Just outside the Nishi-Azabu intersection, I stumbled upon Minato Sushi. Looking at the menu, the prices for nigiri started at 1,300 yen, making it wallet-friendly for a neighborhood sushi spot. I decided to go in and was greeted by a kind old man who seemed to exude warmth as he skillfully prepared the sushi. The menu included regular (1,300 yen), premium (1,800 yen), and deluxe (3,000 yen) options. I chose the premium sushi and was served thick and generously sized pieces of sushi including tuna, medium fatty tuna, squid, shrimp, amberjack, egg, salmon roe, cucumber roll, and tuna roll. The sushi rice had a gentle vinegar flavor, enhancing the overall experience. With such quality ingredients, the prices felt reasonable. They mentioned that they only operate for dinner service, but I definitely want to come back for another visit to this charming neighborhood sushi spot.

I was walking from Roppongi towards Hiroo and stumbled upon a sushi restaurant with a historic atmosphere. It seems like this place has been in business since 1967, called "Minato Sushi". It only has 5 seats at the counter and the menu visible from outside shows nigiri sushi for 1300 yen. I wondered how they can survive with this price in this area where most places have been redeveloped. The sushi I had included two types of tuna, sea bream, squid, steamed shrimp, herring, egg, bonito, and cucumber roll. In short, the taste was simple. The squid and herring had a traditional Edo-style touch. The standout feature was the herring, with a strong vinegar and salt flavor, giving it a preserved food-like quality. The sushi rice was quite soft, seasoned with a light vinegar without sweetness.

It's Friday night in Nishi-Azabu. Go up the stairs at exit 4 of Hiroo Station and walk along Gaien Nishi-dori on the left. There are many landmines leading up to Nishi-Azabu intersection, from Bunke to Sushi Yoshida, Szechuan's Epice, French restaurant Hiramatsu, Italian restaurant Vino della Pace, and Sushi Taku Masa. No matter which landmine you step on, your wallet will hurt. Pass by Bunke and turn left at the next intersection. You will come across Kogai River, which was turned into a dark tunnel in the Taisho era. Tonight's goal is Minato Sushi, a typical neighborhood sushi restaurant that caught your eye every time you walked by. Upon entering, you are greeted by an old man wearing a twisted headband and a blue-dyed carp shirt, watching NHK's sumo broadcast. Despite not having a reservation, you are welcomed to sit at the counter. The owner measures your temperature and comments on how low it is. The small restaurant, with only six counter seats, is adorned with Polaroid photos of customers, showing its long history of 53 years since opening in 1967. The owner reminisces about the old days, mentioning the changes in the neighborhood over the years.

Located in the 4th block of Nishi-Azabu, this sushi restaurant has been around for over 50 years. The interior consists of only a counter with a maximum of 6 seats. It is important to note that the business is sustained by the needs of the owner's old friends, local residents, and office workers in the area, so occasionally day laborers like myself and foreign tourists may mix in. It's not the type of place you would call to make a reservation, and the owner is quite hard of hearing, so there's a possibility he might not even hear the phone ringing. To be clear, I just personally like this place, it's not necessarily a recommendation. However, in comparison to other places, the prices are ridiculously cheap. For the price of one beer, you can get 3-4 glasses of shochu on the rocks, sashimi, grilled fish, and nigiri sushi for around 5,000 yen or even less. But in terms of taste and service, it's undeniably lower compared to other sushi restaurants in the area. Essentially, using Nishi-Azabu as a benchmark is not accurate. But then again, the fact remains that it is located in Nishi-Azabu. Personally, I find it incredibly convenient. I always feel comforted by the master. ♡

Minato Sushi in Azabu-Juban (Nishi-Azabu) is a living legend. This quaint sushi restaurant in a house may seem intimidating at first, but the elderly master is incredibly kind. They offer classic Edo-style sushi starting at 1,500 yen per serving. The taste is not the focus here, it's all about the traditional sushi experience. Make sure to confirm in advance if you have a large group or if you arrive a bit late, as they may run out of sushi rice. Enjoy the quiet flow of time, occasionally watching TV, and please note that this is not a place for impatient or narrow-minded individuals.

On a weekend in Nishi-Azabu. It was still bright this season, but after 5 pm, it seemed like there were few open shops. The curtain was already hanging at this shop. I opened the sliding door and casually entered, asking, "Is it okay?" There was an old man sitting in the front seat, watching a sumo wrestling broadcast on TV. The first floor had only about 5 or 6 seats at the counter. There were many photos on the walls or pillars in the shop, most of them seemed to be ordinary people, not necessarily famous, and many seemed to be foreigners. There were also many photos of beautiful women. The TV was on in the store, and even after I entered, sumo wrestling was still being broadcast. It had been a while since I watched it closely, and it was quite entertaining. The old man also had some comments, and I even saw the match won by Terunofuji. I ordered a bottled beer, served in a chilled ceramic cup from the refrigerator. I started with a sashimi assortment for snacks. The white fish was flounder, and the tuna was probably Indian tuna. There were also kombu with roe, scallops, and Thai and Tairagi clams. I mentioned that seared Tairagi clams are delicious, and they quickly served me some seared clams, which I wrapped in seaweed and enjoyed. The agility in serving was enjoyable. Although the beer bottle was not empty yet, I also ordered sake. I had two servings of Takaten from Okaya, Nagano, in a cold 180ml tokkuri. It was my first time trying this sake, and it was smooth and easy to drink without being overpowering. Perhaps it would have been even more enjoyable if served warm. I also ordered a few pieces of nigiri sushi to accompany the sake. I had hirame, aji, and aji that I requested to be slightly cured. They were all delicious and high quality. The sushi here can easily compete with any other sushi restaurant. The total bill came to 4,000 yen. If by chance, someone like me stops by this shop, it might be worth noting that the owner's hearing may not be the best, so it's best to communicate clearly and make specific requests. It seems like the shop is run solely by the old man, so it may have a slightly strange atmosphere considering its location in Nishi-Azabu. However, it could be an enjoyable experience once in a while if you don't have high expectations and just visit casually.

This is a long-standing sushi restaurant in Nishi-Azabu, run by a single owner for 49 years. The first floor has only 5 counter seats, but there is a tatami room for 6 people on the second floor. With a reservation, you can also enjoy hot pot in the tatami room. The room has a TV in the corner and sepia-toned photos, giving it a Showa-era style. Despite its retro atmosphere, the sushi is reasonably priced and made with high-quality, aged ingredients. Perfect for when you just want to eat a lot of sushi! The menu includes small horse mackerel, octopus, lean tuna, medium fatty tuna, Isaki fish, conger eel, and two pieces of each for 3500 yen. While there are many high-end sushi restaurants in Nishi-Azabu, "Minato Sushi" is the only place where you can enjoy sushi and dishes in a relaxed atmosphere, reflecting the nearly half a century of history in the area. If you live in the Nishi-Azabu/Hiroo area, be sure to visit and witness this historical gem. I personally want to revisit with friends to enjoy the angler hot pot during the winter season.

This sushi restaurant is also one of my favorites. It's not as fancy as the fish restaurant I mentioned earlier, but it's a place recommended to me by the owner of Enshu-ya, which is near my home. When I first went there, I thought, "Is this really a sushi restaurant in Nishi-Azabu??" It has a down-to-earth, old-fashioned charm. It was a bit intimidating to enter, but I gathered my courage and went in. The owner, a friendly man, was there and chatted with me. The restaurant has about five seats at the counter. It's a hidden gem! This is how all the shops in Nishi-Azabu used to be, I was told. The old town name was Kasumicho, and a neighbor who has lived in Nishi-Azabu for a long time said, "It wasn't such a fashionable town back then," with a laugh. But it's a heartwarming place. I realized that there were such places in Nishi-Azabu. It's a sushi restaurant where you can enter without feeling pretentious, fitting the atmosphere of Nishi-Azabu where things don't get ridiculously expensive. It's a restaurant that would surprise everyone if they were to visit, as it feels like a shop from a different, more humble area!