“I try to bring 100 percent of the essence of something, the umami to the outside—that is what I’m trying to do.”
Chef Masa
Masayoshi Takayama's appreciation for food started at a young age, growing up working for his family’s fish market in a town of Tochigi Prefecture, Japan. From his early years of delivering fresh sashimi to neighbors on his bicycle, to prepping and grilling hundreds of fish courses to cater weddings in high school, his relationship with food has always been a way of life. Chef Masa is also chef/owner of Bar Masa (located next door to Masa), and is the chef at Kappo Masa (located at 976 Madison Avenue) in partnership with famed art gallerist Larry Gagosian.
Chef Masa apprenticed under the direction of sushi master, Sugiyama Toshiaki, at Tokyo’s well-respected Ginza Sushi-ko. The intense training proved invaluable, inspiring his intimate relationship with food and dining as an all-inclusive experience.
Always the dreamer, he followed a boyhood ambition to travel to the U.S. and started a small, casual kitchen serving both traditional Japanese dishes as well as more Americanized staples. His next venture was more true to his heart and training.
Masa named his next project after his mentor; Ginza Sushi-ko opened in Beverly Hills with an omakase menu served at a 9 seat counter. In 2004 he opened his renowned Manhattan restaurants Masa and Bar Masa at the Time Warner Center.
“You’ll be transported … to an ethereal realm where Chef Masa creates one of the premier dining experiences in the world.”
Masa is shibui:
Refined beauty that isn’t affected by time or social changes. Shibui is never complicated or contrived. Purity of being, of living, of sensing is inherent in all elements of the Masa experience.
The sushi counter made of a solid piece of Hinoki, Japanese Cypress, which is sanded daily to a soft, porous state providing both visual and sensual satisfaction the moment one enters. The branches of seasonal plants are arranged daily to highlight the beautiful imperfections mother nature produces, offering a unique perspective from all angles.
The otherwise simple décor is intentionally sparse to act as a blank canvas on which the food will be allotted space to shine. The courses build on seasonal properties utilized only in their freshest most delicious state. Each dish is composed to ensure that the most basic, innate character of the ingredients persists.
A fundamental respect of the distinctiveness, which is naturally occurring, is observed with each act of slicing, shaving, and sprinkling. The food is prepared quickly, and plated for guests as soon as ready to preserve the idea that each dish is still in a living, being state. In essence, with essence, is essence–Masa is shibui.
Reservations
Masa’s operating hours for indoor dining are Tuesday-Saturday, 12pm–12:30pm and 5pm–8pm. Please note that we are closed on Thursday for lunch and not open for service Sunday and Monday. Masa is currently accepting reservations by email or through Tock.
The price for our Omakase is $750 per person, not including beverage and tax. This experience offers seating at a table in Masa’s intimate dining room.
Additionally, we offer our Hinoki Counter Experience. This experience is $950 per person, not including beverage and tax. This reservation guarantees seating at our carefully crafted sushi counter with one of our highly skilled sushi Chefs. Please allow approximately two hours for the dining experience. The dress code is casual and comfortable.
Corkage is $200 per bottle, maximum of 2 bottles. Please note we do not allow bottles currently offered on our beverage menu.
Please be advised of our Cancellation Policy. Should you need to cancel, change your reservation date, or decrease the number of guests. For parties up to 4 guests, cancellations must be made at least 48 hours prior to the reservation date. For parties of 5 or more, we require a large party contract booking which can be made by contacting jpark@masanyc.com. Please note failure to cancel or make any changes after your cancellation window forfeits your deposit.
We ask that guests limit the amount of perfume they wear, so as not to interfere with the experience of other guests. Please be conscious of the amount of perfume or cologne you apply before your meal.
Masa also offers offsite catering for events of any size. Please view our Catering Deck here.
+01 212 823 9800 office
+01 212 823 9809 fax
10 Columbus Circle
Time Warner Center, 4th Floor
New York, NY 10019
Reservations are released 30 days in advance on the first of every month.
To book a table, please find us on Tock at exploretock.com/masa.
For all press inquiries or special event requests, please contact
Jeannette Park at jpark@masanyc.com.
For career opportunities at Masa, Bar Masa and Kappo Masa, please send your CV to our HR department at joe@tmgtnyc.com.