“It’s the best Sushi in Tokyo,†our host boasted. “That’s a bold claim.†We both thought that’s really more of a personal opinion of our host than an unbiased journalistic assessment. Our expectation, nevertheless, heightened as we took in the Ginza streets.
Celebrities and luminaries frequented Kyubey (ä¹å…µè¡›), a Sushi bar elevated to international fame by Wall Street Journal years back. Patrons sit at the sushi counters shared by slightly more than a dozen and face the sushi chef no more than 2 feet away, smiling with two long and sharp knives. Soon, seafood, mostly raw, transformed into visually appealing and appetizing forms appear on the plate in front of you. The chef would suggest “to dip or not to dip†into the sauce soy saucer and I found it rewarding to oblige.
Sake bottles kept on disappearing. Bite-size pieces came endlessly. Never have I imagined the varieties of fish and their complex texture and flavor combinations. I soon ran out of adjectives and praises for the chef, “It’s very good;†“Oh, this is very good;†“Delicious;†“Oishii desu;†and my lame joke, “Delicious desu.â€
Finally, misu soup came and we let out a happy sigh. As we walked out, wait, really, no kidding, geez, should I grab my camera? Yes, it was Lionel Richie himself with a very gorgeous companion. Quick! Which Lionel Richie song came to your mind? “All Night Long†was mine.
I cannot tell if this is the best sushi in Tokyo. I would definitely testify it to be the best I remember in recent life. The damage? Our host said US$750 for three of us. Worth every penny, particularly when he paid.