If you are a fan of Japan, in the Monti district you will find a small restaurant, opened in 1993, that offers authentic Japanese cuisine. Also awarded by Gambero Rosso, with three chopsticks, Hasekura is inspired by the Japanese culinary philosophy that values simplicity and quality of raw materials. Dishes are prepared with attention to aesthetic details and the natural flavor of ingredients.
This intimate little restaurant is prized for its ability to transport customers to Japan through iconic dishes such as sushi, sashimi and tempura. The quality of the fish and other ingredients is excellent, and the service friendly and attentive. With an intimate main room and a hidden sushi counter, the restaurant offers an exclusive setting that reflects Japanese tradition. Family management ensures a constant focus on quality and authenticity, making the restaurant an excellent choice for lovers of Japanese cuisine.
How much does sushi cost?
The menu includes a variety of options, from bento boxes to evening tasting menus, such as the 45-euro sushi menu that includes appetizer, cooked vegetables, cooked fish, sushi, miso soup, and fruit. But you can also order a la carte. You find fish that is not usually on the menus of the various AYCEs: for example, turbot carpaccio with Ponzu sauce or tuna belly sashimi.
Trivia about the name of the restaurant
Hasekura is a fascinating historical figure, remembered for being one of the first Japanese samurai to travel to Europe, ending his journey in Rome in 1615. This extraordinary journey was part of a diplomatic and trade mission ordered by the daimyo Date Masamune and the Tokugawa shogunate to establish relations with Mexico, Spain, and the Vatican.
Today, Hasekura’s journey is commemorated through a historical itinerary that traces the samurai’s Italian stages. This route starts in Civitavecchia, where Hasekura landed, and ends in Rome at the Vatican. The modern route follows back roads and passes through picturesque places such as Cerveteri and the Castle of Santa Severa.
Where: Via dei Serpenti, 27, 00184 – Rome. Open Monday for dinner and Tuesday through Saturday for lunch and dinner.