Sazenka

Two Chefs, Two Stars: Chefs Ensui and Hakuun on their Shared Success

"Identified as Tomoya Kawada’s restaurant in Tokyo, this place appears as part of the network of influential restaurants across Asia whose chefs trained together at Nihonryori RyuGin and consider that experience an enduring foundation for their work." - Suma Wakui

The World's 50 Best Restaurants | Previous Lists

"Sazenka is listed at the The World's 50 Best Restaurants in 2025 as rank 93." - The World's 50 Best Restaurants

"Tomoya Kawada sees cooking as a reconciliation between nature and humanity. He names his approach Sazenka, which literally means ‘tea-Zen-Chinese’, out of a desire to create Chinese fare that mediates between the worlds of tea and Zen. His cuisine harmoniously combines the techniques he learned in China with the soul and spiritual features of Japan – ‘wakon-kansai’ is the theme. Japanese ingredients in season are used in spring-roll fillings and Sichuan stir-fries, lending a seasonal dimension to Chinese cuisine." - Michelin Inspector

These Are The Newly Starred Restaurants In The MICHELIN Guide Tokyo 2021

"The first Chinese restaurant in Tokyo to be awarded Three Stars, Sazenka, led by Chef Tomoya Kawada, offers a unique dining experience that combines traditional Chinese flavors with Japanese techniques. The pheasant soup is a perfect example of this successful fusion, with the recipe attesting to the chef’s mastery of dashi preparation, while the pigeon dishes pay a glowing tribute to the Japanese technique of cooking over a charcoal grill." - MICHELIN Guide Asia

Must-Try Dishes in Tokyo, According to MICHELIN Guide Inspectors

"Sichuan sliced spicy garlic pork: Thinly sliced pork and eggplant arranged on a large celadon plate, replacing cucumber with eggplant in a bold presentation, evoking a sense of romance and imagination." - The MICHELIN Guide