Fishmonger Stand Fujiko is a hidden gem located in the basement of Umeda Station. Well hidden to foreigners, but you'll definitely find a long-line of locals queueing outside even before opening hours. The shop's tagline is that "the only good thing about the shop is that the seafood is cheap" (海鮮が安いだけの店, kaisen ga yasui dake no mise), which is a really cheeky way of touting their best selling point. However, locals in the know swear by how fresh and how cheap the seafood here is.
The shop's secret being that they are owned by a fishery company, Kaisho, which buys fresh seafood in bulk from the local wholesale markets. The parent company's motto is "to move the heart's of the customer by even 1mm through seafood", and that farm to table goodness at a low price is really doing just that.
Unlike the tagline of "the only good thing... is that seafood is cheap" though, what also makes Fujiko stand out is its electric izakaya (居酒屋, Japanese pub) atmosphere, and the great nihonshu (日本酒, Japanese rice wine) that pairs well with the seafood. The lively cheers of the service staff and chefs, give a strong sense of camaraderie leading to a bustling shop through lunch and dinner. Perhaps what gets customers livening up the most is the cheap single-priced nihonshu (日本酒, Japanese rice wine) that's available on the menu at ¥410 for a 90ml sake cup. Each of the 13 varieties of local nihonshu is hand-picked by the shop's boss, and the unique characteristics of each nihonshu is carefully spelled out.
Fujiko is part sushi (寿司) bar and part izakaya (居酒屋, Japanese pub), serving up some great sushi, and even better value-for-money seafood platters. They also serve up a wide range of cooked dishes including grilled fish collar, simmered fish, deep-fried seafood, and more! It’s a great place to get some sashimi platters, and some drinks to help you celebrate the night away.
They also feature an ultra-limited, and very value-for-money lunch set that always sells out by 12.30. At ¥1,280, you get a teishoku (定食, Set Meal) with six different types of tsukemono (漬物, Pickles), simmered fish head, and a sashimi (刺身) platter. Do note that currently, lunch service doesn't offer the full menu. Deep-fried items are only served from 12pm onwards, and the popular seafood platter only starts from 2pm. Furthermore, the shop always offers a daily menu that consists of the freshest off-the-main-menu recommendations that day.
