01 / ABOUT THE PLACE
About this place
At Sushi Fukuzuka, the artisan's craft centers on meticulous attention to detail, extending right down to the temperature and aroma released the instant each bite enters the mouth. Climbing to the second floor of a building tucked away in a quiet Kagurazaka alleyway brings guests to an intimate counter where focused lighting accentuates the dishes before them. In courses prepared by head chef Hiroki Fukuzuka and his team, the vinegar profile and temperature of the rice are calibrated to the fat content and texture of each seafood topping, bringing out distinct impressions with every piece of nigiri.
Rice and Temperature Shifting with Every Topping
Pacific bluefin tuna, the centerpiece of the omakase, is served with rice adjusted in temperature for each cut, from lean akami to medium-fat chutoro and rich otoro. The calculated harmony is immediately apparent: richly marbled otoro is paired with warmer rice to gently melt its fat, while fine-grained akami rests on rice at a moderate temperature to cleanly foreground its natural acidity and umami. Seasonal seafood such as precisely cooked kuruma prawn, simmered clam, sea urchin, and gizzard shad are likewise presented at temperatures chosen to let their individual characteristics shine.
Thoughtfully Paced Courses from Small Plates to Dessert
The small dishes served between nigiri show similar ingenuity, with steamed abalone, broth-forward preparations, and house-pickled ginger featuring thinly sliced apple establishing a pleasing rhythm throughout the meal. Later in the course, elements such as tamagoyaki crafted with deliberate temperature contrasts, an aromatic dashi broth, and freshly churned liquid-nitrogen ice cream served in monaka wafers engage the senses right through to the end.
Reserved Counter Seating for Special Occasions
Because space at the intimate counter is limited, advance reservations are required for both lunch and dinner services. Paired with a chosen sake or wine, a meal here offers a quiet, memorable occasion to appreciate the shifting temperatures and aromas of each piece crafted directly before you.
