Uotake (季節料理 魚竹) in Tsukiji will sadly close its doors on December 27, 2024. I’d heard rumors of its closure for quite some time, but now it feels real. I’ve always loved their grilled fish for lunch and would visit whenever I had the chance. With news of the impending closure spreading, regulars were already lining up before opening hours.
Here’s the lunch menu for the day. There’s usually another grilled fish option (like mackerel), but this day had just three choices. Many customers also order the “Salad Plate” (¥300), which isn’t listed on the menu. They offer free refills of rice and miso soup.
I’m planning to visit once more before the closure, but in case this was my last visit, I went all out and ordered the set with grilled silver salmon teriyaki, chopped tuna, and marinated yellowtail.
The set was ¥1,600, with an additional ¥400 for sashimi, totaling ¥2,000. When the set was served, the marinated yellowtail was still soaking, and the staff kindly said, “It’ll just be a little longer, please wait.”
The fish is grilled over charcoal after the order is placed, so it usually takes some time. However, with only one type of grilled fish on the menu and the crowd that day, fish was continuously grilling and served quickly.
I was lucky to get the kama (collar) portion of the salmon—a fatty, flavorful piece with a perfect char. The teriyaki glaze was subtle, complementing the salmon’s natural taste. Even the skin was a treat! The sides included a vinegared salad with wakame and whitebait, along with pickles.
Next was the scraped tuna (nakaochi), which was incredibly fresh and flavorful. Depending on the day, the texture and fat content of the tuna vary. On this visit, the tuna was lean and light.
Finally dish was marinated yellowtail, topped with wasabi pickles—one of my favorite touches. Unlike the lean tuna, the yellowtail was rich and fatty. Perhaps the contrasting textures were intentional, considering the restaurant’s thoughtful touches, like changing the ingredients in your second bowl of miso soup.
Although I couldn’t have second helping of rice, I couldn’t resist getting a second bowl of miso soup. The second serving featured nameko mushrooms, one of my favorites. Every dish paired perfectly with the rice, and their rice was so delicious that it took restraint not to ask for seconds. I’m determined to visit one more time before they close!
About
Name Uotake (魚竹)
Open Lunch, Dinner
Reservation Available for dinner time only
Credit card Unavailable
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