Chiba Takaoka (千葉たかおか)
⭐⭐⭐⭐
🍣 Sushi / 📍 Yaesu
📓 Visits: 1
So it was with much excitement that hailing from Takaoka in Chiba, Chiba Takaoka opened with Tokyo Midtown Yaesu in March this year. This was the biggest sushi opening of 2023 (so far, though there are bigger to come). Could this be the next Sushi Namba?
On the positive side the awabi, chawanmushi, aji, ika and anago were great. I found the tsumami of taco had a "muscly" rather than soft texture and the kohada was stringy. The rice was salty. I assume a chef as accomplished as this knows what he's doing so maybe I just don't like salty rice. Most of the fish was from Chiba and Tokyo Bay. The chef had a map illustrating where everything came from. But, contrary to expectation, there was nothing in the set that made me think "wow, I'd never get that anywhere else."
Chef Takaoka is super friendly. He chatted with me all the time, even more than with the other diner, who the chef knew. There was only one other diner on my visit so the meal finished very quickly and the atmosphere was different from how I'd expect it when all six seats are occupied.
How does it compare with Takaoka in Chiba? I can't say as I never went to the original restaurant. Inevitably it's more expensive (35k instead of 25k) but the chef said the course was the same. The Chiba restaurant is closed for now and Takaoka-san hasn't decided what he's going to do with it. As he did back there he sleeps in the restaurant overnight in Tokyo as well!
Overall this was quite disappointing. You might have been quite happy with this as a local restaurant in Chiba for 25k but for 35k in Tokyo I think it's (already) overrated. I've said it before and I'll keep saying it: if you're paying 30k or more for a meal then it should rock your world. I get that costs have increased and I'm quite happy to pay 40k for something amazing but unhappy with something at 30-35k that's just good.
Well, this is definitely the best sushi restaurant directly connected to Tokyo Station, but it ain't the next Sushi Namba.
📌 https://tabelog.com/tokyo/A1302/A130201/13282854/
❓ My Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4.15 (value: 3.95)
📱 Booking: 🟩 Two seatings at 5pm and 8pm daily. You should be able to get a seat within a couple of weeks if you're flexible on date and time. Bookings currently taken by phone (in Japanese) only.
📍 Location: 3F Tokyo Midtown Yaesu. Exit Tokyo Station via the Yaesu Central Exit (Underground) and head for Yaechika Exit 2, which is directly connected to Tokyo Midtown Yaesu.
📶 Free WiFi? ✅ Yes
📅 Visit August 2023
Taco
Katsuo
Awabi-ni, awabi kimo
Amadai yakimono
Ankimo
Aji, negi
Hamaguri chawanmushi
Kamasu temaki
Kinmedai (nigiri)
Kohada
Shima aji
Akami zuke
Chutoro
Otoro
Kensaki ika
Hamaguri
Aji
Kuruma ebi
Uni
Anago
Owan
Tamago
💴 Damage: 35,550 incl. one drink
⏱️ Time taken: 1h25m (but see note)
Thanks for the review, was really curious about this place! Maybe we won't prioritize it this upcoming trip. Extra question, would you say either Kurosaki or Inomata are "amazing and worth 40k+" level?
ReplyDeleteI'm sure Kurosaki is good but I'm not sure it's worth 50k compared with Namba which is 40k. Inomata is great but again, 40k+ for just nigiri is expensive for me. That said, if you're overseas I'd just take advantage of current exchange rates and not worry about 10k here or there. Still a fraction of what you'd have to pay at a top place in NYC and many more excellent choices.
Deleteah thats too bad. i have a reservation for early december on the recommendation of a friend who ate at the chiba location and loved it. i also have tableall requests for namba and sugita so it might get bumped off if i get a spot. i'm also stalking omakase for spots at shimazu
Deletei'm sure you know this but taichi doesn't seem to do lunch anymore. considering tomidokoro at a similar price point. shimbashi tsuruhashi? do you have other current favorite sushi lunches?
we've done lunches at tsu, murase, dokoro suzu.
Taichi still does lunch. I just called them and they had seats available for next Tuesday! Shimbashi Tsuruhachi is my current favourite sushi lunch. Will post at some point.
Deleteah thank you for that clarification about taichi. maybe we will get a chance to try it this trip. shimbashi tsuruhasi says japanese must be spoken to book. i guess i will have to invite a local friend to join us!
DeleteHow do you make reservations to Shimbashi Tsuruhachi?
ReplyDeleteBy phone in Japanese only any time. Proxy reservations are not accepted.
Delete