Sushi Mangetsu

Sipping crisp, dry sake while watching sushi being shaped right before your eyes is one of the quintessential luxuries of a neighborhood sushi bar. Set along Shinjuku-dori, Sushi Mangetsu Yotsuya (寿司満月 四谷店) greets diners with a relaxed, approachable atmosphere that makes dropping in easy. Taking a seat at the counter, guests are warmly received by the welcoming master chef and the hostess.

Among the nigiri that anchor the menu, the lean tuna (akami) is well worth ordering for its soft, moist texture and delicate natural sweetness. In the evening, the selection expands with flavorful small plates such as vinegar-marinated shrimp and shellfish, making it easy to linger over a beer or a pour of sake like Tengumai.

Midday brings reasonably priced lunch options centered around nigiri sets and kaisen-don (seafood rice bowls). Accompanied by a small chawanmushi (savory steamed egg custard) and a bowl of hearty miso soup, these lunches have become a reliable staple for nearby office workers.

The dining room caters just as smoothly to a solo diner enjoying an easy meal as it does to coworkers gathering around a table after work. Whenever you find yourself craving straightforward, well-crafted sushi, it is an effortless place to step past the curtain and take a seat.