Sushi Masaaki

Sushi Masaaki is a small omakase sushi restaurant in the basement of South Beach Avenue, at 26 Beach Road. It is owned and run by chef Masaaki Sakashita, who comes from Kyoto. It opened in December 2020. It first entered the Michelin Guide Singapore selection in 2022 and is still listed in the guide.

Sakashita grew up by the Kamo River in Kyoto, and his love of fish began with childhood fishing trips. He started cooking professionally at 18. In Singapore he cooked at Hashida Sushi and at Ishi before opening a restaurant under his own name.

What to expect from the menu

Meals here are omakase, which means the chef chooses each course for you. There are set menus at both lunch and dinner, with a shorter meal at lunch. The restaurant says it uses ingredients from all over Japan and follows the seasons, so the line-up changes through the year.

The rice is a good place to start. Reviewers describe Hokkaido rice seasoned with aged red vinegar, cooked so each grain is firm outside and soft in the middle. Sakashita often puts different parts of a fish together in one piece of sushi. He may also tuck a little fish liver under the topping, so the warm rice brings out its oils. The Michelin Guide singles out his creative pairings and his sometimes unusual seasoning.

Not everything is raw. The restaurant also cooks with binchotan charcoal, and reviewers mention a traditional stone charcoal hearth in the room. Sake and wine are served with the meal.

The setting

The restaurant has two very different moods. The tea lounge is bold and playful. Its walls carry pink wallpaper of dancing cranes by Gucci, and sheets of washi paper hang from the high ceiling like clouds.

The sushi room is calm and plain by contrast. The counter is made from a 250-year-old hinoki tree. The wood is sanded smooth, which gives it a soft natural sheen and a faint citrus smell. It seats just 12 guests, so everyone has a close view of the chefs at work. The Michelin Guide notes that the chefs enjoy chatting with diners and that it suits solo diners.

Good to know before you go

• Book ahead: with so few seats, reserve early. Bookings are made online through SevenRooms, with separate links for lunch and dinner on the Sushi Masaaki website.
• Fixed seatings: dinner runs in two seatings, so arrive on time.
• Questions: the restaurant answers by WhatsApp and email, but warns that replies can take a while.
• Access: the Michelin Guide lists wheelchair access.
• Parking: drivers can use the South Beach Avenue car park at Basement 3, Lobby A, then take the lift up to B1.

Nearby

South Beach Avenue is part of the same South Beach development as JW Marriott Hotel Singapore South Beach. Raffles Hotel Singapore is a short walk away along Beach Road. To compare other sushi counters, browse our Japanese restaurants in Singapore and fine dining restaurants. You can also read our guide to Michelin and fine dining or see all restaurants in Bugis and Kampong Glam.