Masa Restaurants

What Masa Restaurants does

Masa Restaurants is the eponymous Japanese fine-dining group founded by Chef Masayoshi Takayama in 2004, anchored by the three-Michelin-star Masa restaurant at 10 Columbus Circle in New York. The flagship is a 26-seat, omakase-only venue offering three price tiers: Masa Lunch ($495 per person), Classic Omakase at a Table ($750), and the signature Hinoki Counter Experience ($950). Each seating features a seasonal progression of roughly 5–6 appetizers followed by 15–17 pieces of sushi, served at a single solid Hinoki wood counter that is sanded daily. The restaurant operates on a strictly reservation-only model via Tock and OpenTable and accepts no walk-ins or delivery.

The group has extended the Masa brand through a portfolio of related concepts: Bar Masa (adjacent upscale bar on the same floor), Kappo Masa (a 2014 joint venture with art dealer Larry Gagosian on Madison Avenue), Tobi Masa (international location at The Chancery Rosewood in Mayfair, London), and Masa Designs (a tableware and dish-wear collection at masadesigns.com). Revenue is generated through per-cover omakase pricing, a curated beverage program (rare sakes, premium wines, $300 corkage), and a private events vertical offering full buyouts for up to 45 guests. Marketing relies almost entirely on Michelin-star reputation, word of mouth, an Instagram presence (@chefmasanyc), and an email guest list.

Name

Masa Restaurants

Legal name

Masa

Website

https://masanyc.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2004

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Masa Restaurants operates a portfolio of Japanese omakase dining concepts founded by Chef Masayoshi Takayama, anchored by the three-Michelin-star 26-seat flagship in New York and extended through Bar Masa, Kappo Masa, Tobi Masa in London, and Masa Designs tableware.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Japanese Fine Dining Restaurants (Omakase)

NAICS

Full-Service Restaurants (722511)

SIC

Retail-Eating & Drinking Places (5810)

akta.pro primary industry

Chef’s Table & Tasting Menu Restaurants (THAFACAG)

Keywords

• Japanese omakase dining
• Sushi restaurant
• Fine dining experience
• Michelin star restaurant
• Private dining events

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Omakase Dining: The primary revenue stream is omakase dining experiences. Masa offers three distinct experiences: Masa Lunch ($495 per person), Classic Omakase at Table ($750 per person), and Hinoki Counter Experience ($950 per person). All prices exclude beverages, tax, and optional gratuity. The restaurant seats approximately 26 guests for the main omakase experience.
2. Beverage Program: Revenue from a curated beverage program featuring rare and premium sakes, refined wine list, and signature cocktails. Corkage fee of $300 per bottle (maximum 2 bottles per reservation). Pairings available upon request.
3. Private Events: Full buyouts, private or semi-private dining, and full sushi counter experiences. Full buyout accommodates 32 seated or 45 standing guests. Dining room seats 22. Sushi counter seats 10. Custom menu design and beverage pairings available.
4. Masa Designs: Chef Masa's dish-wear and tableware collections sold through masadesigns.com, extending the Masa brand experience into consumer products.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Masa Restaurants operates a portfolio of Japanese omakase-only fine dining concepts created by Chef Masayoshi Takayama. Its core offering is a reservation-only omakase tasting experience at the three Michelin-starred flagship restaurant in New York, with three pricing tiers (Masa Lunch $495, Classic Omakase at a Table $750, Hinoki Counter $950 per person), built on a seasonal menu of 5-6 small appetizers followed by 15-17 pieces of sushi. Adjacent concepts include Bar Masa (bar service), Kappo Masa (casual-dining partnership with Larry Gagosian), Tobi Masa (London at Rosewood Hotels), and Masa Designs (branded dish-wear).

Product overview

Masa Restaurants is a portfolio of Japanese culinary experiences led by Chef Masayoshi Takayama. The core offering is the three Michelin-starred omakase-only restaurant Masa in New York, offering three distinct dining formats: the signature Hinoki Counter Omakase ($950/person), Classic Omakase at a Table ($750/person), and Masa Lunch Omakase ($495/person). The portfolio expands through affiliated concepts including Bar Masa (adjacent upscale bar), Kappo Masa (Upper East Side casual dining partnered with Larry Gagosian), Tobi Masa (London at Rosewood Hotels), and Masa Designs (dish-wear collection). The group also offers private event services including full buyouts and semi-private dining for up to 45 guests.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Bar Masa: Japanese cuisine and bar service located adjacent to Masa on the 4th Floor, 10 Columbus Circle
• Kappo Masa
• Tobi Masa
• Masa Designs

Products and services

• Masa (New York) - Flagship Omakase Restaurant The three Michelin-starred omakase-only flagship restaurant located at 10 Columbus Circle, 4th Floor, New York, offering Chef Masa Takayama's signature omakase experience with traditional Japanese technique and modern artistry in an intimate 26-seat setting.
• Masa Lunch Omakase Abbreviated omakase menu focusing on sushi and sashimi, featuring Chef Masa's signature Toro Tartare Caviar followed by seasonal nigiri selection and light seasonal fruit for dessert. Priced from $495 per person, excluding beverages, tax, and optional gratuity. Available Tuesday to Saturday, 12:00-2:30 PM.
• Classic Omakase at a Table Omakase experience where guests are seated in the main dining room with a dedicated service team member guiding the experience. Priced at $750 per person, excluding beverages, tax, and optional gratuity.
• Hinoki Counter Omakase Signature premium dining experience where guests are seated at the single-piece Hinoki wood sushi counter (sanded daily) with a skilled sushi chef personally guiding them through the omakase journey. Priced at $950 per person, excluding beverages, tax, and optional gratuity.
• Private Events at Masa Private dining and event services at the flagship Masa restaurant for corporate dinners, milestone celebrations, and intimate family gatherings. Inquiries handled through the Tripleseat platform with custom menu and beverage pairing options.
• Bar Masa Upscale Japanese cuisine and bar service venue adjacent to the flagship Masa restaurant on the fourth floor of 10 Columbus Circle, featuring menus, glasses, and alcohol in a neighboring but distinct setting.
• Kappo Masa Kappo-style Japanese dining experience in partnership with art dealer Larry Gagosian, located at 976 Madison Avenue, Manhattan. Offers a more casual dining experience while maintaining the high culinary standards and precision of the Masa brand.
• Tobi Masa Japanese dining venue at The Chancery Rosewood hotel in Mayfair, London, extending Chef Masa Takayama's culinary vision to European clientele.
• Masa Designs Chef Masa's collection of dish-wear and tableware featuring vessels selected and designed for use in omakase presentations, sold directly to consumers through the masadesigns.com e-commerce site.

Quantifiable outcome

• First Japanese restaurant in U.S. to receive three Michelin stars
• +1 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Larry GagosiancoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2014In 2014, Chef Masa partnered with renowned art dealer Larry Gagosian to open Kappo Masa located below Gagosian Gallery on Madison Avenue in Manhattan's Upper East Side. This venture offers a more casual dining experience while maintaining the high standards associated with the Masa brand. The menu complements Chef's tasting journey while maintaining the same level of precision and artistry.
• Bar MasacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBar Masa is located adjacent to Masa on the fourth floor of The Shops at Columbus Circle. It offers menus, glasses and alcohol in a neighboring but distinct venue. The bar complements the fine dining experience of Masa restaurant with a separate but related hospitality offering.
• Rosewood Hotels (Tobi Masa)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTobi Masa is located at The Chancery Rosewood hotel in Mayfair, London. This represents Masa's international presence and partnership with Rosewood Hotels, bringing the Masa culinary experience to European clientele at 30 Grosvenor Square, Mayfair, London W1K 6AN.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Sushi Yasuda: Long-running, highly regarded NYC omakase and sushi restaurant drawing a similar HNW/upmarket clientele — a direct competitor in the same price-tier Japanese dining segment.
• Noz: High-end omakase counter in NYC with a comparable chef-driven, reservation-only format and similar per-cover pricing, directly competing for the same ultra-luxury sushi guest in Manhattan.
• Ichimura at Sushi Sho: NYC Michelin-recognized omakase counter with a small seat count and chef-led tasting progression — closely aligned with Masa's intimate, no-menu, single-chef format.
• Chef's Table at Brooklyn Fare: NYC three-Michelin-star tasting-menu counter run by a single chef — same chef's-table format, ticket pricing, and ultra-small footprint as Masa's flagship.
• Sushi Ginza Onodera: Premium omakase group operating in NYC, Tokyo, and Honolulu; same Edomae-style tasting format and per-cover pricing tier as Masa, with a multi-city footprint comparable to Masa's NYC + London model.
• Sushi Saito: Three-Michelin-star Edomae omakase in Tokyo with an extremely small counter and an exclusive, regular-guest model — the most direct international benchmark to Masa's status and format.
• Hashiri: Premium Japanese tasting-menu restaurant known for using the 'Ichiban' (single best seasonal ingredient per course) approach; operates at similar price points and serves the same Michelin-grade Japanese fine-dining guest.
• Sukiyabashi Jiro: Legendary 10-seat Tokyo omakase and former three-Michelin-star benchmark for the chef's-table sushi format — establishes the global price/format ceiling Masa and its US peers benchmark against.

Broad incumbents

• Per Se: Thomas Keller's three-Michelin-star NYC tasting-menu restaurant; directly comparable in prestige, prix-fixe pricing, and NYC trophy real estate positioning, though not a Japanese concept.
• Eleven Madison Park: NYC three-Michelin-star plant-based tasting menu and one of a handful of U.S. restaurants at the same prestige tier as Masa, but operating broadly in fine dining rather than Japanese omakase specifically.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/chefmasanyc
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/masa-restaurants

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Masa Restaurants