Hyperlocal Tokyo

A great value lunch set with grilled or simmered fish! The rice is also delicious! Located a 3-minute walk from Nihonbashi Station, I visited "Ishii", which was newly selected as one of the 100 best restaurants in Japan. It's located in a basement alleyway in Nihonbashi-Yaesu. I arrived right after they opened on a weekday and there was no wait. I was able to enter smoothly. Within 10 minutes, it was full. I ordered the "Torusaba Salt Grilled" set for 1,300 yen. It comes with rice, miso soup, and pickles. You can have as much rice as you want. It was served in about 5 minutes. It seems they grill the fish in advance. The Torusaba was fatty and delicious. It was so flavorful that it made me want to eat more rice. The Torusaba was definitely delicious, but the rice was incredibly tasty and the miso soup was also to my liking. I enjoyed it all the way to the end. When I left the restaurant, there was a line of about 10 people in the rain. It's no wonder their lunch is so popular. [Lunch Set Menu] - Sashimi - Ginhiras Salt Grilled - Torusaba Salt Grilled - Salmon Salt Grilled - Buri Teriyaki - Karei Simmered All 1,300 yen.

Tucked away in a quiet alley behind the bustling shopping district, this hidden gem of a kaiseki restaurant is a true haven. It's said to be so popular that during lunchtime, long lines snake around the block. Every dish was exquisite, served with impeccable timing, allowing me to lose myself in the experience.

I frequent this place for lunch. While the menu itself is typical Japanese set meals that you can find anywhere, the rice, main dish, and miso soup are all made with great care. The rice is meticulously managed by the owner, and the miso soup is likely made with fish bones from the fish served at the restaurant. The fish may be reheated, but it's always served fresh out of the oven. The sashimi is fresh and the flavor of the fish is excellent. On Saturdays, the lunch comes with a small side dish, which is beautifully presented and has a deep, flavorful broth. The restaurant has a small, traditional Japanese pub-like atmosphere. It's not very spacious, and during lunch hours, they're busy serving a large number of customers, so the staff doesn't have much time to spare. However, the service is still adequate. In an area with many long-established restaurants, where meals can sometimes be expensive, this is a great place to enjoy a delicious and affordable set meal.

I visited for lunch on Friday at 12:45. It's located in the basement of a secluded building, so it's easy to miss, but I found it by spotting the line. I was about the fourth or fifth group in line, and it took about 20 minutes to get in. There are about five counter seats and six table seats, and they allow shared seating, so the turnover is quick. I ordered the silver cod marinated and grilled. All lunches are ¥1,300. The white fish was thick and fluffy. It had a sweet, unassuming fish flavor that spread throughout my mouth, perhaps from miso? It was delicious! The accompanying grated radish was also fluffy and sweet, so I ate it without soy sauce. The pickled vegetables were also delicious. The ginger in sweet vinegar was refreshing, the pickled cabbage with its dashi broth was crunchy, and the slightly sweet kelp was perfect for rice, making for a well-balanced combination. I usually leave pickled vegetables, but these were so carefully made that I ate them all. I felt very satisfied after eating such a good meal. I'm curious about the other fish options! Thank you for the delicious meal!

We made a reservation for dinner and enjoyed the set course. Each dish was meticulously prepared and absolutely delicious. The sashimi, featuring tuna, striped jack, and sea bream, was all incredibly fresh and had a satisfyingly firm texture. I also had the walnut soba noodles for the first time, and the rich walnut sauce perfectly complemented the noodles. It's a wonderful restaurant that's perfect for both business and personal occasions.