Sushi Ryujiro (鎨 éžćŹĄé)
đŁ Sushi / đ Gaienmae
đ Visits: 4 (2020-2021)
Omakase here is JPY 27,000 + tax but it's the 15-piece, nigiri-only, lunch-only course which, since March 2021 is JPY 15,000 + tax, I've had on all my visits, one of the best deals for high-quality sushi in Tokyo.
Ryujiro Nakamura took over Umi Sushi before opening his own place at the end of 2019. Not a word of English is spoken but the chef is friendly, chats with regulars, gives good descriptions of the sushi and is known for his flamboyance. The counter is L-shaped and has 9 seats. Since my visit in November 2020 there was a change in that Nakamura-san was serving 6 diners with an apprentice serving 3.
The lunch course includes expensive neta like uni and, while the slices are thinner compared with more expensive sushi experiences, several pieces of high-quality maguro and a generous tekkamaki. The maguro nigiri quantity seems to be lower in the colder months (perhaps as prices rise?) and was as high as five in June 2020, as low as three in November 2020 and was back up to four on my most recent visit in April 2021. On that visit the kohada was poor compared with previous occasions and too briny. The uni was not the best as well. No anago was served due to the off season, which was a bit disappointing since the anago is so good here but better not to serve it at all if it's not good enough. I think I've grown to appreciate the tamago-yaki which is the most basic type of tamago-yaki and completely unsweet but is cooked during service and served hot.
Sushi Hashimoto (review here) currently has the same Tabelog score as Ryujiro and omakase is marginally cheaper. I've not had omakase at Ryujiro so I can't compare the tsumami but, at least for the nigiri, Hashimoto uses a wider variety of fish whereas Nakamura-san serves more tuna. Hashimoto hasn't permanently offered a nigiri-only lunch and it's not entirely fair to compare lunch with dinner but I don't feel like, at twice the cost, omakase at Hashimoto is twice as satisfying as lunch at Ryujiro. Then again, dinner at Ryujiro is unlikely twice as satisfying as lunch and I imagine my score for dinner, a pretty conventional rather than generous 7 tsumami and 12 nigiri, might not be quite so favourable.
Even with the 2K price rise in March, lunch at Sushi Ryujiro is still outstanding value and one of my favourite restaurants for a sushi lunch. Each time I've eaten here I've immediately booked my next meal. If you're visiting Tokyo from overseas and you only have a budget of about 15K for one sushi meal, lunch at Ryujiro would be my top choice. Lots of maguro, excellent quality, top value and a great atmosphere.
Ryujiro was awarded a Michelin Star in the 2022 Tokyo Guide.
đ https://tabelog.com/tokyo/A1306/A130603/13240787/
❓ My Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4.4 (lunch)
đą Booking: đ§ Lunch is easier to book than dinner and you should be able to get a seat within a couple of weeks. They are listed on Omakase but never open up for general reservations, just last-minute cancellations. Booking by phone is best.
đ Location:
Map data ©2021 Google
đ Visit April 2021
Hamaguri dashi, wakame (sakizuke)
Tairagai
Aori ika
Kasugo
Botan ebi kobujime
Ishidai
Akami zuke (137kg)
Chutoro (156kg)
Otoro (134kg, Shimoda)
Otoro (133kg Shimoda)
Kohada
Uni
Nihama
Tekkamaki
Tamago
+Chutoro
đ´ Damage: 18,150 (15000 + 1500 + 10%) incl. tap water
⏱️ Time taken: 1h15m
đ Visit November 2020
Tara shirako soup (sakizuke), sumi ika, sumi ika geso, kasugo, shime saba, yaitogatsuo, akami zuke, chutoro, otoro, kohada, ikura donburi, bafun uni, kuruma ebi, anago, tekka maki, tamago yaki
đ´ Damage: 14,300 incl. tap water
⏱️ Time taken: 1h15m
đ Visit August 2020
Ginkgo (sakizuke),
Shin ika, Kasugo, Shin ika tama, Aji, Akami zuke, Chutoro,
Otoro, Otoro, Kohada, Ikura, Uni, Kuruma ebi, Anago, Tekka maki, Tamago
đ´ Damage: 14,600 incl. tap water
⏱️ Time taken: 1h30m
đ Visit June 2020
Junsai (sakizuke), Aori ika, Kasugo, Umeiro, Aji, Akami, Chutoro, Chutoro, Otoro, Otoro, Kohada, Uni, Kuruma ebi, Hamaguri, Tekka maki, Tamago
đ´ Damage: 14,300 incl. tap water
⏱️ Time taken: 1h30m
Have concierges historically been able to book Ryujiro? The Park Hyatt was not able to do so for me this year citing the Omakase page, but wondering if I ask another institution for it.
ReplyDeleteNot sure. Did the restaurant refuse the booking or did the concierge not even try?
ReplyDeleteThey didn't try and told me to do so through Omakase, which I monitored and there were no slots open when the schedule opened, so looks like you're right there. Might need to be something I have to do via phone myself or through a Japanese friend.
DeleteOK, maybe respectfully request that they try by phone and explain (like many popular restaurants on Omakase) that you'll be waiting the rest of your life otherwise. Fortunately Ryujiro does answer the phone!
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