Moko Introduce
For New Yorkers with a discerning taste for sushi, **Moko** in the East Village presents a compelling and highly-rated omakase experience. This cozy sushi spot, though relatively new, has quickly made a name for itself by delivering an exceptional culinary journey that emphasizes fresh, high-quality ingredients flown in daily from Japan. It鈥檚 a place where the tradition of chef's choice dining meets a relaxed, welcoming atmosphere, making it a favorite for both sushi aficionados and those looking to indulge in a truly special meal.
Moko stands out for its commitment to the freshest ingredients, with fish directly sourced from Japan. This dedication translates into sushi that is consistently described as "exceptional" and "incredibly fresh." Beyond the food, the restaurant aims to provide a top-notch experience, characterized by "friendly and welcoming" chefs and a "relaxed vibe" that foregoes strict meal times, offering a flexible dining experience. While some new restaurants might have initial service kinks, Moko's dedication to quality and customer satisfaction shines through, often leaving guests eager to return.
Moko is conveniently located at **138 2nd Ave, New York, NY 10003, USA**. This prime address places it squarely in the heart of the East Village, a vibrant and easily accessible neighborhood renowned for its eclectic dining scene, lively atmosphere, and unique charm. Being situated on 2nd Avenue, Moko is a prominent and easy-to-find destination for anyone exploring this dynamic part of Manhattan.
Accessibility to Moko is straightforward, thanks to New York City's extensive public transportation network. The 2nd Avenue subway station (F train) is within close walking distance, providing direct access from various parts of Manhattan and beyond. Additionally, numerous bus routes serve the East Village, making it convenient for locals and visitors alike to reach the restaurant. Its location amidst a bustling array of shops, bars, and other eateries means that a visit to Moko can be seamlessly integrated into an evening of exploring the energetic East Village.
Omakase Dining Experience: Moko specializes in an omakase (chef's choice) menu, where the chef curates a multi-course sushi experience using the freshest daily ingredients. Options include 15-course and 18-course menus.
Freshly Flown-In Fish: A core offering is the use of high-quality fish flown in fresh daily from Japan, ensuring an authentic and superior taste.
BYOB (Bring Your Own Bottle): Moko is a BYOB establishment, allowing guests to bring their preferred alcoholic beverages, although a corkage fee of around $20 typically applies (it's advisable to confirm this detail upon booking).
Cozy Dining Atmosphere: The restaurant offers a comfortable and intimate setting, perfect for a relaxed and flexible dining experience without strict meal time constraints.
Top-Notch Service: Known for its friendly and welcoming chef and attentive staff who contribute to an overall positive dining experience.
Dessert Included: Omakase menus typically conclude with a delightful dessert, such as homemade strawberry ice cream.
Exceptional Fish Quality: The undisputed highlight is the quality of the fish, flown in fresh daily from Japan. This commitment to fresh, high-grade ingredients results in sushi that is consistently described as "exceptional" and "melt-in-your-mouth."
Chef's Skill and Friendliness: Diners frequently praise the chef for being "friendly and welcoming," enhancing the personalized omakase experience, though some early reviews noted a lack of detailed explanations for each piece.
Relaxed Omakase Vibe: Unlike some rigid omakase experiences, Moko offers a "relaxed vibe" with "no strict meal times," allowing for a more comfortable and leisurely enjoyment of the courses.
BYOB Advantage: The Bring Your Own Bottle policy is a significant draw, enabling guests to pair their favorite wines or sakes with their meal, often at a more cost-effective rate (despite the corkage fee).
Cozy and Intimate Setting: Described as a "cozy sushi spot," Moko offers a comfortable and personal dining environment, perfect for a special evening.
Affordable Omakase Pricing: Moko is often lauded for offering high-quality omakase at relatively affordable price points compared to other high-end sushi establishments in NYC, with 15-course options starting around $95 and 18-course options around $125.
Strong Repeat Customer Base: Many patrons express an eagerness to "come back," indicating a high level of satisfaction and a memorable dining experience.
Moko's primary offering is its omakase menu, with pricing structured around the number of courses. While there aren't typically "promotions" in the traditional sense of discounts on individual items, their omakase menus themselves are often considered a special value for the quality of fish and experience offered in New York City. Some historical mentions include a $50 omakase, but current pricing appears to be around $95 for 15 courses and $125 for 18 courses.
For the most up-to-date information on their current omakase offerings, pricing, and any potential seasonal specials or unique events, it is highly recommended that New Yorkers visit Moko's official website or contact them directly. Given their focus on fresh, daily-sourced ingredients, their menu might evolve based on seasonality, providing a dynamic and continually engaging experience for repeat diners.
Ready to experience the exceptional omakase at Moko? Here鈥檚 how you can get in touch:
Address: 138 2nd Ave, New York, NY 10003, USA
Phone: (646) 318-1649
For New Yorkers, Moko is an ideal sushi destination that perfectly blends high-quality Japanese culinary artistry with a comfortable, accessible East Village vibe. It caters to those who appreciate the nuanced experience of omakase but seek it in a more relaxed and less formal setting than some of the city's ultra-premium sushi bars. The consistent praise for the freshness of the fish, flown in daily from Japan, speaks directly to the discerning palates of NYC locals who value top-tier ingredients.
The BYOB policy, while accompanied by a corkage fee, offers a flexible and potentially cost-effective way for diners to enjoy their preferred beverages with their meal, a feature often appreciated by New Yorkers. Despite being a newer establishment, Moko's dedication to service, combined with the chef's welcoming demeanor, ensures a positive and memorable interaction. For locals looking for an exceptional, yet relatively affordable omakase experience with a chill atmosphere and incredibly fresh sushi, Moko is not just suitable鈥攊t's a must-visit "hidden gem" that many will find themselves returning to again and again.
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Moko Location
Moko Reviews
New restaurant and still working through their service model. Went on a Thursday night for the $50 omakase. Fish was fresh. Dish well present but chef did not tell us what each item was when plating to us.Please note it's BYOB, but they will charge you $20 corking fee, which they didn't tell us up front. Waited a while for the bill after meal was completed and further waited ~15 mins to pay the bill. Jackets and bags were on at this point.
Apr 08, 2025 路 Canney ChenHad an amazing omakase experience at Moko, a cozy sushi spot in East Village. 馃崳The sushi was exceptional, with ingredients flown in fresh daily from Japan. 馃洬馃嚡馃嚨 The service was top-notch, and the chef was so friendly and welcoming. I especially loved the relaxed vibe鈥攏o strict meal times, just a chill, flexible dining experience.I absolutely loved it can鈥檛 wait to come back 馃崳
Dec 27, 2024 路 Ted Weitz MDI made a reservation after seeing the 'Girls Omakase Night' ad on Instagram, which was $65 per person. The atmosphere was nice, but we were the only customers, so it felt too quiet. The 10-course sushi meal was finished in about 40 minutes. The sushi didn鈥檛 feel fresh, and they kept replacing sushi on the same Geta (wooden plate) from previous servings, making it wet. They don鈥檛 have beverages and operate as BYOB only. The total for two people, including tip, was $165鈥攏ot worth it overall.
Apr 01, 2025 路 Jisu JeongThe quality of the fish was great, but even so, the price of the meal wasn鈥檛 worth it. We particularly enjoyed the 2nd round of sushi but would recommend skipping the appetizers. The general impression I had was that the price of all the other items was greatly increased to offset the cost of good fish. Omakase is expensive for a reason and I think I would have preferred spending more on the fish if the price point of the other items matched their quality. Additionally the set comes out in two rounds as opposed to one per course, so the experience is a little faster moving. If you鈥檙e looking for tasty fish and a casual meal this is a great option, but I wouldn鈥檛 consider it a substitute for a quality omakase.
Apr 06, 2025 路 Ashley McKillipsThis spot has been around for a few years but never came to check it out. It was co-founded by Max Goldberger and Angel Zheng.Saw a $69 weekday omakase deal for 12 courses, so figured why not.When we got there, the menu listed a $69 weekday omakase spot for 8 courses. We showed the promo to the server too - she said it was wrong and needs to be updated. The uni shot (listed on the menu for $30) was also not included in the omakase, despite how the promo was laid out. Server agreed it was misleading, and offered to give us 12 courses anyway.Chef ended up giving us 10. Looks like they adjusted their IG post and removed the 12 course mention after our visit (attached).Fish was decent but nothing mindblowing - doable if youve never been to omakase before; if you have, i would skip this. Bill somehow came out to ~$220 for two without drinks.
May 25, 2025 路 Eden N
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