The popularity of sushi has spread around the world and has produced some top quality restaurants, but Japan is still the top place to get the best sushi in the world. However there is a common dilemma that all sushi lovers face.
1) Your appetite is bigger than your wallet
2) You’re a stickler for quality
3) The best places have the longest lines
4) Your Japanese isn’t very strong
5) Your food partner isn’t into fish, but you’re really craving sushi
Katu Midori is the answer to all of the above problems.
Katu Midori is part of the already popular sushi restaurant chain, Umegaoka Sushi No Midori (梅丘寿司の美登利総本店), famous for unbelievably fresh quality. While these original restaurants can be on the pricey side, they offer their budget option, or their casual “Kaiten” or “go around” version, in Shibuya. While Kaiten sushi isn’t typically known for its quality, it is appreciated for its affordability. However, Katu Midori is able to provide both.
The quality of the fish at this restaurant is amazing for the price point (melt-in-your-mouth tuna, scallop, yellowtail, etc.) Dishes range from 105 to around 500 yen. The restaurant not only provides amazing fresh fish, but it also provides seared fish (like the charred flounder fin with lemon pepper), some meat options (such as the pork kalbi sushi), fried foods (chicken karaage or the fried eggplant sushi), soups, salads, and plenty of fun desserts.
You can pick up a plate as it passes in front of you, or you can order it fresh, as I usually do. To do so, you have two options: 1) If you are sitting at the counter, ask for an English menu, or 2) If you are sitting at a table, place your order via the ipad provided.
I’ve waited in an insane line for this restaurant, and it wasn’t so terrible. The turnaround for this place is rather quick. However, you will find the restaurant less crowded during 3-5pm, Monday through Friday. This period also happens to be happy hour (excluding holidays), during which you can get a free large draft beer (“nama biiru”) or house soup (“shiru”). The restaurant server should offer you this service, or “saabisu”, but if he or she doesn’t, just politely ask. Foreigners frequent this place, so even though there may be some fumbling, the servers will gladly help you.
For the ultimate fresh fish experience, once in a while, the sushi chefs will bring out a live fish and start advertising it on their microphone. They will yell, “Who wants to try a piece?” in Japanese. Even if you don’t understand the language, it is very obvious when they are doing this. When you see people raising their hands, raise yours as well. Even if you’re not sure what kind of fish it is, be adventurous!
So, next time you are faced with a sushi dilemma, turn to Katu Midori to fulfill your needs.
Access:
Location: Katu Midori is located on the 8th floor of the Seibu Department Store (Building A) in Shibuya. Seibu is located directly behind the Tsutaya/Starbucks building at the famous Shibuya crossing.
Hours: everyday 11:00 – 22:00
Website: www.katumidori.co.jp/shibuya/
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Aw, I lived in Shibuya for a whole month and never even knew!
Shucks, once I return to Japan, I really need to visit this first thing in the…, well, apparently, in the afternoon! 😀
I want to try this! Is there one in Yokohama? It looks like one I have seen in the new ‘Mark is’ mall.
I think so! This is the website for their Yokohama branch:
http://www.katumidori.co.jp/yokohama.html
However, the website doesn’t mention Happy Hour. Maybe it’s only in Shibuya. But anyway, go enjoy and eat!