T Chan
Google
Almost a century of history specializing in monkfish, this restaurant is a gem that not many lnow about. We booked it from the web a few days before we came for their special JPY15000 per person menu. When we arrived, it was as if we went back in time to a traditional Japanese restaurant. Near the door, a monkfish was lying on ice facing the door with its sharp teeth agape. What a monster. We were welcomed by the hostess and asked to take off our shoes before entering our private room. The decor was a subtle Japanese style with a simple inked painting of a monkfish on the wall along with other antiquated items. The table was slightly raised above the floor with an opening underneath for our legs. We chatted to a few drinks as we waited for our feast, a feast featuring monkfish with every dish. We started off with a sashimi featuring filet meat, cheek meat, fish skin, and fish liver. Afterward, we were greeted with a big hotpot of various fish parts and veggies, etc. Various dishes continued to be brought in: wasabi flavored monkfish, sliced monkfish liver with ponzu sauce, fried monkfish... Near the end of the meal, the hostess came back in and poured some rice into the rich soup left from the hotpot. She then cracked open and scrambled some eggs into the mixture. It became a heavenly flavored porridge that warmed our souls. The meal ended with a gelatinous pudding, which, while not too sweet, soothed our palate after this intense experience. It was near 9:30 pm and we were politely but strongly suggested to leave soon. How time flies when we have such good food and such good company. As we stepped out of the restaurant, we noticed that the monkfish displayed near the entrance was gone. It turns out to be the very monfish we enjoyed. They had even provided us with a certificate as to the origin of the monkfish. Definitely not the usual Japanese restaurant experience and well worth the price. Our party of 5 ended up spending around JPY90000 for the food and drinks. If you ask what was the most memorable part of the meal, it has to be the creamy fish liver with ponzu sauce.