ねりまる
Located at the corner of Kabukicho Nishishinjuku 2-chome, at the intersection of Shinjuku City Hall Street, is a sushi restaurant with a tough-sounding name. However, the head chef and other artisans are all friendly and welcoming, making it a comfortable and relaxed counter-style restaurant. Smoking is allowed at the counter.
I remember there used to be a branch around the Komagekijo theater, but I couldn't find it while walking around, so I visited the main store. The counter is shaped like a large "U" and there are multiple artisans working. There are also tables by the window that are slightly separated, catering to various needs. However, the highlight of a sushi restaurant is the counter seats. I entered thinking of having a light drink, but the menu on the table caught my eye - the "Stylish Guy Set" which includes a drink. Priced at 4000 yen, it comes with beer, but since I wanted sake, I decided to order Hakkaisan and if I felt like it later, I would ask for beer.
First, there was a small appetizer. Although simple with three items, the salted fish roe goes well with alcohol. The cold sake was well-chilled and overflowing in the masu cup. Next, I had dashimaki tamago with a sweet sauce. The combination of mushrooms and sweet sauce goes well with the fluffy rolled omelette. The egg was cold, and the sauce was warm, a bit unusual but the taste was not bad. The sashimi arrived promptly - a platter of akami, squid, amberjack, and sweet shrimp. Then, the nigiri arrived quickly as well. The counter around me was bustling with activity. Although not cramped, with this many people it was quite busy to eat. The nigiri sushi was quite large, making it a challenge for women. The toppings were tuna, amberjack, salmon, eel, and thin rolls with spicy sauce. The thick slices of fish made for a satisfying bite. The rice was slightly sticky, with a firm texture. A soup was also included, so even just the set was quite filling.
The neighboring customer had ordered horse mackerel, which looked delicious, so I asked for an additional two pieces. Unfortunately, they were sold out. Nevertheless, I decided to order two pieces of mackerel. Despite the elderly customers getting drunk early in the evening, it was a comfortable counter restaurant right in the middle of Kabukicho where you can easily drop by.