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[FOOD] Tsukiji Sushi Dai (revisited)

Blogs > Cambium
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Cambium
Profile Blog Joined June 2004
United States16368 Posts
Last Edited: 2012-01-01 08:40:49
January 01 2012 07:26 GMT
#1
Visiting Tsukiji fish market has more or less become a ritual of mine. Whenever friends/my gf visit me, we'd almost always go. The sushi is good, but probably far from the best, but it's the whole experience that keeps on drawing me back.

In fact, two weeks prior to visiting Sushi Dai, I had breakfast at Sushi Bun, just a couple of stalls down. Sushi Bun forbids photo-taking, so there will be no blog entries on Bun.

My previous blog on this very same restaurant can be found here:
http://www.teamliquid.net/blogs/viewblog.php?id=132856

Aside from the minor differences in the fish served (they are all seasonal, last time I went around summer), I feel that this blog is slightly more comprehensive overall.

===========

Waking up before sunrise to catch the very first train for Tsukiji sushi is both a painful and exciting feeling, and this is the fifth time I’ve been to Tsukiji for sushi ‘breakfast’.

There are three popular sushi shops in the inner market of Tsukiji: Sushi Dai, Daiwa Sushi and Sushi Bun. Sushi Dai typically has the longest lines, and that’s where we were headed.

My previous experience made me semi well-prepared, as I knew exactly what I was signing up for, so I drank my flagon of fresh coffee and wrapped myself in layers as we got ready for departure. Everything went according to plans: got onto the first train at 5:02 (albeit very close), arrived punctually at Tsukiji-shijou station at 5:22, and began queueing up at 5:30. The shop opens its doors at 5:00 in the morning and seats twelve. At 5:30, the tiny restaurant was already packed, and there were seventeen people eagerly waiting at its doors. The wait was long and dull, and it was made particularly arduous due to the cold weather, lack of sleep, and anticipation for tasty sushi.

The sun gradually began to rise as people were slowly ushered into the shop, by the time it was our turn, the day was bright as… day and my iPhone read 7:10.

We both ordered the Omakase (お任せ) set at 3950, which includes tea, miso soup, nine pieces of nigiri-sushi and four pieces of maki-sushi [omakase means ‘up to the restaurant/chef’ deriving from the word 任すmeaning ‘entrust’].

We were greeted warmly and enthusiastically by our sushi chef, who profusely apologized for the agonizing wait in the cold weather and made various small talk to make us more comfortable. As I sat down in front of the counter, I ceremoniously decided that I would use my fingers to eat the nigiris instead of chopsticks.

The first nigiri served was oo-toro, which is the fattiest piece of tuna belly. This is typically the best and most expensive piece: a great way to begin a meal. I grabbed the sushi with my three fingers, and expertly dipped it lightly in the soy sauce then moved it swiftly into my mouth. The rice was of a very nice temperature and texture. The fish required very little chewing, and almost melted in my mouth by itself.

[image loading]



The second piece served was suzuki (sea bass) すずき. This fish was slightly chewy, but very light and refreshing: a very nice choice after the heavy oo-toro. A random aside: at this point, a Japanese girl sitting beside me ditched her chopsticks and began eating her nigiris with her hands too.

[image loading]


The third piece was the tamago-yaki (玉子焼), the omelet. The omelet was warm, sweet and fluffy.

[image loading]


The fourth piece was kimmedai (金目鯛), or snapper.

[image loading]


The fifth was uni (海胆), or sea urchin. Unlike regular supermarket or even department store sushi, this uni was particularly fresh with almost no fishy smell or taste. It was simply a bite of unctuousness with a subtle hint of the ocean.

[image loading]


The sixth piece was aji (鯵), or horse-mackerel.

[image loading]


Then came hokki-gai (北寄貝), or Sakhalin surf clam. This clam was the acme in terms of entertainment, as the clam was served while still moving. I grab the nigiri as the clam moved, and ushered it into my mouth. The clam was crunchy and slightly fishy, honestly nothing too special other than the fact that it was moving.

[image loading]


Ikura (イクラ), or salmon roe. Much like the uni, the ikura was superbly fresh.

[image loading]


Shiro-ebi (白海老), or small shrimps.

[image loading]


Sawara (鰆), or Spanish-mackerel.

[image loading]


Then came the four pieces of maki-sushi.

[image loading]


Followed, finally, by anago (穴子), or conger eel. This anago was very warm, sweet and soft, and the sauce added a very nice touch. However, I still feel that the anago served at Sushi Bun was much better.

[image loading]


We then moved on to order some pieces of the a-la-carte menu. First was a different piece of oo-toro. This piece was noticeably more chewy and slightly more fatty as well. I preferred the first piece much more, and ordered that one again.

[image loading]

[image loading]


As we continued to browse the a-la-carte menu and showed no desires to leave, the chef either began to like us or wanted us out ASAP, he suggested his favourite nigiri to us: kawahagi (皮剥) filefish. This nigiri by far had the most complexity as it came with both the fillet and the liver on top. This fish was extremely chewy, and took me a good minute to swallow it.

[image loading]


We then ordered a few more pieces before heading out:
Ikura and shiro-ebi again, followed by aka-gai (赤貝), red clam

[image loading]


...and, Tako (蛸), octopus

[image loading]


In the end, the meal ran about 13,000 JPY for both of us, and we left somewhat full. I do feel that the overall experience was better than that of Sushi Bun, but given its wait time and the minute superiority in terms of quality, I would probably opt for Sushi Bun in the future.

===========

I still remember Haji's suggestion of trying a few 'real' sushi restaurants, and that's definitely near the very top of my things to eat: Saito and Jiro in particular.

While I feel that the quality served at Tsukiji is superb, I am also beginning to sense that much more could be done with regards to presentation and theme. I often hear that a high quality sushi meal could tell a story, much like a kaiseki; and those refinements and intricacies are some elements I felt Tsukiji stalls lacked and wish to experience in the near future.

****
When you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it.
Sufficiency
Profile Blog Joined October 2010
Canada23833 Posts
January 01 2012 07:33 GMT
#2
O wow. I can't imagine myself spending ~65000 yen for a meal...
https://twitter.com/SufficientStats
Torte de Lini
Profile Blog Joined September 2010
Germany38463 Posts
January 01 2012 07:45 GMT
#3
Lol, I thought this was my [FOOD] Clan on Steam for a second.
Then I died seeing these @_@ Goddamn
https://twitter.com/#!/TorteDeLini (@TorteDeLini)
Xxio
Profile Blog Joined July 2009
Canada5565 Posts
January 01 2012 07:49 GMT
#4
So cool~~
The details of each piece of sushi are great
Thank you for sharing the experience. I need to get something to eat now.
KTY
Froadac
Profile Blog Joined July 2009
United States6733 Posts
January 01 2012 07:57 GMT
#5
So amazing. Also so darn expensive o.o I don't think I've ever spent over 20 bucks on a meal, even with family. It might be tasty, and I'm very happy to oggle at it, but I don't think I'll ever bring myself to spend that much.
Xxio
Profile Blog Joined July 2009
Canada5565 Posts
January 01 2012 08:03 GMT
#6
This blog reminded me of the upcoming movie Jiro Dreams of Sushi. Can't wait!
KTY
anrimayu
Profile Joined June 2011
United States875 Posts
January 01 2012 08:17 GMT
#7
Reading through food blog at midnight was a horrible idea. I'm so going to a sushi place in little tokyo tomorrow.
☆*:.。. o(≧▽≦)o .。.:*☆
Entropic
Profile Blog Joined May 2009
Canada2837 Posts
Last Edited: 2012-01-01 11:00:05
January 01 2012 08:22 GMT
#8
damn son, 130k yen for a meal for two! Awesome pictures though

EDIT: Seems I added an extra 0. lol
Golgotha
Profile Blog Joined January 2011
Korea (South)8418 Posts
January 01 2012 08:25 GMT
#9
fuk u!!! making me so hungry fuk fuk
Ephemerality
Profile Blog Joined June 2010
United States203 Posts
January 01 2012 08:29 GMT
#10
On January 01 2012 16:26 Cambium wrote:
In the end, the meal ran about 13,000 JPY for both of us, and we left somewhat full.

Just me or did two people add on an extra 0 lol?
FIGHT APATHY... or don't
Atreides
Profile Joined October 2010
United States2393 Posts
January 01 2012 08:33 GMT
#11
As a lifelong commercial fisherman seeing this kind of high end final product is very cool to me. Really enjoyed it.
Cambium
Profile Blog Joined June 2004
United States16368 Posts
January 01 2012 08:43 GMT
#12
On January 01 2012 17:03 Xxio wrote:
This blog reminded me of the upcoming movie Jiro Dreams of Sushi. Can't wait!


yep, definitely seeing this movie, and will try it before he retires. my gf calls this "期間限定" or "kikangentei" (a popular japanese advertisement phrase meaning limited time edition)


On January 01 2012 17:29 Ephemerality wrote:
Show nested quote +
On January 01 2012 16:26 Cambium wrote:
In the end, the meal ran about 13,000 JPY for both of us, and we left somewhat full.

Just me or did two people add on an extra 0 lol?


yes they did =/
When you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it.
Shymon
Profile Blog Joined February 2005
United States620 Posts
January 01 2012 08:48 GMT
#13
Incredible photos man, as a professional french chef, i always have a small part of me that wants to run away and learn to make sushi from some old japanese zen master. There is something completely pure and untainted by a simple presentation of really awesome nagiri. So much technique wraped in such a minamalist presentation. Also that o-toro is massive, so envious. Was the differnce in the o-toros that one was cut with the grain and the other cut aginst it (at least that's what it looks like in the photo)?


all in all excellent writeup.
TeaGreen
Profile Joined October 2010
Canada147 Posts
January 01 2012 08:48 GMT
#14
I really want to try the tuna belly; obviously it's renowned but it's quite surprising with the amount of Asian people where I live there's still no legitimate sushi place around...or legit enough to serve this. I'd have to drive to Toronto or something.

):
Cow
Profile Joined May 2010
Canada1104 Posts
January 01 2012 08:56 GMT
#15
On January 01 2012 17:29 Ephemerality wrote:
Show nested quote +
On January 01 2012 16:26 Cambium wrote:
In the end, the meal ran about 13,000 JPY for both of us, and we left somewhat full.

Just me or did two people add on an extra 0 lol?

Yeah I was wondering if I was missing out on some implied conversion...guess I am not the crazy one!

That filefish nigiri looks really interesting. Unlike the other ones, I can't begin to imagine what that one tastes like. Hmm

R.I.P. Nujabes ♫
fireproofazn
Profile Blog Joined September 2010
United States231 Posts
January 01 2012 09:28 GMT
#16
WHY IS THIS THREAD SOOO GOOODDDDD please make more. and that snapper
Terran<Protoss<Zerg
-LegAcY-
Profile Joined January 2012
United States2 Posts
January 01 2012 09:39 GMT
#17
well.. "Looks" good, but there is no way i would ever get even close to eating that lol
trest
Profile Joined August 2010
Philippines19 Posts
January 01 2012 09:41 GMT
#18
I might have missed it, but why didn't you get any tuna?
is there a scientific reason of why love is the way it is?
zulu_nation8
Profile Blog Joined May 2005
China26351 Posts
January 01 2012 09:50 GMT
#19
oh my god these pictures
Ciryandor
Profile Blog Joined May 2010
United States3735 Posts
January 01 2012 10:06 GMT
#20
O_o goddamn oishi-so da ne! *now wants some sushi*
에일리 and 아이유 <3 - O Captain 박재혁 ・゚✧*:・*゚+..。✧・゚:*・..。 ✧・゚ :・゚* ゜・*:・ ✧・゚:・゚:.。 ✧・゚ SPARKULING ・゜・:・゚✧*:・゚✧。*゚+..。 ✧・゚: ✧・゚:*・゜・:・゚✧*::
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