Katsugyo Ryoma’s assorted-sashimi set
We came to Katsugyo Ryoma for dinner in Kochi City.
It is in the area the original source calls Kubo, about 15 minutes by bus from the city center around Kochi Castle; use the original venue map rather than infer an address from that spelling.
We missed lunch and arrived for dinner, when it was busy too.
The original plan was to try the lunch special, but another meal changed the schedule.
It had been crowded at lunch, and dinner was no quieter.
A large indoor tank held actively swimming fish.
Solid wooden tables surround the central tank.
The fish were swimming energetically in clear water.
That arrangement made the freshness tangible.
Ginshari rice being prepared in small pots
In the kitchen, individual little pots of rice described in the source as Kochi’s Ginshari were being cooked for diners.
Katsugyo Ryoma’s menu
The selection covers fish, shellfish, shrimp, and eel.
Red sea bream, amberjack, and salmon are mainstays, with options ranging to eel, straw-seared bonito, and tuna.
The preparation is clearly visible from the dining area.
Fish are taken from the tank and prepared, and watching from the table is part of the enjoyment.
With so many orders in progress, the only difficulty is knowing which fish is yours.
A simple assorted-sashimi set
Curious about lunch, I ordered the same assorted-sashimi set, 刺身盛り合わせ定食, from the evening menu.
It was a little more expensive than the lunch version.
The assortment contained red sea bream, amberjack, and salmon, alongside Japanese steamed egg with abalone and miso soup full of wakame.
The hot Ginshari rice arrived in its own little cooking pot.
Take out as much as you want, then replace the lid to keep the rest warm.
To make it feel like an evening out, I added a glass of red wine.
Thick-cut red sea bream
Japanese sashimi assortments can be thinly sliced, but these pieces were particularly thick.
Resting on ice kept the sea bream firm and enjoyable.
Thick amberjack sashimi
Amberjack is fatty and can smell strong when it is not fresh.
This had none of that fishiness and was fresh-tasting enough to enjoy without wasabi or soy sauce.
Salmon sashimi as large as a rice ball
The salmon was a genuine surprise.
Its rice-ball-sized pieces were rich and soft.
There was little fishiness even without lemon; although the visible fat seemed modest, the rich flavor was excellent.
Katsugyo Ryoma
Although it is an izakaya, no automatic otoshi appetizer or table charge was added during this visit.
Kochi City’s Ryoma pleased both the eyes and the palate.
It serves lunch and dinner, and the reviewer recommends considering a visit.
Fish specialist Katsugyo Ryoma (魚料理屋 活魚 漁ま)
Address: 1-2 Minamikubo, Kochi, Kochi Prefecture, Japan
Telephone: 088-856-5037