NYC: Chirashi sushi lunch at Genkiya Mart

Genkiya Mart is a Japanese grocery store and deli on Spring Street that I recently discovered and absolutely love. They’ve been around for a while, but I just hadn’t noticed them before. Inside, you’ll find an amazing array of Japanese snacks, including umeboshi (those salty/sour pickled plums that I’m completely addicted to). They also have a great seafood section perfect for picking up fresh ingredients for homemade sushi. But what really stood out to me was the deli section. Genkiya Mart has a tempting selection of hot and cold items, including various maki rolls, bento boxes and sushi.

I had the Chirashi sushi, and it was delicious. Chirashi sushi is like a deconstructed sushi platter with a base of sushi rice topped with an assortment of ingredients like raw fish, vegetables, egg (tamagoyaki), and other seafood such as shrimp, crab, and roe. The word “chirashi” means “scattered,” which perfectly describes the colorful toppings over the rice. It’s kind of like a poké bowl, but with only the best toppings. The Chirashi at Genkiya had a great fish-to-rice ratio, and the portion was big enough to be a satisfying lunch. At $13.95, it was a really good deal.

The store’s seating is limited, but if the weather is nice, you can take your food to the nearby DeSalvio playground and enjoy it in the sun. After 8pm, sushi, bento, and nigiri are 50% off.

Genkiya Mart, 54 Spring St, New York, NY 10012