Ginza Sushi Ichi
Ginza Sushi Ichi is a popular traditional sushi-ya that sits at the back of Marriot Tang in Orchard. Its doors have been open since 2014 and has been a consistent Michelin inclusion.
Nestled quietly in the back of Marriott Tang Plaza, Orchard, is Ginza Sushi Ichi, a long-standing and legendary sushi omakase that's been dishing up authentic Japanese eats since 2014. In that time, they have made the Michelin Guide most years and have been awarded one Michelin Star.
Having just moved into the Orchard area recently, we decided to pay them a visit for lunch on a Sunday.
Ginza Sushi Ichi Marriot Tang
The restaurant has traditional vibes, helmed by several Japanese sushi masters behind a huge hinoki counter that seats about 14 people. Within just a few minutes of sitting down, the dishes start rolling out. Ginza Sushi is no-fuss and straight to the point, so I will do the same.
Tsubaki Lunch Omakase ($130):
- Appetizer
- Nigiri sushi (10 pieces)
- Roll sushi
- Miso soup
- Dessert
First up was a trio of appetizers including grilled sama, rice cakes with a gooey mochi consistency, and kani with caviar.
Ginza Sushi Ichi Tsubaki Omakase
Our sushi course began, with pieces arriving in quick succession about 4 minutes apart:
- Shima aji (striped horse mackerel)
- Kinmedai
- Katsuo (bonito)
- Kasugo tai (young sea bream)
- Hokigai
- Aji
- Akami maguro
- Ootoro maguro
- Anago
Standouts for us were the shima aji and kasugo tai, two cuts we don't often get to have here in Singapore. The quality across the board was amazing.
Instead of a maki, we were then given a don with a very generous helping of ikura and wasabi. This was the perfect amount of rice as we were sufficiently full after.
The meal ended with a miso soup and a fresh shine muscat daifuku.
Ginza Sushi Ichi Dessert
Gaijin's review
- Food quality: Fresh, seasonal, simple ingredients for lunch
- Ambience: Traditional omakase fine dining vibe, counter seating
- Value: Basic Tsubaki set is great value
- Overall rating: ★★★★☆ (4.2/5)
- Price: $$
Ginza Sushi Ichi ticks all the boxes for a super affordable and high-quality omakase lunch. There are only a handful of places in Singapore where you can get an authentic experience with Japanese chefs for as little as $130.
While the Tsubaki course may not treat you to generous servings of uni or grilled dishes, it does provide a high-end experience at a very economical price.
We have yet to try any other courses at Ginza and do want to return for their dinner omakase, but be prepared to pay substantially more than the simple lunchtime set menu.
Ginza Sushi Ichi
A: 320 Orchard Rd, #01-04 Singapore Marriott Tang Plaza Hotel, Singapore 238865
