新宿割烹 中嶋

本格的な割烹の味を、お昼に880円で食べられると人気のお店。以前は行列が出来ていて断念。平日13時頃伺うと並ばずに入れました。

鯵フライ定食に、鯵刺身ハーフを追加。鯵フライたまに臭いのと、刺身たまに小骨がある…。もう少し美味しいモノだと期待値が高過ぎました。店員さんの対応はとても良いです。

平日13時前に入店したが並んでない。ラッキー
鰯の刺身定食800円と鰯フライハーフ350円をいただきました。
見た目は刺身ではなく鰯のたたきが第一印象です。
生姜を薬味にいただいたが臭みはなく美味しい。
フライは味付けされてるそうで、ふわっとした食感。
そのまま食べてもいいし、醤油かけてもいいと思います。
ご飯が足りなければおかわりもできます。
コスパ高いランチだと思います。

So I found Nakajima on several webpages on where to have cheap Michelin-star meals in Tokyo.

As mentioned, Nakajima is a Michelin star restaurant famed for its sardine dishes - sashimi, fried, simmered - various styles (I didn't know it can be eaten sashimi style!).

The star is probably for the full dinner service but lunch is definitely recommended for an experience at a top notch Japanese restaurant.

I already had my money's worth at the counter seat watching the chef (in my mind, the 'master') right in front of me chopping the sardines into thin slices and marinating with onions and sauces 'live' before they go to the customers. But lunch set was a ridiculous 800 or 900 yen (depending on style of fish you order) and most people, including me, top up for another style of sardine to savour.

In total, I paid 1250 yen for a lunch set ordering the Yanagawa style sardines (fried and then simmered in eggs and onions teppan-style) and a half side of sardine sashimi for the experience. For this price, you get an appetiser, miso soup, 2 servings of rice (you can ask for refill) and unlimited green tea.

As I say, this price is ridiculous - at Tokyo station or in Ginza, you can easily pay at least 1500-2000 yen for a simple lunch.

Queues form quite early but the turnover is pretty fast. Recommended to arrive 1100-1115 before the restaurant opens at 1130 and you should be able to get in at the first seating (otherwise, about a 30min wait).

Don't come for lunch thinking you will be blown out of the world with a Michelin meal (as a lot of reviews had mentioned). But seriously, go for it, probably the best value for money thing you would be doing in Tokyo.

We were fortunate enough to get a last minute booking through our hotel concierge! We choose the middle set menu options which gave us more than 8 courses. The main chef was there servicing us and having our server translate what each course was. Great place atmosphere and great hype. Please remember to be respectful and you will be treated the same.

What's wrong with michilen?

It's just a small normal eatery, nothing special, nothing about the taste, service or atmosphere. Actually the taste is kinda harsh, sardine, after all, is a very fishy, bitter kind as food.

But somehow they got a michilen star, and then lots of tourists. In fact, almost everyone is tourist in the restaurant is a tourist now.

Excellent sardine based set lunch, great value at ~1400yen. Expect a wait if you don't arrive when they open.

刺身定食800円。新宿でここまでうまい刺身を安く食べさせてくれるのは、感動的。平日11時45分位に行くと、既に階段の上まで行列。20分は待った。逆に、食べ終わって帰る12時半には、客は並ばずに店に入っていた。タイミングが難しい。

Not a fan of sardine, but this one michelin starred restaurant changed my perspective about that fish. You could choose wether deep fried, sashimi style, or simmered, everything just delicious! Located hidden in a basement, its rather hard to find. Long queue during lunch, but speedy turnaround. Seat at the bar overlooking kitchen to see chefs in action.

Very affordable one-star Michelin restaurant! Small restaurant and only serves sardine related food. You will expect to wait awhile during lunch hours. The sardine sashimi is worthwhile having while the fried sardine is awesome with mustard.

No news here - this place is good. Very good! Lunchtime is the winner. I cannot wait to return.

Great lunch, very refined at fantastic value for money even for Tokyo. Not sure it is worth the Michelin star at lunch time, or even the hype but still a stand out meal for the price and worth the wait if you get in line early on a week day.

ランチで伺いました。開店15分前で既に20人近い方が待ってました。30席あるので一回転目に入れました。回転率が良いのでそんなに待ちません。鰯のフライにお刺身のハーフをプラスして千円とちょっとは嬉しいコスパ素晴らしいです。店員さん、女将さんらしき方も対応が良くて素晴らしいです。次は夜カウンター席で行ってみたいです。

Came here for lunch after reading an online article about cheap lunches at Michelin starred restaurants. By the time I turned up at 11: 15am (it opens 11: 30am) there was already a queue going to the top of the stairs! Yes, they only serve sardines at lunch (sashimi or fried). Yes, it’s worth it if you’re already aware of this, and aren’t surprised by the limited menu. It’s a small place: the bar seats 10 people, and there are 3 small rooms with table seating.

Does not accept customers with children 6 years or younger. Michelin or not, this is definitely not children friendly.

友達に連れられてランチで利用
夜は高級店と言わんばかりの内装で到底手が届きませんがランチの利用はリーズナブルでした！
新宿駅から近くおいしい和食を堪能することが出来ました。
今度は個人的にも利用してみたいそんなお店でした！

コスパ、味、雰囲気も良く、大変人気のお店です。
昼の訪問では、支払いは現金のみでしたが、夜は不明です。

メニューには無いようですが、鰯の刺身と鰯のフライを半人前ずつにした定食も注文されている方がいらっしゃいました。

Came because.of the Michelin Star. Arrived at 11 and we.only just missed out on the first seating. Waited 15mins during which time I told my wife that they only served sardines (queue angry face). The food (sardines) was better than we both expected - sashimi, deep fried, and in some sort of broth. Beware of the post lunch sardine burps: p

Food was ok. Service needs improvement, probably the rudest of any restaurant in Japan. I dont think it's worth the wait or hype, perfect example of hype over flavor. I'd rather go to a random restaurant and enjoy my time and my meal than wait around for this

Very good sardines. Only sardines. Simple meal. Got there at 13: 30, stood in line for 2 min. They close before 14: 00, so keep that in mind.

Was turned away and told it was closed despite numerous open seats at the bar and tables open in the rear of the restaurant. Maybe because I'm a foreigner but either way very disappointing.