aca: Creative Spanish-Japanese Counter Dining

At aca, Chef Higashi’s personal style of Spanish-Japanese cuisine is on full display. The heart of the restaurant is a wood-fired kitchen, where precise heat control—a concept central to Japanese cooking known as hi-ire—is applied to Spanish techniques. This results in signature dishes with a depth of flavour you won't find elsewhere, often featuring a bold use of sherry and white wine vinegars.

Guests consistently praise a core set of remarkable dishes. The uni and squid-ink paella is a near-universal highlight, as are the seasonal king crab paella and the soupy abalone caldoso. Other frequently mentioned favourites include the kohada bocadillo (a small gizzard shad sandwich), fried young ayu fish with Manchego cheese, and wood-fired steaks, including Kobe beef sirloin. Desserts like the crema catalana and goat-milk ice cream also receive high marks.

The main drawbacks noted by reviewers are practical: the restaurant is extremely difficult to book and very expensive. With only eight seats at the counter and one small private room, securing a reservation is a significant challenge.

Reviewers report that a meal here typically costs between ¥60,000 and ¥79,999 per person for both lunch and dinner. While many signature dishes are named in reviews, their individual prices are not published. Despite the high cost, diners are unanimous in their verdict: the quality of the ingredients, the masterful technique, and the theatrical counter experience make aca a destination worth the splurge.

• Location: In Nihonbashi, a 3-minute walk from Mitsukoshimae Station (Ginza and Hanzomon lines), Exit A8.
• Reservations: Essential and notoriously difficult to secure. Booking far in advance is strongly recommended.
• Seating: An intimate 12-seat restaurant, with an 8-seat counter facing the open kitchen and one private room for four people.
• Payment: Major credit cards (Visa, Master, JCB, Amex, Diners) are accepted. Electronic money and QR code payments are not.
• Service Charge: A 10% service charge and consumption tax are added to the bill.
• Smoking: The entire restaurant is non-smoking.
• Parking: No parking available.