Sparsely decorated, with a collection of handmade bowls behind the counter, the focus at this Japanese izakaya is solely on the food; there are just 10 seats around a small counter where you can watch chef Shiori Arai at work. The 11 to 13 exquisitely presented seasonal courses fuse local German ingredients with Japanese technique and can be paired with a small but smart selection of sake for some of the most authentic Japanese cuisine in town.

Evolved from the unique and one-off spirit of Japanese tea ceremonies, Shiori is an incredible and intimate dining experience in Berlin. The restaurant has only one, small sitting a night, catering to ten diners, offering a truly special dining experience. With a menu of traditional Japanese cuisine, each night the restaurant creates a delightfully cosy dining experience for its guests.

It started with Shiori (Max-Beer- Str. 13), where the namesake chef serves ex­quisite kaiseki-style (multi-course) meals to just 10 guests a night; and Yokozuna (Torstr. 41), the city’s best-kept secret when it comes to takeaway sushi. As of September there’s also Jabe (Alte Schönhauser Str. 7-8) an ach­ingly chic, bold-flavoured izakaya from the Qua Phe/Royals & Rice Dynasty. But we’re most enthused about two hyper-authentic newbies – funnily enough, named after the Japanese numbers 1 and 3.

Shiori is a small Japanese restaurant in Berlin where up to seven guests can sit at the counter behind which Shiori Arai prepares his omakase menu. ‘Omakase’ is the Japanese word for when the guest trustfully places himself in the hands of the cook. Here you get to taste the whole variety of Japan, from scallops on a miso base, lobster dumpling with asparagus to tempura with sea urchin filling.

Respect is also a main priority at Shiori which serves only ten guests per evening. All guests are served at the same time, a standard “omakase” menu is cooked according to the Japanese principle of courtesy. In the Shiori, the lovingly prepared meals are to be consciously enjoyed and valued as much as the other guests, the time and the special venue for the get-together.

Inhaber Shiori Arai hat es sich zur Aufgabe gemacht, Berliner*innen die japanische Mentalität und den Geist der japanischen Küche näher zu bringen. In seinem winzigen Restaurant gibt es jeden Abend ein einziges Menü für maximal zehn Gäste, bestehend aus 11 bis 13 Gängen. „Omakase“ nennt sich das in Japan, wenn der Gast sich vertrauensvoll in die Hände des Kochs begibt.

Shiori is an intimate love letter to Japanese haute cuisine. With just 10 seats around a wooden counter, this Mitte restaurant offers a kaiseki-style omakase menu. Each night, the chef curates 10–15 courses showcasing seasonal ingredients in artful bites – from delicate sashimi to charcoal-grilled fish – each course presented as an edible work of art.

Shiori, on the other hand, is one hundred percent Japanese, from the name to the food. The restaurant in Max-Beer-Straße currently offers a 11 to 13 (!) Course kaiseki menu which is based on the Japanese tea tradition. Only the freshest ingredients are used, which are purchased, prepared and served with great perfectionism on the same day.

One of the smallest, best, restaurants in the city, Shiori is simple. There’s space for 10 diners each night, sat around a bar, behind which a chef puts together a dozen-course omokase menu of modern Japanese food. They don’t shy away from incorporating local ingredients, and trying out new things.

Omakase Restaurant, dass uns schon oft empfohlen wurde und im Internet excellente Bewertungen hat (dabei halte ich von Bewertungen im Internet nicht so viel!). Reservierung notwendig und hochpreisig, daher sparen wir uns das für einen besonderen Moment. 📍Shiori auf Google Maps anzeigen.

The restaurant is designed to celebrate Japanese culture and provide Japanese style to its customers. People have liked this restaurant for this exact reason. Getting to sit in a Japanese-style open kitchen restaurant at 7:30 pm and watch as food is made is what many people like.