Fresh Ikura (Salmon Roe)

The crowning glory of Japanese waters, Ikura, also known as Salmon Roe, is a rare and glorious find. With a crystal-like appearance, they have a briny, subtly sweet flavor with a mild fishiness that can add an unexpected pop to any dish.

Ikura (Salmon Roe) doesn’t reflect light with its translucent qualities, but it does put a light in the eyes of true gourmands.

Fresh Ikura are plump, translucent spheres packing a punch of flavor. With a little resistance, it will burst open with a little nibble, letting their delicious juices flow over the tongue, accentuating every bite. With each pop of an egg more savoriness is exuded.

Taste of Ikura

Premium fresh Ikura / Salmon Roe has a rich aroma reminiscent of the salty ocean underlined by subtle notes of sweetness, lingering in the nose. You can expect nothing but the very best and freshest when purchasing our Ikura.

We marinate our Ikura in Shoyu to limit the salty seawater taste and accentuate its natural umami. It also gains a fuller and springier texture and consistency, which creates a truly unforgettable pop of flavor in your mouth.

Ikura, Salmon Roe vs. Trout Roe

Salmon Roe and Trout Toe are both commonly known as ikura in Japan. To differentiate between the two, Trout Roe is called Masuko Ikura, whereas Salmon Roe goes by Sakeko Ikura.

Japanese Masuko, or Trout Roe, is cheaper and more commonly circulated than Sakeko, or Salmon Roe. Masuko is smaller in size with a saltier taste and a darker color than Sakeko.

Sakeko Ikura has a pleasant and vibrant color that is crystal clear. The initial taste is complex. When tasting, it can be described simply as rich in umami with a sweetness that lacks fishiness.

True Ikura, Sakeko or Salmon Roe, is not inexpensive. It is usually double the price of Masuko.

Purveyors will mark a product as Ikura without designating whether it is Sakeko or Masuko, which can be confusing. Not only do they come at different price points, they offer very different flavor profiles.

It is completely unacceptable to replace Sakeko with Masuko, so when you’re purchasing, make sure you are sure you are buying what you want and are paying for.

Sakeko Ikura can be eaten raw; however, Masuko Ikura is a bit iffy. Masuko has been enjoyed raw traditionally, but Trout is a lake water fish, which are not recommended for raw consumption and are more susceptible to contamination.

Problems with Frozen Ikura

High quality, fresh Sakeko Ikura / Salmon Roe is difficult to find because frozen versions are convenient to transport distances and store for long periods of time. This is highly beneficial to merchants, but it does not guarantee quality or flavor.

Ikura’s essence will degrade when frozen. The color will darken, the outer layer will wrinkle and dimple, and it will have a dried out appearance.

Merchants will often try to explain the dark color by saying the Ikura was marinated in soy sauce. Our fresh, quality Ikura is marinated and retains its translucent quality, which is how premium fresh one will look.

Comparing frozen and fresh Ikura is impossible; there is no comparison. Once you’ve tried fresh, high quality Ikura, it will be difficult to go back to the frozen version.

Wary of Fake Ikura

There is no shortage of cost effective, synthetic "Ikura" on the market. This is called imitation Ikura; it is not true Salmon Roe.

To produce fake Ikura costs 30% of true Sakeko Ikura. This artificial product is often sold to customers at high prices to increase the company's profit. Ingesting fake Ikura is unpleasant, lacks taste, has a jelly-like consistency, and can be harmful due to the additives.

If you believe you have imitation Ikura, you can check. It’s very simple.

Pour hot water into a small bowl. Take a few pieces of your Ikura into the water and stir. If it is imitation, very little oil will leak into the water. Genuine Ikura will leak a great amount of protein, turning the water milky white.

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By ordering online, we make it easy for you to ensure the creation of a high end, restaurant quality gastronomic experience with the unique flavors of fresh Ikura (Salmon Roe), which you’ll want to relive over and over.

Do you accept pre-order?

Ordering in advance and specifying a delivery date is encouraged to serve you better. We accept orders in advance for up to 14 Days.

What complimentary you provide?

To bring out the fresh flavor of the Ikura and balance the fishy fishiness just right, we serve our Ikura with the following for free:

1. Fresh Wasabi
2. Homemade Sashimi Shoyu (Restaurant Recipe)
3. Ooba, Hana Ho or Kogiku 

Do you offer free delivery?

We offer free delivery on order(s) over $100.

For order(s) below $100, we will charge $12 delivery fee for delivery. 

What is your refund policy?

We value building long-term relationships and trust with you. We offer a full amount refund unconditionally, just drop a WhatsApp message to us at +65 96409321 if you have any concerns.