Royal Sushi Izakaya - Philadelphia

Amazing experience all around. Bar is very cool, albeit a bit crowded. That’s expected for a small place like this. We went to Omakase, there back table and it was fantastic. Each piece of sushi made was individually and intentionally crafted. Really cool experience.

This is a special place for Philadelphia. We’ve eaten in the front and have been fortunate enough to be seated for omakase twice before. This is my frame of reference. Jesse does a brilliant job of ensuring that guests can try authentic Japanese, Korean, New Zealand, etc. fish on the east coast of the US. It blows my mind that I can eat this fish the same day/next day that it was caught. Maybe other folks don’t fully understand the magnitude of what Jesse is giving his community, but it’s special.

Many isakayas don't really have the dishes or flavors that I love from Japanese. This one genuinely did with a modern western approach . my top 4 dishes were the chicken karaage, braised short ribs, sweet miso glazed egg plant , and sesame panna cotta. Every dish was rich in flavors and genuinely approached with love crispiness melt in your mouth textures were all present I was mainly most surprised about the eggplant. I could pop them in my mouth all day; I don't generally love egg plants but this one was roasted to perfection with a nice umami sweet miso glaze. Light enough to balance the flavors but not overpowering That was the same with the pannacotta. Super sesame nuttiness by itself but also nicely paired with fresh mango and caramel on top Can't wait to try some new items next time I'm back. Even their omakase at the back that has 8 seats (normally very hard to book and apps usually open up bookings for the following month every month) More on Instagram: @midwestmunching

The fish quality here was solid. I though it was great concept to have Izakaya, Japanese street-style bar, next to omakase counters. It made me trust all sushi and sashimi quality even before arriving there, and they were indeed all good. At the same time, they incorporated a lot of graphics from street-style Izakaya, which made the place comfortable and reachable. With Chirashi, assorted sashimis over sushi rice, I especially liked Saba, mackerel and tuna. Also, try Tuna Guac from their appetizers. Serving tuna and avocado together may not be that unique, but this dish was completely different from other usual tuna avocado combinations. I must say, this might be the best street-style Izakaya that I tried in the US.

Reservations for the Omakase are ridiculously hard to get but we were blessed with a last minute cancellation. It is very easy to understand why spots are so precious and booked out. The tasting menu deserves more than 5 stars. Every single piece of nigiri was a memorable experience in itself. Chef Ito makes each piece with such expertise and the flavor profiles are amazing. We will definitely be back for a regular dine in experience!