Sushi TAKAYA — Restaurant in Tokyo

Went there with a friend and had the Omakase with Sake Pairing.

The atmosphere is quite nice and simple as any high-end restaurant should be. But it lacked the luxurious charm of other very high-end restaurants. Minor detail which does not affect in all the overall experience.

The service was quite efficient. The staff is very kind and try to accommodate for non-Japanese-speakers. Not only the conversation but also the food will take into consideration allergies (as it should) and dislikes and preferences. In summary, service is great.

The food is really good, well-prepared, fresh and with a multitude of flavors that seem like a journey across the lands of the rising sun. Sake from different prefectures match well with the seasoned specialties of the sushi chef. From the appetizers to the desert, everything is delicious; with my favorite being the one not in the photo - surprise for those who want to try it.

Conclusion: HIGHLY...

I paid over JPY 35,000 meal with sake pairing and I was expecting something great. Instead, it is just a plain disappointment and an outright tragedy for the japanese omakase and culinary scene.

Food is plain normal and you can get much better food at Tsukiji Market for JPY 10,000 (which I still think is overpriced but still 10x better than this shop). Sake is supposed to be great but it taste like it's mishandled / stored improperly. Seafood is ok and at least I didnt get any adverse side effects.

Tabelog listed this as a great omakase place and I wonder how did they even get such high score. Hope enough tourists complain to Tabelog and get them to review this place again. For those who bothered to search google reviews too, good for you and please stay away...

Sushi Takaya tries to come across as fine dining, but it really doesn’t live up to that. Honestly, I’m shocked at how many good reviews this place has. For ¥18,500 per person, the experience just didn’t justify the cost.

The sushi was okay, but nothing memorable — lacking the balance and refinement you’d expect at this price point in Japan, where great omakase isn’t hard to find. The vibe also took a hit when I corrected the chef on the English name of a fish (he called a beltfish a swordfish), and he got visibly annoyed about it. That kind of attitude kills the mood pretty fast.

Overall, it felt mediocre and overpriced. With so many amazing sushi spots around offering better quality, friendlier service, and real craftsmanship, this one just...