushi a lot and although this is not the best place we've been, it is better than average. First and foremost, we love the waitress. We have the same one everytime, and she is lovely. Very sweet and knows our habits. In terms of favorite dishes, our favorites are: - Yellow tail jalapeno appetizer (unlinke most places, Monster sushi gives you nice full pieces of yellow tail and not thin slices) - Uni (sea urchin); it's a unique flavor and texture, but we have always found that it is fresh and tasty - Godzilla roll; plain and simple and a good flavor MY FAVORITE (and yes, it deserves caps): Hamachi Kama If you have never ventured into the territory of hamachi kama, grow a pair, and go for it. What it is? Broiled yellow tail neck. It is delicious. The neck is surprisngly meaty and does not have a fishy taste. It is served with panzu sauce and I get it every single time we go for sushi (not everyone has it though). And before I end.....let's talk about the comfy business chairs you get to sit in. They are incredibly comfortable, but be careful, you may roll away! We will continue to go here and I would recommend it for a quick bite (kitchen is open until midnight on the weekends as well).
(4)Tony M.
Our group was visiting and was looking for a good place to have some Sushi. We located Monster Sushi since it was nearby our Hotel. We were very impressed on how delicious the food was. It had so much flavor and loved how fresh it was. I would recommend this.
(4)Garam P.
Doesn't even worth a single star. They're freakin amateurish. Don't be surprised if they don't put your food on your bag twice in a row when you make it to go or deliver. It had never happened in my life before. I strongly recommend the other sushi places around there. Tons of better alternatives.
(1)Siv S.
I went on a Saturday, right after missing the lunch special. The service was great at this place...but it was way overpriced, and the sushi wasn't that great. some of my sushi felt like it had a rubbery & plastic like flavor to it . maybe it was just that day, but something about it felt off, and i couldn't finish it.
(3)Kim N.
Great place! The staff is so friendly and helpful! The sushi is also excellent. Very fresh, well prepared, and also filling. My favorite rolls were the Dragon and Monster Rolls! I definitely recommend trying them. Next time I'm in New York I will definitely stop by again!
(5)Dejenerate A.
I am amazed people are not raving about this place more! Shame, as it is some of the freshest, most innovative, and delicious I have found in the city. I had a friend in town who was used to Nobu on the corporate card, but I decided to try a funkier ambience, and one that I don't feel I need to offer him a kidney after he paid check. Even he said he felt mislead in thinking these $$$$ spots were where it is at! (Though I know good quality in sushi is a bit pricey but worth it) Nope, Monster Sushi, you are now my go to spot for a quick roll, or for guests looking for the best NYC sushi experience. (Their sunomono is reason enough to return. Simple dish, but I am full, as is my wallet after.) The artistry of the rolls is as eye catching and vibrant as the inside design. And the captain's chairs in the center of the restaurant? I love a comfy chair as a woman on her feet most of day!:). No, this isn't your mama's sushi restaurant, but it is as eclectic and colorful and enchanting as the city it is nestled in. Keep up the good work, Monster Sushi!
(5)Kevin M.
Came here after a colleague gave it a strong recommendation. They have a lunch special that is $17.00 and includes two rolls of your choice, a side of rice, a side of salad, an order or soup and a spring roll. You literally cant beat a deal like this, especially in Manhattan. The sushi is pretty good and the service was great. I had the shrimp and broccoli roll and it was delicious and so was the spicy tuna. This place also has a VIP section with large leather chairs that look pretty intense. Compared to to other sushi places in the area, this place far is better, especially for the amazing deal that you get.
(4)Andrew M.
The sashimi is good, the eel nigiri excellent, the spicy tuna roll awesome, but the beef tataki is amazing. Had two portions, could probably have squeezed more in.
(4)Jess D.
SOOOO lets kick this review off with Yelp NOT letting me post my "million dollar photos" of the incredible sushi rolls they have their called: American Dream Rolls. Funny thing to call a sushi roll but the name does live up to its Expectation. It is served on the side with spicy mayo that is 110% FANTABULOUS ......... although i probably made that word up? All you need to know is its really good ;) OK So i should stop trying to sell that sushi roll since I'm not even working for them! However they also do have a very Huge selection of these crazy combinations sushi ... surprisingly most of them work and taste Delicious!! FINALLY my only complaint would be that some of the staff is a tad Snooty so watch out for that. Everything else is Superb which is why i give them 4 stars :)))
(4)Amanda G.
Monster is a staple of mine. I love the fact that they offer real crab meat in their Californis Rolls. It's a bit more expensive but I always opt for the real stuff. Their chairs are comfy and the environment is energetic. The price is a little high for regulr entrees and I like to stick to the maki, which can get a little crazy as well. They do have lunch and dinner specials, though, if you don't want to break your wallet. I have a nice, fresh and inexpensive sushi spot near my home, so I don't go into withdrawal but if we are ever near Chelsea, Monster is one of the places in which I like to splurge.
(3)Jacqui V.
So, I woke up this morning in Manhattan craving sushi, nothing new. Looking through Yelp, many minutes of wandering around to see which sushi place is actually opened on this very Sunday, we came across Monster Sushi. My corny joke aside, whether we will be served monsters, we went inside. The ambience is inviting, although there was one tv showing sports games, a pet peeve of mine, in the back of the dining room. The chairs were office chairs, weird idea, but it's different, so let's go with it. The sushi menu was average, but that doesn't imply badness. We ordered sashimi and a roll plus my beloved ikura. The fish was fresh, no 'oh wow' factor, but it hit the spot. The rice was perfect, and that in fact did stand out. Overall, the presentation was beautiful, the flavors were great, and the wait staff was very attending and nice; I never had an empty green tea.
(4)Kenda T.
How great is this place? I enjoyed the sushi appetizer and the spinach gyoza with the spicy mayonnaise. I sat at the bar today and the server was so kind and attentive. She gave me extra spicy mayonnaise, extra picked ginger and was very patient. The Sushi was so pretty and well tasting. I also thought the VIP area was cute. they have a place to charge your phone as well. it doesn't hurt that doughnut plant is right up the block. Definitely worth going here either alone or with friends. They give you a warm towel to clean your hands when you first enter which I think is darling. The sushi takes a while to come out but that is because they are really taking their time in making them. They are so fresh and taste wonderful. each sushi piece tastes distinct. I paid about 10. 95 for 5 pieces and they were pretty big. The spinach gyoza was so cute in its green color and tasted awesome. very light. Just dont dip in the mustard dollop unless you want fire and brimstone in your nose..i'm just saying....
(4)June L.
I love monster sushi! The vibe is awesome when you want to just hang out with friends and grab a decent dinner. The Shrimp shumai, yellowtail special roll, Philadelphia roll and soft shell crab roll is the way go. The rolls are a lot bigger than a lot of other restaurants so sharing 3-4 special rolls with 2 people is enough.
(5)Sara R.
Yum! I think the Spicy Salmon Roll was the best I've ever had. Big yummy pieces of fish. Atmosphere is a bit funny. They have office chairs around some tables. I'd probably order lunch from here twice a month if they had a reasonable two sushi roll lunch deal. This is the place you pay more 2-3$ more per roll/piece cause its worth it.
(4)Eyal R.
Very modest restaurant with great service and attitude. We have eaten there twice in one week just because we've enjoyed the first visit so much. The kitchen is quick and the food is very tasty with a great selection and variety. Portions are quite big. Great Dinner/Lunch if you are around Chelsea for a very reasonable price.
(4)Tessie V.
This place is a joke. There's nothing special about it all. The decor is sort of nice. But it's a generic sushi place. Won't be going out of my way to come back.
(2)Brittany A.
Walk into monster sushi and you are walking into a very interestingly decorated sushi bar with a monster slash underwater theme. I am not sure what they were completely getting out in their choice of decoration, but the ambience in general as best described as just weird- for lack of a better word. Instead of restaurant or dining room chairs, you sit at a comfortable office chair, while although not necessarily aesthetically appealing, it was very comfortable. On a Thursday night, I waited no time to be seated. They even seated me without my dining partner there yet, which was a pleasant surprise at a NY restaurant. Tables are placed in perfect locations so that you are not sitting on top of others while you eat, which is also a nice surprise for a NY establishment. Now, the food. Delicious sushi rolls. You won't go wrong with a specialty roll. Just note they use crab with a "k" (aka fake crab) for a lot of the rolls so I would just stay away from those. Other than that, the food is pretty tasty. My favorite roll, the spicy tuna, was just subpar. Regular rolls go from $4-$6 while specialty rolls go from $9-$16 dollars. A little pricy, but worth the price. Note. They do not get refills on their drinks. I ordered an iced tea and they kept giving me new ones as I finished and they will charge you for each one! Never heard of paying money for a refill of iced tea which I think is a bit ridiculous. However, since I complained the waiter allowed me to only pay for 1 iced tea. I know for next time.
(4)Bonnie L.
The name of the restaurant really explains it all. Monster Sushi lives up to its name with its monstrous sized sushi!! Rolling in around 10ish for a bite before a comedy show, the service was pretty quick. Personally, I think their menu has way too many options, but it could be because I strolled in super hungry. For two, an appetizer, soup, and 3 rolls was already way too much food (surprising)! The rolls were gigantic, and not just stuffed with rice, but plenty of fish and avocado (they do not skimp)! Highly recommend their spicy salmon tartar (ask them to make it a tad more spicy! -$10.95) and Crazy Tuna Roll (12.95, also had the Godzilla Roll but it was nothing special). The Crazy Tuna Roll was fresh and fantastic! You could really get full off just one roll (WHO KNEW?!) After dinner, food coma kicked in and I seriously wanted to curl up in their big ol' leather chair (the ones you see in someones office) and take a quick nap.
(4)Scott V.
Awesome place
(5)James K.
I used to come here all the time with my friend for special sushi roll cravings. After a hiatus, I came here again recently. The place has been redecorated and I wasn't used to it at first but then I ordered sushi, they came, and I stopped thinking about the decor. I got the scallop surprise and the elephant eye roll. Both were delicious, and I especially liked the elephant eye. It was sliced stuffed squid, which is a "roll" I haven't seen anywhere else yet. I can't say it's the best sushi I've ever had, but it's pretty good and not too-too expensive.
(4)Robert B.
Sushi here is amazing !...very large pieces, tasty and fresh ...!prices are good !...very good sushi !!...deserve a visit !!
(4)Maria O.
My fellow Foodie Entourage member turned me on to this place and boy, am I glad she did! - If you are a big avocado fan, the Magic Roll* is a must - spicy tuna, salmon and kani wrapped in avocado - NO seaweed or rice - so yum! - The sashimi* also meets the 3F's criteria: Fresh, Flavorful and Fulfilling; plus, the sashimi sauce is a great accompaniment. - The Shrimp Tempura* was crunchy and quickly gobbled up by my little one. - I would however, not recommend the California Roll. It was puny and the rice did not look or taste fresh. I originally chalked this up as a fluke when my husband got his, but my son ordered another later on which sadly, came out looking and tasting the same. This does not affect my rating simply because I don't order California Rolls myself, but just a heads up for those who do. Also, there is a nice waitress and a not-as-nice waitress which my friend pointed out the first time we were there, so avoid/expect this, grab one of the comfortable plush armchairs, order some sake with your meal, and enjoy! photo*
(5)Travis W.
Best sushi that I've had in a long time... And I had some several hundred dollar sushi in San Fran a couple of weeks ago. We ordered the Godzilla Roll, Monster Roll, Philly Roll w/ jalapeño, and the Inconceivable Roll. Soooooo good and fresh. 4 huge rolls under $60? Yes please!
(5)David L.
NEVER GO HERE. THEY ARE CHEAP WITH EVERYTHING. Wasabi, chopsticks,napkins, the ginger. This place is the stingiest place you can ever go to or order from. Do not, I repeat do not go or order from here. The rolls are bad and low quality while service is mediocre. But The extent they would go to save a penny is despicable.
(1)Cameron L.
Came here for dinner for a bento. First, you should just come at lunch time... its the same bento box for a higher price at dinner by like 4-5$ i believe. The dinner was around 20$ very average around the area. The spring rolls are actually eggs rolls and the California rolls are not California rolls. the portions were okay and the food was fine but nothing to rave about. If you happen to be in the area and want some japanese food stop on by. The staff were all polite and lovely.
(3)Chelsea B.
This place is very "whatever" Swivel chairs and lack of general ambience already kind of make me less than excited. Couple that with the high prices for mediocre sushi? Over it, sorry :/
(2)Steven a.
I have no idea why this is a labeled as 11-30 per person. I think it depends on what you eat i guess. Now that thats been addressed, welcome to my review. I love monster sushi. I think that its probably one of the best sushi places in New York. Now i will admit i've only gotten their rolls but i mean, its a sushi spot right? Fast service and a cheap bill is what i like to hear. Their rolls taste delicious. I typically get the Godzilla roll (mostly because i like vanilla) (not that it taste like vanilla) (its a figure of speech) Give it a try. Food is fresh and the price is right.
(4)Leigh P.
God help you if they make a mistake. My household spent thousands of dollars at Monster Sushi Chelsea over the last few years. We live so close that we'd often use it as our go to take out place. About a year ago we placed an order and the restaurant made a mistake. When we called and told them that they got the order wrong we were told that we were the ones that were wrong. After arguing with them for a few minutes they agreed to bring us the roll that we ordered but we were asked to give the roll they gave us by mistake back to them (I wasn't sad about letting it go, I didn't want it and we didn't pay for it, but that was weird...what did they do with it I wonder...). It was like pulling teeth to have them just give us what we paid for. When this happened we decided to take a break from Monster Sushi (which only lasted for like a week). A few weeks ago they made a mistake in our order. I asked for a cucumber roll and they gave me a cucumber roll with tuna. I don't eat tuna. I even went over the order with the women on the phone to be sure it was right. When we got the order and saw it was wrong I wasn't going to say anything about it (it was a take out order) since we had such a problem the last time this happened. My girlfriend insisted that we call, so she called and spoke to the woman who took my order. She yelled at my girlfriend and told her that we asked them to add tuna. The whole thing was so ridiculous. What happened to "the customer is always right?" With all the money we spend there, it was horrible that we were treated like that. We did end up getting the right order, but the fight we had to bear through wasn't worth it. This will now be our last choice for take out options moving forward.
(1)Douglas K.
Came here last night for a late dinner. We walked in and it was pretty busy which was good to know. It didn't really have a nice decor, actually it was pretty weird - they had business computer chairs at the tables. We were seated promptly and the staff were very attentive. We ordered a spicy tuna roll, a deluxe sashimi platter with a salad, and a hot sake. The roll were delicious and the sashimi had 21 giant pieces. The sushi was fresh and delious and the sake was great as well. By the end of the meal, we were both stuffed. The service was outstanding. I recommend if you're looking to grab sushi with a friend - although it is a bit pricey.. Would not recommend for a first date as the decor is not very romantic.
(4)Chris B.
I've been going to Monster Sushi on 23rd St. for lunch on and off for about the past 10 years. The fish is fresh, the price is affordable (particularly the Bento box), and the service is usually just fine. I'm not saying the quality compares to Sushi Yasuda or Nobu, but you can have a nice lunch or dinner at Monster with a couple of drinks without breaking the bank. The decor is nothing special, though the oddly shapes ceiling lamps are interesting and I *do* like the car-style seats near the front (on the right as you walk in) complete with massage! Probably not the best place for a date, but a solid choice if you're in the mood for affordable (but good) sushi.
(4)Swan Z.
The first time I came here, I was impressed. Bf & I ordered the crazy tuna lovers roll & a bento box. Yum. The second time I came here, I decided to order the deluxe sashimi because everyone raves about it and the pieces looked huge. Bf got the special meat and seafood ramen. Both was just HORRIBLE. The sashimi was so fishy (even after wasabi)! And the ramen (if you can even call it ramen) was tasteless. This place is not a legit Japanese place. It's easy to tell from first sight--all the staff here are Chinese and they serve weird fish like super white tuna (which isn't even tuna). I'm kind of a snob when it comes to authenticity but the first time I was here, I liked this place so much! The second time is when their true colors showed. SO. Lesson learnt. Stick to the specialty rolls that are covered with sauce and crunch and what not. And the cooked food is not bad. If you're looking for authentic fresh fish--this is not the place for you. They serve their sashimi extra cold--after eating authentic sushi, I prefer my fish to be closer to room temperature. And one last bad thing: I kept on finding small hairs in my food. I'm not sure if they were my bf's hairs or from the kitchen. Just a warning. The staff here are really nice though. And the salad dressing is so good. But probably won't be returning unless I have some weird craving for specialty rolls.
(3)Art A.
This is based on one visit: 5 stars: The "red yellow tail" on special was spectacular. I had the sashimi version. This is sushi at its best. 0 stars: The rainbow roll is embarrassing. I would call it a cucumber roll! Very little fish and in lieu of avocado they put cucumber. Fake crab meat. Great sake selection but I had the simple hot sake. It was quite good. Overall, I call it a mixed bag. Get simple, well defined dishes (e.g. sashimi) and you should be ok.
(3)Mihir R.
The rolls were good and fresh. The standout was the Elephant Eye roll, a concoction of eel, salmon, and tuna, stuffed into squid and baked. Not a raw dish but unique and delicious. Not crowded at all @ 12:30pm on a Friday. Check out the wall of toy Godzillas behind the sushi bar.
(4)Marina C.
Haven't been here for yrs... Huge improvement in the decor, yet still pretty casual. Sushi was fresh, prices are reasonable for the area. My friend loved his rolls, I had the chilean sea bass bento box which I didn't really care for. I'll just stick to the rolls if I go back again.
(4)Nakeeta W.
Great food. We were seated right away. I didnt like how the waitress wasnt sure about what to suggest on the menu for sashimi and roll platter. I felt rushed by the busser coming to take my plate and wiping the table while im sitting. Nor did I like the waitress never coming to check on me but coming to give me the bill and not asking about dessert (EVEN IF I SAY NO) This place is always better when my job orders in. VERY TASTY THOUGH!
(3)Audrey C.
This place has huge rolls and the price is decent. Fish is fresh and they're really good.
(4)MehMeh M.
Just ok. Had the tuna, salmon and cucumber rolls. Bland rice with no rice vinegar, no wasabi at all in the rolls. The gyoza stank and tasted off - I didn't finish them. Other than that, it's cheap and quick. If you have a hankering for sushi and can't find someplace better....meh.
(2)Denisa R.
I went to Monster Sushi yesterday afternoon to grab a bite to eat with my boyfriend. When I walked in the place was very original in its decor. The staff was extremely friendly and attentive, as well. They have a happy hour beer special until 6PM, Monday through Thursday, I believe. A regular beer is $2, while the large is $3. We ended up ordering Bento Boxes, which we thought we'd get more bang for our buck. The Bento Box is like $20 and you get rice, salad, soup, the choice of a spring roll or dumpling, choice of a California, tuna, or salmon roll, and an entree. I chose the spring roll, tuna roll, and shrimp & vegetable tempura as my entree. I loved everything except for my entree. The shrimp were small in proportion and I received 2 and 3 vegetables (eggplant, onion?, and something else that my bf grabbed before I had a chance to look). Overall, if you're in the area and want some sushi for a decent price I would say stop by here.
(4)Marianne H.
i got some take-out Sushi at Monster Sushi tonight. I bought two "special Rolls": the Alaska Roll was yummy and the salmon just melted in my mouth. I had left my favorite for last: the Dragon Roll (eell, avocado etc).The first bite left a slimy after taste in my mouth. Don't read on if you have a weak stomach: Each piece of the dragon roll looked and felt like slimy eel fish guts. There was black/ bluish skin and I got sick to my stomach. Definitely not cooked eel what I've ordered in various Sushi places in the past and is my favorite. Horrible.
(1)Nick B.
Very good sushi. Fresh and always ready quick. I usually order through the Yelp app and it's ready in 10-15. They have the best Philly roll around. Light on the cream cheese...
(5)Brandon G.
DO NOT ORDER DELIVERY FROM MONSTER SUSHI. Of the last 5 orders I've place, they have a 100% error rate. For years, this place was flawless. Now, it's basically guaranteed that they will mess up your delivery order. Just not worth the trouble. Order elsewhere.
(2)Jae Z.
When raw fish is flaking, you know there's a problem with freshness.
(2)Nick C.
So far a few of the reviews have bashed the service, but ours was helpful and fun. The food is good, not the best, but very good. We had a four top, ordered an app per person, a roll per person, and a few orders of sashimi. Plus a couple large sake's (which may have been the best sake I have had, honestly) a couple of beers, and a glass of wine. All of this, plus a generous tip for under 2 bills. Good sushi in the City, for under 2 hundy sticks with full & drunk belly's on the way out, that is worth a 4 star for me. For the apps, the top gets are the avocado; it was sliced with sesame seeds and sesame oil on top, tasted perfect; & the gyoza. These were pan fried to perfection, not burnt, but a real nice crisp to them. The Tuna Tataki was close behind for another solid get. Real good taste here. The sashimi we got were yellow fin, tuna, salmon, and fresh scallop. Of these the salmon was the best, tasted almost buttery. The tuna however, the cuts were way too thick, and it was too much tuna for one piece. Tuna overload! Normally the generous cuts in this place are nice to see, but just not with the Tuna. The rolls, take your pick, there are so many to choose from. Me, being the nerd I am and seeing all the Godzilla memorabilia around, I had to go for the Godzilla Roll. Simple enough that it was spicy tuna and avocado with flying fish roe on the outside, but the taste was just great!! Highly Recommended; Are there better sushi places in town? Of course. This is NYC. But if meeting friends or shopping in the area, this place is more than worth the money. Just be careful when ordering the sashimi, the cuts are too thick for certain types of fish.
(4)Josh d.
Met up with a friend here while he was visiting from the mountains, as we both train in this neighborhood, so it was close, and he wanted some sushi. For all intents and reasons, the meal itself was forgettable. Nothing special, the fish was not as fresh as I've had, the rice was over cooked and soggy, the service could have been quicker, better, and more pleasant. 2 stars is not really meant to be an insult, but more of a reminder to myself, that there are far better around.
(2)Steve L.
Saying that Monster Sushi is the best sushi place in Flatiron/Chelsea area is sort of like saying that the Mets are the best sports team in Queens. It may be technically true, but admittedly the pickin's are a bit slim to begin with. I came here for the lunch special. This is a deal and a half. For $14.95, you get a bento box special including miso soup, salad, your choice of shumai or a spring roll, your choice of sushi rolls, and an entree. The decor is that "fake kitschy" you see in a lot of restaurants in New York. The ceilings have an "underwater" feel about them, and the walls behind the bar are filled with Godzillas. The service was great. Overall, I'd say this is the place to go for sushi if you're around the area, but of course there are much better options if you go uptown just a little.
(4)Sara R.
I was craving sushi, so my sister and I decided to check out Monster Sushi. The decor was very cute and modern, with lots of Godzilla figuerines towards the back. Service was great, our waiter was attentive without overdoing it. The miso soup was yummy and the sushi rolls we ordered were fresh and delicous.
(5)Danielle T.
Fresh sushi. The Monster Roll (I had baby monster though because the regular one is too big!) is delicious. Great flavors and just the ingredients I like. Unique rolls I'd like to try again. Friendly and efficient service too! Really comfortable chairs. Some tables even have executive leather chairs... Fancy! Decently price for sushi in the city.
(4)Reana K.
Went here for lunch on a weekday with my best friend. Reasonable amount of people when we arrived but not crowded at all. The atmosphere is cute and kitchy with lots of godzilla themed toys at the sushi bar. We took two seats at the bar and enjoyed watching the chefs. We ordered: Salmon skin roll, hamachi and scallion roll, Spicy Girl roll. All the fish was amazingly fresh and beautiful. I'd be confident in ordering a large sashimi platter here based on the quality of our fish. Not to mention when we were eating a diner came up to the sushi counter just to thank the chefs for an amazing sashimi platter. Spicy Girl roll was delicious and worth the extra bucks as one of the special rolls. The special "Monster maki" are definitely more expensive, but our simple rolls were affordably priced and equally delicious. Pairing an expensive, larger roll with the simple ones worked out well for our taste buds and our wallets. Atmosphere was cute and clean, staff were very gracious.
(4)Alexis G.
I am so sad. This place isn't what it used to be. Sushi is good, bit mushy. But the service..... My waitress had terrible BO which basically eliminated my appetite.
(2)Kelly O.
For some reason, when I first looked up sushi places that deliver by our hotel (Wyndham Chelsea) it only showed 4 places. The concierge told us about Monster and thank heavens. They were open, they deliver! We ordered a ton of sashimi and the salmon was like BUTTAH. I ordered the white tuna-- that was not WHITE by any means but it was still good. Miso soup- HUGE portion, seaweed salad as well. I did the Monster roll and one other one -- only thing I didn't like is that they use the fake crab. To me, that's a #FAIL. But other than that-- fast delivery, great food, nice presentation. Total score.
(5)Amy A.
We ordered for two the: Sashimi Appetizer - good portions, fresh World Series Roll - so so so good - recommended by a fellow Yelper and I would do the same Tuna Belly High Fat Sashimi - Tempura Ice Cream w/ Taro All for under $50 including tax and tip. I left so full and so satisfied. The service was pretty good - didn't wait long for dinner time on Sunday. The interior design is a bit funky but pretty appropriate given the name.
(3)Leah D.
Ohhhh, back in the day, this was my spot for sushi. There's not many things I miss about New York City, but its plethora of good sushi restaurants is definitely on that shortlist.
(4)Jasmine O.
Really good quality sushi. A little pricier than what we get in Vancouver but worth it! It was lovely.
(4)Iggy D.
Really great sushi, everything was really good
(4)Joyce I.
Great uni and spinach dish! Service great. Sushi fresh and presented well. It's not super traditional but good for solid 'standard' sushi, it was also 2 blocks from my hotel.... Needs natto...it's not just for breakfast anymore....
(3)Christopher D.
The sushi nigiri at room temperature is highly appreciated as it should be. The turn off is the size of each piece of sushi. Too big. I feel when nigiri or a roll get too big they become unappetizing. I do though like their thinking outside of the box by welcoming customers bicycles inside the dining room.
(2)Alexandra K.
I came here late one evening with a friend after a networking event. We had a bit to drink and were pretty hungry, and Monster Sushi hit the spot. I had a vegetarian roll with brown rice and a seaweed salad, while my friend had some salmon rolls. Service was quick, and didn't mind my friend's exhausting nature. Not too expensive, and at that hour, under those circumstances, it hit the spot.
(4)Chuck 'n Carden T.
Ok... we love sushi. Love, love, love it. We've been known to have it at least every other week, and have 3 or four places that we go to on a regular basis. Most notable find as of late has been Kiku in Park Slope (see other review)... That place is off the hook. But we live in Chelsea now... a culinary center of variety and excellence. So we thought we'd go out and treat ourselves to another decadent night of sushi treats on our way back from a bit of furniture shopping. So we pulled out our smartphones, hit up the Yelp site and found 4 options within 2 blocks of us... Picked "Monster" after doing a drive-by on the first & closest one "Ichiban" I think, only to find the place to be empty but for one small table. On the other hand, Monster was crowded on this Friday night... not surprising and usually a good sign. We walked in and were immediately seated in the back at a nice table. The decor was cool, the place was clean, and the servers were nice -very friendly. Everything was great except the food... and we tried alot of it. We started with the Tuna Tatake which came out over cooked and veiny - actually the first TT I've ever had that was chewy - gross. We left 2 pieces on the plate they cleared. Then we ordered 4 rolls (Spicy girl, Lobster, Dream, and Wasabi), and 3 orders of Unagi Nigiri -my favorite, and 1 order of red-yellow snapper sashimi (on special - and something I'd never heard of b4) and 1 order of regular yellow-snapper sashimi. Food came out on two plates - and we were psyched! Then we tasted it... In general the rice was soft & soggy and the fish was slimey... Disgusting! We really wanted to like it -we even kept eating pieces hoping we were wrong - but it just wasn't possible. For the first time ever we left a lot of pieces uneaten on our plates. What a disappointment... What a waste of money ;-(
(1)Brittany K.
I LOVE this place...100% amazing every time. We always sit at the sushi bar and watch them chefs, they put a lot of time and concentration into the rolls. I haven't been here for dinner, just lunch- and we usually get a few special rolls, if I remember correctly...the Unbelievable and World Series roll are awesome if you like eel and avocado. Last time we had the pistachio ice cream and it was literally some of the best ice cream I've ever had! We get a basic roll or two, usually salmon and avocado or tuna and it's always so fresh and flavorful- I'm definitely a fan!! Oh they have a couple TVs, last time we were there they had the Travel Channel on- which is an added bonus because I'm sick of watching the depression of the news everywhere I go, it's bad enough I work in TV and am exposed to it at work! I definitely recommend Monster Sushi, for a variety of reasons :)
(5)Mandee N.
I was recommended Monster Sushi for lunch today. There was no lunch menu! Instead, I mistakened the overpriced lunch prices for the actual dinner prices! Upon looking at the menu, I was ready to walk out. But thinking that I already walked 20 blocks for this place, I sucked it up and placed my order. I, originally, hoped that they had a lunch combo deal going on where you'd get 2 rolls, and a soup and/or salad for no more than $8. My lunch turned out to be $18 for one Philly roll and one New York roll... and that was it. =/ The size of the maki rolls weren't that big either. On a brighter note, the fish was fresh. The selection of special rolls were decent. I won't be coming back here again. Overpriced for the quality and quantity of their sushi. I've decided that I'm gonna suck it up for a few more blocks and find a better sushi place.
(2)Rachel M.
LOVE it. I get delivery from them religiously and the food is always fresh, fast, and moderately priced. My personal favorite is the Godzilla Roll, which I like to add crunch too, and the edamame. The edamame is perfectly cooked so it isn't mushy and not overly salty. I've had other rolls here, like the Christmas Roll and the Crazy Tuna Girl Roll but I wasn't as into it as I am the Godzilla. The good thing about this place is that they are consistent. You can order online, but you have to be careful because it looks like you're order is completed after you click submit the first time, but its not true! You need to scroll down to the bottom of the page that says you're confirmed and click "submit" again. I wish someone had told me that!!!
(4)Arben S.
Huge pieces of sushi, which turns me off. Nothing was bad.. everything was decent just not outstanding.
(3)Val S.
The fresh garden salad tends to be all I ever get here, but their homemade ginger dressing is absolutely amazing and deserves 5 stars on its own. Today, I tried the New York roll, which cost around $9. Given, the rolls here are really expensive, but when I got back to work and took said roll out of the bag, it was HUGE. Filled me up for the day, I'm still not hungry, and it's been 8 hours. I'm pretty sure that unless your stomach is the size of a dump truck and you can inhale everything in sight, you'll be fairy good here, even money wise. Oh, and the roll was VERY good.
(4)Chris D.
The chirashi bowl was perfect. Nice sized cuts of sashimi. So fresh I could taste the ocean and the delicate flavors of each type of fish. Best hamachi I've had anywhere. I also had the oshinko maki, which was made extra delicious by the fact that it included carrot and red seaweed in addition to the radish. While I was eating I watched the chef making spicy tuna from a prime, extremely fresh looking cut of tuna. It looked delicious; I will have to try that next time.
(5)Bellah E.
I really enjoyed dining here. Everything was very fresh, including the fish and veggies. I highly recommend this place! If you happen to go, and you're a fish lover, try the Black Cod Fish. It's to die for!!!
(4)Michael J.
This place is a MONSTER FAIL, When you walk in you are greated by a narrow walk way and a waitress runs down it and greets you and asks you how many in your party so you say um i dont know three. She offers you to sit in the back to which i agreed. After walking to the sitting area though the whole resturant, you notice everything is light blue with bubles on the wall. First reaction, WT* and where am I, bc i feel like im an underground 3 y/o buble. You sit down open the menue and with in 1 minute you are asked you ready to order, UM NO. Ok then i get the intor of buy 2 drinks and get one free. OK so it is not a bad deal. So three of us sit there we all order a drink so that is 2 and oen of our drinks is free. Doing simple math and thinking after asking the waitress that she was dumbfounded, like i asked to build a space ship out of chop sticks. Ok so she said ok and we get anothe round of drinks. I tried everyones drink b/c we all got diffrent ones just to try, im sorry but did you take bartender school or did you practice at home with water. One of them had so much alchol it was not dirnk able. Onother one was just so bad tasting, so to save your self some money you can do this go home get a glass, fill it with ice pour all your alchol in it then add a table spoon of salt and chug. There you go you have tried most of there drinks. We all got beto boxes, im sorry but that was the sadest looking bento box in my LIFE. The lettice that came with it was frozen cold and looked lonley with a small dap of chunkcy ginger sauce. The 3 pcs of sushi that where there was so warm i didnt want to take another bite, do they use defrosting sushit seriosly WTF. The rice looks like it was picked up by your hand and just dumped there so cluncky and dry EH. The eel was good thoug the only thing there and i just had to keep on drinking water to just to forget what i was eating. The desert was nice, the green tea ice cream was the best part of the whole dinner b/c come on you can not mess up ice cream and deep fry it. O ya i forgot the godzilla that was every where hwo you say makes me feel of Mcdonalds kids play room, so sad and bad. Just the over all experince was so bad and sad, and defently BLUE, b/c that is the only paint color they have there. Ya defently not going back, just over all BAD. Save your money and go some where else. This place was a monster fail and a disipointment.
(1)Tina C.
Sushi galore! I've tasted better sushi than this. They have a lot of options for sahami and sushi. They serve sake which is a must for Japanese cuisine. Although it was average it somewhat satisfied my appetite. Some of their sushi was rather small portions for a huge price which was just crass. The decor needs a major renovation with a lot of TLC.
(3)Erin L.
Three of us got a sushi/sashimi combo for 2 (~$68). It was more than enough for us girls. The waiter was really nice. The quality of the fish was fairly decent. They even sang happy birthday to my friend, haha. For the price that we pay, I'm not complaining. =)
(4)Victoria A.
Good place for sushi. I enjoyed it a lot and it is a very good place for people watching when you're sitting outside. It's in a very nice neighborhood that makes me happy. :) The prices aren't half bad. The sushi is decent but I've had better edamame. I would go back again. Plus they set out a bowl of water for your dog without asking.
(4)Jennifer S.
Nice atmosphere, great sushi! I'm not one of those crazy sushi lovers, but this place was good. we got the creature roll, philly roll and seaweed salad.
(4)Melissa A.
I've had better, but I've also had waaaaaaay worse. All-in-all Monster ain't bad and it's the cheapest good sushi I've found in the hood. Some of their rolls are frighteningly large, but I guess that wasn't such a surprise...with, ya know...the name and all. I'm all about their ginger dressing. I could easily drink it, if dared or something.
(3)Diana F.
I just got back from spending a week in NYC and I went to Monster Sushi on my first night in town since it was close to my hotel. I didn't see what the big deal was ? The sushi was normal size, if not a bit smaller. Maybe they can tell a tourist from a local and think they don't have to impress a tourist ? The sushi was just okay and I don't see where the monster comes from ??
(3)Jimena V.
Came here after my yoga class with my classmates and had a good time with the huge rolls and some sake-ok A LOT of sake. The food was ok but I've tasted better. Some of the rolls were overwhelming and but since I am down to try new things this was a good experience-got to try some weird yet yummy rolls that I've never seen anywhere else. Want a big variety of rolls and are open-minded, then give this place a try but don't expect anything great.
(3)David R.
I live 2 blocks away so I have to eat here at least once every 3 years. The Sushi is decent. Not exceptional, but decent. If they had the same prices as st marks, i'd be sold. Went here the other night and dropped 40 on a combo and some Saki. Good food, big portions. I left full, really really full. Monstrously soo MWahaha, really... really. Ok so big portions, average sushi. My friend tried the 16 dollar monster roll, and having tried 1 piece, I can say i'd be happy to save the 20 bucks on that. Did have a nice buzz, and after a couple of burpes, squat thrusters, and general screamery, we weren't asked to leave. It seems sushi places love me. Also, I didn't like the salad to much, but I was real hungry. I told the waiter after I had finished the salad that I wanted the soup instead. It wasn't a problem! Ok - maybe i'm being harsh. All and all a solid Sushi place, but not exceptional, and a tad over priced.
(4)Karyn S.
I'm so into this place. I can't stop ordering - to the office for lunch, to the house for dinner. Have never been in but would like to give that a shot too. I try a new thing every time and pair it with the Spicy Girl Roll because that is the hot jam right there.
(4)Danielle S.
The sushi is good here but nothing special. You could do better in this city but if you're in the neighborhood and have a sushi craving this place could work. When I first moved to NYC this was my go to sushi place. And then I explored the city and found other favorite spots and I forgot about Monster Sushi for awhile. I came back here the other day to give it another try. I walked right past it because they redecorated or maybe moved a bit down the street. I'm not sure. But it looks different and I don't like it. It's not as cozy. And it was not as busy. Actually there was no one in there. Could be to do with the prices? Didn't seem worth it.
(3)Nick S.
Decent sushi, fairly expensive for the quality. Probably not going to head back.
(3)Russell D.
This is my favorite place so far in the city for just good ol' sushi rolls. I tried some sashimi here, but I didn't like it as much as other Japanese restaurants. The rolls are well done and they have some unique ones too. The house salad's ginger dressing is much better than most places. They put a unique spin on it. The service is top notch and I love the comfortable chairs at the sushi bar!! It can get a little expensive compared to most run of the mill sushi bars.
(4)A D.
best tofu teriyaki... EVER! great sake list, amazing sushi. agh, mouth is watering just thinking about it! really great place to go. the decor is cool too although the computer desk wheelie office chairs as dining chairs are kinda weird its whatever, its about the food anyway. slamminnn!
(5)Chris P.
I love Monster Sushi, especially because you can get rolls or pieces of sushi with brown rice. Definitely great for lunch during the week.
(4)Annabel A.
I really don't understand how Monster Sushi has received such positive reviews. Firstly, the Sushi isn't as "monster large" as what others have yelped about. The rolls are a good size though to fill you up. If there is anything "monster" about this place, it is the decor. I felt as if I was entering the souvenir shop/cafe of an aquarium. The sushi bar shelves were lined with japanese action figures of godzillas, aliens and flying dragons. The sushi here isn't bad, but i felt that it was rather pricey for quality of the food and the theme of this restaurant. Expect a standard lunch to amount to about $20 to $25 including tip and tax. I tried the Dragon roll, Tonkatsu Don and Shumai. Needless to say, the sushi was the only dish worth trying. Monster Sushi serves a variety of creative selections. I stopped in here for lunch randomly, and from my understanding, the crowd that frequents this place is mostly people working in the area who enjoy sake-bombing happy hour. I might return if I worked in the area. But at the end of the day, there is just something about the overall atmosphere that bothered me. Perhaps if I were crazy about anime or trendy japanese style, then this is place would have been more appealing.
(2)Chantal C.
Best Sushi I've had at such a phenomenal price! The waiters are very attentive and the rolls are so yummy and filling! I'm seriously in there every week!
(5)T R.
Really big pieces of sushi and very tasty! This place doesn't serve cheap Saki though. WAY expensive compared to other places I've been to. It's also not a "romantic" setting, very cartoonish but fun and interesting! I want to bring my 19 year old brother here because he would think it's the coolest thing ever. OH, and my boyfriend and I sat in leather office chairs that were mad comfortable! I don't use the word "mad" often but I had to here! I would go again.
(4)lisa n.
I get the criticism that the decor is a little kitschy. I wrote a review of Blue Ribbon Sushi a few weeks ago so you would have to call this "Diner sushi" rather than cuisine sushi. But I didn't have a problem with the Godzilla doll decorations. Basically this was really good sushi, large portions, but here is the punchline: the food was good and the price was great. This is the perfect place to go when you're more concerned about the food and the value more than the decor
(4)Willis W.
Very tasty rolls here. Service was pretty good. Honestly, it wasn't the best sushi I've ever had, but it served its purpose for my ISS (Immediate Sushi Satisfaction). Seriously, my ISS was acting up and if don't get it treated soon... you might see me on NY1 with cuffs on bloodied looking at the camera saying only one sentence..."it was worth it." ISS - get help. get cured. if you need pamphlets or a counselor, call 1-800...
(3)Emily H.
While I wasn't completely disappointed in Monster Sushi, I was not at all impressed either. The inside of the restaurant is very cute. We were seated and waited on promptly. However, once our rolls came, everything went downhill. I ordered two vegetarian sushi rolls. Nothing intricate, but both rolls were completely falling apart. It became incredibly messy to eat. I was hoping that the flavor would make up for the poorly crafted rolls, but unfortunately the flavor was just so-so. I've had the same quality of flavor for a much lower price. Then we sat around after we finished our meal for over 30 minutes before anyone took our dirty dishes or gave us a check. We weren't rushed or anything, thankfully, but I'm not used to sitting around that long to wait for someone to notice that we've finished.
(2)Lawrence O.
I go here a lot after my study sessions and its pretty good place to eat. Fair prices for NYC. Its good and theres one waitress that looks like an Asian version of Tegan and Sara. You'll see.
(4)Naima C.
I use to work around the corner so I ate here quite regularly the sushi was fresh and always good and I love the miso soup. I love simple sushi here the calafornia roll, spicy tuna roll, yellow tail roll and smoked eel roll are my faves.This place was the first place I ever had sushi so I hold it near and dear .
(4)Clarence V.
Monster Sushi is at the bottom of an apartment building on W 23 Street. It can get crowded at the night times during the Fridays and Saturdays, but if you are smart and go during the week, you'll get a table. I like the big bottles of Sapporo and sometimes order the sake (especially when I'm on a date! :0) As for the sushi, I don't like it when my date orders california rolls. It's foretelling of a disasterous date. Anyway, the time I went my date ordered the twelve piece of sushi from the a la carte menu -- I quickly did a behind the envelope calculation and realized she should just order the sushi combination! Was she talking advantage of me? It was our first date. What was the saving grace was that she loved every piece of the freshly prepared sushi: the tuna (toro and blue fin), yellowtail, mackarel, eel, sweet shrimp were all succulent. The only pieces we didn't like were the Uni (tastes like mushy peas) and the fluke (it just doesn't register with me). We also enjoyed two large sakes and even shared a green tea ice cream for dessert! Luckily, she didn't order the california rolls, and at the end of the night I got lucky too! ;-)
(4)S. K.
One of my favorite Sushi places, I always get the Sashimi appetizer. By the way who needs rice on their fish? I don't. If you want rice, get rice. Great cooked fish salad, lunch specials. FRESH, fresh, fresh fish. Believe me, I know my fish.
(4)Andrea K.
My husband and I ate at Monster Sushi after a long day at the shows during NY fashion week. We are big sushi fans back home in Portland so we had high hopes for a great sushi experience in New York. We were looking for great sushi at an affordable price in a laid back atmosphere and Monster Sushi fit the bill on all levels. The service was great, the food was fantastic and fresh and we enjoyed sitting at the sushi bar while catching a little of the NBA all star game. We ordered one of the complete maki/sashimi meals and it was a ton of food for the price. We will definitely come back the next time we stay in Chelsea!
(4)Monica T.
Their name is an overstatement..the rolls are not that monster, rather decent however. Their chilean sea bass is to die for! It melted in my mouth and it was so good, I order two!
(4)Patrice P.
This is pretty decent sushi but it's way overpriced. For the location it is in (right on noisy 23rd next to a 24-hour gym) and the cheesy dining atmosphere (a spotlighted large fish on the sidewalk right before you sit at a plastic table) I do not expect to pay near the higher end for a dive sushi experience.
(3)Sasha Z.
Yummy yummy!! Seaweed salad was super-fresh and huge...no carrot/radish filler hiding underneath, just a lovely pile o' seaweed! Sushi was fresh and scrumpy...great portions, great prices. Been twice for early supper and both times a win!
(5)Brenda R.
I ordered some rolls to go, I believe on the menu it said it was 'monster' sized but it wasn't at all.. prices were all right, food was good.
(3)Stacey G.
Fresh fresh fresh is all I have to say about this place. The tuna was just perfect and tasty. I could eat here everyday!
(5)Tushar T.
Monster Sushi provides fresh dependable sushi. The pieces are definitely big (Monster!) relative to most other sushi places. Average piece of sushi is two good sized bites. I generally order take-out and the fish has always been good. Nothing dazzling but good taste and quality. The salmon here has always tasted like butter to me.
(4)Lindsay D.
Back in the day when I ate fish, I was a huge sushi fan. HUGE. I would eat Spicy Tuna roll after California roll after Unakyu roll... I digress. As a vegetarian, I've found it hard to find delicious, fish free sushi. don't get me wrong, I've found acceptable rolls out there - some in Boston, some in New York, but none of them have even come close to the lovingly hand rolled raw fish perfection that I so loved. That is, none until now. I had Monster Sushi a few days ago and holy vegetarian roll nirvana was I happy with the food that I got. The Umekyu roll = awesome. The Peanut and Avocado roll = delicious x26. So, why not 5-stars? In addition to my two rolls of bliss I also ordered the tofu teryaki; aka the purgatory of food. Not great, not bad, just sorta blah. Next time, I'll just order a million sushi rolls.
(4)Jenny L.
this is by far the worst sushi place ive been to for a long time. i'm surprised that people here are saying that the food was fresh and reliable..maybe i just went at a bad time, or that we ordered the wrong things, but you will NEVER see me there again. i had the crazy tuna roll and a friend had the monster roll. the monster roll was ok but the sushis fell apart whenever we tried to pick them up.. someone had pretty poor skills at rolling sushi. the crazy tuna roll was disappointingly bland. the "spicy tuna" part of the sushi was made with a chinese spicy sauce, and the "seared" tuna in the middle of the roll was overly cooked, seemingly in a pan rather than with a torch. i also ordered a piece of uni sushi as i love uni and never fail to try some whenever available. it came out with the uni unrecognizable (it was like mush rather than actual pieces of uni) and WARM. the nori was also soggy. how disgusting is that? the waiters were kind of weird, and uninformed. and kept on chit-chatting with one another in chinese rather loudly. the strangest thing was when one of the waitresses came over, picked up our towels from the towel plate (one in each hand), and shoved the towels in my friend's face and my face..all without looking at either one of us. decor was a bit off, but i enjoyed the swivel chairs at the sushi bar. the quality of the food failed to justify the price. glad i didn't go for the set menus.
(1)Amy L.
Pretty serviceable sushi; good "Jan Roll" with crabstick, cucumber, tobiko, and salmon on top; very attentive staff; relaxed enough atmosphere on a Saturday night. Our yellowtail and eel rolls, though, were both slightly fishy-tasting -- and prices for some of the special rolls (and definitely for certain dinner entrees) seem a little spendy for a chain like this.
(3)S E.
My love took me there one day after work, loved it! Great fresh sushi, and the staff is so welcoming and warming. Will go there again!
(5)Nevin C.
It was a blah experience. For my bento special, the shumai was soggy, and the marinated seared tuna was almost well-done (I ordered rare). The other folks in our party weren't impressed either. Maybe just an off night, but definitely left unimpressed.
(2)Romana Claretta H.
great sushi for an affordable price. good place for groups.
(4)Steve C.
Good sushi, good service and sushi bar. Good for quick sushi at lunch or takeout.
(4)Peter F.
Bad sushi is cheap Good sushi is expensive Great sushi is *way* expensive. Can you get cheaper sushi than this? For sure. Can you get better sushi than this? Yep Can you get better sushi for this price? Not that I know of, at least in this hood.
(3)Lily R.
Yay! I had sushi in NY finally! The menu here is a little strange. Some things are very reasonably priced and others are too much (entrees). I ordered spicy tuna rolls, king crab CA rolls, tempura and Salad. All were amazing! The ginger dessing on the salad is SO refreshing and the rolls are fresh and the rice and seaweed taste great. My friend had the seaweed salad and that was very yummy!
(4)kimanne L.
Delicious, fresh sushi...would definitely recommend! Quick & awesome customer service!
(5)Melissa S.
Conveniently located in the heart of Chelsea, Monster Sushi always serves fresh fish. The sushi melted in my mouth it was so good. The decor was plain, but that's not unusual for a Japanese restaurant. The prices are around $6 for a roll and $20 for regular sushi. The service was decent, not outstanding. If you want to go to a nice restaurant but not pay through the nose, this hits the spot. This restaurant is packed at dinner time, just to warn you.
(4)Lori C.
We go to Monster Sushi on 23rd Street once a week and only get the best sushi and the best service. All of the fish is very fresh and the portions are large. Definitely one of our favorite sushi spots (especially for the price) in Chelsea.
(4)Norman S.
i've eaten here since the days this place was called godzilla sushi. then they got into some trademark violation and had to change the name to monster sushi. they just can't let it be, damn corporations want to squeeze every penny out of the little guy. anyway the food stayed the same and they kept all the godzilla memorabilia. you need a big mouth to eat their special rolls, otherwise you might get TMJ. you can definitely get better tasting sushi elsewhere but you'll also pay way more. you just can't beat the value of this place. the ingredients are fresh, the portions are large, the drinks are good, the staff is attentive, and you can be as loud as you want in this casual place. this is a great place to come with friends if you are famished; i like to get the chirashi because the fish is very fresh and you are totally stuffed after washing down the fish with that big bowl of rice.
(3)Fawn V.
Solely based on take out/delivery. Decent prices and generous sashimi slices. lovely bento boxes.
(4)Natalie W.
Eh. I could take it or leave it. The sushi was decent, the place was clean and new but totally predictable. I liked the miso and Michael like his $7 Boston Roll, so all and all a good stopover for lunch, but nothing spectacular.
(3)Minjae O.
I lived across the street from Monster Sushi in Chelsea, so it was very easy for me to fall for the temptation that is good sushi at a relatively good price. I do agree that most things on the menu, including sushi, are a bit on the overpriced side, but for the convenience and consistent freshness, I didn't mind paying for it. My favorite was the salmon and avocado temaki (handroll - the one that comes in a cone shape). I think what is most appealing about Monster Sushi to me is that despite being a chain, they do a great job with the quality of fish they use. I don't know why I have this connotation of chains vs. freshness as an invert function (think McDonald's, Olive Garden, etc.) but Monster Sushi helped me overcome this somewhat. I wish we had a chain sushi restaurant as good as this in DC.
(4)Sony J.
Mediocre sushi at best. The salon and tuna, and spicy tuna rolls were definitely lacking in taste. The unagi was decent. The highlights were the Hamachinegi roll (to my surprise, actually really good) and miso soup. Major points off for messing up the delivery order though -- we had ordered the New York Roll, but upon opening the delivery box found a Godzilla Roll instead (no biggie, but it didn't taste particularly yummy!).
(2)Trevor A.
Monster sushi, good time, excellent service, fresh extensive menu. Cool atmosphere with japanese action figures above the sushi bar. Can't wait to go back...
(3)Nikki A.
Fast delivery and friendly service. The sushi is the best in the area (that I've tried). Mostly prettty fresh, sometimes not so fresh (especially if you order late at night. I like the fact that it is open unitl midnight.
(4)Jocelyn B.
Just okay. The rolls are fine, the gyoza fine, the shumai fine. If you're in the neighborhood and crave sushi, it's a decent place to stop, but I'd never suggest anyone make a special trip to go there. I did see Ethan Hawke there once.
(3)Josiah L.
They don't called themselves Monster Sushi for nothing!!! aside from the monster theme (aka gozilla), the portion is pretty big. very fresh fish. we had 8 people (7 guys and 1 girl) and we were VERY full after a 4ppl set + 2ppl set. place is small so you def can't go there with a big party during the peak hours.
(4)David X.
The sushi was very average. I got a tekkamaki (super-white) and a unagi roll. The tuna in the tekkamaki was kinda tough and not the melt-in-your-mouth variety that I like, while the unagi was ok.
(3)Robert M.
Monster Sushi ain't kidding. The sushi is BIG. And tasty. Let's see... lots of Godzilla memorabilia hanging around, but don't let it ruin your appetite. (And don't miss the seared tuna salad.) Check out Monster when you crave sushi sans hype (and when your wallet craves a bargain).
(3)Brave G.
monster can feed you like a millionaire but needs to learn the buddhist art of patience. some people don't like big sushi. i do. especially if it's good fish, which at monster it is. big fresh juicy high quality fish makes eating sushi feel like wallowing in an ocean wave. you just need a really big mouth because whatever the trick is to cutting a piece of nigiri in half, i can't figure it out. they have something called super white tuna that's a more extreme version of white tuna, which as you know is a more extreme version of yellowtail... and the signature rolls are pretty great too. for the price it can't be beat. i've been mostly getting takeout, and it's the best. fast & furious and how often do you get full from a sushi regular dinner? the only downside is when you eat there, they tend to be very fast at the tables, so you feel like you are being rushed through so they can fit more people in. very un-asian feel in that regard. but if you come later (after 9 or so) the crowd thins out and you can take your time. not that you can't but you don't feel guilty about it.
(4)diana m.
I like the decor in this place I think it's different and I like that it's great that it pokes fun at the whole godzilla thing. The menu is pretty good and the food was pretty good for the price. The only drawback is that my rolls came apart a little bit.
(3)regina s.
This place is close to my office so we eat here pretty often. The place is consistent and good. The rolls and the sushi is fresh and the portions are generous. We always pop in when we get a craving for sushi.
(4)Billy A.
Very nice! The rolls beat the sashimi here, definitely, but the service is tops and I recommend sitting at the bar to watch the chefs work. Bonus points for the subtle but festive white painted sticks for winter holiday decor.
(4)H S.
I'm a big fan of Monster Sushi. I love the menu, and the set up of the place. It looks small, but it goes back really far and fits a lot of people. However, it might be tough getting a table for a group of more than four or five. I think the sushi is pretty good, for its moderate prices, and they are happy to see customers doing sake bombs at the sushi bar. Just my kind of place.
(5)Hen A.
one of my favorite place in the city for sushi rolls...as other reviews suggest..the dragon roll is fantastic....the portions are excellent..and the price is just right.....
(5)Wesley M.
You can't fit the whole sushi in your mouth....you have to take at least two bites. Good sushi, fresh and friendly service.
(4)Adrienne R.
This place, in my humble opinion, has some of the best sushi this city has to offer. They're huge special rolls such as the "dragon" are not only creative and large but delicious. No more expensive then the average Japanese restaurant.
(5)Jaime S.
pretty solid. didn't blow me away or anything but the fish was fresher than most and the rolls were yummy. it was much more crowded than i would have expected for a thursday night... which is probably a good sign
(4)Alice G.
I know that I am supposed to be thankful for the sushi for the price, but I'm sorry, the food was quite bad. The sushi rolls were uninspired and the fish did not taste that fresh. The service was ok, but the poor food just overshadowed everything else. The only reason I've been a few times is that our kids keep saying "We want monster sushi" because they like the word monster and the very cool collection of toys on the shelf. But please, do something about your food!
(2)Mark M.
We had two meals in three days. Meal 1 - sushi sushi sushi. It was all very tender, tasty, interesting, nothing crazy, but very predictable. Meal 2 - Noodle soups...loved it! It took quite a while to whip up four bowls of noodles, but once they arrived, we all ate them to the very last drop. It's not fancy. It's not special. It's good!
(4)Mon C.
Came here for a late night snack last Sunday. The service was fast and friendly. I got the Godzilla roll, which was pretty good (nothing amazing, but I'd get it again).
(4)Alexandra C.
We loved it! Gread size rolls and all very fresh. Must go for the special rolls. The Godzilla was excellent. The Jan roll was one of the best I've ever had. Everything was great. The roll with mango was our least favorite. The only problem was it was so good my friend and I just wanted to keep ordering more....and then you get the bill.
(4)Art L.
To be a fan of any sushi restaurant, one must dine with a certain baseline of expectations. I have been to Monster many times and have taken out many times, and through the years, they have been consistent. Now, many people talk about sushi not being authentic, not being fresh, etc. etc. as main points of their criticism. However, what Monster does well is to satisfy my expectations every time I go. What are those expectations? 1) Big slabs of fish. 2) A sushi deluxe that has 17+ pieces of fish 3) Large specialty rolls 4) A little larger than normal regular maki rolls. 5) Adequate service 6) Fish that is not "top quality fish" but still fresh. (this is for those who question the quality of their fish) 7) Leaving full. Alright, so if this is what you're looking for, you'll be wonderfully satisfied. Finally, the recent renovation 2 years ago has made Monster a much nicer place to dine. Prices are still in the moderate level.
(4)Angela K.
I wish I could give them a 3.5 stars... Nothing was bad.. everything was reasonably good and priced.. just nothing outstanding and certainly not an outstanding atmosphere! Not a whole lot of variety for a vegetarian.. but decent.. ask for spicy mayo., makes everything taste good haha :)
(3)Evan G.
This is an OK place to find sushi. I never go out of my way to go here - when someone suggests it to me, my general response is: "Yeah, I guess I can do that." Shrug. Their asparagus appetizer is very good. The sashimi just isn't terribly exciting. And if I can't get excited about your unagi, there's a problem. "I'm sorry, babe. It's not you, it's not me, it's the unagi." In the few times I've been here, service has always been friendly, and the bathrooms are always clean, which - to me - means the kitchen has got to be in pretty darn good shape, too. Prices for what you get are just too high. I should say "Mmm!" at least once. But I just don't.
(3)Helen K.
I was staying at the Hilton (Fashion District) for work and was recommended this place by the concierge for a late dinner. We walked over and was seated quickly. Since it was around 10 PM, the place was fairly empty with a few patrons. We sat at the bar and ordered some sushi and sashimi plate. The nigiri is really big. Definitely too much rice. Also, they were out of uni, so that kinda sucked. I'm guessing this place is better known for their rolls than their nigiri, so we probably ordered the wrong things. The sushi wasn't bad, but it wasn't great either.
(3)Maria F B.
Very disappointed, this place used to be my favorite sushi place in the area.. I spend way too much for sushi that had no taste nor presentation. Tuna and salmon seem to be cut by a 5 year old.. Sushi looked nasty and whatever was fried ( spring rolls, shumai, flakes in sushi) tasted like old oil in my mouth ...
(1)Jamel O.
Oh my god...a Monster! There was no huge sushi on my place...Asking myself where the hell the Monster was, I knew it was gonna be the guy that brought the check. The place is pretty clean and the portions pretty decent, but not monster by any stretch of the imagination. All and all, I have no complaints, but I have been spoiled by the higher end, low end places (isnt that a mouthful). I guess I know know what the mid range sushi spot looks like. Its pretty decent.
(3)Mike O.
Visited here last Friday after a movie in Chelsea. At 6:30pm, it wasn't very busy. Ordered some edamame, which was good, but it was way too salty. If I came here again I would ask to hold the salt. The rolls were fresh and tasty. I ordered salmon and veggies. Three rolls was filling to me, a notorious overeater! Overall it was fine. Not astounding, but not bad. Better than some of the other sushi places in the neighborhood.
(3)Rachel D.
I've ordered take-out from Monster Sushi a few times and was always really happy with the food.... but it wasn't until I met a friend at the restaurant for dinner this week that I fell in love. Behind the bar is a wall full of Godzilla action figures! The decor is quirky, but then again so is their menu. They have all the standard fare you'd expect at a great sushi joint, but they have a nice selection of really inventive rolls and appetizers as well. My friend and I ordered the fried tofu app and it came floating in a bowl of magic sauce. Totally unexpected. Totally delicious. I'm on a mission to try everything!
(4)Chris L.
Stopped here with three other friends for lunch before our July 4th festivities began. The waiters were both attentive and service was very fast and friendly. The hot dog eating contest was on and we were all watching it with the staff. We ordered 5 rolls and 2 orders of edamame and we were all completely stuffed when finished. The rolls were all very good. We ordered the dragon roll, spicy tuna roll, white tuna roll, and had our server pick out 2 rolls that he likes. I would definitely stop in again if I were in the area.
(4)Luca T.
The best sushi than I ever had at a very reasonable price. Not a place to recommend for the particular atmosphere (very simple) although very clean. The service is very good
(4)Colette N.
Hands Down.... for the price and the unique sushi rolls... this is one of my favorite sushi bars in NYC! When you order a Sashimi Delux you don't get tiny pieces... they give you somehting substantial. If you are a low carb dieter try the Tiger Eye and Elephant roll which use Squid instead of rice to make the roll. They also have a Magic roll with no rice and use avocado to roll the fish - simply delicious. If you are looking for a sushi bar that is affordable yet beyond amazing... this is your place!
(5)thermopylae x.
fresh, large-portioned fish excellent service comfy chairs a bit bright, but not terribly distracting one of the better spots in chelsea
(4)Sandra M.
My beaux and I stopped by here during a NYC Walking [Self] Tour. For the appetizer we shared a Tuna Tataki - it was delicious!! Then for my main course I went a la carte with a Salmon Skin Roll (it was boiled - I'm not sure if thoat type of roll is normally broiled but it was very yummy still), 2 Unagi (Eel) Sushi, and 1 White Tuna Sushi. I ordered tea though the tea cup was too hot to handle for several minutes. Regardless, if I could go back in time, I would do it all over again. SO GOOD!
(4)Rhonda R.
Love this place. Been coming here for years. Consistently Excellent quality, freshness and good portion sizes. prices are right. I always leave satisfied!
(5)Dela C.
Dear Monster Sushi, We're the ones who have been calling 2-3 times a week for your black cod bento box. My husband and I are obsessed. Thank you, also, for keeping a clean kitchen. After discovering the NY Health Department website, which allows one to see the hygiene reports for local restaurants, I had to throw out all of my other sushi delivery menus. Yikes. We truly appreciate you, Monster (formerly Godzilla) Sushi. xo
(5)Denis S.
My friends were once regulars here, but this was my first time. We came with a fairly large group on a Saturday night, and we were instantly given the seat in the back room (my friend told me that's the usual). The service was attentive and really friendly. This is a great place for groups to come and sake-bomb. They let you make noise, they are good at keeping the sake and beer flowing. The sushi itself wasn't bad. I think that Sushi in NY is generally not as good as California's, so my standards have been somewhat adjusted, but I really enjoyed it. The rolls are fairly cheap if you keep it simple, but start getting fairly pricy as you get more fancy. So it all depends on what you want. The 5 stars are more for the service and the good times than the food, but since I have no doubt I'll be back, 5 stars it is!
(5)Samira S.
Having a gaggle of Japanese girls dote on me is always the best, and even better when they're serving me large plates of eel sashimi. The staff here is incredibly nice to its regulars ( yes, I am one ) and just that alone gives Monster Sushi 4 stars. Of course the sushi here is memorable as well. Their tuna tataki is juicy and succulent, and the thought of the dipping sauce it comes with makes me salivate. The lobster roll is AMAZING and tastes just like sex would. If sex was a food. They also serve 24 ounce Sapporos and Kirin Ichiban. Uhh, yes please. Monster Sushi is a staple everyone should visit at least once. I've never spent more than thirty bucks here and always feel satisfied.
(5)Jodie S.
Good service, good food, no complaints. Their sushi is fresh and reasonably priced. Order the chirashi for a variety in sashimi, but their special rolls are what draw me back to this place. Their "spicy girl" roll is one of my faves; shrimp tempura, asparagus, cucumber topped w/spicy salmon & tempura flakes.. yum!!
(4)Katie I.
I really love the decor in this place, and the monster fish is cute. Staff always friendly. Just wish the food wasn't so meh. I mean, it is okay, nothing is bad. It is a lot more expensive then the neighboring sushi joints for sushi and bento boxes. And every time I've ordered it, the sushi is room temperature which kinda irks me, I like my sushi with some chill to it. Definitely one of those places I am happy to go to if the company is taking me out, but not for going to lunch and keeping it under $12.
(3)Roberto A.
Everything was incredibly tasty: Shrimp dumplings. Salmon skin roll. Tropical roll (mango + eel, yum) The biggest surprise, though, was the peanut avocado roll. Who knew avocado and peanuts could go together so well? Delicious. The decor was amusing - the monster fish logo is cute, printed on everything from napkins to plates to sake cups and even projected onto the sidewalk outside. Shelves on one of the walls have a huge collection of Godzilla toys.
(4)Andrew W.
I used to love Monster Sushi. I used to love them a lot. That was when the "Monster" part of their name had meaning. Maybe it's the recession. Maybe it's declining fish stocks. Maybe I spontaneously doubled in size and my sense of quantity has diminished. Whatever the explanation, I just ordered 17 dollars worth of sushi that's hardly enough to feed Rachel Zoe before the Golden Globes and I'm slightly pissed. I'm also slightly hungry. On issues of food, I belong to the quality over quantity school. Sadly, this fell short of either. Had the quality been better, this Yelp might have carried a different tenor. Unfortunately, they've again forgotten they're called Monster Sushi, not exactly a name that suggests a product of peerless refinement. Bottom line, I came for cheap sushi and I got it. I just wish I hadn't paid so damned much for it.
(2)Kristen B.
My boyfriend and I went here on a Monday afternoon for lunch. We didn't have to wait to be seated, which was great. The food, however, was rather unmemorable. The prices were fair for the portions we received, but nothing to write home about. The lunch specials were a little on the pricey side, so we just ordered a couple rolls like we normally do when trying out a new sushi place. I think I would try some other sushi places nearby before venturing to Monster Sushi again.
(3)Keejoo L.
My boyfriend had heard about this place from somewhere so we decided to go here to celebrate his birthday. At first glance from the street the sign is very cute I must say. The fact that the place is called 'MONSTER SUSHI' haha I could just feel that I was going to get a good dinner. The place is quite pricey compared to the places that I normally eat at in St.Marks but it is worth the price if one is looking for good sushi. They serve good portions and you will def. not LEAVE HUNGRY. Drop in if you want some good sushi and have a few extra bucks to spend.
(3)Dana M.
I went there yesterday and was really disappointed because I had gone a few years ago and remembered them being better....was I high? The help was very nice and the office chairs that you sat in, however odd, were comfy, but the fish was just not that melt-in-your-mouth heaven that good sushi is...:( bummer....no taste-sations here.
(1)Maria P.
I stopped in here for a meal with my sister and brother in law and boy was it good. Going to get sushi with them is no joke. We tried a lot of different roles and all of them had great flavor. They were hearty too. Packed full of the actual fillings and not just rice. The place is quite stylish as well. You walk in and get an under the sea spacey kinda vibe. I totally dug it and will definitely go back.
(4)Randy S.
Not bad for sushi on the go. The sushi is pretty fresh and yummy, but not Blue Ribbon quality. You get what you pay for, so for the price the food is good. The miso sea bass (Nobu inspired) was pretty good too. Not the best cut of fish, but it won't break the bank!
(3)Sundeep K.
I'm sorry I have to write this review, because I love food and appreciate the effort that goes into it.. But my multiple experiences at Monster Sushi were all failures. Visit #1: I found a large bone in one of my rolls.. and unfortunately, I found it by biting into it... and it wasn't one of those small thin bones.. this was a legitimate substantial bone. Shortly after finding the bone, my waitress spilled an entire glass of ice water on my lap.. she said she was sorry. At the end, they didn't do anything but apologize for the giant bone and wet lap. You'd think they'd take something off the bill or something? I'm not one that ever demands that of restaurants, because I tend to forgive restaurants that show courtesy and pickup the bill or parts of the bill when they screw up. I left this place out $30 pp, feeling naucious from the bone I bit into in raw fish, and with a wet lap... Visit #2: why did i go back you ask? well, 8 months had passed by so I forgot how bad the first experience really was and we were pressed for time and Monster is close by my apartment. This time, thankfully no bone or wet lap... but one of the rolls, the seared tuna, was just plain gross.. and thats probably my own mistake for ever thinking seared tuna would be good in a sushi roll. The other roll was so "fishy" it made me queasy... Whats really sad, is the last roll we ordered came out completely DEEP FRIED... not like tempura pieces, like the whole roll was deep fried.. and sadly, that was the only roll we actually finished. Sorry Monster, your oversized and oversauced rolls and godzilla/moster toys just don't do it for me. Momoya down the street (21st & 7th ave) is a bit more expensive, but totally worth it
(1)Gabriel H.
Great sushi restaurant. Both affordable and delicious. They have an ingenuity when crafting rolls. Great use of avocado in design of rolls. Delicious miso soup and Chuka Salad (Seaweed Salad). The edamame is delicious and refreshing. The Maguro Sashimi appetizer is some of the most delicious sashimi grade tuna I have ever had. Some of my favorite rolls (among many others) include the Monster Roll, Yellowtail Special Roll, Dragon Roll, Shitake Mushroom Roll with Avocado. Start the meal nicely with hot towels. For sake, the Nigori Genshu Sake is amazing unfiltered sake.
(5)Fronco Da Bronk O.
The hostess was rude, the server was rude and incompetent, the "monster-sized" portion couldn't satisfy a baby gremlin, and even the salad tasted like old fish. Gross experience. A guy named Allen, who I believe is the owner, asked me how everything was. I replied, "Well... I've had better experiences," to which he said, "It's a free world, eat where you want." Thanks, asshole, I will, and it will not be at your shit hole.
(1)Alice G.
The sushi is great and one of the freshest in town...has to be as the place is always so busy they can't keep anything for very long. They stay open all day so it's convenient and the seating is super comfortable so you are not anxious to get out cause your butt hurts. Lee and Carl are hospitable hosts and really make sure everyone is happy. It is my favorite sushi in Manhattan and I'm sometimes there five nights a week. Yes, I'm a sushi addict...there are worse things.
(5)Tim L.
I'd have to say that Monster Sushi is one of the better delivery sushi places you can order from in the Flatiron/Chelsea area. The fish and other seafood is definitely of a higher quality, however the drawback is that some of the rolls are relatively small for how much the price is. I suppose the quality to price ratio is expected, however if you have an appetite be prepared to spend quite a bit of money. For example I got both the Alaska & New York roll. Because of how similar they are I didn't realize that my two rolls were actually in the same container the first time I ordered. I thought it was just one roll based on the portion size. Boy did I look the fool when I called them back inquiring about my missing roll. :)
(4)Alexander P.
Sushi was fresh, service was good, prices were incredibly reasonable. All my rolls were delicious. I highly recommend it for well priced sushi.
(4)Kara C.
Price: Not too Highlight: Attentive Service; The Ginger So it was 3 of us, afterwork ending up with a bill of $69 not including tip. We had: Gyoza The Monster Roll The World Series Roll Some Mainly Tuna Based Creative Roll Normal Spicy Tuna Roll Green Tea Ice Cream Oreo Tempura and Vanilla ice cream The World Series Roll was the highlight for all of us, the combo of crab meat, avocado etc with tempura flakes sprinkled and salmon on top was great and is the stuff cravings are made of and the Mainly Tuna Roll (So sorry for forgetting the name) was second. Why go: Good for groups or when in need of a craving fix for one of their specific creative rolls or to keep going back to sample more and more creative rolls until you find one that sticks with you. But we still all felt a bit hungry after the meal and could have possible been sated elsewhere for the same price. All in all... its okay.
(3)Jack T.
This place is in a prime Chelsea location and is often frequented by the people working in the area. They serve good sushi with interesting rolls. I personally tried the "Monster Roll" and it was quite delicious. I felt like a monster eating it because it lived up to it's name. Let's just say I was filled up for sure. Counter experience is fine, service becomes worse when it's packed. I like this place overall but I don't dream about it like other sushi joints.
(4)Steve S.
Very good quality sushi. Willing to do custom rolls. Extremely friendly, attentive and accommodating service (with smiles). Take-out is top-notch too. Always gets the order right and it's fresh. I travel 15 blocks from my home for their sushi rather than eat mediocre sushi in my hood.
(4)Dan G.
Brought my 6 and 10 year old nephews here. It is now their favorite Sushi place. Yummy rolls, tasty entrees, decent service and lots of Godzilla/Gamera/Ghidira dolls. I got the Bento dinner box. Lots of food for $18.
(4)Brittany S.
A little pricey but you only need to order 1 thing. AVOCADO AND PEANUT ROLL. DONEZO.
(5)Jim D.
If it weren't for the generous cut of fish they give you for sashimi, I'd probably only give 3 stars because the service is pretty incompetent. Everyone was very nice and the fish was high quality, don't get me wrong. The waitresses just aren't very good at their jobs. Hey waitressing isn't for everyone! Next time I'll sit right at the sushi bar to avoid placing orders through the wait staff.
(4)Sammy C.
My FIRST time and my LAST. I thought I would tried this one out since I been to the one uptown on 46street between 5/6 ave . This one in the village left me the wanting to call the Department of Health 1/ The hot towel looks like they were just rinsed out with hot water and back into he steamer !! - I smelled one the other day, Smelled like Body odor Stink!!! 2/ During our meal, A piece of dirt flew out of the Ventilation that was above us, luckily we were finish with our meal. I pointed out that this piece of dirt came from the vent directly above us and landed on Fred's Rice. The waiter took it and told the other waiter and they basically nothing about it. Didn't apologized or comp us for anything other than slap us the bill. 3/ Monster Sushi are not owned or operated by Japanese people at all. why would you think you going to get the Japanese experiences. People GROW UP!!!
(1)Gloria D.
Seared tuna roll with spicy mayo? Yes, I will. Eating said seared tuna roll while receiving a free massage? Make that a double YES! This place is awesome. The food is fresh, fast and delicious, the decor is nice, the tables are comfy, the massages are a great touch, and the wines are fine. My hubby and I go to Monster quite a bit and it is definitely my favorite sushi joint in Chelsea.
(4)Jasmin Z.
Ummm why didn't anyone how pricey this place was? For a place that was not so fancy this place is def overpriced. A regular roll was a little over $10 and specials were ~15 for lunch hours considering they had no lunch special. The decor was almost pointless although they did have computer chairs at one of the tables for executive kings? I have no idea. The reviews on yelp def let me down. The service was horrible. Took over 30 min to get 3 rolls. Got the elephant eye which was squid stuffed with sushi. It was unappetizing to say the least, but maybe it was just the outer squid that threw me off. I was not pleased.
(2)Maria N.
This is one of the nicest Japanese restaurants I've been to in NYC. Starting from a very nice restaurant design and location and all the way to fast service and affordable prices, I'd recommend checking it out when you are looking for a place to eat in NYC's Chelsea. I particularly liked their bento boxes and both sushi and sushimi were fresh and delicious. They also have a bunch of specials that they are running every day and they pack very nicely for takeout.
(4)Erica B.
My first experience was at Monster Sushi with co-workers. In the beginning, I would only order "junky sushi" with tempura batter or the artificial crab meat, so I could slowly get used to the texture before diving into the raw fish. Monster's fish is the freshest fish around. I've tried almost all the rolls during my numerous trips here. I like to try something new each time and I've never been disappointed. The servers are very welcoming, prompt and courteous. Great for lunch with friends or dinner dates.
(5)Nancy O.
This is a place I could go to everyday for lunch...get a few rolls or their bento box lunch, and chat with friends. I love their generous use of avocado in their rolls! I love the quality of their sashimi and the vinegar sauce they serve with it on the side. I even love the decor and service! It's a bit out of the way for me to go here often, but if I know I'm going to be in the area, I make it a point to stop in and enjoy!
(5)Evan L.
Our weekly treat is sushi on the weekend. So we've eaten alot of sushi in the city at remarkable places and places that are decidedly less remarkable. Monster falls deeply into the second bucket. We desperately want Monster Sushi to be good 'cause it's two blocks from our house. But the first time we tried Monster, we did take out and it was below average. Nope, that's not true. It was just flat out bad. A year later and we decided to try it again, but this time we would eat at the restaurant to remove the take-out component from the equation. The result was not much better. The fish was fine, but nothing out of the ordinary. You're not going to get sick from it, but you're not going to remember it 5 minutes after leaving the restaurant. In fact, you'll probably do yourself a favor if you forget it. The second part was that they didn't deliver a roll. And when I brought it up to the waiter, he insisted they did. On a $110 bill, I'm not going to get worked up about an $8 roll. But believe me when I tell you that the roll did not arrive. And so Monster receives its second - and final - blow as far as we're concerned. Combine distinctly below-average food with bad help and you have a restaurant we'll never visit again.
(1)Tony T.
Got delivery the other night from Monster. The delivery was fast and the food was pretty good. Got some rolls and miso soup. The soup was good but overpriced at $3.25. The rolls were all very good. The monster roll and spider roll are both large. The fish was fresh in both. Also got the spicy tuna roll (which I always get), and the super white tuna special roll. Make sure you ask if there are any sushi or sashimi special pieces. That night it was the yellowtail, which was superb. Monster is a decent option for sushi in Chelsea.
(3)Mary J.
The restaurant isn't very fancy but the food is good quality for the price. We had the Omakase for two and it was enough food to to share with one more person. If you are in the mood for good quality sushi, good service and good price then you should check it out.
(4)T L.
Wasn't sure what to expect when I met up with a friend here last weekend at this small restaurant. Despite it's tight spacing, we waited less than 10 minutes for a table. I was delightfully surprised when our food came. The back seating didn't feel crowded. The sushi was fresh (loved the lobster roll and variety of sashimi) and the service was great! Will definitely be back!
(4)kelsea b.
Pretty loud. The waiter rushed my friend and I, and I'm not a fan of places where the tables are separated by a mere six inches. The service was speedy, but I expected the Udon Noodle soup to be much bigger for what I paid ($15.95!). Not worth the price, not very authentic. (I recommend Kiku Sushi on 9th between 24th and 25h!)
(2)Aria v.
RAWR!! I am a monster, come to eat your sushi!! FEAR ME FISHIES, RAWR!! Food: I went here with Teri Y last week, and although I've passed it a million times, it was the first I actually got to eat here. He ordered the sushi bento box, and I got the zaru soba with a shake (salmon) hand roll. The fish was fresh but I have a couple of gripes. 1) My temaki was supposed to be shake and seasoned rice, it was just plane rice. 2) My salmon was way too fatty, this wasn't King Salmon, for sure. Probably farmed Atlantic salmon, and that's cool, but I prefer less fatty and oily salmon. 3) The soba was very gummy. Good soba should not be like spaghetti, it has it's own unique texture, but similar properties. If left soaking, or not chilled quick enough, it can become too chewy. A little gum, a bit of chew, you're right on the money, but this was like those last dregs of pasta that have soaked in the water too long at the salad bar. The sushi that Teri had, however, looked good. And the whole menu is very reasonably priced. It's a step above fast food take-out sushi, but not as good as it should be for a sit-down restaurant. It's reliable, and it's better than supermarket sushi, so if you're looking for something to grab quickly, or to take with you on your way to a friend's house in Chelsea, check it out. But you can find better places in the city for cheaper that will blow your socks off, trust me. Venue: The decor at Monster Sushi is actually kinda cool. It has an underwater vibe with plate-glass windows and lots of blue and turquoise hues. Big monster fishies on the wall and with a modern feel. Automatic everything in the bathroom makes it very Japanese. It's not a big place though, and probably only has seating for about 45 max. They don't take themselves too seriously, though, and there seems to be a relaxing requirement as you hang out with your bottle of Sapporo.
(3)Jenna W.
Fresh fish and veggies. Swanky decor. Moderate prices. Decent service. I recommend the Chilean Sea Bass appetizer in a light soy sauce. Now, I know everyone loves ginger dressing on Japanese salads, but this ginger dressing on the house salad was unbelievable! It was absolutely delicious and not at all watery like some of the dressings are. It's the little things in life that matter... A few other reviews mention that Monster Sushi is reliable... I agree - and what more do you really need in a sushi place? Great food, reliable freshness and delicious ginger dressing.
(4)A. K.
Nothing fancy schmancy here, just good reliable fresh sushi. I wasn't too hungry, so I just got a couple of appetizer dishes, including the sashimi. The portions here are very decent, I never leave hungry. The waiter was really friendly and so I decided to ask him if I could get all salmon instead of the usual assorted variety for my sashimi appetizer. He was nice enough to oblige :) The salmon that day was sooo fresh and I didn't even have to chew. This place is a good neighborhood sushi joint. No frills, no complaints.
(3)Margarita M.
Yumm. If you're looking for affordable, fresh, tasty sushi and a wide variety of sake as a pairing - look no further. This particular location underwent renovations recently and I was pleasantly surprised when I came here after a year long absence. I sat at the sushi bar and had an excellent bottle of sake (kudos to the helpful waitress for recommending it) and some delicious special rolls. I also had two pieces of salmon sashimi which were excellent. I ended up paying about $40 and left full and happy. Next time I plan to actually talk to the cute guy with the tattoos and the business suit sitting next to me. He seemed like a regular so I think I have a shot at running into him again at Monster Sushi.
(4)Karin G.
We eat here about once a week or so. Its our favorite and reliable nearby sushi joint. Service is always very pleasant. Sushi is above par qualitywise for sure, definitely respectable and nicely portioned for the money. I always get sashimi with consistently good outcomes, which is about what you hope for with raw fish! The pieces are big, but not crazy big. I mean, how much fish do you want to stuff in your mouth at once? I often ask them to cut the pieces in half so I can enjoy them longer Nice selection of drinks and, again, service is great Our only complaint is that my BF always orders several apps instead of a main course, and I order a big plate of sasimi and they dont time them so we get our food at the same time Next time, we wont just assume they know how we want them and ask that they bring our food out together. Small thing. I would not go out of my way to eat here, but I am very glad its in the hood. Update: went tonight, had our usual app and sashimi dinner, asked that they bring it in a particular order. They did so without a hitch or bit of fuss. Awesome.
(5)J P.
If you like fresh, then you'll love it! Get a sapporro when your there makes the sushi tast Ten times better!!
(4)Kristen U.
I got takeout here this week. Everything was very fresh and tasty. I am looking foward to ordering from here again.
(4)Neill H.
Not bad, not great, but not bad.
(3)Kelli S.
Steamed shrimp dumplings, seaweed salad, american dream roll, spicy tuna roll and sashimi are all tasty. If you like specialty rolls, this place has a lot of them. Not a huge fan of their yellowtail sashimi, which I usually love...has a weird after taste. The servers are really attentive, which is nice. I don't know that I would go out of my way to go to here since there are so many great sushi places in the city, but if you're in Chelsea and need a quick bite, Monster's pretty good.
(3)Joan H.
No problems being seated on a cold day, and courteous staff... but you couldn't help but hear this one staffer yelling from somewhere hidden in a language that was not Japanese (my waittress was Japanese, if that matters to anyone). The food was acceptable, but nothing particularly special. I thought some of the fish was on the fishy side, however, and not fresh. I wouldn't come back here. Too many good sushi joints to try to waste time here again.
(3)Ash T.
I chose this place when I was in Chelsea because it was packed and had some decent Yelp reviews... and that's what it is -- decent. Nothing that's out-of-this-world. The waitstaff was incredibly rude, but I usually let that slide to a certain extent as long as the food is good (since that's what I'm there for, after all). The miso was good, but that's generally hard to screw up. I tried the spicy girl roll and the soft shell crab roll and they were pretty tasty. The menu covers a variety of ingredients for American-style sushi and should have something to suit everyone. Keep in mind that it's called MONSTER for a reason -- the rolls are HUGE! It's also fairly cheap for what you get. The decor is a bit cheesy but that's of no matter because it's clean and the fish tasted pretty good... not the freshest I've had but certainly fresh enough. I'd probably go again if I found myself in Chelsea and in the mood for sushi.
(3)Yum Yum H.
Monster Sushi is a convenient go to place for fresh and reasonably priced sushi. We've gone multiple times now and they always serve really large and fresh sashimi slices. The ambiance is basic but the staff is friendly and you get good sushi/sashimi for the price.
(3)Megh D.
I have loved sushi (caveat: vegetarian sushi) for a while now, though I have never actually been to a sushi restaurant. (An enigma, as ever.) Monster Sushi was my first time. -And I have to say, "A-OK" just about sums it. The appetizers were good, well steamed and salted edamame, crisp pickled vegetables, and piping hot spinach um...thingies...with hot mustard (one of the best condiments ever invented...). The rolls and goods themselves left a little to be desired. First of all, I ordered an Umekyu with pickled plum and cucumber in addition to a teriyaki squash roll. The umekyu had hardly any plum at all, and so besides the trappings of rice, nori, 'sabi, and soya, was nearly flavourless. The squash roll was well filled, but still, not flavourful. In addition, they were both poorly wrapped, so presentation was a disappointment. My friends and hosts ordered a Godzilla roll, a mushroom roll, and adventurously asked the waitress to prepare a sampler plate with the stipulations of variety and spice. Apparently, the godzilla roll was good. The 'mystery' plate was a let-down to my host, who likened it to your average tuna sampler, and not containing much spice at all. The service was excellent, however, and I never had want of water, which is no small feat considering how much I tend to drink. I cannot speak to price, as it was my hosts' treat (I know my rolls were about $4 a piece), and I have no real comparison point. I might try Monster Sushi again, service and atmosphere go a LONG way in my book (trust me, I have forgiven many a sin based on those redeemers...), but like I said, overall, just "A-OK"
(3)Jeffrey C.
Staple in Chelsea for sushi. Decor is fun.
(3)Serena B.
For the longest time I had a hard time understanding the 'greatness' of sushi. The idea seemed to be a waste, spending 'X' amount of dollars on a couple pieces of fish, rice and veggies. And then I stumbled upon tempura. If there is one thing that can win my heart over with any sort of food is for it to be fried. Little crispy bits of tempura hidden is the sushi is just what I need to enjoy sushi. The 'monster' rolls that they have are decently filling if you get 3 for yourself... but it comes at a decent price which is around $12-15. My personal favorite is the 'wold series roll'. A huge plus for me is the ginger salad dressing. My mouth waters thinking about it. If they had the dressing available in stores, I would buy it.
(4)Diana B.
This cool and sleek spot. It is a great place to have dinner with friends and have some cocktails. We all had the bento box special which included soup, salad, salmon roll, shumai and an entree in a cool tray with compartments for each. They had a great selection of drink special buy 2 get one free. We finished off the evening sharing a fried vanilla ice cream. Next time we will try the red bean ice cream. So go in and have a seat!!
(4)Amy S.
Favorite Sushi Ever. Two words: Calamari Roll. They have a huge menu, and their food is ALWAYS good. The service is also great. Even their miso soup is outstanding, and their ginger salad dressing is not to be missed. While I've tried numerous dishes on their menu (Chilean sea bass was excellent, as well as their nabeyaki udon), I continually return here usually for their calamari roll. This is my ultimate comfort food in NY. It's a MASSIVE roll (8-10 pieces at least as big around as a golf ball) filled with cucumber, lettuce, avocado, and-- most importantly--tempura battered calamari. It's heaven in my mouth. The texture! The flavor!! THE BEST!!! I HIGHLY recommend this restaurant! They have other locations which are ok, but the Chelsea restaurant has the best staff and best food (in my opinion).
(5)Lucy L.
The name explains everything.. MONSTER.. if you are hungry. this is definitely the place to go. I wouldn't use I LOVE THEIR SUSHI, instead I rather use I like their food. once again if you are looking for big portion. this is your place Few of us went there after a rejection of another sushi place, we were sitting in the back and playing sake bombs all night long. The host was friendly about it, i guess the more drink the more $$ they make. Overall I wouldn't mind go there again =)
(4)Germaine C.
While I have had Monster Sushi delivered from other locations, The 23rd Street location is the only one that I've actually sat in and ate. Let me also preempt this by saying that I haven't been there since the renovations. Monster has a nice, quiet, family run vibe to it. The rolls are varied and interesting. There is a peanut roll(great choice for vegetarians) that is inventive and inexpensive. Suffice it to say that I've never had Monster's Sashimi, but the chefs seemed very experienced in the art and the Tuna looked really, really good. Suprisingly, the Fish Katsu was really clean and breaded with just enough Panko. Yes, the Katsu definitely was a good dish here. Try Monster for 'mid-level' Sushi. You might like it.
(4)