A Closer Look: Beijing's Best Japanese Restaurants

A Closer Look reviews the winners from the Beijing 2015 Reader Restaurant Awards, which were announced March 16. Here we take a look at the winners of the Best Japanese category.

A quick look through the nominees for the Best Japanese category reveals that although Beijing may be landlocked, we aren't lacking in excellent Japanese restaurants serving the freshest sushi and sashimi. In addition to the restaurants below that made it onto the top three, I would like to give a shout out to Vin Vie (intriguing Japanese-Western fusion cuisine combined with an excellent wine list), Okra 1949 (seasonal ingredients sourced from Beijing and further afield, all served in an effortlessly stylish atmosphere), and Sake Manzo (all the Japanese classics at reasonable prices in a izakaya atmosphere).
 

Best: Hatsune
2015 marks the 12th year in a row that Hatsune has taken home the top spot in this category, making it Beijing's most popular Japanese restaurant, if not Beijing's most popular restaurant in general. Hatsune is of course best known for its extensive menu of complex California rolls (we at the Beijinger love the 119 and Amy rolls), but if you veer away from rolls you will find plenty of other gastronomic delights, including excellent sashimi and some very creative salads and vegetable dishes. Crucially, they are always finding ways to keep things fresh after so many years in the business. for example, they are currently collaborating with chef Brian McKenna on a series of Japanese-inspired desserts, including a green tea "tiramisune" (see what they did there?).
 

Outstanding: Tairyo Teppanyaki
Is any Beijing restaurant so synonymous with overindulgence as Tairyo Teppanyaki? Try and find someone who hasn't visited Tairyo with a big group of friends to partake of the RMB 268 all-you-can-eat-and-drink option. Must order dishes include the fried beef fillet with onions, and the banana pancakes with ice cream - an indulgent way to end an already indulgent meal. While the food may not be the most authentic out there, it's hard to beat Tairyo when in comes to value.
 

Outstanding: Yotsuba 
A recent visit to Yotsuba to try out their new great value set lunch options (more on that in another blog) confirmed they are more than worthy of their place in the top three. All three locations - in Sanlitun, Maizidian and Lido - are tastefully decorated in a traditional Japanese style, focusing on sushi bar seating and private rooms. With a sushi master with decades of experience in both Japan and Beijing, you can be assured of a product that hits way above the quality of many other restaurants around town. If you only try one thing, make it the tuna sushi selection. 

Hungry for more? Follow all of our 2015 Reader Restaurant Awards coverage here.

Email: robynnetindall@thebeijinger.com
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Photos: Robynne Tindall, Kyle Mullin, Dianping