SUSHISHO MASA (NIshi Azabu)

Wanna go to one the best sushi restaurants in Tokyo? Well, your bill will be somewhere between 20,000-40,000 yen per person not including drinks. I personally don't trust Michelin or Zagat when I have to spend this much for dinner. For example, many of my friends ask me about Sukiyabashi Jiro, Michelin 3 star and one of the most famous sushi restaurants in Japan, where even one the most famous chef's in the world, Joel Robuchon dines whenever he is in Tokyo. Of course, the sushi is good, but there is almost zero service and you will be only eating there for 20 min, since chef Jiro will only provide a one course menu at his pace. And your bill will be over 35,000 yen. 35,000 yen plus for 20 min? I could never do it again. For me, if I had to spend so much for top sushi, of course fish has to be top quality, but also how the rice is flavored and service of the chef is important as well. A fairly new sushi restaurant in Nishi Azabu called SUSHISHO MASA is one of the few top sushi restaurants which satisfies all my needs.



Chef Masa trained at Umi in Aoyama and Sushi Sho in Yotsuya. After training at such top Tokyo sushi restaurants, he even went out of Tokyo to train at other top sushi restaurants, which is very rare. I was taken to Sushisho Masa for a business dinner and loved everything about the restaurant. Fish, rice and especially chef Masa will make sure customers will go home satisfied with at least his service. His sushi isn't the typical Edo-Mae Sushi (authentic Tokyo style sushi), its a mixture of all kinds of sushi.



For example, he will serve Anago (sea eel), one with salt and the other with tsume (sweet sauce).



Ikura (salmon roe) won't be wrapped around with seaweed.



Fishes like Nodoguro, which is usually only used at sushi restaurants in Kanazawa will be available when its in season,



and also, Kinmedai-no aburi (lightly grilled golden eye sea bream) is another sushi you won't find at most sushi restaurants.



Of course, edo-mae sushi like Akami-no zuke (seasoned red tuna),



Kasugo-no oborozuke (seasoned small red fish) ,



and Shime saba (marinated mackerel) is served,



There are only seven seats at Sushisho Masa and also no menu except for the sake list. Start with some sashimi first and then move on to sushi like most people do at a top sushi restaurant. Just tell chef Masa what you don't like and he will serve you accordingly. Since his restaurant has become so popular now, you will have to make a reservation 4-6 weeks in advance (if its past 11pm you might be able to get a table earlier), but chef Masa who will remind you of an one to one marketing expert will make sure that you had a great night dining at his restaurant. He is one of the great young chef's in Tokyo.


SUSHISHO MASA （in Japanese, すし匠 まさ）
Address: 4-1-15 Nishiazabu, Minato-ku, Tokyo (basement floor)
(in Japanese, 東京都港区西麻布4-1-15 セブン西麻布　B1F)
Nearest train station: Tokyo Metro Hiroo or Roppongi (12 min walk)
Tel: [phone]
Reservations: Yes (only)
Website: None
English menu: No
Credit Card: Yes (VISA, AMEX, JCB only)
Open: Tuesday- Thursday 6pm-1am, Friday & Saturday 6pm-3am
Sunday & Holidays 6pm-11:30pm
Closed: Monday

Price: 20,000-30,000 yen



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