Youji's #WashokuRenaissance — Restaurant in Boston

New Secret gem that serves affordable omakase and amazing Kaiseki course.

Located within Foundation Kitchen, a space that offers space for restaurant "start-ups," the sushi counter at Washoku Renaissance might seem mundane at first glance. Yet, Chef Youji transforms this simple setup into a captivating space with his craftsmanship, reminiscent of a hidden gem tucked away in a Tokyo alleyway. I’ve been here for the Downtown Tokyo Sushi Club and his signature Kaiseki course, and had fantastic experiences in both.

The Tokyo Sushi Club was a straightforward 9-nigiri course, accompanied by an appetizer and a handroll. The appetizer was a concoction of my favorite seafood ingredients—Japanese Firefly squid, Mentaiko, and Ankimo. The addition of spicy apple slices provided just the right amount of kick and sweetness and perfectly complemented their richness.

The Nigiri selections, featured in both the omakase and the Kaiseki course, were exceptional. The sushi rice was perfectly warm and had just the right density, and most of the pieces went through proper aging process for better flavors. Rather than using overly sophisticated additions, Chef Youji kept the toppings simple. He focused on making finer slices across the top of the fish, which allowed for a more even distribution of sauce and its respective flavors across each piece. My favorite pieces included the Aori Ika, Bluefin Otoro, and Sakura Masu.

During the Kaiseki dinner, a sequence of seven small dishes was interspersed among the nigiri course. The entire experience spanned over three hours, and sitting on a small bar stool chair was somewhat cumbersome. Yet, it was a joy watching Chef Youji crafting each dish to perfection. Each of the seven dishes was spectacular, with standouts including the Mizutako Otsukuri, Hotaru Ika with spring vegetables, and his signature duck breast. Another dish worth mentioning was the Wanko Saba, where the light aroma of the sesame sauce enhanced the rich flavors of the Ikura and Uni toppings.

Undoubtedly my favorite Japanese restaurant in the city at the moment. Highly recommend giving this place a try if you’re looking for the best authentic Japanese food...

After seeing the incredible care put into their jewel chirashi boxes online, I had to give Washoku Renaissance a try. The website is a little confusing, but I was excited to place a pre-order for later that week knowing that I would receive a fresh, in-season assortment of extremely high quality sashimi. I love that it's a bit of a surprise owing to what can be sourced - I honestly feel better knowing that it's only the seasonally best fish that you're receiving rather than a restaurant keeping a consistent menu - it just makes sense for everyone. I was genuinely impressed with what I picked up. The packaging, presentation, description with sourcing of the contents, the toppings like the gelee, citrus, herbs, pickles, and caviar were all incredibly well thought out and paired with diligence and care. The portion was perfect, the rice was balanced and seasoned to perfection. I've honestly not had sushi this good anywhere in the US... ever. I've only had anything near comparable in Japan, and even there, I'd say this easily ranks amongst the top. The variety was impressive, and the meal altogether was outstanding. I am only recommending WR to people I trust and care most about, because it is something truly special that Boston is not worthy of. Chef Youji Iwakura is a culinary master that should be celebrated amongst the greatest in Boston's dining scene. Thank you for such an incredible meal. I'm already looking forward to the next occasion I can pick up...

I've never had to work so hard to get sushi. I'd known for months that Shyun Washoku was doing pickup orders at Foundation Kitchen, but the website to order was confusing and slots were often sold out, especially day-of. Also, I wasn't sure about serving sizes. This is the kind of experience that requires advance planning, and is probably not great for same-day cravings.

I ordered a "WR Signature Premium Sashimi Chirashi Jewels Experience" with a warm soup on 7/18 for pickup on 7/23. Pickup time is between 6-6:30pm; you have to call Chef Youji's cell number as directed in the email instructions. Chef Youji was lovely and kind.

When I brought the meal home, I was delighted to see the pretty packaging. The delicious soup came in a cardboard container in a plastic bag, which started to leak, so be careful during transport. The chirashi came wrapped up, and the portion was perfectly filling for 1 person. Every centimeter of the chirashi box had a carefully curated bite. There was even some gold foil on some pieces of jelly. This wasn't just sushi- this was art.

There was a small bottle of poke sauce that I saved for use throughout the week because it's that delicious-- I think this could be sold as its own packaged condiment.

If you're looking for a whole experience, I'd highly recommend trying this. I can't wait to try more things...