JPN: Nakajima (中嶋)
Having sardine 'sashimi' for the first time in my life!
Nakajima in Shinjuku is probably the restaurant where you can get the cheapest Michelin-starred lunch in the bustling metropolitan Tokyo, Japan. Having been awarded One Michelin Star for a few years now, it dishes out affordable sardine-themed lunch sets. My BFF and I queued for close to 45 minutes to get a table shared with three other diners.
Nakajima in Shinjuku is probably the restaurant where you can get the cheapest Michelin-starred lunch in the bustling metropolitan Tokyo, Japan. Having been awarded One Michelin Star for a few years now, it dishes out affordable sardine-themed lunch sets. My BFF and I queued for close to 45 minutes to get a table shared with three other diners.
Are you surprised that you don't see either Pikachu or Melon in the cover photo above? Anyway, each lunch set at Nakajima comes with miso (Japanese fermented rice, barley and/or soybean) soup, rice and pickles. Roasted green tea is free-flow.
Yanagawa Nabe Set ¥900 (~S$11.65)
Taste: 8.5/10
The Japanese writing of the dish on the menu is 柳川鍋定食. Traditionally a dish of pond loaches with whisked eggs, Yanagawa Nabe was born in Tokyo during the Edo Period. Served using breaded sardines and topped with chopped spring onions, the dish that I had was wholesome with a nice balance of the sweet and the salty.
Nizakana Set ¥800 (~S$10.35)
Taste: 9/10
The Japanese writing of the dish on the menu is 煮魚定食. To me, the fish poached in soy sauce and a bit of sweet sake (Japanese rice wine) was the winner of the day. Even though there were quite a few fine, sharp bones, the fish topped with finely shredded ginger was really fresh and had absorbed the flavourful sauce well.
Sardine Sashimi (Half) ¥350 (~S$4.50)
Taste: 8/10
The Japanese writing of the dish on the menu is いわし刺身 (半). It was certainly a different experience from the usual suspects, such as salmon and tuna. For one, the raw sardine was quite finely shredded with a side of grated ginger, kelp, a wedge of lemon and soy sauce. While it tasted good, it's not something that I'd want to queue up for.
Melon's Rating
Taste: 8.5/10
Ambience: 6/10
Service: 7/10
Overall: 7/10
The restaurant doesn't take any reservations during lunch hours. Pika's advice: While lunch is highly affordable indeed, take note that dinner course meals are way more expensive, costing at least ¥8,000 (~S$103.40).
Nakajima
3-32-5 Shinjuku
B1/F Nichihara Building
Shinjuku, Tokyo
Japan
(Mon-Sat: 11.30am - 2.00pm, 5.30pm - 9.30pm)
*Prices quoted are nett prices.
Have a nice meal,
Cliff(y)
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