Okuda

Our lunch at Ginza Okuda blew my socks off. It was fantastic. Down an innocuous staircase in an outside vestibule of a Ginza high rise, Ginza Okuda comes across as a hidden den. Past a zen water feature, a customer slides open a shoji screen and is greeted at the front desk. A captain escorts you to... this tiny but elegant room with a counter having about eight seats. To our amazement and joy, we were the only patrons. After conferring with Okuda’s sommelier, a beautiful white wine and a multi-layered sake were poured. Then, the show began. Course after course of the most delicious food came from some hidden place in this basement lair. Every dish was memorable, and I sighed like a Tom Cat at a kitty harem. The seafood tasted fresh and was prepared with a light touch, bringing the flavors of each fish to the forefront. Perhaps the highlight was the Puffer Fish, the chef advising us he was licensed by the government to serve this poisonous fish. I am still alive, and his preparation was delicious. Gaza Okura might be our favorite meal so far on this trip. I would award more than one star to this chef and restaurant. This multi-course lunch with wine and sake came to $178.00, a bargain for the great food and divine experience. Lunch at Ginza Okuda is not to be missed.

Visited February 2025

Amazing dinner! The menu is original and diverse. All plates sublimely prepared. Quality of ingredients exceptional. All personnel very friendly and helpfully explaining the dishes. Nice atmosphere in elegant room.

Visited October 2024

The food was absolutely delicious, and the chef and staff made a real effort to engage with us despite a considerable language barrier. We ate at the counter, and were able to see the chef and sous chef prepare almost everything directly in front of us. We got eleven small courses, a fantastic amoun...t for the bill, and sampled everything from sea urchin to unagi to sea bass from across Japan, with the sommelier indicating the name and provenance of each piece of seafood and meat for us. Our favorites: crab with edamame ice cream (trust us, it was mind-blowing); wagyu beef with sweet corn and asparagus; fried whole sweetfish with pickled vegetables; and sea urchin noodles served in-shell.

Visited August 2023

Very ordinary food compare to the restaurants we dined with shocking bill of 80000Y Bad Shangri-La hotel recommendation

Visited April 2023

We ate at Okuda last night. We had a lovely private room and were well attended to by Satomi. One of our best Kaiseki dinners in Japan. Inventive, creative dishes, fresh ingredients, excellent food and service. Highly recommended.

Visited December 2018