Hyperlocal Tokyo

I visited this restaurant for the first time around 9 pm after making a reservation. There are few places open after seeing a Kabuki performance, so I was relieved to find this one. It seemed a bit quiet, with only about 20-30% occupancy. This is one of several restaurants run by Nakamata, a shochu distillery in Ibusuki, known for its nodoguro (blackthroat seaperch) and shochu. When I made the reservation, I was told that if I arrived late, many items would be sold out, especially the nodoguro and sashimi platter, so I reserved the 5-piece sashimi platter. The restaurant had tables, but a counter seat was available, so I chose that. I started with a draft beer, served in a medium-sized glass, giving it a slightly elegant feel. The appetizer was fugu skin with ponzu sauce, which was nice and crunchy. The sashimi platter included tai (sea bream), warasa (amberjack), meddai (golden tilefish), akami (lean tuna), and Hokkaido button shrimp. The shrimp was melt-in-your-mouth delicious, and they even grilled the heads for me. I was drawn to the 3-vegetable grilled platter and ordered it. It included sweet eggplant, Aomori turnip, and Hokkaido corn with a strong sweetness, grilled with soy sauce. For drinks, I went with their recommended shochu. They had a 5-year aged shochu, so I ordered: Nakamata Koshu (Old Shochu) Aged in Earthenware for 5 Years Kirino Koshu (Old Shochu) Aged in Earthenware for 5 Years Both served on the rocks. As a special service at the counter, they poured the shochu generously into the glass, overflowing into a small dish, almost like a masu (wooden sake cup). It was probably more than two servings. It was smooth and delicious. The crab cream croquettes were 1200 yen for two, which seemed a bit pricey. They were definitely packed with crab meat and delicious, but they were small and a little disappointing. The homemade satsuma-age (fish cake) was fluffy, as expected from a Kagoshima-style restaurant. I continued with more shochu on the rocks: Purple Sweet Potato Nakamata Tenma no Shizuku The purple sweet potato shochu was quite unique, with a slightly sweet flavor that I enjoyed. The grilled karasumi (cured mullet roe) was not too hard, but had a nice moist texture. The grilled kibinago (Japanese anchovy) was also well-cooked, not too hard, and had a strong flavor. Both had a nice moist texture. The grilled fish dishes were all perfectly cooked. The live kuruma shrimp grilled with salt was also excellent. For my final dish, I had grilled rice balls. They usually come in two, but they were happy to serve me one. They also gave me a complimentary miso soup and warabi mochi (bracken starch mochi). The total came to 8000 yen per person. I ate quite a bit. The portions were a bit small, but the ingredients were excellent, so I was very satisfied.

This is a restaurant that my business associates often take me to. They serve seasonal seafood from all over Japan. Today, I enjoyed fresh tuna from Oma and braised flounder from Fukuoka. The food is prepared with great care and everything is delicious. The sake is also excellent. All of their shochu is made from sweet potatoes, which is great, but I would personally appreciate it if they had one or two varieties made from barley or rice as well. It's often crowded, so reservations are essential on weekends. However, you might be able to get a table without a reservation on weeknights. I definitely want to go back again.

Located in Higashi-Ginza, "Uonaka-Matamata Ginza" is a restaurant I absolutely love. Their seafood, especially the "nodoguro" (blackthroat seaperch), is incredibly delicious. Plus, it's easy to make reservations even on the same day, making it my go-to spot for impromptu dates or gatherings. I've been to their Tsukiji branch before, but this was my first time at the Ginza location. The interior is very upscale and the atmosphere is comfortable. I ordered a la carte. ◼️What I ordered - Sashimi 5-piece assortment - Salt-grilled nodoguro (half, boneless) - Shiitake mushrooms - Grilled karasumi (cured mullet roe) - Fresh tuna "nakaochi" (belly) donburi (rice bowl) - Fish soup (complimentary) - Warabi mochi (complimentary) The famous nodoguro was delicious. I ordered half a fish due to budget constraints, but I regret not getting a whole one. I don't think you can find nodoguro this good anywhere else! ＊＊＊＊＊ Please follow me on Instagram ❤︎ Yoko Kawamura (@yoko_kawamura_)

For a dinner gathering with three adult women... I was brought here for the first time.^^ It's near the Kabuki-za Theatre, and they said there's a restaurant that serves truly delicious fish! So we came here. Apparently, they're famous for their nodoguro (deep-sea perch)... We came with high expectations. Each dish was presented with a detailed explanation, and the freshness of the ingredients was evident. The simple seasoning that highlighted the natural flavors was absolutely delicious. Looking around, the restaurant was bustling with discerning gentlemen. There were a few couples, but it was fully booked with reservations from the moment it opened. While waiting for my companions, I observed the surroundings. Being in the heart of Ginza, a fiercely competitive area, I was excited to see so many customers.

A restaurant in Ginza where you can enjoy premium-quality 'nodoguro' (deep-sea perch) at a reasonable price! Their sashimi platter, grilled 'nodoguro' with salt, and seared 'nodoguro' sashimi are popular menu items, so pre-ordering is recommended. Everything I tried was truly delicious! The staff were also kind and attentive, making this a great choice for business dinners, anniversaries, and other special occasions.