Tokyo – GINZA SIX “Kurogi Chacha” Tai Chazuke

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GINZA SIX opened in April of 2017. Crowds have finally waned a bit about a month since the opening.
This time, I had lunch at “Kurogi Chacha,” a collaboration between the Japanese restaurant “Kurogi” and the long-standing Kyoto uji-cha store “Fukujuen.”

The original “Kurogi,” located in Minato-ku, is an extremely popular restaurant for which it is hard to secure reservations, but as this GINZA SIX location does not accept reservations, so even tourists can get in!

Kurogi Chacha is located in the middle of the food sales area on B2F, and their featured goods include tea leaves and uji matcha.
There are only 5 counter seats for eating within the shop, but they are separated from the outside by a sturdy wall, so you can relax and enjoy your food.

Tai chazuke set

The eat-in menu only includes the tai chazuke set. 2500 yen (tax excl.)

Menu
Menu

First, a cup of pre-meal tea is brought out. This was Fukujuen’s Gyokuro mizudashi tea.
Gyokuro is a type of tea that is grown in such a way that its leaves do not receive much direct sunlight.
It is less astringent than normal tea, with deeper sweetness and richness.

Pre-Meal Tea
Pre-Meal Tea

Tai chazuke set .
(Rice, Tai [Sea Bream], Dashimaki Tamago, Small Side Dish, Miso Soup, Pickles)

Tai chazuke set
Tai chazuke set

First up was the ochazuke. I tried the first bite without pouring the tea over.
The raw fillets of sea bream were seasoned with sesame sauce. The seasoning is somewhat strong, and it becomes just right when you add the tea. The sesame’s fragrance is lovely.

without pouring the tea over
without pouring the tea over

I poured the hot tea over the rice, turning it into chazuke.
You can choose between genmaicha (green tea with roasted rice) and fukamushicha (deep-steamed green tea), but I chose the shop’s recommendation, the fukamushicha.

the fukamushicha
the fukamushicha

The rich umami from the sea bream melts into the tea, delicious!
Wasabi goes great with the sweet sesame sauce!

tai chazuke
tai chazuke

My husband recommended having another serving of the rice and sea bream, so I gladly accepted.
I was surprised that I could get seconds of not just the rice, but the sea bream too.
After that, I got yet another serving of the rice and sea bream. I felt like I got a great deal!
The clerk told me, “Earlier in the day, I tend to give out more,” so it might be good to visit early in the day!

Next came the after-dinner dessert and Japanese black tea!
The tea was a variety called “Yabukita.”

Dessert was the shop’s iconic “Tokiha,” which is often sold out some time in the morning.
The top was like a green tea jelly, while the bottom was cream cheese.
Add matcha and kuromitsu (brown sugar syrup) on top to your tastes, and enjoy. The smooth yet flexible texture was irresistible!

Sweets and Japanese Black Tea
Sweets and Japanese Black Tea

The shop’s service is great, and I definitely recommend taking the time to enjoy these refined flavors!

Basic information on “Kurogi Chacha”

Address
6-10-1 GINZA SIX B2F, Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo
Access
A 2-minute walk from the A3 exit of Tokyo Metro Ginza Line, Marunouchi Line, and Hibiya Line’s “Ginza Station”
A 3-minute walk from the A1 exit of Tokyo Metro Asakusa Line and Hibiya Line’s Higashi-Ginza Station
Tel
003-6264-5754
Business Hours
10:30-20:30(L.O.20:00)
Closed
Open 365 days
URL(Japanese)
http://www.tempura-yamanoue.jp/ginza/
Kenji Nishiyama - Ginza de Lunch

Author

Birth place: Kanagawa prefecture

Kenji Nishiyama - Ginza de Lunch

In addition to running an IT consulting firm, I spend my lunch hours scouring the nearby Ginza area for the best places to eat.