Royal Sushi & Izakaya in Queen Village is technically two restaurants: The casual, walk-in-only front room serves up izakaya-style hits; hidden behind it, eight-time James Beard-nominated chef Jesse Ito helms the omakase counter. The 15-course tasting menu rotates seasonally, but Ito’s exemplary nigiri remains its constant.
While the izakaya is dark (sometimes “phone flashlight on to read the menu” dark) and moody, the back room — which has some izakaya seating — is brighter and quieter. The L-shaped omakase counter only seats 8, so you may walk out having made a friend or two (including chef Ito.)
This is the hardest reservation to book in Philly, and one of the toughest in the country. I tried every night for a year and a half, at midnight exactly, to snag a spot. Set a Resy notify — it’s rare, but occasionally, last-minute bookings open. If you do nab a seat, your waiter will even offer to make your next (pre-paid) reservation for you in another 3-4 months.
If you can’t get into the omakase, by no means are you settling for the izakaya, a dining experience in itself. Sit at the bar and order a few rolls, like the Bloc Party and Aka-Taka.