Sushi Sakai — Restaurant in Fukuoka

這是我吃過價格最高的一餐，但是我一點都不後悔，或許有部分的靈魂根本不想回家，留在那裡了。

出發前才開始做功課研究了一下師傅堺大航的背景，沒想到他跟台北的天本師傅有點淵源，原本天本師傅在高玉工作，高玉是發跡於福岡的割烹，05年到台北展店，天本師傅也因此來到台灣。堺師傅原本也在福岡的高玉工作，三年後到東京的二星「すし処 海味（うみ）」師承壽司名家長野充靖，後來還介紹了天本師傅的哥哥到すし処 海味工作，所以堺師傅是天本師傅兄弟不同門的師兄弟（好繞舌好複雜🤣天本師傅的哥哥後來也在東京自立門戶，是東麻布天本）

不管他們錯綜複雜的關係，高玉是我的日料啟蒙，第一次去有日本師傅在店裡親自為大家服務的日料店就是高玉，嚐過一次之後驚為天人，從此心心念念，但是卻很難再嚐到真心覺得心滿意足的料理，後來才明白原來不是各種omasake我都喜歡，我只鍾愛江戶前風格的壽司店。

1979年次的堺師傅在2013年開始自立門戶，隔年便獲得米其林一星，2019年拿下三星的榮耀。2017年搬到現在的位置直至今日。

隱身於一幢低調但有質感的樓裡，充滿綠意的庭園造景，若不仔細留意樓層指引，很容易就會錯過它。鮨さかい在二樓，三樓是師傅弟子們服務的店「我逢人」，如同台北的鮨天本之於登龍門是相同的概念。

在預定時間前五分鐘入座，有一位母語是中文的外場協助華語使用者，其他人用英語和日語溝通（直到散場才發現店娘根本就是華人，中文流利的很）。換上室內拖鞋，將物品寄放後，兩位侍酒師會遞上酒水的menu詢問每個人想要什麼飲品，再度確認有沒有忌口的食材，需不需要購買外帶的壽司餐盒回家。

有單點的啤酒、氣泡水、礦泉水、Highball、茶飲，另外有sake & wine pairing/ sake pairing/ tea pairing可供選擇，¥12000起，還有一個非常特殊的Imperial...

Note: the entrance to the establishment is a bit hard to find on Google maps so please get there a few minutes before your reservation just in case!

The restaurant is immaculately clean. Food was excellent and service was great.

Patrons were offered an option for smaller/half portion rice with sushi, which is great for those watching their carbs intake 😂

One of the servers was a bit clumsy and knocked a patron's half glass of beer over. They then gave them the same amount (half a glass) of beer in a smaller glass.

The toilets were very clean and packeted mouth washers were...

Phenomenal experience. Obviously great sushi and service, not much I can say there that hasn’t been said already. Excellent staff, foreigner friendly. I was the only seating that couldn’t speak Japanese but was not left out at all.

Sakai himself is really cool. He stayed to talk after everyone left, which was really appreciated. He’s easily the friendliest and most approachable sushi master I’ve met.

Sakai is definitely worth a brief detour to Fukuoka every time you’re in the country. Plus the...