About SSAW Brooklyn
- Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter -
A taste of modern Tokyo, hidden in the heart of Brooklyn
SSAW Brooklyn is a "New Japanese" restaurant founded by Yusuke Fukuzaki and Ryo Yamazaki.
Inspired by the restaurant's name, Executive Chef Fukuzaki creates a menu that evolves with the seasons, with a new tasting menu introduced each month. His cooking is rooted in the techniques and philosophy he developed over seven years at Tokyo's Michelin-starred Kagurazaka Ishikawa and Kohaku, while expressed through his own playful, contemporary perspective.
Ryo curates SSAW's sake selection and pairings to complement Fukuzaki's cuisine, bringing together both classic and new-generation producers from across Japan.
Together, the duo brings a modern Tokyo sensibility and genuine Michelin-rooted culinary DNA to a small, intimate space in Brooklyn-seasonal, creative, and distinctly SSAW.
Yusuke Fukuzaki is the Chef & Co-Founder of SSAW Brooklyn.
Born and raised in Kagoshima, Japan,
he comes from a family of chefs, with both his father and older brother inspiring his passion for Japanese cuisine from an early age.
He spent seven years refining his craft at Kagurazaka Ishikawa and Kohaku, two Michelin-starred pillars of Tokyo's kaiseki scene.
That experience forms the foundation of his cooking at SSAW-rooted in Tokyo's fine-dining tradition, yet expressed through a style distinctly his own.
His cooking is defined by an unconventional approach to seasonal ingredients, carefully balancing the five fundamental tastes (gomi)while paying close attention to texture and harmony.
Sometimes playful, sometimes deeply rooted in tradition, Chef Fukuzaki's cuisine honors Japanese culinary heritage while bringing his own perspective to the table.
Originally from Tokyo,
Ryo Yamazaki is the Co-Founder & Beverage Director of SSAW Brooklyn.
His path into hospitality began while working in restaurants to fund his move to New York, eventually transitioning from a career as an editorial makeup artist into the restaurant industry.
With a lifelong connection to fashion, art, and visual culture,
Ryo brings a creative perspective that strongly shapes SAW's branding, design, and overall identity. His background in the creative industry continues to influence how the restaurant brings food, sake, design, and hospitality together.
Ryo also leads SSA W's beverage program,with a passion for expanding the appreciation of Japanese sake in the U.S.
He curates a diverse selection designed to be approachable for newcomers while offering depth for experienced sake drinkers.
