That Japan is a place where fish can be easily found on restaurant menus is a fact. But have you ever imagined a restaurant where you can fish for your own meal? It also exists and is located in Japan!
These restaurant chains are called Zauo (釣船茶屋), which literally means “fishing tea house”.
One of the chains of this restaurant is in Tokyo, and many who have been there report good experiences.
Let’s get to know this place better, and who knows, it might make it onto your list of places to visit in Japan!
Table of Contents
History of Zauo
The “fishing restaurant” chain Zauo was created in 1986 in Japan and has thirteen units in the country.
It was founded by two brothers, Kazuhisa and Takuya Takahashi. The chain has units in the main Japanese cities.
And the goal is to expand to large and reference cities outside Japan. So far, the United States has embraced the idea of the restaurant and has already received a franchise.
Concept of Zauo
For those who love fishing, they will surely enjoy this experience, and the fish is prepared on the spot, so the food is fresh! But fishing is not mandatory to dine at Zauo.
As soon as you arrive at the restaurant, customers receive a fishing rod, and after catching the fish, the chefs prepare the dish to the customer’s liking.
For those who are used to pay fishing here in Brazil, this restaurant will be easy to navigate!
The variety of dishes ranges from fried fish like tempura to slices of raw fish like sashimi, soups like sukiyaki, and many others. You choose!
But what if you don’t know how to fish? Don’t worry because you won’t go without eating your fish, as the staff can assist you and even use a fishing net to catch your fish faster.
The Zauo are among the most sought-after places by both Japanese people and tourists in search of experiences.
Design of the place
The way to order food is already different, so the design of the place certainly couldn’t be any different!
The restaurant is shaped like a boat, with all its finishing and structure made of wood. On the sides of the restaurant, the wall is shaped like the stern and bow of real boats.
The restaurant is also surrounded by water tanks filled with fish, perfectly simulating a navigable aquatic environment.
The fishing tanks have a variety of fish, and the waiter will guide you to the types of fish you prefer.
Some of the fish options include: snapper, grouper, mackerel, saltwater eel, sharks, Japanese sea snail, or lobster.
You can even choose between saltwater or freshwater!
Not everything is perfect
One thing I didn’t like much was the fact that there are some fish in the aquariums that are quite expensive, and once caught, they cannot be returned.
If you end up catching them, you will have to pay a price that is more than double compared to the other options the restaurant has.
But there is information and guidance to prevent this from happening by mistake.
Another thing that I personally wouldn’t find cool, due to lack of habit, is that since the fish are fresh and most preparations are raw, they may end up twitching and moving.
Japanese people, in general, are not intimidated by this…
Is it really worth it?
According to comments on the restaurant’s page and videos, it is definitely worth having an experience at some of the Zauo chains!
The service is good, and the price in yen is reasonable. You can eat well for around 3,000 yen. But the price varies depending on the fish, preparation, appetizers, among others.
The service is differentiated because the staff is evaluated by customers at the end of their stay at the place, so they strive to provide good service.
If you fish the fish yourself, you will receive a discount; for example, the normal price of a grouper is approximately 3,360 yen (about a hundred reais). When you fish it, it costs about 2,500 yen (about seventy-five reais). A sole is 3,990 yen and can receive a discount of 861 yen.
Popularity of the restaurant
Zauo is very popular in Japan and already has its chains well established there.
Since the beginning of 2018, there has also been a unit in New York, United States. The place accommodates one hundred seventy-five seats and has the same structure as the original idea.
The directors’ goal is to expand even further. Are you tempted to go dine or have lunch at this restaurant? Will it ever come to Brazil?
One thing is for sure: if this restaurant comes to Brazil, it will be a success, as Brazilians really enjoy Japanese food, and they would undoubtedly want to check out the place.
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