Masa Takayama's three-star hinoki counter, the most expensive seat in New York — book three weeks out on Tock for a once-in-a-decade dinner.
The Reservation Problem at Masa
The toro is the test. It arrives barely cool, cut to a thickness Masa Takayama has settled on over thirty years, and it is the moment people remember. Twenty-six seats sit at a single hinoki counter, refinished daily. That scarcity is the whole problem.
Masa opened in 2004 on the fourth floor of the Time Warner Center at 10 Columbus Circle and has held three Michelin stars since 2009. It is the most expensive restaurant in the city. There is no menu; you eat what Takayama serves.
How to Book Masa
Masa books prepaid on Tock at exploretock.com/masa. Tables open about three weeks out and the prime evenings clear within the day. Dinner runs Tuesday to Saturday, 5:00 to 9:30, with lunch the same days from noon. The phone line is (212) 823-9807 for large parties and questions.
Because Tock is prepaid, you pay when you book, and the cancellation terms are strict. Set an alarm for the date your target evening clears the three-week line. Take a weekday or an early seating if a Saturday will not appear. Solo and pairs have the best odds at the counter.
What You Eat
The omakase is long and silent. Expect the caviar-topped toro tartare, kegani crab tuned to the season, geoduck nigiri, and a run of otoro that justifies the spend. Sake and the toro flight push the bill past 1,000 dollars fast. Eat slowly; the pacing is the experience.
The Smart Play
Three weeks out, the minute the window turns, is when the counter exists. If you cannot face the prepaid set price, Sushi Nakazawa and Sushi Noz sit a tier down for far less. Bar Masa next door takes the same kitchen à la carte and is the walk-in answer on any night.
Not for a casual night or a tight budget. Masa is a prepaid, set-price omakase north of 750 dollars before sake, and there is no à la carte mercy at the counter.
View Masa on Restaurants for Kings →
Related Reading
- Our full profile: Masa, the priciest counter in New York.
- The wider city: New York dining guide and the hardest restaurant reservations in New York.
- Strategy: how to get impossible restaurant reservations.
- By tier: how far ahead to book each Michelin tier.
- Sibling guides: how to book Jungsik and how to book Le Bernardin.
- Nearby counters: Sushi Nakazawa and Sushi Noz.
Frequently Asked Questions
How hard is it to book Masa?
Hard, but mechanical. Masa releases its 26 counter seats on prepaid Tock about three weeks out, and the prime Friday and Saturday evenings clear within the day. Weekday and early seatings linger longer, and solo diners or pairs have the best odds. Set an alarm for the date your target evening clears the window and book at the minute it opens.
How far in advance should I book Masa?
About three weeks. Masa runs a rolling window on Tock, so the date you want appears roughly three weeks before the evening itself. There is no months-out waitlist to join; you simply catch the window when it turns. For a Saturday, be ready at the exact minute. For a weekday or a lunch, a few days is often enough.
How much does Masa cost?
Plan on roughly 750 to 1,200 dollars a head before drinks, and Masa is widely the most expensive restaurant in New York. The price is fixed and prepaid through Tock when you book. Sake, tea, and the supplemental toro push the total higher. There is no à la carte option at the counter; you commit to the full omakase.
What should I order at Masa?
You do not order; Masa Takayama decides. The omakase moves through caviar-topped toro tartare, kegani crab, geoduck nigiri, and a long run of otoro. The toro is the dish the room is built around. If you want sake, ask the team to pair rather than picking from the list. Eat slowly and let the pacing carry you.
Can you walk in to Masa?
No, the counter is prepaid and reserved through Tock only. But Bar Masa, next door on the same floor, takes the same kitchen à la carte and is far more flexible for walk-ins and shorter notice. If the three-week Tock window will not produce a seat, Bar Masa is the answer, and the Michelin booking guide covers the wider strategy.