Patrick W.
Yelp
TLDR: Sushi Ikumi is the sushi bar from Hirohisa. Minimalist, excellent and diverse omakase. Dare I say, one of the best sushi tastings available now? If you're looking for a quality and excellent value omakase, Sushi Ikumi should be on your list.
I wanted to write this while it was fresh in my mind. We came back Ikumi tonight for the second time. It was everything I remember and better from the first. It was the one sushi bar that I had been thinking about since we went. It's very rare for me to think about a restaurant that often.
The décor is small, intimate, immaculately clean and perfectly minimalist. Value-wise, you're looking at $160pp for three appetizers, fifteen nigiri/sushi courses, a miso soup and dessert. Everyone has their own preference but what I love about Ikumi is it's a unique experience, yet quite traditional, not absurdly expensive, absent are the heavy-handed truffle or foie gras toppings yet absolutely delicious.
For me personally, this place has reminds me of some of my favorite omakase experiences consolidated into one. There were those distinctly regional preparations and ultra-focused attention to detail that made me think of Noz. The sushi pieces I had never had before and surprised me like at Cagen but without the picture cards.
On both visits, the appetizers were awesome. More enjoyable than you'd expect. From the first visit, a chawanmushi with scallop and lobster. I asked for something other than ikura, I got lobster tomalley which might have been an even better substitute. Deliacate ,soft, creamy and absolutely decadent. Today it was a roll made using Japanese sardines, never saw that before. Last time it was a braised squid that you could have swore was a clam visually but oh so good.
I won't run down every single piece but just some standouts, obviously these change seasonally.
The gizzard shad (kohada) on both occasions was a mouthful of umami without being overly fishy. The tiger prawn (kuruma ebi) was bouncy, juicy and so delicious. A seared Japanese barracuda (kamasu) topped with rice mixed with sea urchin roe (uni) was especially good. Tonight the horse mackerel (aji) was topped with a bit of ginger/scallion sauce. Even the great amberjack (kanpachi) just shocked me beyond words. Probably the best kanpachi I had ever had. So good, I can barely describe it.
One of chef's signature pieces if an Osaka style sushi. Scored mackerel (saba) on top of a rice mixed with shiso, sesame and grated ginger. Wrapped in perfectly crispy seaweed. You'll have a hard time finding this elsewhere.
For extras today, a perfectly balanced winter yellowtail (buri). Lusciously yummy, not too fatty and just bursting with flavor. I asked for a piece of seared medium fatty tuna (chu-toro) and instead of serving it to me, he advised against it because the cut today wouldn't come out right. Instead, he offered me a type of snapper. Fatty but the chewiness almost of fluke (hirame). To satisfy my cravings for that fatty profile, he seared a piece of the fin. Oh my, so so so so good.
As you can see, I really like this place. This is definitely in my rotation of omakase places with plenty of replay. It may just be, my new favorite sushi-ya period. Reservations are two weeks out, so plan accordingly and you'll be so happy you went. Cheers.