I’m here today to tell you about my new favorite spot to eat in New York: Beyond Sushi. I’ve only been once, but I’m hooked… and I promise you will be, too.
Beyond Sushi is the mastermind of Hell’s Kitchen finalist Guy Vaknin, who was milling around the tiny kitchen making rolls, running deliveries, and talking to customers. He was a really nice, humble guy… the kind you really hope will succeed.
The space is a small hole-in-the-wall off of Union Square, but despite the size limitations they seem to be doing a pretty good business. Every table was filled, there were delivery and pick-up orders going out, and we still didn’t have to wait very long for our meal.
The menu is filled with fresh, wholesome ingredients and makes up one of the most creative sushi menus I’ve ever seen. The rolls are made with either black rice or six grain rice, and are topped with one of seven house-made sauces. And did I mention that everything in the store is 100% vegan? It’s not a limitation, though, as everything we tried bursts with an incredible amount of flavor.
Although two rolls are recommended per person, B and I ordered six to share… it was just too hard to choose! We tried the bottom six from the above menu; each taste was so different from the last. It was really hard to choose favorites, but I think my top two were the mighty mushroom- six grain rice with enoki, shitake, tofu, micro arugula and shitaki teriaki sauce and the spicy mang- black rice with avovcado, mango, cucumber, spicy veggie, and toasted cayenne sauce. The roll of the month was also to die for: dijon-crusted celery root with avocado and peaches topped with red cabbage, cilantro, and celery, finished with celery root purée and whiskey-marinated mustard seeds.
B and I ate virtually in silence, ooh-ing and aah-ing over our meal and telling all of the incoming customers how delicious the food they were about to eat was.
There’s also a beverage rack filled with kombucha, sparkling water, housemade blueberry lemonade and peach iced tea (sweetened by real peach pulp).
There are also a few ready-made items to grab and go, like this gorgeous salad I brought for lunch yesterday. It was filled with six grain rice, chopped romaine, sesame-flavored seaweed salad, hijiki seaweed, marinated carrots and asparagus, avocado, toasted cashews, and three different kinds of sauce. I definitely got some lunchspiration from this one!
It’s 7:30 AM, and my stomach is rumbling as I plan my return visit to Beyond Sushi. I have a feeling this place is going to explode to the mainstream soon, so get yourself there while you can still grab a seat!
