Ginza Shabutsu Yoshinosasa 銀座しゃぶ通 好の笹 (Tokyo, JAPAN) ★★★☆☆

We had a very very busy afternoon that saw us split time between Shibuya and Shinjuku. Everybody was happy to finally get back to Ginza for supper with our hotel just walking distance away. At this point, they would settle for a very simple meal but I have other ideas in mind. In fact, I have already planned tonight's dinner at Ginza Shabutsu Yoshinosasa (銀座しゃぶ通 好の笹) a few weeks ago.

Perched on the 12th floor of Marronnier Gate Ginza 1, Ginza Shabutsu Yoshinosasa is a Japanese shabu-shabu restaurant best known for its prized Matsusaka beef (松阪牛).

One of the beauties of using Tabelog for our online reservation was the ability to choose where we would like to have dinner. Once I clicked on Ginza Shabutsu Yoshinosasa, I was offered a choice between a normal table, counter table and private room. Of course, I wasted no time securing the private room so little nugget won't be disturbing other guests during our meal!

Our course meal comes with free flow of beverages which is fairly common in Japan. This includes special tea, soft drinks, juice, Japanese sake and umeshu (梅酒). It's been a while since I had iced umeshu so I decided it was about time for me to break out of my self-imposed ban on alcohol.

Each one of us got his/her own portion of the hot pot.

Apart from the sesame sauce and soy, we were also offered some mentaiko and fresh chives for seasoning.

Before our meat and vegetables arrive, we were started off with a small appetizer platter that consisted of marinated beef, eggplant and miso-glazed fish.

Now comes the main event. There was a plate full of seasonal vegetables including cabbage, carrot, pumpkin, mushrooms, peppers, tofu and vermicelli.

But everybody's attention already went to the meal plate. This comprised of A5 grade Matsusaka wagyu beef from Mie Prefecture 三重県 (top), black pork from Kagoshima 鹿児島 (left) and duck (right).

Look at the size of my wagyu beef fillet! 😋😋

I have already prepared my sesame sauce by grinding the sesame seeds and mixing it up with the housemade sesame sauce. This was perfect to go with the wagyu beef.

I thought the soy was a better choice for the black pork as it seemed to bring out the best of the pork. We were instructed to have the duck wrapped with scallion and then seasoned with salt. It was OK but I didn't have the chance to finish them all since both mom and little nugget generously shared some of their wagyu beef with me. I was so full! 😜😜 

Dessert was a scoop of frosty brown sugar sorbet. I wonder if it's made from Okinawa brown sugar.

Everybody was absolutely stuffed and I was more than relieved that I ordered the smallest set for everyone including little one.

For me, I thought the Matsusaka beef was clearly the star here tonight. It was very meaty and full of flavors. It wasn't well-marbled as I first feared. I like well-marbled beef only for charcoal grill but not really for hotpot. The black pork wasn't bad too. And the duck? I just didn't think it's a very good choice for shabu shabu. 

Now on the way walking back to our hotel, I heard whispers from almost everyone about wanting less meat for tomorrow's meals after this one. Of course, I had to re-assure everyone that we're going to have some really light meals tomorrow. After all, it's our travel day.

Food Rating: 6/10

Price: ￥￥￥

Address: 12/F Marronnier Gate Ginza 1, 2-2-14 Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 104-0061, Japan

Closest Metro Station: Ginza

Tel: +81 3-5159-1287

Website: www.shabutsu-yoshinosasa.com

Opening Hours: 11:00am - 3:00pm, 5:30pm - 11:00pm (Mon - Fri), 11:00am - 3:00pm, 5:00pm - 11:00pm (Sat - Sun)