Isomaru Suisan: Seafood Soul Food
Hi Everyone! Welcome back. Today, we're going to talk about Isomaru Suisan in Osaka, Japan. Upon arriving to Osaka, there was only one priority on our list and that was to eat as much as possible. On one of our first nights, we ate not just one dinner, but THREE full dinners. The other two meals were at Matsusakagyu Yakiniku M and Mizuno Okonomiyaki. This meal was the second of the three. After a light meal at Mizuno Okonomiyaki, our appetites still needed to be satiated. Isomaru Suisan is a Japanese Izakaya, or informal gastropub, specializing in seafood. We only ordered four things to share so this review should be pretty quick! (I think...)
First, we got a massive sashimi platter. It was an incredible steal at about $15 USD. It comes with six different types of sashimi. As you would expect, the platter comes with Tuna and Salmon sashimi.
FUN FACT: The cheaper cuts of tuna are darker and more red in color, which means there is less fat and, hence, less flavor. Moreover, tuna fat is high in DHA, an omega-3 fatty acid that supports brain function, reduces the risk of heart disease, and strengthens eye health.
Isomaru Suisan also cuts HUGE slices of sashimi. Some of these pieces were thicker than the racial divide in America! Just kidding. One of my favorite pieces was the Hamachi, which is, in my opinion, one of the most underrated fish among sushi and sashimi eaters. Hamachi is Yellowtail. You can usually tell if it's Hamachi because it has a dark red streak along the side of the fillet.
NOTE: Yellowtail is different from Yellowfin, which is a type of tuna. Hamachi has a lot of nice oil and fat, which makes the meat feel smooth and buttery. The platter also came with some Botan-ebi, or sweet raw shrimp. It is naturally sweet and slightly mushy in texture. Good botan-ebi will feel less mushy and have a slight crunch even if prepared raw.
Next, we got two interesting dishes. First, we have the Deep-Fried White Shrimp (see above). Amazingly, these tiny fried baby shrimps taste exactly like normal fried shrimp! I know. I'm very helpful. I liked using it as a topping on top of my rice or even by itself! This is a tasty dish to accompany your ice cold beer or sake.
Next, we had some Shirasu, or Young Boiled Whitebaits (or Anchovies). If you ever need to eat a hundred fish in a matter of minutes, this is the dish you want to get. These tiny fishes are packed with calcium and protein. It's also low in fat! Eat it with rice. PROPOSED PARENTING TIP: This should be pretty good for babies because it's easy to eat and has great nutrients!
Lastly, we had one dish to rule them all, one dish to find them, one dish to bring them all and in the darkness bind them! (That was from Lord of the Rings...) It was the Grilled Kanimiso Koura Yaki. This dish arrived at our table uncooked. The Kanimiso looks like a grey and green colored mush. This is a mixture of all the crab butter (internal organs) and roe. It looks a bit unappealing but you have to trust it. Isomaru Suisan provided us with a tiny table grill where we could grill the Kanimiso yourself. After a few minutes, the concoction started to boil.
At first, I was hesitant to eat it but the smell of the the kanimiso took control over my motor skills. I found myself addicted to its rich and buttery taste. After it was cooked, it had a creamy texture. We ate this over rice and it was flawless. At $5 USD per crab, this is a must order!