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Japanese Restaurants in Istanbul

Japanese cuisine is still growing phenomenon in Istanbul. It is either very much loved or hated by the local population. For many it takes some time to get used to it. Classic jokes still abound about wasabi and ginger, such as "taste it, it is the next best thing after chocolate."

Initially Japanese restaurants were only in the form of sushi restaurants that required dressing up and paying lots. And, they were almost always located inside fancy malls or hotels. It cannot be debated that you pay much less nowadays; but the prices have balanced out somewhat and the cuisine has diversified from "sushi only". Several good restaurants opened in more touristy regions such as Istiklal; but the old town (Sultanahmet) is still more reserved.

There are some authentic restaurants such as Ninja and Udonya that have been serving a loyal clientele for several years now. Others have a plethora of branches around the city and inside the malls such as Sushico. If you are searching for sushi for the love of it, try your luck at one of the more authentic ones. The list below highlights the Top 10 most favorable by this author.