In much of the West, Asian food is ubiquitous; but in Spain, especially Barcelona where haute Catalan cuisine reigns supreme, it is downright adventurous. Shunka, a regionally-rare Japanese eatery whose name means “intense aroma of the season,” harnesses the best of the East-West dichotomy by fusing local ingredients with Japanese-style cooking methods.

Thanks to his father, chef and owner Hideki Matsusia gained exposure to the Asian archipelago’s cuisine at a young age—indeed, he began working in Tokyo restaurants at 15-years-old. In 1997, Matsusia moved to Barcelona to put his culinary sensibilities and skills to the test, and his restaurant is a testament to his chops: Shunka is widely regarded as Barcelona’s top Japanese eatery, noted for the freshness of its ingredients and hip ambiance. Reservations recommended, as Shunka overpours with people during the dinner hours. Know that if you’re hankering for top-quality fresh fish and sticky rice, your search is over before it has even begun.