Casual Sasebo restaurant cooks up tasty fusion dishes

If you’ve been missing American-style sushi but also other fusion dishes, Chiori An outside of Sasebo Naval Base is just the place to get your fix.

You’ll find this restaurant, popular amongst locals and foreigners alike, close to the busy “Sailor Town” area.

The restaurant is named after one of the co-owners, Chiori, and her husband, Alex, a Filipino-American chef, is the other co-owner.

While Alex was a sushi chef in Japanese restaurant, Chiori learned how to cook Thai food from her Thai friend in Colorado before they moved to Sasebo two years ago. The location opened in March of 2018 and serves a variety of dishes including authentic Thai food and your sushi roll favorites.

“It is a nice, tiny restaurant with a casual and cozy atmosphere for about 18 customers, where even a single customer can feel at home and enjoy a tasty meal without hesitation,” says Tomoko Tanaka, a Stars and Stripes employee at the Sasebo District Office.

Tanaka counts herself as one of Chiori An’s regulars and added that the owners’ friendly personality and good food are a contributing factor to this. Tanaka’s favorite dish is Chiori’s green curry.

“The sushi rolls are really delicious, but their curries are really tasty,” Tanaka said. “It is actually the best green curry I’ve had in my whole life.”

Chiori An’s menu features California rolls, shrimp tempura rolls, rainbow rolls (mixed fish and California roll ingredients), and more.

Prices for rolls vary between 600 yen to 1,500 yen (about $5 to $12). They even have vegetarian rolls and can accommodate vegans or any other food allergy/dietary restrictions – just ask! 

In addition, the restaurant’s two lunch set options are a great deal. Try the daily curry with egg roll for 950 yen or two sushi rolls for 1,095 yen. The curry changes daily, as the name suggests, but try green curry on Mondays or Fridays.

And after work, check out the vast drink menu including beer, shochu and rum to pair with their delicious food offerings.

Don’t have Japanese yen? Don’t worry, Chiori An also accepts credit cards.

Chiori An’s hospitable owners, good food and great lunch specials will have you coming back for more. I’m definitely adding my list for the next time I’m in Sasebo.

Chiori An
Hours: Mon, Wed- Sat, 11 a.m.-2 p.m., 4:30 – 9 p.m.; Sun, noon – 6 p.m. (close Tuesday and 2nd and 4th Monday)
Location: 8-12 [1F] Tokiwacho, Sasebo City, Nagasaki Pref. (10-minute walk from Sasebo Naval Base main gate)
URL: https://sasebo2.com/gourmet/35054 (Japanese)
Facebook: www.facebook.com/pages/Chiori-An/2093087970980341
Tel: 0956-76-8071