SHIINAMACHI: Oguro-no-Maguro Main Branch... Tuna overload! Standing cozy Izakaya a station away from Ikebukuro (Sony RX100)

Im a HUGE maguro fan just like everyone else and finally made it to Oguro No Maguro Honten (Main Branch).  They just opened up a spot in Ikebukuro too. 

Guess fresh fish was delivered in this styrafome box

Was asked to enter via the side entrance.  There were a few regulars scattered about.

All standing counter seats.  I arrived at a late 9:15pm (Drinks last order 9:30pm).  

No English Menus in sight.  The waitress will ask you in Japanese what you want to drink and order.

I`m American and she didnt hold back.

Ordered the 550 yen Kirin bottled beer... The size was smaller than most.

No English in site! Lots of Hiragana and Katagana so brush up on your reading skills.

Several lone diners here and we all be staring at the TV.

First up with the 399yen Otsumami (appetizer) Toro-Taku.

Wrap in seaweed with a bit of wasabi then drip shoyu on top.  

This was my favorite item of the night.  Maguro Rare Katsu. (まぐろレアカツ).

Nicely grilled with a side of lemon, salt and wasabi.  Great thick texture and not fishy.

Sony RX100

The only photo I took with my iPhone X... kinda nice because there is no bokeh and aperture even.

Shop recommendation written on the wall.  Tuna Grilled Onigiri (焼きおにぎり）199yen

Normally the Yaki-Onigiri is grilled to a point where the rice is hard on the outside but this was more of the soft side.  Bits of Tuna in the rice.

Last call for food and final item was the 299 yen Masu-Mori Honmaguro in box.  Limited to 1 serving per customer..

The Honmaguro was great but the regular tuna had a matt texture... I would suggest ordering this earlier in the evening so its freshly cut.  Was a bit fishy if you know what I mean. 

The tuna sat on a bed of what Japanese raddish called Daikon... add a little soy sauce and eat it like a salad.  Its very juicy. 

Restroom on the 2nd floor... male and female shared.

A little warning sign.  If you dirty the restroom you will be fined so mind your manners.

Tatami room on 2F with some tables.  Might be nice for a cozy gathering.

Overall very cozy, the staff never smiled but very attentive.  If you want to overload yourself on Tuna its a must.  But I suggest ordering other non-Tuna items as it can get a bit overwhelming. 

This shop is just 1 stop from Ikebukuro Station on the Seibu Ikebukuro 

I went back a week later to try the Fresh Lemon Sour!

They give you a whole lemon you squeeze into the sour.  Yum!

And of course I had to try the maguro katsu.  

Restaurant: Oguro No Maguro Honten

Restaurant J: おぐろのまぐろ 本店

Homepage: https://www.oguronomaguro.jp/

Tabelog Foodie: https://tabelog.com/tokyo/A1321/A132101/13217535/

Address J: 東京都豊島区長崎1-4-17

Address E: Tokyo, Toshima-ku, Nagasaki 1-4-17

Google MAP: https://goo.gl/maps/GE7MKdj2dB9fWjzr9

おぐろのまぐろ 本店, 西武池袋線 椎名町, 椎名町駅, Japan, Japanese, Tokyo, foodie, iphone 10, sony rx100, bar, pub, standing, izakaya, restaurant, sushi, sashimi, sake, beeru, 立ち飲み,　池袋、Tokyobelly, yelp, 

SENAGA ISLAND (NAHA, OKINAWA): Oyaji No Maguro for their not so Hawaian Style Poke! Or was it? (Sony RX100)

I've visited relatives in Okinawa occasionally but litte did I know there is an Island with a clear view of planes and fighter jets taking off from Naha Airport. Had to do visit Senagajima!

On the far end of the island there are rows of restaurants extending 4 floors and all overlooking a very wide view of the ocean called Umikaji Terrace.  Due to covid it 19was very empty but so many choices.

I'm a huge fan of Hawaiian Style Poke and unusually there are only a handfull of restaurants serving this dish in Tokyo.  A sign outside said all the tuna used here was fresh (not frozen). 

Ok!  Ahi Poke Rice set for me 1250 yen (1,375 with Tax). 

Only in Okinawa have I seen umi-budo (Sea Grapes) in small fish bowls.

Presentation was definitely spot on.  The seasoned tuna sat on a bed of sushi rice (hints of vinegar) with fresh slices of avocado all around.  And came with a raw egg to mix into the tuna... I kinda skipped that part... it didn't seem very Hawaiian.

This fish was definitely fresh.

BUT after a few bites this was NOT Hawaiian Poke but rather Zukemaguro (sweet soy sauce marinated tuna) that is served at regular sushi shops.  I don't mind having a few pieces of Zuke-Maguro sushi but this was like having 10 pieces of it and the sweetness was very overwheming.  I was about to give up half way thru.  If you want to see Poke done right visit this link of my Hawaii adventure: 

http://tokyobelly.blogspot.com/2019/08/honolulu-battle-of-4-poke-bows-ono.html

Some examples of Zuke Maguro... this is from Taito Soba in Naha.

https://tokyobelly.blogspot.com/2017/01/miebashi-station-okinawa-taito-okinawan.html

... and a pic from my favorite standing sushi spot in Nakano, Tokyo.

https://tokyobelly.blogspot.com/2020/01/nakano-tachi-standing-sushi-yokocho.html

If you like Zuke-Maguro or Poke without sweet onions, sesame oil and chopped green onions this might be for you.  But my expectations were high due to living in Hawaii for a few years.  The female chef was friendly and Tuna super fresh so why not?  It just wasn't for me.

Restaurant: Oyaji No Maguro

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/umikajiterrace/

Tabelog Foodie: https://tabelog.com/okinawa/A4704/A470401/47016585/

Address J: 沖縄県豊見城市瀬長174-6 瀬長島ウミカジテラス

Address E: Okinawa, Tomigusuku, Senaga 174-6, Umikaji Terrace.

MAP: https://goo.gl/maps/5nS7RH8RSshuTdiCA

親父のまぐろ, 魚介料理, 海鮮料理, おやじのまぐろ, 瀬長島ウミカジテラス, 赤嶺駅, Japan, Japanese, Oki, Naha, Foodie, Yelp, Sony Rx100, lunch, dinner, sunset, tokyobelly, hawaii, poke, seafood, sushi, sashimi, maguro, tuna, アヒポキ