中目のやっこさん
Located just a short walk from the west exit of Ikebukuro Station, "Ikebukuro Sushi Fukujyu" is a sushi restaurant that I chose for a business meeting due to its good cost-performance. The restaurant is operated by Pleasure Foods Inc., which runs various restaurants across the country, including main sushi establishments like "Sushi Matsumoto," "Sushi Aomi," and "Sushi Ryu." As "Sushi Fukujyu," it offers high-quality sushi while maintaining a great cost-performance ratio, positioned among locations in Ginza, Shinjuku, and Mita. The spot is about a two-minute walk from the Metropolitan exit of Ikebukuro Station. Upon arriving on the fourth floor of a mixed-use building via the elevator, you will find the entrance with a curtain to the right.
The restaurant features an L-shaped counter with eight seats on the right and several semi-private rooms to the left and in the back, making it a calm setting suitable for meetings. While there is only one chef, many staff members assist with operations. The menu offers only an omakase course, and we opted for the most standard course, "Seasonal Omakase Course 11,980 yen."
The course included the following dishes:
- **Appetizer:** Marinated octopus with sudachi, and marinated sweet pepper with tuna.
- **Soup:** Hamo (pike eel) with jun-shoots and winter melon.
- **Sushi:** Medium fatty tuna, sea bream (kombu-marinated), squid, fried eel with dashi, a small bowl of salmon roe, striped jack, young salmon, and horse mackerel.
- **Chawanmushi (steamed egg custard):** Prepared with shrimp, tomato, and Camembert cheese, which paired surprisingly well.
- **Sushi:** Red tuna glaze, scallops topped with caviar, hand rolls with dried gourd, tamago (Japanese egg omelet), and grilled nodoguro (blackthroat seaperch).
- **Extras:** Red miso soup.
- **Dessert:** Tofu blancmange with black sugar and kinako (roasted soy flour), followed by matcha, draft beer, green tea highball, and a soda with Mikazuki mandarin liqueur.
Despite focusing on cost performance, the omakase course was delightful, with the appetizers effectively setting the stage for the sushi that followed. The chawanmushi amazed with its combination of the acidity of tomato, sweetness of shrimp, and richness from the cheese. The sushi bites were on the smaller side, making them easy to eat, and the rice was subtly seasoned with red vinegar, complementing the fish without overpowering it. The richness of the young salmon's flavor was particularly memorable.
For an additional cost, I also ordered a grilled nodoguro, an impressively large piece that brought a magnificent aroma and richness, contributing to a joyful experience. The normal price for one piece of sushi might be around 2,000 yen, but enjoying this at a high cost-performance level was wonderful. The meal concluded with a pleasant dessert of black sugar kinako paired with matcha.
Though the standard course consisted of 20 items, it thoroughly satisfied my appetite, and the restaurant was bustling with business meetings, which made the atmosphere conducive to conversation, especially as all semi-private rooms were occupied. Reservations were easy to make, and with great accessibility from the station and high cost-performance, this restaurant will likely be a valuable choice for business meals around Ikebukuro.
**Ikebukuro Sushi Fukujyu**
Location: 1-10-1 Nishi-Ikebukuro, Toshima-ku, Tokyo, ISO Building 4F-D
Phone: 03-6907-0562
Hours: 11:30 AM - 2:00 PM / 4:00 PM - 11:00 PM
Closed: Irregular
Duration: About 2 hours
Bill: Approximately 18,000 yen (tax included) per person
Reservation: Made online via Tabelog three days in advance (10% service charge included)