Tabelog ratingAjiman is a name spoken with reverence among fugu connoisseurs. For decades, this Roppongi restaurant has been a benchmark for a specific, powerful style of fugu preparation. Its reputation rests on a few signature dishes that regulars return for year after year. The first is the tessa (fugu sashimi), which is sliced uncommonly thick, giving it a pronounced, satisfying texture that stands in contrast to the paper-thin standard.
This sashimi is served not with the usual ponzu, but with a house-special dipping sauce made from an-kimo (monkfish liver), a rich and creamy counterpoint to the clean-tasting fish. Other highlights consistently praised by diners include the enormous, crispy fried fugu (fugu karaage), often compared to high-quality chicken, and the intensely flavourful grilled milt (yaki shirako). The meal traditionally concludes with zosui, a savoury rice porridge cooked in the remaining hotpot broth. Many guests save their leftover an-kimo sauce to mix into the zosui, a combination considered unique to Ajiman.
While the food receives near-universal acclaim, securing a seat is the primary challenge. The restaurant operates on a strict introduction-only basis (shokai-sei), meaning new customers cannot book without a referral from an existing patron. The prices are also at the very top end of Tokyo dining, and payment is cash-only. Reviewers in 2024–2025 reported paying around ¥50,000 for a full fugu course, with typical bills running from ¥80,000 to ¥100,000 per person with drinks. The setting is informal and dated—some call it shabby—so guests come for the food, not for luxurious decor. For fugu aficionados who can gain access and afford the bill, reviewers overwhelmingly agree it is a world-class experience.
- Reservations: Strictly by introduction only. New customers without a referrer cannot book.
- Payment: Cash only. Credit cards, electronic money, and QR code payments are not accepted.
- Getting There: Located on the first floor of the WOO Building, a 10-minute walk from Roppongi Station.
- Seating: The restaurant has 12 seats, including a counter and private tatami rooms for groups of 2 to 20 people.
- Seasonal Closures: Ajiman is closed for the entire months of July and August. From April to June, it is also closed on Sundays.
- Smoking: The entire restaurant is non-smoking.
- Parking: No parking is available.
