Kinmedai Ji-Kinme Chiba 1.6lb

What is Kinmedai?
Kinmedai (金目鯛, golden eye snapper) is a deep-water fish prized for its pinkish-red skin, striking gold eyes, and a flavor that's both rich and delicate. This one comes fresh from Chiba, directly transported, at around 1.6 lb per piece. Kinmedai is a luxury fish, with the finest coming from waters off Izu and the Boso Peninsula.

Ji-kinme (地金目) is the regional, locally landed grade of the same fish — and the Choshi brand from Chiba stands out among them. Ji-kinme from Choshi, Katsuura, and Shimoda is celebrated for its exceptional thickness and fat content, the fish caught and landed close to shore rather than shipped in. It's the same species, at its regional best.

Specifications

How to enjoy

The classic is nitsuke — simmered whole or in fillets in a sweet soy broth, where the fat comes through and the skin turns glossy. Fresh kinmedai is also excellent as sashimi, silky and rich, or lightly seared skin-on (aburi). For a hot pot, thin slices in a shabu-shabu bring out the sweetness. Salt-grilling suits it too. Keep it cold and cook it fresh.

Pairing notes — sweet-soy nitsuke, grated ginger, sudachi or yuzu, and a dry sake.