鮨 心 by 宮川 東京 / Sushi Shin by Miyakawa Tokyo

Thank you for providing an experience that was utterly unworthy of the Mandarin Oriental name. Every time I visit Japan, I dine at sushi omakase restaurants with a minimum dinner course price of 30,000 yen or higher. However, in just an hour and twenty minutes, the trust and expectations associated with the name “Mandarin Oriental” completely collapsed. To begin with, I was disappointed to learn that there was no draft beer available. Then, when I ordered Dassai 23 (180ml) from the sake list, what was actually served was Dassai 39. This is nothing short of deceiving the customer. When I pointed it out, the staff hastily removed the drink menu from my sight, saying, “If you don’t like it, we can change it to something else.” I chose not to make a scene and disrupt other guests’ dinners, so I simply drank the Dassai 39 but paid the price for Dassai 23. Yet, the fact that such a thing could happen here — something that would never occur even at a humble izakaya — was deeply unpleasant. If I had been a foreigner unfamiliar with sake, I would have been overcharged without ever realizing it. Ah, I almost forgot to mention — no one offered to take my backpack, so I had to place it on the floor between my legs in the narrow space between the chair and the counter. It also felt rather warm inside, and when I returned from the restroom after taking off my sweatshirt, I ended up folding it myself and placing it on the empty chair beside me. If this had been a casual Sushiro chain restaurant, I would have understood, but at a venue bearing the names “Mandarin Oriental” and “Miyakawa,” this level of service was simply disappointing. The tsumami and nigiri courses were mediocre at best. It felt like a restaurant targeting tourists who know little about sushi. The moment I picked up the ōtoro nigiri and half the rice (shari) fell apart onto the counter, my doubts turned into conviction. The kuruma ebi was so dry and tough that I had to keep chewing for an uncomfortably long time just to swallow it. Honestly, if not for the foreign guests sitting beside me, I might have spat it out. In all honesty, this meal was worth no more than a 40,000-yen sushi disaster. Despite being a place that clearly caters to foreigners, the chefs could barely speak English beyond describing the ingredients, and the entire course was rushed to completion within just one hour and twenty minutes. In short, it was an epic fail of an experience. Chef Miyakawa and the management of the Mandarin Oriental should seriously reflect on how this establishment completely tarnishes their reputation. It was a disgrace to their name and brand. Not only will I never revisit this restaurant, but I have also decided never to stay at any Mandarin Oriental property again. Among all the sushi omakase experiences I have had in Japan, this was by far the most disappointing.

An outstanding dining experience at Sushi Shin. The quality of the fish and seafood is exceptional, with impressive techniques such as marinated cuts and beautifully aged fish that elevate the flavors to another level. Every piece demonstrates precision and deep respect for tradition. It is on the pricier side, but absolutely worth it for the level of craftsmanship and ingredients. To give an idea, even a single bottle of water is ¥1,898 — which may seem steep, but it reflects the exclusivity of the overall experience.

The most attentive sushi dining experience we have had to date. The care and craftsmanship of the Master Sushi chef, along with his good nature and conversation, created a night we will not forget. If you’re looking for a unique and elevated dining experience this is the place to go.

Best sushi that I have ever tried! The quality of ingredients used and their combination is superb. Watching the chefs prepare it, is a beautiful experience. Absolutely recommended!

Absolutely loved to celebrate my bday here and enjoyed the food! Chefs are amazing and so energetic and happy! Service is great! View is fantastic. Food is delicious!

We have been coming to Japan every year for the past 4 years because we love the Japanese culture and hospitality of the Japanese people. We enjoy our time here every time. We were completely shocked by the treatment we received from the manager of this restaurant. We were waiting outside of the restaurant to be seated, and two white people just jumped in front of us and went inside the restaurant and were seated by the restaurant staff, so we thought we had to go inside of the restaurant to check in, and all the sudden the manager jumped in front of us and blocked us from entering the restaurant and told us to wait, his tone was very rude. He assigned us the seats next to the entrance. Since we were the one of the first two groups in the restaurant, we asked if we can sit closer to the window, he said those seats were reserved. We asked if there is assigned seating, and he didn’t answer us. He then said we can have one person sit against the window and the other two sit at the right angle of the counter, we asked can we sit together on the same side of the counter, he then raised his voice in front of the other group of patrons “do you want to sit here or not ?” The manager was extremely agitated and very unprofessional. We felt humiliated. After we sat down, he just handed us the drink menu and ignored us, and helped other patrons who came in later and ordered their drinks. We think that the sushi chef felt uncomfortable about the situation, and helped us to take our drink orders. The manager had a cold and distant demeanor towards us for the rest of the evening. We felt very disrespected and insulted for the entire meal. The only saving grace was the warm and welcoming service from our sushi chef. This restaurant manager should not be in the hospitality business, he is utterly unprofessional. We spoke to the hotel front desk assistant manager immediately after dinner, and the restaurant manager also came out and pretty much lied about what he had said and done. We told the hotel manager to let the restaurant manager know that that we are not seeking financial compensation for the terrible treatment we received, but we insisted that he needs to apologize for what he did. He eventually apologized to us. This was the first time we experienced such terrible treatment from a restaurant in Japan. We are extremely disappointed with the dinner experience overall, and it ruined our night. I guess we are not going back to this restaurant again.

Simply outstanding! There aren’t enough words to describe the beauty of this experience. The care taken and the quality of ingredients was impeccable.

Once in a lifetime experience in all regards. We had a 15 course menu, all courses freshly prepared sitting in front of the chef/ master. Ingredients, their freshness and the way they are treated was unmatched. Service was incredibly attentive, friendly and forthcoming. And all on the 35th floor. So thankful for this evening!