Where to find the best sushi joints in Tokyo, according to top sushi chef Kenjiro Hashida
The Singapore-based chef shares his picks of sushi restaurants to book in Tokyo
By Kissa Castañeda -
The stereotypical sushi chef is someone who is rigid and austere, pretty much in the mould of chef Jiro Ono, whose artistry was chronicled in the hit documentary Jiro Dreams of Sushi. Chef Kenjiro Hashida, who goes by the nickname “Hatch” (@topdoghatch on Instagram), is pretty much the opposite. He jokes and laughs when behind the sushi counter at Hashida Singapore, his acclaimed restaurant in Amoy Street. And when he’s not cooking, the Krug Ambassador chef is known for his flamboyant fashion sense and jovial approach to life in general.
But that shouldn’t detract from how serious he is about his craft. Chef Hashida is a second generation sushi chef who was trained by his father, a master sushi chef in Tokyo. He takes this solid foundation and builds from it in his own restaurant where he serves his signature toro roll—expertly sliced paper-thin pieces of fatty tuna wrapped around delicate rice. It’s a flavour bomb and that alone is worth going to his restaurant.
Chef Hashida respects tradition but also prizes evolution, which is also seen in his approach in reconstructing his family’s restaurant in Tokyo, which re-opened a year ago. Located in Kachidoki, a district near Ginza, Hashida Tokyo is a fresh take on a sushi restaurant that honours its past. When they tore down the original venue, they saved certain pieces of wood and decor and included them in the creation of Hashida Tokyo. It’s not as much as a new establishment, but a new chapter
The unassuming entrance opens to reveal three floors: a sushi restaurant on the ground floor where they do omakase and amazing lunch deals; a dessert bar on the second floor where they serve Japanese sweets and exquisite tea; and a stylish private room on the third floor.
As expected, the restaurant is a family affair: his sister manages the front of house while chef Hashida splits his time between the two restaurants in Singapore and Tokyo. Apart from securing a table at Hashida Tokyo, he opens his black book of his favourite sushi places in the city where you’re guaranteed not just food but a cultural experience like no other.
Founded in 1935, this one Michelin star sushi restaurant has spanned four generations and is one of the oldest places to enjoy sushi in Tokyo.
Ginza Sushi-kou Honten is at 6-3-8 Ginza, Chuo City, Tokyo 104-0061, Japan
Googlemaps: https://g.co/kgs/oYH9hw
A highly-rated restaurant and consistently one of the hardest tables to book in Tokyo, Sushi Sawada is the epitome of an authentic, Zen-like sushi experience.
Sushi Sawada is at 3F, 5-9-19 Ginza, Chuo City, Tokyo 104-0061, Japan
Googlemaps: https://g.co/kgs/tdU4PC
Located in the “shitamachi” (downtown area) of Ningyocho, Kizushi is an established restaurant that serves classic Edomae sushi and makes all its guests, including first-timers, warmly welcomed.
Kizushi is at 2-7-13 Nihonbashiningyōchō, Chuo City, Tokyo 103-0013, Japan
Googlemaps: https://g.co/kgs/dgejuw
Just a few streets away from Ginza Six is this gem of a sushi restaurant. Make sure you have space for chef Sato’s 32-piece nigiri set—definitely worth every calorie.
Hakkoku is a 3F 6-7-6 Ginza, Chuo City, Tokyo, 104-0061 Japan
Googlemap: https://g.co/kgs/4wWHVG
This is not a typical sushi experience: chef/owner Katsu Nakaji, who is a third generation chef, warms the fish on a hot plate and seasons them before serving. A must-visit for those who want a new take on the Japanese culinary tradition.
Hatsune Sushi is at 5-20-2 Nishikamata, Ota City, Tokyo 144-0051, Japan
Googlemap: https://g.co/kgs/DWiD3N