Mikawa-ya

Some diners who ordered the lunch sushi say they were struck by the thickness and size of the toppings. One person’s order included seven pieces, with tuna, white fish, prawn, shellfish, flying fish roe and egg, plus cucumber and tuna rolls. They enjoyed each piece freshly made and finished with a bowl of ara-jiru, a soup made with fish trimmings. Another lunchtime guest also recalled the flavourful broth in the soup served with the sushi, as well as the generous portion. It is a place to consider if you’d like lunch to include more than just sushi.

Alongside sushi, chirashi sushi is available in regular, medium, upper and special grades, and the tuna rice bowls come with different combinations of tuna. The menu makes it easy to choose between enjoying sushi piece by piece and making a rice bowl the centre of the meal. Unaju—grilled eel served over rice—is also offered in regular, upper and special grades for a meal beyond sushi. One diner who had unaju at lunch remembered tender, fluffy eel and rice coated in sauce, and was pleased with the portion of rice.

In the evening, the sushi selection includes items such as medium-fatty tuna and kohada, alongside rolls including ume and thick rolls. You might start with fried river shrimp or homemade cucumber nukazuke, then have beer or a measure of sake before moving on to sushi. With counter seating that can suit solo diners, Sangenjaya’s Mikawa-ya offers choices ranging from sushi, chirashi and unaju at lunch to an evening meal with small dishes and drinks.