Hoshito

You can see/​taste the thoughts of the chef how to present Japan with Nordic ingredients. It’s a Kaiseki style dining. The food and the service were great and felt real authenticity of Japan for the first time in the Nordic countries. I wish there is a bit more space between tables or they could work on the sound so the guests could feel a bit more private.

What an adorable place this is! Nowhere else can you see the chef wearing a tie and a perfectly fit and clean white coat while cooking. The atmosphere here is almost meditative. That said you should probably consider another place if you’re heading out with a big bunch of loud people.
The food is traditional Japanese with a tad of Scandinavian influence. They only serve one menu at a time of which you can choose 3, 4 or 5 courses. They also have an excellent sake selection. Service is minimalistic and polite.
Everything in this tiny little nook seems very honest — they’re not trying to impress anyone with polished décor or extremely exotic food. They rather keep it simple and focus on doing everything that they do well and with love. It’s simply fascinating to watch the couple (I think) work in the open kitchen as their level of concentration and calmness are the kind that one seldom gets to witness in a restaurant kitchen. Like the total opposite of Gordon Ramsey & co.
Definitely worth a visit!

Hidden away from the centre of Helsinki, this tiny restaurant is a fusion of Japanese and Finnish cooking. The very simple menu has a three, four or five course option. We went for the five course, wanting to try everything. The space is bright, clean and open, and we watched the chefs work as we sipped Iki green tea beer.
The waitress explained every course in English. The first course was delicious potatoes and beef with linen seeds, which reminded me a bit of Brazilian picanha, dipping the umame sirloin in the crunchy seeds. Then a salad with beautiful chantarelles and peas, followed by a chirashi bowl and miso. By this point we were very, very happy.
Then the dessert: a strange cheesecake that tasted like it was made of rubber (or at least, tofu). I don’t even eat dairy anymore, so I wouldn’t have minded if it was vegan, but if you have to ask… which we did, and the waitress confirmed it was cheese. A disappointing end to an otherwise great meal.