This cozy, mood-lit Japanese pub serves up tantalizing small plates and fresh sushi, creating a fun vibe that's perfect for sharing with friends.
"Royal Sushi & Izakaya has two distinct moods—and they both work for any kind of birthday celebration you want to have. In the izakaya section, you can sit in a booth and watch anime, pay as little as $4 for a beer, and eat things like chili beets covered in miso or pan-seared pork gyoza. But when you want to have a night where you're catered to like Oprah’s favorite spaniel, try their 17-piece omakase. It includes things like Washington state kumamoto oysters and their chutoro caviar—a mix of fatty Spanish bluefin and Osetra caviar. Each option works for different occasions, but they’ll both give you a memorable experience. Royal's sushi omakase is the single hardest reservation to book in Philadelphia. (At the end of the meal, diners can rebook for the following month, and many do—thus creating a defacto club of omakase regulars.) Open slots become available 30 days in advance, so we suggest setting an alarm or 10 and signing up for the waitlist notifications. It's rare, but not unheard of, to get a last-minute reservation. Alternatively, you could dine in the walk-in-only izakaya portion of the restaurant, get “lost” heading to the bathroom, and try to blend in with the Eagles player gulping toro." - candis mclean, alison kessler
"This Queen Village Japanese restaurant has a walk-in izakaya in front where you can sit in a booth, drink a balanced cocktail, and eat chirashi and fried fish collars like a happy kitten. The room is dark, the bar is bumping, and we rarely spend fewer than three hours loitering here. But if you want to feel like the princess of Philadelphia, try to book the 17-piece sushi omakase in the back. You might get dry-aged mackerel with chive oil or a silky chawanmushi topped with an obscene amount of caviar. Both dining options are memorable in their own ways. Which is nice, considering you probably can't get into the omakase. Royal's sushi omakase is the single hardest reservation to book in Philadelphia. (At the end of the meal, diners can rebook for the following month, and many do—thus creating a defacto club of omakase regulars.) Open slots become available 30 days in advance, so we suggest setting an alarm or 10 and signing up for the waitlist notifications. It's rare, but not unheard of, to get a last-minute reservation. Alternatively, you could dine in the walk-in-only izakaya portion of the restaurant, get “lost” heading to the bathroom, and try to blend in with the Eagles player gulping toro." - candis mclean, alison kessler
"James Beard award-nominated chef Jesse Ito’s Queen Village destination is a two-in-one deal. In the front, you’ll find a hip izakaya with skewers, sushi, and Japanese beer, but Ito’s coveted omakase experience ($300 per person, service included), which helped launch the omakase mini-renaissance the city is currently enjoying, is an intimate affair — just eight seats — where chefs lavish you with impeccable seasonal seafood. The izakaya doesn’t take reservations, but you can order takeout and delivery online; the omakase bar accepts reservations on Resy." - Maddy Sweitzer-Lamme, Ernest Owens
"A Japanese restaurant in Philadelphia known for its sushi and izakaya-style dining, featuring chef Jesse Ito." - Melissa McCart
"Dining at chef Jesse Ito’s sushi and izakaya restaurant Royal Izakaya is a must for Philly locals and visitors alike. Every dish — whether in the form of a roll, gyoza, or katsu sandwich — is made to Ito’s exacting standards with the highest-quality ingredients. Diners can do takeout and delivery, or walk in for dinner. The restaurant also has an exquisite omakase bar that you can book online. Good luck getting a reservation: It’s one of the hardest to get in the city." - Eater Staff, Ernest Owens
