I finally got to visit a long-established sushi restaurant in Shiina-cho! The atmosphere is nostalgic, like a sushi restaurant in a traditional town. Inside, there are only six seats at the counter, with a display case of ingredients right in front. The head chef is a kind person and we were able to have a nice chat. I ordered the omakase sushi set (4000 yen). I started with a beer and a toast. The appetizer of pickled shellfish with citrus vinegar was refreshing! I even drank up the broth. The tai, ebi, akagai, maguro, and hirame sushi kept coming one after another! Each piece was thick and the combination of soy sauce, vinegar, and wasabi was irresistible. Even with real wasabi, the spiciness didn't bother me. The tai had the skin on and was so thick and delicious. The ebi was boiled but still large and paired well with the sauce. The uni, ikura, mini donburi was also full of flavor without any fishy taste. The rolled sushi with marinated maguro, kohada, anago, dried gourd strips, and more were served before the course ended. I wasn't even that hungry, but I devoured everything. The anago was tender with a delicious sauce, as expected with a nice thickness. The seaweed in the rolls was crispy and fragrant. I ordered additional servings of katsuo, hamaguri, and hotate. I couldn't stop laughing. Unfortunately, they were out of tai for seconds. I had about four cups of local sake, which were all delicious and paired well with the sushi. I ended up ordering so much that the bill was about three times the price of the course, but with that much food, it couldn't be helped. The atmosphere of the restaurant was great, the head chef was kind, and I will definitely visit again.

I received a set menu with appetizers for 7700 yen. I called three days in advance and surprisingly got a reservation. Each appetizer was carefully prepared, especially the steamed abalone and striped jack from Kagoshima were exquisite. The sushi had the perfect size, texture of the rice, and balance of vinegar. The dried gourd roll was also exceptional. If this restaurant was closer, I would definitely become a regular. It offers reasonable prices without compromising on quality. After dining here, I visited the Spa Japon in Higashikurume, a sauna facility I had been wanting to try. I relaxed in the barrel sauna and ended the day with a Michelin Bib Gourmand meal. It was a satisfying holiday. Thank you. I will definitely be back.

This day, I had an offline meeting with two neighbors who are sake-loving girls. Since we are neighbors, we decided to visit a local famous restaurant instead of going to the city center. Last time, we visited "Are you an anchovy lover?" in Nerima. This time, we chose Matsuno Sushi, a famous local sushi restaurant. It was quite difficult to make a reservation at this place, but after careful scheduling, we were able to secure a reservation for Friday at 7 pm. Thank you very much!! It's about a 10-minute walk from Seibu Ikebukuro Line Shimo station. The street was quiet at this time, and we found Matsuno Sushi standing alone with its iconic appearance. As we entered, the two of them were already there. It's been a whileーーー! We immediately toasted with bottled beer (Asahi Jukusen). We ordered the omakase sushi set with appetizers (starting from 7,000 yen). The head chef, Matsuno, who runs the restaurant alone, is quiet but gentle, and his smiling face is like a Buddha (*^^*). I felt that it was a reassuring and enjoyable place. While talking about our favorite sushi toppings, I mentioned "ark shell," and the chef warned me, "We don't have ark shell right now!" That's right, it's midsummer. Too bad...but since I expressed my love for shellfish, I hope some shellfish will be served. The lineup for the day was as follows. I'll skip the impressions of each piece (-_-;) Appetizers: flounder, gizzard shad, vinegared sardine, ark shell (a large shellfish wrapped in seaweed), edamame, bonito tataki Sushi: squid, sea bream, shrimp, scallop, horse mackerel, mirugai, sea urchin, marinated tuna, kohada, conger eel, kanpyo, egg (like castella) Each piece was delicious with gentle and careful craftsmanship. It was evident that they put a lot of effort into their work. Thanks to that, the sake also went well. There were about 7 types of sake, and I had one cup each of "Hakurakusei" and "Toyosai." This group of friends each ordered their favorite sake, which made the evening enjoyable. It's nice to be able to drink freely without worrying about sharing. Lastly, we asked each other, "Which was the most delicious topping today?" and on the count of three, we all said "shrimp!" It was really delicious (*^-^*) It was a happy ending to the evening. It was so much fun!! I was happy to be able to have a dreamy sushi and sake night here. Thank you very much!!

We happened to get a reservation for two on the same day. The appetizers and sushi course was around 7500 yen, I think? I was asked on the spot and answered. It's the pinnacle of being both cheap and delicious. My parents' house is just a minute's walk from this place, so I went there for a quick errand. Everything was delicious. Just be careful that they only have beer and various types of cold sake, but other than that, you can enjoy it. It's really delicious. My dad hit it off with the chef and they had a great time drinking together. I will definitely come back again. I mean, I already made a reservation for 9/1, haha.

I participated in a first visit to this place starting at 5:00 pm. It's scorching hot these days, so I'm cooling down with beer. The next drink is quickly decided. Inside the restaurant, there are Michelin plates lined up year by year, and they have a brand called "Hakuraku-sei." It's the best sake to have with food. After that, I kept drinking it endlessly. I wonder if I drank too much because I was happy to see a one-liter bottle opened in the middle. There were four types of snacks. First was flounder... sardines... raw sardines are good, but the ending is not to my liking. However, the ending here is shallow and delicious! Bonito tataki... tender and goes well with Japanese flavors! Scallop... I'm usually not a fan, but today's scallop doesn't have a strong taste, it's delicious. It's slightly grilled and sandwiched with seaweed, which makes it tasty. From here, the sushi rice is firm, the seasoning with sake vinegar is subtle and nice, but a bit too much gives a local sushi feel. Steamed, pickled, simmered, and ending, there are many types of work, and it's a friendly Edomae sushi. I drank quite a bit, spending almost 10,000 yen alone. The satisfaction level is quite high. I will come back to Shina-machi just for this place! Now, let's move on to the next place.

It had been a while since I gathered with two foodie friends from the neighborhood. We decided to challenge Matsuno Sushi, a renowned local restaurant that has been featured in the Michelin Guide year after year. We managed to make a reservation for a Friday evening a month later. The location is a bit of a walk from either Shiiamachi on the Seibu Ikebukuro Line or Ochiai-Minami-Nagasaki on the Oedo Line, situated in a residential area. The restaurant offers a choice between a 5000 yen sushi course and a 7000 yen course with appetizers. We opted for the latter. The food was exquisite, starting with shellfish and moving on to various sushi pieces, all meticulously crafted. We enjoyed some beer and then switched to sake, selecting from a variety of options on the menu. The atmosphere was relaxed and we had a great time, trying different sake and sharing our thoughts on each. The sushi, especially the shrimp sushi, was a standout for all of us. We had a total of three beers and six types of sake, and the bill came out to be very reasonable for the quality of food and experience we had. Matsuno Sushi is definitely a place we would love to visit again and again.

I made a reservation for Friday evening and visited the restaurant. Despite the early hour, the place was packed and bustling. I ordered the Omakase Sushi for 7,000 yen, which started with bonito and flounder sashimi. The sushi course included about 12 pieces, including rolls. The sushi was carefully prepared in the Edo style, with a sauce that made it delicious even without much soy sauce. Personally, I really enjoyed the abalone sushi, where the lightly grilled seaweed and thick abalone combined perfectly with a hint of the sea. I couldn't help but keep ordering sake, and the variety of sushi toppings filled me up. #Sushi #Sake #Dinner #Shinanomachi #Toshima-ku #Tokyo

Three of us, foodie neighbors, finally visited this restaurant after encountering temporary closures and being turned away due to full capacity. It was a long-awaited visit. We caught up over beers and then switched to sake. Starting with appetizers and moving on to sushi, I was surprised by how much I ended up eating. On the way home, we asked each other, "What was the best dish tonight?" and we all agreed on the "Saikyo shrimp!" I'll leave the detailed review to the other two (sorry!). It was a fun night. Thank you for the delicious meal.

On Sunday night at 8:30, a party of 8 people enjoyed a full course meal with various seafood dishes such as red clam, octopus, sea bream, abalone, monkfish liver, turban shell grilled with seaweed, flounder marinated in kelp, striped jack, shrimp, horse mackerel, mackerel, sea urchin, simmered squid, marinated tuna, gizzard shad, conger eel, rolled bonito, and omelette. Additionally, they ordered pickled mackerel, sandfish, and squid.

Today's appetizer is "Kajiki no konbu-ni" and the featured nigiri is "Shima aji." It's truly the season for fresh and delicious seafood. The menu includes red clam, hokkigai, madai, chu-toro, kajiki no konbu-ni, squid, hirame, konbu-shime maki, ebi, red clam, aji, murasaki, uni, boiled clams, maguro, shima aji, dried gourd roll, anago, and non-alcoholic beer.

This is a very simple town sushi restaurant with a strong wasabi flavor. Personally, it was neither good nor bad. The size of the sushi and the service were a bit inconsistent. The portion of the sushi I got was much bigger than the one next to me, which felt awkward. There are different types of seating, such as wiped plates and unwiped plates, which was a bit confusing (I was at the unwiped plate seating). Just a heads up, they are short-staffed so they might not answer the phone during certain times. The omakase sushi costs ¥5,500 (subject to change depending on ingredients) and includes hirame kobujime, tai, ebi maki, akagai, aji, uni gunkan, chutoro, pickled fish, kobako, anago, kanpyo maki, and tamago yaki. #Matsumoto Sushi #Shiinamachi #Shiinamachi Gourmet #Town Sushi #Michelin Bib Gourmand #Sushi Lunch #Sushi Instagram #Sushi Lovers #Sushi #Akagai #Ebi Maki #Uni Gunkan #Uni #Foodie Girls #Want to Connect with Foodies #Sushi #Sushi Lovers #Sushi Time #Michelin #Michelin Bib Gourmand #Japanese Food

I wasn't feeling well, but after eating and drinking, I felt better. I had my usual course with some snacks, starting with a dish of shellfish tendon in vinegar, followed by octopus and pregnant mantis shrimp. I switched from beer to two glasses of chilled sake right away. The firm texture of the sea bream was delicious. The hot grilled turban shell was served sizzling hot. Even though I had some sushi, I didn't lose my pace with the sake. The crispy texture of the squid was just as good as I remembered. The ark shell was also delicious. I like it when Matsuno-san thoroughly brushes the soy sauce on the sushi rice. The size of the sweet shrimp was large, and even though I asked for smaller rice portions, I ended up going back to the original size. The pickled ginger was surprisingly delicious. I also really enjoy the kobako (small skin) here. Lately, they have been serving fatty tuna hand rolls as the final course, but personally, I'm fine with simple rolls like kanpyo (dried gourd strips). Because the sushi rice here is so delicious. I also ordered some scallops as an extra dish. I always crave shellfish during the shellfish season... I need to reflect on that.

I visited around 18:00 on a weekday. I usually couldn't get a reservation, but there was a cancellation this day so I was able to go with a same-day reservation. I ordered the sushi and appetizer course. They wanted me to eat as much sushi as possible, so I didn't mind skipping the appetizer! I ordered bottled beer and local sake for drinks. They brought out various types of local sake, and it was delicious. If I can make a reservation, I will definitely go again!

The restaurant is located about 500m from Shiina-machi Station. I visited during the 17:00-19:30 seating, which is a two-turn system. I had 10 pieces of sushi, tamago, and rolls for 5000 yen. The menu included shellfish, squid ink, squid, flounder, shrimp, red clam, striped jack, sea urchin, Spanish mackerel, tuna with soy sauce, skin of conger eel, and kampyo roll. I also added red snapper and striped jack. The chef, Osho, was very gentle and skillful. Everything was delicious, but the conger eel was fluffy and the striped jack had a sweet flavor.

The sushi here is delicious. The presentation is beautiful. The chef is pleasant. It truly lives up to its reputation. It's comforting to see why everyone praises it. You can taste the flavors slowly and calmly, feeling relaxed. It's not about whether it's Oma tuna or Akagai from Yui, but rather about the chef's humble and diligent work. At this price point, they put effort into serving quality ingredients and making customers happy. The chef's philosophy and genuine care shine through. I brought along a sushi industry veteran who has tried high-end and famous sushi since childhood. Even the pickiest eaters were impressed and complimented the restaurant. The conger eel and sea urchin were delicious. The vinegary rice was not too strong, and the texture was just right. A good sushi restaurant is defined by its rice. Your favorite sushi place is where the rice suits your taste. They don't serve bluefin tuna here, only Kajiki, but the chef's modesty and discernment were evident. It's not extravagant or excessive, just down-to-earth and enjoyable. I felt like I got more than my money's worth, and I ended up chatting with the chef more than I intended. This beautiful, delicious, and proper sushi restaurant. I'll definitely come back. Next time, I'll bring my camera and take lots of photos. Click, click, chance for shutter☆☆

Reasonably priced sushi in a town setting. Finally had the chance to visit the top-rated sushi restaurant in town. Located in the middle of a residential area, this place is known as the best of the best when it comes to town sushi restaurants. Despite being a local spot, it is a regular in the Michelin Guide and has been featured in the media numerous times. I couldn't wait to see what kind of value-for-money sushi they offer. I made a reservation for the 5 pm slot on Saturday. The restaurant only has 8 counter seats, and operates on a reservation-only basis for the 5 pm and 7 pm time slots. The omakase course for the day was priced at ¥5,900, with the option for nigiri-only omakase starting at ¥4,800. Here is what we had: - Fresh squid - Flounder marinated in kelp - Shrimp roll - Ark shell - Sea bream - Sea urchin - Bonito - Marinated tuna - Kohada - Conger eel - Rolls: hokkigai, tekka, kanpyo - Tamago (egg) Everything was incredibly delicious and meticulously prepared. The quality of the sushi goes way beyond what you would expect from a town sushi restaurant! The presentation of the sushi is truly exceptional, not what you would typically find in a town setting. Is there any other place in Tokyo where you can get this level of sushi for around ¥5,000? The fresh squid was sweet and had a luxurious, sticky texture. The flounder marinated in kelp had the perfect balance of flavors. Both the flounder and sea bream had a fresh, delicate texture typical of white fish. The marinated tuna was also delicious. The sea urchin was incredibly fresh, with a strong sweetness that made it exceptionally tasty. The conger eel had a fluffy texture and the perfect level of sweetness. This is the pinnacle of town sushi. Truly the epitome of value-for-money sushi. I would definitely come back again! Thank you for the wonderful meal.

Located about a 6-minute walk from Seibu Ikebukuro Line's Shiinamachi Station for 6 consecutive years, "Matsuno Sushi" is known as the "strongest town sushi" and has been selected as a Bib Gourmand by Michelin for 6 consecutive years, proving its world-class reputation. Established in 1969, the exterior exudes dignity and a sense of maturity. The interior has a Showa-era atmosphere with only an 8-seat counter in a U-shape. Reservations are accepted by phone until the end of the following month, and the popularity is evident from the fully booked lunch visits. This time, I ordered the "Omakase Nigiri (¥5500 tax included)". You can enjoy 10 pieces of nigiri sushi plus rolls and tamago, all meticulously prepared in the traditional Edo style. The head chef doesn't speak much, but his gentle demeanor leaves a strong impression. I thoroughly enjoyed the reasonably priced and delicious "strongest town sushi". Thank you for the meal. [Omakase Sushi] - [Squid] - [Flounder] Kombu-shime - [Ebi Maki] - [Sayori] - [Ark Shell] - [Sea Bream] - [Uni] - [Akami] - [Kohada] - [Anago] - [Kanpyo Maki] - [Tamago] (small rice portions for the nigiri) Payment is cash only.

First visit. The restaurant has only 8 counter seats. The quiet chef handles everything alone, so it's a bit difficult to place drink orders. The amount of nigiri is not that much, so you need to order additional pieces after trying a few. Regular customers seemed to do this. It's a bit off the beaten path, but if it were closer to my home, I would definitely visit this sushi restaurant regularly.

We made a reservation for 3 people on a national holiday about a month in advance, and the restaurant was fully booked on the day. We opted for the course with appetizers for 7,000 yen and added toro rolls for a total of 8,200 yen. The appetizers only consisted of 2 pieces of sashimi and ankimo, so I think the 4,800 yen course with just nigiri would have been a better value. The sushi itself was simple without any fancy twists. The cuts were not too small and had a good texture. The rice was slightly grainy but not too firm, which I liked. The acidity was quite mild. The taste was good, but if you're looking for fresh sushi with good value, I think Midori Sushi is sufficient. If you're willing to pay more, you would expect some added value, but unfortunately, we didn't feel that here. Some highlights were the horse mackerel sashimi, ankimo, sumi-ika, flounder, sea bream, marinated skipjack tuna, conger eel, tamago, and toro rolls (though a bit pricey at 1,200 yen per person).

The food was so delicious that three weeks later, I went back to Matsuno Sushi in Shiina-cho with a friend at 12:00 on a Sunday. Once again, the restaurant was fully booked with 8 people reservations, showing its popularity. This time, we ordered the "Omakase Sushi - 10 pieces of nigiri with rolls and tamagoyaki for 4,800 yen excluding tax." The sushi selection included ankimo, simmered squid, medium fatty tuna, sea urchin, conger eel, gizzard shad, ark shell, kobujime, tamagoyaki, striped jack, ark shell, marlin, squid, clam, shrimp, sayori, flatfish, and pickled fish. We also added ark shell, marlin, and simmered clams, which brought the total to 5,800 yen including tax. The sushi we had included ark shell sashimi with ponzu sauce, thick and tender spear squid, flounder kobujime, rolled shrimp, ark shell, sayori, marlin, kobujime conger eel, simmered clam in soy sauce, gizzard shad, conger eel (soft and sweet), dried gourd, tamagoyaki. The flavors were amazing, especially the ark shell, sayori, marlin, simmered clam, and conger eel. The experience was so impressive that my gourmet friend and I exchanged looks of amazement multiple times. Matsuno Sushi offers reasonably priced yet incredibly delicious sushi, making it highly recommended! Check out the blog for more details.

I ordered a chef's choice sushi set of 10 pieces and added a few more pieces. I also had beer, sake, and oolong tea. The sake from Shizuoka's Shizuoka Sake Brewery was nostalgic and delicious. At first, I found the red vinegar rice a bit strange, but as I kept eating, it grew on me. I was worried about getting too full since I was hopping between restaurants, but the sushi was so easy to eat. I ended up getting seconds of sea urchin and swordfish. The total cost for two people was around 18,000 yen. It's not cheap, but I think it's good value for the quality.