There’s something truly fascinating about watching your food being cooked in front of you—that’s why when I (finally) went to Japan, I was really looking forward to some teppanyaki action. This traditional Japanese cooking style, which makes use of iron griddle, is probably one of the best ways to enjoy prime beef and fresh seafood—two things which Japan is known for! So if you’re looking to treat yourself while in holiday in Osaka, why not do it in style in no less than Minami at the Swissôtel Nankai in Namba?
Located at the 10th level of the hotel, Minami offers an elegant yet casual dining experience with its sleek teppanyaki counters and marble and wood details. A garden view brings a Zen vibe and makes you forget you’re in the midst of busy Osaka. The main table has about 15 seats surrounding the chef’s space, but if you’re dining with a group and would prefer some privacy, there are smaller teppan set-ups available in the restaurant.
I love how you can just sit around and watch the chef demonstrate his impeccable skills! But in Japan, apparently, the chefs aren’t flashy at all (no flame-throwing, LOL). Or maybe it’s just in Minami, where the chefs just move in a swift, calculated, and perfect measure.
Open only for lunch (11:30AM – 3:00PM) and dinner (5:30PM – 9:00PM), Minami features a menu that changes according to the seasons and a big selection of wines from around the world. For spring, the Chef’s Lunch utilizes ingredients that are harvested and of the best quality during sakura season. These ingredients come from the different prefectures, according to their specialties as well. For instance, the scallops are from Hokkaido; the fish are from Wakayama; and the beef is from Kagoshima, known for their black cattle. Everything is flown in fresh, daily.
Unlike other teppanyaki experiences I’ve had where you typically order your meats/veggies of choice (or partake of an unlimited offering), the Chef’s Lunch is multi-course, and because of the seasonal theme of the dishes, it was ALMOST like a kaiseki meal.
The meal started with some prawns, scallops, and sea bream fish sautéed in butter and garlic—perhaps one of the most exquisite plates of assorted seafood I’ve ever had. This was my second meal upon arriving in Japan (the first one was ramen), so you have to understand that this was like my official WELCOME TO JAPAN, WHERE EVERYTHING TASTES PERFECT meal. Everything was just so fresh and juicy. The prawns were super plump, and the chef even fried the heads to crispy perfection—it was such a delight to eat!
Next, I was served a bowl of garden salad featuring some of the freshest and most vibrant greens I’ve ever seen. But my interest with the vegetables quickly turned to distraction when the chef brought out a plate of beautiful, mouthwatering beef from nowhere. Kagoshima Black beef, the most gorgeous slab ever.
The chef fried some garlic before grilling the beef and cutting it into perfect, uniform cubes. Apparently, the best way to eat it is to put some garlic on top of each beef cube before dipping it into your choice of sauce (soy sauce, ponzu). There’s also a variety of salts to choose from, like Mongolian (Himalayan), Italian,and Japanese. I think horseradish or yuzukosho (pepper, yuzu peel, salt, chilies) would be great too!
The beef was sooooo good! This was not even prime wagyu, but the marbling was just right for me. The flavor was clean and fresh and sweetish and incredible—with minimal seasoning, you can really taste the meat and feel that it is the star, as it should be. I think I went straight to beef heaven.
If you’re Asian, you would most probably (actually, I’m sure of it) love some rice to go with the beef, so worry not as the Chef’s Lunch comes with steamed Japanese rice (we all know it’s the best); an assortment of pickles; and miso soup (another favorite). Everything looks tiny and innocent but this meal can be really filling. Each dish was just so good and I was eating so slowly because I was savoring everything and also because I don’t know which one to put in my mouth first, LOL.
Just when I thought the meal has ended, out came a plate of bean sprouts and other vegetables, and the chef started cooking them … right where the beef juices were. I wanted to stop eating but I know I shouldn’t—and I couldn’t.
To cap off the meal, we had two types of sherbet. One was orange and the other was yuzu. Let me just say that I LOOOOOVE YUZU—its citrus flavor is something I find so addicting! The dessert was so delicious and light, and because it’s citrusy, it was as if the chef was cleansing our palates once again. Oh hi chef, I’m ready to start all over again!
The Chef's Lunch is priced at ¥8,800 (~PhP4,200/80USD), and I think it's your best bet if you want to try a variety of what Minami has to offer. If you're all for the beef though, you might want to upgrade the meat by choosing from the other lunch options, which features prime wagyu and kobe! You can also add lobster or abalone, and order extra from their selection of appetizers, like foie gras. There are also lighter options which has either seafood only or beef only.
At Minami, the quality of the ingredients is always ensured in order to provide guests an exquisite dining experience. So whether you're celebrating a special occasion, looking to impress a colleague or business partner, or simply feeling like you want to splurge and treat yourself to fantastic food, Minami should definitely be up there in your top choices. Make sure you book a table before you go.
~*~
Minami
10/F Swissôtel Nankai Osaka
5-1-60 Namba Chuo-ku, Osaka 542-0076, Japan
+816.6646.5128
minami.osaka@swissotel.com
Lunch: 11:30AM – 3:00PM; dinner: 5:30PM – 9:00PM
Reserve a table here
Dress code: Smart Casual
Do you love teppanyaki? What do you think about Minami at the Swissôtel Nankai?
If you like my posts and would love regular updates on travel photos, food finds, restaurant reviews, dance articles, and drunken tales, follow Pepe Samson on Facebook!
0 comments :
Post a Comment
Let me know what you think!