Yamazaki – Nishiazabu, Tokyo

Yamazaki / 山崎
Tokyo
Tabelog 4.46, Silver

One of the most highly regarded kaiseki restaurant in Tokyo. They are on Omakase but I believe they almost never take new reservations. There was a time earlier last year where they announced via email that they would take new bookings for September and that's how I got my reservation (September 2024 visit).

• Ise ebi: lightly grilled, served with its tomalley. Very good. 👍👍
• Fried karasumi with yurine: I'm not a fan of karasumi/bottarga and this one has a lack of taste. The rice is glutinous rice.
• Ebodai soup: The fish was grilled first. Smoky and comforting but lacks umami.
• Hokkigai, boiled, dipped in oil, and smoked: The clams were extremely sweet. Both the smoking process and yuzu-nuta sauce provides a good combination of flavors. 👍
• Unagi: topped with what looks like grated cheese, but actually is yama-wasabi. Served on a bed of shredded cucumber. Possibly the best dish of the night and one of the best renditions of unagi I've had 👍👍👍
• Chestnut karaage in chrysanthemum broth
• Grilled suppon turtle: served with its liver and grilled mochi, coated with sweet white miso 👍
• Okayu (porridge), Hamo eel crisps, gingko nuts, abalone and its liver sauce: Nice dish, make sure to mix the liver sauce evenly else it becomes too bitter. 👍👍
• Rice dish: topped with mushrooms and the famous egg. It was delicious but the rice itself was not up to par with other top level kaiseki I've tried.
• Jasmine tea gelato, fig, red wine and champagne: Adult's dessert

The bill (I paid 54k yen) was significantly more expensive than advertised on Omakase (44k yen). While the unagi was outstanding, I wouldn't say it's very worth it for just a couple of very standout dishes.