ハラミ串
[Overall Review] Located about a 2-minute walk from Umejima Station in Tokyo, this sushi restaurant uses high-quality ingredients while maintaining a local community feel. During the state of emergency, I opted for takeout this time. While chirashi sushi is a common choice for takeout from sushi restaurants, this place also offers nigiri sushi. The deluxe version I ordered included popular and classic sushi items such as tuna, golden eye snapper, sea urchin, ark shell, shrimp, and more. Nigiri sushi is best enjoyed at the counter, but I was pleasantly surprised by how well the quality was preserved even at home. Amidst the self-restraint mood, this meal brought a touch of joy to my home dining experience.
I came across this sushi restaurant in Adachi Ward while checking out various options. And they have started offering takeout as well. Judging from the photos, the quality seems a step above typical sushi restaurants. Intrigued, I visited the place. It's a short 2-minute walk from Umejima Station, located on the ground floor of a building with a prominent sign. The interior features a counter with a display case for the sushi and a few table seats. The restaurant is run by the husband and wife duo. I visited around 5 p.m. when they opened and quickly picked up my order, which I had reserved over the phone. The takeout menu includes various nigiri sushi as well as rice bowls like tuna cheek steak donburi and bara chirashi donburi. The rice bowls looked appetizing as well, but I was drawn to the nigiri sushi, which I hadn't had in a while, so I opted for the premium nigiri sushi set.
- Premium Nigiri Sushi Set: 4536 yen
The set includes shrimp, herring roe with kelp, ark shell, fatty tuna, lean tuna, golden eye snapper, toro maki, sea urchin gunkanmaki, and salmon roe gunkanmaki. The rice was slightly smaller in size with a mild vinegar flavor. Even after an hour of being taken home, it still retained its softness. Each piece of sushi featured carefully selected high-quality ingredients. I'm not a big fan of herring roe with kelp, but this one was surprisingly delicious. And the tuna, especially the toro maki, was incredibly tasty. The lean tuna, which seemed to be close to medium fatty tuna, was also outstanding. The quality of the golden eye snapper and ark shell was excellent as well. The sea urchin and salmon roe gunkanmaki were also delightful. Every bite felt like a taste of luxury.
[Final Thoughts] It had been a while since I had nigiri sushi, and I was reminded of how wonderful sushi can be. Ideally, starting with sashimi or grilled conger eel before moving on to nigiri is the true essence of enjoying a meal at a sushi restaurant. While takeout lacks the ambiance and the anticipation of such a dining experience, good food is still good food. The true charm of this restaurant can be fully appreciated when the pandemic is over, and I look forward to sitting down and savoring their offerings in person. The total bill for today came to 4536 yen. Thank you for the delicious meal.