Since the Tokyo food trading center has moved to the massive Toyosu trading complex, Tsukiji market has become a better attraction for locals and tourists. Locals still have a place to go buy fresh fish, meat, and vegetables, while tourists still get to enjoy the novelty of all the open air street shops, the heads of large tuna placed in front of some shops, and the bustling scene.
The variety of shops have moved from liquor packed sailor and trader bars and food stands to some more novel offerings like great ice cream, awesome gourmet coffee, and cooked meat skewers.

People often wonder why the section just below the Tuna eyes are carved out when the heads are on display. That is darker meat that has a lot of flavor and is often cooked into soup and or grilled and served up with some miso soup and rice. Since the market has moved to a new complex, we see fewer of these on display, but they are still around at the larger fish shops. Also, if you get there earlier in the morning, there are more on display.

Just about anything in the Pacific Ocean is available for sale in one form or another from seaweed, clams, oysters, squid, and octopus in all forms – fresh, fried and dried.

After a stroll through the main market area, one can hardly turn away many of the elderly standing in front of the shops inviting you in for a good bowl of rice and tuna or the freshest sushi available. Just about all of the shops have lines early in the morning or right before lunch, so the golden hour tends to be about 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. However, even at that time you can expect at least a 10-15 minute wait. We found this place, and as usual, were more than satisfied with the quality and quantity.

After a relaxing lunch over some of the finest tuna available in Tokyo, we headed down an alley where there was a barista pouring the finest drip coffee. While we did not have to wait to order, he put his heart into the brew and it took about five minutes, but the wait was well worth it. Was a dark blend Italian roast served Americano style with some fresh cream; just the way we like it.

We purchased a large block of fresh tuna that was on sale next to the coffee shop for a 1,000 yen discount, which you can find later in the day as most shops try to keep fresh inventory and purchase every morning at the trader market. This is if you are lucky because most of the time shopkeepers keep just the right quantity to sell out of fish before that time. It’s hit and miss at best, but we hit it today, completed fish, meat, and vegetable shopping with a good lunch and awesome beverages.