Originally Posted by
broadwayboy
This is the first I read about Jiro and foreign customers. Most things I read simply state that non-Japanese customers are not favored in his establishments.
Originally Posted by
RichardInSF
P.S. Contrary to Mike's comment above (even though his comments are usually right), there is a thread in the Japan forum that goes on at length about Jiro in Ginza not taking customers who don't have at least one person with them who speaks Japanese -- although maybe that person need not look Japanese.
My perception may be biased because I have a personal connection to Jiro and his son Yoshikazu through a mutual friend and I speak Japanese. I have always had fantastic service and have been warmly welcomed.
I am sure there is such a policy of needing to be accompanied by at least one person who speaks Japanese, but this had never occurred to me. Occasionally I have seen foreigners at the restaurant who seemed to speak little or no Japanese, but perhaps this was not the case.
In my opinion Sukiyabashi Jiro welcomes foreigners who take sushi seriously and who adhere to proper sushi restaurant etiquette. The restaurant is also very strict towards Japanese customers who show disrespect or are ill-mannered.