Thank you for your hard work, everyone! (￣^￣)ゞI’ve also started a blog!! Please check it out!!https://nakazaki-kenji.jp/Today, I visited "Sushi Meino" in Azabu-Juban!!I’ve always wanted to go, but I had almost given up recently as I couldn’t get a reservation…However, I was fortunate enough to receive an invitation from an acquaintance!!It’s a bit pricey for a casual drinker, but I felt that if I missed this opportunity, I might never get to visit, so I decided to go (￣^￣)ゞLet me briefly introduce the restaurant _φ(･_･**Restaurant Introduction** This is the restaurant of Mei Kogo, a female sushi chef who honed her skills at the renowned "Sushi Takumi" and later served as the second-in-command at the equally famous "Sushi Arai" before opening her own place in November 2023. The interior features yellow seats that pop against the white plaster walls. Kogo-san designed the ambiance of "Sushi Meino" to evoke a cozy living room, hoping guests would enjoy the finest sushi in a relaxed setting. She says, "I love to prepare delicate and beautiful fish flavors, crafting them into comforting tastes reminiscent of home cooking." With her impressive skills recognized by top establishments, this trendy sushi spot has already become a reservation hotspot shortly after opening.**Mei Kogo's Background** Born in 1989 in Tokushima Prefecture. After graduating from Sophia University, she studied at the Tokyo Sushi Academy. She worked at prestigious places like "Sushi Takumi" in Yotsuya and "Nishi-Azabu Taku" before joining the opening staff of "Sushi Arai" in 2015. While training as a sushi chef, she also worked as a sommelier, sourcing wines. In 2017, she spent a year in France to study wine. She returned to "Sushi Arai" and was entrusted with the private counter as the second-in-command starting in 2021. In 2023, she became independent and opened "Sushi Meino" in November of the same year.I got off at Azabu-Juban Station on the Toei Oedo Line and headed to the restaurant. It took just a few minutes to walk from Exit 7 to reach the restaurant on the 6th floor of the building.Arriving a bit early, I was guided to the waiting area outside (　ﾟдﾟ)I was surprised to find a terrace with five seats available!! The chairs were also very comfortable (//∇//)Upon entering, the staff greeted me with smiles. Their attention to detail made for a very pleasant atmosphere!! I was also surprised to see that all the staff were women (　ﾟдﾟ)The interior is compact, featuring an 8-seat counter and private rooms, with a warm wooden decor that is very soothing. The chair design was lovely too d(￣ ￣)I took a seat at the counter and greeted Kogo-san. Her smile was wonderful, and we had a lovely chat d(^_^o)It’s no wonder she’s so popular!!For our first drink, we ordered a bottle of white wine to share!! Since we were here, we decided not to skimp on the drinks!! However, after the bottle, I ended up ordering my usual shochu highball…Because the bill was a bit scary...Now, let’s start the omakase course!! I’m excited to see what sushi and appetizers we’ll enjoy!!First, we had the appetizers.**Tuna** A fresh spring roll with tuna and herbs!! What a surprise to start with a spring roll (　ﾟдﾟ) It contains mountain wasabi, yogurt, and even cashews!! The skin is chewy, and the aroma of the herbs is delightful. The balance of the tuna's umami, the fragrance of the wasabi, the acidity of the yogurt, and the nuttiness of the cashews is superb!!**Junsai** Junsai with eggplant prepared like somen noodles. The eggplant is so thin!! It’s been peeled and cut into fine strips. The dashi made from iriko is very gentle, and the combination of the crunchy junsai and the soft eggplant is lovely. The spiciness and aroma of ginger enhance the appetite d(￣ ￣)**Octopus** This is octopus from Sajima. It’s thickly sliced but incredibly tender!! Warm and fragrant, it’s a delightful surprise!! With each bite, the umami and aroma burst forth, making it delicious!! It’s been a while since I’ve had such fragrant octopus!!**Botan Shrimp** Wow, it’s huge (　ﾟдﾟ) I’ve never seen such large botan shrimp from Hokkaido before!! It’s so plump and delicious!!!! The texture is amazing, and the sweetness is irresistible (//∇//)**Clams** A combination of clams and udo. The udo from Yamagata Prefecture is lightly fried, and the subtle aroma and bitterness are well-extracted!! The clams from Mikawa Bay in Aichi Prefecture are large and plump, making them delicious. The dashi is also tasty, and my stomach was very happy d(^_^o)**Terrine** This is a seasonal vegetable and fish terrine!! It’s my first time having terrine at a sushi restaurant (　ﾟдﾟ) The vegetables include green peas, fruit tomatoes, cucumbers, nagaimo, corn, asparagus, and shiso. The fish includes white shrimp and kohada. The gentle dashi from the clams is soothing. The white shrimp has a rich sweetness, while the kohada has a pleasant acidity. Most importantly, the vegetables are delicious!! Each vegetable brings out its natural flavors and aromas, making me very happy!!**Abalone** This is a large mega abalone from Chiba Prefecture. As it’s being cut, the aroma of the abalone fills the room!! It’s incredibly tender, with an amazing aroma and umami!! The liver sauce is rich yet refreshing, enhancing the flavor of the abalone!! Sometimes the liver can overpower the abalone, but here, the liver plays a supporting role perfectly (^_−)−☆**Fried Kohada** What a surprise, fried kohada (　ﾟдﾟ) This is quite bold!! The kohada is well-prepared and plump (　ﾟдﾟ) When you bite into it, the umami bursts forth!! With a solid acidity, it’s refreshing to eat!! The aroma of the shiso and dill hidden inside is also nice!! The tartar sauce is lightly seasoned, not overpowering the flavor of the kohada. This was a delightful surprise (＾Ｏ＾☆♪Now, we move on to the nigiri.**Sushi Rice** The rice is seasoned with a bit of red vinegar mixed with rice vinegar, creating a very gentle flavor that is soothing. The rice is sourced directly from a farmer in Shiga Prefecture, making it sweet and aromatic—delicious!! This is truly comforting sushi rice (//∇//)**Gari** Diced gari. Soft with a mild acidity and a nice spiciness.**Cucumber** In addition to gari, diced cucumber was also served. The nuka-zuke is delicious, and I could eat it quickly!! When I added some wasabi from the table, I couldn’t stop and finished it all at once!!**Flounder** Flounder from Awaji Island. It’s plump and delicious with each bite!! It has the unique aroma of white fish, and I enjoyed a delicious flounder after a long time!!**White Squid** This is white squid from Fukuoka, cut thinly for a beautiful presentation. It spreads in my mouth and goes down smoothly with the rice. It’s so sweet that I couldn’t help but smile.**Torigai** This is a large natural torigai from Aichi Prefecture (　ﾟдﾟ) It’s crunchy and fresh, with an incredible aroma and sweetness!! I think the sourcing for this must be quite expensive (　ﾟдﾟ)**Horse Mackerel** The skin is carefully peeled by hand d(^_^o)It’s lightly vinegared, with a firm texture and rich fat—delicious!! It’s been a while since I had such good horse mackerel ( ◠‿◠ )**Akagai** Now we have akagai from Yura (　ﾟдﾟ) It’s very thick and full of umami and aroma!! The knife work is very meticulous, and it looks beautiful d(^_^o)**Kuruma Ebi** This is cooked very rare, and it looks beautiful!! It’s plump and incredibly sweet—what a surprise!! This was my first time having kuruma ebi cooked so delicately (　ﾟдﾟ)**Red Meat** Today’s tuna is from Fukui Prefecture, weighing 45 kg. It’s lightly marinated, with plenty of aroma and umami!! The pleasant acidity makes it delicious!!**Chutoro** The fat is melt-in-your-mouth delicious!! The aroma of the tuna is also prominent—irresistible!!**Otoro** This is incredibly rich and fatty (　ﾟдﾟ) I can’t believe how fatty it is for this time of year!! The lingering aroma and flavor are amazing!!**Kohada** This has been well-prepared for four days, with a rich acidity and umami!! It’s perfectly prepared, making it a favorite for drinkers d(^_^o)**Ohagi** This is a specialty from my training place, "Sushi Takumi"!! The aroma of green onions and the crunch of takuan are irresistible!! It’s rich and delicious!!**Sea Urchin** This is my first time having red sea urchin this year (　ﾟдﾟ) It’s hand-formed without nori, making it incredibly sweet!! This is a delightful surprise (//∇//)(//∇//)(//∇//)**Anago** This is hot and fluffy, full of umami and fat!! The simmering is minimal, allowing the flavor of the anago to shine through!! This is delicious anago (　ﾟдﾟ)**Soup** This is a clam soup from Lake Shinji. It’s soothingly delicious and warms the heart ( ◠‿◠ )**Himo Cucumber** I had the himo from the akagai wrapped around cucumber!! It’s crunchy and refreshing—delicious!! The nori is thick and full of flavor d(^_^o)**Kanpyo** Finally, we have my favorite kanpyo roll!! What a surprise!! This kanpyo is delicious!! The texture is pleasant, and it’s full of umami—what a shock (　ﾟдﾟ) It’s been a while since I had such good kanpyo (//∇//)**Tamago** This is a tamago with dark cherries!! It’s like a fruit cake. The aroma of cherries and elderflower liqueur is wonderful, making it a sweet tamago that brings a smile to my face (//∇//)Both the appetizers and sushi were crafted with care, and everything was superb!! It’s no wonder this place is so popular!!Here’s what I had today:1. Tuna and Herb Spring Roll 2. Eggplant Somen with Junsai 3. Octopus 4. Botan Shrimp 5. Clams and Udo 6. Seasonal Vegetable and Fish Terrine 7. Abalone 8. Fried Kohada 9. Flounder 10. White Squid 11. Torigai 12. Horse Mackerel 13. Akagai 14. Kuruma Ebi 15. Red Meat 16. Chutoro 17. Otoro 18. Kohada 19. Ohagi 20. Sea Urchin 21. Anago 22. Kanpyo Roll 23. Tamago 24. Clam Soup Each dish was delicately prepared, and I felt a sense of warmth while eating (//∇//)The wonderfully fragrant octopus, the huge botan shrimp, the terrine that brought out the deliciousness of the vegetables, the fried kohada was surprisingly delicious!! The large natural torigai, the thick akagai from Yura, the rare-cooked plump kuruma ebi, the fatty tuna that was unexpected for this time of year, the first red sea urchin of the year, and the crunchy and flavorful kanpyo—all of it was delicious, making for a happy time (＾Ｏ＾☆♪The lively atmosphere made for an enjoyable dining experience throughout!! The service was attentive, and I appreciated the thoughtful details (//∇//)Thank you, Kogo-san and the staff, for today!! I hope to visit again if the opportunity arises (^_−)−☆