Yoyogi Station is packed with bars. In this Yoyogi Walking Map, we have introduced some of the bars recommended by our staff.
But to be honest, I don't want to tell anyone about this restaurant, this restaurant alone.
So, I'm going to do something a little different this time. Can you find this shop?
No matter how much you order of the daily specials, each piece costs 10 yen.
A cheap sushi restaurant that only a few people know about
However, if you don't know what kind of store it is, you won't even feel like looking for it.
So let me introduce it to you through my humble report of eating sushi alone one day.
It's 9:30pm. It's a nice time at night.
Normally I would go straight home, but today I've gotten past the most difficult part of the project, so it feels like a shame to just go home now.
I want to treat myself and splurge a little...sushi is such a fancy option.
However, all of my friendly colleagues have left, and on top of that, I'm not doing so well financially.
But I tried my best. I really want to eat sushi!
Well, at a time like this, the place you can go is...
...This is a certain building in front of Yoyogi Station.
We pass through a large curtain hanging as if to block out prying eyes from outside.
The restaurant is very small. When it gets crowded, the chef can't handle everything by himself, so you can see other customers standing near the counter carrying the finished sushi and drinks to the customers who ordered.
There are walls on both sides...or so you might think, but an old shutter can be seen peeking through the gap. It looks like a sheet of plywood painted white has been pasted over the shutter.
"Lean tuna 180 yen," "Flounder 100 yen," "All large portion menu items 380 yen"... The colorful menu covers the entire surface, from waist-high to the ceiling, from the back of the store to the entrance, even spilling out of the plywood.
Usually it's yellowtail, but today's daily special is flounder. In addition to sushi, there are plenty of snacks for alcohol lovers, such as French fries and umeshu. You can choose from 400g to 800g of curry, which is perfect for the finale of the night!
There is a standing counter covered in vinyl that has a handmade feel to it, with about four small tables set up.
Although I was intimidated by the overwhelming volume, when I looked up I saw a quaint old sign.
Hmm, why is there a sign that says "Stylish Restaurant" inside a sushi restaurant?
The sign remains as it is. You can almost hear the bustle of the past.
This shop was actually created by utilizing the corridors between the shops in the building where it was formerly located.
It also looks handmade.
The walls, ceiling, and even the outdoor tables are a mysterious mix of old and new materials, as if they were all made and added in the order that they were thought of.
It does seem a bit inappropriate to see a bunch of adults crowded together in a place like this, enjoying sushi.
Don't worry. This is a sushi restaurant, and everyone is just drinking and eating sushi.
The inside of the store is extremely small. Look around for a bit, and when you find a gap, slip in quickly.
If you do, the chef will say something to you.
"What would you like to drink?"
Speaking of sushi, it's Japanese sake. Let's start with sake!
As for sushi, hmm, what should I do?
To be honest, I'd like to fill up on the daily special, flounder, and get drunk while saving money at the same time...
Here, I decided to settle for five pieces of flounder and two pieces of raw tentacles (50 yen), which is the second most popular after the usual yellowtail.
We started off with order of flounder and raw tentacles, and then added some mentaiko.
Even if you order just this, it will only cost 10 yen x 5 + 50 yen x 2 = 150 yen!
Wow, that's cheap.
When you come to these extremely cheap stores, you worry about freshness and taste, but you're wrong.
The sushi here is cheap but good quality.
The flatfish is absolutely delicious, and the tentacles are neither sticky nor fishy, with a crunchy texture that is addictive. They're not too big, and can be eaten in one bite. The rice crumbles easily, and the flavor makes it easy to gobble down the sushi and drink alcohol.
As I was relaxing in the bliss of the bargain, a young man appeared through the curtains and said one thing as soon as he sat down at the counter.
"For now, some water and twenty pieces of flounder."
Twenty kan?! For now?!
The chef then replies with a disinterested "Yes," and hands me water without ice. Hmm, water without ice?
Ah, this guy is an "advanced" guy! I can feel the difference in our level as regulars. I only just got recognized by him the other day.
Just as I was feeling a little dejected, a small green bowl was handed to me.
"Here you go. It goes well with alcohol."
The chef said bluntly and returned to the back of the counter to prepare some flounder.
I took a bite, jumping for joy inside, and thought, mmm, it's delicious!
It has a slightly spicy taste and a strong dashi flavor; is this boiled wasabi greens?
When I thanked him, he replied, again in a cold voice, "Oh, sure."
The chef sits firmly behind the counter with the showcase on it and hardly ever moves.
He doesn't overly flirt, but if you talk to him he will respond sincerely.
The chef's personality is also one of his charms...
From behind the counter where the chef is, you can see a glimpse of another restaurant's floor. This patchwork feel may be the reason why just being there is so exciting. By the way, I like to drink while gazing at the "Naniwa Antiques" sign.
Thinking that, I looked at the clock and it was already 11pm.
Although it's a standing restaurant where you can just pop in and go quickly, it's so comfortable that you end up staying for a while.
As I returned the plate to the chef, I said, "Thank you for the meal!"
And next time, I'll be brave and order 10 pieces of the daily special! But the squid and okra are also delicious... I was already wondering what to choose next time, and I hurried home.
What do you think? Are you starting to get curious?
I would be happy if you feel like you want to go.
However, as I mentioned at the beginning, I would rather not tell anyone about this restaurant.
It's my oasis, waiting for me on tired nights until 3am.
The store is already filled to capacity with just 10 people inside. If everyone piles in, I won't have a place to stay...
So I can't tell you where it is! Sorry.
However, if you are interested and find us on your own, we would love to have a drink with you at this bar, even if we don't have a chance to speak to you directly.
And somehow, I feel like this is that kind of place.
So, we have some tips for you.
Hint 1: What is the name of the shop?
"You want me to go to the trouble of finding it? That's annoying. Besides, if you know the name of the store, you can just search for it!"
You who thought so.
This store does not have a name.
It's not a name that means "There is none." The shop doesn't have a name.
The sign visible from outside, where the store name would normally be written, is also from a hardware store that once operated there.
Below it hangs a large curtain with the word "Sushi" written on it, but it's in a blind spot and is easy to miss.
In other words, at a glance you can't tell the name of the store, and when you ask you're told it doesn't exist.
But that's actually a hint.
It's rare to find a sushi restaurant without a name, right?
Hint 2: Which castle in Tokyo?
In fact, this restaurant appeared briefly in a previous article on the Monosasu website.
This time, we were being introduced to a different restaurant, but I couldn't hide my excitement at the glimpse of the sushi restaurant.
Yes, this sushi restaurant is located in a building called "Tokyo's XX Castle."
Well, it's clearly visible in the photo.
Hint 3: Is it actually a fairly well-known restaurant?
If you search for words like "Shinjuku," "Yoyogi," and "cheap gourmet," there's a high chance that information about this sushi restaurant will come up.
"Everyone is doing it on their own, on blogs and stuff. If you search it, it comes up right away."
According to the chef, the video is also uploaded on YouTube.
I see, it's a famous restaurant to begin with.
...Well, if you've come this far, you probably already understand.
I do regret that it may have been a little too easy to understand, but this is also a reflection of my desire to really recommend it.
I want to tell everyone about this great store, but I also want to keep it just for myself!
Can you understand the dilemma I'm facing?
Even with ambivalence.
A fascinating secret base that you'll want to visit
I munch on my favorite salmon roe and forget everything for a moment...
Sometimes it's so crowded you can't get in, they get angry if you don't order in bulk, and the vinyl covering on the counter looks like it's meant for floors.
Still, what has captured my attention is the fact that it uses a plastic bowl from the 100-yen shop as a cooler to serve a pretty good bottle of wine, and I wonder whether it's a decoration or not, no! It's not a decoration, I think.
It's nice to go with a large group, but we also encourage you to explore Yoyogi by yourself.
It's like a secret base built by adults, and (although the inside of the restaurant is lively) I quietly enjoy sushi and sake by myself.
It's so cheap you don't have to worry about your wallet. What's more, it's even more delicious than it costs.
Isn't it good to have that sort of thing once in a while?
If you find it, it's yours.
Come on, let's aim to become "advanced" together!
TANAKA Natsumi