Omakase of the Day (Chef’s Special) – 7,000 yen

Uobaka only offers two menu, Omakase (Chef’s Special) 5,000 yen and 7,000 yen. Both courses are entirely seafood, and  changes daily depending on the fish caught in the morning. 7,000 yen course consists of Sashimi dish, Live Squid Sashimi, Grilled Fish, Nimono (boiled dish), Fried Fish, Soup, Sushi, and a side carefully prepared by a female chef Sae Iwamoto. They also have extensive list of Sake and Shochu.

In the picture (clockwise from center): Alfonsino, Moontail Bullseye, Octopus, Grunt, Bluefin Tuna.

2-2-19 Ginza Chuo-ku, Tokyo, Japan 104-0061                                                                                                                                         Phone: 03-3563-4100

Fried Hamburger and Grilled Sanma – $8.50 (lunch)

This amazingly inexpensive bento box daily special at Torishin is a gem. Although the fried hamburger comes in a fairly small size, it is unique and delicious. Unlike most hamburgers, the patty is made from grounded pork mixed with diced onions and is fried with panko bread crumbs. Also, it is eaten without a bun, but with rice and ponzu sauce, a somewhat sweet and citrus flavored sauce. In the bento box are also a typical salad with ginger dressing and a grilled sanma, mackerel pike. This fish has a lot of small bones, but most of it is soft enough for you to chew and swallow. The fish’s meat is sweet and tender and can be easily removed from the spine and ribs. A+ I forgot to mention the complimentary mayonnaise noodles and steamed string beans, but those aren’t anything spectacular.

1584 South Busse Road, Mount Prospect, IL
Phone: (847) 437-4590

Grilled Atlantic Salmon — $25.95

The salmon at the Chicago Firehouse Restaurant is finished using their signature style of infusing flavors into the meat and the seafood on the grill. This ‘fire crust’ finish creates a layer right on top the salmon of aged balsamic vinegar, but with options of black peppercorn, parmesan or horseradish for their steaks and chops. This particular dish is garnished with sweet, tart and spicy fresh corn niblet succotash. The sauce is very flavorful (read: strong) but adds a nice compliment to the salmon.

1401 South Michigan Avenue, Chicago, IL
Phone: (312) 786-1401

Jumbo Flounders: pan-seared, with braised leeks, ratatouille, and sun-dried tomato-mussel sauce – $29.00

The dish was a composite of many flavors with the extremely tender fish. The fish was delicately seared on the outside and maintained a soft juicy flakey inside covered with the somewhat acid mix of lemon tomato-mussel sauce. You have two seafood flavors of fish and mussel and to top it off you have the leeks and minced vegetables baking the fish in it. A truck load of carefully mixed flavors, this dish deserves to tried in court.

115 E Chicago Avenue, Chicago, IL
Phone: (312) 475 1100