Royal Sushi & Izakaya

The Omakase tasting meal here is the pinnacle of a culinary experience in a comfortable, non-pretentious atmosphere. Sublime flavors with out of this world presentation. Jesse is an incredible chef and host who deserves all of the awards and praise he has received. I wish I could rate this higher than a 5 as it was a top 3 lifetime meal for me. If you are lucky enough to get a seat at the Omakase table, you will not be disappointed. Still thinking about the meal a day later and probably will be weeks from now.

An ode to the art of sushi craftsmanship, Royal Sushi never ceases to amaze. This marked my third venture into its elegantly curated atmosphere, and yet again, I was left awestruck by the omakase experience. Chef Jesse Ito's expertise and passion shine through in each meticulously crafted piece of sushi, demonstrating a seamless blend of traditional technique with modern flair. The fish, always of the highest caliber, melts in the mouth, while the rice – seasoned to perfection – complements every bite. A bottle of sake, an addition I opted for this time, was a revelation in its own right. Each pour was thoughtfully selected to harmonize with the flavors of the dishes, enhancing the overall dining experience and providing a deeper dive into Japanese culinary tradition. The nuanced flavors of the sake, ranging from the fruity to the earthy, unfolded beautifully alongside the sushi, creating a symphony of taste sensations. Royal Sushi has solidified its position as one of my top culinary destinations in Philly. It's more than just a meal; it's a journey. A journey I urge every sushi aficionado to embark on.

My wife and I went on a Saturday night for dinner at the Izakaya. We got there early (around 5:20), and I’m glad we did, because there was already an hour wait! But we’ve been itching to try this place for months. We ended up getting a few drinks up the street and got called back for our table at almost an hour on the dot. The vibes and ambiance were nice, pretty much exactly what you would expect from a dark, moody izakaya. The food was awesome. I would say, personally, nothing was truly that new or revelatory for me, but the overall quality of ingredients, preparation, and flavor combinations were perfect across all the plates. We ordered a mix of small plates; the spinach gomaae was honestly maybe the highlight. The perfectly cooked spinach and black sesame sauce were an unexpectedly delicious combo. We also ordered a special chutoro roll that was so decadent and rich, in the best ways. I would absolutely go back. Loved it!

One of the best sushi restaurants in Philly. The quality of food was out of this world. With low lights and cool music, the ambiance was intimate yet fun. They had an extensive sake/drink list, and lots of food options with everything from sushi, sashimi, gyoza, fried veggies and more. And to top it off, our server Kelly was a gem. She was so knowledgeable on the drinks and food, knowing details on specific drinks like how it was made, location, what it paired with, and gave tastes to try before we settled on it. Officially added to my list of top restaurants in the city to go.

Mic drop. Just mic drop. The uniqueness of flavors and cuisine makes this place truly special. While I didn’t jump at the chance to eat sushi, it’s clear the quality of their fish is a cut above anything I’ve tried. Even dishes you might assume to be bland like agedashi tofu, was a burst of flavors. Do not miss out on the unique desserts!!!!

Tremendous local sushi place in Queen Village! Obviously this is an amazing restaurant but just wanted to show you a couple of interesting dishes that maybe aren’t in photos. 1st course, Seaweed Salad, 2nd Wagyu Zabuton Steak, 3rd no idea what it’s called but this is a pumpkin based seasonal ice cream style dessert with little pancake fishes, 4th Baller Single Malt. Enjoy and other suggestions are the Tuna Tekkadon which is just outstanding.

Couldn’t help but need out with pictures for this meal, it was all incredible, easily a top 3 Japanese restaurant experience to date for myself. Happened and lucked into just walking by without reservations and were lucky enough to grab a table right away - future me would definitely make reservations because it is so worth it. The tuna guac was truly the best piece of tuna I think I’ve ever had, it was like buttery soft and melt in your mouth. The trumpets had the perfect char to them and were covered in the most unctuous and umami salty, vinegary sauce, I could’ve eaten just reloaded plates of the tuna guac and trumpets on repeat. The eel sashimi and bloc party sushi roll were great and perfectly balanced as well, just happened to follow two of my favorite dishes ever - also don’t sleep on and make sure to get the spicy pickles. The service was prompt, helpful and incredibly quick (much appreciated). She absolutely sold us on the ice cream/dessert of the night and was so glad she did. Great selection of beers and strong sake list. Would recommend this anyone to visit locally, when visiting, or to make an excuse to build a trip around.