A note on the words: Shinrin-dori is the brand name of the chicken used in the main pasta dish. Komatsuna is Japanese mustard spinach, a tender leafy green with a fresh flavor, and Kujo negi is a Kyoto scallion. Tomyo are pea shoots, mizuna is a refreshing Japanese mustard green featured in the salad, and tonburi are tiny seeds of the summer cypress plant nicknamed “land caviar” for their popping texture. Peperoncino refers to pasta tossed with garlic, olive oil, and chili pepper, while focaccia is an Italian yeast bread baked in-house for the generous deli plate.
Trattoria MUTSUMI Kojimachi on Tabelog (English) — opening hours, payment details and the Japanese address are kept up to date there, not here.
Hello, this is Hangover Meshi. This Italian spot sits roughly between Shinjuku-dori and Hanzomon Station. I had walked past earlier and seen a line, so it had been mildly on my mind. Now, fully prepared, I went in! Stepping inside, I was greeted with a “Buongiorno!” Real foreign vibes, ha. Is the entrance on the small side? You might wonder, but once inside it opens up deep in the back, giving it a spacious, open feel. It has apparently been open for about a year, and the whole place is clean and tidy. There is an open kitchen, and someone who seems to be the head chef is briskly handling orders all on his own.
Hokkaido cherry salmon with Kujo negi in cream sauce — 2,700 yen
Chub mackerel and pea shoots peperoncino — 1,300 yen
House bolognese with fried eggplant — 1,300 yen
Grilled Shinrin-dori chicken breast and komatsuna in lemon butter sauce — 1,400 yen
Fresh tomato and Hokkaido mozzarella in tomato sauce — 1,400 yen
Now, what should I have?
While everything looked tempting, I decided on the grilled Shinrin-dori chicken breast and komatsuna in lemon butter sauce!
A dish you could hardly make at home — looking forward to it.
And the first thing brought out was a plate about three times more lavish than I had imagined!
Lavish enough that you almost wonder if this alone is the main lunch itself.
Ten kinds of vegetables — what could they be? Lettuce, carrot, bell pepper, turnip?, olives, mizuna, tonburi?, ha.
Anyway, packed with ingredients. It seems they toss them with the dressing each time for service, and the vegetables are firm and delicious.
Inside there is a slice of omelet. The aroma of butter and cheese gently wafts up, delicious.
The soup is a cream of broccoli soup. Creamy, but not heavy at all!
How should I put it — you could easily drink white wine with this. A truly satisfying plate.
The chicken was grilled thoroughly with nice char marks on it.
The crisp acidity of the lemon kept the whole dish refreshing, making it easy to finish in no time. A crisp, spring-like pasta indeed.
It is a stylish and delicious pasta, but the portion is quite decent too.
Paired with the appetizer plate, you end up completely full. Volume is thoroughly satisfying too!
Above all, the deli plate offered an astonishing level of satisfaction, ha. For the price and what you get, it feels like great value. They were chatting animatedly with regulars about Hokkaido, so this restaurant might have some connection to Hokkaido. I thought I would like to come back again, casually having drinks. By the time I left, a line had formed by then outside, so if you are aiming to visit, coming early might be the best idea!
Trattoria MUTSUMI Kojimachi (Italian / Kojimachi Station, Hanzomon Station, Nagatacho Station)
Tabelog lunch rating ★★★☆☆ 3.5
I ate here and paid for it myself. Nothing on this site is a comped meal.
