Tucked away discreetly on a quiet street in Philadelphia‘s Fishtown neighbourhood is HIROKI, an immersive Japanese dining concept deeply embedded in Japanese culture. A first for the area, introducing a new hospitality experience to the hip locality.
The sister restaurant of acclaimed Wm. Mulherin’s Sons, HIROKI is owned and designed by Method Co. and helmed by Japanese executive chef Hiroki Fujiyama. Combining the country’s nostalgia, customs and cuisine, HIROKI has created a dining experience where authenticity is key.
Taking its diners on a culinary journey, the proceedings begin with several native dishes focussing on local produce and vegetables, followed by a seasonal multi-course nigiri tasting; each course paired with sake from across Japan or Japanese whisky, gin and shochu, each libation carefully chosen for HIROKI’s beverage program.
Design—in collaboration with Stokes Architecture—is sophisticated and minimalist, Method Co. seeking inspiration from time spent living in Kyoto. Behind the brutalist façade lies monochromatic colours, regional timber and reclaimed Southeast Asian teak flooring; raw and natural materials blended harmoniously alongside soulful Japanese design elements including a woven ceiling above the entrance vestibule, custom furnishings, and bespoke works of art.
Brooding and stylish, the HIROKI aesthetic is as clinically exquisite as its cuisine, with Philadelphia magazine summing up its particular appeal as minimally as the restaurant’s restrained design: “Hiroki is perfect. Go there now.” What more do you need to know?
Photography, Matthew Williams / courtesy HIROKI Philadelphia
