Sushi Katsuei

"Let’s keep this simple: Sushi Katsuei serves the best sushi in Brooklyn. It’s also one of very few places in the city you can get a legit omakase experience for under $50. For the most part, we could probably leave the review at that SparkNotes version: best sushi in the borough, at a price that won’t make you broke. But for those completists among you who actually read all of Crime And Punishment in school and still watch Grey’s Anatomy because you are NOT a quitter, here are the brief but unabridged details. Sushi Katsuei is a pretty nondescript-looking sushi restaurant in Park Slope - white walls, carpeted floor, plain wood tables. It’s not a divey hole in the wall, but it’s also not the library-type setting of super serious Midtown sushi places. So on the surface, it’s nothing too notable. What is notable, however, is the $45 omakase, which comes with 9 pieces of sushi and a toro handroll. It’s not cheap, so it’s hard to call it a “deal,” but it’s just as good as, if not better than many places that charge twice as much for roughly the same thing. Katsuei is basically the Brooklyn version of Sushi Dojo, which also serves a $45 omakase, but in the East Village. If we had to pick between the two? We’d hit up whichever is closer to your current location. Neither one is the kind of place you’d travel halfway across the world for, but both are definitely worth a few subway stops. If you’re still reading, you know what to do. If you just skipped to the end, the summary still stands: best fancy sushi in Brooklyn. Food Rundown Daikon Salad The omakase is satisfying, but you’ll have room for an appetizer. Try the daikon salad, which comes with slivers of pickled daikon and some other little crunchy things. Agedashi Tofu Another strong appetizer move. Fried bits of tofu that are soft on the inside, sitting in a light broth. Omakase A nine-piece chef’s choice sushi order, plus a perfect toro handroll. The nigiri pieces aren’t topped with crazy things like truffle oil and quail eggs like they might be at a place like Sushi Of Gari, but they’re not plain either - expect some light seasonings and sauces on top of your pieces. It’s a mix of your usual raw fatty tuna, salmon, yellowtail, and sea urchin, as well as some more unusual pieces like scored squid." - Hillary Reinsberg

"Sushi Katsuei is a pretty nondescript-looking sushi restaurant in Park Slope—white walls, carpeted floor, plain wood tables. They also serve the best sushi in the area, and the prices are pretty reasonable (at least for quality sushi). The basic omakase starts at $60, and that's what you should order, but there are also some pricier versions, in addition to plenty of a la carte options. Expect things like sardine, ocean trout, and various types of clam." - willa moore, neha talreja, will hartman

"Katsuei’s sushi platters are arguably the best option when it comes to sushi quality and price in the city. The $65 omakase includes premium pieces like toro, barracuda, and firefly squid, but even the $35 option gets you nine different pieces of delicious fish and a roll. Order from either their West Village location or the original in Park Slope." - matt tervooren

"We always recommend Sushi Katsuei to anyone looking for a terrific, creative omakase that they can eat without feeling like Mr. Monopoly. Their omakase options start at $57 for nine pieces and a handroll, often highlighting unusual pieces like firefly squid or ocean trout (along with typical fan favorites like toro and uni). You can also order from their extensive à la carte menu. While the sushi is top-tier, the space is notably nondescript, with low ceilings that make you feel like you’re in someone's basement. If you want more ambience, try the West Village location." - neha talreja

"Sushi Katsuei has some of the best sushi in Brooklyn, and their excellent $57 omakase is a great deal. But they also have an extensive à la carte menu as well as a $35 "sushi deluxe," which means you can get in and out with a quality meal for less money. If you aren’t in Brooklyn, there’s a second location in the West Village." - Team Infatuation