The Best Japanese Food in Brussels
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The best Japanese food in Brussels, according to the experts: the Michelin Guide, Le Fooding, and The 50 have all weighed in, and their honors are what rank this list. Kamo comes out on top.
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Menssa and Yoka Tomo hold the next two places. Le Fooding shows up on more of this list than any other guide, with the Michelin Guide next.
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Rank 1. Kamo
Japanese
A wood-lined counter in Ixelles where chef Kamo runs a quietly rigorous Japanese restaurant, Michelin-starred, with evenings given over to surprise tasting menus and lunches anchored by made-to-order sushi. The cooking is deceptively spare, built on the quality of raw fish rather than trophy ingredients. Minimal presentation, maximal attention to what's actually on the plate, which is the kind of restraint that takes years to pull off convincingly.
The awards
- Michelin Guide Michelin Guide: 1 Star
- Le Fooding Le Fooding: Le Fooding Guide
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Rank 2. Menssa
Sushi
Guests eat at an undulating counter beneath a carved wooden tree, which sets the tone for what follows: a Michelin-starred tasting menu built around sustainable sourcing and a deep affection for the Belgian region. Christophe Hardiquest shapes a menu that treats mushrooms and Ardennes venison with the same seriousness, and the sommelier's pairings come at prices that won't require a lie-down afterward.
The awards
- Michelin Guide Michelin Guide: 1 Star
- The 50 The 50: The 50 Discovery
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Rank 3. Yoka Tomo
Southern Japanese
A small, no-frills Japanese restaurant tucked into a residential Schaerbeek street, with an open kitchen and just enough seats to make a reservation feel like a small victory. The chef cooks southern Japanese food from scratch, the kind built on careful seasoning and technique rather than show, and holds a Michelin Bib Gourmand for the trouble. A thoughtful sake list keeps pace with whatever comes out of that kitchen.
The awards
- Le Fooding Le Fooding: Le Fooding Guide
- Michelin Guide Michelin Guide: Bib Gourmand
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Rank 4. Nonbe Daigaku
Sushi
A snug Japanese eatery tucked between Cambre wood and a university, where the chef waves at you from behind the counter like he's been expecting you. The room runs on old-school sushi-bar energy: tradition-first cooking, precise technique, and an omakase option for those who'd rather let him decide. The à la carte is wide enough to keep regulars coming back, and the whole place has the quiet authority of somewhere that's been around forever. Book ahead.
The awards
- Le Fooding Le Fooding: Le Fooding Guide
- Michelin Guide Michelin Guide: Selected Restaurant
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Rank 5. Ajiyoshi
Japanese
The awards
- Le Fooding Le Fooding: Le Fooding Guide
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Rank 5. Amakara
Japanese
The awards
- Le Fooding Le Fooding: Le Fooding Guide
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Rank 5. Mendo
Japanese Noodle Shop
The awards
- Le Fooding Le Fooding: Le Fooding Guide
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Rank 5. Ramen Nobu
Japanese Noodle Shop
The awards
- Le Fooding Le Fooding: Le Fooding Guide
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Rank 5. Shokudô – Urban Fish Farm
Japanese
The awards
- Le Fooding Le Fooding: Le Fooding Guide
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Rank 5. Tokidoki
Japanese
The awards
- Le Fooding Le Fooding: Le Fooding Guide
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Rank 11. Samouraï
Japanese
A large bonsai anchors the room at this old-school Japanese restaurant on Avenue Louise, where the terracotta walls and Asian art give it the calm of somewhere that has never felt the need to keep up. The menu runs from sushi and sashimi to sukiyaki finished tableside, with bento boxes drawing a crowd at lunch and set menus keeping evenings orderly. Been around forever, and carries itself accordingly.
The awards
- Michelin Guide Michelin Guide: Selected Restaurant
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Rank 11. Umā
Japanese
A whitewashed brick facade on a quiet side street near Porte de Namur, Umā is a relaxed bistro where the kitchen fuses Japanese technique with South American heat. Tuna sashimi comes in a shiso-and-dashi broth, duck arrives medium rare with curry and vadouvan, and a thread of gentle spice runs through the whole menu. The à la carte and set menus both cover the same territory, so the choice is really just how hungry you are.
The awards
- Michelin Guide Michelin Guide: Selected Restaurant