Sushiyo Masa (Tokyo) - the sushi thread to end all - amateur hour is over

[carendt242]

there are many great sushi restaurants in Tokyo; there are 3-5 that are known to be "the best" (possibly just institutions at this point); and there are probably 5-10 that are completely under the radar with young hungry chefs who are changing the game.

this is under the radar. 7 seats, unmarked doorway with just a red curtain on a busy street that leads to a basement. 1 sushi guy, 1 host/helper, 1 cook in the back. there are no white people around. it took one 20 minute phone call (bad english, worse japanese), 3 faxes, and 1 fluent friend to finally get this reservation right.

you sit down, shut up, and say "everything" when he asks you in fractured english - "what can you eat?" (if you say anything else, you shouldn't be there.) frankly, i'm shocked he let me take pictures (once i got the nerve to ask.)

this is about as good as it gets - those "best" names *might* be better, so I'll call this the CGT of sushi meals. Urasawa (LA), Masa (NYC), Sawa (Bay)? they might be Turbo's compared to this. the difference is unbelievable.


no captions, this won't appear on my blog for at least a month, if you find yourself going to Tokyo, PM me for the coordinates.

swordfish - slightly grilled - the layer of fat between the skin and meat was one of the top 10 things i've ever ate


wild eel - the sh** that passes for eel in america is an embarassment. i never really liked eel til i had some in japan.


tuna - see above.


grilled toro - see above.


toro - stunning - it melted in your mouth but, more importantly, it had the full flavor of tuna

[carendt242]

there is no equivalent in America (and probably not the world.)

- chuck

[Darnell]

I can't wait to show this thread to my gf. Just wow!

[StreetPreacher]

That looks amazing Chuck! One question though. Is there anything you won't (can't) eat?

My first meal in Tokyo started with a salad that was topped with a cube of tofu, and I think I went through an entire beer just trying to get it down without getting nauseous. I wanted to be respectful to my host, and the chef so I managed to force the tofu down, but man was it a chore! The rest of the 5, 6? course meal was amazing though.

So I guess the real question is; are there any foods that you really don't like, and have to struggle to get down when on one of these excursions?

[eshaun]

sounds amazing chuck, after joining you at sawa can only imagine lol

[iLLGT2]

WOWWWWWW, I just came from sushi, one of the best places I have been too (in NY)

And as you say, it's utter garbage probably compared to that, so jealous :/

[C-M2]

Wow Chuck! I bet that was one of your best meals yet. The food looks so fresh!

[carendt242]

StreetPreacher - tofu cubes? two things i've had that grossed me out were:
a) seacucumber intestine at Urasawa - super slimy and salty, but he was knowingly testing my limits
b) a monkfish stomach at Morimoto - yes, a stomach, felt like a rubber ball, tasted like... a stomach... this was also a challenge since i boldly proclaimed i would eat anything but seacucumber intestine... (i've since learned my lesson )

C-M2 - this was wayyyyy up there - probably #4 or so all-time.


- chuck

[Itzkirb]

That looks yummy...what was the damage $?

[doughsun]

Wow

Thanks for the awesome post Chuck. Can't wait until the next time I'm in Tokyo to hit this place up! I'm assuming finding and getting into the place would be much easier if I had a local Japanese buddy (tokyo-based)to go with? I will talk to you for sure before my next trip there!

I'm thinking about hitting up Sawa again in a couple of weeks since you last took us there. I can't stop thinking about it