You could probably figure that my first "Japanese" restaurant meal since returning from Japan would be at Yakitori Taisho. We've decided that we love the spring bounty in Japan and wouldn't you know it; Taisho had one of those items; Hotaru Ika – Firefly Squid. We actually had a nice version at our favorite restaurant, Suzunari in Tokyo.
I had expected this to be possibly a bit dried out, but it was not. Fairly tender, it basically bursts upon biting and is kind of acquired taste; oceany with what I would call a rather pleasant bitterness from its liver. I enjoyed it.
So we can now add this to squid beaks, Babylon snails, gizzard "skin", quail, and one really awesome beef tongue dish.
And I had all the usual items of course.
And I had a nice chat with Taka-san about his hometown of Nagoya….and of the regional specialties of course.
And this place that we visited…..
Man, I'm missing Japan already……
Yakitori Taisho
5185 Clairemont Mesa Blvd.
San Diego, CA 92117