01 / ABOUT THE PLACE
About this place
Before the nigiri begins, there is time to sip regional sake alongside neatly presented small dishes and grilled fish—a relaxed pace that defines the evening at Hama Sushi in Koenji-Kita. Watching the chef work from across the counter sets a tranquil tone, making it an unhurried haven for a thoughtful dinner.
From drinking snacks to nigiri: the omakase flow
For a first visit, the omakase courses form a dependable starting point. Choices range from a menu featuring an appetizer, sashimi, and three pre-sushi small plates to the daily omakase, which presents five seasonal nigiri pieces alongside a pre-sushi dish and tamagoyaki. Guests can tailor the progression to their drinking pace, adding seasonal à la carte dishes such as house-cured karasumi, grilled milt with ponzu, salt-grilled winter yellowtail, or savory chawanmushi.
Draft beer and several regional sake selections provide crisp pairings that let seasonal seafood take center stage. Opening at 18:00, the counter caters just as well to solitary diners who wish to focus entirely on the sushi as it does to small parties sharing quiet conversation over a carafe.
