After sushi has long been integrated into German food culture and ramen followed suit as a trend food a few years ago, today it is Japanese izakaya restaurants that seem to be springing up like mushrooms. Takoyaki, okonomiyaki or karaage are no longer foreign words to many people and Japanese cuisine is currently more popular than it has been for a long time. So it’s high time for our hot tips for Japan fans in Berlin.
Gingi’s Izakaya
Although Gingi’s Izakaya is a gastronomic veteran by Berlin standards, it is still one of the insider tips when it comes to good Japanese cuisine. The Turkish-born owner’s tiny shop in Prenzlauer Berg offers one of the highest quality izakaya menus. Always fresh, always new and above all always delicious.
According to the website, Gingi is currently working on a new map that will also allow for European influences.
Rykestrasse 45 | 10405 Berlin| Prenzlauer Berg
Tuesday – Sunday: 6 p.m. – 11 p.m
The Catch
The owners of the recently opened izakaya, The Catch, in Charlottenburg are not from Japan, but from Latvia. But Alexander Slobine’s team proves that it is possible to serve good Japanese food without coming from the country. The press dinner that we were able to attend a few months ago was a very positive experience for a long time when it comes to new openings. The sashimi is incredibly fresh and so tender that it melts in your mouth. Must try: the Japanese grilled mushrooms. A dream!
Bleibtreustrasse 41 | 10623 Berlin | Charlottenburg
Monday – Thursday: 12pm – 11pm
Friday – Saturday: 12pm – midnight
Sunday: 6 p.m. – 11 p.m
Jabe
The latest baby from Berlin serial restaurateur Duc Ngoc Duc Nguyen is also a Japanese Izakaya in the middle of the popular Alte Schönhauser Straße in Mitte. In addition to Japanese classics such as ome rice, udon and sashimi, the menu also includes trendy bowls with kimchi and avocado. If you like nice, hearty miso soups, you shouldn’t miss Jabe’s.
Alte Schönhauser Straße 7-8 | 10119 Berlin | center
Monday – Sunday: 12pm – 3pm | 5:30 p.m. – 10 p.m
Sasaya
Even though this article isn’t about sushi, Sasaya cannot be left out of this list. Because when it comes to good Japanese cuisine, it has been THE place to go in Berlin for years. Even before the store opens, visitors regularly line up to get one of the coveted spots in the small store in Prenzlauer Berg. In addition to excellent sushi, the menu also offers other Japanese tapas made from fish and meat.
Lychener Straße 50 | 10437 Berlin | Prenzlauer Berg
Thursday – Monday: 12pm – 2.30pm | 6-10:30 p.m
Zenkichi
If you want to eat really Japanese and special food, you should reserve a table at Zenkichi. Here you get a fantastic omakase meal and sit very intimately and comfortably in small booths with blinds. There are no conversations or looks from others here. You can concentrate entirely on your company and the food. There is also a very good selection of sake. If you prefer less fine dining, you can also simply enjoy Japanese cuisine in the associated House of Small Wonders.
Johannisstrasse 20 | 10117 Berlin | center
Monday – Saturday: 6 p.m. – midnight, Sunday: 5:30 p.m. – 11:30 p.m
Cocoro
At Cocoro you can also eat Japanese food other than sushi and ramen. There are various udon soups and donburis on the menu here. These are rice dishes with different toppings. Perfect in summer are the homemade onigiris, which you can take with you to enjoy your lunch break in nearby Victoria Park. However, we haven’t been there for a while. Time to change that again.
Mehringdamm 64 | 10961 Berlin | Kreuzberg
Monday – Sunday: 11 a.m. – 10 p.m
893 Ryōtei
The Charlottenburger 893 Ryotei shouldn’t be missing from the list either. Duc Ngo’s very dark and therefore cozy restaurant is perfect for sociable evenings. Modern Japanese dishes such as the fantastic spinach salad with miso and truffles, cod with miso or teriyaki steak, but also classics such as agedashi tofu are served here. The restaurant does not specialize in one category and so the menu also includes sushi and soba noodles.
Kantstrasse 135 | 10625 Berlin | Charlottenburg
Tuesday – Saturday: 6:30 p.m. – 11 p.m
By the way, there are now quite a few Japanese people in Berlin and some are still on the list of those to be tested. So we don’t know Kumami, Life, Kushinoya or even Shiori yet. But since Berlin has more restaurants than there are days in a year, it will probably be a while before we’ve really eaten our way through Berlin in a completely Japanese way.
