another celebration dinner but this time for my brother's birthday. what a lucky week for him.
i had not been back to shunji for several years but i remember my first experience being quite memorable. they are known for their sushi and sashimi due to the high quality but they also have other amazing dishes. this time as we were still celebrating we ordered the omakase menu, which including sushi and sashimi.
kumquat jelly, brie marinated with miso, braised octopus and daikon skewer, gobo, steamed asparagus with miso vinegar, and dashi with sesame tofu. i think the favorites were the kumquat jelly, brie, octopus and asparagus.
bluefin toro, bluefin tuna, and searobin. the toro and tuna were undoubtedly delicious, so buttery and soft, the toro just melts in your mouth. the sea robin was also very tasty, they had also fried the skin which was really interesting, a nice added crunch and slight fattiness.
fried oyster wrapped in prosciutto. i had never thought of frying an oyster then wrapping it up in PROSCIUTTO but it really worked. you get the saltiness from the prosciutto, the crispiness from the fried outside, and the slight sweetness and chewiness from the oyster. this is really a great idea, a truly simple dish with just a few ingredients but executed very well.
steamed red snapper, japanese dashi sauce and vegetables. the dashi was good, but sadly we found the dish to be a bit boring and truly unfortunate the fish was overcooked and dry.
adashi tomato. this is one of their signature dishes and i completely understand why. it definitely has the same texture and taste as adashi tofu, i have no idea how they did it but it was pretty amazing. a must order and a must try, you will not be disappointed.
an assortment of roasted green tea, wild berry, cherry blossom, and orange ice cream
asparagus leaf with egg and crab egg. as i am allergic to crab i skipped out on this dish, but it seemed everyone enjoyed this dish. it looked very rich and creamy with all that crab and fish eggs.
black snapper, sea bream, japanese barracuda, amberjack, and japanese mackerel. well the picture doesn't do much justice as they all appear to look very similar however the tastes were far from similar. the quality of the fish is really first class, the taste and texture were so different but so appetizing.
blue fin toro, snapper, scallop, seasonal japanese trout, and sea urchin. i think this was my favorite plate of sushi as two of my favorites are on this plate, toro and uni. nothing else really needs to be said about this.
seasonal yellowtail, wild black snapper, and rosy sea bass. these also look quite similar, pinker than the previous sushis but still quite delicious. overall the sushi was excellent, however we were slightly dissatisfied with the sushi rice, the chef had chosen to use brown rice which maybe is a bit healthier but easier to fall apart.
it was another great and memorable meal at shunji. as their main focus is sushi and sashimi and if that is what you like then this is the place to go without costing an arm and leg. the quality is high but as the place is pretty casual and low key, you don't need to then pay for the fancy decor or prime location as some of the other top end sushi restaurants. you do not have to order the omakase, they always have daily specials that change seasonally.