Nihon Ryori Kurogi
日本料理 くろぎ

Located in Hamamatsucho in Tokyo, Kurogi is a highly-renowned Japanese cuisine establishment run by Chef Jun Kurogi.

Dinner reservations are filled almost exclusively with regulars and booked up to an entire year in advance, due to the popularity of the restaurant. In order to provide more people with a chance to experience their amazing cuisine, Kurogi has recently began offer lunch.

The restaurant was awarded its Michelin star in 2011 and 2012, and also received 4 toques from Gault Millau, both which are testaments to Kurogi’s quality and reputation.

Chef Jun Kurogi is from Miyazaki prefecture and both his parents where chefs who inspired him to pursue a culinary career.
He accompanied his parents on fishing trips, his interest in ingredients grew stronger, eventually leading him down the path of a chef.

During his apprenticeship, he was influenced by Kenichiro Nishi, the late master of the legendary Japanese restaurant “Kyomi,” often called the “god of Japanese cuisine.” Nishi’s words, “Location doesn’t matter—if you make something delicious, people will come,” have stayed with Kurogi throughout his career.

Kurogi’s cooking approach is centered on showcasing the live experience by presenting raw ingredients to customers before transforming them into dishes. He values the chef’s ability to manipulate time, knowing when to use fresh ingredients and when to let them age for enhanced flavor. This meticulous approach, with attention to each ingredient’s unique characteristics, is what he believes makes a dish truly exceptional.

Kurogi emphasizes that cooking reflects a chef’s feelings and motivation, and that human connections are crucial in creating a meal. Tokyo, as a hub for diverse ingredients, is a fusion of regional cuisines. For Kurogi, presenting dishes in Tokyo is a way to convey the essence of local cuisines, which he believes contributes to the preservation of Japanese food culture.

While a course at Kurogi can cost up to 100,000 yen, the restaurant provides personalized dishes tailored to individual preferences, accommodating vegetarians, vegans, and those with gluten-free dietary requirements. Kurogi’s cooking seeks to maximize the potential of each ingredient, offering a unique taste of Japan that he believes the world can be proud of.