Sushi Sukiyaki Tempura Restaurant Akamechan — Restaurant in Kanazawa

From the moment I stepped inside, I was greeted with genuine warmth by the incredibly kind staff and the seasoned itamae (板前), Mr. Shimizu, a true sushi master with over 50 years of experience behind the counter 👨🏻‍🍳

His craftsmanship was evident in every bite, each piece of sushi delicately prepared with precision and care. The ingredients were clearly chosen with intention, and the flavors were balanced and authentic. I particularly enjoyed the tempura, light, crisp, and perfectly done. Compared to many other places I’ve been, the experience here felt far more traditional and personal. 🍣🍤

The atmosphere was intimate and inviting, filled with the cheerful hum of regulars and locals who clearly felt at home there 😊. One of the unexpected highlights was meeting Komugi (小麦), their charming little robot pet whose name means “wheat.” Interacting with it added a delightful touch to the evening. 🤖🌾

I arrived around 9:23 PM, just minutes before the last order at 9:30 PM, yet they welcomed me in without hesitation. Though the staff’s English wasn’t fluent, they went out of their way to help me understand the menu and ensure I had a great experience, especially the chef where he was instructing them and coming to my chair and explain it to me. Their kindness didn’t know a language barrier. 🙏🏼

Let me share a funny story that I’ll never forget. When they found out I was from Saudi Arabia, they lit up with excitement. It turns out the chef’s grandson was currently competing in the Olympics held in the same city I live in! We ended up bonding over this incredible coincidence, watching his race together (after the restaurant had technically closed), and celebrating his first-place win right there on the spot. He won the final round (by a split of 0.01s) after I left the restaurant, congratulations to the family!🥇👏🏼

To top it all off, Mr. Shimizu even called his son over to meet me and personally invited me to their second location just down the street. I left with not only a full heart and stomach, but also a treasured memory, finished off with a group photo with the family and the two new friends I met during the meal. 😁🙏🏼❤️

It was one of the most heartwarming and unforgettable dining experiences I’ve ever had. I’ll absolutely be returning if I am...

one of the best sushi quality we had some vegetarian options

We visited the restaurant during the evening with no reservation. The waiter told us it will take some time, and we waited for about 45 mins outside. What stuck is that we had to wait another 15 mins to finally order. There was plenty of personell in comparison to the few seats (6 employees / ~ 20 seats). However, we had the feeling only the chef really worked. Others mostly stood aside and looked fierce, especially an older lady We had to wait very long for our food (about 1 hour), and all came separately and not together. In comparison, a Japanese customer went in and received all his food within about 10 minutes. One waiter was obviously ill / had a cold and a strongly running nose. We were surprised that he went to the kitchen (hygiene) We travelled Japan for 4 weeks already. We never experienced such a bad service with regards to hospitality. Furthermore, they forgot some of our ordered food twice. When we asked for the bill, we initially only received a piece of paper with the total amount, no individual positions. Once we received an actual receipt, one position stated “Tempura for Foreigners only” (in Japanese). I didn’t mind the price, since it matched what was stated in the menu. However, it still seems a bit weird. Feels like it’s a “special” (higher?) price for foreigners.

Overall, the sushi chef is very skilled and the food is very delicious - but the service is on a very low end, at least for foreigners. Therefore, we cannot agree with the current rating of...

Very small and intimate place. The head sushi chef and staff are all very friendly and eager to teach customers how to correctly eat sushi and sukiyaki if they are not experienced. They have English menu for foreigners. The sashimi and sushi overall have been great. The recommended menu set is also a great value as it includes variety of sushi, sukiyaki and a drink.

However, there are a few things I recommend the restaurants do to help fellow customers:

The alcohol menu especially the beer doesn't tell the milliliter size so it's very hard to tell what size to get. The medium to large is double the size which made medium felt like a small. The service needs some improvement as there are enough servers in the restaurants to spot what's finished and which drinks to refill. I think the attendants need to be more active at noticing what customers need especially when it comes to dishes that are done and glasses that need to be refilled. I also recommend the restaurant bring out the induction heater when the guest is done with sushi or else the eating space feels very crowded.

Overall, I am very happy with my dinner. The atmosphere is very cozy and the staffs are all great. Great...