I purchased these Choshita Sardine Kabayaki as part of a combo assortment along with some Saury Kabayaki. I was curious to see what type of sardine it would be, but I'm still not sure. It appears to be fillets of a fish too large to be packed whole in the can. I'll have to assume it's one of the species found in the Pacific Northwest.
Initial impression upon opening the can: 3.5/5.
The aroma and appearance are about the same as the same brand of saury kabayaki. The sauce obscures whatever color the meat might be. The flavor was also virtually indistinguishable, the preparation and sauce overpowering the fish flavor. More bones evident than in the saury as well. The meat is tender, though, and not dry at all.
More Than Expected
Out over rice, there's substantially more fish than what appears to be in the just-opened can, which is not all that deep.
I chose to dump most of the can liquid out over everything, to try to get the most flavor from it.
As I worked my way through the bowl, I found myself thinking how much better I liked the kabayaki treatment in combination with the rice.
All in all, the lackluster appearance aside, I thought this was pretty good.
English Translation
I decided to see if I could translate the Japanese-only packaging, and Google Lens was able to accomplish that in a snap. I'll use it next time I encounter a non-English package.
Brand: Choshita [Tawara Canning Co.Ltd]
Description: Sardine Kabayaki
Species: ?
Country of Origin: Japan
Source: FAO61, Northwest Pacific
Skin/Bones: Yes/Yes
Net Wt: 3.5 oz.
Price Range: $5-6