(Rail)Road Trip - Urasawa Beverly Hills(LA) Part 3

During the Sushi portion of the meal at Urasawa, if Hiro-san notices that you particularly enjoy an item, he'll make another for you. At the end you can also request additional nigiri if you desire....or are still hungry(still hungry???).

I asked if I could get another Shiro Ebi:

Like the flavor of several Ama-ebi(sweet shrimp) condensed into one piece of nigiri sushi.

For Captain Jack, it was much easier for Hiro-san to figure out what he enjoyed. There was a certain scene in the movie When Harry Met Sally, that I think many will remember. So we'll just call this...When Jack-ee met Uni, get the picture?

I think Hiro-san understood, Jack got a beautiful "Double-decker Uni Nigiri".

To finish out the sushi portion; Hiro-san asked us if we'd care for anything else. All night long we'd been ogling and plotting, attempting to get more of he Kobe Beef, wanting to experience the wonderful flavor and texture of Kyushu-heaven.

So with a smile Hiro-san asked if we'd like Beef Nigiri.... And after receiving enthusiastic positive nods(I almost threw my neck out), we were asked us how we'd like the beef done, which was a unanimous "rare, almost raw". The slice of beef spent the briefest of time on the brazier, made into nigiri with a small amount of Nikiri-joyu, and placed on the Geta for consumption......delici-yoso!!! All during this time Hiro-san, Jack, and I were chatting about food, and well.....food, and maybe a few other things. So in case you're wondering, Hiro-sans favorite Chinese restaurants? Din Tai Fung for dumplings, and Sea Harbour in Rosemead("They know me, and what I enjoy....").

At about this point of the meal, Jack quick-wittedly asked Hiro-san if we could get him a drink. He smiled and accepted, and modestly ordered a Sapporo. When the beer arrived He asked us about our drive back to the Hotel, to which we replied we're "cabbing it". Upon that reply, Hiro-san called over one of His assistants and had her split the beer with Jack and I, and we had a  very memorable toast of "Kampai"("Cheers"), with the Chef and Owner of what some consider to be the most expensive restaurant in Southern California. Hiro-san than set back to work, and the Tamago arrived. I asked Hiro-san if he is now showing us his skill as an Itamae(Tamago is considered by many to be one of the dishes that truly indicate the skill, diligence, and attention to detail, of any Itamae).

This Tamago, was vastly different from any version I've ever had. The tamago was light like spongecake, I could almost imagine catching clouds on my tongue. The flavor is mild, slightly sweet, with the faintest flavor of the ocean.

Soon after, the most pristine piece of Hachiya Persimmon arrived, this photo made the Missus terribly jealous. Hachiya being an "astringent" type of persimmon, will taste bitter and cause you to really "pucker" because of the tannin in the fruit if not ripe.

When ripened, and the tannins have broken down, the skin of the fruit becomes so very soft, sweet, and tender, that you need to handle them very carefully.

A dish of Sesame Ice cream arrived, topped with soy milk and gold leaf, the ice cream was almost like a soft and creamy mousse. Very nice and not overly sweet.

We had two cup of tea to close out the meal. A light, and almost frothy Ma'cha(green tea):

And a Genmai-cha(Green tea with roasted rice) to finsh things off.

As we were leaving Hiro-san called to Jack and Myself. All night long when we had something really, really amazing, we'd give each other a "Fist Pound", by now my knuckles were hurting! Hiro-san stuck his closed fist over the counter, and we gave Him a fist pound as a way to close out the evening......

I must say, that Urasawa was the most unique and memorable dining experience I've ever had. A combination of amazing food and great service in a unpretentious atmosphere; along with a humble, amiable, and very highly skilled Artist(there's not other way to describe it), made Urasawa unforgettable. In fact, the Missus and I are planning our next visit sometime next year.

Oh.....yes, the damage?

Jack and I split the bill, so my portion came out to $452+$100 tip = Worth every penny! And yes, I do realize that it would be over 100 bowls of Pho'!!!!!

Postscript - I've gotten more than my share of Emails regarding Urasawa, so let me clarify a few things:

Price - Walking in the door, and the multi-course meals starts at $250. Any drinks, including water, which is Evian at $8 a crack, will cost you. We drank two bottles of Kubota Manju, which was a perfect compliment to the meal at $150 each. So if you break down my portion it's $250+$8+150=$408. I'm assuming the rest was tax and "Extras".

Is it really worth it? - In my mind, yes. After all, I've waited a few years for this. Let me put it this way, if I was on my way to the Electric Chair, and had a last meal, it would be Urasawa's Kaiseki-Omakase dinner. I'd walk happily to the chair, and tell them; "LET HER RIPPPPP!" LOL!

Comments

[nhbilly]

presimian (sp err)- interesting....stop teasing us! ;-)

[Trent]

Please cease persistent persimmon pre-simian pestering post-haste!

[Andy]

Kirk, we love your commentary as well... pictures are a thousand words, but words give the picture soul and character and story

[Chubbypanda]

Why you no post details yet!?!

(>_<)

- Chubbypanda

[H.C.]

I concur with the other commenters, there's just something *not right* (bordering on perverse) about food porn w/o accompany text.

Like some people say, "I bought/subscribed to it for the articles!"

[Kirk]

Hi Billy and Trent - Persimmon prose prognasticators.... LOL!

Hi Andy - Sorry, had a few problems, but have finished it now.

Hi CP - Thanks for hanging in there!

Hi HC - God knows, I wouldn't want to be a perverted food blogger! LOL!

[Kathy]

Holy moley, a 100 bowls of pho?! But you're right, sooooo worth it. Man. Man. Good job. I am breathless. And quite hungry. :)

[wandering chopsticks]

Oh man, I've been salivating over each post waiting for the ending. But with that kind of a bill! Ouch! That's way out of my price range.

That's what I love about your blog though. I can live vicariously through you. The other reviews read like menu descriptions. I'd rather read about your gleeful anticipation of savoring another bite of kobe beef.

[RONW]

I'm glad that the photo of the tab could be enlarged because at first glace $452 (+TIP) sure looked like a typo.

[Ted]

I think I'm not the only one when I saw I'm very jealous. Here's a question though: How full were you at the end of the whole thing? Did you feel like you couldn't eat another bite? Or was there still a little room?

[Captain Jack]

Hi Kirk,

Great job with the three part post. I guess the secret is out, I LOVE uni. I personally was not at all stuffed, actually Kirk and I hit Izakaya Haru Ulala in Little Tokyo on the way back to our hotel. Let me tell you, Kirk is no where near my size, but that boy can eat!

[Kyon]

Oh my, those pictures were wonderfull. I have food envy and am plotting on how to have my own meal at Urasawa when I visit LA. Perhaps with my sister on her birthday (if I've saved up enough pennies by then)

I read your blog regularly but have never commented. After these last 3 entries, I had to finally post.

[Chubbypanda]

(o_O)

That price could feed an entire Chinese village. Or buy a Sony PS3.

Worth every penny? If the photos were any indication of the taste, mmm-yoso!!!

- Chubbypanda

[elmomonster]

Whoa. That bill is just for one of you!? My heart just skipped a beat. My palms are getting sweaty. I guess I gotta start a piggy bank now.

[Kirk]

Hi Kathy - It was the best meal in a restaurant I've ever had.

Hi WC - If you don't drink, it's much cheaper - $250-$300 range.

Hi RONW - I contemplated putting that photo of the CC receipt up.....decided just to do it in the end.

Hi Ted - The meal is paced, and for me, I felt satisfied, but not stuffed.

Hi CJ - LOL! You uni lover, you!

Hi Kyon - Thanks for dropping by and taking the time out to comment. Dinner at Urasawa is a unforgettable meal....

Hi CP - I'm not much for Wii or PS3 or that type of thing...so this is my expensive Xmas present.

Hi Elmo - If you don't drink it's much cheaper.

[Passionate Eater]

Wow, what an incredibly satisfying series! Thanks for taking the time to take the pictures and post them, as well as detailed, play-by-play descriptions. I appreciate that you gave the readers the ability to experience how it feels to eat at Urasawa too!

Also, the bill is CRAZY, but I anticipated it with all of your implicit build-up and seeing the quality and amount of the food!!! Whew, that is a lotta dough, so I'd better see you eating instant ramen these next few months!

Also, I am glad to hear that you'll be taking the Missus next! But the Boyz, they can stay at home..

[Ben]

I almost fell out of my chair when I saw the damage. Gosh! I still could not believe it! Whew!

[Kyon]

I miss living in San Diego but I swear I will return one daysoon(and get to go to some of the restaurants reviewed here). OPff topic a bit but I have to say I really miss Loblita's(I worked almost next door in that plaza).

[howie]

Yikes! That's quite a bill, but it definitely looks like money well spent!

Your photos and write-up have really done their work on me. I'm going to have to put this on my list of places to eat before I die -- though I might have to save up a bit for it first.

[Kirk]

Hi PE - If you only knew how anal I am about having money for something before I purchase it. So I've gone through all my Pho', Banh Mi, and instant ramen eating for this meal. Though I was at the market earlier trying to figure out how many more bowls of instant ramen I'll need for my NEXT meal here.....and don't you be giving the Missus any ideas!

Hi Ben - It was quite a meal!

Hi Kyon - I hope oyu'll be able to return soon! Thanks for all the comments, I truly enjoy them!

Hi Howie - For me it was money well spent.