From bottom, clockwise:
“Uni” (Sea Urchin), “Kani Tsume” (Crab legs), “Maguro” (Tuna), “Nanban Ebi” ( large prawn variety)
“Donburi” is a popular way to eat sushi with foreigners as it combines quality and quantity, and usually reasonable prices!
I thought a few examples might help you choose your favourites nex time you come to Japan!
The above donburi and three following were savoured in Sapporo and Otaru (Hokkaido Island).
From bottom, clockwise:
A little variation from the first pic!
“Hotate” (Scallops), “Uni” (Sea urchin), “Ika” (Squid), “Kani Tsume” (Crab legs)
A more extravagant sample this time:
From top middle clockwise:
“Ikura” (salmon roe), “Kazu no ko” (herring roe), “Kampachi” (Amberjack), “Tako” (octopus), “Sake” (raw salmon), “Hotate” (scallops), in the centre, “Uni” (sea urchin)
This is a truly extravagant one!
From bottom, clockwise:
“Hotate” (Scallops), “Ikura” (Salmon roe), “Kazu no Ko” (Herring roe), “Kampachi” (Amberjack), “Uni” ( Sea Urchin), “Kani Tsume” (Crab leg), “Ebi” (Boiled prawn)
———————–
During a recent trip in Shiretoko, Hokkaido Island, we dropped at Ikyuya Restaurant, located in a small city called Shari (some of the place names in Hokkaido can become a real puzzle as they are mostly very local names written in Kanji that fit the pronunciation instead of the meaning!).
We (the Missus) had chosen this establishment as a representative of the local cuisine favoured by local people.
THe Missus oredered the “Oyako Don”/”Father-Mother and Son-Daughter Bowl”.
In Shizuoka it means chicken omelette (the Hen and the Egg!) spread on a bowl of rice. In Hokkaido, it stands for Shake sahimi”/salmon sashimi and “Ikura”/salmon roe spread over a bowl of rice. It must have been good as for once silence reigned around the table!
Our two friends (which included our gracious driver) opted for “Uni don”/sea urchin and chopped dry nori/seaweed spread over a bowl of rice,
“Uni to Ikura Don”/sea urchin and salmon roe spread over a bowl of rice.
Extravagance at a very reasonable rice, absolutely fresh and sweet seafood away from metropolises, what more can you ask?
Ikyuya
Hokkaido, Shari Cho, Utoro Higashi, 13 (2 minutes walk from Utoro Hotsprings Bus Terminal)
Tel.: 0152-242557
Opening hours: 11:00~18:00 (might get closed in the afternoon on busy days. Come early!)
———————–
Home-made Donburi
You do not have to go to a Japanese restaurant or sushi bar to eat “donburi” if you happen to have a wife who not only likes them but can also concoct them!
In short, my better (worse?) half once came up with the following for lunch:
Plain steamed rice topped with slices of “akami”/ lean tuna part, avocado salad with mayonnaise and wasabi pickles (the latter provided a nice balance with a spicy touch), boiled shirasu/whitebait sprinkled with “hijiki” seaweed and “tobikko”/flying fish roe.
The tobikko added a nice colour finish touch. It is quite cheap down here in Shizuoka City. From what I saw on Chuckeats Blog, it seems quite a treat over there in the U.S.!
I poured a little Shizuoka-made wasabi dressing on top. This dressing is a lot milder than pure grated wasabi with a little sweetness which combines well with the fish!
Please check the new postings at:
sake, shochu and sushi
—————————————-
日本語のブログ
—————————————-
These are absolutely gorgeous donburis! Donburis are one of my favorite ways to eat a meal and the possibilities are endless! I do love uni and ikura but how *rich*, I don’t think I could eat a whole bowl of it. I can only imagine how fresh it tastes. *sigh* Thank you for sharing your beautiful photos!
LikeLike
Dear sasha!
Greetings!
You are most welcome!
It is extremely fresh here. Uni tastes like a god egg yolk!
Cheers,
Robert-Gilles
LikeLike
They like their sea urchin in Hokkaido, don’t they? Me too, looks great.
LikeLike
The freshness is unbeatable, too!
LikeLike
This made my mouth water! I haven’t had sushi in a long time and I can’t think why I haven’t.
LikeLike
Dear Karen!
Greetings!
Truly sory ro frustrate you!
LOL
Cheers,
R-G.
LikeLike
This is beautiful, and you are making me realize we have not eaten sushi in a while, so it is time to make a reservation, lol, I used to make it when my son lived at home, he and his father love sushi!
LikeLike
Dear Liz!
Sory for making you think of work!
LOL
Cheers,
Robert-Gilles
LikeLike