Seafood @ Sashimiya Shintarou, Nippori, Tokyo

Of course a trip to Japan will not be complete unless with a proper multi course seafood dinner no?

Although the country is loaded with more Michelin ranked joints than anywhere on the planet, Japan's gourmet scene, as you have seen is armed to the teeth with food stalls, chain establishments and specialised independent places which cater to the locals. 

One such place is Shintarou Sashimi Restaurant (刺身屋新太郎本店). 

Based in Nippori, this restaurant is known for its seafood. Well, if the word "sashimi" did not turn on your feelers, I don't know what will. 

Where the magic happens

You get a very cool and inviting vibe when you enter. Once you put your shoes into the racks, feel free to take a seat and absorb the atmosphere. I personally prefer the bar top as you can see your dinner in the works. 

Three way combo

The first that came to our table were a set of starters, which consists of seasoned konyakku, a spicy fish stew and a floret of broccoli. The fish stew that was served was quite good and had a good depth of flavour. Off the bat you were introduced to the flavour of soy. But its not just something off a bottle, but rather a combination of sweet and salty. I suspect some miso is in the mix. The konyakku was not bad too, although it is not as flavourful as the fish. There were however, some hint of spiciness, which I liked. And after going through it, there were in fact, some pieces of chillies at the bottom. A good introduction. The broccoli felt like the abandoned middle child. Its just there and a bit out of place. At least I can tell my mum I ate my veggies during a holiday.

Such beauty

The next course on the menu was of course the star maker, which is a good helping of sashimi. Adorned with edible seaweed and parella leaves, this seafood delight was too pretty to eat. With thick portions of toro (fatty tuna) and albacore (mistakenly called white tuna my some quarters) this fishy duo was great from start to finish. The fish slices were very fresh and had a lot of flavour. Each slice was as thick as my thumb, giving my teeth alot to work on. And I mean it in a good way. Although toro is generally more expensive, the albacore was just as delicious. The unsung heroes of the dish were the seaweed that were on the plate also. They were salty and slightly sweet. A compatible condiment. 

Great explosion from the ocean right here

From fish, we now turn to the shellfish part of our meal. The oysters in Shintarou were gorgeous and fresh. Like the fish beforehand, the oysters was like a dive into the ocean. Spring onions and the yuzukosho added a fresh and vibrant element to the dish. A great alternative to the commonly used lemon, although it was provided for good measure.

Crunch!

In terms of the cooked dishes, this great establishment does not disappoint. We ordered a plate of croquettes that were fried to a golden perfection. One was even spiked with curry. So good were the croquettes that we forgotten to take a photo of the insides. Imagine the best mash potatoes you ever had, then breaded and finally deep fried. Not the best imagery, but you get the picture. 

Double crunch!

We also had some kakiage tempura, which were impressive. Another excellent deep fried dish, it has many elements in it. Slivers of daikon, leeks and other vegetables were melded together with white bait and fried together in some batter. Sounds simple, but it is where being simple is key. The crunchy vegetables were paired well with the small fishes in this deep fried spectacle. The batter also gave the dish some bits of cake like chewiness. Many different texture and flavours came into one. A dish I thoroughly enjoyed. 

Such a delicious fish. Note the black throat. 

And the final dish for our dinner is the ultra rare black throat (nodoguro in Japanese) that was grilled to perfection. Yes I used perfection twice in this post. The skin was crispy and light, while the meat of the fish was flaky and oily. If you are a fan of white  fish, you will be in for a real treat. It has a texture slightly similar to a dory, but has a greasy profile similar to a cod. And it flakes off like mackerel, if that makes sense. 

Kampai everyone!

Food is not the only thing that Shintarou is good at, as they have a good variety of Japanese spirits like nihonshu and shochu. And having a glass (or 3) to end a meal is probably a good idea if you are into that sort of thing. 

Front of the house. 

This place is fairy reasonable, with a total bill stacking up to ¥10600 for a meal for 2, inclusive of the booze. The quality is impeccable and the ambiance inviting. Also, do note that this is a very residential restaurant, meaning that this place has no English menus nor do the staff speak any English. Also there are not many pictures around. But if you have a Japanese speaking local or able to at least converse in a little, I highly recommend this place. 

It is much cheaper compared to the other upmarket joints and being tucked in Nippori, its not very well known to tourists. Then again, I was the only non-Japanese guy there. This is how authentic it is. So if you are up for the challenge, do drop by to Shintarou's for an amazing seafood dinner. You would not be disappointed. The restaurant is located in the heart of Nippori and the specific address is as follows:

5-7-1 Nishi Nippori, Arakawa, Tokyo