Maruyasu

There are only a handful of restaurants that are certified to serve blowfish due to the nature of the species, which contains poison in some parts, so chefs must be trained to prepare them safely. Maruyasu in Hyogo is one of these certified restaurants. This fugu specialty restaurant is known to be on the higher end of the price scale, and for good reason — only the best fugu is used. Maruyasu will decline to use the ones that are not up to the restaurant’s extremely high standards. Prepared in the best way possible to bring out the fugu’s best qualities, customers are willing to pay the extra yen for carefully executed pufferfish dishes. Fugu aren’t sold throughout the year at Maruyasu as it is a seasonal ingredient. Instead of preserving some or keeping them alive in tanks, the restaurant sticks true to its freshness concept. Other dishes like karaage — which, especially for a fugu specialty shop, is excellent — is available during the non-peak fugu season.