Sushidan was founded in Tokyo by Chef Hiroyuki Sato, an acclaimed sushi master behind Ginza’s world-renowned Hakkoku. Known for revolutionizing casual high-grade sushi in Japan, Chef Sato designed Sushidan to make authentic Edomae sushi accessible without the steep prices typical of luxury establishments.
Rather than typical white vinegar seasoned rice, Sushidan uses Akazu (aged sake lees red vinegar) to flavour its shari. This endows the rice with a distinct brownish hue, a mild acidity, and a savoury depth that balances fatty cuts of fish like Otoro and Chutoro.
Sushidan offers one of the most accessible omakase dining options in Singapore, with multi-course sets starting from just S$19.90++. The courses include nigiri pieces, chawanmushi, handrolls, and mini ochoko-dons.
When we heard that Sushidan was going to open its second outlet at Parkway Parade in September, we were excited to try it. However as usual, there was a long queue during the first few weeks. We finally made some time to do lunch on a weekday and we made sure to arrive ahead of its opening time at 11am. There was no queue and there was only a Japanese couple seated beside us. The crowd started pouring in during lunch hours. For omakase, it is customary to sit at the counter so that the nigiri would be served to you piece by piece.
For our first visit, we went with the Nanairo Set (Regular).
The name “Nanairo” means “seven colours” in Japanese, and the set is essentially a nice variety of sushi and sashimi served together, which made it quite an easy choice for us since we wanted to try a little bit of everything.
The Nanairo Set
We ordered the regular Nanairo Set and we liked the variety that came with it.
Rather than having to decide between different types of sushi, the set gives you a selection of different pieces, so you get to experience a bit of everything in one sitting.
The various seafood was pre-sliced and ready to be moulded with the shari.
The Sushi & Sashimi
The first dish was a warm chawan mushi followed by a cold seaweed salad topped off with ebiko.
The first piece of nigiri was the chutoro, a piece that I almost couldn’t recognise as it looked too lean in my humble opinion. The taste of red vinegar in the sushi rice was noticeable and I could taste some undercooked grains of rice.
Next up was the salmon belly nigiri, which nicely enveloped the rice. A small bowl of simple cold udon followed after.
Dining at the New Parkway Parade Outlet
The new Parkway Parade location is also quite convenient, especially if you’re already in the Marine Parade / East Coast area.
It’s the kind of place that works for a casual lunch or dinner without making the meal feel too formal.
We had a fairly relaxed meal and the whole experience was straightforward.
Overall
The presentation was decent and there was a good variety on the platter.
But for me, the food didn’t quite have the impact I was hoping for.
The sushi was acceptable at its price point, but they didn’t really stand out. When I’m having Japanese food, freshness and the quality of the ingredients are usually what make the difference and unfortunately, I didn’t find the Nanairo Set particularly memorable.
It just felt like it was missing that extra bit that makes you sit back and think, “That’s really good.”
Sushidan Parkway Parade
80 Marine Parade Rd, #01-10 Parkway Parade, Singapore 449269
Google Maps Link: https://maps.app.goo.gl/qCYsfw3M1Ax2a9fAA
