Sushidan — Restaurant in Tokyo

Went here for a birthday omakase and left feeling quite deflated. The sushi itself was good - fresh, decent cuts, no complaints there - but everything around it just didn’t live up to what you’d expect from a supposedly “special” experience.

First off, the atmosphere was nonexistent. We were seated at the back of what felt like a half-abandoned mall food court, with cardboard boxes lying around and zero ambience. Definitely not what you picture when booking a nice dinner, let alone a celebratory meal.

The service was also massively lacklustre. When we arrived, they asked if we had a reservation (we did), but instead of actually reviewing it, they just jumped straight to asking about allergies. It always feels awkward to announce it’s your birthday out loud, so the only thing we said was that my husband has an egg allergy - and even then, that info was already noted in the reservation, along with the fact that it was a birthday meal. No acknowledgement of either. No effort, no welcome, nothing to make it feel remotely special. It felt generic and forgettable from the moment we walked in.

I’d also say pacing of the meal was a real issue. The sushi was served rapid-fire - I was still chewing one piece when the next one was plonked in front of me. In my mind, while omakase should have a steady pace, it is meant to be savoured, not inhaled.

Also worth noting: there was only one non-Japanese staff member, and naturally he was the one serving us. It took away from the immersion a bit, especially as we were looking forward to hearing the names of each dish in Japanese as part of the experience.

To top it off, they started cleaning the kitchen while we were still eating and there’s nothing like the sound of clattering kitchenware and shuffling about to make things feel relaxing.

All in all, it’s decent sushi for the price, but that’s about it. If you’re looking for a memorable omakase or a special occasion spot, there are genuinely thousands of better options in Tokyo that treat the whole experience - not just the food - with the care and finesse it deserves. Don’t waste your time here, the locals...

@leo.matsuda is a rising star - stay tuned! You'll be hearing about his omakase show! Great lunch today! First time for me: managatsuo fish - excellent taste! Extra-points for sardines & mackerel and especially for eel! Funny story: on google maps the place is a little bit misplaced - take care! Enter Eat Play FoodHall - Sushidan is the last one! At first we followed the pin, waited till 13:00 sharp to open - right on time for our reservation! One old guy showed up and declared: shoes off! Even though it seemed surprising, we did not object to taking our shoes off. After all, we're in Japan! Then we enter the small tatami place - nothing resembles a restaurant. Or it looks like a very old and quirky one. Lots of keys on the wall and no sign of food. After insisting that we have a reservation, we finally found out that we were not inside a restaurant but at the community ONSEN Hiroo-Yu! :) And thus we also got the explanation about why there was a bunch of old people waiting in front of the doors before opening: initially we thought they were the sushi masters! No surprise in Japan, wouldn't it be, right? It's pretty common to have a 70+ old as most appreciated...

Amazing sushi with a great atmosphere! Chefs Arakawa and Yu are serving up sushi in the traditional edo-mae style to an amazing form. They do not have a large restaurant, but it fits a maybe 10 or 12 at the counter, 3 or so tables, and a few spots outdoors. The ambiance is great, and the quality of the sushi is some of the best I have in Tokyo. All whole at a super reasonable price! I am a big sake fan, and they really do a gold job of selecting sakes from across the taste range that will complement their food without breaking the bank. Lastly, as a foreigner, it was supper comfortable because the chefs speak or at least understand English. I have been to many sushi places in Japan in my three us years of living here, and this is my new go-to when I...