New Takeout Sushi Spot Opens on 80th Street

As we were walking to 787 Coffee for our late morning coffee and pastry today, we came across a small and unassuming spot next door at 230 East 80th Street (between Second and Third avenues). There was no conspicuous signage. No seating. In fact, from the outside, the business still looks very much like a work and progress—which it is. All you will find in front of the steps leading to the door is a small—almost easy-to-miss—sign reading “Grand Opening. Oyishi Sushi. 15% Off.”

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Oyishi, owned by Chef Jin Kwan Lin, opened its doors on Tuesday. It is Lin’s third sushi restaurant. Although he is Chinese by ethnicity, hailing from Changle in Southern China, he got his start in the world of sushi by working as a dishwasher at Sekisui Sushi in Tennessee when he first came to the United States twenty years ago. From dishwasher, he became a waiter, slowly working his way up to an assistant sushi chef. Lin has always loved sushi because, he says, “sushi is art.” Fifteen years ago, Lin and his older brother opened Fusha Sushi Bar in Parsippany, New Jersey, which his brother is still running. A year later, Lin and his wife, Candy, opened Umami Sushi in Ardsley, New York.

Lin opened Oyishi because he wanted to create a new omakase experience. Translating literally to “I’ll leave it up to you,” omakase refers to a Japanese dining experience where details of the menu order are left to the chef. Lin shared, “With omakase, it’s at least 90 minutes. You have to make a reservation, and you have to wait. I want to make everything convenient and at a lower cost. People can come in, pick up, and go. They can be in and out in under five minutes.” After making dishes, Lin boxes them up and places them in the refrigerator for customers to grab as they please.

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Oyishi’s menu consists of chilled appetizers such as a yellowtail jalapeño for $14, a variety of sushi rolls ranging from $6 for an avocado roll to $16 for a jumbo toro roll, and an omakase box consisting of 10 pieces of $50. Sodas and iced teas are also available. Today we got to enjoy a 15-piece box consisting of a California roll, a tuna roll, and a Philadelphia roll for $20.

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We also had a nigiri box ($35) consisting of a five-piece salmon avocado roll, a Japanese red snapper topped with ikura, a blue fin tuna topped with caviar, and a red snapper topped with truffle sauce. You can taste the cool freshness and meaty flavors in every bite. While chopsticks are available, you can also enjoy each piece with your hands without them getting sticky.

Lin showed us the colorful sign that will soon arrive and add more character to the shop’s façade. Bar stools and paintings are on their way as well. Unfortunately, many items have been delayed in customs, shared Lin.

Oyishi is open daily from 12 p.m. to 8:45 p.m.

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