Zauo Fishing Restaurant

Zauo Fishing Restaurant in Shinjuku was such a fun and unique dining experience for our family. We were staying at Mimaru Shinjuku West and it was only a short walk away, which made it an easy option for dinner. It was a little tricky to find at first we accidentally went into an office building and with a double pram it was quite difficult to turn around, we ended up carrying it down a flight of stairs to get there. The concept is definitely the highlight. You can catch your own seafood using nets from the tanks and then choose how it’s prepared. It’s a great novelty and the kids really enjoyed it, although my 2-year-old was a bit scared and didn’t want to participate. The restaurant itself has a very cool nautical “out at sea” vibe, with a large wooden boat in the centre and different dining areas around it. We were seated on a slightly raised deck area with a view over a small bridge and the water tanks, which was a fun perspective, but there were a few stairs to access it so not ideal if you’re travelling with a pram. There’s a wide variety of seafood available including fish, lobster, crayfish and shellfish, along with a full à la carte menu featuring sushi, sashimi, miso soup, fried octopus, oysters, sea urchin, edamame, rice desserts and so much more. We also ordered some western-style kids meals (fried chicken and fish with chips), which was helpful for the fussy eaters in our group. The seafood was fresh and the platter we ordered was very enjoyable, however I wouldn’t say the food itself was exceptional. It felt like the main value comes from the experience rather than the quality of the dishes. Price-wise, I did find it a little on the expensive side, likely due to its location in a busy tourist area. I probably wouldn’t have spent as much if it wasn’t for the “catch your own fish” element. Overall, a really fun and memorable experience, especially for families or groups, but accessibility can be challenging with prams and the value for money is more in the novelty than the food itself.

Shouta, Misura, and Rion made the experience incredibly memorable. Definitely a must visit for those visiting Japan for the first time. Regardless of how you prefer your fish cooked or raw they have all different methods of preparation to accommodate for your preferences. Even the fishing was extremely enjoyable with people teaching you and helping you how to get your first catch. Will never forget the help of those working here and can’t wait to tell everyone about it

The food was great! We got to eat what we caught, so the fish was super fresh. All the staff were welcoming and helpful. Eating here is a really memorable experience for kids and would be a lot of fun for large parties. Highly recommended!

Fun for the kids and adults! Was a little skeptical that we would catch a fish to eat after reading on Tabelog. We rented 5 rods and everyone caught a fish to eat! Make sure to make reservations especially if you have a larger party.

Yuta gave us an amazing experience! The fishing is so fun. The sashimi was so fresh, tempura delicious, great vibe. Recommend