JOEクン
Located in the Ginza, Kyobashi, and Takaracho area, the popular "Sushi Yuu" is a destination for many. Given its location and the category of sushi, it seems that a majority of its customers are inbound tourists, a trend seen across many sushi restaurants. On the day of my visit, about 90% of the diners were international guests! I chose the omakase course for 27,500 yen paired with a non-alcoholic tea pairing.
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◼︎ Course Content ◼︎
- Fruit Tomato and Morohiya Jelly
- Flounder (Kombu-cured)
- Striped Horse Mackerel (Iri Zakasu)
- Red Sea Bream (Kagoshima Prefecture)
- Matsutake Mushroom and Sweet Sea Bream Soup
- Black Mutsu (Chiba Prefecture)
- Grilled Swordfish with Saikyo Miso and Anki (Liver of Anglerfish)
- Hatoshi (Shrimp Bread)
- Minato Ward Roll
- Black Abalone (Chiba Prefecture) + Sushi Rice
- Salmon Roe Gunkan
- Katsuo (Hokkaido Prefecture)
- Tuna (Salted) Red Flesh
- Medium-fat Tuna
- Karasumi Roll (Karasumi and Rice Cake)
- Purple Sea Urchin (Miyagi Prefecture)
- Fried Stewed Eel Roll
- Big Shrimp Paste Omelette
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Sushi Yuu first garnered attention during its time in Roppongi, earning a Michelin star in its opening year and achieving notable accolades on Gourmet Review sites. Chef Ozaki has also served as a judge on TBS Job Tune for four years, firmly establishing his name in the sushi industry. Given Chef Ozaki's character, the atmosphere at the counter is lively and engaging, highlighted by the signature "Pass" sign displayed during the notable "Pudding Roll," which has gained popularity through viral videos overseas, attracting many inbound tourists from places like Hong Kong and China's Red Book.
On the day of my visit, the only other guests at the restaurant were international diners, showcasing a high inbound ratio! Starting with small dishes, the omakase course features authentic Japanese dishes like Mineoka Tofu, Kombu-cured Flounder, and a small cup combining Morohiya and Tomato, allowing you to experience genuine Japanese cuisine. The first piece of sushi was the Kagoshima Prefecture's Kasugo Tai. This single piece showcases meticulous craftsmanship, blending beautifully with the sushi rice!
The soup with Matsutake mushrooms and Sweet Sea Bream offered an exquisite and gentle flavor, bringing a sense of warmth. The Black Mutsu from Chiba Prefecture was intricately kombu-cured, concentrating its flavor beautifully, enhanced further by grilling, making it a breathtaking piece of sushi! Then came the highlight of the meal, the "Pudding Roll," filled abundantly with ankimo (liver of anglerfish), which brought immense joy!
The Nagasaki local dish "Hatoshi," commonly known as shrimp bread, was fascinating! The deliciousness of shrimp combined with the perfectly toasted bread created an excellent pairing! Following this, the extravagant "Minato Ward Roll" made its appearance! This divine roll featured luxurious ingredients including Snow Crab (Hokkaido), Bafun Uni (Hokkaido), and Caviar (Shizuoka), making it a true culinary delight! The original caviar used by Sushi Yuu, combined with the rich flavors of uni and the caviar's nuances, created an unforgettable taste experience.
Feeling adventurous, I decided to order additional dishes mid-meal, including salmon roe gunkan, sweet shrimp, nodoguro (blackthroat seaperch), and karasumi rolls! The nodoguro was exceptionally fatty, with a substantial size, delivering its rich flavor beautifully! Half was enjoyed as is, while the other half was paired with sushi rice. The tuna sourced from Shio-gama offered the rich taste of red flesh and the melting sensation of medium-fat tuna was exquisite! The fried stewed eel was also an interesting dish—the effective use of nori in many dishes was impressive, and the crunchy texture of the fried eel, combined with its fluffy feel, sushi rice, and nori, created a remarkable flavor synergy.
The giant sushi rolls were extravagantly topped with an abundance of tuna, leading to an endless time of culinary happiness. Everything was, of course, delicious, but the high level of performance and hospitality explained why the restaurant is always fully booked.
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