Narisawa Description

After years – yes years – of delays, the two-Michelin-starred and consistently World's 50 Best ranked restaurant Narisawa from Tokyo finally opened up in Shanghai’s 1000 Trees on Moganshan Lu on July 15.

Narisawa Tokyo just celebrated its 20-year anniversary, 14 consecutive years of which have garnered it a spot on the World’s 50 Best List, and most recently #51 on the 2023 list – no easy feat as it’s the only restaurant in all of Asia to accomplish it. Considered ahead of its time, Narisawa Tokyo has also been awarded the Sustainable Restaurant Award in 2013 and a Michelin Green Star for its strong focus on environmentally conscious dining, amongst numerous other accolades.

And with Narisawa Shanghai being the only other location in the entire world outside of Tokyo – a decision to expand that took nearly 20 years – yes, this opening is kind of a big deal for the Shanghai dining scene. 

With food sustainability as core tenet, Chef Yoshihiro Narisawa aims to gain a deeper understanding of how Chinese culture has influenced the Japanese diet over time, and demonstrate his appreciation for the interconnectivity of both cuisines through his own cooking at the Shanghai location. 

Using local Chinese ingredients, imported global proteins, and a mix of modern cooking techniques built upon a Japanese backbone – a style dubbed “The Narisawa Way” – the menu takes diners through varying altitudes of Japan’s geography to present naturalistic “satoyama cuisine” – meaning food from the areas between the mountains and flat lands, where people live sustainably, connected directly with nature. 

So instead of a gluttonous experience spanning a dozen courses, this omakase meal (comprised of culinary edible works of art) represents a balance of nutrition, sustainably-sourced organic ingredients, respect for Mother Nature, innovative cooking methods, and – well – downright delicious flavor pairings, the likes of which Shanghai hasn’t yet seen.  

Locally sourcing produce to protein via artisan farmers – from the fields to the forests of China – the ever-evolving seasonal Set Menu (RMB1,800 + 10% service charge) is a celebration of the highest quality Chinese products, aligning with the satoyama cuisine ethos of the venue. Think Sichuan matsutake mushrooms, Kaluga Queen caviar from Qiandaohu, and Fujian-grown white tea leaves, to name just a few.