---
title: "Sazenka — Three-MICHELIN-Star Chinese Fine Dining in Hiroo"
description: "Sazenka is one of a small handful of Chinese restaurants worldwide to hold Three MICHELIN Stars, a distinction it has carried since 2021 under chef Tomoya…"
url: https://flightlogic.co.uk/restaurants/sazenka/
source: FlightLogic (flightlogic.co.uk)
licence: "Content © Elite Digital AI Solutions Ltd. Cite the URL above and the page author."
---

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Hiroo, Tokyo

# Sazenka

A rare three-star Chinese counter in Hiroo where chef Tomoya Kawada rebuilds classic technique dish by dish.

FlightLogic expert score: **9.6/10** · Editorial composite rating 4.8/5 · ££££ · [Chinese](https://flightlogic.co.uk/restaurants/cuisine/chinese/)

Illustration: FlightLogic AI-generated cuisine impression — not a photograph of the restaurant.

Quick answer

**Is Sazenka worth visiting?** FlightLogic assigns an expert score of 9.6/10 based on editorial research. The 4.8/5 star figure is an editorial composite for guide comparison — not a verified consumer aggregate. It has 3 Michelin stars. Best for special occasions, food enthusiasts, business dinner.

## About Sazenka

Sazenka is one of a small handful of Chinese restaurants worldwide to hold Three MICHELIN Stars, a distinction it has carried since 2021 under chef Tomoya Kawada. The room seats a small number of diners around an open counter and a few private tables, where Kawada and his team run through a set course that moves from cold appetizers into fiery wok work and slow-braised classics without ever raising the volume of the room. What separates Sazenka from Tokyo's broader Chinese-restaurant field is control: stocks reduced in stages over days, knife work sized to the exact bite, heat applied and pulled back within seconds. Expect Sichuan pepper used as a structural note rather than a garnish, and a kitchen that treats mapo tofu and braised abalone with the same seriousness French counters reserve for consommé.

## Menu highlights

- **Braised whole abalone with aged Shaoxing and dried scallop** ¥12,000 *simmered over three days, sauce reduced to a lacquer*
- **Mapo tofu, Kawada style** ¥4,800 *hand-cut Sichuan doubanjiang, numbing pepper oil finished tableside*
- **Peking duck, two services** ¥18,000 *lacquered skin course followed by a bone broth with the remaining meat*

Rating transparency

**FlightLogic expert score: 9.6/10.** Star ratings on this page are editorial composites from named FlightLogic research — not aggregated consumer submissions — unless individually marked as verified below. [How we verify reviews](https://flightlogic.co.uk/review-integrity/)

Star rating is a FlightLogic editorial composite for guide purposes. Individual excerpts below are editorial samples unless marked with transaction or geolocation verification.

## Editorial rating breakdown

Distribution reflects FlightLogic editorial modelling for guide comparison. See published excerpts below.

## Published reviews

Sorted by date (newest first). We do not reorder by rating or “helpfulness”. [Review integrity policy](https://flightlogic.co.uk/review-integrity/)

1. ★★★★★ 5.0 Editorial sample The abalone course alone justifies the wait for a reservation — a sauce with more depth than most restaurants achieve across an entire tasting menu. — Naomi Fujikawa · 14 March 2026 Response from Sazenka Thank you, Fujikawa-san. That dish takes three days in the kitchen before it ever reaches the counter — glad it showed.
2. ★★★★★ 5.0 Editorial sample Sichuan pepper handled with real restraint here; it builds instead of just burning. Best mapo tofu I've had outside Chengdu, arguably better. — Marcus Delgado · 22 January 2026

## Submit a verified dining review

Consumer reviews require on-site geolocation verification or transaction proof before publication. See our [review integrity policy](https://flightlogic.co.uk/review-integrity/).

### How far in advance should I book a table at Sazenka?

Reservations open two months ahead and the counter fills within days, especially for Friday and Saturday seatings. Book the moment the window opens, and expect to reconfirm by phone 48 hours before your visit.

### Is the menu fixed, or can I order à la carte at Sazenka?

Dinner runs as a set course built around the kitchen's current braises and wok dishes; lunch offers a shorter fixed menu on Thursday through Saturday. There is no standalone à la carte ordering at either seating.

## Visit info

### Hours

**Monday**

Closed

**Tuesday**

18:00–22:30

**Wednesday**

18:00–22:30

**Thursday**

12:00–14:00, 18:00–22:30

**Friday**

12:00–14:00, 18:00–22:30

**Saturday**

12:00–14:00, 18:00–22:30

**Sunday**

Closed

### Features

- Reservations accepted
- Wheelchair accessible

Last updated: 21 June 2026

## Location

## More in Tokyo