Sushi Ayumu by Masa Ishibashi

Sushi Ayumu by Masa Ishibashi is a Japanese omakase restaurant on level 4 of Mandarin Gallery on Orchard Road. It serves Edomae sushi, the traditional Tokyo style, in set courses chosen by the chef. Seats at the counter are few on purpose, so each guest gets close attention.

The restaurant carries the name of chef Masa Ishibashi. He grew up in a family that ran a sushi restaurant in Tochigi, north of Tokyo. He later served as executive chef of Ginza Sushi Ichi across several cities and led Shoukouwa in Singapore. In November 2017 he went back to Tokyo to open his own place, Sushi Masa Ishibashi Ginza. Sushi Ayumu opened in Singapore in 2018, and the name has since spread to Kuala Lumpur, Vancouver and Shanghai.

What to order

There is no à la carte menu. You choose a course, and the chef decides what goes into it based on the season. The style mixes small cooked dishes, known as otsumami, with pieces of nigiri served on the house sushi rice.

The courses carry the old Japanese names for months:

• Lunch: a shorter business lunch, then the Yayoi and Shiwasu courses.
• Dinner: the Hazuki course, which runs from appetiser and sashimi to cooked dishes, nigiri, a signature hand roll, soup and dessert.
• Minazuki: the top course, served at lunch and dinner, adds premium seasonal items and the chef's signature pieces.

Chefs from the Ginza restaurant sometimes visit for guest dinners. The website singles out sea urchin and grilled nodoguro, a rich and prized fish.

The setting

Most guests sit at the sushi counter and watch the chef slice, shape and serve each piece. The mood is calm and unhurried. For groups, there is also a private room for parties of around eight or more. It can be booked for gatherings or company dinners, with or without a dedicated sushi chef.

Good to know before you go

• Booking: reserve ahead online, by phone, by WhatsApp or by email. A card deposit is held to secure the seat, and cancelling within 48 hours is charged.
• Dress code: smart casual. Slippers and sandals are not allowed.
• Children: children are welcome, but each child must order an omakase course. Families with toddlers can book the private room, which has a minimum spend.
• Diet: tell the team about dietary needs well ahead. What can be changed is up to the chef.
• Drinks: you may bring your own sake or wine within set limits, with a corkage fee per bottle.

Menus and booking links are on the official Sushi Ayumu website.

Nearby

Mandarin Gallery is in the middle of the Orchard Road shopping strip. For more sushi and omakase, browse our Japanese restaurants in Singapore, or try Sushi Oono. You can also compare other fine dining restaurants and all restaurants in Orchard and River Valley.