Japan Trip 2013 Highlight: Dining at Sushi Dai (Tsukiji Fish Market)

While researching for my Japan graduation trip, the one thing that excited me the most was the possibility of dining at Sushi Dai. I just couldn't stop telling my travel partners how eager I was to eat high quality sushis! Of course, I anticipated the long queues since almost every blog that reviewed Sushi Dai warned readers regarding the crazy waiting time. We waited a grand total of 3 hours and 15 minutes, and fortunately all of us agreed that the waiting time was very much worth it. We went into sushi heaven, sushi nirvana, SUSHI GLORIOUSNESS. We could have enjoyed our sushis more slowly (we were out within 30 minutes), but our growling tummies accelerated our digestive system operation. Maybe the reason why we were so quick was also because of the crazy auntie outside the shop who couldn't stop glaring into the shop with her scary bulging eyes. :S 

Anyway, getting to Sushi Dai is quite simple. You either take the Hibiya subway line to Tsukiji station and then walk around 10 minutes to the restaurant, or you can take the Oedo subway line to Tsukiji Shijo station, which is directly below Tsukiji Fish Market. We reached Sushi Dai via the first option and it was quite hard locating the restaurant at first, but we spotted the long queue, and voila, we were at Sushi Dai! 

Here's a link if you need clearer directions or a map: http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3021.html 

This was the first group of queuers. When we reached this area, we had to wait for another 45 minutes to get into Sushi Dai.

The second group of queuers. We queued for 2.5 hours here. We arrived at the location at around 830am and homygod, this was the queue we saw. It was definitely intimidating, but we persevered and made it into sushi heaven at 1145am!! :D

This lady from Sushi Dai was extremely nice. Periodically, she would come out with trays and trays of isotonic water to "re-energize" the queuers. Quite a nice gesture, huh!

If you are planning on going to Sushi Dai, you really have got to find things to entertain yourself with. Jeremy was well-prepared and he was playing Pokemon the entire time. He also managed to complete the game while waiting. HAHA. I went to the nearest Family Mart to get a copy of ViVi magazine and also finished reading (browsing? since I can't read Japanese haha) it while queueing. Chay was being a hobo with her large green comfy scarf. :D

All three of us ordered the Omakase Course and that cost us 3900yen each (~S$50). Pricey but WORTH EVERY CENT.

Also, a tip for interested readers, please do come early if you want to eat at Sushi Dai. The restaurant closes at 2pm and to make it before closing time, you have to queue at least 3 hours before; so you have to be there at 11am or earlier to secure an eating experience that you'll never forget.

The sushi chefs here are all really friendly and they try to mingle with the diners. Even with the language barrier! While dining, the chefs will also direct you on how to enjoy a particular sushi properly. For example, they will say "no sauce" or "no soya sauce" if a certain sushi requires no sauces to enhance its flavour.

Here comes a barrage of glorious sushi photos. SLURPP.

I'm really bad with Japanese sushi names and so I will not attempt to try to name them. Maybe only those that I really remember haha.

I think this was Otoro? I remembered this because I thought the chef said Totoro, and I stupidly asked Jeremy, "oh so that's how Totoro (the Ghibli movie) was named?" Ya, they laughed at me. HAHAHA.

Tamago. Very fluffy, very soft, very warm.

Creamy uni (sea urchin). I don't think I will want to eat uni in Singapore ever again. This was so so fresh that the bitter aftertaste only lasted like a second? It was also so freaking fresh that after I gobbled it up, there was no fishy sea urchin taste in my mouth. AMAZING.

SUPER RED MAGURO (tuna). I loved the wasabi that they used! They made the wasabi fresh in front of us and wah! It was heavenly wasabi. Even though it was extremely pungent, it was so addictive!!

 

I have no idea what this was, but it was still moving when it was served. EXCITEMENT.

Baby Shrimps. This was my least favourite sushi, but nope, it was still very very delicious. Least favourite does not mean I hate the flavour, but it just means that out of 11 top-grade sushis, this was the most normal.

Spanish mackerel!! I was contemplating between this and otoro for my last piece of sushi! To explain it basically, after you are done with 10 sushis, the chef will hand you a menu, and you are free to choose any sushi you want for your last sushi!

I went ahead with otoro because it was the most expensive. Singaporean spirit flows in my blood. HAHA.

Thick tuna rolls. Looked ordinary but did not taste ordinary at all!

Finally some anago (sea eel). This was really different from unagi! I don't really like eating unagi because I don't like the texture of the soft bones but this was so so so so soft and it was melting in my mouth. :')

When you dine at Sushi Dai, the phrase "melts in your mouth" becomes a reality. I cannot wait to bring Kengyang here!! :)

To conclude this post, here are some tips you definitely will need:

1. Come early. At least before 11am. 
2. Make sure you can entertain yourself for at least 3 hours. Not very fun to queue and not have anything to do. 
3. If you are sick of queueing, you can opt for Sushi Daiwa, which is just 2 doors down. I think it's opened by the son of the man who opened Sushi Dai? I heard that the quality was similar but it was slightly more expensive. 
4. No point getting angry or annoyed at the queue, you should have done your research and expected the queue. 
5. Don't bring a huge bulging bag. The restaurant is quite narrow and so moving from one end to the other can be quite challenging if you have a huge bag. 
6. Just be courteous and don't continuously stare at the people inside the shop who are trying to enjoy their sushis. I mean a glance is fine because quenching curiosity is always good, but alamak don't stare and glare can? 

With that, I REALLY HOPE I CAN GO BACK SOON!!! :')