ばび7
Good news for followers with similar tastes and values! I occasionally share fresh information, not just famous restaurants or nostalgic spots. I saved a tip from my gourmet mentor about a new restaurant opening in November 2023, and it turned out to be a fantastic find. It might be featured in articles by Higashikaru and Tabelog, but it seems not many people know about it yet, so you should go while it's still easy to get in.
I managed to make a same-day reservation for a lunch slot at 1:15 PM through Tabelog, even though it was a busy Sunday. The restaurant is located on the first floor of a building across from Ramen Jiro Mita in the neighborhood west of Tamachi/Mita Station, past a popular curry shop.
---Comment from my sushi connoisseur mentor---
The head chef, Ando, was previously the second-in-command at Hanadano Yoshiki in Azabu-Juban, then at the second branch of Tonari, where he earned a Bib Gourmand before going independent. With a one-hour rotation, reservations are fairly easy to secure. The 8,800 yen course is the best value. Chef Ando is very dedicated to research and is continually evolving, so I'm excited to see what he does next.
---8,800 yen (tax included) 10-piece course---
The ordering is done via a touch panel, and while you can order each piece individually from the start, the course option is more economical (unlike many places that just add them up). Due to the cashless payment system, even for course reservations, you must choose your course on the panel initially. You can confirm the set menu at that time.
The gari (pickled ginger) is cut into chunks and is on the sour side, which I usually prefer sweeter, but I ended up finishing it all—ha! There was a wide selection of sake, but my favorite was sold out. When I hesitated, they kindly asked if I wanted tea, so I opted for that. As an ex-Shizuoka resident, I was pleased with their rich tea served in a large cup; it was delightful.
After this lengthy introduction, there were five customers, including me. The chef quickly prepared the sushi.
1. Baby sea bream – Delicious
2. Sumi squid – Great texture and aroma
3. Sawara (Spanish mackerel) – Smoked, with an irresistible aroma – tender (from Shiohama, Miyagi)
4. Domestic bluefin tuna – Otoro (fatty tuna) – Simply the best
5. Domestic bluefin tuna – Medium toro – A dreamy experience
6. Domestic bluefin tuna – Akami (red meat) – Nice citrus aroma
7. Kohada (gizzard shad) – A refreshing pause
8. Kitakuri clam – Impressive and tasty
9. Sweet shrimp (sold out)… replaced by sea urchin! Lucky me, and it was extraordinarily delicious. Likely Bafun uni from Hokkaido.
10. Anago (sea eel) – Handle with care as it can fall apart. It was tender and to my liking.
Feeling still hungry, I noticed that adding single pieces could get quite expensive, so it’s a risk to get carried away, given the appealing options. The person next to me ordered blackthroat sea perch, which I might have tried if it were on someone else's tab. However, the clear pricing with no service charge is reassuring, allowing you to prepare your budget before ordering.
I felt a bit shy to ask the prices repeatedly, but I wanted to avoid any unpleasant surprises. I added 1. Toro-taku maki (half size) – incredibly delicious! I might want to order it again. 2. Goya maki – an affordable favorite that I appreciate as an adult now.
They were very accommodating with tea refills, serving it generously. I apologize for not ordering any paid drinks. The total bill came to 10,010 yen. Considering the quality of the location and the taste, that's a remarkable price.
Although many places accept cashless payments, they don’t accept Rakuten Pay, only credit cards. Thank you for the meal! I would love to come back.
--- When I calculated the prices of single pieces, even factoring out the upgrade for sea urchin, the set was quite economical. The set could vary by day, but if my calculations are correct, on this day, it ended up about 10% cheaper, equivalent to one piece of anago. Set prices:
Baby sea bream 660 yen
Sumi squid 770 yen
Smoked sawara 990 yen
Domestic bluefin tuna – Otoro 1540 yen
Domestic bluefin tuna – Akami (red meat) 1100 yen
Domestic bluefin tuna – Chutoro (medium fatty) 1210 yen
Kohada 550 yen
Kitakuri clam 990 yen
Sweet shrimp (sold out) 990 yen… replaced by sea urchin 1320 yen
Anago 880 yen
Additional Toro-taku maki (half size) 660 yen
Goya maki 550 yen.