Sushi · Sashimi · Maki

Where the shari
breathes.

Craft sushi rooted in Japanese technique — Hokkaido salmon, Toyosu market tuna, shari seasoned with Kyushu red vinegar. No shortcuts. No pretense.

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19
Years of Craft
40+
Rolls on the Menu
3
Daily Fish Deliveries
98%
Happy Guests
Shio sushi chef at work
Our Story

Started at a
fish market
in Osaka.

In 2012, chef Kenji Watanabe left his station at a Michelin-starred kappo in Shinsaibashi and boarded a flight west — not to build a fusion concept, but to bring the disciplined honesty of Osaka's casual sushi culture to a new city.

Shio — the Japanese word for salt — takes its name from the restraint at the core of good sushi. The right amount of sea salt, the right rice temperature, the right cut angle. Everything speaks through proportion, not decoration.

We source tuna through Toyosu market connections, Hokkaido scallop arrives twice weekly, and our shari is seasoned with red vinegar from a 170-year-old Kyushu komezu producer. The umami builds itself. Our job is not to interfere.

Daily Fresh Fish
Three deliveries, zero freezing
Seasonal Craft
Menu shifts with the market
Shari Precision
Kyushu komezu, 38°C
No Shortcuts
Made to order, every time
Drinks

Sake, Shochu & Cold Brew

Curated pairings chosen to complement the umami in each dish. Our sake list favors junmai and junmai ginjo — rice-forward, without the sugar.

日本酒 Sake

Dassai 45 Junmai Daiginjo $16 / glass

Yamaguchi Prefecture · Fruity, clean, long finish · Pairs with toro and hotate

Kubota Senju Junmai Ginjo $14 / glass

Niigata Prefecture · Dry, refined, mineral · Pairs with all nigiri

Hakutsuru Junmai (warm) $12 / glass

Hyogo Prefecture · Earthy, umami-rich, savory · Pairs with miso and tempura

ビール Beer

Sapporo Premium Draft $9 / pint

Hokkaido origin · Light, crisp, low bitterness · Ideal all-rounder

Kirin Ichiban $8 / bottle

Tokyo-style lager · Single-press brewing, pure grain malt

Yuzu Ramune (Soft) $5

Sparkling yuzu citrus · Perfect for non-drinkers or between courses

ウイスキー Whisky

Hibiki Harmony Highball $18

Suntory blend · Honey, orange peel · Served over large ice, fine bubbles

Nikka Coffey Grain Neat $22

Miyagikyo distillery · Vanilla, coconut, soft grain · Sip slowly

Shochu Rocks (Imo) $13

Sweet potato spirit from Kagoshima · Earthy, clean, lower ABV

Guest Reviews

What guests remember.

The Hotate & Yuzu roll stopped the whole table mid-conversation. The scallop was so clean you could taste Hokkaido in it. The shari temperature was exactly right — warm enough to melt the fat in the fish. I don't say this lightly: best sushi in this city.

Portrait of Maya Thornton
Maya Thornton
Food writer · January 2025

Ordered the Chef's Nigiri Set without looking at the menu. Five pieces arrived like a meditation — each one different, each one precise. The moriwase sashimi that came after it was surgical. Real wasabi. They grated it at the table. I nearly cried.

Portrait of Daniel Osei
Daniel Osei
Regular guest · March 2025

Took my husband here for our anniversary on a friend's recommendation. The Dassai sake pairing with the maguro was inspired — the sommelier knew exactly what they were doing. The California Hosomaki alone is worth a dedicated visit. Proper crab, not imitation.

Portrait of Selin Aydin
Selin Aydin
Verified guest · February 2025
Visit Shio

Come hungry,
leave satisfied.

Address
48 Merchant Street, Nolita
New York, NY 10012
Hours
Tuesday – Thursday12:00 – 22:00
Friday – Saturday12:00 – 23:00
Sunday13:00 – 21:00
MondayClosed
Reservations
+1 (212) 555-0194
reservations@shiorestaurant.com

Book a table

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