えこだねこ
At Souwa-do, where they were creating remarkable dishes, it was my first time tasting Mr. Fukasaki's sushi. The sushi was shaped more like a rounded spindle than the typical rice ball, and the rice was warm, gently melting in my mouth, with a mild and subtle acidity. This warmth and softness of the sushi may be a matter of personal preference; I generally prefer the temperature to vary slightly between different types of fish. For instance, the握り (nigiri) of bridled clam had a chewy texture but a silky mouthfeel, complemented by a faint bitterness from the liver, which surprisingly matched well with the warm rice. While I also enjoy a more standard, sharper version of bridled clam sushi, this variation was interesting, leading me to feel that the temperature should depend greatly on the type of fish.
On the other hand, every dish I tried as a starter was infused with a touch of creativity based on traditional Japanese cuisine, showcasing a deliciousness that makes one crave sake, reminiscent of the stability found at Souwa-do. The starters were excellent, while the sushi still has room for growth—this was my impression after the meal.
The menu for this visit included:
- White fish with egg yolk and ponzu
- Steamed kinmedai (alfonsino) with broccoli and bamboo shoots
- First bonito with urui and new onion dressing
- Spring rolls with firefly squid
- Sake pairings: firefly squid with soy sauce, ankimo (monkfish liver), tsugubai (sea snails) kimchi, pickled oysters
- Sushi: young sardine, daruma squid (swordtip squid) with salt and citrus, flatfish, horse mackerel, bridled clam, lean tuna, medium fatty tuna, swordfish with grilled fava bean sauce, kanmuki sushi (sushi with grated ginger and scallions), fatty tuna, red clam, sweet shrimp, sea urchin gunkan (battleship sushi), eel; along with a seafood miso soup.
- Beverage: one small bottle of beer, two cups of sweet potato shochu (for the evening), totaling 25,700 yen per person.
This restaurant is run by Yusuke Fukasaki, who trained for three years at Sushi Hashimoto and two years at Souwa-do, and most recently had a pop-up business at Sushi Ryo. It opened in March 2024. For the omakase menu, the price is 22,000 yen, with a premium option available for 30,000 yen. Drinks start from 1,100 yen for beer, 1,200 yen per cup for sake, and 1,430 yen for a glass of wine.
The atmosphere is that of a hidden gem on the 10th floor in Minami-Azabu. The uniquely shaped counter is not made of white wood but wrapped in Japanese paper, giving it the fresh feel of a minimalistic modern French restaurant rather than a sushi or Japanese restaurant.
This information was gathered from hearing about the opening at Souwa-do. Thank you for the meal!