Saturday, March 28, 2009

Urasawa (Beverly Hills, CA) [4]

Urasawa
218 N Rodeo Dr, Beverly Hills, CA 90210
310.247.8939
www.fooddigger.com/RestaurantDetail.aspx?id=11155 (FoodDigger, restaurant has no web site)
Sat 03/28/2009, 06:10p-12:10a




This was actually my fourth visit to Urasawa. For my previous visits, see October 2008, May 2008, and November 2006. Joining me this time were Aaron of Food Destination (the organizer of the dinner), Brian of FoodDigger, Danny of Kung Food Panda, Mike of Right Way to Eat, and Will of FoodDigger, among others.

At Urasawa, you're pretty much a "regular" if you come more than once a year, so I guess that makes me one. I found out that I'm somewhat well-known around the place, as Yoshie-san (Hiro-san's sister and a waitress at the restaurant) exclaimed "Kevin-san" upon seeing me (she didn't know I was coming, as Aaron made the reservation). They're also quite aware of kevinEats.com, and even mentioned that a week earlier, a customer came in as a result of viewing this site!

Fish Case Hiro-san Raiding the Case
Above we see the fish case at the beginning of the night. We see various cuts of tuna in front, with snapper, mackerel, and various shellfish in the back. In hindsight, I should've gotten an "after" shot of the case; it was nearly cleaned out at the end of the night.

Drink Menu Page 1: Sake Bottle Drink Menu Page 2: Champagne, Red Wine
Drink Menu Page 3: White Wine, White Wine Half Bottle Drink Menu Page 4: Small Sake, Beer, Soft Drinks, Bottled Water
The beverage menu is shown above; click for larger versions. Especially worth noting is the sake list, which has grown considerably since my first visit. New sakes this time included the Hiroki from Fukushima, the Gin from Gifu, the Genroku from Ibaragi, the Tokugetsu from Niigata, the Isojiman from Shizuoka, and the highly sought after Juyondai from Yamagata. Gone were the Kunigiku and the Fukukomachi (which I had last time). We even got to find out what the "special sake" was all about (more on that later). One area that I find lacking is the beer selection, which only has the three major Japanese breweries represented: Asahi, Kirin, and Sapporo. I'd really love to see some more interesting beers such as Echigo, Hitachino, Orion, Otaru, or even Yebisu (Sapporo's premium brand).

Toro Senmai Maki Hiro-san and Ken-san Prepare the Toro Senmai Maki
1. Toro-Senmaizuke Maki - This dish consisted of ankimo (monkfish liver), shiso, and scallion wrapped in seared toro and senmai-zuke (salt-pickled shogoin kabu turnip from Kyoto), topped with caviar, all in a light citrus ponzu sauce. The initial taste was sweet on the attack (a combination of the senmai-zuke and the sauce), which then gave way to the mintiness of the shiso mixed with the creaminess of the ankimo on the midpalate, finally finishing with a slight fishiness. The ankimo really did a lot to temper out the tanginess of the other ingredients, adding weight and depth to the dish. Amazingly, the caviar took a back seat here, with its signature brininess countered by the dish's other elements. A very cohesive, balanced course.

Harushika Shiboribana Junmai-Ginjo Namasake
We brought plenty of booze of our own, but decided to kick things off drink-wise with a sake, specifically the Harushika "Shiboribana" Junmai-Ginjo Namazake [$80], from Nara Prefecture. Namazake is, of course, unpasteurized sake and thus requires refrigeration (FYI: pasteurization is a process of heating the sake to around 150°F, meant to reduce the number of pathogens present and also to stabilize certain enzymes). Namazake generally has a younger, brisker, more in-your-face taste compared to other varieties. The example here was notable sweet, viscous, bold, brash, with a hot finish. Quite nice!

Goma Tofu Hiro-san Hands Off the Goma Tofu
2. Goma Dofu - Despite the name, goma tofu, or sesame tofu, isn't actually tofu. Instead, it's an amalgam made from water, sesame paste, and kudzu/kuzu powder (from the root of the kudzu vine). Here, the Kyoto-style tofu was stuffed with uni, served with nanohana (rapeseed stems, a type of Spring vegetable), and topped with wasabi and gold foil. The goma dofu was denser and creamier than standard tofu, and had a definite sesame finish to it. We were told to spread out the wasabi--good advice, as its tang served as a fitting contrast to the delicate tofu. The nanohana, meanwhile, was like a cross between broccoli and kale, and added a lovely crisp texture contrast to the dish, as well as a subtle bitterness.

Hotaru Ika
3. Hotaru Ika - Also known as the firefly squid or the sparkling enope squid, hotaruika are a regional specialty of Toyama Prefecture. The squid are small, about three inches in length at maturity, and are bioluminescent. We were instructed to place the squid in our mouths, drink some sake, and chew the resulting mishmash. The hotaruika's sharp, briny, gingery flavor was deftly countered by the relative sweetness of the sake. I also had this on my second visit.

1979 Lanson Champagne Brut We Toast the Lanson
Will brought a magnum of the 1979 Lanson Champagne Brut (50/50 Chardonnay/Pinot Noir) for us all to enjoy. And enjoy we did! Despite the wine's age, it still had a great apple nose and subtle hints of fruit on the palate, backed by an undertone of toast and yeast. The Lanson also had a lovely, round, creamy texture and was surprisingly delicious while being fully mature. I actually likened it to the fantastic 1978 Dom Perignon we had at Shibucho. As seen in the video above, Hiro-san seemed to enjoy it too!

Hiro-san and Ken-san Prepare the Sashimi Course Hiro-san Makes Put the Final Touches on the Sashimi
Sashimi Sashimi
4. Sashimi - The sashimi course, served in a hard-carved block of ice, is one of the constants in the Urasawa experience; see the video above for a clip of Hiro-san and Ken-san putting together the dish. The trio of fish consisted of toro from Spain, tai from Kyushu, and kanpachi from Toyama. The wasabi from was Shizuoka (famous for its wasabi), the shoyu from Wakayama (the "birthplace" of soy sauce), the carrot from Kyoto, and the orchid from Los Angeles! I didn't inquire about the origins of the red cabbage, white daikon, green daikon, cucumber flower, or seaweed. The toro was immensely fatty and melt-in-your-mouth, with the fish oozing oil upon mastication; but it wasn't heavy--in fact, the flavor was very mild. Eating the fish with the soy and wasabi really made the toro work, with the two elements countering the unctuousness of the fish. I had the snapper next; it had an almost creamy texture, and a very mild, clean flavor. The tai really needed the wasabi to bring out its best features. Finally, the kanpachi had a fantastic texture, tender with a bit of bite, and its flavor was marked by a very subtle sweetness, one that was drawn out when eating it with its accompaniments.

Chawanmushi Hiro-san Mixes Aaron's Chawanmushi
5. Chawanmushi - Though this was referred to as chawanmushi (basically a steamed egg custard), its transparent body was unlike that any other chawanmushi I've seen, with a consistency more akin to gelatin than egg. The dish contained a bevy of ingredients, including: yuba (tofu skin), mitsuba (a type of vegetable), hairy crab, squash, uni, snapper, shrimp, ginger, ginko, and shiitake, all topped with a touch of gold foil. With so many disparate ingredients, each bite was different, each bite a pleasant surprise. However, all bites were backed by an overarching light smokiness, the tang of ginger, and the subtle bitterness of the mitsuba. I don't hesitate in saying that this was probably the best chawanmushi I've ever had. In the photo above, we can see Hiro-san mixing up Aaron's!

Ken-san Grates Some Fresh Wasabi
In this video, we see Ken-san prepping wasabi root with his shark skin oroshigane grater.

Tempura Tempura
6. Spring Vegetable Tempura - Your standard tempura ingredients won't cut it at Urasawa; no, I was able to try three that I'd never tasted before, all seasonal and best in the spring time. First up was taranome (young shoots of the aralia elata/Japanese angelica/tara tree), which had just come into season. It was prepared with an uni sauce and had a meaty texture, with a slightly bitter flavor. Next was fukinoto, the buds of the fuki/giant butterbur/coltsfoot/bog rhubarb. It was done with Kyoto miso, giving the tempura just a hint of sweetness, and had a creamy, pasty texture that was fascinating. Last but not least was a tempura of bamboo sandwiched with shrimp paste. I loved the texture contrast here (the crispness of the bamboo was awesome), as well as the subtle interplay between the flavors of the bamboo and the shrimp. As with most tempura, the examples here were served with tentsuyu dipping sauce (made from shoyu, mirin, and dashi) and grated daikon. Humorously, Ken-san nearly jumped across the counter when he saw me eating the tempura sans sauce! I had to assure him I just wanted to try a small bite without the tentsuyu, just to see how it was.

Nihonbashi Daiginjo Sake Hiro-san Likes the 'Gold Medal' Sake
For our next drink, we opened up a bottle of daiginjo-class sake Brian had purchased in Japan, one that had won a gold medal in the 2007 National Sake Competition in Japan. It was called Nihonbashi, or "Japanese bridge," and was produced by Yokota Brewery in Saitama Prefecture, under the watch of toji, or head brewer, Kiyoaki Takahashi, a member of the influential Nanbu toji group from Iwate Prefecture. Having someone from this group is a mark of honor, and the brewer's name will often be listed on labels of high-end sake, as it was here. It any case, it was smooth, subtle, delicate, and delicious. Hiro-san seemed to really enjoy this one as well; in the video, we hear him exclaiming "So good!" upon tasting it.

Kani Miso Korayaki Kani Miso Korayaki
7. Kani Miso Korayaki - This consisted of Hokkaido kegani (horsehair crab or hairy crab) meat and its kani miso (internal organs), topped with uni and mitsuba, all cooked in the crab's shell over a hibachi. The dish's aroma was intoxicating, and the flavor was simply the most intensely "crabby" I'd ever experienced, really imbuing me with the pure essence of crab, punctuated by the soft creaminess of the uni and the bitterness of mitsuba. This was my favorite course of this entire meal and arguably the best crab dish I've ever tasted.

Saga Beef Saga Beef
8. Saga Beef - This was Wagyu beef from Saga Prefecture on Kyushu island, cooked for two days in sake and shoyu, and served with daikon, scallion, and snow peas. The result of this extended cooking session was an incredibly soft and tender texture. I literally was able to eat this without chewing, instead using my tongue to mash the beef against the roof of my mouth! Flavor-wise, this had a distinct sweetness to it, which was expertly offset by the use of the scallion and snow peas; the veggies were also key in providing some textural contrast to the dish. I actually had this same course on my third visit.

Hiro-san and Ken-san Crack Some Shrimp Ken-san Shows Off a Dancing Amaebi
In these videos, we see Hiro-san and Ken-san preparing live shrimp (botan ebi I believe) for the shabu shabu course to follow.

Ken-san Readies the Shabu Shabu Hiro-san Plates the Shabu Shabu
Shabu Shabu Shabu Shabu
Shabu Shabu Shabu Shabu
9. Shabu Shabu - The shabu shabu course is always one of the most highly anticipated courses at Urasawa. This time, we had amaebi, Saga beef, and foie gras. The sweet shrimp and foie were the first to go into the pot. The shrimp was cooked quickly, resulting in a crisp, snappy texture, and when dipped in the ponzu sauce, had a great sweet-salty interplay. The beef went in next, and after some light cooking, we ate it with the kombu kelp--it turned out remarkably tender, and really soaked up the sweetness of the ponzu. Finally, it was time for the foie gras, which requires the longest cooking time. The result was fantastic, as expected--rich, decadent, subtle yet profound. In fact, Aaron mentioned that it was better than any seared preparation he's had. Note the new hibachi with its metal bowl; in all my previous visits, we'd made use of one with a paper bowl. When I inquired, I was told that the paper version would be brought out when summer draws near.

Shabu Shabu Broth
10. Shabu Shabu Broth - The shabu shabu broth is always a treat. An interesting anecdote: early in the night, we saw Hiro-san tasting some sort of liquid multiple times. When we inquired, it turns out he was taste testing the broth, which he adjusts to account for the body size of the diner. He said that we were all pretty "skinny" so I guess no major adjustments needed to be made! In any case, the base of the broth is dashi and kombu, but the key is that the soup absorbs the multitude of flavors of the ingredients that are cooked in it. Its flavor was sharp and intense, yet not overpowering, saturated with the heady, hearty essence of the foie gras.

Hiro-san Unwraps the Ichigin Hiro-san Offers His Best Bottle
In the video above, we see Hiro-san unwrapping and presenting a very special sake to us: Ichigin. Its quality is apparent just by looking at the packaging--I don't think I've ever seen sake come in its own wooden box. Apparently, this sake is incredibly difficult to acquire in the States; the few bottles Hiro-san has were given to him by his mother Yoko when she visited from Japan. This is the "special sake" mentioned on the menu--now you know!

Saito Shuzo Eikun Ichigin Junmai-Daiginjo Sake
I thought that was the end of it, but unbeknownst to me, Brian and Will had secretly purchased the bottle, for a staggering $350 (thanks guys!). Eikun "Ichigin" is a junmai-daiginjo class sake brewed by Saito Shuzo in Kyoto Prefecture, one that's won gold medals at Japan's National Sake Competition for 11 consecutive years. It's made from the famous yamada nishiki rice (polished to a seimai-buai of only 35%) and shiragiku-sui spring water. The result was marvelous--arguably the best sake I've tasted. It had a delicate fruitiness as expected from a daiginjo, but the flavor of rice was present as well. The aroma was light, floral, and juicy, and this continued onto the attack, imbued with a subtle sweetness. After this initial impression, things got more complex, with the drier side of the sake coming into play, showing off the characteristics of its rice, alcohol, and water. Faultless.

Gari
When the gari comes out, you know that the gauntlet of sushi is about to begin. The ginger this time seemed sweeter and softer than in visits past.

Toro Hiro-san Makes Toro Nigiri
11. Toro / Tuna Belly - Unlike pretty much any other sushi chef, Hiro-san likes to start out with toro. I'm not complaining, as his toro is always decadently fatty, unctuous, and rich, with the wasabi adding a touch of heat to accent the fish. This is, quite simply, the best toro I've had in the States (the #1 spot belongs to Kyubey in Tokyo). In the video, we can see the artistry involved in creating a piece of toro nigiri.

Seared Kama Toro
12. Seared Kama Toro / Tuna Collar - Kama toro is a cut of tuna from the fish's collar area, of comparable fattiness to toro (from the belly), but much rarer. It's something that I've only had at Urasawa. The kama toro had a richer taste and fattier complexion than standard toro, and its flavor was punctuated by a light smokiness imparted by the searing. Excellent.

Kanpachi
13. Kanpachi / Amberjack - Kanpachi is related to the common yellowtail, and as a result, it's somewhat similar in flavor, though sweeter, less oily, and more tender. Delicate and refined, kanpachi isn't terribly distinctive or in-your-face, though it certainly is delicious.

2006 Aubert Chardonnay Lauren Vineyard Kanpai!
California Chardonnay isn't something I normally pair with sushi, so I was curious about how this 2006 Aubert Chardonnay Lauren Vineyard from my personal collection would turn out. The nose was marked by juicy citrus, apple, and stone fruit notes, which continued onto the palate, where those flavors were joined by light tinges of minerals and wood, finishing long with refreshing crisp acidity and absolutely no heat to give away its 15.8% weight. I usually don't care for Chards, especially California ones, but this was superb--probably the best Cal Chard I've ever had.

Aji
14. Aji / Spanish Mackerel - Aji has become one of my favorite sushi fish, and this reminded me why. Mackerel can be overpowering at times, but that wasn't an issue here. It had a subtle fishiness to it, which was countered and complemented by the wasabi. Great snappy texture on this one too.

Tai Hiro-san Makes a Pair of Tai Nigiri
15. Tai / Snapper - From Kyushu. A perfect piece of tai, the fish had a great snap to it and a mild flavor that was heightened by the use of yuzu zest. In the video above, we see Hiro-san preparing two pieces of tai nigiri.

Hon Maguro
16. Hon Maguro / Bluefin Tuna - The quintessential expression of tuna. Maguro rarely stands out, but this is about as good as it gets. The tuna's flavor was straightforward and clean, well-accented by the wasabi.

2000 Louis Roederer Champagne Cristal Brut Hiro-san Sips the Cristal
The second bottle I brought was the 2000 Louis Roederer Champagne Cristal Brut, which I also had on my second visit. As expected, the wine showed typical citrus, honey, and floral notes, along with a nice minerality and a touch more toast than I'd expected. The video shows Hiro-san clinking glasses with the entire party. Cristal: always a good decision.

Shima Aji
17. Shima Aji / Striped Jack - This was actually my favorite fish on my second visit, and though it didn't reach quite the same heights this time, it was still lovely, with a fresh, light flavor highlighted by a wasabi finish. The most distinctive thing about the shima aji wasn't its flavor, but its great crunchy texture.

Shiitake
18. Shiitake - Shiitake has shown up on every Urasawa visit so far, and yet, I've not had it at any other restaurant. The mushroom had a strong, smoky, earthy flavor (reminding me of a Chinese-style preparation) that stood in stark contrast to the vinegared rice and spicy wasabi.

Shiro Ebi
19. Shiro Ebi / White Shrimp - Tiny shrimp from Toyama Prefecture, where they're a regional specialty. Consisting of over a dozen shrimp, the nigiri broke apart instantly upon mastication, spreading the shrimps' sweet creaminess everywhere. Gina really liked this one, though I must say that a large, single piece of shrimp is my preference.

Seki Saba Hiro-san Serves Up Seki Saba
20. Seki Saba / Japanese Mackerel - As with its cousin seki aji, seki saba is considered the crème de la crème when it comes to mackerel. Seki saba is caught in the Bungo Channel (a strait that separates Kyushu from Shikoku) off the coast of Oita Prefecture. Now normally, seki mackerel has a very fine, delicate flavor that I find simply fantastic. Unfortunately, this didn't live up to my expectations, which I think was my fault, as I let the fish sit too long. Typically, I'll eat the sushi within seconds of it being served to me, but in this case, I happened to get distracted by a side conversation and let the fish sit for over a minute. The result was a taste that was duller, blunter, less refined that it should've been, with a texture that was drier and tougher. Hiro-san has a 10-second rule for a reason; stick to it! I know I will next time. See the video for a clip of Hiro-san shaping a piece of seki saba for Will.

Kimura Junmai-Daiginjo Sake
Our cups were empty yet again, so we purchased a bottle of the Kimura Junmai-Daiginjo Sake [$110] from Akita Prefecture. Light, dry, and smooth, it was a lovely sake, but one that paled in comparison to the previous two that we had.

Awabi Hiro-san Cuts Thin Slices of Awabi, Then Scores It With His Knife
21. Awabi / Abalone - Often times, abalone can be too tough, but that wasn't the case here. The mollusk, shipped from Japan, had just the right amount of snap to it, and its briny flavor was set off nicely by the application of yuzu zest. In the video above, we see Hiro-san cutting slices of abalone; note how he tenderizes the abalone by scoring it with his knife.

Mirugai
22. Mirugai / Geoduck - Also known as the king clam or elephant trunk clam, the mirugai had a definite crunch to it, yet was yielding to the bite as well. The flavor was sweeter than that of the abalone, and was nicely contrasted by the use of wasabi.

Aji No Tataki
23. Aji No Tataki / Chopped Spanish Mackerel - Another type of nigiri exclusive to Urasawa, this consisted of diced aji mixed with shiso, ginger, Kyoto miso, and scallions. Rather than being fishy, the nigiri had a light sweetness from the miso, which was countered by the sharp tang of shiso, ginger, and scallion. Very nice.

Gyusashi Hiro-san Cuts and Tenderizes Saga Beef...
24. Gyusashi / Beef - The first thing that hit me here was the zesty flavor of the grated yuzu skin; this then gave the way to the sweet flavor of the lightly cooked, slightly chewy meat, after which the wasabi came to the fore. Always a crowd pleaser! See the video for a clip of Hiro-san cutting and tenderizing the meat.

Negi-Toro Maki Hiro-san Makes a Negi-Toro Maki Roll...
25. Negi-Toro Maki - The only rolled sushi one typically get at Urasawa is the negi-toro maki, made of toro, negi (leek), and takuan (pickled daikon). The bitter leek was a wonderful complement to the heavy toro, and the daikon pickles gave the roll a slightly sour flavor, as well as a refreshing crunch. In the video above, we see the process of constructing this roll.

2005 Domaine des Comtes Lafon Meursault Clos de la Barre
Our final bottle of the night was the 2005 Domaine des Comtes Lafon Meursault Clos de la Barre, brought by Brian. I'm usually not too keen on white Burgundy, but this was superb. The wine had a refreshing crispness and dryness, backed by notes of minerals, apple, vanilla, and stone fruit. Wonderfully acidic, the finish was long, sweet, and gravelly, with a bit of heat as well.

Anago Hiro-san Prepares the Anago
26. Anago / Sea Eel - I've had anago on all three of my Urasawa trips, which I believe has helped convert me from unagi. You won't find unagi at Urasawa (at least not in nigiri form), as freshwater eel is traditionally not used as a sushi ingredient, due to its fattier, heavier consistency. This was the strongest anago amongst all my visits; the eel was lean and light in body, yet flavorful, and was accented by yuzu and a dollop of sweet sauce. The video above shows Hiro-san preparing pieces of nigiri using the grilled eel.

Tamago Hiro-san Slices the Tamago
27. Tamago / Egg Omelet - Tamago always signals the end of the sushi at Urasawa. Here, it's always made in-house, in a style that's completely different than what you'd see elsewhere. You'll find that the tamago is light, spongy, fluffy, and cake-like, with a flavor that's indeed eggy, but also quite sweet. In the photo above, we can see the makiyakinabe pan that the tamago is prepared in.

Papaya and Yamamomo
28. Papaya and Yamamomo - When I saw this, I thought that it was just a piece of sliced papaya. I was wrong fortunately; instead, what we had was a grapefruit gelée that had somehow been melded on a slice of papaya. The effect was that the sour essence of grapefruit permeated the milder flavor of the papaya, creating a nice balance. The other component here was yamamomo, a.k.a. mountain peach or bayberry. It's flavor was interesting--tart but almost savory.

Goma Pudding
29. Goma Pudding - This was a sesame pudding, topped with a layer of red bean paste, sprinkled with chestnuts, sesame seeds, and topped with gold foil. Very nice; this had a great base of sesame flavor, accented by the sweetness of red bean, while the chestnuts added a bit of nuttiness as well as a pleasing crunch to the whole amalgam.

Matcha
30. Matcha - With dessert came a cup of matcha, a type of powdered green tea often used in Japanese tea ceremonies. It had a strong, bitter flavor that balanced the sweetness of the desserts, as well as a thick, grainy texture.

Hojicha
31. Hojicha - A roasted green tea, hojicha signals the close of a meal at Urasawa. I'm usually not a tea drinker, but I always make room for a few cups of this (you get free refills).

Hiro-san Demonstrates His $2,000 Hamo Honegiri Knife
This video was my favorite from the entire meal. In it, Hiro-san demonstrates the sharpness of his hamo honegiri knife. Hamo is a type of eel (I had it on my third visit), one that has bones embedded into its flesh in such a way that removal is not viable. Instead, one uses a hamo honegiri to slice the bones into ultrafine pieces so that the eel is edible. In this day and age, I'm glad that there's still room for extravagances like this: a $2,000 knife that's only used for one very specialized purpose.

Bill
I believe the bill must have set a group record, though the per person record remains Joël Robuchon. Note that corkage was $50 per bottle of wine ($100 for the magnum), but $70 per bottle of sake. I still can't believe we put away $160 worth of water!

Group Photo
Denny, Gina, Kevin, Brian, Hiro-san, Danny, Jan, Aaron, Yoko, Will, Mike.

Over the course of dinner, Hiro-san asked me if I'd been to a few restaurants, such as French Laundry, Joël Robuchon, and even The Bazaar. Apparently, José Andrés had called Urasawa the best restaurant in Los Angeles; humorously, he also mentioned that Yoshie-san went to dinner at The Bazaar once, and thought that many of the dishes "tasted strange" (e.g. a dish with toro and apple)! I asked him what restaurants he liked. Names mentioned include Otafuku Noodle House in Gardena for soba and Oumi Sasaya in Lomita for udon. He also likes K-Zo in Culver City, though owner Keizo Ishiba is a friend of his. Hiro-san's favorite cuisine is Japanese, naturally, but behind that is Chinese, which he eats at least twice a week (he likes Sea Harbour in Rosemead and King Hua in Alhambra if I recall). His father actually ran a Chinese restaurant back in Tokyo, so Hiro-san grew up around good food. Though originally from Tokyo, he moved to Kyoto to learn the art of traditional kaiseki cuisine, which is evident in the elaborate courses that precede the sushi. Interestingly, while training in Kyoto, he worked alongside Kenji Kaji, the chef/owner behind Kaji, a restaurant I visited in Kyoto last year.

During our meal, I asked Hiro-san how business was holding up, given the recession and all. Interestingly, he noted that business has not, in fact, slowed. He did mention though that he talked to his old teacher Masa Takayama, Corey Lee, and Michael Cimarusti, and that all three had stated that business had slowed at Masa, Per Se, and Providence, respectively, as a result of the economic slowdown. The fact that Urasawa hasn't experienced declining business, I believe, is a testament to the quality and uniqueness of the restaurant. There's always room for the best right?

49 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

Wow Kevin, don't you get tired of all that delicious toro? :-) Ok, I have a place for you, next time your are down in San Diego. Kaito Sushi. Nothing like Urasawa but this little place serves up some of the most interesting seasonal items I know you would really love. Oh yeah, Morita-san fillets his own fresh Anago, who does that anymore?? It's small, no sign, no real menu. I have been documenting on flickr over the last year. Check it out: http://www.flickr.com/photos/sushimaniac/
Plenty of threads on CH about it too.

Friday, April 10, 2009 10:17:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Another great review Kevin! Thought you would be interested to know, we had the Ichigin when we went in Feb. It was so great, I contacted Eikun. They are in the process of securing a distributor to the states. As of now, the brewery only has one distributor in Canada. I'm crossing my fingers its soon, that sake is incredibly smooth. Cheers, Henry.

Friday, April 10, 2009 10:25:00 AM  
Blogger Big Ghost said...

Wow, amazing! I hope to be a "regular" some day lol. For now, I live vicariously through your posts. :)

Friday, April 10, 2009 10:26:00 AM  
Blogger dara said...

Kevin, i believe the flower in your sashimi course is an orchid, not a lily! That is the only feedback I can offer haha!

Another great recap! YUM!!

Friday, April 10, 2009 11:13:00 AM  
Blogger chuck said...

Awesome review kev!

i just DIGGed your review:
http://digg.com/food_drink/Urasawa_The_Best_Sushi_NOT_in_Japan

-chuck
http://twitter.com/chuckishere

Friday, April 10, 2009 11:39:00 AM  
Blogger Mike D said...

I can't believe this.

I was hanging out with Denny the day of and he told me he was going to Urasawa.

Now low and behond he's on your blog.

Friday, April 10, 2009 1:26:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Simply superb account of your experience. Love the videos too!

Friday, April 10, 2009 2:02:00 PM  
Blogger kevinEats said...

Anonymous#1: I checked out Kaito, and it looks very promising. I'd be especially interested in the anago, given the chatter on CH about Urasawa's. You have some nice photos there as well. Will definitely keep the place in mind when I'm in SD.

Anonymous#2: I've been trying to find a place that sells Ichigin in the States, but to no avail. Please keep us informed.

Big Ghost: It's easier to become a regular here than at most sushi joints, where you have to go every week it seems. ;)

Dara: Ah thanks, I'll be sure to make the change later!

chuck: Thanks Chuck! Gina just sent me the link. ;)

Mike D: Small world man. Turns out Denny knew Jerry, who went with me on my second Urasawa trip. Plus he works where I used to work so we know some of the same people there.

protocolsnow: Thanks! I made sure to get plenty of video this time.

Friday, April 10, 2009 3:02:00 PM  
Blogger H. C. said...

Sounds like a wonderful experience, as always; but now I'm curious as to how the broth would be "adjusted" for a larger person...

Friday, April 10, 2009 3:30:00 PM  
Blogger kevinEats said...

I'm not sure; I should've asked for clarification on that. Perhaps more intensity to the dashi broth by way of increasing the kombu concentration?

Friday, April 10, 2009 4:41:00 PM  
Anonymous ChuckEats said...

Definitely one of your better reviews - lots of good info!

I've had the "special" sake a few times and, yes, it is worthwhile.

And you're a better man than I - once the sushi starts, I more or less stop taking pics - too much to do in too little time!

Friday, April 10, 2009 7:25:00 PM  
Blogger Kung Food Panda said...

I really need to get my Urasawa post up this weekend, I've been procrastinating a bit.

Again, fun times at Urasawa, and I have to say, I love the videos you took of Hiro San and of the dinner. Great post and great info as always. Catch you at Providence at the end of the month bro!

-Danny

Friday, April 10, 2009 11:48:00 PM  
Blogger kevinEats said...

Chuck: Thanks! I can definitely see how you'd forego photos once the gauntlet of sushi commences. And now that I know about the sake, I'll always have to ask to see what Hiro-san has on offer. ;)

Danny: No one's going to fault you for putting Urasawa off. It's a hairy one and took me nearly two weeks to get up. See you at Providence as well!

Saturday, April 11, 2009 2:42:00 AM  
Blogger Food, she thought. said...

Kevin,

Beautiful review! You will be happy to know that I have started my Urasawa fund via an automatic transfer every month from checking into a small and secret savings account! Even in a time of recession I plan to dream big! I find your choices of alcohol for the meal inspirational...I will refer back before my special meal!

Saturday, April 11, 2009 6:47:00 AM  
Blogger will said...

Did Brian and I really pay for that bottle??? Just kidding. It was really worth it!

Thanks for a great post, Kevin. The meal was long, and I forgot a lot of the details. I'm sure the booze didn't help. This was an amazing account of the night and it helped me appreciate each dish a lot more.

See you at C and S on Thursday!

Saturday, April 11, 2009 10:56:00 AM  
Blogger kevinEats said...

Liz: Thanks! I'm glad I could inspire you. How long will be you saving for? I look forward to seeing your thoughts on the place!

Will: Well I sure didn't pay for the Ichigin! ;) Thanks again, it was fantastic. See you at C&S as well!

Saturday, April 11, 2009 3:27:00 PM  
Blogger me said...

KEVIN!

You've done it again. I've fallen in love over and over again with the man I've never met - URASAWA-san!

What a wonderful, brilliant review (as always)...I think I most enjoy the little side stories and anecdotes you share along the way (like the knife, shabu broth flavoring based on body weight, etc.).

Awesome pics (I can't stop staring at the crab pic) and videos (the knife demonstration was my fave, too).

On the night of your meal, I was at Todd English in Vegas. Of course, I am not comparing (that would be like Urasawa to a 2-week old Happy Meal) - just wishing I was there as well.

GREAT JOB!

Jane

Saturday, April 11, 2009 3:53:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I have to admit it. It was my girlfriend and I who dropped your name and blog the weekend before.

By the way, I believe he digs Sea Harbour Seafood Restaurant (not Empress).

Saturday, April 11, 2009 8:23:00 PM  
Blogger edjusted said...

Wow, heck of a review, gorgeous pics, and...a jaw-dropping bill. I'm curious, though, and you don't have to answer...how the heck do you tip on a bill like that? I mean, I can't imagine a $900 tip!

Saturday, April 11, 2009 8:30:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

How come you haven't reviewed Kagaya?

Saturday, April 11, 2009 10:32:00 PM  
Blogger kevinEats said...

Jane: It would've been great if could've joined us that night. You know I did the videos just for you. ;)

Anonymous1: Small world eh? Hiro-san and I joked about how my blog was driving business! And on my last trip there, I actually met a couple who had gone after reading this blog.

BTW, I made the correction about Sea Harbour.

edjusted: I believe the final tally was $5,750, so about an $857 tip, which comes out to 19%. Not bad for a bill of this size!

Anonymous2: No particular reason. I've heard good things about the place but I guess I don't have shabu shabu that often.

Sunday, April 12, 2009 2:21:00 AM  
Blogger Aaron said...

Nice to have your blog as a reference. As always, your research is impeccable. I'll be referring back here when I finally have time to sit down and write my review

Sunday, April 12, 2009 11:59:00 PM  
Blogger kevinEats said...

Thanks Aaron. And when can we expect to see your review up?

BTW, that day I called you, I ended up going to Rivera. Matt couldn't join me. It was a fairly promising lunch, though I'll need to go for dinner to really come to a conclusion about the place.

Monday, April 13, 2009 1:54:00 AM  
Blogger MyLastBite said...

These photos are exceptionally gorgeous!

Tuesday, April 14, 2009 12:23:00 AM  
Blogger kevinEats said...

Thanks Jo! When are you going to make it out to Urasawa?

Tuesday, April 14, 2009 12:56:00 AM  
Anonymous Secular Gastronomy said...

This is one of my favorite posts you've done so far. Beautiful photos of everything. Man, I can't wait to get down to LA for the summer.

I just saw an excellent review of Church and State on Refined Palate. I'd love to see your take on that place.

Tuesday, April 14, 2009 10:29:00 AM  
Blogger kevinEats said...

Thanks! It's definitely worth a try if you're down here.

As for Church and State, you're in luck, as I'll actually be going next week!

Tuesday, April 14, 2009 3:34:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I wonder if Fugu could've been fit in after 25. Negi-Toro Maki? Despite that. Stellar evening at Urasawa for greatest friends!

Tuesday, April 14, 2009 8:17:00 PM  
Blogger kevinEats said...

I actually asked about fugu on a prior visit. Apparently, he used to serve it, but stopped after his shipments from Japan kept getting seized. A pity.

Tuesday, April 14, 2009 9:19:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

kevin, no uni this time, was there any discussion why not?

Wednesday, April 15, 2009 5:06:00 PM  
Blogger kevinEats said...

Good question. Though it didn't strike me at the time, I noticed too after looking through the photos. There was certainly uni, but not in nigiri sushi form.

Wednesday, April 15, 2009 11:23:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Hi Kevin, here's a Fugu restaurant (500US per head) in Japan.

http://www8.plala.or.jp/tsukijiyamamoto

I'm looking for others, too.
Here is the review -

http://www.alivenotdead.com/rosannewong/FUGU-profile-531729.html

Thursday, April 16, 2009 11:11:00 PM  
Blogger kevinEats said...

I also had a fugu dinner at Ikesu last time I was in Japan, though it wasn't nearly as expensive, $120 versus the $350-$400 at Tsukiji Yamamoto. Frankly, I wasn't that impressed.

Friday, April 17, 2009 12:53:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Fabulous! I wish I could go sometime soon! I'm actually going with my husband to LA in two weeks, but being on the 5-star mission and only one night in town we had to choose the new 5-star to try.

Saturday, April 18, 2009 9:15:00 PM  
Blogger kevinEats said...

Are you talking about Studio? According to your web site, it's the only 5-star in all of LA and OC. I'm beginning to question the legitimacy of the 5-star rating, as there are clearly superior restaurants in the region (Urasawa being one of them).

Sunday, April 19, 2009 4:18:00 AM  
Blogger Right Way to Eat said...

Dude, epic dinner that night. Oh, by the way, Hiro-san mentioned that his favorite Chinese place is King Hua in Alhambra, which caught me a bit off guard when he said that. Then again, King Hua was hyped by Jonathan Gold late last year.

Just uploaded the photos now and will have to put the review before Providence. Great job as always Kevin!

Sunday, April 19, 2009 10:30:00 PM  
Blogger kevinEats said...

Thanks, I just added King Hua to the post.

So far, I'm all caught up except for Saam. But I have two dinners planned this week...

Sunday, April 19, 2009 11:43:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Great Photo. I compared photos with other peopel who were dining with you but you have the best photo angle and exposure. What camera did you use?
Are you a professional journalist? Awesome Review, i felt like I was actually there eating Hiro-san's sushi

Wednesday, May 20, 2009 2:56:00 AM  
Blogger kevinEats said...

Thanks! I was using a Fujifilm FinePix F30, a compact camera well-regarded for its low light acumen. This was my fourth time at Urasawa, so I guess I have the advantage of some practice.

I am by no means a professional; this is merely a hobby of mine. My goal, however, is to really convey the experience of eating at a particular restaurant, not just to write a "review."

Wednesday, May 20, 2009 2:13:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

are all the food bloggers out there asian?

Tuesday, July 14, 2009 1:12:00 PM  
Blogger kevinEats said...

Yes, we're disproportionately represented in the blogosphere. Nobody's been able to figure out why.

Tuesday, July 14, 2009 2:57:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

that's odd...pretty funny though. Only stereotypes come up as to reasons why...

Tuesday, July 14, 2009 5:08:00 PM  
Blogger dhkm said...

Kevin,
I think you might be eating Kuburamushi,which is made with "shirako" cod sperm. see video and picture link below.

http://www.kyoto-wel.com/mailmag/ms0202/c2.jpg

It will show you the exect food when the video reach 6:20
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lavkjcSrNWg&feature=related

Monday, July 20, 2009 6:10:00 AM  
Blogger kevinEats said...

Thanks for that tip. It looks like it might be the kuburamushi. I enjoyed that video too, especially the bit about Jiro.

Monday, July 20, 2009 2:41:00 PM  
Blogger dhkm said...

Here some addition info. the tai sashimi you have are from Hiragana(長崎県) a prefecture of Kyushu(九州), city of Matsuura(松浦). Cost $10500 yen per 1.5kg / ~3.3lb, in other word ~$33/lb.
As for your Kapachi is from Hime(氷見), a city of the Toyama (富山県)prefecture. Once the fish reach "buri" it can sell for ~$40/lb
http://onpara.jp/share/trip/img/naga_photo13.jpg

Tuesday, August 04, 2009 12:07:00 AM  
Blogger kevinEats said...

Thanks for that additional info. Since all we were told was that the tai was from Kyushu and the kanpachi from Toyama, how do you know specifically what cities they come from?

Tuesday, August 04, 2009 12:19:00 AM  
Blogger dhkm said...

This comment has been removed by the author.

Tuesday, August 04, 2009 6:43:00 AM  
Blogger dhkm said...

By some research, http://www.asahibeer.co.jp/area/10/shun/contest/naga_01.html

The site tell you receipt and famous product of each prefecture, from house meat, seafood, to Shidofuji Egg (think a it as ~$5.00 each, the hen produce the egg are raise like Wagyu cattle).

The I just do a city search of each prefecture on wiki, found out which city are famous for Tai and Kapachi/Hamachi/Buri. Afterword I went to check cities fish market sales record hence the price.

Tuesday, August 04, 2009 6:44:00 AM  
Blogger kevinEats said...

Ah, got it. That's quite a bit of research there!

Tuesday, August 04, 2009 2:19:00 PM  

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