The buzz: Bangkokians’ obsession with Japanese food shows no signs of abating, with Sushi Hiro opening out on the edge town. Owned by the same team behind the popular yakiniku (barbeque) joint Niku-King, Sushi Hiro sports a Japanese fisherman village-inspired décor and serves up fresh, handmade sushi.

The décor: Behind this small restaurant’s wooden façade is a classic Japanese restaurant vibe, defined by bleached wooden furniture and a sushi bar where the chefs chop and blow-torch the fish. Like sister restaurant Tatsuya Izakaya Buffet, interiors are furnished with decorative items like flags and knives brought over from Japan.

The food: The brief menu features sushi, rolls and a few grilled dishes ranging from hokke (mackerel, B350) to kinmedai (golden eye snapper, B1,800). If you’re there for the fish, expect some fusion touches, as in the hirame (turbot) carpaccio topped with the deep-fried garlic and truffle oil (B1,100) or sushi garnished with marinade wasabi or truffle paste. Splurge on the Hiro special sushi set (B2,300) consisting 12 varieties of fish, including chutoro (medium fatty tuna), scallop and taraba crab, or opt for something more pocket-friendly like the set of seven bites (B1,650). Single bites like eel (B120), Matsusaka beef (B400) and kinmedai (sea bream, B320) are also available. If you’re lucky then, you get to savor one of the Canadian lobsters swimming in the tank, sashimi style (B1,200), with your choice of lobster miso soup or stir-fried lobster with butter.

The drinks: No fireworks on this front. Classic sake ranges from B280 for nama (unpasteurized sake) to B1,490 for sparkling peach sake. Beers are Singha (B95) and Asahi (B95).

The crowds: Fans of its sister restaurant and those who keep a keen eye on their regular promotions (lobster this month goes for B700 instead of the usual B1,200). Pieng-or Mongkolkumnuankhet