Sukiyabashi Jiro is recognised globally as one of the most prestigious sushi restaurants in the world. After all, it is a three-Michelin-starred restaurant that has served high-profile celebrities such as Anne Hathaway, Hugh Jackman, David Beckham, and most notably, former US president Barack Obama.
Besides having a notoriously lengthy reservation backlog, this sushi restaurant is certainly not cheap to dine at either. While we may dream of trying out this famed sushi for ourselves, a price tag of JPY30,000 (about SGD380) for a meal at Sukiyabashi Jiro’s original Ginza branch is enough to deter most of us.
But all hope is not lost: there is actually a way to eat Sukiyabashi Jiro’s sushi at only JPY1,600 (about SGD20.21) without having to make reservations at all.
You may be familiar with the original branch in Ginza, and the one in Roppongi that is operated by founder Jiro Ono’s son. However, did you also know that there is a branch in Toyosu run by another of Ono’s apprentices, with the blessings of the founder himself? Toyosu is where Tokyo’s newly-opened fish market is located, replacing the outdated facility in Tsukiji, so that is a pretty good sign that the fish used in the Toyosu branch is fresh.
The Toyosu branch opens at 11.15AM, and offers a lunch special of nigiri sushi daily at just JPY1,600 (~SGD20). The lunch is omakase-style, in which the style selects which types of sushi to serve, and only a few pieces are served at one time so that you can enjoy the sushi at maximum freshness.
According to SoraNews24, they enjoyed an “exceptionally delicious” meal consisting of tuna, squid, octopus, scallop, flounder, mackerel when they went down to review the restaurant.
An interesting aspect to take note of is that the restaurant limits the number of photos taken at the restaurant – you are allowed to take just one photo of your food! The main Ginza branch does not allow any form of photo-taking at all, so this is already a more relaxed rule. The rationale is that sushi tastes best right after it is made, so it is important that you eat it immediately.
Can’t wait to put this restaurant on your Tokyo itinerary already? Here’s the catch: the nigiri sushi lunch special is limited to 25 meals a day, meaning only 25 lucky people can catch this fantastic deal everyday. So if you are in Tokyo and want to try out this affordable Michelin-starred sushi without the long queues, make sure to head to Toyosu early!
Restaurant Name: Sukiyabashi Jiro (Toyosu branch) / すきやばし次郎（豊洲店）
Address: Tokyo-to, Edo-ku, Toyosu 4-10-1 102 東京都江東区豊洲4-10-1 102
Opening Hours: 11.15AM onwards, until all 25 lunches are served, 5.30PM to 8PM (Mon to Sat), 11.30AM to 1PM (Sun), Closed on Wed
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