Makoto Madrid · Salamanca District
If you are looking for a sushi bar in Madrid where exceptional ingredients, precision and the relationship with the itamae are part of the experience, Makoto’s sushi counter offers a different way to discover Japanese cuisine. Nigiri, maki, daily cuts and technique unfold right in front of you.
In front of the itamae
At a table, the dish arrives complete. At a sushi counter, the experience begins earlier. The movement of the knife, the way the rice is handled, the assembly of each piece and the final seasoning all become part of a sequence that happens just a few feet away.
At Makoto Madrid , the itamae works in full view of the guest. This proximity reveals the precision behind a cuisine that often appears deceptively simple. Every decision matters: temperature, thickness of the cut, texture of the rice and the time between preparation and service.
That is why choosing a sushi bar in Madrid is about far more than counting the number of options on a menu. It is also about choosing how you want to experience them. When the kitchen is open to view, ingredients and technique become part of the culinary journey itself.
Sushi presents its ingredients directly. The selection of fish, its preparation and its temperature influence the experience from the very first bite.
Thickness, direction and precision alter texture and determine how the fish interacts with the rice and seasoning.
The counter allows each piece to reach the guest moments after it has been finished, preserving texture, temperature and balance.
Makoto Madrid
Makoto Okuwa began his apprenticeship in Nagoya at a young age and spent much of his early career mastering the craft of sushi. That relationship with the discipline remains at the heart of the restaurant that bears his name.
One of the key references behind his cuisine is the Edomae tradition, an approach to sushi in which the preparation of the ingredient plays an essential role. Cuts, marinades, ageing and seasoning are handled with precision to enhance the ingredient rather than disguise it.
At Makoto, that tradition is interpreted through a contemporary perspective. The result brings together nigiri, sashimi and maki alongside a broader Japanese culinary proposal designed for sharing.
To explore this approach in greater depth, discover our guide to a Japanese restaurant in Madrid .
Book at MakotoBuilding the experience
There is no single way to enjoy sushi. You can arrive already knowing your favourite pieces, ask the team to guide you or build a progression in which flavours, textures and temperatures evolve gradually throughout the meal.
The sushi counter particularly rewards an open approach. Part of its appeal lies in seeing the ingredients, asking what is recommended that day and leaving room to discover pieces you may not have originally planned to order.
Nigiri, sashimi and selected daily cuts make it particularly easy to appreciate the quality of the ingredient and the precision of the itamae’s work.
Maki and other preparations introduce different temperatures, contrasts and combinations while keeping Japanese ingredients and technique as the common thread.
The best ingredients may vary from day to day. Letting the team guide you can reveal pieces that are particularly interesting at that moment.
Explore the menu before your visit and decide whether you want sushi to lead the experience or combine it with other dishes from Makoto’s kitchen.
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Two different concepts
Although the two are often associated, sitting in front of the chef and ordering omakase are different experiences. The counter describes the setting: a privileged position from which you can watch the itamae work and receive each piece almost directly from the chef.
Omakase, by contrast, describes a way of dining. The guest places part of the decision-making in the chef’s hands, allowing the kitchen to determine the selection and sequence according to the ingredients available and the rhythm of the meal.
For anyone searching for a sushi bar in Madrid, the counter offers that proximity even without following a fixed tasting menu. You can choose your own pieces, listen to recommendations and combine sushi with other dishes from the menu.
If you would rather leave the journey entirely in the chef’s hands, discover more about omakase in Madrid .
In front of the itamae, sushi becomes more than a dish: it becomes technique, rhythm and precision.
Beyond the counter
The sushi counter can be the centre of your visit, but the Makoto experience extends beyond it. The restaurant offers different settings so that lunch or dinner can adapt naturally to the occasion.
It might be dinner in front of the chef, an unhurried meal in the dining room, an open-air gathering or an evening that continues with cocktails. The same culinary identity runs through each setting, while the way you experience it changes.
For watching the technique up close and paying special attention to the preparation of every piece.
A more relaxed setting for lunch, dinner for two, business meetings or evenings with friends.
A space to begin the experience with a drink or extend the evening after dinner.
An open-air alternative for enjoying Makoto’s cuisine in the heart of Madrid’s Salamanca District.
Discover the sushi counter, dining room, cocktail bar and terraces before deciding how you want to experience your next visit to Makoto.
Discover the spaces
Salamanca District
Makoto is located at C/ Marqués de Villamagna 1, in the heart of Madrid’s Salamanca District. Its location makes it easy to include the restaurant in many different plans around the city.
At lunch, the counter allows the ingredients and technique to take centre stage without requiring an entire afternoon. At dinner, the experience can develop through more dishes and continue afterwards at the cocktail bar.
It is also an appealing option for guests who see gastronomy as an essential part of going out. Sitting at a sushi bar in Madrid brings you closer to the craft and turns details that are normally hidden into part of the evening itself.
If you are planning a day around this area of the city, explore our guide to finding a restaurant near Retiro Park in Madrid .
Book a tableAttention to detail
When people talk about sushi, attention often goes immediately to the fish. Yet the experience also depends on less obvious elements. The rice needs to provide texture, temperature and seasoning that complement the ingredient without overpowering it.
Knife work determines how each piece feels in the mouth. Different fish require different approaches, and the ideal thickness can change according to texture, fat content or preparation. Only then are the final seasonings added to complete the balance.
Timing matters as well. Sushi is not designed to sit waiting for long periods before reaching the guest. Sitting close to where it is prepared reduces that distance and helps explain why service itself is part of the technique.
In this sense, the counter is not merely an architectural feature. It structures the relationship between kitchen, ingredient and guest. For anyone looking to experience a sushi bar in Madrid from a more gastronomic perspective, that proximity makes a meaningful difference.
You can also explore our article on the best sushi in Madrid and the Makoto experience to discover more about the philosophy behind this part of the menu.
Frequently asked questions
Makoto Madrid is located at C/ Marqués de Villamagna 1, 28001 Madrid, in the Salamanca District.
At the sushi counter you can watch the itamae prepare each piece up close. The dining room offers a more relaxed setting centred around conversation and a longer lunch or dinner.
You can build your experience around nigiri, sashimi, maki and other dishes from Makoto’s menu, as well as asking the team for recommendations.
No. The sushi counter refers to the physical space in front of the chef. Omakase is a dining format in which the chef chooses the dishes and the order in which they are served.
If you are visiting on a particular date or have a preference for a specific area of the restaurant, checking availability and booking in advance is recommended.
Yes. You can explore the Makoto menu before your visit to discover the different culinary options available.
Makoto Madrid
Exceptional ingredients, precise technique and the itamae working right in front of you. Book your next lunch or dinner at Makoto Madrid and discover a different way to experience contemporary Japanese cuisine in the Salamanca District.
