Close in Dec 27, 2024 – Tsukiji: Grilled Fish Delights at Uotake (魚竹) – A Hidden Lunch Gem

Tsukiji : Grilled Fish Delights at Uotake (季節料理魚竹) Before Closing

Discover the irresistible flavors of Uotake (季節料理魚竹) in Tsukiji before its closure on December 27, 2024. From charcoal-grilled salmon to fresh tuna and marinated yellowtail, experience a lunch worth savoring. Don't miss this Tsukiji gem!

I took a day off and visited Uotake (魚竹) in Tsukiji for lunch. Though Uotake is located a bit far from the heart of Tsukiji, they serve simple yet delicious fish lunches. Their grilled fish, in particular, has a great reputation. The restaurant’s exterior exudes a historic charm, as they have been in business since 1975.

I’d love to visit more often, but they are open only on weekdays, and it’s quite far from my office. This makes it difficult to go regularly. There are only counter seats, and the place gets very crowded. Sometimes, I’ve had to give up having lunch there because it was full.

The lunch menu is displayed outside and is written vertically. It usually lists about 4 to 6 dishes on a whiteboard. From right to left, the options include grilled salmon with teriyaki sauce, grilled mackerel, tuna and yellowtail sashimi, and a set meal with grilled salmon (teriyaki sauce) and sashimi (you can choose one from nakaochi, marinated tuna, squid, or sardine).

Grilled salmon appears frequently on their menu. The types of fish vary daily, but if you’re unsure what to order, I recommend the grilled fish and sashimi set.

You can get second refills of rice and soup, which is a nice touch. When I visited around 1 p.m., the grilled mackerel was already sold out. If you want to have your choice of menu items, I suggest arriving earlier. I had already decided on my order before arriving: Grilled salmon with teriyaki sauce and nakaochi set. The portion of the rice is relatively small, but it’s the perfect example of a traditional Japanese lunch 🙂

Grilled salmon with teriyaki sauce and nakaochi set (銀鮭照焼となかおちのセット) 1500 yen

The meal included grilled salmon, tsukemono (pickles), miso soup, vinegared seaweed, and kari-kari-ume (dried plum). The grilled salmon was seasoned with teriyaki sauce. The meat was fatty and tender, while the skin was perfectly crisp. The teriyaki sauce wasn’t too sweet, which suited my taste. It paired excellently with the rice.

The nakaochi was fresh and served like a small ball. It’s the leftover meat scraped from the spine of tuna. It had a smooth texture and was absolutely delicious. I finished my rice quickly. Uotake’s rice is of high quality. Though I don’t eat large portions, I found myself wishing for more rice!