Opened in April 2017 in a Roppongi backstreet across from Tokyo Midtown, #Uni Seafood brings the concept of a Western fish market / port town to life in the heart of Tokyo – complete with an attention-grabbing hashtag in the name. Seafood platters, shellfish and the Catch of the Day are all the rage here at this unique fish market setting.
As the mini fishmonger stall by the entrance suggests, Uni is all about quality, fresh seafood done the way it is back home – a far cry from what you can expect at your average Japanese seafood restaurant. With a wide array of fresh fish on the ice bed—directly sourced from as far as Hokkaido down to Okinawa) , choose your favourite fish and even the way it is cooked, or go with the chef's recommendation.
The standout item is perhaps the Seafood Platter of the Day (in various sizes from 2-3p @ ¥3,800), which combines a good number of cold crustaceans—clam, mussels, squid, crab and shrimp, which alternates day by day. The Crab Platter gets you assorted Snow Crab and King Crab – over 1 kg for just ¥10,000. Numerous shellfish, crab and grill options are also available – not to mention the aforementioned ice bed of fresh fish, which can be served saute, grill, frite, Acqua Pazza, Bouillabase, and as pasta or risotto.
As the name implies, Uni doesn't entirely disregard its obvious Japanese origins and is proud to serve classic Japanese options too – with boxes of Hokkaido-sourced sea urchin (uni) also an option to source from the mini fish market at the front of house. They'll happily whisk this up into their signature Uni Cream Pasta dish, but the choice is yours and you can even split it over several preparation styles.
Uni's Tap Marché server brings some classic craft beer selections to the menu, including On the Cloud and Afterdark from Spring Valley Brewery in nearby Daikanyama.
Beside the fresh cuisine, expect to enjoy the fish market-inspired decor with its maritime vibe, chalkboard specials, and soft acoustic American rock playing over the stereo. Uni is a great place to relax in a refreshing setting, and great for sharing thanks to their assorted seafood platter options.
For the social media savvy among you, they're even running a social media campaign well worth checking out – show them your #uniseafood-tagged post to get a free sea urchin-inspired dish on your follow-up visit.
