Chef Gang Lin, an alum of some of New York’s priciest sushi counters, is stepping into the spotlight with Sushi Kobashi, an eight-seat omakase operation planned for Chelsea. Permit documents reviewed by neighborhood outlets put the tiny counter at 211 7th Ave, with a tasting menu starting at $250 per guest. Lin has already previewed Kobashi’s menu in a pop-up and says the omakase will lean on Chinese ingredients, backed by a tight, premium sake list built for an ultra-intimate service.
What the permit shows
The permit application filed with Community Board 4, reported by What Now New York, lays out a small but serious setup at 211 7th Ave. The filing describes an eight-seat counter, a handful of à la carte sushi and sashimi options, and an omakase that starts at $250 per guest. It also calls out a focused sake program and other service details. According to What Now New York, the outlet has reached out to the operator for additional comment.
From Yoshino to Kobashi
Local previews report that Lin spent the last five years serving as the right hand to Tadashi Yoshida at Yoshino before striking out on his own, according to FOUND. Yoshino is listed in the MICHELIN Guide, which puts Lin squarely in the camp of chefs trained at some of the city’s most exacting sushi counters.
FOUND and other outlets also note that Lin tested the waters for Kobashi with a pop-up at Sushi Aozora before moving ahead with plans for his own dedicated space.
Where it fits in NYC’s omakase scene
For context, Sushi Aozora’s 16-course omakase has been cited at $165 by national coverage, a reference point that, per Forbes, places Kobashi’s $250 starting price toward the premium end of Manhattan’s counter scene. The tiny-counter format, a chef-front-and-center tasting with very limited seating and a strong beverage program, is already a New York staple. Kobashi’s promised Chinese-inflected touches and sake-forward approach are angling for a distinctive slot in Chelsea’s dining mix.
If the permit process moves ahead and the space is refitted for the new setup, reservations will almost certainly be scarce by design.
Business filings and the space
Public business records show that a corporate entity named Sushi Kobashi Inc. was formed in 2025, according to filings compiled by bizprofile. The project is slated for 211 7th Ave, an address currently tied to a neighborhood sushi spot, suggesting a shift from an everyday counter to a tighter, omakase-focused experience, based on the listing for the existing business. Running the plan through Community Board 4 is a standard step for a change in operating model at a small restaurant.
The filing does not list a firm opening date. With only eight seats, Sushi Kobashi is likely to be a tough ticket once service begins. What Now New York reports that it has requested more details, and for now, diners curious about Lin’s style may have to keep an eye out for additional pop-ups and previews that often precede the launch of tiny sushi counters.
