A note on the words: Ise-ebi is the Japanese spiny lobster, a clawless crustacean, distinct from the clawed lobsters of Western chains. Otsukuri is an alternate term for fresh sashimi, teppanyaki is cooking on a flat iron griddle, and preparations here include ogon-yaki (a golden-grilled style with mayonnaise), ogon uni-yaki (grilled with sea urchin), and guren-yaki, the last three being the shop’s own names for its grilled lobster. Iburigakko is a traditional smoked daikon radish pickle from Akita prefecture, and bonenkai refers to the customary Japanese year-end drinking parties held in December to forget the hardships of the past year.
Table of Contents hide
Shinka SHINKA on Tabelog (English) — opening hours, payment details and the Japanese address are kept up to date there, not here.
Hello, this is Hangover Meshi. Once again, I headed to Naka-Meguro! During bonenkai (year-end party) season, Naka-Meguro is especially convenient when meeting up with people coming from the Kanagawa direction, thanks to both the Toyoko Line and Hibiya Line running through it! It is not a neighborhood I visit often, so I figured I would enjoy it thoroughly toward the end of the year. As for the restaurant, I picked an Ise-ebi (Japanese spiny lobster) specialist called “Shinka SHINKA”! The recent uptick in seafood might be because, deep down, year-end party fatigue has me wanting something on the lighter side, ha.
The location is right near Naka-Meguro Station. It was an extremely cold night, so being close was a relief.
The shop is vertically laid out and seems to have seating up to the third floor. I was guided up to that third floor and waited a bit until everyone arrived.
Shinka deluxe teppanyaki plate — 7,980 yen
Whole Ise-ebi spiny lobster ogon-yaki — 5,580 yen
Whole Ise-ebi spiny lobster ogon uni-yaki — 6,780 yen
Ise-ebi spiny lobster otsukuri and seasonal fresh fish platter — 2,780 yen
Seared Ise-ebi spiny lobster and fresh fish with spicy grated daikon and ponzu — 4,580 yen
There seem to be plenty of Ise-ebi dishes on the menu, which looks exciting!
I did not book a course this time, so I thought I would go with the style of just casually picking whatever caught my eye!
Now, the first drink ordered was, of course, a highball. I went with a Kaku highball (made with Suntory Kakubin)!
Miso-marinated cheese with iburigakko on crackers.
Well, it makes a nice starter snack. The flavor of the miso-marinated cheese is quite rich.
It felt like smoked quail eggs made into pickles, but the smoked egg character was so dominant that rather than a pickle, the impression was more like “smoked quail eggs submerged in ponzu, ha.” I think it works well as a light bite!
A salad of aigamo duck and vegetables: sweet potato, mizuna, kabocha pumpkin, and roasted aigamo duck.
The ume (Japanese plum) dressing is quite refreshing and delicious. Also, there was a generous amount of mizuna, a peppery leafy green, in the middle, which was great.
First, the lobster as sashimi!
An otsukuri of Ise-ebi spiny lobster and sashimi of fresh fish. The spiny lobster is on the smaller side. Well, eating a large one in Tokyo would cost an astronomical amount! I do not remember much about the other fresh fish, but I do remember the piece furthest back was kurodai (black sea bream). As for the crucial lobster meat itself, it was meltingly soft, sweet, and delicious! Crustaceans are just so tasty — irresistible!
Now for the deluxe teppanyaki plate. Hmm, I see, ha.
It comes with meat and lets you choose how the Ise-ebi is prepared: roasted, ogon-yaki, or guren-yaki. Looking at the description now, I only just learned that, but when ordering back then, I was not actually given a choice, ha ha. It costs around 8,000 yen, after all. The size and overall amount of the Ise-ebi felt a bit disappointing. Though there is also a sense that the meat took the larger share of it.
The size is a bit small, but at 5,580 yen, this one might offer higher satisfaction than the deluxe teppanyaki plate. The pairing of mayonnaise and lobster has been proven since ancient times, after all! It is thoroughly delicious, of course! I really wish we lived in a world where eating shrimp was more accessible.
So, that was my visit to an Ise-ebi specialty shop in Naka-Meguro. In conclusion, the prices are on the higher side, but it is certainly tasty. When you are out for casual drinks and think you might want some spiny lobster, I thought it was good. Still, when you have a burning craving where you simply must have shrimp or crustaceans, Red Lobster is the only choice! Even though that place serves lobster, it feels like the one that satisfies the urge to eat shrimp and crab most reasonably!
Shinka SHINKA (Teppanyaki / Naka Meguro Station, Daikanyama Station, Yutenji Station)
Tabelog dinner rating ★★★☆☆ 3.3
I ate here and paid for it myself. Nothing on this site is a comped meal.
One more for the road?
