Japanese Restaurants in Moscow

For fans of Japanese food Moscow is a paradise. What seemed like a fad has refused to go away and has morphed into more of a fetish as MoscowÕs obsession with sushi continues to grow each year. And, in many cases, even restaurants that specialize in other cuisines throw a token sushi menu into the mix. To list all the Japanese restaurants and sushi bars in Moscow would be nearly impossible. But the following places provide a nice mix of price ranges and interesting interiors.

 
Ginno Taki and Yakitoriya.
Both are Japanese food chains that are very similar in design and menu, although Yakitoriya was the pioneer in this field and has more outlets. Ginno Taki is derived from JapanÕs most popular restaurant chain which has a similar name. Both chains are run by the same company, which makes you wonder why they bother keeping them as separate entities. Ginno Taki and Yakitoriya always have Fashion TV on for some reason, and if you don't like it, you can see how your sushi is being made. A dinner is from $12 per person. Both restaurants also have a delivery service, which unsurprisingly share the same phone number: 234-2424. With nicer interiors than their main competitor Planeta Sushi you should definitely go out to one of the two once, to get the feel of the Moscow Japanese cuisine frenzy.
Address:
Yakitoriya: 1st Tverskaya-Yamskaya Ulitsa, #29, Bldg. 1 View on Map, metro Belorusskaya. Tel: 250-5385. Open 11:00-6:00.
More than 15 other locations in Moscow.
For full list see www.yakitoriya.ru/?lng=0
Ginnotaki: Bolshaya Yakimanka Ulitsa, #58, metro Oktyarbrskaya. Tel: 238-9533. Open 11:00-6:00.
Tverskaya Ulitsa, #6 View on Map, metro Okhotny Ryad. Tel: 692-5350. Open 11:00-6:00.

 
Netske.
Tucked away in the Moscow suburbs is a tranquil slice of Japan. This many-chambered restaurant is filled with pebbled pathways, bamboo, small gardens and sunken tables in a modern Japanese style. The restaurant is dedicated to the Japanese Deity Hotei who is synonymous with contentment and abundance; entirely appropriate given the vast selection of tasty dishes on the menu. Netske has a massive menu with all the Japanese classics. Theoretically you could get out of there for $30 but itÕs more likely youÕll pay around $50. Also has cafe locations at Altufyevo and Timiryazevskaya which are quite a lot cheaper. Delivery is available to the areas around the cafes by phoning 506-9076.
Address: Leninsky Prospekt, #69, metro Universitet. Tel. 134-2450. Open 12:00-last customer.
Leskova Ulitsa, #6, metro Altufyevo. Tel: 909-3511. Open 12:00-2:00.
Milashenkova Ulitsa, #4, Bldg. 7 (on the 2nd floor of the Matritsa shopping center), metro Timiryazevskaya. Tel: 610-6500. Open 11:00-23:00.

Planeta Sushi.
A large chain of Japanese eateries run by the same people behind T.G.I. FridayÕs, the American Bar and Grill and Il Patio. The restaurants are very affordable and therefore the quality isnÕt as great as what you might find elsewhere, but if you enjoy Japanese food without being too demanding about the taste then youÕll feel right at home here. The outlets are nice and modern with a just a hint of Japanese influence in the design. Considering this is such a large chain youÕll be surprised at how many Japanese staff youÕll see. Meals are very cheap with an average bill just over $10 per person and you could go all out for $20. Planeta Sushi is a good place to take that annoying sushi-craving date without wasting too much of your money.
Address: Novy Arbat, #14/1 View on Map, metro Arbatskaya. Tel: 290-6869. Open Sun-Thur: 12:00-0:00, Fri-Sat: 12:00-6:00.
About 20 other locations. See www.planet-sushi.rosinter.ru/addresses/list/ for full list.

 
Seiji.
Seiji is one of the front-running Japanese restaurants in terms of quality and price. Their selection of sashimi and sushi from specially chosen and rare fish can be hard on the pocket, although the menu also boasts a number of affordable options. Head chef and inspiration for the restaurantÕs name Seiji Kusano strives to keep his dishes as close as possible to genuine Japanese fare while making minor adjustments to suit the tastes of the local clientele. Likewise the restaurant is superbly decorated in traditional Japanese style with twinges of modern design. The menu runs the gamut from mouth-watering miso soup to sake and everything in between with some Russian dishes such as pelmeni also on offer. An average bill per person of about $60 seems like a lot for what is essentially rice, seaweed and uncooked fish, but connoisseurs of Japanese cuisine will taste the difference here.
Address: Komsomolsky Prospekt, #5/2, metro Park Kultury. Tel. 246-7624. Open 12:00-last customer.

Yapona Mama.
An impressive restaurant in the Arkady Novikov stable. Yapona Mama serves good quality Japanese cuisine at mid-range prices. The interior is modern with tasteful Japanese paraphernalia lining the walls. The Tsvetnoy Bulvar location is a two storey affair with wall-length glass windows looking out onto the boulevard and a great summer terrace. An average bill here will come to about $25. The business lunch (from 12pm-4pm) is worth a look at 295 rubles ($10) for a drink, soup, salad and either a hot meal or a plate of sushi. On Friday and Saturday nights a DJ spins chill-out music keeping customers entertained until early morning making the restaurant a good place to check out if you happen to be craving sushi after a few heavy hours of drinking.
Address: Tsvetnoy Bulvar, #11, Bldg. 3 View on Map, metro Tsvetnoy Bulvar. Tel: 921-6098. Open Sun-Thur: 12:00-0:00, Fri-Sat: 12:00-5:00.
Smolensky Bulvar, #4, metro Smolenskaya. Tel: 246-9967. Open 12:00-0:00.

 
Benihana.
The Moscow outlet of a world-wide chain of Japanese restaurants that started back in 1964. Meals are prepared with flair at your table, in keeping with the Òdining as entertainmentÓ philosophy that Benihana is famous for.
Address: Pushkinskaya Ploshchad, #5, metro Pushkinskaya. Tel: 209-1023. Open 12:00-0:00.

 
Dzhusto.
An elite and expensive restaurant with pretensions to being a club. Apparently the interior is in ÒJapanese minimalistÓ style. DJs play daily, with house being the preferred genre. Expect to pay a good $50 per person.
Address: Bolshoy Tolmachevsky Pereulok, metro Tretyakovskaya. Tel: 953-6595. Open Sun-Thur: 12:00-0:00, Fri-Sat: 12:00-2:00.

 
Ginger.
Moderately priced Japanese restaurant with a large skylight. Decent food and nice interior. Average bill is $20-$25 per person.
Address: Zatsepsky Zal, #6, Bldg. 2, metro Paveletskaya. Tel: 953-2821. Open 12:00-0:00.

 
Rikyu.
Boasts a Japanese chef and a sleek, classy, modern interior. An average bill per person is a bit more than $30 while there is a good selection of business lunches starting at 400 rubles ($14).
Address: Mira Prospekt, #26, Bldg. 8, metro Prospekt Mira. Tel: 937-8803. Open 12:00-0:00.

 
Sushi.Ru.
An inexpensive restaurant with an interesting if cheap-looking interior. Business lunches for 200 rubles and average bills per person about $20. Has traditional Japanese ÒKangaroo Steak with VegetablesÓ on the menu. Also does delivery (232-0171).
Address: Komsomolsky Prospekt, #28, metro Frunzenskaya. Tel: 245-0421. Open 12:00-0:00.