けんけんの関西食べある記
"8 pieces of sushi and 5 side dishes for 6,000 yen! Affordable and delicious sushi at 'Sushi and Ichigawa,' which opened in June 2020 in Higashi-Mikuni, Osaka. I had been curious about this restaurant since it opened, and I finally got the chance to visit! The restaurant is about a 5-minute walk from Higashi-Mikuni Station and can also be reached in about 5 minutes from JR Higashi-Yodogawa Station. There aren't many sushi restaurants in this area, so I was really happy to find it.
You enter the restaurant by taking off your shoes. Inside, you'll find counter seats. During my visit, it seemed that couples were the main customers. The interior has a warm and modern Japanese atmosphere, making it perfect for a date. There are 6 counter seats and 2 tables for 4 people, totaling 14 seats. It operates on a reservation-only basis, with two seating times at 18:00 and 20:00.
There are two course options: the "Seasonal 5-dish course with 8 pieces of sushi (6,000 yen)" and the "Seasonal 7-dish course with 12 pieces of sushi (10,000 yen)." Considering the generous portions, these prices are quite reasonable! I opted for the 6,000 yen course.
Here's a look at the drinks. They had a wide variety of whiskeys.
- First, there was steamed snapper with a flavorful broth. It had a gentle taste and was a perfect start.
- Next was a dish of hirasuzuki (striped beakfish) wrapped in vegetables. It came with a side of ankimo (monkfish liver) cream. The hirasuzuki was delicious, but the ankimo cream was the real standout, incredibly addictive!
- Following that, we had red clam and sawara (Spanish mackerel) charcoal-grilled to perfection. The moment it arrived, you could smell the lovely aroma of charcoal. It melted in your mouth with elegant fat content. Delicious!
- For a palate cleanser, we had sweet vinegar pickled ginger and benidate (red sorrel) jelly. The benidate jelly was refreshing and a perfect palate cleanser. The fact that it's all-you-can-eat was also a nice touch.
- Then, we had sweet shrimp, the beginning of the sushi course. The sweet shrimp was beautifully prepared.
- Next came the mackerel. It was well-seasoned and delicious. It paired perfectly with a highball.
- Speaking of highballs, I ordered one. All the drinks, including the side dishes, went well with alcohol, which was a delight for drinkers.
- Tuna Tataki: Marinated tuna with wasabi leaves on top. The spiciness of the wasabi leaves complemented the tuna perfectly. This added twist made it even more special.
- Steamed chicken and ikura (salmon roe) rice bowl from Oita Prefecture. It had a gentle flavor and was very comforting. The saltiness of the ikura was just right, making it delicious.
- Seasoned firefly squid: Firefly squid seasoned with sesame, salt, and sudachi (a type of citrus). It had a delightful stickiness and fantastic seasoning. Personally, this was my favorite!
- Grilled eel: Crispy grilled eel. The flesh was tender and melted in your mouth.
- Uni (sea urchin) and ikura (salmon roe) bowl: A small bowl topped with uni and ikura. It was a luxurious dish and incredibly delicious.
- Seared kinmedai (goldeneye snapper) with crispy skin. The aroma was wonderful, and the fat melted in your mouth.
- Toro (fatty tuna) tartare: Bite-sized toro tartare with takuan (pickled daikon radish) for texture. It was the perfect size for a single bite.
- Tamago (sweet omelet): The final piece of sushi was tamago. It was a unique style with rice sandwiched between layers of sweet omelet. The sweetness stood out and was delicious.
- Lastly, we finished with red miso soup.
I felt that the 6,000 yen course for 8 pieces of sushi and 5 side dishes offered great value for money. Each dish was carefully prepared, and I was surprised that each dish was served on a different plate, making it visually appealing. The restaurant had a cozy and hidden gem-like atmosphere, and I definitely want to visit again in another season!"