Famous Japanese restaurants. Expert: Emilia Arie

Twenty years ago, we associated Japan with animated cartoons, ninjas, samurai, kimonos, etc. Few people knew about the existence of Japanese cuisine. The clients of the first sushi restaurants were the Japanese themselves, who, by the will of fate, ended up in Russia in the early 90s.

Gradually, the fashion for them began to conquer the capital. Each of us can remember the moment when for the first time in our lives we took chopsticks instead of a fork and tried raw fish. And now we have selected the best sushi in Moscow, comparing bars, restaurants and cafes.

Our selection of the best sushi is determined by the following:

• taste– only the best sushi can be called delicious;
• service– in the best establishment “the customer is always right”, and if he is wrong, then it is not his problem;
• price– expensive does not mean high quality, so we will select the best sushi in Moscow based on their affordability.

The most popular dishes on a bar or restaurant menu, without which not a single bill is complete, are rolls and sushi. This is where we will begin to find out where the best sushi is prepared and served in the city. We determined taste and service empirically, i.e. having repeatedly tried different dishes in different places.

Taste is a subjective concept, “there are no comrades.” But the service can be unambiguously characterized by such data as: speed of service, behavior and attitude of staff towards guests, cleanliness and convenience.

The average score is an important criterion when choosing sushi. For some, it is important to have a delicious meal on a small budget, while for others, a hefty bill from the most expensive restaurant in Moscow becomes a reason for pride.

To determine the pricing policy of the selected places, the site team added up the prices from the menu and divided them by the number of items. As a result, we got the average cost of rolls for several restaurants. We used the same formula to calculate the cost of sushi.

Price comparison of five restaurants

No. 5. Restaurant Two Sticks

In the “Best Sushi in Moscow” rating, the “Dve Palochki” chain moved from third place to fifth place and, if it continues like this, it will leave it altogether. The interior of the establishment is made in urban style. The halls are equipped with monitors, which usually display online displays of Moscow airports.

Japanese, Italian, Pan-Asian, and American cuisines are presented here. Every year the quality and service of the establishment are falling. The scenario of Two Sticks is very similar to the fate of Japosha. In the same way, first the service dropped, and then the quality of the food.

By the way, Two Sticks, to put it mildly, has the most inconvenient website of all the participants in the rating. The developers tried their best to complicate the lives of their clients. This may have been done to prevent the user from noticing the extra charge on the delivery menu.

Service

If previously a feature of Two Sticks could be called the strong difference in service in different establishments (there were places where the service and attitude of the waiters were at a very high level, and there were places where they would take your order only ten minutes after your arrival and bring the bill only fifteen minutes later , as you asked). Now, most establishments are becoming equally bad.

Taste

The quality and taste of dishes in most of Two Sticks on the same level is normal. We didn’t find any dishes that tasted so great that we would go to Two Sticks, but these are ordinary, acceptable dishes. Gradually the quality of the food is also deteriorating.

Price

On the delivery menu, Two Sticks added about 20-40 rubles, but delivery is free (although it’s free for everyone). There are a total of 23 types of cold rolls, 8 warm and 27 sushi. The average cost of cold rolls is 344 rubles, warm - 384. Cold rolls here are the most expensive in the ranking. Sushi costs 98 rubles per piece.

Menu excerpt

California roll (crab meat, avocado, cucumber, tobiko caviar, rice, sesame seeds) – 360 rub.
Philadelphia with smoked salmon (hot smoked salmon, cream cheese, rice, cucumber) – 340 rub.

No. 4. Tanuki Restaurant

The Tanuki restaurant chain took fourth place in the Way2day “Best Sushi in Moscow” rating. More than 50 establishments are located throughout Moscow. The pleasant interior of most establishments allows you to dine together or gather friends for a small celebration.

There are good quality wooden sofas with soft covers. The tables are separated by decorative partitions, which is very convenient. Not everyone likes to be an unwitting listener to someone else's conversation. Despite the fourth position, Tanuki has the most convenient and pleasant website among our participants.

Service

Visitors will receive a small gift from the establishment - a cup of red hibiscus tea. It is poured from a teapot with a meter-long spout. The drink quenches thirst well and increases appetite. The waiters and hostesses are unobtrusive and leisurely. If you are running very late, lunch at Tanuki may be disappointing.

Taste

The dishes have a decent standard taste, no surprises. The rolls are rolled tightly and neatly. The rice is cooked strictly according to the recipe. If you order the most popular items from the menu, then all products will be fresh. Soy sauce is salty and ginger is spicy.

Price

The menu offers 42 types of cold rolls, 7 warm and 23 types of sushi. Having carefully studied the menu, we calculated that the average price of cold rolls is 302 rubles, warm – 330 rubles and 101 rubles for sushi.

Menu excerpt

Syake California (with salmon, avocado, cucumber, rice and tobiko caviar) – 360 rub.
Philadelphia (with salmon, cucumber, avocado, rice and soft cheese) – 395 rub.

No. 3. Restaurant Gin no Taki

Gin no Taki moved up to third place from second in our ranking. One of the oldest Japanese restaurants in Moscow. The interior design is in a traditional style. The largest tables seat only 6 people. To comfortably accommodate a group of 8 or more people, you need to ask the waiters to move tables of different heights.

Service

Unfortunately, the service in the establishment is not improving, but only getting worse. The waiters are not only slow, but sometimes they even forget or confuse your order.

Taste

The food as well as the service is starting to deteriorate. Some dishes do not match the photos on the menu, but most are still truly Japanese and delicious. The fish is fresh. The products are selected very carefully. True pleasure can be gained from the design of sets, which can please even incredibly demanding visitors. “Gin no Taki” moves down to third place in the “Best Sushi in Moscow” rating.

Price

25 types of cold rolls, 9 warm and 19 sushi. The average price of cold rolls is 332 rubles, warm ones - 408 (the most expensive of the rating). Sushi costs about 110 rubles per piece, which is also clearly more expensive than all other places in the rating.

Menu excerpt

California with salmon (salmon, rice, cucumber) – 375 rub.
Philadelphia (salmon, avocado, cream cheese rice) – 449 rub.

No. 2. Restaurant Niyama

From first place, Niyama moves down to second. A network of establishments (21) located throughout Moscow and other cities. The restaurant management is working not only on the interior, but also on the entrance area, so that guests from the sidewalk to the table are greeted only by high-quality finishes and crystal cleanliness. A sincerely hospitable hostess greets you at the entrance and always offers the best available tables, regardless of the number of guests. Here you can try the best sushi in the city.

All establishments of the chain have a unique designer interior. Waterfalls, living greenery, soft sofas and spaciousness create a light, relaxed atmosphere. The distances between the tables are large and the conversation at one table does not interfere with the guests at the other.

Service

The waiters take orders quickly and accurately. Any wishes regarding the composition of products in dishes are fulfilled without error. With rare exceptions (applies to 1-2 establishments, where, unfortunately, nothing changes for the better), the administrators are extremely friendly and welcoming.

It’s nice that guests are seated at the tables that they like, and not at those that can accommodate a larger group and the restaurant will receive more profit from them. Unfortunately, there have been cases of poor service, and in some places even careless, but overall everything is on the level.

Taste

Ready meals and drinks are served in a timely manner: hot - hot, cold - cold. A huge selection of dishes will allow everyone to find something for themselves. The appearance and taste of the rolls at Niyama are delicious. Only fresh ingredients are used.

They are carefully selected for each roll or sushi. Good fish, rice, seaweed and other goodies are combined in the right proportions. It's nice to see that they don't dilute the soy sauce here - it's really thick and not diluted.

We found the dish for which we had previously chosen Niyama among all establishments - Syake Sandochi. You can try it both on the regular menu and in a business lunch. In just one establishment we encountered poor quality of production of these rolls (and on an ongoing basis). But now we recommend trying a similar dish (Persona Grata) at Yakitoria - it’s much better there.

The layer of Tempura on hot rolls is thin and allows you to enjoy the excellent taste of the filling, rather than the fried dough. The only drawback is that the rolls are cut a little thick. Not everyone can eat one of these at once.

The portion size is impressive, so when ordering a lot, be careful with your strength. And if there is still something left, the waiters are happy to offer to wrap everything up with them. This does not infringe on the dignity of the guests, but, on the contrary, emphasizes the quality and taste of the dishes that cannot be left behind.

Unfortunately, some chain establishments consistently provide mediocre service and food. Perhaps the reason lies in savings on ingredients, or maybe in the staff of a particular place. But it is worth considering that in restaurants at the addresses: Moscow, Izmailovskoye sh., 69g, Albatros shopping center and st. Snezhnaya, 16, building 6 ... you need to be extremely vigilant when ordering dishes, have plenty of time and not pay attention to the rudeness of the staff.

Price

Niyama has 39 types of cold rolls, 9 warm ones and 24 types of sushi. The average price of cold rolls is 315 rubles, which is almost the lowest price in our top five. Warm rolls are the cheapest in our TOP 293 RUR.

Sushi costs about 89 rubles, and according to this indicator, Niyama is also at the lowest price level in our rating. A 10% discount is available for orders placed 6 hours before delivery or pick-up. Niyama deservedly takes first place in the “Best Sushi in Moscow” rating and we hope that the franchise will not spoil this chain.

Menu excerpt

Syake California (salmon, tobiko, cucumber, avocado, rice) – 325 rub.
Philadelphia (salmon, avocado, cheese and rice) – 395 rub.

No. 1. Restaurant Yakitoria

Previously, Yakitoria was in 5th place in the ranking of the best sushi in Moscow according to the website, but recently the owners have significantly improved the quality of food, assortment and service, and Yakitoria moved to 2nd place. Now, it surpasses all other networks, including delivery. It’s gratifying that regardless of whether you come with discount coupons or without, you equally receive decent service and food.

Almost 100 establishments in Russia and the CIS. The interior is made in classic Japanese style. If you are going with a large group, the tables can be connected and everyone can fit. There are both soft sofas and regular wooden chairs.

Service

In recent months, service in Yakitoria has increased significantly. We don't know what this is connected with, but it's great. If earlier there was a noticeable difference between establishments (somewhere the service is fast, somewhere very slow), now you hardly notice it. In most places the service has improved, but it is worth noting that cases of unsatisfactory service still occur, but they have become significantly less frequent.

Taste

Excellent cuisine and decent taste of dishes. Here you can have a good meal at a business lunch and have a pleasant time in the evening with your loved ones. The introduction of new dishes to the menu had a positive impact on the Yakitoria experience. We highly recommend trying the hot roll (if you like them) Persona grata with special sauce.

Price

The menu includes 37 types of cold rolls, 10 warm rolls and 29 types of sushi. Prices in Yakitoria are reasonable - the average price of rolls is 331 rubles for cold ones, 310 rubles for warm ones and 100 rubles for sushi.

Menu excerpt

Syake California (salmon, cucumber, avocado, rice, tobiko caviar) – 389 rub.
Philadelphia (salmon, cucumber, cream cheese, tobiko, rice, green onions) – 417 rub.

When choosing a Japanese restaurant in Moscow, you cannot give preference to just one establishment. High competition in one of them has led to the fact that at least 5 restaurants have been fighting for the title of best for several years now. From this variety, everyone can choose for themselves exactly the one they like.

Peculiarities

There is a real Japanese restaurant in Moscow, and fortunately, it is not the only one. It’s easy to check the authenticity of a dish, since the cuisine of the Land of the Rising Sun has at least 3 distinctive features:

• no meat dishes, because in Japan since ancient times they did not raise livestock;
• They have special varieties of rice, which are quite difficult to find in regular stores and supermarkets;
• Most dishes are served raw or minimally cooked.

The listed rules apply only, but due to the high demand for signature dishes, many chefs slightly violate the list of ingredients and the technological process. This cannot be considered disrespect or arbitrariness, because, in fact, such experiments sometimes give birth to real masterpieces, emphasize the individuality of the restaurant and expand the establishment’s customer base.

Making the right choice

Walking around Moscow, you will notice that restaurants and cafes are found on every corner and have long become one of the main surroundings of the capital. They are decorated with bright and appetizing signs, luring customers, promising them a real feast.

Today restaurants are divided into Asian and European. Each cuisine is divided into many varieties. One of the most visited restaurants today is the Japanese restaurant. In Moscow, with a large number of similar places, it is difficult to figure out where they serve authentic food from the Land of the Rising Sun. A special feature of the kitchen is its specific cooking technology. A Japanese restaurant is a place where people come for new emotions and taste sensations.

And in order not to be disappointed in Japanese cuisine, you need to choose the right establishment. Therefore, we present to your attention a rating of Japanese restaurants in Moscow.

Top 5

Fifth place went to the Tokyo restaurant. It is located in a convenient location on the corner of Arbat, so finding it will not be difficult. The halls are decorated discreetly, in oriental style. According to customer reviews, the most delicious dishes on the menu are rice noodles and sushi.

The fourth place is occupied by the most fashionable Japanese restaurant in Moscow - "Megu". A distinctive feature of the establishment is a large selection of sake and rare ingredients of dishes that are difficult to find not only in the capital, but in the world.

Third place belongs to the Yu-Me restaurant. It is located on Pokrovka and for 12 years now it has been delighting its visitors with traditional cuisine prepared by the hands of a true professional Nogami Takashi.

A Japanese restaurant in Moscow receives a silver rating, reviews of which from the day it opened to this day have been only positive. The establishment has a beautiful and gentle name “Cherry Blossom”. Chef Hiroki Arakawa has been demonstrating his skills for several years now and surprising guests with a variety of Japanese cuisine in line with modern trends in preparation, decoration and serving.

And finally, first place is rightfully awarded to the Seiji establishment. Even the best Japanese ones cannot compare with this temple (it’s difficult to call it anything else) of real traditional cuisine of the Land of the Rising Sun.

The most expensive

The Seiji restaurant opened 12 years ago and the very next year after its opening was included in the list of the world's best gastronomic establishments, according to Michelin experts - one of the most authoritative restaurant guides.

A professional team of the best chefs was able to dispel existing stereotypes in a short time and convince residents and guests of the capital that Japanese cuisine is diverse and is not limited to just rolls and sushi. Restaurant visitors are happy to come and try new dishes that are popular in Japan but unknown in Russia.

The establishment is owned by Seiji Kusano, who has been demonstrating the gastronomic traditions of his homeland to the world for more than thirty years. Today he owns several restaurants in Europe, but only the Moscow one bears his name.

Japanese restaurants in Moscow. List with addresses

The restaurant "Who Lives Well" (Prechinskaya embankment, 17) specializes not only in Japanese cuisine, but also in European cuisine. The menu has a large assortment of meat and children's dishes, as well as a good wine list.

The project "Fumisawa Sushi" (Petrovka, 5) belongs to the famous Arkady Novikov. A distinctive feature of the establishment is its original cuisine, as well as a specially designed menu for vegetarians.

"Sushido" is a restaurant located in one of the most simple but cozy establishments in the capital. Located at: Litovsky Boulevard, 22. According to customer reviews, they serve good cocktails.

These are not all Japanese restaurants in Moscow. The list can go on for a long time, but there is one establishment in Moscow that became famous not only for its excellent cuisine, but also for the fact that a huge number of domestic and foreign celebrities attended its opening.

The most "star"

On November 10 last year, popular actor Robert De Niro visited the capital for the official opening of the Japanese restaurant Nobu. The opening was truly stellar. Philip Kirkorov, Toni Braxton, Yana Rudkovskaya, Andrey Malakhov, Glyukoza, Igor Nikolaev, Sati Casanova and many others came to congratulate the owner.

Who knows, maybe soon he will be able to take the palm from Seiji.

Japanese cuisine has become popular not so long ago. Life on the islands and isolation from the continent did not allow the traditions of other peoples to influence Japanese cuisine. It was formed 2500 years ago and has not changed.

Features of national cuisine:

• Soy sauce is added to all dishes;
• Ginger and wasabi - served with every meal;
• Salt is consumed in limited quantities, replacing seaweed and seasonings;
• Fresh products and minimal heat treatment;
• Eating raw fish;
• Meat and dairy products are absent from traditional cuisine;
• They drink tea without sugar.

The main ingredients of Japanese dishes are rice, fish and seafood. The Japanese pay attention to the aesthetics and beauty of the dish. The rules of the “five colors” are followed by the chefs of any Japanese restaurant. The colors on the plate should be brown, black, yellow, red and green.

In Japan they eat with chopsticks or their hands. Hot towels or a plate of water are brought to the meal, with the help of which we tidy up our greasy hands. The soup is also eaten with chopsticks: the contents are eaten and then the broth is drunk.

Japanese cuisine:

1. Sushi - rice, fish and seaweed - a classic recipe. Sushi is so popular in our country that you can order it in every restaurant;
2. Sashimi - fish or seafood served raw, along with vegetables, wasabi and shiso leaves;
3. Tempura - seafood cooked in batter;
4. Chahan - Japanese pilaf with seafood;
5. Fugu is a poisonous fish dish. Only a licensed chef is allowed to cook Fugu. Not everyone can buy this dish, the price is high;
6. Unagi is eel cooked over charcoal.

Tea drinking in Japan is a special ritual that takes into account the time of year, the type of tea and the color of the cups. In restaurants you can inexpensively purchase your favorite type of tea.

Japan loves children very much. On weekends, Japanese restaurants host master classes and promotions. Children draw, make appliques and play, and parents receive discounts.