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Horse meat sushi restaurant opens up in Tokyo, becomes sushi’s latest craze 【Photos】

Jamie Koide Jun 15, 2015
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Those of you familiar with Japanese cuisine might have heard that horse meat, called basashi or sakura niku (cherry meat) due to its pink color, is a popular delicacy in Japan. Horse meat has been praised time and time again by many in the country for being low in calories and fat but also high in protein, all on top of a great taste.

Considering the meat’s popularity, and how more and more conveyor belt sushi, or kaitenzushi, restaurants have been adding non-traditional items like hamburger and roast beef sushi to their menus, you could say it was only matter of time before a horse meat option appeared.

Kagurazaka Nikusushi, a new trendy sushi restaurant between Shibuya and Ebisu in Tokyo, is now offering this new sushi sensation, and one of our Japanese writers, P.K., has the scoop!

The Kagurazaka area is well-known for numerous excellent restaurants, so it comes as no surprise to hear this delicious sushi restaurant for meat lovers opened up in the neighborhood, just a short walk from Iidabashi and Kagurazaka Stations.

After hearing that the restaurant would be open June 9, our reporter decided there was urgent to check it out as soon as possible, and quickly made his way to Kagurazaka Nikusushi. He found the establishment tucked away in a small back alley.

As part of their opening campaign good until June 14, the restaurant is offering beer for 1 yen (that’s US$0.008 ) and sake for 10 yen a glass, as well as a second plate of sushi for free. Who could resist a deal like that? Certainly not our reporter!

▼ You had me at 1 yen beer!

He was ready for them to bring it on! Here are some photos of the many plates of horse meat sushi he then proceeded to stuff his face with.

▼ Some light and lean akami (red meat)

▼ Nakaochi (back meat) was fattier, had a sweeter aftertaste, and was delicious!

▼Some chutoro (medium fat) to satisfy meat-lovers!

▼ Karubi (rib), which was fatty and delicious!

▼ This tan (tongue) had a chewy texture.

▼ Negitoro (fatty green onion), which apparently was so good it melts in your mouth.

Our reporter recommends the chutoro and the karubi for those really craving meat, and since most plates cost between 180 yen and 290 yen ($1.45-$2.35) each, he left with both a happy stomach and wallet. Their most expensive menu item is sashitoro, which costs 680 yen, and is torched right in front of you. It’s a bit pricey, but also a recommended must-try!

If the line outside the door of the restaurant since its opening is any indication, it looks like foodies in Tokyo are loving Kagurazaka Nikusushi. If you’re in the big city and you want to give horse sushi a try, this is probably the place to go.

Kagurazaka Nikusushi
Address: 東京都新宿区神楽坂1-14 みちくさ横丁 (Google Maps)
Hours: Monday – Saturday, 17:00 to 5:00 (following day) and Sunday 17:00 to 24:00
Phone number: 050-5786-8216
Website: Kagurazaka Nikusushi on Gurunabi