Echigoya

For a satisfying meal of grilled fish and steamed rice, Echigoya’s broad selection of set meals, many centred on dried fish, stands out. One weekday lunchtime diner chose the set meal with grilled fatty horse mackerel and found that its gentle saltiness and rich flavour paired well with the rice. It is a strong option for anyone looking to enjoy dried fish grilled over charcoal.

There is also plenty of choice in the fish and seasonings. The menu includes fatty Atka mackerel and Atka mackerel, salt-dried mackerel, mirin-dried mackerel and fish grilled with Saikyo miso. The fatty Atka mackerel set meal is listed as half a fish, while the Atka mackerel set meal comes with a whole fish, giving diners a useful guide to portion size. One diner reported that a popular fish had sold out, so it may be worth keeping an alternative in mind alongside your first choice.

In the evening, grilled fish and small dishes can be enjoyed with drinks. Diners have reported trying dried fish and tuna cheek meat, as well as Chikuzen-ni—a simmered dish—and kiriboshi daikon, dried shredded daikon radish. Both small dishes are listed among the à la carte options. With menus for lunch and dinner, the meal can be a set lunch for one or, later in the day, fish and small plates to accompany a drink.

Some diners have noted that the smell and smoke from charcoal grilling linger inside, so bear that in mind if you are concerned about what you wear.