Hayakawa
Sushi restaurant · Atlanta
1055 Howell Mill Rd, Atlanta, GA 30318
Highlights
Michelin-starred omakase sushi with Hokkaido-style nigiri
Michelin-starred omakase sushi with Hokkaido-style nigiri
"Sure, money can’t buy happiness. But $315 secures you a spot at this eight-seat West Midtown omakase counter that gets pretty damn close to debunking that theory. Despite Hayakawa’s elegant, ingredient-driven courses and fancy minimalist interior, the fine dining restaurant still feels homey, thanks to a chef who throws around jokes and anecdotes about his hometown of Hokkaido while you’re chewing meaty cuts of top-notch nigiri. Don’t be surprised if the night ends with an Instagram follow from the chef and an invitation to reach out to him on social media for food or Japan travel recommendations." - jacinta howard, juli horsford, nina reeder
"If you love sushi and small talk and have a couple hundred dollars to spend, book a reservation at Hayakawa. The elegantly minimalist omakase counter in West Midtown’s Star Metals building only has eight seats, but that doesn’t stop the owner/head chef from going full performance mode and donning a mic headset so his jokes, life tales, and dish descriptions will reach your ears while you’re mid bite. It’s endearing, we swear. Hayakawa specializes in Hokkaido-style nigiri—thick, meatier cuts of fish. And even though it’s a mouthful, the buttery, delicate fish nearly melts on your tongue." - nina reeder, jacinta howard, juli horsford
"More than just a special occasion dinner, an evening at this eight-seat omakase counter will earn a prime slot on your most memorable dinner card. Hayakawa’s well-designed minimalist space sets a grand tone, but the dinner really comes into full color through the chef’s stories about everything from the family artwork hung on the walls to the gorgeous raw scallop drenched in a kiwi-miso puree. And if you thought your sushi courses would be identical to every other high-end Atlanta omakase, Hayakawa stands out with their huge, meaty cuts of nigiri, which still melt away despite the sizable portions." - jacinta howard, juli horsford, nina reeder
"At $315 per person, this eight-seat omakase counter in the Star Metals building is a quintessential “big night out” spot. The exclusive setting and elegant, minimalist interior fit the bill of a posh, buttoned-up restaurant. But then the chef starts sharing Dekalb Farmers Market war stories, and now it feels like you just grabbed a stool at your neighborhood bar. But as the 16-course menu progresses—from beautiful small plates of marinated vegetables to lusciously smooth chicken pâté cubes—you’re reminded why you’ve paid so much to be here. Unlike a lot of other spots, Hayakawa slices its Japanese-imported fish selections into thick, meaty cuts (a preference of the chef’s hometown). Yet despite that bulk, everything from bluefin tuna to the striped bass melts away with a few chews." - juli horsford, nina reeder
"This eight-seat omakase counter in the Star Metals building has one of the most expensive prix fixe menus in the city ($315 per person). Their fresh, flavorful plates and elegant, minimalist interior fit the bill of a fancy, buttoned-up restaurant. But this is a fine dining atmosphere where we feel most at home. Fans of thick nigiri cuts will enjoy Hayakawa's sizable mouthfuls of Japanese-imported selections like bluefin tuna, yellowtail, and striped bass, yet it’s the early courses on the 16-item menu that stand out most. Slivers of tender, raw scallop drenched in a kiwi-miso paste puree and the nutty watercress with a punchy wasabi oil feel like a suspenseful story that keeps you stimulated until the very last bite." - nina reeder, juli horsford, demarco williams
