Isana Sushi Bar

We booked well in advance before arriving in Tokyo and we were glad we did. The amazing quality and preparation of the sushi was on a level that is difficult to put in to words. Additionally, Chef Junichi talks about where every dish is sourced from and how each sake is matched to the food. Quite simply, this is not just an amazing omekase sushi experience, but one of the best food experiences I have ever had the pleasure to discover. If you are a food lover in Japan, this restaurant is an absolute must go.

We had an amazing experience at Isana Sushi Bar. Every dish and bites served for us are exceptional, and the sake pairing is totally worth it. The chef can speak English very well and is very informative when serving food to us. It is an intimate experience as the restaurant only hosts 7 guests and there is only one round in a night. Our dinner is almost 3 hours long but it doesn't feel that long at all.

Incredible experience by this wonderful chef. He is so patient and happy to explain everything to us that only speak English. This is exactly what we hoped for- to learn, understand, and deeply enjoy our omakase experience. Everything was delicious, and we were happy to have a relaxed, slow paced meal. Perfect!

Before this, I did not like Sushi. I did not understand it, I did not care for it, I thought it was all the same. That was until I ate here. Each piece was like a work of art for the mouth. I learned that I didn’t like sushi because what I had before this was not sushi. The chef was skillful, exceptionally kind, and lax. It felt more like a dining performance than some strict ritual to adhere to. If I’m ever in the area again I will be making a stop by for more Omakase without a doubt in my mind. Dishes selected are all seasonal and locally sourced making each dining experience unique! Highly recommend the sake pairings. Each one was masterfully chosen!

I ate a lot of incredible things while travelling for 2.5 weeks in Japan. Of all those things, Isana was the undisputed culinary highlight. Can't recommend this place highly enough to get a taste of absolute top quality sushi. It carries a price tag, but it absolutely justifies it with the amazing taste, the experience of seeing the chef create sushi in front of you in an intimate setting and the lovely atmosphere in the restaurant.

Really nice omakase sushi, I enjoyed every dish. The presentation and taste were really good. The chef speaks English. The aji horse mackerel sushi was my favourite. For the non-nigiri dishes I really liked the Bonito topped with radish (that might not be what it is. It's been a while so I forgot, it tasted great though! I remember the chef put a lot of things on it)

Our dinner at Isana Sushi was such a fun time. We got the course with the sake pairing, which I highly recommend. Chef Junichi is incredibly kind and willing to make conversation, and we will definitely be visiting this restaurant again the next time we’re in Tokyo.

Definitely worth it. This UK trained chef is exceptionally personable and has put together a great tasting menu along with sake pairing

If you want a personalized sushi experience, Isana is a great way to go. Make a reservation, though! I was able to make a reservation through their Facebook page. The chef speaks English, so we didn't find language to be a barrier. The sushi was hands down the best we have ever had. High quality pieces of fish, perfect rice, etc. It's fun to watch the chef as he makes everything fresh for you as well.

Eat here. Make a reservation. Now. I sat on this a few days. I didn't want to just write some effusive review about another great sushi joint. So I waited. And I flew back to the US. But here is the deal, Chef Junichi Onuki is not to be missed. The best. After spending time doing the restaurant circuit, I think his approach to sushi is perfect. If you live in the Tokyo, you will find his sushi traditional with a fresh understanding. If you are a native English speaker, you will find him warm and generous. He will walk you through a dining experience you may always remember. This was the best sushi experience of my life thus far. I suggest you give it a try- you will not be disappointed.

Isana serves very traditional, very authentic Japanese sushi and sashimi. There is no fusion here! Everything about this restaurant is focused on traditional cuisine in the traditional way. The restaurant is very small, very sparse and somewhat difficult to find on a narrow street that looks more like an alley. Nevertheless, the ambiance was warm, comfortable and friendly. Given the very small size of the restaurant noise was not a problem. The chef prepares virtually everything from behind the counter. He speaks English fluently and happily explains what he's making along with the backstory or provenance of the dish. Though singularly focused on authenticity and tradition, he was willing to adapt to the stated preferences of his guests. Though he's got an impressive background and pedigree, he was very approachable and even made a few well-placed jokes. We enjoyed the chef as much as we enjoyed his food. Please note that traditional and authentic often run counter to typical American and European tastes - many of the dishes involved seafood items and parts of the fish that are not typically appreciated by American and European diners. Consequently, if you go, you need to go with an open mind and an adventurous spirit. We found some of the items to be absolutely out-of-this-world whereas some of the items clearly were an "acquired" taste that not even the average Japanese person may enjoy. When I described our dining experience one of my friends (a Tokyo native) furrowed his brow and said, "Wow, that (dish) is very old school." Also, even by Tokyo standards, the pricing is moderately expensive - speciality ingredients and the small venue are certainly factors in their pricing. If you have an open mind and willing to try new things, you'll love the experience.