A new Japanese restaurant serving sushi and izakaya has opened near Ipswich town centre.

Bushido has opened its doors at 6 St Helen's Street for takeaway orders only, but owner Fábio Prazeres says the restaurant should open for dine-in customers in around three weeks.

The plans were put in for a change of use for the site, which was formerly dressmaker store Scissors and Needle, in October.

Ipswich Star: Fabio Prazeres has opened Bushido Sushi restaurant in St Helen's Street IpswichFabio Prazeres has opened Bushido Sushi restaurant in St Helen's Street Ipswich (Image: Charlotte Bond, Newsquest)

Ipswich Star: Fabio Prazeres has opened Bushido Sushi restaurant in St Helen's Street Ipswich Fabio Prazeres has opened Bushido Sushi restaurant in St Helen's Street Ipswich (Image: Charlotte Bond, Newsquest)

While Bushido opened for takeaway orders only on Friday, Mr Prazeres is waiting for his alcohol licence to allow the restaurant to serve wine, beer, and saki.

Following their official opening there will be a launch party at Arlingtons in Museum Street in June.

Ipswich Star: Fábio Prazeres, owner of Bushido.Fábio Prazeres, owner of Bushido. (Image: Charlotte Bond)

The restaurant will have two menus - one for customers sitting in, and another for takeaway, with customers sitting on the ground floor, and takeaways managed upstairs and using the back door, to not disturb sit-down customers.

Ipswich Star: Fabio Prazeres has opened Bushido Sushi restaurant in St Helen's Street IpswichFabio Prazeres has opened Bushido Sushi restaurant in St Helen's Street Ipswich (Image: Charlotte Bond, Newsquest)

Customers will be able to sit at the counter and watch their food being prepared, and it will be in the omakase tradition, where the customer leaves it up to the chef to select and serve fresh ingredients.

He also plans on holding an event every month hosting chefs from around the world.

Ipswich Star:

It will be Mr Prazeres' first restaurant in the UK, having trained as a chef for 12 years and moving to the county from Portugal in 2017.

Ipswich Star: Fabio Prazeres has opened Bushido Sushi restaurant in St Helen's Street IpswichFabio Prazeres has opened Bushido Sushi restaurant in St Helen's Street Ipswich (Image: Charlotte Bond, Newsquest)

Mr Prazeres said: "I have been waiting to open since June. I started alterations and needed to do some changes inside, but it is a listed building.

"Ipswich needs more diverse restaurants and something different that people can enjoy the town more and have more choice.

"The (Regent) theatre is opposite. It is a small space, but it has a lot of potential, and we've had some good reviews so far."