Japanese Restaurant in Rome: Sushisen

While we are still looking for some decent Chinese restaurants, there are several Japanese restaurants in Rome that live up to our expectations (thank goodness).

However, the one that we often frequent is Sushisen, located near Piramide. Although it is situated in the basement, the inside has been done up nicely and has a nice atmosphere.

Last week, a good friend of ours called and asked if we would like to join them for dinner at a Malaysian restaurant.  I know the Malaysian restaurant is owned by a Malaysian as I have personally spoken with but unfortunately, the food is not as authentic as I had hoped.  It was no surprise that Luca immediately offered an alternative and said “Let’s have Japanese”.

Love their soba noodles!

He and his wife were reluctant as they didn’t have a good experience with Japanese food they had in another restaurant and they would go only if they can order cook food.  We told them there were many cooked options and after much convincing they agreed.

When we got to the restaurant, we explained the different cooked dishes and Luca also explained the different sushi they had.  Luca hardly orders cooked food here and when he went to the sushi counter he came back with some salmon sushi for them to try.

Luca showed them how to mix the soya sauce and wasabi as well as demonstrated how to eat it in one bite.  He told them to just try them and if they don’t like it, they don’t have to eat it.

Both were courageous and agreed to try the sushi.  After their first try, they both said it wasn’t so bad.  Actually, to be precised, they liked it!  Apart from ordering cooked food which they also enjoyed, we ordered a few other different types of sushi dishes which they enjoyed.

(Note: I was savoring the unagi-don that I only remembered to take a photo when I was half-way through this dish- sorry!)

I told them that we brought my 7-year old Italian niece here and she had no trouble eating what we ordered.  However, she is an adventurous eater and is always willing to try different cuisine.

That night we were so full but I always have room for dessert.  I was tempted but looking at the dessert menu, I kept thinking, “I can make this, I can make that…”.

At the end I didn’t order anything because knowing how inexpensive it is to make them, the prices were, in my opinion, outrageous.  It was then I realized, I have to stop experimenting!

The good news is that our friends left that evening with a whole new take on Japanese food and we have indeed converted them.  We are happy that they could taste the difference compared to their previous experience.

Sushisen
Via Giuseppe Giuletti 21A

Opening Hours:
12.30 – 14.30 (Lunch)
19.30 – 23.00 (Dinner)
Closed Mondays

Tel: +39 06 57.56.945

If you plan to go to this Sushisen, reservations are highly recommended as they are often full but to get a seat by the sushi area, it’s first-come, first-serve.  We hope you enjoy this Japanese restaurant in Rome as much as we do.