Possibly the Upper East Side’s Best Sushi Deal

Anyone else do Sushi Sunday? For the past decade-plus, we’ve been going to Isohama for their “early bird” sushi special. (This intro really makes me sound old.)

This small and cute restaurant has been open since 1997, and while I know there are lots of sushi specials in the neighborhood, this one has stood the test of time because it’s actually really good. I should give the caveat that this is not Nobu or Sushi of Gari, but it is a great place for a simple sushi dinner.

The restaurant’s early bird special is available each day from 5pm to 7pm and costs $17.50 for soup or salad, an entree, rice, and dessert (which is always ice-cream). There are plenty of choices, but we almost always get the same thing: Maki Combination for Nate with California, tuna, and spicy yellowtail rolls; and the Maguro "N" Sake for me, which is three tuna and salmon nigiri and a California roll. You can also get cooked food like tempura or yakitori.

Something else I love about the place is that the staff is so nice, and they’ve all worked there forever and seem to remember us each time we come in, which is always a nice feeling in NYC.

Isohama is located at 1666 3rd Ave, btw 93rd & 94th.