Royal Sushi & Izakaya
Japanese restaurant · Queen Village
780 S 2nd St, Philadelphia, PA 19147
Highlights
Chef-driven Japanese pub with acclaimed sushi counter & creative bites
Chef-driven Japanese pub with acclaimed sushi counter & creative bites
"If there were a rare scenario in which Philadelphians had to choose only one restaurant to dine at for the rest of their lives, a high number would choose Royal Sushi & Izakaya in Queen Village. Yes, the omakase experience is the best in the city, but their karaage wings also add to the popularity. They’re topped with a subtly tangy soy chili vinegar, along with red onions and scallions that intensify the super crunch of each wing. The order of six is never enough, but it does have us considering a monogamous relationship with the place. Royal's sushi omakase is the single hardest reservation to book in Philadelphia. (At the end of the meal, diners can rebook for the following month, and many do—thus creating a defacto club of omakase regulars.) Open slots become available 30 days in advance, so we suggest setting an alarm or 10 and signing up for the waitlist notifications. It's rare, but not unheard of, to get a last-minute reservation. Alternatively, you could dine in the walk-in-only izakaya portion of the restaurant, get “lost” heading to the bathroom, and try to blend in with the Eagles player gulping toro." - candis mclean
"This Queen Village restaurant has two concepts in one space: a walk-in-only izakaya up front and an incomparable, $300 sushi omakase in the back. You're going to have a very hard time getting into the omakase (unless you're already regular, you date a regular, or you get lucky as a solo diner on Resy notify.) Instead, sit in a booth in the izakaya, watch anime, pay $4 for a beer, and eat chirashi bowls and rolls with king salmon with pickled jalepeño. Royal's sushi omakase is the single hardest reservation to book in Philadelphia. (At the end of the meal, diners can rebook for the following month, and many do—thus creating a defacto club of omakase regulars.) Open slots become available 30 days in advance, so we suggest setting an alarm or 10 and signing up for the waitlist notifications. It's rare, but not unheard of, to get a last-minute reservation. Alternatively, you could dine in the walk-in-only izakaya portion of the restaurant, get “lost” heading to the bathroom, and try to blend in with the Eagles player gulping toro." - candis mclean, alison kessler
"Royal Sushi in Queen Village lives at the center of this Venn diagram: excellent seafood, rowdy bar, and pristine omakase. Despite the front of the house feeling like a fun party, there’s nothing casual about this $160 indulgent plate of seafood. It includes an assortment of Japanese fish from Toyosu Market—think salmon, squid, fatty tuna—plus buttery, umami-rich uni, Japanese scallop, ikura, osetra caviar, and tamago. It’s a delightfully salty and refreshing seafood revelation that’s as beautiful to look at as it is to eat. Royal's sushi omakase is the single hardest reservation to book in Philadelphia. (At the end of the meal, diners can rebook for the following month, and many do—thus creating a defacto club of omakase regulars.) Open slots become available 30 days in advance, so we suggest setting an alarm or 10 and signing up for the waitlist notifications. It's rare, but not unheard of, to get a last-minute reservation. Alternatively, you could dine in the walk-in-only izakaya portion of the restaurant, get “lost” heading to the bathroom, and try to blend in with the Eagles player gulping toro." - alison kessler, candis mclean
"This Queen Village Japanese restaurant has a walk-in izakaya in front where you can sit in a booth, drink a balanced cocktail, and eat chirashi and fried fish collars like a happy kitten. The room is dark, the bar is bumping, and we rarely spend fewer than three hours loitering here. But if you want to feel like the princess of Philadelphia, try to book the 17-piece sushi omakase in the back. You might get dry-aged mackerel with chive oil or a silky chawanmushi topped with an obscene amount of caviar. Both dining options are memorable in their own ways. Which is nice, considering you probably can't get into the omakase. Royal's sushi omakase is the single hardest reservation to book in Philadelphia. (At the end of the meal, diners can rebook for the following month, and many do—thus creating a defacto club of omakase regulars.) Open slots become available 30 days in advance, so we suggest setting an alarm or 10 and signing up for the waitlist notifications. It's rare, but not unheard of, to get a last-minute reservation. Alternatively, you could dine in the walk-in-only izakaya portion of the restaurant, get “lost” heading to the bathroom, and try to blend in with the Eagles player gulping toro." - candis mclean, alison kessler
"Verdict: There’s nothing like the omakase at Royal Sushi & Izakaya—at least that’s what you’ve heard. You don’t actually know anyone who’s had it, because it seems like nobody can get in. Turns out, the rumors about the Queen Village restaurant are true, and it’s the best in Philly. It’s 17 courses of life-altering seafood that rotate daily. Grab one of the eight seats at the bar, hear some anecdotes about Japanese fish, and await the caviar-topped oysters and bragging rights. Royal's sushi omakase is the single hardest reservation to book in Philadelphia. (At the end of the meal, diners can rebook for the following month, and many do—thus creating a defacto club of omakase regulars.) Open slots become available 30 days in advance, so we suggest setting an alarm or 10 and signing up for the waitlist notifications. It's rare, but not unheard of, to get a last-minute reservation. Alternatively, you could dine in the walk-in-only izakaya portion of the restaurant, get “lost” heading to the bathroom, and try to blend in with the Eagles player gulping toro." - candis mclean
