Hyperlocal Tokyo

A renowned Japanese-style restaurant famous for its large oyster cutlet lunch. I visited in November 2021. They seem to have made the large oyster cutlet by gathering many small oysters, and I was impressed by their technique and the spirit of resourcefulness. Of course, the oyster cutlet was incredibly delicious. Well, I'm a huge oyster fan. The restaurant is small and a bit cramped. It's a popular place, so there's a lot of shared seating. The staff's service was average. Come to think of it, since it's oysters, I think this lunch isn't available during the summer. It's a bit disappointing for fans during this time. Well, I guess the long lines and close seating arrangements might be a bit off-putting too.

I recently visited "Kappo San'yu" in Ningyocho, a restaurant known for its delicious set meals. It's a popular spot for friends, colleagues, and solo diners, and it's even been recognized as one of the top 100 set meal restaurants in Tokyo by Tabelog. I went for lunch and ordered the "Kaki Fry 3-Piece Set" (¥1,580). This set is only available for a limited time, from October onwards, and features San'yu's famous "bomb" oyster cutlets. The set meal includes three oyster cutlets, cabbage, potato salad, pickles, rice, and a hearty pork and vegetable soup. Each oyster cutlet is packed with 4-6 small to medium-sized oysters, bursting with flavor. The oysters are so juicy and flavorful that you can enjoy them plain, but I recommend adding a pinch of salt or a bit of sauce for an extra kick. The satisfaction after finishing this meal is truly unmatched! The oyster cutlets are served piping hot, so be careful when you take a bite! I always end up burning my mouth because I'm so eager to eat them. If you're ever in Ningyocho or near Suitengu Shrine, be sure to check out San'yu! It's definitely worth a visit. Thank you for the delicious meal!

The famous "Bomb Kaki Fry" at "Sanyu" is available until April 26th! Don't miss out if you haven't tried it yet! Located a 3-minute walk from Ningyocho Station, "Kappo Sanyu" is a renowned "100 Best Restaurants for Set Meals." I visited for the first time in 2.5 years. They are only open for lunch on weekdays. I arrived 20 minutes before opening on a weekday and was the first in line. I was able to enter as soon as they opened. It was unusual for there to be so few people waiting, only about 10, and everyone was able to enter in the first round. I ordered the "Sanyu Kaki Fry 3-Piece Set" for ¥1,580. It may seem expensive, but each kaki fry uses 7 Hiroshima oysters, making it actually great value for money. Many women order the 2-piece set. There was a notice in the restaurant saying "This season's kaki fry is available until April 26th (Friday)." They are closed for the season until September, so if you want to try it, come early! The enormous kaki fry arrived in about 15 minutes. I could only fit about a quarter of it in my mouth at once, but as I chewed, the oyster essence burst out into my mouth. The batter was crispy, the flesh was juicy, and it was incredibly delicious. It was so flavorful that I didn't need any sauce or salt. It's a truly unique kaki fry! I enjoyed it all the way to the end. ****************************************** The season for winter-limited kaki fry has arrived! Located a 3-minute walk from Ningyocho Station, "Kappo Sanyu" is a renowned "100 Best Restaurants for Set Meals." I visited for the first time in a while. Nearby are "Kobunken" for katsudon, "Soyoichi" for beef cutlet, "Tamahide" for oyakodon, and "Tempura Nakayama" for tempura donburi, all famous Ginza restaurants in the downtown area. I arrived 7 minutes before opening on a weekday and was the 8th in line. I was able to enter just as they opened. I ordered the "Sanyu Kaki Fry 3-Piece Set" for ¥1,430. It may seem expensive, but each kaki fry uses 7 Hiroshima oysters, making it actually great value for money. The enormous kaki fry arrived in about 20 minutes. I could only fit about a quarter of it in my mouth at once, but as I chewed, the oyster essence burst out into my mouth. The batter was crispy, the flesh was juicy, and it was incredibly delicious. It's a truly unique kaki fry! I enjoyed it all the way to the end.

This place is known for its deep-fried oysters, served in groups of several during the winter months. However, from May to September, they offer tonkatsu (breaded pork cutlet). The loin cutlet is coated in a coarse, crispy breadcrumb crust. They also seem to have deep-fried horse mackerel and croquettes. There are about five seats at the counter and a tatami room in the back. I heard it gets crowded during lunchtime, but it was relatively relaxed when I arrived at 11:00 AM. They accept PayPay for payment. --- **October 2023 Update** As the cold season approaches, I find myself craving oysters. I came here to try their famous deep-fried oysters, which are available from October onwards. There was a longer line here than at the neighboring Kuroten-don (black tendon bowl) that day. (The staff member who cheerfully guided a customer who had mistakenly joined the wrong line was wonderful.) The deep-fried oysters, about five plump oysters deep-fried together, are the size of a fist. You can choose between a set with two or three oysters. The batter isn't heavy, so I was able to polish off three oysters easily. The set comes with a hearty pork soup filled with daikon radish, carrots, burdock root, and konjac, rice, pickled greens, and pickled radish.

The "Three Arrows" teaching of Motonari Mori is famous, but there's something good about the number three. It provides stability, and there's the saying "third time's the charm," as well as "three different perspectives." While not the reason, if you come to "San-yu" (Three Friends), you have to order three oyster cutlets. The name of the restaurant is "San" (Three), after all. Unlike the Three Arrows, you attack each one individually, so they're easy to cut. But the sound is great. The bliss of cutting through the breading with chopsticks and reaching the oyster. It's almost moving. You take a bite with lemon and you just laugh. It's beyond delicious. Each oyster cutlet contains several oysters. It's not just three arrows, nor three different perspectives. There's no difference. I don't know how many I ate in the end, but it was ridiculously delicious. This is my second visit this year. Will there be a third? If something happens twice, it'll happen three times. It's up to me, though. San-yu Oyster Cutlets (3): 1580 yen They're amazing oyster cutlets once you take off the breading. They look like three, but each one has six oysters packed inside. A welcome, dense state. I absorbed 18 oysters in a short time, exceeding the daily recommended zinc intake. I'm full of energy. There were a lot of customers who wanted to get their energy up before the store opened. I was able to get in on the second round, but because of the cold, my hands were completely numb. I don't know how much I was saved by the warm tea. The oysters are full of umami and saltiness. By the way, I should mention that I'm actually not a fan of oysters. Even someone like me can enjoy these delicious oyster cutlets. They're really good, I'm telling you. They're delicious plain, with lemon, soy sauce, or even with sauce. It's unfair. San-yu Oyster Cutlets (3): 1580 yen