Shinjuku Izakaya Osashimiya Sumiyoshi: Top Tokyo Dining Guide

Recommended Tokyo Eateries List

Shinjuku Izakaya Osashimiya Sumiyoshi

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Words/Photos ©HiCouple

If you're exploring Tokyo, Japan, then in the late evening,

visiting an izakaya that truly captures the local vibe

is an essential part of the experience.

What's more, at these kinds of restaurants, you can often enjoy dishes that are quite pricey

back home at a comparatively more affordable cost.

Today, I'll be introducing Osashimiya Sumiyoshi, an izakaya worth checking out for those looking for such a gem,

along with a list of other great Tokyo eateries to visit!

Recommended Shinjuku Restaurants in Tokyo, Japan

Osashimiya Sumiyoshi 魚三四味家すみよし

Opening Hours: 17:00 ~ 23:00 (Sundays 22:00) Closed: None Location: 8-minute walk from Shinjuku Station Cover Charge: 385 yen (tax included) Special Note: 5% late-night charge added after 22:00

Osashimiya Sumiyoshi, which I'm introducing today,

is an 📍 izakaya located about an 8-minute walk from Shinjuku Station.

As the name suggests, it's a restaurant specializing in sashimi and seafood.

It's not on the busy main streets of Shinjuku with heavy foot traffic,

but rather a block or two away, making it relatively quiet and

giving it a 'late-night diner' kind of ambiance.

Open from 5 PM until late at night,

it's great for either your first or second stop of the evening.

It also seemed quite popular with locals.

In fact, I tried to visit on my first day of the trip,

but it was full, so I gave up. Instead, I went back the next day

right when they opened!

Osashimiya Sumiyoshi: Inside Atmosphere

First, let me show you the

interior atmosphere of Osashimiya Sumiyoshi.

The sign hanging outside the shop was interesting from the start.

'Osashimiya' means a sashimi restaurant, and sashimi can be written

in hiragana or with the kanji 刺身.

However, the restaurant's name 魚三四味家 uses the readings of each individual kanji,

making it a bit tricky to read.

It was amusing to think they might have emphasized the kanji for 'fish' and 'taste' within the characters.

The interior had a clean, overall wooden tone,

and exuded quite a luxurious feel.

There were about 8 tables for four,

and a counter seating area that could accommodate up to 8 people.

The counter stools looked a bit uncomfortable without backrests,

but the cushions were soft, making them more comfortable than expected.

I sat at the very end of the counter seating.

To the right of my seat was an aquarium filled with abalone, clams, and other seafood,

which was quite entertaining to watch.

Osashimiya Sumiyoshi: The Menu

Osashimiya Sumiyoshi has two different menus,

and I'll introduce each of them next.

First, the regular menu is just like in these photos.

Although it's not a menu in Korean,

because it's written in clear, standard script,

you should be able to translate it well using Papago.

Teppanyaki, salads, grilled fish, tempura, alcoholic beverages, and more

It's mostly made up of common, everyday dishes.

For seasonal or special menus,

there's a separate menu written by hand.

Since it's handwritten, even translation apps might struggle with it.

So, I've summarized some of the main dishes below.

📌 Key Menu Items

(Subject to change based on season and availability)

​

Honmaguro Assortment (1 serving) 18,000 JPY

Honmaguro Kama Steak (1 serving) 1,000 JPY

Fresh Oysters 350-500 JPY

Nihonshu Secret Menu around 1,000 JPY

The handwritten menu usually features daily recommendations or

seasonal items, so it's subject to constant change.

Also, for Nihonshu (sake), there's a separate

"secret menu" beyond the regular one, so keep that in mind!

As expected from a sashimi specialty restaurant, the sashimi menu

is also presented on a separate menu.

You can order individual items based on the type of fish or cut,

and you can also order an assortment tailored to the number of people.

For two people, the basic 8-piece assortment is 1,980 JPY,

and the premium 8-piece assortment is 3,080 JPY!

Review of Ordered Dishes and Food Taste

Next, I'll tell you all about the dishes I ordered

and how they tasted.

First, I received a draft beer and the complimentary appetizer.

The beer was refreshing with a smooth finish, making it very enjoyable,

and the simmered fish, included as a basic side dish, was savory and

umami-rich, making me want to keep eating it.

Since they had Honmaguro (bluefin tuna) in that day,

my first order was one serving of Honmaguro

and the seasonal Shirako Ponzu.

First, I tried the Shirako Ponzu.

It looked like raw, uncooked shirako,

and visually, it might be a bit off-putting for some.

The texture was incredibly creamy, melting delicately in my mouth,

but I noticed a slightly fishy aftertaste, more than I expected.

However, when I tried it again with a generous dip of ponzu sauce,

the fishiness disappeared, revealing a rich, creamy texture,

and the refreshing sauce perfectly complemented it, making it absolutely delicious!

Next up was Honmaguro Chutoro (medium fatty tuna) and Akami (lean tuna),

served in six thick slices.

I particularly enjoyed the Chutoro.

Even with a generous amount of wasabi,

it was so rich and fatty that it wasn't spicy at all – perfectly suited to my taste!

After finishing my beer, I decided to order one of the Nihonshu (sake) from the secret menu.

The staff recommended one that would pair well with sashimi,

and it was so smooth, a truly excellent match!

Alternating bites of sashimi with sips of sake made me incredibly happy.

Since I was already at a sashimi izakaya,

I went ahead and ordered the regular sashimi assortment as well.

Although the menu only listed it for two people,

as you can see in the picture, a single serving was also available.

However, the number of fish varieties was slightly fewer, with 5 instead of 8.

The selection included raw octopus, amberjack (buri), akami (lean tuna), salmon,

and sea bream (madai). Including a service piece,

it totaled 10 pieces.

The sashimi was aged, offering a delightful chewy texture.

Personally, the amberjack (buri) and sea bream (madai) were my favorites.

At around 100 yen per piece, you can enjoy aged sashimi at a pretty good value,

so, if you visit, I highly recommend ordering some sashimi!

If You're Looking for an Izakaya in Shinjuku, Tokyo, I Highly Recommend This Spot!

Two measures of Nihonshu (sake), a draft beer, and

three appetizers cost around 7,300 yen.

The food was generally delicious, and even with unique seasonal offerings like Shirako Ponzu and Honmaguro,

the prices weren't overly expensive, so it felt quite reasonable.

If you're looking for a seafood izakaya near Shinjuku,

it might be worth a visit!

Curious for More Tokyo Restaurant Recommendations?

Finally, here's a list of great Tokyo restaurants to visit along with Osashimiya Sumiyoshi.

First up is Yumezake, located in Shinjuku Kabukicho,

a sake specialty store where you can enjoy sake from all over Japan, along with a variety of appetizers.

Be sure to check out the detailed review below!

Next up, also in Shinjuku Kabukicho, you'll find

the late-night Ramen Kuramu.

This spot is famous for its incredible ramen with a refreshing clam broth,

making it the perfect last stop to soothe your soul and perhaps even cure a hangover!

Beyond these, I've also curated a list of four more fantastic Tokyo eateries,

so be sure to check out the post below too!

So, use these tips to dive into Tokyo's incredible food scene

and come back with unforgettable culinary memories!