Makisu

Cut this morning, on ice by ten

A sushi counter and a Japanese pantry on Regent Road. Fish off the Hout Bay boats, rice, nori, and the blades to work them with.

See what is on ice
One bevel, one pulling stroke
One bevel, one pulling stroke
Cut to order, never cut ahead
Cut to order, never cut ahead
Short grain, rinsed until clear
Short grain, rinsed until clear
Roasted sheets that snap, not bend
Roasted sheets that snap, not bend

Who cuts, and what came in

Kenji Sonoda has stood at this counter since 2015, and Lerato Sithole has cut beside him since the second winter. Between them they take about forty kilos a week off whole fish, most of it landed at Hout Bay and driven up the coast the same morning. Yellowfin off the Elsa J when the boats get out, yellowtail up from Struisbaai when they do not, trout from Dullstroom on the Thursday truck. Nothing is cut before it is ordered, and nothing is frozen except the tuna the regulations say has to be. The counter opens at ten and the blades go down at four, because a fish that has been sitting under a light since lunchtime is a fish we would rather not sell you. Come and look at what is on ice before you decide. That is what a counter is for.

The counter — ten to four

The pantry — open till six

Inside the shop

Trays going out at two
Trays going out at two
Hout Bay, half past five
Hout Bay, half past five
The board between orders
The board between orders
Ginger pickled on Mondays
Ginger pickled on Mondays
Bowls from a kiln in Kalk Bay
Bowls from a kiln in Kalk Bay
Eight seats, no bookings
Eight seats, no bookings

"I came in for rice and Kenji spent ten minutes talking me out of the tuna, because the boats had not gone out that week. I have bought fish here every Friday since. Nobody else in Sea Point will argue you down to a cheaper fish." — Devan Naidoo, Three Anchor Bay

Collection on Regent Road

Order by ten and it is cut for two. The counter closes at four and the pantry at six. We do not deliver — everything is collected from 214 Regent Road, Sea Point.