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Friday, December 27, 2019

OIZUMI GAKUEN: Marutatsu Sushi revisited 8 years later and it was NOT memorable... so sad. (Sony RX100)

My last visit with Mari was back in 2011 for dinner and it was such a great delicious value and I just had to return for lunch. 

Lunch specials are pictured outside and they also are servicing Oysters here.. only 190 yen per.

Rare to see a sushi shop with at TV.

L shaped counter seating and 2nd floor for bigger groups.

Here we go!  I just went with the basic sushi set with rolls 880 yen (962 with tax).

Pre-made salads in the sushi showcase...hmm...

Salad was a bit aged.  

This was yum!  Warm cup of tofu or maybe seasoned egg whites?

Here we go!  I started with the Ika (squid) and it was sooooo chewy... felt like I was trying to cut into rubber. Then went for the Tuna that was incredibly light pink... MUSH! No texture at all.  I was about to give up but couldn't leave too many pieces on my plate.  Everything was just so bad. 

Miso soup came with the lunch set. 


In the sushi showcase everything was pre-cut.  Normally they will slice the blocks of fish as you order.  The quality was at or below anything you can buy at the supermarket... Won't be back.

Restaurant: Marutatsu Sushi
Address J: 東京都練馬区東大泉4-1-5
Address E: Tokyo, Nerima-ku, Higashi Oizumi 4-1-5

すし処 まる辰 , まるたつ, 寿司, 魚介料理, 海鮮料理, 居酒屋, 大泉学園駅, Japan, Japanese, Sony Rx100, foodie, yelp, tabelog, sashimi, sake, beer, lunch, dinner, sushi, maguro, chutoro

Wednesday, December 25, 2019

NERIMA: Tonkatsu Matsuya... OMG their Burger plate lunch is soooo filling!! Gotta try!! (Sony RX100)

So as usual I went out drinking... had a full meal... then some appetizers and drinks... so I totally forgot I ate all that and found another restaurant to close the night on a budget.  No wonder I gain weight.

I love burgers and saw this Gochisou-Hamburguuu for 750 yen... OK I'm in!

You can select English in this push button ordering machine.

11:30pm on Christmas Eve and its super quiet... of course!  



Great thing is many of the items are pictured.

Just 3 girls...



Lots of salad dressings and sauces.

Wow... wasn't expecting this volume for 750 yen.


This burger... hambagaaa... meat loaf?  Was sooo flavorful!  I never get full at Japanese restaurants but this massive portion of beef was sooooo satisfying.  I couldn't finish.


If you are on a budget in Japan and enjoy eating alot of delicious food then give Matsuya a try!  Better than McD's or KFC!!

Restaurant: Tonkatsu Matsuya Nerima Branch
Address J: 東京都練馬区豊玉北5-19-12
Address E: Tokyo, Nerima-ku, Toyotamakita 5-19-12
 MAP: https://goo.gl/maps/6pNKUPhdKSPb1F6V9

とんかつ松乃家 練馬店, 松八, とんかつ, 西武池袋線, 練馬駅, Japan, Japanese, Tokyo, cheap, sony rx100, yelp, foodie. tokyobelly, nerima. tonkatsu, burgers, hamburger, ekoda, sakuradai, nakamurabashi, beer, cheap, lunch, dinner

IKEBUKURO: Sushi Zanmai on Christmas Eve but Maguro increased from 158 yen to 198 yen! (Sony RX100)

I couldn't make it back to the US for Christmas so at time when my foreign friends go away and Christmas Eve is such a date night in Tokyo.... I head to my nearest Sushizanmai alone. :(


Great how everything is pictured... There are so many tourists in Japan now that the waitresses no longer try to speak to you in Japanese as they assume you are visiting.  Just point!


Always a fan of Tuna or Negi-toro rolls.


If you need wasabi just ask the chef "wasabi kudasai" as its not normally added to the sushi.




TUNA!  It was 158 yen last year but bumped up to 198 yen.  Though the Chu-Toro is still 298 yen.


Gotta get the Egg sushi... sweet flavor and filling.



Seems you can order take-out too.  He was preparing a bento box but could be for customers at drinking locations like Cabakura or Ladies Bar.



3 Chefs... all busy.


Neighboring Salarymen. 


Then this elderly guy sat next to me.  Lots of lone diners.

10:45pm and the staff was all smiles.  


If in Ikebukuro or in most Tokyo locations if in need of sushi the Sushi-Zanmai chain never disappoints.  The president of this company paid $3 million for the 1st tuna of 2019 and he surely will be in the running again for 2020.  Oh!  The $3 million changed the life of that elderly fisherman.
My Previous Visit in 6/2018:

Restautant: Sushi Zanmai Ikebukuro Branch
Address J:  東京都豊島区南池袋1-27-8
Address E: Tokyo., Toshima-ku. Minamai Ikebukuro 1-27-8
すしざんまい 池袋東口店, 寿司、魚介料理・海鮮料理、海鮮丼, Sony RX100, Yelp, Tokyobelly, beer, sake, cheap, sushi, sashimi, tea, foodie, last train, 24 hours, last train, breakfast, lunch, dinner