01 / ABOUT THE PLACE
About this place
Tucked away inside a building just off Shinjuku-Gyoenmae Station, Sushi Bon displays no sign outside, offering an intimate Edomae sushi experience at a counter with just 6 seats where the chef's craft unfolds right before your eyes. Sliding the door open reveals a sleek, modern room framed in black and anchored by a solid ginkgo-wood counter, creating a calm refuge that feels removed from the city's bustle.
The evening meal revolves around a curated omakase course of roughly 22 dishes that alternates between appetizers and nigiri at an engaging tempo. The meal gets underway with touches such as a negitoro hand roll wrapped in crisp, fragrant nori, accompanied by sea grapes and house-cured gari to cleanse the palate and build anticipation. A particular standout is the slow-simmered abalone, prized for its tender texture. Once you have enjoyed the shellfish coated in its rich, creamy liver sauce, blending a spoonful of red-vinegar sushi rice into the remaining sauce creates a comforting, risotto-style finish unique to the house.
For the sushi, the chef shapes distinctive sushi rice seasoned with red vinegar, brushed with nikiri soy sauce in classic fashion. Seasonal seafood is brought to the fore, from marinated lean tuna and melt-in-the-mouth chutoro to sardine accented with finely pounded scallion, and rich sea urchin served directly by hand. Kuruma prawn, parboiled gently while still fresh to retain a tender bite and layered with the depth of prawn tomalley, makes a memorable impression with its natural sweetness and plump texture. Between nigiri, small rice bowls topped with grilled seasonal fish and warm chawanmushi maintain a satisfying rhythm throughout.
The drink selection ranges from sakes like Hakurakusei, Banshu Ikkon, and Kokuryu to champagne, still wines, and a house gari sour, making it easy to tailor pairings to your palate. With seating so limited, advance reservations are recommended for dinner. Thoughtful hospitality rounds out the experience, extending to wooden chopsticks you can take home as a keepsake and your choice of gelato at the finish.
