Hassan 八仙 @ Akihabara

Tonight we went to an Akihabara restaurant that specialised in nodoguro with excellent freshness by direct delivery from Itoigawa, Niigata Prefecture.

Hassan 八仙 in Akihabara is a restaurant that specialised in nodoguro のどぐろ (aka akamutsu 赤睦 or blackthroat seaperch). Hassen Akihabara Annex 八仙 秋葉原 別邸, a fully private room only (完全個室) restaurant, is now open and offers private rooms perfect for business meetings and entertaining.

They proudly use nodoguro sent directly from Itoigawa Fishing Port 糸魚川漁港 in Niigata Prefecture 新潟県. The blackthroat seaperch is offered as “sashimi” that allows you to taste the original flavour of the fish; “yaki” that releases the oil and is fragrant on the grill; “nitsuke” or simmered in soy sauce,sake, mirin, and ginger broth for maximum flavours.

【先付】本日の先付 三品 Today’s three appetisers

The appetisers were not so innovative – lotus root chips, a piece of fish tofu and some simmered cabbage.

【造里】のどぐろと地魚のお造里 Sashimi of Nodoguro and local fish

First up, a trio of sashimi featuring the nodoguro, both raw and lightly poached, and some tai (Japanese bream).

【焼物】のどぐろ塩焼き Salt-grilled Nodoguro

This was one side of the nodoguro tail that had been grilled with a generous sprinkle of salt. I love grilled nodoguro as it releases the fats in the fish for that wonderful fragrant taste.

【煮物】のどぐろ煮付け Braised Nodoguro

This is my favourite way of eating the head of the nodoguro のどぐろ, braised in a soy sauce, mirin, sake and ginger broth in a technique called nitsuke 煮付け. It was half side of a head. If only they simmered some leeks in the broth, and then it would be perfect. So in the end we only each had half a fish.

【中皿】牛すき Beef Sukiyaki

This was one of the two non-nodogugro course of the evening, a beef sukiyaki for a change of palette. For me, the beef wasn’t exciting as the cut and marbling was not the best. But the eggplant in the sukiyaki sauce was delicious.

【揚物】旬彩と海老天の盛合わせ Assorted Seasonal Sushi and Shrimp Tempura

Next, a croquette made with a shrimp and mashed potato filling. Delicious, and only if it was served warmer.

【食事】八仙の鮨三貫 Three Pieces of Hassen Sushi

And finish off the main course of the evening, three pieces of nigiri sushi (L-R) – hotate (scallop), ika (squid) and nodoguro (blackthroat seaperch).

【止椀】のどぐろ「椀」 Nodoguro “Soup”

It was a wonderful miso soup using nodoguro as the main ingredient to boil the fish stock. Could use some more ginger as it was quite fishy.

【甘味】本日の水菓子 Today’s Dessert

Today’s dessert was Basque Burnt Cheesecake with a caramelised top and creamy inside. The five-ingredient cheesecake from La Viña in San Sebastián, Spain, has managed to captivate chefs and diners across the world, under the name Basque burnt cheesecake.

There are not many shops that specialise in nodoguro, but there are a few shops that serve them better. However the package which included drinks and the private room was perfect when you need to entertain on a shoestring budget and still enjoy a luxurious fish. Recommended.

Hassen Nodoguro Specialty Restaurant 八仙 のどぐろ専門店
Hoshino Building 1F, 3-28 Kanda Sakumacho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
東京都千代田区神田佐久間町3-28 星野ビル 1F
Tel : +81 03-5823-4338

Visited May 2025