Iwakunizushi @ Hirasei, Iwakuni, Yamaguchi

 

I think it is probably obvious by now that I love sushi. As such, I am always keen in trying different specialties from different areas, despite not being what I usually have in mind. Since I may not be coming to Iwakuni any time again soon, I thought it would be a great idea to splurge a bit. So this is how I ended up in Hirasei. 

 A peek into the dining area. 

Hirasei (平清) is a kaiseki restaurant that specialises in this form of sushi. Being a kaiseki, it boasts an elaborate menu of classic Japanese dishes such as grilled eel, nigiri style sushi, various boiled and steamed dishes, and of course Iwakunizushi.  For most people, sushi consists of rice that is wrapped or packed and then topped and filled with an ingredient, mostly seafood. This was my impression as well, as I feel regional variations occur due to rice type, flavouring for the rice, or toppings. Well, Iwakuni has their own version of the dish and rather, it is pressed and cut. A little different compared to what we usually think of sushi, but might as well give it a go. Hence the aptly named Iwakunizushi. It is a dish where sushi rice is packed into a wooden square and then pressed. This is done in large batches and then topped with various toppings before it is pressed again or sliced into individual size portion.And with regard to the local sushi specialty, they have various elaborate set lunches where the Iwakunizushi is the star. I eventually decided to get the Irodori Gozen meal (彩御膳), which has a side of tempura to accompany it. This hefty meal came at a price of 1800 yen. 

What a display. 

A handsome tray of food soon came, and it is very clear to see that this came from a kaiseki kitchen. Each dish was plated artistically and various dishes were in store. Indeed a meal fit for a king. Now I am starting to think that the slightly hefty price tag seems justified. In addition to the obvious pressed sushi, the tray came with a basket of tempura, a steamed egg cup, braised vegetables, a konyaku dish, a bowl of dashi soup, and pickled lotus root. A handsome plate indeed. 

Golden brown

I took on the tempura first as fried stuff do not taste as good once it has been standing out for too long. It was pleasantly surprised that it has 3 whole prawns here, in addition to various vegetables. Prawns are not cheap, and Japan is no exception. The vegetables are fresh and sweet as well, complementing the crunchy casing that it was encased in. 

Mom would be happy that I am eating more veggies

The braised vegetables were delicate yet decadent. Boiled in, I assume, a dashi and mushroom broth, it had a meaty after-tone to each bite. The favourite bits were actually boiled yam which were firm on the outside, but crumbled easily once you put it into your mouth. The steamed egg was also pretty delicate and had a mild yet comforting taste. It was silky smooth too. With all that out of the way, I finally attended to the presses sushi. 

The main event

Unfortunately, it was not really up to my liking. The rice being pressed has caused the rice to be very sticky and a bit hard to chew. That also has caused the vinegar and sugary flavours of the rice to be intensified. It was a bit too overpowering for me. 

A closer look

I felt that this was a bit of a let down as everything else on the table was spectacular. Then again, it maybe just my preference as I prefer my sushi rice to still be quite granular even though it has been packed tightly by the chef.

What a view!

Still, this was a very memorable lunch and I would easily recommend this shop to anyone who intends to visit Iwakuni. The establishment is comfortable, refined and despite that, was quite good value for money. Not to mention it has one of the better indoor views of the Kintai bridge. Fancy a go? Then the address is as follows:

 1 Chome-2-3 Iwakuni, Yamaguchi 741-0062

Front of the house.