I picked some of my favorites, unagi (freshwater eel) nigiri alongside an ebi (shrimp) uramaki (inside out roll) with unagi (freshwater eel) topping and a nigiri set. The eel was nice but not special. Most critically, it was cold which is something I do not like. It was not cold because of the delivery, it is served cold in this case. Some restaurants do that, I really prefer the warm variant.

The nigiri set was a pleasant surprise and provided a decent variety, especially considering that it is a delivery restaurant, which usually has a very limited menu to choose from. The set came with sake (salmon), maguro (tuna back), ika (squid), ebi (shrimp), aji (mackerel), tai (sea bream), tako (octopus), ama-ebi (sweet shrimp) and hotategai (scallop). Most pieces were quite average, but the mackerel, octopus and scallop really stood out. Overall, it was surpassing my expectations and I was quite satisfied with the meal.

Sushi Guide Verdict

Sushi Arigato doesn’t offer a particularly inviting atmosphere, so I deemed it is mainly suited for delivery or takeout. The menu options are surprisingly extensive for a restaurant in that category, however the quality is a mixed bag with some items being really good and the rest being average. The drink menu is limited to say the least and the service leaves nothing special to be mentioned. For simple takeout or delivery sushi, the restaurant is an option. For sushi dining, I would go somewhere else.

Atmosphere
Menu Options
Food Quality
Drink Variety
Service
Average

Review date: October 27, 2021

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I ordered a nigiri set that came with ebi (shrimp), suzuki (sea bass), sake (salmon), ika (squid), maguro (tuna back), hotategai (scallop), aji (mackerel), sake (salmon), tako (octopus) and ama-ebi (sweet shrimp). Considering that it a takeout restaurant, I was surprised both by the variety as well as quality within the set. Even though not outstanding, it was a pleasant surprise and good for takeout food.

In addition, I also had some maguro (tuna back) uramaki (inside out roll) and unagi (freshwater eel) nigiri. Since I usually really like it, I ordered some additional ika (squid) and hotategai (scallop) nigiri. Both the squid and scallop were quite nice and outperformed the rest of the selection.

Sushi Guide Verdict

All in all, Sushi Kaiser delivered more than I expected. Even though not great, the overall experience was solid. The menu options are limited to a large number of sets with an incomplete a la carte menu, but still there is a lot to chose from. The food quality was good but not outstanding, the squid and scallop were better than the rest. The drink menu is basic and my interaction with the staff was friendly but nothing special.

Atmosphere
Menu Options
Food Quality
Drink Variety
Service
Average

Review date: September 6, 2021

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I picked a nigiri set from the a la carte menu. It came with hotategai (scallop), tako (octopus), aji (mackerel), ika (squid) nigiri, ikura (salmon roe) gunkan and maguro (tuna back), suzuki (sea bass), kani (crab meat), unagi (freshwater eel) and sake (salmon) nigiri. I also picked some additional items from the sushi train, of which overall the unagi (freshwater eel) stood out most.

Sushi Guide Verdict

All in all, Nari Sushi is a basic sushi restaurant that serves what you would expect from a Japanese restaurant. The atmosphere is a bit impersonal as the staff is only providing seats and collecting the money. All main interaction is happening with the sushi train, which is fun for few minutes but gets old quickly. Also, due to the way the sushi train operates, it might take a long time for dishes to arrive that you might want. The menu options are decent and offers a wide variety of options to choose from, including tuna cuts. The quality and taste of the fish is good with some items being really nice. The drink variety is quite basic but covers what you might look for. The service team is not particularly connected to the overall experience, so they do not create a particular comfortable atmosphere.

Atmosphere
Menu Options
Food Quality
Drink Variety
Service
Average

Review date: July 21, 2021

The post Nari Sushi – Simple and Authentic Japanese Dishes in Düsseldorf, Germany appeared first on Sushi Guide.

I went to the restaurant for dinner at the sushi bar and sampled the menu. It was surprising extensive for an all you can eat restaurant and it featured a decent selection of fish. I started with some side dishes like takoyaki (fried octopus), ika yaki (grilled squid), horenso (spinach with sesame dressing) as well as some maguro (tuna back) and sake (salmon) sushi. I didn’t like the sesame dressing that came with the spinach, it was watery and not very tasty, but the rest was quite nice. The squid was excellent and made me optimistic for the rest of the meal.

It went on with a plate of sake (salmon), ika (squid), tako (octopus), unagi (freshwater eel) and saba yaki (grilled mackerel) nigiri. Then some maguro (tuna back) uramaki (inside out roll), maguro (tuna back) and some more unagi (freshwater eel) nigiri. Then followed some ika (squid), aji (mackerel) and sake (salmon) nigiri. The salmon and squid were really good, so I had multiple orders of them over the course of the meal. As a close, I had some ebi tempura (fried shrimp) uramaki (inside out roll) and an absolutely amazing hotategai (scallop) gunkan (battleship sushi).

Sushi Guide Verdict

All in all, I was pleasantly surprised by the experience at Okinii. Even though I don’t usually like all you can eat sushi restaurants, the selection and quality of dishes was very good and it is certainly a good option in Düsseldorf. The atmosphere if the restaurant is very modern, dark and flashy with a fancy cocktail bar at the center of the restaurant. Even though quite huge, it doesn’t feel to spread out to be uncomfortable. The menu options are really good considering its an all you can eat menu. The quality and taste of the fish is above average, which some items being really excellent. The drink menu is extensive and offers everything for an amazing night out. The service team was friendly, but the restaurant uses iPads to process the orders, which makes the experience a bit impersonal.

Atmosphere
Menu Options
Food Quality
Drink Variety
Service
Average

Review date: July 17, 2021

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Sunny Sushi Lunch

Apart from the traditional restaurants interior, they also serve meals on outside tables on the sidewalk in the Immermannstrasse, which is not just nice during the pandemic but on any sunny day. This time, I opted for some grilled skewers to start, sake (salmon), ika (squid) and hotategai (scallop), which is my favorite.

Then followed a set of premium nigiri pieces that I selected a la carte since the usual luxury nigiri set was out of stock. I enjoyed some sake yaki (grilled salmon), chu toro (medium fatty tuna belly), otoro (fatty tuna belly) and aji (mackerel) nigiri.

As a fulminant dessert to the meal, I decided to take another 2 pieces of unagi (freshwater eel) nigiri. Unagi is always among my favorites and here, they are usually exceptionally great.

Sushi Guide Verdict

As usual, I was quite satisfied with my meal at Kushi-Tei of Tokyo. Even though the pandemic is putting some constrains on the experience, the sushi was as outstanding as always. The taste and quality is among the best around and despite some limited availability due to the pandemic, the menu has extensive options to choose from. The staff was nice as always and made the lunch and excellent and to be repeated experience.

Atmosphere
Menu Options
Food Quality
Drink Variety
Service
Average

Review date: June 14, 2021

The post Kushi-Tei of Tokyo – Japanese Excellence in Düsseldorf, Germany appeared first on Sushi Guide.

The restaurant has a few seats at the sushi bar and a spacious seating area with many tables for small and large groups. Even though the capacity is now limited, the restaurants can cater to a larger audience than most other Japanese restaurants around. There is also an outside seating area that does not provide the same authentic feel as inside dining, but is a very nice alternative, especially during the summer when outside dining is the preferred option. For this visit, we opted for the outside option because it was pleasant and warm night. Also, the restrictions inside the restaurant felt a bit uninviting. So we were happy with our choice and in luck to get seats outside.

Sampling the Kushi-Tei of Tokyo Menu

We decided to go with a selection of the menu exclusives and ordered a moriawase style set to get things started. While we waited, we also had some nice starters. Even though not a typical item on a Japanese menu, we sampled the iwashi tempura (deep fried sardines), which resembled a somewhat Mediterranean experience. The vegetable gyoza were nice and were obviously self made. Another classic were the outstanding tako yaki (deep fried octopus balls) with teriyaki sauce. Even though it were heavy bytes for a hot summer night, it was a good start.

The main plate came with tamago (egg omelet), sake (salmon) gunkan (battleship sushi) with ikura (salmon roe) topping and 6 pieces of maguro (tuna back) maki (roll). The selection of nigiri pieces was composed of hotategai (scallop), unagi (freshwater eel), ebi (shrimp), hamachi (yellowtail), sake (salmon), otoro (fatty tuna belly) and chu toro (medium fatty tuna belly). Of course, they also served some gari (pickled ginger) and fresh wasabi. To say the least, the tuna cuts were outstanding and so delicious that I would come back anytime just for that. The melted in my mouth and had an amazing but subtle texture. The scallop was so amazing, it might very well be the best in town. Also the eel was great even though the chef was a bit shy with the topping. Even the salmon, that usually does not impress me much, was outstanding and delightful excitement. Encouraged by this plate, we decided to get seconds.

Browsing through the menu prompted us to pick some of our favourites from the moriawase dish and add some more specialties. We picked some more pieces of hotategai (scallop) and chu toro (medium fatty tuna belly), which definitely were the best of the night. Beyond that, we went for some karuma ebi (Japanese imperial prawn), hamachi toro (yellowtail belly cut) and aji (mackerel) nigiri pieces. I consider mackerel among my favourite fish and was pleasantly surprised. Most impressively, the yellowtail belly cut was also amazing and absolute joy. It is certainly a rare find even among the fierce competition of Japanese restaurant in the area. Even though we should could have taken even more, we had to call it a night. In my mind, I was already scheduling my next visit to build on this experience.

Sushi Guide Verdict

This dinner at Kushi-Tei of Tokyo was just amazing. It was a busy night, but were lucky to get seats outside and could enjoy the summer night with this excellent meal, even if the outdoor atmosphere is not comparable to the restaurant’s interior. The menu options are extensive and have some rare finds among them that might take a few visits to discover. Taste and quality of the fish was excellent and absolutely among the best options around. Considering the fierce competition in the Japanese quarter in Düsseldorf and the high expectations of local patrons in the largest Japanese community in Germany, this is quite an achievement. The service staff was friendly and forthcoming, but a bit overwhelmed with the high demand during the night. We had an excellent time and enjoyed out experience. For any sushi aficionado, Kushi-Tei is an excellent choice and it can be highly recommended.

Atmosphere
Menu Options
Food Quality
Drink Variety
Service
Average

Review date: August 3, 2020

The post Kushi-Tei of Tokyo – Authentic Japanese Delights in Düsseldorf, Germany appeared first on Sushi Guide.

“What would you expect at Yoshizumi Nagaya’s restaurant other than typical Japanese precision and simplicity? The flavours are sophisticated, purist and natural, the onus on choice ingredients. The pleasantly reserved, professional front-of-house team are always pleased to offer wine and sake recommendations.”

Source: MICHELIN Guide

Puristic Dinner at Nagaya

In a group of two we showed up at the restaurant without reservation and were lucky enough to get a spot in the otherwise heavily frequented and usually fully booked restaurant. Seated at a table for two with a view towards the sushi bar, we quickly adjusted to the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions at the restaurant. Even though all staff had to wear masks all the time, we were able to lift our face covers once we reached our table and sanitised our hands. As one would expect from a fine dining restaurant such as this, the staff ensured we had an amazing experience despite current restrictions.

Since we arrived shortly after 8:30 pm, it was no longer possible to order the set menu option, as this would not have fitted in the remaining opening hours of the restaurant. Without being too disappointed about it, we focused on the sushi part of the menu and decided to order some starters and then share a SUSHI and SASHIMI house set that would take us on a culinary journey throughout the night. The meal started with an amazing miso soup with tofu and fermented vegetables. It was matched by a great glass of Riesling recommend by the sommelier. After the soup we had a roll from goose liver terrine with red beet croquant and hazel nut powder (of which we sadly took no photos).

Nagaya’s Sushi and Sashimi house set

As the main course, a huge plate of sushi, nigiri and sashimi pieces was served with dry ice for visual effects. It covered almost all delicacies from the sushi menu and was absolutely amazing. The plate was served with another matching white wine recommended by the sommelier. It was a 2018 Weingut Keller Silvaner Feuervogel, which was not just perfectly suited for the sushi plate, but an outstanding rich and dry white wine in general.

The SUSHI and SASHIMI house set came with an outstanding california roll – a kani (crab meat) and avocado uramaki (inside out roll) – and a spicy tuna roll – maguro (lean tuna back) maki with chilli mayonnaise – as well as the house roll – a sake (Scottish salmon), maguro (lean tuna back), hamachi (Japanese yellowtail) and ebi (shrimp) futo maki (big roll). The futo maki was absolutely amazing and after some initial scepticism wether so many pieces of fish in one roll would result in a nice composition, it turned out the be the most amazing roll of them all. The plate also came with some basic sashimi pieces, sake (Scottish salmon), hamachi (Japanese yellowtail) and maguro (lean tuna back). The tuna was advertised as a Mediterranean tuna from Spain.

The were also 5 types of nigiri, all of which were pretty amazing on its own. The plate came with tai (Japanese sea bream), aji (mackerel), sake (Scottish salmon), hamachi (Japanese yellowtail) and chu-toro (medium fatty tuna belly) nigiri. The only pieces that were not absolutely breathtaking were the hamachi. Everything else was super rich, had amazing texture and taste that went well with the white wine.

There was room for more…

To round things off, we also sampled few items that were not part of the SUSHI and SASHIMI house set. Most impressively, the unagi (Taiwanese freshwater eel) and hotategai (Breton scallop) nigiri were absolutely jaw dropping. I have rarely enjoyed as amazing scallops anywhere and these two pieces are some of my absolute favourites. The hotategai came with a small dip of chilli sauce, which gave an amazing taste to the contained taste of the scallop. The teriyaki sauce for the unagi was also excellent and the piece was served warm, which is my preference. Even the fresh wasabi and gari (ginger) were excellent.

As a last dish we tried something a bit more crunchy. The ebi tempura (deep fried) uramaki (inside out roll) was a nice finale to the opulent dinner and culinary journey we took during this night.

Sushi Guide Verdict

Nagaya certainly is a one of its kind restaurant. Even among the fierce competition in Germany’s largest Japanese community in Düsseldorf it stands alone as the best Japanese fine dining restaurant around. It ranks well among the MICHELIN star sushi restaurants we tried so far. For a more casual sushi experience, Nagaya recently opened a second branch called Yoshi, which is an outstanding alternative to the fine dining setting of the main restaurant and provides the same quality of sushi dishes.

Nagaya certainly caters to upscale clientele with its chic and conservative interior design. The warm atmosphere and welcoming staff made our visit quite enjoyable and a unique experience. The menu options are a bit limited since the restaurant offers an omakase set menu each night and some additional items á la carte. Never the less, the quality and taste of the food is outstanding and second to none. The drink and wine menu is extensive as one would expect from a one MICHELIN star restaurant. We were especially satisfied with our choices of wine and can highly recommend to trust the sommelier’s recommendations for matching the dishes if desired. The service team was most forthcoming and catered to us with a good mix of restraint and initiative. Overall, this was an amazing experience and Nagaya certainly is a must for any serious sushi aficionado living in or visiting Düsseldorf.

Atmosphere
Menu Options
Food Quality
Drink Variety
Service
Average

Review date: July 14, 2020

The post Nagaya – Japanese Sophistication in Düsseldorf, Germany appeared first on Sushi Guide.

Lunch Experience at Matsumi

As always, the experience at Matsumi was second to none. Even though I haven’t been there for a long time, my girlfriend and I were welcomed with the same friendly and open atmosphere that I came to love. Immediately, we felt at home and enjoyed a short but nice lunch at the sushi bar. Even though the seating limitations due to COVID-19 resulted in fewer seats being available, we were lucky enough to have a nice view over the counter.

Even though during lunch the menu at the sushi bar is limited and not as extensive as during dinner hours, I was able to pick some of my favourite items. The sake cave te maki (grilled salmon skin hand roll) is one of my absolute favourites and it was as amazing as always. Even after trying similar dishes at many restaurants around the globe, I am confident that this is by far best one. In between the hand roll on and the lunch sushi set that I ordered, we also had a kappa (cucumber) maki (roll).

The lunch plate came with sake (salmon), amaebi (sweet shrimp), tako (octopus), hamachi (yellowtail) and aji (mackerel) sashimi. I always enjoy the mackerel and also the octopus was outstanding. There were also some nigiri pieces with suzuki (sea bass), sake (salmon), unagi (freshwater eel) and ebi (shrimp) of which I liked the eel the most. Unagi is also among my favourites and so I was happy that it was available during lunch hours. Also, there were some sake (salmon) maki (rolls) that were nice as well. Behind some decorative greens, there were also 2 pieces of otoro (blueing fatty tuna belly) sashimi, which were an absolute delight to round of the meal. To say it as it was, it was amazing to be back.

Sushi Guide Verdict

Matsumi is truly a one of its kind restaurant and certainly my all time favourite Japanese restaurant. For more than 10 years I have frequented the restaurant regularly and I cannot get enough of it. The unique and authentic atmosphere and wooded interior and tatami room provide an entry way into another world, even if just for a little while. The menu is extensive and covers all varieties of fish one could dream of with highest quality. Everything is prepared with the utmost attention to detail, truly making dining here an amazing experience. The drink menu is extensive and features Japanese beers, wines and spirits and leaves no desire unanswered. The service is friendly, forthcoming and welcoming and makes the experience what it is for me, a homecoming. I can only recommend Matsumi from the bottom of my heart and am happy to see them open again.

Atmosphere
Menu Options
Food Quality
Drink Variety
Service
Average

Review date: May 29, 2020

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An Extensive Dinner Experience at Kushi-Tei of Tokyo

As I went there alone and without reservation, I was lucky enough to get a single seat at the sushi bar to fully enjoy my experience. Even if my view was a bit obstructed, it was a nice turn of events that I didn’t expect. I started out with some basic side dishes and tried the horenso (spinach) in sesame sauce with was amazing and the tako yaki (deep dried octopus) which was almost a meal on its own. I liked the tako yaki, but from my experiences in Napoli I can attest that there are superior deep frying skills around.

As the main course I opted for an omakase style sashimi plate that came with a good variety of fish to enjoy. I had hotategai (scallop) – one of my favourites and an absolute delight – and maguro (tuna back), tako (octopus), aji (mackerel), ama ebi (sweet shrimp), sake (salmon) and hamachi (yellowtail) sashimi. The overall taste and quality of the fish was outstanding, with my favourite ranking among aji, hamachi and the hotategai.

As a finale for my dinner experience, I ordered some nigiri pieces. I got another two pieces of hotategai (scallop) and two pieces of unagi (freshwater eel), both of which are absolute favourites of mine. The scallop was amazing and the best pieces on this day. The unagi was also good but the topping was a bit scarce and not that appealing to me. Also it was served cold, which is downer in my opinion.

Sushi Guide Verdict

Dining at Kushi-Tei of Tokyo was a nice and satisfying experiment. The atmosphere was very low key, friendly and welcoming. The menu options are so extensive that I could come back many times with always new things to try. Taste and quality of the fish and all other dishes I had was excellent and much better than at many other restaurants around. The drink menu is very traditional and offers a large selection of Japanese beers and spirits. The service was very friendly even if the language barrier was evident. All in all the team made me enjoy my stay and would definitely recommend this restaurant to any sushi aficionado.

Atmosphere
Menu Options
Food Quality
Drink Variety
Service
Average

Review date: February 25, 2020

The post Kushi-Tei of Tokyo – Traditional Sushi in Düsseldorf appeared first on Sushi Guide.

“Thanks to his larger-than-life personality, Leonardo Jun Sakamoto has left his unmistakable mark on this discreet restaurant where you won’t find any signage. Here, you will savour what may well be the finest nigiri in the city.”

Source: MICHELIN GUIDE SÃO PAULO 2019

An Exquisite Dinner Experience at Jun Sakamoto

As a large group reservations are in order on any day, especially if the desired seats are those at the bar. The restaurant caters to its patrons with a stylish and modern atmosphere and huge open bar where guests can witness the sushi chefs preparing the amazing served at the restaurant. The extensive drink menu offers everything on could wish for and has an expensive selection of sake to choose from.

The dinner started with some light starters, like an huramaki some ebi tempura (fried shrimp), unagi tempura (friend freshwater eel) with rice topping and and outstanding maguro (tuna back) tartare with ikura (salmon roe) topping. The unagi tempura and maguro tartare were excellent and immediately set the bar for the experience to follow.

With seats at the bar, it was nice to witness the chefs preparing one plate after the other. It certainly added to the otherwise already excellent culinary experience of dining at Jun Sakamoto.

Over the course of the opulent dinner, there were some sake (salmon) and suzuki (sea bass) nigiri, a plate of kanpachi (amberjack) and tai (sea bream) nigiri, another plate of breathtaking aji (mackerel) and kamasu (barracuda) nigiris and absolutely outstanding hotategai (scallop) and hokkigai (surf clam) nigiri. Of course, also the uni (sea urchin) gunkan (battleship sushi) had the be sampled. Like all other pieces, it was of incredibly taste and made this an outstanding experience unlike any other.

Then, the grand finale was serves with some amazing tuna pieces that were prepared at the sushi bar. Both the maguro (tuna back) and the toro (fatty tuna belly) nigiri were excellent and a worthy and triumphant close to this amazing meal. Even if it is hard to imagine, there was still room for a little scoop of green tea ice, rounding the experience off nicely.

Sushi Guide Verdict

Dining at Jun Sakamoto is certainly a unique and unmistakable experience. The restaurant caters to upscale clientele with warm and modern atmosphere, excellent menu options and excellent drink menu. The experience was outstanding and quality and taste of the fish was among the best anywhere. The service was friendly and welcoming and like you would expect from a MICHELIN start restaurant. Overall, this is a must for any sushi aficionado living in or visiting São Paulo and it deserves its spot among the MICHELIN start restaurants Sushi Guide sampled.

Atmosphere
Menu Options
Food Quality
Drink Variety
Service
Average

Review date: October 20, 2019

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