Everyone’s got a favorite sushi place. We went on a search for some of the lesser known, unsung sushi heroes. Here’s what we found – some of the freshest, most authentic sushi places you’ll find in New York City. By Yvo Sin.

Sushi Yasu

71-45 Yellowstone Blvd
Forest Hills, NY 11375
(718) 544-0942

Sushi Yasu is one of Forest Hills’ best kept secrets… until now. A short walk from the train station, the former fish market cum sushi restaurant boasts some of the freshest raw fish you’ll find in Queens. While some of the rolls bear mention – such as the Marilyn Monroe Roll, an avocado and crab roll topped with divine raw scallops and the delicious Chef’s sauce – to get the most out of your experience, order the omakase. Omakase translates to “in your hands” and starts at just $30 for about 10 pieces of sushi, prepared for you by Chef Yasu personally. Sit at the bar and watch the master at work, as he deftly creates each piece to place in front of you, explaining which pieces may want a little dip in soy sauce, and which you should eat plain. Unique fish will be paraded in front of you – he keeps some separate just for those who order omakase – and you won’t regret your choice.

Sushi Yasuda

204 E 43rd St
New York, NY 10017
(212) 972-1001
sushiyasuda.com/

No “Best Sushi” list would be complete without mentioning Sushi Yasuda. Though Chef Yasuda left early this year to open a restaurant in his home country of Japan, the restaurant has remained just as high quality as it was when he ran it, thanks to his carefully handpicked replacement. Each part of your meal is carefully curated to give you the best experience, the freshest fish, and diners don’t leave disappointed… although the bill may give them sticker shock.

Koito

310 E 93 St
New York, NY 10128
(212) 426-1216

Another hidden gem in a local neighborhood, Koito is a very small, unassuming place; small inside, but big on fresh fish. Prices are very reasonable, while the chefs work to create the perfect bite for each customer. Service is always friendly, and for $19.95, you get a full meal: 15 pieces of sushi, miso soup, salad, and dessert. Too much food? For $14.95, you get the same, but with only 12 pieces sushi. Awesome.

Morimoto

88 10th Ave
New York, NY 10024
(212) 989-8883
morimotonyc.com/

Perhaps Morimoto isn’t classically known for sushi, instead being lauded for its creativity when it comes to the cooked side of Japanese cuisine, but make no mistake: sitting at the sushi bar in Morimoto will please even the most finicky sushi connoisseur. Start off with the amazing tuna tartare (pictured), which comes artfully arranged for you to play with the textures and tastes of each bite. Order a la carte from the extensive menu, or order Morimoto sashimi, which includes seared toro, salmon, eel, tuna, and hamachi, each with their own dipping sauce.

Kanoyama

175 2nd Ave
New York, NY 10003
(212) 777-5266
kanoyama.com/

Kanoyama sits a few short blocks from the famed St. Mark’s Place, where Japanese restaurants crowd the blocks and jockey to serve you dinner. But Kanoyama requires no such activity to lure diners; instead, the fresh fish, the comfortable, quiet setting and the great service all do their jobs to bring diners back time and again. The sashimi platter (pictured) will run $20 – 30, depending on which size you choose (regular or deluxe), and includes some very unique offerings.

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Yvo Sin is the founder and head writer of The Feisty Foodie.