There is a saba rice specialty restaurant near Suitengumae Station, Tokyo Lunch, which I had bookmarked as a recommended restaurant. I visited early on a weekday night. There was only one customer ahead of me, so I was seated right away. Given the location and the atmosphere of the restaurant, it seems like it might be busier during the day. I ordered the saba rice with pickled plum topping. It cost 980 yen, which is quite reasonable considering the current situation. The dish consists of half a grilled mackerel on top of rice, with a dollop of pickled plum on top. It also comes with sesame sauce, condiments, and broth for a kind of ochazuke experience. The mackerel is nicely fatty and delicious when mixed with the rice. The option to enjoy it with condiments and as ochazuke is great. And the fact that you can get a free refill of rice makes it quite a good deal. The fact that you can enjoy this dish for both lunch and dinner is wonderful. It's not a complicated dish, so I hope this restaurant expands nationwide. Among the set meal restaurants where you can eat for under 1000 yen, this is one of the best I've had.

I went on a public holiday Saturday and had to adjust my lunch time, but the restaurant was full. I bought a meal ticket and waited outside for about 10 minutes before being seated. I ordered the Negi-saba. Inside the restaurant, there was a nice smell of grilling mackerel. The Negi-saba arrived quickly after I sat down and it was very delicious. I shredded it, added condiments and sesame, and finished by dipping it in tea. The free refill of rice is a must for men as it really fills you up. I left feeling quite satisfied. I thought that if the staff had a bit more charm, it could become an even better restaurant.

A promise with a friend was postponed, so I decided to go eat mackerel that I had been craving after seeing it multiple times on my timeline. It was located right near Suidobashi. I arrived before 6pm on a weekday. There was only one customer before me. As soon as I sat down, the other customer left, so it was like having the place to myself, which was funny. The atmosphere was very friendly, and the smell of the mackerel cooking got me excited. I ordered the mackerel rice bowl for 950 yen. When it arrived, the smell of freshly cooked mackerel, the sizzling sound, and the appearance made me really look forward to it. The first bite was so delicious, I couldn't stop eating. I sprinkled some sesame seeds on it, which made it even tastier. Finally, I poured some broth over it to make it like an ochazuke. It was also delicious with the flavor change. I ended up ordering a little more rice because it was so good. I had the place to myself until I finished eating. Lucky me. When I told the master how delicious it was, he responded with a kind smile, saying thank you. It was so soothing. The staff were also very kind. I took some home for my daughter, and when she tried it, she kept saying how good it was. This was the first time she had enjoyed takeout food so much. It came with broth, and even as takeout, it was delicious enough. Still, nothing beats having it fresh at the restaurant. "I want to eat this every day!" said my daughter. I also want to go back and eat it again. It's cheap, delicious, and the master is kind. I will definitely go back. Next time, I might try it with sauce. It was way more delicious than I imagined. Thank you for the meal.

If you love mackerel, you should definitely go here. When I visited during lunchtime on a weekday, there were already about 5 people in line. However, you can buy meal tickets in advance, so I was able to enter the restaurant after about 15 minutes. The grilled mackerel with its rich flavor goes perfectly with rice. It's truly delicious. You can change the taste with condiments, or pour dashi broth over it to make it like ochazuke. I was very satisfied with the meal.

As a lover of mackerel, this was the best shop! There were about 5-6 people lined up in front of me, but everyone ate quickly and left, so I was able to get in without waiting too long! The friendly staff recommended buying tickets quickly and efficiently, which was nice! This time, I had the mackerel with green onions! The rice was cooked with dashi broth, and the overall combination of green onions, mackerel, and rice was amazing. The sesame mackerel on the side was also delicious. I first tried it as is, then with condiments, and finally as ochazuke. I usually don't like ochazuke, but it was different here. It was delicious even as ochazuke. I want to go back again. I hope they open a branch nearby.

This is the best restaurant I've been to in years! I never knew mackerel could be this delicious...! I went with two friends and we ate in silence, just enjoying the food. We also tried the mackerel ochazuke, but the mackerel and rice alone were so satisfying. Next time, I'll order the skewered mackerel (I don't know the name) to fully enjoy the mackerel. I highly recommend it.

The mackerel rice with plum is so delicious! The freshly grilled, tender mackerel on top of Akita Komachi rice with a dollop of plum paste is just amazing! The table-side yuzu powder adds a refreshing flavor that complements the dish perfectly. The rich broth made from sea bream bones is also excellent. The sashimi was tasty, but the mackerel stole the show, so it could do without it. Anyway, I'll definitely go back! (⁠✪⁠㉨⁠✪⁠)

- [Cost-effective premium grilled mackerel rice set meal] Was grilled mackerel this delicious?! You'll be surprised for sure! - Mackerel rice: 950 yen - Tare mackerel rice: 950 yen The main dish is mackerel rice with grilled mackerel on top of rice! Additionally, there is sesame mackerel (sesame-seasoned sashimi), Mitsuba and sesame, chopped wasabi as condiments, and dashi for making hitsumabushi, all for under 1,000 yen, offering overwhelming cost performance! The mackerel is rich in flavor with a good amount of oil. The bones are removed properly, so you can mix it with rice without worrying about bones! Personally, I prefer the tare mackerel rice... The tare sauce has a rich flavor similar to kabayaki, and it was really delicious even when made into hitsumabushi. - Business hours: Lunch: 11:30-14:30 Dinner: 17:00-21:00 - No regular holidays - Saba Meshi no Sabasho (5 minutes walk from Suidobashi Station) Budget: 1,000 yen Tabelog rating: 3.65/5.00 #SuidobashiGourmet #SuidobashiLunch #SuidobashiDinner #KorakuenGourmet #KorakuenLunch #MackerelRice #SabaMeshiNoSabasho

Located near Suitengumae Station, this specialty restaurant offers "saba meshi," made with Norwegian mackerel that is crispy on the outside and fatty on the inside. The dish is served boldly on a bowl, with options to enjoy it in different ways - first as is, then with condiments and sesame, and finally as ochazuke. The "saba meshi" comes with a side of sesame-seasoned fresh fish, all for under 1000 yen, making it a great value for exploring the flavors of mackerel. The restaurant is open for lunch and dinner, with no fixed closing days. During a visit on a weekday evening, the reviewer found the place not too crowded. They ordered the "Negi Saba Meshi" along with additional items like dashi tofu and grilled cod roe, all of which were satisfying. The dish was described as delicious and the reviewer appreciated the generous portion of mackerel, the flavorful condiments, and the overall value for money.

This is a specialty store for mackerel rice bowls located in Mizusawa Bridge. I happened to pass by and was curious, so I decided to go in. I ordered the mackerel rice bowl for 950 yen and a skewer of marinated mackerel for 240 yen from the ticket vending machine. I visited at 6:30 pm and the shop was not too crowded. The mackerel rice bowl was served shortly after. It exceeded my expectations in terms of deliciousness. The Norwegian fatty mackerel with crispy skin was very fragrant and tasty. The rice was made with Akita Komachi rice and was equally delicious. There are condiments for flavor variation as well. I also had ochazuke with additional rice. It is served with a broth made from simmering red snapper bones. There was also a side of sesame-marinated yellowtail sashimi, which I enjoyed at this point. It was very delicious. The marinated mackerel skewer was also very tasty. The mackerel itself was delicious. The quality of this mackerel rice bowl for under 1000 yen was surprising.

Grilled fish and simmered fish are dishes that I enjoy when they are part of a sushi or traditional Japanese course meal. However, I rarely order them a la carte, maybe only once every 2-3 years as part of a set meal with other main dishes like meat. The last time I had a meal where grilled fish was the main dish was about 7 years ago at a restaurant called Ginza Ichi Ni Ki for lunch, where they served straw-grilled bonito and grilled fish. I decided to visit Sabasho restaurant for the first time because I was intrigued by their way of serving the grilled mackerel - first serving it as is, then with condiments, and finally as ochazuke (rice with tea poured over it). I have always liked mackerel, so I was looking forward to it. The mackerel rice dish costs 950 yen and is made with Norwegian mackerel and rice cooked with dashi and kombu. I had a total of 7 servings, following the recommended way of eating it. The first serving of just mackerel and rice was incredibly delicious. The following servings allowed me to experiment with different condiments like daikon radish sprouts, shiso leaves, white sesame, and wasabi, as well as tableside items like pickled daikon, yuzu-flavored soy sauce, and more. The final servings were ochazuke, using red snapper broth, which was quite tasty. I also tried their salt koji kinpira, which was thinly sliced and tasted decent, but I wished there was more. I paired my meal with a Super Dry beer, which complemented the dishes well. Overall, I was satisfied with the meal despite the narrow counter space. I plan to revisit and try their tare mackerel rice and garlic mackerel skewers next time. Thank you for the delicious meal.

The savory smell of grilled mackerel drifts outside the shop, irresistibly stimulating the appetite. It's a little past 12 noon on Monday, and there is already a line of 6-7 people. You need to purchase a meal ticket in advance. I ordered the grilled mackerel set with mentaiko topping. The turnover at the counter is fast, so I waited for about 5-6 minutes before being seated. After sitting down, the meal was served in about 5 minutes. A half of freshly grilled mackerel is placed on top of the rice bowl, giving a powerful presence. On the tray, there are also dashi, condiments (white sesame, mitsuba, real wasabi), seasonal marinated sashimi, and the additional mentaiko topping I ordered. The sashimi was bonito. First, I flaked the mackerel well with a rice paddle, mixed it without adding condiments, and enjoyed it as it is. The savory aroma of the grilled mackerel and the juicy mackerel fat mixed with the rice cooked in dashi create an exquisite flavor. It's too delicious, isn't it? About halfway through, I added condiments and finished the meal. Next, I put the free extra rice in a separate rice bowl, added marinated bonito, wasabi, remaining condiments, poured in the dashi, and enjoyed it as ochazuke. The additional mentaiko topping was perfect as a palate cleanser. Delicious and satisfying, all for less than 1000 yen, making it a high-cost performance meal. It's no wonder there's always a line. This was a great restaurant that fully brought out the charm of grilled mackerel.

I heard rumors that it's really delicious, so I decided to visit. I went around 13:30 on a weekend and there was a line. You buy a meal ticket and then line up in front of the store. The line moves pretty quickly, so if you have to wait a little, it's not too bad. The staff were efficient and the service was smooth. The most important thing, the taste, is incredibly delicious! If you like mackerel, you should definitely go. You can also have ochazuke after eating the mackerel rice, and they serve alcohol too, so I thought it would be nice to stop by for a meal alone after work on a weekday. ✨

I visited on Sunday afternoon and waited for about 5 minutes. I ordered the Ume Saba Meshi (980 yen). The outside was crispy and fragrant, while the inside was fluffy and delicious. However, personally, I felt that it did not exceed the limits of mackerel, and I couldn't shake off the feeling that it was just a tasty mackerel set meal. Thinking this way, it felt a bit expensive.

This is the mackerel version of hitsumabushi with eel. I think it's a restaurant that mackerel lovers will love. They use Akitakomachi rice, red snapper dashi, and top it off with real wasabi, showing their dedication to quality. You can get free refills of rice. It's not a substitute for eel, but a delicious original dish.

A certain manga artist highly praised this restaurant. I had some business nearby, so I went one station further to visit. It was lunchtime and all the other restaurants were quite crowded, but even on a rainy day, this one had a significant line. However, the turnover seemed good so I decided to wait. After about 10 minutes, I got inside. The restaurant was small with about 15 seats at the counter and tables. The menu had options like mackerel rice, sauce mackerel rice, sesame mackerel rice, but I went for the regular mackerel rice. I could watch the staff busy cooking and plating right in front of the counter, which kept me entertained while waiting. The dish arrived with a big piece of mackerel and some mackerel sashimi in dipping sauce. The mackerel was soft and the skin was crispy from grilling, not overly seasoned to enjoy with tea or condiments. Mixing it up with different combinations, the rice disappeared quickly, and I even got a refill. Adding pickled radish on the table made the rice go down easily. I finished it in no time. To be honest, the thickness of the mackerel fillet was nothing special compared to other fish specialty stores, but the variety of options and the possibility of refills seemed to cater to big eaters of all ages and genders. If it weren't for the manga artist's blog, I probably wouldn't have visited, but it was a good experience to learn about this kind of eating style. Thank you for the meal! ✨

Arrived before 12 o'clock on a regular day. There were about 4 people ahead of me, but I was called soon after purchasing a meal ticket. [Note: The system is to purchase a meal ticket first and then line up.] [Parking] Not available. - Saba Meshi (Grilled Mackerel on Rice) for 950 yen: I was surprised when a bowl with grilled mackerel on top was served, as I had imagined it to be like mackerel sushi. The boneless Norwegian mackerel is delicious on its own, but it tastes even better when you pour broth over it and turn it into an "ochazuke." [Overall impression] There were three women running the place, one of whom was a beginner part-time worker, so they seemed to be struggling a bit. Despite being grilled fish, the serving time was short, so you can use it even during busy lunch times if you don't have to wait in line.

I realized that I hadn't eaten fish recently, so I decided to visit this place. Since it was a weekday and Monday evening, I thought it wouldn't be too crowded. I've been coming to Suidobashi for a long time, but when I got off the station and turned the corner, I was surprised to see so many restaurants! After walking a few dozen meters, I quickly found the restaurant and peeked inside, only to be told that it was full and had to wait a bit at the entrance. When I bought the meal ticket, there were options like sansho pepper and sauce, but as a first-timer, I chose the plain mackerel rice. I was seated at the counter and watched as the mackerel was grilled right in front of me. The meal arrived with a large piece of mackerel on top of the rice! There was a small spoon provided, so I broke up the mackerel and mixed it with the rice. There were instructions on how to eat it in front of the counter, so I followed the recommended way by first eating the mackerel alone in a bowl. It was delicious! Next, I mixed in the condiments, and finally poured the broth over it and finished the meal. It was so satisfying. The guy next to me who arrived later didn't transfer the mackerel to the bowl but ate the broken mackerel rice in the bowl from the start, pouring the broth over it right away. Maybe he's a regular customer? That way of eating is also acceptable. I thought about trying it with sauce next time as I headed towards Suidobashi Station in the evening.

I recently went to eat "saba meshi" at a restaurant that has been my recent favorite for "mackerel". I arrived at 12 o'clock and there was a line of about 10 people, but luckily those 10 people entered the restaurant soon and I ended up waiting at the front of the line. Lucky me. I ordered the "Negi saba meshi" and a side of kinpira made with koji. I had already purchased my meal ticket while waiting in line outside and handed it to the restaurant, so I didn't have to wait long for my meal to be served. The mackerel was huge! I took a bite of the mackerel first, the skin was crispy and the inside was tender and delicious. I thought it was a bit salty at first, but when mixed with the dashi rice, it was just the right amount of saltiness and very tasty! Adding the condiments and pouring the dashi broth over it, then mixing in the sesame with the red fish, created a different deliciousness. It was a very satisfying meal.

Today's lunch was at "Sabameshi no Sabasho" located about a 3-minute walk from Suidobashi Station. I was looking forward to trying their delicious "sabameshi." When I arrived around noon, there were about 10 people in line. It was hard to tell if this was a lot or a little for a Sunday, but I decided to wait in line. I peeked inside the restaurant and saw that it was full with about a dozen people. However, the restaurant had a system to speed up the turnover, where you buy a meal ticket in advance and hand it to the staff to wait. They start grilling the mackerel as soon as you sit down, so the wait time from seating to being served is very short, despite it being grilled fish. The menu is mainly just grilled mackerel, so once the mackerel is cooked, it is served quickly. The effect was significant, and in about 15 minutes, I was at the front of the line. It was a bit windy that day, and the smoke from grilling fish was blowing towards the back of the line, which was a bit bothersome, but it was relieved near the front. Inside the restaurant, everyone was focused on their rice bowls. After about 10 minutes of observation, a seat opened up, and I was guided to a counter seat right in front of the grilling area. Despite being so close to the grill, there was no smell of smoke in the restaurant. It seems that most of the smoke is directed outside. This was a relief for me, as I don't like my clothes smelling like smoke, even though I enjoy grilled meat, chicken, and fish. Within a few minutes of sitting down, the "sabameshi (950 yen)" arrived. I have seen salt-grilled mackerel sets before, but I had never seen mackerel lying sideways on top of rice in a bowl. The crispy grilled skin was facing up, and it looked very appetizing. There was a recommended way to eat posted in the restaurant, and since it was my first time, I decided to follow it. The first bowl is similar to hitsumabushi in essence.【Recommended way to eat by the restaurant】First bowl: Mix the mackerel well with the rice and eat it as it is. Second bowl: Add condiments and sesame to enjoy the aroma. Third bowl: Make ochazuke with chopped wasabi and dashi broth. Fourth: If you still want more, order extra rice (one bowl free). Add the sesame-marinaded fresh fish served on the side and enjoy as you like. When I inserted the spoon into the mackerel, the crispy grilled skin cracked, and the juicy, fatty, plump flesh mixed with the rice. The slightly burnt skin, the crispy grilled skin, and the perfectly cooked rice blended in my mouth. The more I chewed, the more the juiciness and umami intensified, making it a truly simple yet impressive taste. It was delicious with condiments, delicious as ochazuke, and I couldn't help but finish every single grain of rice in a single gulp. It was a lunch that exceeded satisfaction, a super satisfying lunch. Why does it taste so good? The quality of the ingredients, the right amount of salt, and the perfect grilling are undoubtedly excellent, but I believe that the effective way of mixing the mackerel directly with the rice is the key. When served on a separate plate, you would typically just place the mackerel on the rice and eat it, often with the flesh and skin separated. However, with this eating method, the plenty of fatty content inside the skin significantly increases the surface area where you can taste the umami, coating each individual grain of less sticky rice. Different ways of eating prevent monotony and add further layers of enjoyment until the end. It is truly the work of a "master." I thought about whether this method would work well with other fish besides mackerel, but saury and sardines have too many small bones, making it difficult to mix with rice, while tuna and bonito lose their juiciness when grilled, and salmon, although fatty, has thick skin that doesn't blend well with rice. In the end, mackerel is ==========

This is a shop located about a 2-minute walk from Mizusawa Bridge. Although the opening time is 11:30, there was already a line when I arrived 5 minutes before opening. With only about 20 seats at the counter and tables combined, I recommend arriving early. I was able to get in right when they opened. They use a food ticket system, and although they had options like Tare-Saba and Negi-Saba, I decided to go with the Negi-Saba this time. It arrived in about 15 minutes. It seemed like they were grilling the mackerel all at once, as the first round of customers were served almost simultaneously. There were various ways to eat it, so I followed the instructions provided. First, I tried it as it was, then added condiments... I later realized that the condiment for the Negi-Saba was lemon, not minced wasabi (I was a bit disappointed as the minced wasabi was highly recommended in the eating instructions). After making it into ochazuke, they also served a sesame-marinated fresh fish on top. There are endless ways to enjoy the flavors. It seemed like you could have seconds of rice. Thank you for the meal.