Shutoku ganso — Restaurant in Tokyo

A Hidden Gem in Tsukiji

Tucked away down a tiny alley off a narrow side street in the Tsukiji Outer Market, Shutoku Ganso Sushi is the kind of place you might miss if you weren’t looking for it, but it’s exactly the kind of place you hope to discover in Tokyo.

This intimate 8-seat sushi bar is a masterclass in both simplicity and sophistication. The moment you walk in, you’re greeted with a warm atmosphere that perfectly balances traditional Japanese minimalism with the quiet intensity of a chef entirely devoted to his craft. Watching him work behind the counter is like watching an artist paint. Every slice, every placement of rice and fish is done with purpose.

The sushi? Simply extraordinary. The chef creates a new omakase menu each day based on what he sources fresh from the Toyosu Market that morning. That commitment to freshness and seasonality shines through in every bite. From buttery cuts of otoro that melt on your tongue to perfectly seasoned uni, each piece was perfection. It was, without question, the freshest sushi we’ve ever had.

What made the experience even more memorable was the chef’s quiet precision and hospitality, making every diner feel like they were part of something special. Shutoku Ganso Sushi isn’t just a meal, it’s an experience.

Verdict: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ A must-visit for...

Stumbled on this place cuz I saw a queue in some quiet corner. There were only 8 seats but 10 people in the queue. So I joined it and was told the wait was 2 hrs (went before it opened) cuz each sitting is 1.5hrs. It was cold but the wait was worth it.

There are 3 menus at lunch and nothing was in English. The courses are the same but the ingredients differed based on the price paid. The chef was interactive, fun and 2 hours passed by in a blink of an eye. Amazing quality sashimi. I had the best scallops and ikura ever and were told that the maguro delivery was late. They gave us free beef and uni sashimi while waiting and when the maguro finally arrived, we were treated to both otoro and maguro.

Get the sake. The nama sake went perfectly with the sushi. This place might be considered on the pricier side compared to the other sushi places along the street but coming here is paying for that guaranteed quality that would not disappoint.

I would love...

After a long 1 hour plus wait, we finally sit in. The older chef on my left is friendlier and cared enough to make connection with the guests with his limited English. Chef on the right is less friendly and only kept talking to the Japanese. Did not say thank you or anything after we left.

Food is good. Wonder why we were not invited together with the foreigners so that we can be served by English-speaking which will be much better. A little disappointed. We both sit in an awkward position where it is hard to be attended by either chef.

Why I deducted another star is because, when one of my sushis is served, it scattered apart. The chef saw it but did not remake a new one, instead he asked me to use hand to eat. It's quite unprofessional as an omakase chef if I'm not wrong. The chef might have thought we did not eat...