Hikarimono

Hikarimono (ヒカリモノ)

⭐⭐⭐

🍣 Sushi / 📍 Roppongi

📓 Visits: 1

Courses start from JPY 4,900 at lunch for 1 tsumami and 10 nigiri or JPY 9,900 for 7 tsumami and 9 nigiri at lunch and dinner.  I had the cheapest lunch course.

The chutoro was the best piece in the set.  The neta in all the other nigiri were fine.  The signature iwashi futomaki was OK but the salmon tempura and ikura futomaki that preceded it was better, partly because you'd never get that in a sushi restaurant charging 20k+ so no inferiority complex.  The tsumami of taco was very good considering the price.  Rice was typically mildly sour, firm and slightly dry.  Extra nigiri are charged at 600 yen, 900 yen, 1200 yen or 1500 yen and are listed on a (Japanese only) menu.  I requested toru taku, which was OK, but I'm not sure that piling the takuan on top is an improvement over mixing it in.

A stone's throw from the National Art Center it's very casual and a bit touristy; muzak plays in the background.  On my visit a number of people got seats without reservations but by 12:30 they were full.  A large counter seats up to 19 with two chefs making sushi.  Head chef Kan Sato is also a director of the company that owns the restaurant, along with Shokkan (Shibuya and Roppongi), Onogi and Eat Azabu-Juban, where he's previously worked.  Sato-san didn't initiate conversation with me but can speak some English and was giving great service to a group of three with no Japanese.

10 nigiri + bits for 5k is good value and there aren't many places where you can get sushi at this level for dinner for under 10k.  Receipts are fully itemized (thank you).

There was actually a bone in my hirame.  That kind of thing doesn't bother me but it should bother the chef.  Chef did spot it (once I spat it out) but I mention it only because it just wouldn't happen in a low turnover sushi restaurant.

While I did not dislike Hikarimono if I was in Roppongi and after sushi I'd go to Sushi Muku (review to come).  You get more sushi for your money and it's better quality.

For dessert, head to Patissiere Mayo Flat across the road (N.B. open from 2pm).

Hikarimono is included as one of the new "Selected" (neither Starred nor Bib Gourmand) restaurants in the Michelin Guide Tokyo 2024.

📌 https://tabelog.com/tokyo/A1307/A130701/13261836/

❓ My Rating: ⭐⭐⭐ 3.8 (value: 4.7)

📱 Booking: 🟩 For two diners or more you can book via Tabelog.  For solo diners you'll need to book by phone.  Same day bookings are possible and as I mentioned they accept walk-ins.  If you want to guarantee a time then book a week in advance.  Limited English spoken.

📍 Location: 

7-5-11 Roppongi.  When it's open (closed on Tuesdays) you can cut through the museum using Nogizaka station Exit 6.  Failing that, there's a restricted-opening shortcut around the side of the museum to Nogizaka station Exit 5.  Failing that, Nogizaka station Exit 3.  1F multi-tenant building, dedicated street-facing entrance.  
Map data ©2023 Google

📅 Visit September 2023

🕛 Lunch course 4,900

Taco (tsumami)
Hirame (nigiri)
Aji
Kamasu aburi
Sawara
Kinmedai
Buri zuke
Akami
Chutoro
Salmon tempura futomaki, ikura
Iwashi futomaki
Akadashi
Tamago
+ Toru taku 1200

💴 Damage: 6,100
⏱️ Time taken: 1h