Who doesn't fantasize about discovering a five-star jewel hidden away somewhere? Tekka is that jewel: a nine-seat Japanese restaurant in the inner Richmond, with not even a sign announcing its presence (although you can see the restaurant through the windows, and its House Rules are posted next to the door). The prices are high: my friend and I split the sashimi combo appetizer (not on the menu but gleaned from others' reviews) at $18.50, and filled out the rest of our meal with incredible nigiri (fish cut so big you could hardly see the rice, $2.50 each) and a small plate of grilled mushrooms ($5)... we ended up full having basically split an appetizer and maybe an entree's worth of food, which is good because it added up to about $46 after tax.
And we'd do it again, any time: the fish is incredible, much fresher than other sushi joints', cut perfectly and lavishly. Seriously, I didn't even think that my friend's yellowtail nigiri HAD rice underneath it, because the fish was so big that the edges touched the plate. The Japanese dishes are only listed in Japanese on the wall menu (there are no individual menus). but we found from other diners and from reviews that they are as good as anything in Japan, and include incredible grilled peppers, a beautiful golden pumpkin dish, grilled mushrooms, three-day braised pork, and many other awesome things.
The restaurant opens at 7 Monday through Friday, and it is best to be there by 6:40 if you want to get seated. Otherwise, you must come back at about 9, and hope that not too many other people come then! It is a mom and pop joint, literally - that's who works there. That's it. Sometimes their son helps out in the kitchen. They have run the restaurant for about eighteen years, and they do things the way they want: their house rules include no forks, no soda, no tempura, no teriyaki, no weekends, no rushing, and no complaining. Once you accept the rules, they are really, really nice and funny people, and their food is the food of the gods. Go worship them!
P.S. Cash only.
more