What Kura Was, and Why 12 Seats Changed Everything
Kura was an omakase-only restaurant with just 12 seats, tucked into St. Marks Place in the East Village. It closed in July 2022. Twelve seats meant two seatings on a good night, a handful of covers per week, and a reservation window that closed fast.1
Kura opened in February 20132 as an omakase-only counter. The counter was located at 130 St. Marks Pl., New York, NY 10009, and ran Monday through Saturday from 17:30 to 23:00.1 Sunday was dark, so the weekly window was six days of potential availability across a very small number of seats.
The format was omakase-only, which meant the kitchen set the menu and diners chose a price tier. Three set price options were available: $65, $85, or $105.1 Those numbers sat well below the market rate for comparable formats, most 12-seat counters in the city run $150 and up. That price gap was part of why demand stayed high at the 12-seat counter.
How East Village Reservations Work Now
Kura closed in July 2022 and has no reservation inventory. Reservations in advance were required when it was open.1 The neighborhood still has a real concentration of serious Japanese restaurants, and those are the rooms you can actually book.
Hasaki is bookable via Resy.4 Tsukimi is bookable through Tock or OpenTable.5 Sushi by Bou has online reservations available.6 Kanoyama books ahead, so confirm directly with the venue.
East Village Alternatives: Where to Go
The East Village has a real concentration of serious Japanese restaurants. The question is what you are willing to trade on format, price, and booking.
East Village Japanese Dining: Booking Difficulty and Cost Compared
| Venue | Format | Price (per person) | Seats / Scale | Booking Difficulty | How to Book |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hasaki | À la carte Japanese | ~$703 | N/A | Lower, bookable via Resy | Reserve via Resy4 (210 E 9th St) |
| Kanoyama | À la carte Japanese | N/A | N/A | Moderate, formerly Michelin-starred and currently Michelin-listed, books ahead | N/A, confirm directly with venue |
| Tsukimi | Kaiseki tasting menu | N/A | N/A | Moderate to high | Tock or OpenTable5 (228 E 10th St) |
| Sushi by Bou East Village | Omakase | N/A | N/A | Lower, online reservations available | Reserve online6 (320 E 11th St, Wed, Sat) |
Hasaki, at 210 E 9th St,7 is the neighborhood's longest-running option: it opened in 19848 and was the first Japanese restaurant opened by its owner.4 At approximately $70 per person à la carte,3 it gives you menu control. If you want to order what you want rather than follow a set sequence, Hasaki is the practical alternative.
Kanoyama is formerly Michelin-starred and currently Michelin-listed,9 which makes it the neighborhood's most credentialed à la carte option. If a Michelin signal matters to your booking decision, Kanoyama delivers that without the omakase-only constraint.
Tsukimi, bookable through Tock or OpenTable,5 offers a kaiseki tasting menu format at 228 E 10th St,5 the right call if you want a multi-course Japanese tasting experience with more booking flexibility. Sushi by Bou at 320 E 11th St (Wednesday through Saturday, 5 to 10 p.m.)6 is the easiest omakase seat in the neighborhood to secure, with online reservations available.6
Practical Strategy for East Village Japanese Dining
Kura closed in July 2022. For a seat in the neighborhood now, decide the format first. Hasaki at 210 E 9th St is à la carte, bookable via Resy, and runs approximately $70 per person.3 Kanoyama is formerly Michelin-starred and currently Michelin-listed9 and books ahead; confirm directly with the venue. Tsukimi is a kaiseki tasting menu at 228 E 10th St, bookable through Tock or OpenTable.5 Sushi by Bou at 320 E 11th St, Wednesday through Saturday from 5 to 10 p.m.,6 is the easiest omakase seat in the neighborhood to secure, with online reservations available.6
Hasaki opened in 19848 and was the first Japanese restaurant opened by its owner,4 which is why it is the neighborhood's longest-running option. If you want menu control rather than a set sequence, book Hasaki via Resy.4 If a Michelin signal matters, Kanoyama is the credentialed à la carte room and books ahead. If you want a multi-course Japanese tasting experience, Tsukimi at 228 E 10th St is bookable through Tock or OpenTable.5
Where That Leaves East Village Sushi
Kura closed in July 2022. It was a 12-seat omakase counter that had been running the same focused format since February 2013.2 The neighborhood has enough competition to keep kitchens honest: Hasaki, Kanoyama, Tsukimi, and Sushi by Bou are the places to book.
Kanoyama's formerly Michelin-starred and currently Michelin-listed à la carte9 or Sushi by Bou's online-bookable omakase6 are practical options on the same blocks. Hasaki gives you menu control at approximately $70 per person.3 Tsukimi is the call if you want a multi-course Japanese tasting experience with more booking flexibility, at 228 E 10th St,5 bookable through Tock or OpenTable.5
Sushi by Bou at 320 E 11th St runs Wednesday through Saturday, 5 to 10 p.m.,6 with online reservations available.6 Hasaki, at 210 E 9th St,7 opened in 19848 and remains the neighborhood's longest-running Japanese restaurant, bookable via Resy.4 Reservations in advance were required at Kura when it was open.1 It closed in July 2022. Book Hasaki via Resy, Tsukimi through Tock or OpenTable, Sushi by Bou online, or confirm Kanoyama directly with the venue.
Frequently Asked Questions
When did Kura open, and is it still the same format?
Kura opened in February 20132 as an omakase-only counter and closed in July 2022.
What are the best alternatives to Kura in the East Village?
Three options on the same blocks: Kanoyama, formerly Michelin-starred and currently Michelin-listed,9 for à la carte sushi with a credential; Hasaki at 210 E 9th St,4 the neighborhood's longest-running Japanese restaurant, bookable via Resy at approximately $70 per person;3 and Sushi by Bou at 320 E 11th St,6 the easiest omakase seat to secure online.
