Ichikawa

“Particular about tuna” is a phrase which could describe almost any sushi chef in Japan, but perhaps none more so than the owner of Ichikawa. In fact, the whole menu here is a celebration of this delicious ingredient. The vinegar blend used in the sushi rice is specially made to suit the taste of fatty tuna, so the nigiri portion of the meal mainly features various cuts of this popular fish. Fatty tuna is tattooed on the hearts of the vast majority of sushi fans, so most will be glad to hear that they can enjoy such a premium version of their favorite fish. However, if you crave a little bit of variation, you’ll also be happy to know about the trick up the sleeve of this young chef. He has extensive experience working at fine Kyoto cuisine restaurants, with seven years under his belt at Kikunoi, and so he also serves up seasonal sides which are more often found on the counters of kaiseki restaurants in Gion. The mix of small Kyo-ryori plates and tuna-focused Tokyo sushi at Ishikawa proves to be a winning combination, and one which thoroughly deserves the 2021 Michelin star it was awarded.