Raw Power: Beijing's Best Sushi

When you are in the mood for something tasty and healthy, sushi is
always a good choice. Delicate, thin slices of fish layered on seaweed-wrapped rice and dipped in wasabi and soy sauce is enough to satiate anyone’s appetite for minimalist Asian fare. Make sure you go to the right places though – there’s an intricate art to sushi that only the best restaurants understand. Here are our recommendations.

Ajinotei
Modern with traditional elements, the Renaissance Beijing’s Japanese restaurant features a sushi and sashimi counter.
Daily 11.30am-2.30pm, 5-10pm. 3/F, Renaissance Beijing Hotel, 36 Xiaoyun Lu, Chaoyang District. (6468 9999 ext 3141) 朝阳区霄运路36号北京国航万丽酒店 3层

Bei
One for a special sushi occasion. Exquisitely crafted sushi, sashimi and set menus served in a memorably atmospheric setting.
Tue-Sun 5.30-10.30pm, closed Mon. B1/F, The Opposite House, Bldg 1, The Village at Sanlitun, 11 Sanlitun Lu, Chaoyang District. (6410 5230) 北,北朝阳区三里屯路11号三里屯Village1号楼瑜舍地下1层

Edomea Sushi
Authentic Japanese cuisine at prices that make this a favorite lunchtime spot.
Daily 11am-11pm. Rm 0925, Bldg 9, Jianwai Soho, 39 Dongsanhuan Zhonglu, Chaoyang District. (5869 8112/8113) 江户前寿司, 朝阳区东三环中路39号建外Soho9号楼0925

Fukunoshima
Unless you live in Phoenix City, this restaurant is a little off the beaten track. Tempts adventurous diners and sushi lovers with six different menus, featuring over 154 items, and 42 lunch set menus. There’s also a teppanyaki and sushi bar that can seat up to 120 people.
Daily 10am-10pm. Phoenix City, Sanyuan Qiao, Chaoyang District. (5866 8630) 福之岛日本餐厅, 朝阳区三元桥凤凰商街

Hatsune
This perennial award-winner pleases ample crowds with its vast collection of innovative sushi rolls. The high-ceilinged Village at Sanlitun branch is open and playful with its decor, while Guanghua Lu offers a more intimate, classically Japanese experience.
Daily 11.30am-2pm, 5.30-10pm.
1) 2/F, Heqiao Bldg C, 8A Guanghua Lu, Chaoyang District. (6581 3939)
2) S8-30 (Opposite Element Fresh), Bldg 8, The Village at Sanlitun, 19 Sanlitun Lu, Chaoyang District. (6415 3939) 隐泉日本料理
1) 朝阳区光华路甲8号和乔大厦C座2层
2) 朝阳区三里屯路19号The Village南区8号楼S8-30

Ichiban
Japanese restaurant in a neighborhood still lacking in international offerings (although that situation is improving). Inexpensive sushi, teppanyaki and noodles served by waitresses in pseudo-military kit.
Daily 10am-10pm. B1/F, South Area, Viva Beijing R&F Plaza, 65 Dongsanhuan
Zhonglu, Shuangjing, Chaoyang District. (5903 7148) 一级棒日本料理, 朝阳区东三环中路富力VIVA广场南区地下1层

Isshin Japanese Sushi Restaurant
Isshin’s numerous branches offer some of the best value sushi rolls and platters in town. The Wudaokou branch is particularly popular.
1) Daily 11.30am-2pm, 5.30-10pm. Rm 1501, Bldg 15, Jianwai Soho, 39 Dongsanhuan Zhonglu, Chaoyang District. (5869 5769)
2) Sun-Thu 11am-2pm, 5-10pm, Fri-Sat 11am-2pm, 5-11pm. 35 Chengfu Lu (30m north of the traffic lights next to Wudaokou subway station), Haidian District. (8261 0136)
3) Daily 11am-1.30pm, 5-9.30pm. 2/F, Bldg 1, Overseas Student Dormitory, Beijing Normal University, Haidian District. (5880 9785)
一心日本料理
1) 朝阳区东三环中路39号建外Soho15号楼1501
2) 海淀区城府路35号院（五道口城铁站旁信号灯往北30米路西院内）
3) 海淀区北京师范大学留学生公寓二层

Matsuko
Covers all bases with sushi, sashimi and noodle dishes. With branches conveniently located for Chaoyang residents, Matsuko also offers a popular lunchtime buffet.
Mon-Fri 11.30am-2pm, 5-10.30pm, Sat-Sun 11am-2.30pm, 5-10.30pm
1) 39 Liangmaqiao Lu (opposite 21st Century Hotel), Chaoyang District. (8453 4062)
2) Baijiazhuang (south east corner of Changhong Qiao), Chaoyang District. (6582 5208)
3) 2/F, Jinglong Dasha, 225 Chaoyang Beilu, Chaoyang District. (6509 8999) 松子
1) 朝阳区亮马桥39号（21世纪饭店对面）
2) 朝阳区星期五餐厅对面松阪屋
3) 朝阳区朝阳北路225号京龙大厦2层

Miso Japanese Restaurant
Visit Miso for faultlessly fresh sashimi and rolls (salmon roll, RMB 16 for six) as well as excellent teppanyaki (beef roll RMB 58) and other warm dishes, notably Japanese hot pot. The lunch set menus are good value (RMB 68). Home delivery available.
Daily 11am-2pm, 5-9.30pm. Pinnacle Plaza, Shunyi District. (8046 5677) 馋猫日本料理, 顺义区荣祥广场

Nishimura
Fresh sushi and great teppanyaki in a serene setting. Special bento boxes available for lunch and dinner until August 31.
Daily 11.30am-2.30pm, 6-10pm. Shangri-La Hotel, 29 Zizhuyuan Lu, Haidian District. (6841 2211 ext 2719) 西村餐厅, 海淀区紫竹院路29号香格里拉饭店2层

Redmoon
Enjoy a cigar or a glass of wine with your sushi in the Grand Hyatt’s classy bar.
Daily 5pm-1am. 1/F, Grand Hyatt Hotel, Beijing Oriental Plaza, 1 Dongchang’an Jie, Dongcheng District. (6510 9366)
东方亮, 东城区东长安街1号东方君悦酒店大厅

Sake Manzo
Sit at the bar and watch chefs carefully prepare delicate sushi and sashimi dishes, or grab a table and enjoy one of Beijing’s very best Japanese dining experiences. Don’t miss the homemade tofu.
1) Mon-Fri 6pm-midnight; Sat-Sun 11.30am-2pm, 6pm-12.30am. 1/F, Yilongfang, Yilongtai Apartment, 28 Panjiayuan Nanli, Chaoyang District. (8770 8767)
2) Daily 11.30am-2pm, 6pm-midnight. 27 Liangmaqiao Lu, Anjialou, Chaoyang District. (6436 1608)
慢走日本烧灼餐厅
1) 朝阳区潘家园南里28号漪龙台公寓伊龙坊1层
2) 朝阳区安家楼亮马桥路27号

Shota Muni Sushi & Grill
Sushi that satisfies the CBD office set with quick and affordable delivery.
Daily 10am-11pm. S-108, Bldg C, Blue Castle Apartments, 3 Xidawang Lu, Chaoyang District. (8599 9009) 将太无二, 朝阳区西大望路3号蓝堡国际公寓C座S-108

Votaro
Get a view out over the bustling Wudaokou crossing at this sixth-floor Japanese restaurant. Decent sushi rolls for the price.
Daily 11.30am-2.30am. 6/F, Dongyuan Plaza, 35 Chengfu Lu (next to Wudaokou light-rail station), Haidian District. (6252 3831) 鱼太郎, 海淀区成府路35号东源大厦6层

Wan Feng Ting
Specializes in teppanyaki, but also offers fresh sushi and sashimi on affordable lunch sets.
Daily 11.30am-2pm, 5-11pm. Behind the Hilton, north of Yansha Qiao, Chaoyang District. (6462 3698) 晚枫亭, 朝阳区燕莎桥北希尔顿饭店后

Yotsuba
Has fish and seafood flown in almost daily from Japan, yet the good stuff is still considerably cheaper than it would be in Tokyo. Call several days ahead for reservations at the Xinyuan Xili branch. The Shunyi branch is more spacious.
1) Tue-Sun 5-11pm. Next to Bldg 2, Xinyuan Xili Zhongjie (near Xindong Lu), Chaoyang District. (6467 1837)
2) Daily 11.30am-2pm, 5-10pm. 2/F, Bldg 8, Lakeview Place, Dragon Bay Villa, Shayu Huanlu, Houshayu, Shunyi District. (8042 2284)
四叶
1) 朝阳区新源西里中街2号楼旁(近新东路)
2) 顺义区后沙峪镇沙峪环路8号楼2层

Compiled by Stone Yu