Sushi @ Sushiya Kotobuki, Hakata, Fukuoka.

 

Sushi has been sometimes seen as a place where traditional refinement meets delicate artistry. Which is not wrong. But it can also mean you may be rubbing shoulders with certain gatekeepers in a stuffy and rigid environment. having said that, there are many establishments now that is trying to buckle that trend. I have been to many new-concept sushi bars now,and I have been impressed with what has being offered. And in a recent rediscovery of Hakata station, I found another sushi bar and restaurant that fits the bill. 

Quaint, one corner of the bar. 

Sushi Kotobukiya, not to be confused with Kotobukiya the toy company, is a casual dining sushi bar and restaurant that opened not too long ago in Fukuoka. Their main outlet is based in Osaka, with a total of 8 outlets across the country. So during a peckish Sunday afternoon, I decided to have something special instead of the usual chicken and greens I make for myself. 

My compulsory starter.
Pretty good for something I am forced to swallow. 

Ordering is relatively simple as it is done via a QR code. This makes things more simple for non-Japanese speakers as you can see the pictures and the English names of the food that they offer. It should be noted that an ootoshi will be served on the weekends, much to my chagrin. But then again I am already there, might as well make the best of it. And after a few button presses, my orders are on their way. Despite being a bit of an anti-ootoshi revolutionist, I did enjoy the compulsory starter that came first. It was a sesame tofu with a fish stock based sauce, topped with a little bit of wasabi and fish roe. The flavours were intense and each element seem to clash hard. Surprisingly, this lead to a firework of sorts. I liked the contrasting textures and flavours. Despite the compulsory 300 yen cost, I would just take it as it was delicious. Again, much to my chagrin. 

A good start. It should be noted one is not the same with the rest. 

And after that the real orders arrive. For my first bit I got myself a shrimp tempura roll. This was done very well. The deep fried bits were crunchy, while the shellfish center was succulent and joyful to down. The rice was impeccable. Soft , bouncy yet, not too sticky, this is what sushi rice is meant to be. If the rice is this good, everything else will be something I would be greatly looking forward too now. This stood for 480 yen. The octopus nigiri was also served alongside the shrimp roll. It was very chewy in a good way and was served with a slightly tangy sauce which remind me of hoisin. Still, rather good. It stood at 160 yen.

3 out of the 4 horsemen. Look a the precise incisions on the squid! Pure skill

Soon after, more nigiri would grace the table. The tai, ika and kampachi soon made their mucha awaited appearance. And that would be sea bream, squid, and amberjack respectively in English. Each of them were just sublime. The seafood was fresh , slightly sweet and with a tinge of cheeky wasabi, provided a nice kick to cover all bases. It was pretty reasonable too as the tai and kampachi stood at 190 yen, while the squid was at 180 yen. It should be noted you can request to not have wasabi inside. But where is the fun in that?

Seems like 3 is the number of the day. 

The series continues with their 3 most popular items, or that was what this combo was called. It was their eggroll nigiri, boiled shrimp nigiri, and mashed tuna gunkan. These 3 are definitely staples of any sushi restaurant and tend to be the most popular in any institution. Imagine siu mai in a Cantonese teahouse and you know what I mean. They were alright, not too flashy. This is not to say they were not tasty, but due to the humble ingredients they are based on, it is quite hard to make these explosively impressive. Still, I liked them all and this trios combo stood at a modest price tag of 430 yen

Danger!

However, this were about to become insanely decadent as I got myself an unagi nigiri with butter. The melted butter combined with the perfectly seared, sweet and sticky eel really made my taste buds go berserk. It was absolutely incredible and the level of decadence was just insane. Each chew felt like some sin I just committed as the sweet marinade of the eel dance with the butter. The eel itself was tender and flaky, just the way I like it. This was the most expensive single piece for the afternoon, standing at 250 yen, and for good reason. What a blast. 

Another peek inside. 

The total damage of this sushi lunch was 2570 yen which includes a glass of oolong tea. It was still too early to have some alcohol but I do enjoy a cheeky beer with my sushi from time to time. In any event, this was absolutely great, despite the slightly heftly price tag that I would normally consider for an afternoon out. So if you would like your sushi to be fun and casual, this is a place that need to be in your radar. It is located at the JRJP building, which is within the Hakata Station complex, so its very easy to find. The specific address is as follows:

〒812-0012 Fukuoka, Hakata Ward, Hakataekichuogai, 8−1 Jrjp Hakata Building, 2F

Front of the house.