Sukiyabashi Jiro

Nostalgia is delicate but potent. In Greek, nostalgia literally means the pain from an old wound. It is a twinge in the heart far more powerful than memory alone. That Don Draper quote belongs perfectly to this review of my 7th visit to Sukiyabashi Jiro Roppongi over a span of 14 years. My first experience was when I was 22 years old. Time and time again, a decade ago, this restaurant stood as the absolute pinnacle of my omakase journey. I deemed it a mecca for sushi fanatics, a place one must dine at least once before they die. I have always turned a blind eye and deaf ear to anyone who rated this holy ground below 5 stars. Fast forward 10 years after my last visit in 2016. Walking back into the familiar room triggered that same nostalgic twinge. Everything looked and felt unchanged. Having since savored the best omakase experiences near and far, I now judge this visit with a different lens. I give it 5 stars for nostalgia, but 3 mediocre stars for the actual experience. Like many 1 star reviewers here, I agree it felt like dining at a conscript camp, where you are death stared into eating every single piece immediately. There is no time to savor, no time to digest. Dish after dish, it felt less like a journey and more like McDonald’s for sushi. The eerie silence and complete lack of ambience make you shudder at the thought of talking or expressing joy. This place is not cheap, and one pays hard earned money expecting what should be an hour plus experience. Instead, it becomes a 40 minute sprint. Sushi wise, the artisan skill and meticulous knife work remain legendary. The vinegared rice is still god level. But when everything is considered together, the overall product falls short in today’s fiercely competitive food scene.

Excellent sushi by one of the best masters of this style. Jiro’s lineage uses komezu instead of the akazu more common among top masters. The rice is comparatively milder. It is just as enjoyable. It is brisk indeed. 20 pieces in 23 minutes, and new pieces were placed before I was finished with its predecessor. I am a slow eater with a small stomach so I typically struggle with the later half of large menus (most omakases are difficult at the end; I spent 4hr at SingleThread in the States). Somehow I survived this. I think that eating fast enough prevents one’s stomach from realizing it is full. The pace is a solid downside but it also means the meal is a short time commitment. It is faithful to the concept of a quick yet complete meal from the Edo period and can be used to seize time back from lengthy lunches. I was allergic to two of the pieces. They were simply skipped. That was weird! Usually they’re substituted. I guess I paid more per piece than you will.

Fantastic experience and the kindest, most professional sushi chef and his sons. The chef is the son of the famous sushi master, Jiro Ono. Exceptional sushi. If you’re able to get a time slot here, do book!!! We wanted to enjoy the experience, so we didn’t take any more photos. This was our first place to try sushi when we arrived in Tokyo. To be honest, none of the other sushis we had after this could top the excellent quality of their fresh selection by chef Takashi Ono. The chef introduces each fish and gives you a little more info, if you want more. Very kind and friendly. He speaks a few languages, but is great with English. Getting there can be a little tricky. They’re on the corner of the 2nd floor. There’s stairs in the front and back of the building. Just look at the pics posted to get a better view of which stairs to take (the front ones leads you straight to the entrance). We didn’t know and took the back. Definitely will be coming back for some more sushi here. It’s pricey, but the quality is unbeatable. The best fish you’ll ever have! Tip: If you have time to walk around the area, definitely worth it! Obrigada, Chef :)

The best sushi that I ever had in my life. All the ingredients are fresh and tasty. Perfect balance between fish and Shari. The master is very nice and happy to talk with customers.

Outstanding experience at Sukiyabashi Jiro Roppongi. Chef Takashi Ono was incredible. I do not understand how anyone could leave a negative review, because our experience was excellent from start to finish. He was friendly and explained every dish in detail, speaking English to us, Chinese to the diners next to us, and Japanese to the local guests, which was seriously impressive. The service was excellent, the pacing was completely fine, and every piece of sushi was delicious. A very polished and memorable meal, and one of the highlights of our trip.