りょんこ
I found this place after feeling a little warm after the Incheon horse race, so I decided to have some sushi. It seems to have won a Bib Gourmand, but luckily, I was able to make a reservation. There are many nice drinking spots in the Temma area, so I was looking forward to visiting.
1. Exterior, atmosphere, interior of the restaurant
About a 2-minute walk from Temma Station. Convenient location in front of the station. A large sign with the restaurant's name is displayed outside, giving it a lovely appearance. The inside of the restaurant has only 8 seats at the counter facing the kitchen. It feels a bit cramped, but it is clean and doesn't feel too tight.
2. About the food
Before having the sushi, I had some appetizers. "Natural Kochi Sashimi" was delicious with just the right amount of aging and concentrated white meat flavor. "Marinated tuna" had a nice acidity with red meat in soy sauce. The seared "Hokki clam" had increased sweetness from being seared, with a unique crunchy texture. Squeezing some vinegar added a refreshing scent. The "Sliced squid sashimi" had a good balance of firmness and rich flavor. It was beautifully sliced for easy eating. Then, I had sushi. The "Pacific saury" had a nice fatty texture that melted in the mouth. It paired well with the slightly acidic red vinegar rice. The "Horse mackerel" had a strong umami flavor with a sharp edge. It had a hint of ginger. The "Shrimp" was thick and had a satisfying texture with a refined sweetness. The slight warmth of the sushi was also nice. The "Simmered conger eel" was soft and fluffy with a good balance of crispy skin and flesh. The slightly sweet sauce with wasabi was well thought out. The "Salmon roe" was slightly salty, and the seaweed flavor was not bad. Lastly, the "Tuna and fatty tuna roll" was a bit loose in texture, but it had a good unity with the toppings. I also had a "Chawanmushi" as a soup replacement, which was delicious with a rich broth and plenty of trefoil, which I liked.
3. Staff service
In the kitchen, there seemed to be a male owner and one male assistant handling the cooking. They managed greetings, seating, and basic service efficiently. However, there was a lack of enthusiasm in recommending sake, which was disappointing. It felt like the enjoyment of having sushi at the counter was diminished.
4. Cost performance
In terms of the cost of the sushi, it was quite reasonable. The grilled Hokki clam and Chawanmushi were also carefully made. However, the overall enjoyment and comfort of the sushi restaurant that I was looking for was unfortunately lacking, so the overall cost performance was "average."
5. Other observations
Upon further investigation, I found out that this is not an independent restaurant but is managed by a company called "Nishiya Delicious Foods." This company operates not only sushi restaurants but also okonomiyaki and kwara-yaki shops, showing a diverse range of businesses.