I enjoyed an incredible lunch in Akasaka on my day off. I had freshly prepared sushi rolls made from fish caught at Shonan Sajima Fishing Port! The restaurant is located near Akasaka Mitsuke Station and has a stylish ambiance with a white and light blue theme both inside and out. The eat-in option is only available during lunch hours, so I took the opportunity to sit down and savor my meal, although it seemed like there were more takeout customers. The chef and his wife are very personable, which likely attracts many fans. I ordered the following: - Ibuki Roll (Mackerel sushi roll) - 4,800 yen - Grilled Nodoguro Roll (Blackthroat seaperch sushi roll) - 5,800 yen Their sushi rolls are incredibly fresh! The chef actually fillets the fresh fish at the fishing port before bringing it back to Akasaka, where he prepares it the same day. You can really taste the freshness as soon as you take a bite, and the flavors burst in your mouth. For takeout, each piece is individually wrapped in clear film, making it easy to eat without getting your hands dirty. I thought it was so delicious that I’d like to bring it on a special occasion. **Ibuki Roll (Mackerel sushi roll)** The mackerel is moist and tender! It has a rich, sweet fat, but the aftertaste is refined. The rice has a mild acidity, and the addition of red shiso provides a gentle flavor. The white kombu on top ties everything together and gives it a smooth finish. The balance of flavors is exquisite, and it was incredibly delicious. **Grilled Nodoguro Roll (Blackthroat seaperch sushi roll)** The nodoguro offers a perfect balance of crispiness from the skin and sweet fat! As soon as you put it in your mouth, the sweetness and umami of the nodoguro come rushing in, perfectly complemented by the rice. It was so delicious that I finished it in no time! There are several types of sushi rolls besides mackerel, including nodoguro, eel, and seasonal salmon. The chef is always looking for suitable fish to create his sushi rolls! The mackerel and nodoguro I had this time were absolutely amazing, and I can't wait to go back or even bring some as a gift! I feel like I’ve found a restaurant I genuinely want to recommend to others! (⁠*⁠˘⁠︶⁠˘⁠*⁠)⁠.⁠｡⁠*⁠♡

I dined in at the restaurant, which has three two-person tables in the back. The interior resembles a stylish café. There are three options on the lunch menu, and I ordered the Ituki Set for 1800 yen. The meal included daily sashimi, chirashi sushi, a daily soup, simmered dishes, and greens. Today’s soup was a delicious crab! The sashimi featured flounder, mackerel, and sweet shrimp. The sashimi was tasty, and I could tell that each side dish was thoughtfully prepared. The soup was so good that I finished it entirely. The owner, a beautiful and friendly woman, provided excellent service. They also offer various packaged sushi and chirashi sushi to take home, but unfortunately, everything on display was sold out when I visited. If you want to ensure you get some, it’s best to make a reservation. I definitely want to try the packaged sushi next time!

The two rice balls I had for lunch on a weekday were 600 yen and they were delicious!

I became interested in this restaurant after seeing an article about it. I am a huge fan of mackerel, and I am particularly fond of battera, so I wanted to visit when I had the chance. After lunch in Gaienmae, I walked to this place in Akasaka Mitsuke. The sun was hot, but the breeze was pleasant, making for a good exercise. It took about two minutes to walk from Akasaka Mitsuke Station, and next door is a well-known patisserie (still with a long line). The restaurant is run by a husband and wife team, and there is an eat-in space at the back of the shop. Besides mackerel sushi, there are various types of sushi on their menu: seasonal salmon, grilled blackthroat seaperch, cherry salmon, eel, sea bream, among others, including chirashi sushi and luxurious fish rice balls. The mackerel sushi comes in two versions based on the fish size: grilled mackerel sushi and mackerel sushi with sudachi (a type of citrus fruit) in between. Initially, I planned to get the premium mackerel sushi (4800 yen), but since my friend insisted on having a taste, we decided on the mackerel sushi with sudachi (2800 yen) and the limited-edition swordfish sushi (3800 yen). Both were wrapped in half. After ordering, they prepare the sushi right away, taking great care to ensure that each piece is separated with film to avoid touching the cut sides. They vacuum seal everything in a special box, making it a wonderful gift for others. After returning home, I tried the sushi and found the mackerel to be incredibly soft and juicy. With battera, the meat gets firm due to vinegar curing, but that was not the case here. It offered a unique texture that I haven’t tasted elsewhere. The sushi rice is mixed with red shiso, and the seasoning of the vinegar was perfect. The swordfish sushi had a refined umami flavor. At this time of year, there is less fat, making it a refreshing delicious option, and the skin is grilled, adding a nice fragrance. The restaurant is very particular about their mackerel; they go directly to Shonan Sajima Fishing Port to have the freshly caught mackerel bled and processed at the port before bringing it back. After filleting, they freeze it quickly to counter parasites, making it suitable for sushi close to a raw state. While the prices are high, I can understand it given all the effort that goes into it. I think next time I will dine in at the restaurant. Thank you for the delicious meal!

I heard that they moved within Akasaka, from 2-chome to a location near Shironae. Previously, they only offered saba (mackerel) sushi rolls, but now the menu has expanded at "Saba no Bōzushi Akasaka Issai." I called ahead to reserve during lunchtime and visited to pick up my order around 7:30 PM. ◇ Saba Chirashi; 1500 yen When I walked into the shop, a dog was waiting outside. I was informed that they would be making my order right away, so I had a moment to watch them prepare it inside. Aside from saba, there were many other ingredients. The shop also had saba nori bento and various other options. In hindsight, if I could get it quickly, I might have gone for the nori bento, but I was satisfied with the careful preparation, which matched the price. Besides the saba, there were ingredients like okra, kinshi tamago (thinly shredded omelet), donko (a type of fish), tobiko (fish roe), and I wonder what the white square ingredient was? I took some home as souvenirs, but by the time I got back late at night, I barely got to taste it before it was gone. I remember at their previous location, a single sushi roll cost nearly 5000 yen, so it feels much more affordable now. By the way, there is an eat-in space in the shop.

While browsing the local information site "Akasaka Economic News," I came across an article about a specialty shop for saba (mackerel) sushi that has relocated and reopened. The article excitedly described how they carefully prepare the highest quality domestic mackerel to maintain excellent freshness, and that they have developed a type of rice specifically for saba sushi. Since both my family and I love mackerel, I decided to use White Day as an excuse to treat ourselves to some expensive sushi in Akasaka. In the shop's showcase, there were not only saba sushi but also seasonal salmon sushi and chirashi sushi. After some deliberation, I chose the cheapest option—the sudachi mackerel sushi—priced at 2800 yen. Once home, I unveiled my purchase. The sushi consisted of a whole half of mackerel placed on top of sushi rice, cut into eight pieces, with slices of sudachi lime inserted between them. The thick slices of mackerel looked incredibly delicious, and I couldn’t resist taking a bite with some soy sauce. The mackerel was richly fatty and had a melt-in-your-mouth flavor. When eaten with the sudachi, the refreshing acidity made for a unique taste, quite different from the regular mackerel sushi seasoned only with vinegar. The combination with the rice was also excellent, resulting in each piece disappearing like a magic trick. This was truly a mackerel sushi blessed by the gods—I've never had sushi this delicious in my life. They say that good food can leave people speechless, and my family silently enjoyed every mouthful. I also learned from the shop's owner that they can ship to areas within a day from Tokyo (from Aomori to Osaka). I thought about sending a few pieces to my parents in Osaka as a way to atone for my lack of filial duties, given how incredibly tasty this mackerel sushi was. I plan to make good use of this for gifts and as a treat when visiting!