🔅Actual visit date: 2024/11/30
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I had been to 初魚鮨 before and had a great impression, so this time I came to try the teppanyaki.
💰$1880 +10% /person
Full payment is required at the time of reservation, and cancellations for refunds can be made up to three days in advance. The menu may vary depending on the site.
▪️Bluefin Tuna / Ossetra Caviar / Cotton Tofu / Cilantro Shoots - Nagasaki
This seems to be the first time I've seen such a generous amount of caviar used (officially stated as 3g for $500). It tasted salty and fragrant without any fishy taste, and overall it was quite flavorful, serving as a refreshing appetizer.
▪️Scallop / Sprouts / Corn / Ginger - Hokkaido
The scallops were very sweet, and the accompanying ingredients were also delicious.
▪️Snow Crab / Orange / Shiso - Korea
Crab that doesn’t require self-shelling is delicious; it was meaty and had good crab roe. However, I felt that the orange flavor pairing was a bit off.
▪️Cod / Raw Tofu Skin / Clams / Grilled Seaweed - Hokkaido
The cod was incredibly delicious and tender, but I couldn't really find the clams. The seaweed was a nice finishing touch and fragrant.
▪️Abalone / Old Hen / Maitake Mushrooms - South Africa
The abalone was chewy and good to bite into, and the chicken soup was delicious, making you want another bowl. What surprised me the most was how well the mushrooms were cooked!
▪️Shark Fin Soup / Banshu Soba / Mountain Celery - Taiwan
This dish was harder to appreciate for me, perhaps because I don't particularly like shark fins. The noodles were soft, and the sauce was similar to soy sauce ramen soup. It wasn’t bad, but I felt indifferent towards it.
▪️Black Wagyu Beef / Round Eggplant / Pine Nut Miso / Malton Sea Salt / Wasabi - Kagoshima
(Originally ribeye +$560 to upgrade to black wagyu fillet)
The upgrade was definitely worth it; the meat was more tender and fatty, and the taste was good. There were plenty of side ingredients to mix and match flavors.
▪️Cream Puff / Squid
The cream puff pastry was slightly sweet and not very crispy, as I vaguely recall. The squid was in the form of shrimp chips, and the egg was soft and paired with what I think was pumpkin sauce…? (I completely forgot). There were a good number of flavor layers, and I liked it overall.
▪️Qixing Rice / Nara Pickled Watermelon / Leeks - Hokkaido
This was prepared as kamameshi rice, and you could choose between a large or normal portion. The large portion was generous, and the taste was good, but I have a stereotype towards teppanyaki and wanted something fragrant like fried rice; this felt a bit lacking in flavor 🥹
▪️Miso / Roll Wheat - Gikō
The last bowl was just to clear the rice taste; it was a normal miso soup.
▪️Matcha Cheesecake
Standard fare, with neither the matcha nor cheese flavors being very strong.
▪️Side Dish: Shiso Pickled Radish
▪️Kizuna Next (+$1000)
I had done my homework and really wanted to try this fish that I heard was amazing!! It definitely didn't disappoint; the fish was fatty and tender, perfectly cooked! The only downside was that it wasn’t cooked in front of us, so I missed the live cooking experience, but the price is just right for two people to share!
🥂Tenranzan Umeshu $340/120ml
Description: 100% ume from Yoshikawa, Saitama, with a rich flavor and a mild sourness.
🥂Shirasasa Takemin Okan $420/120ml
Description: Unique sweetness and aroma from the lantern fruit, a combination reminiscent of mango, pineapple, and mandarin.
Recently, I've been quite fond of umeshu, so I picked these two flavors. I preferred the first one, which had a very pure and fragrant ume flavor, whereas the second one was heavier on the fruitiness. But both were good! The ice flower was also quite extravagant and beautiful!
I actually have little exposure to this kind of omakase and high-end teppanyaki; usually, I only visit on special occasions. For me, a pleasant atmosphere and above-average food are sufficient, but since this is something I don't often eat, I seek a sense of novelty. So while I may not return often, I would recommend it if friends ask.
Overall, I quite liked it; the food ingredients were quite generous. The only thing I felt was that the chef's interaction seemed a bit less compared to earlier sushi experiences, but this place having a visible menu is really great! At least you know what you're eating, which adds to the experience. This is provided for your reference.