Most of us are on a little bit of a budget right now, feeling the crunch and pain of a slower economy so that when it comes to food and spending money on it, now more than ever, it better be worth the bucks.
I have one sentence for you--Tsukiji Sushi Restaurant delivers amazing sushi in Mill Valley!
Tucked on Sunnyside, a petite street wedged between Miller and East Blithedale, sits Tsukiji. Up a flight of stairs lies a clean, well thought out Sushi restaurant. Before taking our seats at the window overlooking the outdoor seating below, I walked to the bar.
The fish, under no lights, looked supple and colorful. The sushi chefs seemed gracious and welcoming. The staff was the same.
We immediately were welcomed, given menus and fresh water and then upon request, an intensely flavored and delicious green tea that wasn't diluted like at so many other sushi places. The waitress was well versed in the menu, considering Tsukiji had recently opened. She was attentive, but didn't hover.
The fragrance which wafted over the half wall between our seats and the rest of the restaurant really awakened my hunger as we waited for our order.
We began the meal with agedashi tofu, a lightly fried soft version with ponzu and gyoza potstickers which were filled with flavorful meat and vegetables. The tofu was amazingly done with a slightly crispy and slightly chewy exterior. I've never had it prepared better than this version. The fragrant ponzu had depth, and a fresh, lingering aftertaste. The gyoza weren't sticky or chewy or greasy. They were light, beautifully plated with what resembled saffron threads on the sauce but which I found out were slivers of a Japanese vegetable.
The specials of the day featured sushi nigiri (two pieces) of special cuts of the best tuna, and butterfish from Hawaii. They melted like butter in the mouth; soft, flavorful and left you wanting nothing but plates of it.
Nasu nigiri (grilled garlic eggplant) wasn't greasy and oily like many places I've had it and the sushi rice wasn't overly sweet. The ginger was a light pink color, and strong, just like I love it.
Tsukiji offers a variety of 'staple' rolls such as rock 'n' roll and the spider roll as well as their own thoughtful creations. Both the sushi die-hard and the 'faint of heart' sushi eater who may not want to stray into exotic territory, will find something to love. The hot and cold roll is wonderful, with deep fried spicy tuna covered in maguro and seaweed salad. The diverse textures and temperatures tease the palate. All the fish is impeccable in color, flavor and freshness.
For those that just "don't do raw fish" there are cooked options such as udon (thick noodles in a rich base sauce with tempura/veggie options), New York steak teriyaki, and unajyu donburi (cooked eel over rice). For those that don't do meat or fish, there are vegetarian options.
There is no skimping here. Everything is thoughtful from the plating, to the color theory, to the sake and wine list (which isn't huge but offers delicious options like onikoroshi black label which means demon-killer and is one of my favorites!).
Dessert was simple, but delicious. Mochi, green tea or chocolate. I love mochi but whent it's stick and thick and gooey and flavorless, I'll pass. Tsukiji's is light, not overly powdered. The ice-cream was thick and creamy on the inside, and the thicker outer layer wasn't overly chewy and it had a nice nutty base flavor. I was pleased.
Even if you're on a tight budget, Tsukiji in Mill Valley is worth every penny. It's even worth a wait, which I wouldn't be surprised to find next time I come down here after word gets out about this winning gem in Southern Marin.
This review is written by a guest contributor to MoreMarin, and is not an employee.
Tsukiji Sushi Restaurant
24 Sunnyside Ave
Mill Valley
415 383-1382
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