{"id":3709,"date":"2016-09-18T15:29:38","date_gmt":"2016-09-18T07:29:38","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/gazeandgraze.com\/wordpress\/?p=3709"},"modified":"2019-02-03T15:12:10","modified_gmt":"2019-02-03T07:12:10","slug":"sasagin-late-summer-goodness-at-a-favourite-izakaya","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gazeandgraze.com\/wordpress\/2016\/09\/18\/sasagin-late-summer-goodness-at-a-favourite-izakaya\/","title":{"rendered":"Sasagin, Tokyo &#8211; Late Summer Goodness at a Favourite Izakaya"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Every time I visit Tokyo, I look forward to squeezing in dinner at Sasagin especially when there are\u00a0seasonal goodies to try. This time round the Sanma fish (or Pacific Saury in english and, according to Wikipedia, also known as the mackerel pike) was in season and it was simply grilled with salt. The Sanma is an oily fish but much less fishy than mackerel or sardine. And when its grilled just right with salt, all you need is a squeeze of lime or lemon. While also known for a great selection of sake,\u00a0Sasagin continues to amaze with food that is far loftier in standards that most izakaya bars while keeping prices reasonable (around USD 50 per person for a set meal). It&#8217;s nice to see this izakaya receive recognition from the\u00a0Michelin Guide, which added Sasagin to its list of Bib Gourmand eateries in the city in 2015.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_3713\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-3713\" style=\"width: 625px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"http:\/\/gazeandgraze.com\/wordpress\/2016\/09\/18\/sasagin-late-summer-goodness-at-a-favourite-izakaya\/tokyo-2016-09-06-9\/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-3713\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-large wp-image-3713\" src=\"http:\/\/gazeandgraze.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/Tokyo-2016-09-06-9-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"Entrance to Sasagin\" width=\"625\" height=\"417\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gazeandgraze.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/Tokyo-2016-09-06-9-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/gazeandgraze.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/Tokyo-2016-09-06-9-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/gazeandgraze.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/Tokyo-2016-09-06-9-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gazeandgraze.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/Tokyo-2016-09-06-9-624x416.jpg 624w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 625px) 100vw, 625px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-3713\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Entrance to Sasagin<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Sasagin is located near the Yoyogi-Uehara subway station, which is on the Odakyu\u00a0subway line and just a few stops west of Omotesando. So if the cab fare from Ginza is a bit steep, it&#8217;s actually pretty easy to find using the subway. Sasagin is open only for dinner from 5pm Monday through Saturday (closed Sundays). For more details and photos on Sasagin, please see my earlier <a href=\"http:\/\/gazeandgraze.com\/wordpress\/2015\/06\/04\/sasagin-great-food-and-sake-in-this-tokyo-izakaya\/\" target=\"_blank\">blog<\/a>. And for contact information see the Guru Navi <a href=\"http:\/\/gm.gnavi.co.jp\/shop\/0120162020\/\" target=\"_blank\">site<\/a>. Lest I forget, Sasagin has a great selection of sake but I can&#8217;t do justice on this as alas, I&#8217;m not a sake drinker. I just come to this isakaya for the good food.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_3715\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-3715\" style=\"width: 625px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"http:\/\/gazeandgraze.com\/wordpress\/2016\/09\/18\/sasagin-late-summer-goodness-at-a-favourite-izakaya\/tokyo-2016-09-06-1\/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-3715\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-large wp-image-3715\" src=\"http:\/\/gazeandgraze.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/Tokyo-2016-09-06-1-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"Our omakase course started with mixed starters\" width=\"625\" height=\"417\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gazeandgraze.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/Tokyo-2016-09-06-1-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/gazeandgraze.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/Tokyo-2016-09-06-1-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/gazeandgraze.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/Tokyo-2016-09-06-1-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gazeandgraze.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/Tokyo-2016-09-06-1-624x416.jpg 624w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 625px) 100vw, 625px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-3715\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Our omakase course commenced\u00a0with mixed starters that included duck breast, sushi, and crunchy fish eggs<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure id=\"attachment_3719\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-3719\" style=\"width: 625px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"http:\/\/gazeandgraze.com\/wordpress\/2016\/09\/18\/sasagin-late-summer-goodness-at-a-favourite-izakaya\/tokyo-2016-09-06-4\/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-3719\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-large wp-image-3719\" src=\"http:\/\/gazeandgraze.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/Tokyo-2016-09-06-4-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"Chilled tomato soup - that's a whole roasted tomato in broth\" width=\"625\" height=\"417\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gazeandgraze.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/Tokyo-2016-09-06-4-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/gazeandgraze.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/Tokyo-2016-09-06-4-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/gazeandgraze.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/Tokyo-2016-09-06-4-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gazeandgraze.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/Tokyo-2016-09-06-4-624x416.jpg 624w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 625px) 100vw, 625px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-3719\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Chilled tomato &#8211; that&#8217;s a whole roasted tomato in broth<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure id=\"attachment_3716\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-3716\" style=\"width: 625px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"http:\/\/gazeandgraze.com\/wordpress\/2016\/09\/18\/sasagin-late-summer-goodness-at-a-favourite-izakaya\/tokyo-2016-09-06-2\/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-3716\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-large wp-image-3716\" src=\"http:\/\/gazeandgraze.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/Tokyo-2016-09-06-2-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"Sashimi course - tuna and mackerel\" width=\"625\" height=\"417\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gazeandgraze.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/Tokyo-2016-09-06-2-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/gazeandgraze.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/Tokyo-2016-09-06-2-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/gazeandgraze.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/Tokyo-2016-09-06-2-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gazeandgraze.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/Tokyo-2016-09-06-2-624x416.jpg 624w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 625px) 100vw, 625px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-3716\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Sashimi course &#8211; tuna, buri (amberjack) and mackerel<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure id=\"attachment_3717\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-3717\" style=\"width: 625px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"http:\/\/gazeandgraze.com\/wordpress\/2016\/09\/18\/sasagin-late-summer-goodness-at-a-favourite-izakaya\/tokyo-2016-09-06-3\/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-3717\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-large wp-image-3717\" src=\"http:\/\/gazeandgraze.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/Tokyo-2016-09-06-3-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"Leeks and fish soup\" width=\"625\" height=\"417\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gazeandgraze.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/Tokyo-2016-09-06-3-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/gazeandgraze.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/Tokyo-2016-09-06-3-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/gazeandgraze.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/Tokyo-2016-09-06-3-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gazeandgraze.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/Tokyo-2016-09-06-3-624x416.jpg 624w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 625px) 100vw, 625px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-3717\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Leeks and \u00a0fish ball soup<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure id=\"attachment_3711\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-3711\" style=\"width: 625px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"http:\/\/gazeandgraze.com\/wordpress\/2016\/09\/18\/sasagin-late-summer-goodness-at-a-favourite-izakaya\/tokyo-2016-09-06-6\/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-3711\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-large wp-image-3711\" src=\"http:\/\/gazeandgraze.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/Tokyo-2016-09-06-6-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"Fried fish, which followed our grilled Sanma\" width=\"625\" height=\"417\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gazeandgraze.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/Tokyo-2016-09-06-6-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/gazeandgraze.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/Tokyo-2016-09-06-6-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/gazeandgraze.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/Tokyo-2016-09-06-6-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gazeandgraze.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/Tokyo-2016-09-06-6-624x416.jpg 624w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 625px) 100vw, 625px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-3711\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Fried fish, which followed our grilled Sanma<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure id=\"attachment_3712\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-3712\" style=\"width: 625px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"http:\/\/gazeandgraze.com\/wordpress\/2016\/09\/18\/sasagin-late-summer-goodness-at-a-favourite-izakaya\/tokyo-2016-09-06-8\/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-3712\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-large wp-image-3712\" src=\"http:\/\/gazeandgraze.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/Tokyo-2016-09-06-8-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"Dessert - simple but amazingly flavourful grapes - one of the best things about summer in Japan\" width=\"625\" height=\"417\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gazeandgraze.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/Tokyo-2016-09-06-8-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/gazeandgraze.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/Tokyo-2016-09-06-8-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/gazeandgraze.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/Tokyo-2016-09-06-8-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gazeandgraze.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/Tokyo-2016-09-06-8-624x416.jpg 624w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 625px) 100vw, 625px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-3712\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Dessert &#8211; simple but amazingly flavourful grapes &#8211; one of the best things about summer in Japan<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure id=\"attachment_3720\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-3720\" style=\"width: 625px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"http:\/\/gazeandgraze.com\/wordpress\/2016\/09\/18\/sasagin-late-summer-goodness-at-a-favourite-izakaya\/tokyo-2016-09-06\/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-3720\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-large wp-image-3720\" src=\"http:\/\/gazeandgraze.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/Tokyo-2016-09-06--1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"The sake master is behind the bar\" width=\"625\" height=\"417\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gazeandgraze.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/Tokyo-2016-09-06--1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/gazeandgraze.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/Tokyo-2016-09-06--300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/gazeandgraze.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/Tokyo-2016-09-06--768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gazeandgraze.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/Tokyo-2016-09-06--624x416.jpg 624w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 625px) 100vw, 625px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-3720\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The sake master (and Sasagin&#8217;s owner) is behind the bar<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Every time I visit Tokyo, I look forward to squeezing in dinner at Sasagin especially when there are\u00a0seasonal goodies to try. This time round the Sanma fish (or Pacific Saury in english and, according to Wikipedia, also known as the mackerel pike) was in season and it was simply grilled with salt. The Sanma is [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3714,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_active":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_note":"","_exactmetrics_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[151,1,21,134],"tags":[49,58,99],"class_list":["post-3709","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-asiapac","category-home","category-japan-asiapac","category-japan-tokyo","tag-izakaya","tag-japan","tag-tokyo","latest_post"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/gazeandgraze.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3709","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/gazeandgraze.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/gazeandgraze.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gazeandgraze.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gazeandgraze.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3709"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/gazeandgraze.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3709\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4075,"href":"https:\/\/gazeandgraze.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3709\/revisions\/4075"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gazeandgraze.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3714"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/gazeandgraze.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3709"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gazeandgraze.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3709"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gazeandgraze.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3709"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}