I wanted to share an updated review of Hirō Ishizaka, a 1-Michelin Star sushi restaurant located in the Hirō neighborhood of Tokyo, Japan. This past year, I’ve had many Redditors reach out directly to me asking about the restaurant, inquiring about reservations, and sharing positive experiences. Almost everyone has asked, “Why isn’t this place more popular? Is there something I’m missing?”
Ishizaka-san opened his namesake restaurant in September 2022 after serving as the head chef at Nishiazabu Taku for 6 years while Takuya-san was in Hawaii serving as Nakazawa-san’s second chef at Sushi Sho Hawaii. His Tabelog score hovers around an absurdly low 3.34. This is mostly because of the low review account and no reviews from “super reviewers.” I’ve recommended this restaurant to many this past year and most have shared afterwards that it was one of their most enjoyable meals while in Japan.
There’s little resemblance to Ishizaka-san’s course from Nishiazabu Taku. He started with a clean slate and implemented a Otsumami-to-Nigiri flow rather than the Sho-style course at Nishiazabu Taku. Shari is a komezu/akazu blend with the akazu adding a more prominent punch than other restaurants doing a similar blend.
Here’s a summary of the course from this December.
- Seiko Crab with Roe and Shari
- Tai and Wild Hotate
- Ankimo with a Daikon/Ponzu Sauce
- Shirako with a Shoyu/Shichimi Sauce
- Buri Daikon
- Chu Toro
- Sayori
- Ika
- Saba with Senmaizuke***
- Akami
- Sawada
- Iwashi***
- Buri
- Bafun Uni
- Otoro
- Kasugodai
- Amaebi
- Shiitake Nigiri***
- Anago
- Tamago
- Strawberry (from Nara)
*** = Top 3 Dishes
Reservations are taken by phone or SMS for new customers (SMS in English okay). Availability is typically wide open at 2 months out. The counter seats 8 but he rarely books out any one seating. There are typically two seatings, 6 and 9pm, but there’s flexibility in how he manages things. It’s just Ishizaka-san and his wife running the entire operation.
Damage for this course with a half bottle of champagne and free flowing sake all evening was 40K Yen per person.
I highly recommend visiting if you’re looking for somewhere that isn’t overly lauded with attention. This meal was one of my favorites of the year, and it’s hard to beat the cost-performance anywhere else in Tokyo.
by m046186