— April 6, 7 and 8
Register
Register in the contest by providing all the data required in the registration form.
Participate
Take part in the two days of preparation and present yourself at the competition.
Win
Win and you will represent Romania at the World Sushi Competition in Japan.
Champion of the Romania Sushi Cup 2026
Cristian Mălai din Cluj
The fourth edition of the Romania Sushi Cup concluded on Tuesday, April 8, 2026, at GastronoMetro, Bucharest, with the announcement of the best sushi chef in Romania. Cristian Mălai, from Cluj, won first place in front of an international jury chaired by Hirotoshi Ogawa, President of the Japan Sushi Association and the World Sushi Skills Institute, Tokyo.
The winner will represent Romania at the World Sushi Cup Japan, the world championship held annually in Tokyo by the All Japan Sushi Association.
The competition took place over three days, with rigorous tests: theoretical evaluation (hygiene, techniques, Japanese culinary culture), practical evaluation (filleting, precision, aesthetics), and the Wednesday final in front of the jury featuring Edomae, Freestyle, Signature, and Tasting challenges.
The 2026 edition also confirmed the strength of the Romanian guild on the international stage: Vlad Tănăsie and Cristian Mălai achieved 2nd and 3rd places at the European Sushi Cup, and now Cristian Mălai climbs to the top step of the national podium, with direct qualification to Tokyo.
Winners of the fourth edition
Romania Sushi Cup 2026
The Romania Sushi Cup 2026 Jury
You will be judged by some of the best sushi chefs in the world
Hirotoshi Ogawa is a renowned Sushi Master and also a global ambassador of Japanese culinary tradition.
Tomáš Lysý is a Slovak sushi chef and culinary professional, currently serving as the head sushi chef at FOU ZOO, a renowned Asian fusion restaurant in Bratislava, Slovakia. With a deep passion for Japanese cuisine, Lysý has built a reputation for his expertise in sushi and sashimi preparation, emphasizing the use of high-quality ingredients and traditional techniques.
Beyond his role at FOU ZOO, Lysý actively engages with the culinary community through social media platforms, sharing his creations and insights into Japanese gastronomy. His dedication to the art of sushi has made him a respected figure among food enthusiasts and professionals alike.
Originally from Brazil, he arrived in France at the age of 14 and began his Japanese culinary career in 2010 after obtaining the Pro Sushi Chef certificate in Paris. His passion for Japanese culture developed, and a few years later, he participated in the French Open Sushi Competition where he finished victorious, becoming the French Sushi Champion in 2017. He then trained in Japan at the famous Bazara restaurant in Tokyo, led by chef 3 Michelin stars Hirohisa Koyama, becoming in 2018 world runner-up at the World Sushi Cup in Tokyo.
Executive sushi chef THE NIWAKI, Head Sushi Chef Nobu – Fairmont Monte Carlo & Head Sushi Chef – Buddha Bar Monte-Carlo.
Born in Lima, due to the unusual location of his hometown, Jorge was fascinated by cuisine, especially the use of fish and seafood. He has been in contact with Japanese cuisine for 20 years and for over 15 years he has been working in the most recognized sushi restaurants in the world (New York, Austin, LA and Tokyo).
He worked with the best masters, including Morimoto, Azabu, Uchi, Hirohisa and Akashi, learning from them various techniques and values of Japanese cuisine.
Hello, I’m Sushi Chef Catalin Petrescu and I’m happy to be part of the jury of Sushi Cup Romania. After more than 20 years of experience in the kitchen, and especially in the Asian kitchen, I feel that I can share the secrets of sushi preparation with young people and Asian gastronomy enthusiasts. It’s not easy, but I can definitely tell you that it’s beautiful, and only the good feel the joy of beauty in the kitchen. So I’m waiting for you at Romania Sushi Cup, the most important competition in Romania dedicated to Sushi. Let’s see how good you are!
