Takumi Sushi Owana

Takumi Sushi Owana (匠 鮨 おわな)

⭐⭐⭐⭐

🍣 Sushi / 📍 Ebisu

📓 Visits: 1 (2023)

Omakase dinner is JPY 27,500.  On Wednesdays only a nigiri-only lunch is served, priced at JPY 9,680, which is what I went for.

With two kinds of rice used, unusual nigiri like nishin and kanpyo and seasonings on the salty side, you can feel the Sushi Sho lineage.  There was nothing really stand-out in the set.  The weak points were the chutoro (which lacked fat) and the ikura (which was small in diameter).  Also, no uni was included.  But I felt that everything was very well-prepared.  Rice is very al dente and loosely packed.  You can order extras after the course but having felt slightly burned in the pocket by extras in recent meals elsewhere I stuck to the set.

There were three other guests, all also non-Japanese.  We all arrived at slightly different times but there was no problem - everyone was served at their own pace and out in under an hour, which is ideal for me for lunch.  Despite the Pocket Concierge page stating "our staff only speak Japanese", chef Kenji Oana was able to introduce all the sushi in English and even initiate conversation in English.  Oana-san has an assistant chef and another restaurant assistant (who both could also speak English).

Takumi Sushi Owana lost its Star in the 2024 Michelin Guide Tokyo, which feels a little harsh to me based on my visit.  The 2023 Guide stated that the sushi is made by Owana-san's apprentice at lunch but that was not the case on my visit and that statement is no longer in The Guide.  This could just be due to a change in apprentice with the new member of staff not quite being ready to make sushi, but that might change again in the future.

Overall, I'd highly recommend Takumi Sushi Owana for an introduction to Sho-style sushi that's very relaxed, easy to reserve, good value and where you can converse with the chef in English.

📌 https://tabelog.com/tokyo/A1303/A130302/13211921/

❓ My Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4.0

📱 Booking: 🟩 For dinner same week or next week is possible, otherwise a month in advance for a specific date.  Lunch is served on Wednesdays only and you'll need to book at least a month in advance.  Book online via TableCheck (credit card required) or Pocket Concierge (dinner only).  If you're resident in Japan you can also book by phone.  Children accepted in the private room.

📍 Location:

4F Timezone Terrace Bldg, 1-17-17 Ebisu.  There are at least three 'Timezone' buildings on the same street.  It's the one opposite Ushigoro Bambina.  4F multi-tenant building.  2 mins from Ebisu station metro Exit 1 or JR West Exit.
Map data ©2023 Google

📅 Visit September 2023

🕛 Wednesday Lunch ¥9,680

Nodoguro chawanmushi
Kinmedai kobujime (nigiri, shiro)
Aji (shiro)
Kuruma ebi (aka)
Kohada (aka)
Akami zuke (aka)
Chutoro (aka)
Nishin (aka)
Sawara (shiro)
Shiro ebi (aka)
Ikura gunkanmaki
Kanpyo (shiro)
Anago (aka)
Tekka maki ½ (aka)
Tamago maki
Miso soup

💴 Damage: 9,860
⏱️ Time taken: 50m