Tokyo kawaii cuteness has made its way to NYC by way of a new conveyor-belt sushi spot, Sushidelic. And if bright, neon colors, playful food, and the chance to celebrate your individuality tickles your fancy, you’ll want to add this spot to your list.
Sushidelic is the brain child of Tokyo-born multi-disciplinary artist, Sebastian Masuda, who also happens to be the one behind Harajuku’s Kawaii Monster Café, which opened in 2015 but sadly closed during Covid.
Masuda wears the title of being the leading man behind “kawaii,” Japanese culture’s cute aspect that emphasizes the quality of cuteness, the use of bright colors, and characters with a childlike appearance. He’s long pushed for kawaii culture to be an inclusive means of expression and a way to bring the world together.
“If I can help people recognize the kawaii spirit in others, acknowledge this inquisitiveness, then I think I can create better relationships and a better world,” he says.
Kawaii has very much become a global phenomenon, making its way into many aspects of modern life, including art, fashion, technology, and even food.
And Sushidelic is the epitome of kawaii and food colliding.
The restaurant totally reimagines sushi from an immersive kawaii perspective. Massive cat heads hang from the ceiling, lights resemble lipstick tubes, and a sushi conveyor belt circles through the bar and kitchen carrying with it Masuda’s art pieces, from a neon patchwork teddy bear to red bedazzled high heels.
And the bold colors of the kawaii movement carry through the food, which features tuna with pink rice on turquoise macarons, a selection of bright dips served with tempura, and a colorful main course served in a sundae glass. All oftsite which work seamlessly with the $85, six-course “Pure Imagination” omakase special (vegetarian options are available as well).
The restaurant also offers a selection of sake and other Japanese-inspired cocktails, as well as a curated selection of non-alcoholic beverages. And you can even grab food to-go via vending machines.
What Masuda refers to as the “new generation of sushi,” Sushidelic is definitely a welcomed contrast from NYC’s typical omakase spots, which typically are more formal. The restaurant offers both indoor and outdoor seating.
And hey, we can guarantee you that a meal at Sushidelic is much cheaper than catching a flight to Tokyo, so that’s definitely a plus!
Learn more and make reservations on their website.
📍 177 Lafayette St.
⏰ Tuesday-Saturday 5 p.m. – 11 p.m.