This is a typical sushi restaurant where fresh seafood is lined up in a glass case in front of the counter, and the sushi is made right in front of you. As conveyor belt sushi restaurants spread, they are gradually shrinking in size, but there are still many sushi restaurants that are rooted in the area and remain popular for a long time.
Facility
When you enter a restaurant, you will usually see a row of counters, with table seats and tatami mats located in the back. Some restaurants have a large banquet hall on a separate floor. Glass cases filled with sushi ingredients are lined up in front of the counter, and you can order your sushi directly from the chef.
Price range
The average unit price varies depending on each restaurant, from ordinary sushi restaurants to high-end sushi restaurants. Some restaurants only offer omakase courses during dinner time, and in those cases, the menu often starts from around 5,000 yen.
Purpose of use
Sushi restaurants located in the city center have many people visiting for dinner or business meetings, while those in the suburbs are used by families and are also used for memorial services and local events.
There is no “sushi restaurant that can be used for all purposes”
When choosing a sushi restaurant, it is important to be clear about what purpose you will use it for. If you’re having a meal with a business partner, you won’t be able to have a calm conversation at a sushi restaurant where there are families with children, and choosing a sushi restaurant that’s too small for a dinner party with a certain number of people is also inappropriate. There is no sushi restaurant that can be used for all occasions, so it is important to carefully choose a sushi restaurant based on your purpose.
How to identify a good sushi restaurant
Even though it’s called a sushi restaurant, it’s all different. Here we will introduce some points to help you find a good sushi restaurant.
Check before entering the restaurant
You should check whether the atmosphere of the restaurant is good or bad, and whether the inside of the store looks clean when you look at it from the entrance. Even if the building is old, you can expect to find a restaurant that is well-maintained down to the smallest detail. You can also get a feel for the atmosphere of the restaurant from the way they respond to customers over the phone when making reservations.
The Tsuma is handmade
Most regular sushi restaurants sell not only sushi but also sashimi platters. When you order sashimi, what comes with it is “Tsuma”, which is thinly sliced radish, but the key to determining whether it is purchased from somewhere else or cut at your own restaurant is important. If the chef is able to pay attention to the less obvious details, the restaurant is sure to provide a delicious meal.
There are sharp cuts on the surface of the squid.
When the squid nigiri sushi comes out, if there are no cuts on the surface of the squid and it is smooth, it is likely that you are using frozen squid. This is because raw squid may have residual parasites, and making small decorative cuts in a grid pattern can kill these insects. Making cuts improves the texture, making it easier to eat, and also has the advantage of making it easier to coat with soy sauce.
A sushi bucket containing rice is covered with a dish towel.
Rice tends to lose its flavor, so it is important to cover it with a dish towel to prevent it from drying out. You can’t be a good chef if you take the trouble to remove a dish towel every time you make sushi.
