What is it?: A classic omakase restaurant in the Japanese-flavored sois around Phrom Phong, serving both lunch (Starting at B4000) and dinner (Around B4000-6000 courses), as well as an a la carte section upstairs.
Why we love it: Intimidating, austere sushi counters are often held up as the Platonic ideal, but Sushi Masato is anything but. The music is going, the vibe is relaxed, and you’ll see families and groups of jovial salarymen just as much as solitary aficionados and small groups of the upper crust. Chef Masato Shimizu and his fellow chefs Satohiro Kurokawa and Kenichi Kanno show what they’re serving through vintage sushi reference books that illustrate the difference between uni from Hokkaido and that from Kyushu. And the product lives up to the textbook description, with screamingly fresh flavors and simple presentation that place the quality of the seafood on full display. The sakes are excellent but a beer or a glass of German Riesling might be just as welcome in an atmosphere this convivial.
Time Out tip: While seats with Chef Masato himself on the first floor book out earlier, many report that the other chefs are of equal quality – a testament to both their skill and the commitment to excellence.