koutagawa
(2022.05.29) Today, I decided to have lunch at "Kappa," a sushi restaurant that has been loved for nearly 30 years as a place for everyday dining. Located on a side street parallel to Takamiya Street, this restaurant is one of several tenants on the ground floor of an apartment building. Unlike other shops, it doesn't have a prominent sign, and if cars park in front of the shop, it can be easily overlooked. There is no curtain hanging at the entrance, so from a distance, it's hard to tell if it's open or not. I approached with some uncertainty, but luckily saw a sign indicating that they were open.
The restaurant had 3 tables and 10 seats, and although the table seats were already occupied, I was fortunate to find 3 empty seats at the end of the 8-seat counter. I was able to sit down without waiting. Behind the counter were the master sushi chef and what seemed to be his son, working in perfect harmony. I looked forward to the sushi they would prepare.
The lunch menu listed a "Jumbo Set" with 10 pieces of nigiri sushi. There were also options like the "Jumbo Set Plus One," which included an additional dish, a "Chawanmushi Set," an "Anago Chirashi Set," and a summer limited edition "Kappa Special Soba," totaling 5 items. Without hesitation, I chose the "Jumbo Set Plus One" with chawanmushi.
A plate with pickled ginger was brought out, and first, I was served firefly squid gunkan, mackerel pressed sushi, tekka maki, kappa maki, and yam and plum roll. Just as I thought they would serve each piece gradually, they quickly added tuna, squid, horse mackerel, and more to the plate. When the plate was full with tamagoyaki and shrimp, I thought that was all, but then they added uramaki and scallop. The lunch set was not only generous in portion but each piece was well-crafted, making it a satisfying meal.