While special dining experiences are available to guests all over the Walt Disney World Parks and Resorts, EPCOT takes the cake for offering the largest variety of table service restaurants. With popular character meals at Garden Grill and Akershus Royal Banquet Hall coupled with the international cuisine found in each country’s pavilion in the World Showcase, park-goers are presented with many quality and unique dining opportunities during their visit to EPCOT.
Shiki-Sai: Sushi Izakaya is the newest table service restaurant found in the Japan Pavilion. Located on the second floor, enter a warm and calming ambiance as you are greeted by your hosts. The red hanging fabric and chair coverings contrast the wooden furnishings and floor in the contemporary decor. The sushi bar is situated in the center of the restaurant offering alternative seating to the booths and chairs. Digital art hangs on the walls displaying a journey through all four seasons while you dine.
The menu was presented as a large book, featuring bright photographs of some entrees. Since it was our first visit, we desired to explore the menu by ordering from the starter and Izakaya Classics menus first. The eggplant topped with Miso sauce was absolutely delicious for those who care for the vegetable and the Miso soup and green tea were welcomed on the cool evening of our visit. The Maguro Tataki, seared tuna with a citrus ponzu sauce, was thinly sliced and prepared to perfection.
Despite indulging in every last bite of our appetizers, we decided to go all in and order the Chefs Sushi Special Hashi for 2. Presented beautifully on an arched red bridge, we were served a large variety of sushi, sashimi, and nigiri that could have been shared by more than just two adults. Fresh tuna, salmon, yellow tail, eel, scallop, and cooked shrimp were accompanied by one tuna and one cucumber roll. Fresh ginger, wasabi, and a small glass of container of masago garnish the colorful display of delicious fish.
This plate was a lot of food, but we enjoyed as much as we could! The variety and quantity of sushi was worth the $100 tag price of this sushi bridge, but we may bring another friend or two with us next time to help us eat it all, especially if we choose to order appetizers before the main course.
While we were too full to try dessert, there were a few delectable temptations on the menu such as a mango mouse cake and an Ichigo parfait made with layers of cheesecake, strawberries, and vanilla ice cream. Shiki-Sai also offers an extended list of sakes, including various flights in order to sample several varieties of two-ounce pours.
If you love sushi or Japanese entrees from the grill like plates of rice and noodles, visit Shiki-Sai: Sushi Izakaya in EPCOT’s World Showcase for either lunch or dinner. Since the restaurant opened just a few months ago, tables are still in high demand, so an advanced dining reservation is recommended. Whether you stop in for just one sushi roll or come with an appetite for a full 3-course meal, you won’t regret this dining experience in a quiet setting away from the hustle and bustle of EPCOT’s World Showcase.
Have you had the opportunity to dine at Shiki-Sai: Susi Izakaya in the Japan Pavilion in EPCOT or is it still on your list of must-try new restaurants in Walt Disney World? Let us know in the comments below!
Featured Photo: Rachel Van Norman
Written by
Shelley Wehler
Contributing Writer
Shelley is a stay-at-home mother of two girls living outside of Charlotte, North Carolina. Her love of all things Disney has grown even more as she sees the magic come alive through the lens of her young daughters. She spends her free time keeping up with the latest in Disney news and daydreaming of her next trip to the parks!
