Japanese cuisine has expanded far beyond its historical borders over the past decade or two. As Japanese restaurants proliferate worldwide, people are impressed by how fresh, light, and delicate the often elaborately presented food can be. Shenzhen has a large Japanese population and over the years the restaurant industry has grown to match their tastes. Let’s find out what Japanese restaurants the CBD in Shenzhen has to offer us!
Ajisen Ramen (味千拉面) was founded at Kumamoto, Japan in 1968. Currently Ajisen Ramen has a total of 400 franchises across the world. Ajisen Ramen plans to open 1000 outlets and restaurants worldwide. Ajisen Ramen is Japanese for “World Ramen”, and the motto of Ajisen is “Comfort, Safety and Health”. The key to Ramen’s success is its soup. Supposedly, ramen's tonkotsu soup can even help to prevent you from aging!
The Japanese Society of Nutrition & Food Science once announced in a general meeting, “The intake of collagen contained in the bones and cartilage, etc prevents aging.” Collagen is a protein which is mainly found in the skin, tendon, bone, cartilage and other connective tissues. This protein is the essence of life because it makes up one third of the 60 trillion cells in the body.
One of the features of Kumamoto Ramen is senmiyu, a rich brown sauce that accompanies the fair tonkotsu soup. Ajisen Ramen’s unique culinary methods ensure that all the flavors are sealed into the sauce. In fact, it guarantees that your tastebuds will be bowled over by the tonkotsu/senmiyu combination!
Address: Ground Floor, New World Department Store, Mei Hua Lu, Futian District, Shenzhen(深圳市福田区梅华路新世界百货首层)
Tel: +86 (755) 8304 9007
Average cost: 43 yuan per person
Watami (居食屋和民) is one of the best restaurants in Coco Park for its service and quality of food.
The Ceasar salad, at 38 rmb, is tasty treat generously tossed with fresh bacon, slices of real parmesan cheese, red onions, crutons, and a delicious dressing comes on the side.
They serve a fabulous BBQ mackerel for 42 rmb, a mouth watering scallop appetizer with bits of garlic for 32 rmb, a tasty steak meal set, and their 6-piece sushi rolls are also quite good, although, a bit overpriced at 38 rmb. The menu is loaded with so many other items to try too.
This is a very good restaurant that also gives everyone a rating card with the check, so you can let them know what you think about the food, service, etc.
The restaurant is a terrific place to grab a satisfying bite whenever you find yourself at Coco Park.
Address: Coco Park, 3rd Fuhua Road, Futian District（深圳福田区福华三路星河购物中心）
Tel: (0755) 8831-5543
Average cost: 101 yuan per person
"Sushi OH-OO" (寿司皇) is Japanese for "Sushi King". Born from a love of sushi, owner and head chef Jimmy Kim has been continuously studying the technique of sushi making since 1996.
SUSHI OH-OO was founded in July 2007 and since has established a strong presence worldwide. Over the years, SUSHI OH-OO has received an abundance of love and loyalty from their customers. SUSHI OH-OO is committed to offering customers the best sushi experience. By using only the freshest ingredients and a hard-to-forget friendly service, their goal is to continuously develop and grow SUSHI OH-OO as a much loved tradition.
Here in SUSHI OH-OO, Wagyu beef and Kobe beef are served in a sizzling manner, on hot stones. And the prized beef cuts are also served nabe mono style (Japanese steamboat stew). Uni (sea urchin) is also featured in sashimi platters, or you can go all out and order a full tray of them.
Address：JUSCO COCO Park，3rd Fuhua Road，Futian District (福田区福华三路COCO Park吉之岛)
Tel: +86 (755) 8290 3062
Average cost: 57 yuan per person
Wakonkansai ( 和魂汉菜) is a Japanese owned restaurant and mainly provides Chinese-Japanese cuisine. Different from the traditional Sushi or Grill restaurants, Wakonkansai concentrates on Japanese homemade healthy dishes. Every day, the Japanese chef goes to the market by himself to select fresh seafood.
Address: 408B1, 4/L Citic Plaza, Futian District (深圳市福田新城市广场四楼408B1)
Tel: +86 0755-2594-4902
Average cost: 150 yuan per person
Senkyaku Banzai Japanese Dinning (千客万菜(居酒屋)) offers a wide range of Japanese food including sashimi, sushi and Japanese-style Italian dishes such as pizza and pasta. Senkyaku Banzai has been well established in Shekou and Futian for many years. It's a trusted Japanese Brand in Shenzhen.
Address: 12th floor Guoman Hotel, No. 2066 Fuhua Rd, Futian district, Shenzhen（深圳市福田区福华路2066号国丰酒店12楼）
Tel: +86 755 83297929
Average cost: 151 yuan per person
Kamii Restaurant (上井精致日本料理) offers fixed price for Lunch, dinner and buffet. The buffet menu includes sashimi, hand rolls, staple foods, Japanese-style hot pot and a variety of grilled, fried or steamed dishes. The drinks are also unlimited and include sake and beer along with a variety of non-alcoholic beverages; the delicious strawberry smoothie or crisp citrus iced tea is also worth trying.
How to get there?
Take metro line 1 or 4 to Convention & Exhibition Center, Exit B
Address: Floor G, Central Walk, No.3, 1st Fuhua Road, Futian District（深圳市福田区福华一路3号中心城G层）
Tel: +86 (755) 8278－0059
Average cost: 261 yuan per person
The story of Genki Sushi (元気寿司) began with the vision of a 24-year-old Japanese sushi chef, Fumio Saito. Saito dreamed of creating a modern sushi restaurant with an unusual feature known as a 'kaiten' (literally translated as 'revolving'). In December 1968, he created the concept of 'kaiten sushi' and pioneered the use of a revolving conveyor belt to serve sushi, combining serving traditional sushi with modern technology.
Address: Shop LG25-30, City Plaza, 1093 Shennan Road Central, Shenzhen （深圳市福田区深南中路1093号新城市广场LG层L25-30铺）
Tel: +86 (755) 8266-5870
Average cost: 84 yuan per person
Opened in November 2009, Koyozen (京膳日本料理) is one of the few authentic Japanese owned restaurants in the CBD. This high-end Japanese restaurant is the first in Shenzhen with a sushi counter. Looking at the selection of fresh seafood will make the customers water. It’s always busy during lunchtime so make sure to reserve a seating before going. The Japanese chef prepares a wide range of selection for people such as sushi, toufu salad, steamed egg pudding, dandan spicy ramen with sesame dressing and sashimi. Also, they have a good collection of wines in addition to a nice variety of saki. They have lunch specials between 35 and 45RMB with bento box delivery for more than five people. It is ideal for those who don’t have time to leave the office but still wanna have some good Japanese food.
Address: First Floor, Time Square Excellence, 4068 Yi Tian Lu, CBD, Futian, Shenzhen（广东省深圳市福田区益田路4068号卓越时代广场2层）
Tel: +86 (755) 82528565
Average cost: 100 yuan per person
Japanese restaurant "Shizuku " (丝-日本餐厅) represents the elegant style of Japanese cuisine. Chef Eiji Nakamura joins JW Marriott Shenzhen from the role of Executive Japanese Chef at Shangri-LA's Far Eastern Plaza Hotel, Taipei for the previous three years. Chef Eiji Nakamura began his culinary career in 1996 in Japan at a Sushi restaurant in Kawasaki, then joined in a number of Japanese restaurants in Japan and Canada in the following decade. During his 15 years working experience, Chef Nakamura has gained not only a wealth of culinary experience but also the experience of managing the kitchen teams of high volume restaurant and catering operations. Guests will enjoy the delicate cuisine of Chef Nakamura and his team in the hotel's award-winning Japanese restaurants Shizuku. Chef Nakamura looks forward to bringing fresh ideas and continuing the high standard of cuisine that Shizuku’s guests have come to expect.
Address: JW Marriott Hotel Shenzhen, 6005 Shennan Road, Futian District（深圳市福田区深南大道6005号金茂深圳JW万豪酒店内）
Tel: 0755-2269 8250
Average cost: 290 yuan per person
Pokka Corporation (HK) Ltd. was founded in 1989 and is wholly owned by Pokka Corporation (Singapore) Pte Ltd. Pokka（百佳咖啡餐厅）is dedicated to operating high quality dining services and is in leading position among Hong Kong. As of today, the group have Pokka Cafés (in HK & Macau) and Tonkichi, traditional Japanese tonkatsu restaurants. Since 2005, Buono Nuobo Pizza Cafe Restaurants have been opened, providing healthy Japanese Italian fusion cuisine. And in June 2009, the first Japanese ramen museum type outlet, Mikichi, was also opened in Hong Kong.
Address: No. L-506 of JUSCO Store, Shennan Road, Futian District, Shenzhen (深圳福田区新城市广场JUSCO L-506号商铺)
Tel: +86 (755) 2589 2361
Average cost: 101-200 yuan per person
(source: ShenzhenParty.com)
(Edited by Stephanie Yang, Charles Hatfield)