sushizanmai

We were hoping to check out sushi zanmai at the headquarters but we got lost and decided to just try this one off the main road (apparently it was just a block away from the tsukiji main HQ branch.) sushi zanmai is a branch but it has a great reputation. The company owner is famous for buying some of the most expensive bluefins at the tsukiji auctions which gets distributed to its various branches in tokyo. Instead of having to pay an arm and leg to eat high quality tuna at expensice restaurants, you can have it for fraction of the price. Did I mention they are open ²⁴⁄₇?!
We ate here at 8 am and was greeted by two friendly chefs. Instead of doing the set plate we ordered from the menu.
For 5,600 yen we got 6 fatty tuna, 4 charred otoro, uni, mackerel, yellow fin, two shrimp sushi, roe, and delicious clam miso soup.
The otoro will literally melt in your mouth. It has ruined me– I will never be able to eat sushi back in the states. The charred otoro was phenomenal. The rice was slightly warm, shiny, with a small hint of rice vinegar. I used no soy sauce and enjoyed the full flavor of all the fish (there was no fishly flavor whatso ever). We wanted to order seconds but was afraid to miss our flight to narita so had to dash out.
They have a menu card with names in English and pictures. We were very satiated afterwards and felt like we got to eat more of the types of fish we liked instead of doing the set menu (3300 yen). I think the sushi zanmai was a better experience than sushi dai which we have done two years ago. There was zero waiting in line in the cold and the chefs were all superbly nice. I wish I could come back here every week! A must try.