Sushi @ Hyoutan Sushi, Solaria Stage, Tenjin, Fukuoka

 

It is only a matter of time where I have come back to sushi. The general rule is this : there is good sushi and there is cheap sushi. Like all general rules, there are exceptions. And exceptions sometime comes in serendipitous moments. Ok, it is not that dramatic as it was just a stroll in the mall. But during a walk after my motsunabe meal (click here), I found a sushi place that was still having a line despite being at 2pm. My curiousity got the better of me and soon enough, I was there with a friend of mine in one early Sunday evening for dinner. 

A tram line menu? Innovation! 

Hyoutan Sushi is a cultural establishment in the Tenjin and Hakata area. The main outlet is located near Canal City. Fortunately enough, there is another branch in Solaria Stage. As we were there at 5.30pm, there was no line and it was easy to find a space. Sure enough, a line of hungry patrons started forming at about 15 minutes later. 

Off to a good start

We started things off simple with salmon. It was straight forward, simple and yet really tasty. The fish was very fresh, mildly sweet and has a good amount of fat into it. If you like your salmon with a bit more fat, you can opt for the salmon belly. It has a richer taste and is more tender than the normal salmon pieces. It is a matter of preference, but I like them both equally.

Chunky. 

We then slowly transition to something a bit more sophisticated with chopped tuna. Simple, but effective. And it is one of my all time favourites. The tuna had a good mix of fatty and lean meat. The sprinkle of green onions gave it a fresh edge, and the seaweed enveloping it gave it a crunchy bite. 

Serious eats right here. Also, do not eat the tail. 

One star maker was the ama-ebi, or sweet shrimp. The shrimps were soft, buttery and light to the touch. And they were incredibly sweet. It felt like true decadence and I was in fact salivating just thinking of it. It felt like I was chomping down into a piece of the ocean when I had it.  

Tasty! 

Another gastronomical gem was the sea urchin. It is a polarising item, but it is something that I enjoy immensely. It had that musky seafood saltiness which is an acquired taste. But it was a flavour profile I truly liked.  And tucked with a small piece of perilla leaf? Oh goodness! 

Shiny... 

 If you would like something more cooked though, you can get the charred salmon. The slightly fire roasted exterior gave the sushi an extra dimension on flavour and texture. If you would like something that is totally cooked through, then the eel nigiri will be more of your preference. The eel has been glazed with a sweet teriyaki sauce and is flaky to the touch. The sticky exterior did somehow paired with the rice pretty well. A thumbs up from me. If you are more of the adventerous type, you can try the whale tongue. Ok What?!

Not bacon.

Basically, its a slice of whale tongue that has been boiled and put on top of a bed of rice with some minced ginger. It looked a bit unusual but you have to try everything once right? It looked like bacon, feels like bacon but it clearly is not bacon. It has an odd taste that I have no reference to.  Then again, I have never eaten whale before. Is it awful? Not really. Its fine but I would rather have something else. 

I can have this all day!

Cooked or seared sushi is usually tailored for more squeamish customers. Raw items is usually the way to go. However, the king crab legs that I had is one exception that I will allow. The crab was boiled and chilled beforehand. It had a flaky and smooth texture and a velvety sweetness that comes from high end shellfish. It came with some mayonaise, which looked like an odd pairing. It did work though, and it was truly enjoyable. And we ended our meal with this high note. 

The best pairing. 

Overall, this was a rustic and enjoyable meal. The star however is not the seafood, but the rice. It was spiked heavily with vinegar and has a cheeky swab of wasabi sandwiched between the toppings and the rice. This gave it a insidious flavour explosion. But good wasabi to me has always been enjoyable. And the best part is that the sushi is made to order and the rice is warm to the touch. 

Front of the house. Notice the line forming. 

With a plate ranging from 290 yen to 590 yen a plate, it is is considered on the slightly cheaper scale. But do not let that fool you. Everything was made to order and the ingredients are incredibly fresh. And after my amazing dinner, I see why there is so much fanfare for this place. Fancy in giving it a go? The address is as follows: 

〒810-0001 Fukuoka, Chūō-ku, Tenjin, 2-chōme−11−3 SOLARIA STAGE 専門店街 B2F