BJ FOoDieS: ‘Ninja’ Charity Dinner at Restaurant T

The recognized symbol for BJ FOoDieS monthly charity dinners, this little character is pretty much exactly how all us foodies look whenever we discover a new restaurant within in this intricate maze of Beijing’s roller-coaster dining scene.

This Sunday, March 25 (tomorrow) is their upcoming “Ninja” feast at Restaurant T, a high-end, modern Japanese restaurant just across the way from Gori in Ocean Office Park (not far from Central Park in CBD).

“Restaurant T is modern fine-dining opulent Japanese cuisine at its best. Innovative signature dishes like mandarin-fish sashimi, goma tofu are just a few of the signatures that make this a stand-out venue. We promise this will be a culinary adventure if this is ya’ll first time trying T.” – Xixi Cheng, Founder of BJ FOoDieS

Promising to be “a 5* Meal of pure decadence fit for a Japanese emperor” this is definitely a dinner you’ll want to RSVP for in advance as BJ FOoDiEs is known to book out every seat available and even turn some foodies away if they turned up too late without a reservation.

Foodies are treated to an extravagant multi-course dinner for only RMB 120 + drink.  And as always, this price per person goes directly to the hosting restaurant so be sure to fill up your wallet just a tad bit more if you’d like to contribute to the good work of this month’s featured charity organization - Prevention Through Eduction (PTE China), an NGO focused on educating young people in China and empowering them with both the knowledge & ability to effectively respond to the challenges of HIV/AIDS.

LDS SH Gossip: 2 Restaurant Openings Summer 2012!

To wrap up my brief trip to Shanghai last week, I’ll explain that although I had the privilege to enjoy a few spectacular meals (at Kappo Yu and Franck), it was not a trip of leisure, but one with a very specific purpose.  And although there has yet to be an official announcement of what’s to come, I’ll be the first to leak a few juicy tid bits of two upcoming new restaurant projects by the Haiku by Hatsune Restaurant Group in Shanghai.

The Haiku by Hatsune Restaurant Group is expanding their ever-growing portfolio to include two exciting new projects: a third Haiku by Hatsune in Jinqiao 金桥 just across the way from Green Sports & Leisure Center and the project I’m most thrilled about – an innovative Southeast Asian crab restaurant in Xintiandi 新天地.

There are currently four restaurants under the Hatsune umbrella in Shanghai including two branches of Haiku by Hatsune (Taojiang Lu and IFC Mall), Kagen Teppanyaki (next to Haiku by Hatsune on Taojiang lu) and Sushi Inc. (in Citigroup Tower on Huayuanshiqiao Lu 花园石桥路).

While the concept of another Haiku by Hatsune branch is nothing new to the Shanghai dining scene, I am most excited about the design of this new venue.

For those who have spent meal after meal in Beijing’s Hatsune branch in Sanlitun Village, you may have noticed the underwater, aquatic themes evident throughout the restaurant from the waterfall glass door entrance, oceanic ground flooring and the stream of fish swimming across the restaurant into a spiraling mass in the center of restaurant’s high-ceilings.  The new Haiku by Hatsune in Jinqiao will showcase a contrasting theme of a rocky mountain face featuring tiered seating, a partially enclosed sushi bar area to portray a cave-like feeling and the best part is that this will be the one and only restaurant that will combine both Haiku and Kagen Teppanyaki restaurant concepts. One side of the restaurant will be dedicated to the firing grills of Kagen Teppanyaki while the other will serve Haiku’s finest California-style Japanese sushi.

In the 5 1/2 years I’ve been living in China, I’ve only made a handful of trips down to Shanghai so I am not very familiar with Shanghai’s breakdown of neighborhoods, hang outs and communities, but I had the chance to explore Jinqiao and notice that this area draws a striking resemblance to Shunyi in Beijing.  If only Shunyi had as many restaurant choices and something comparable to Jinqiao’s Green Sports & Leisure Center! What a great community center for families in the area. I have no doubt that the newest Haiku by Hatsune venture will feel right at home in this welcoming new neighborhood.

And quite opposite to the Jinqiao neighborhood scene is the bustling, trend-setting Xintiandi area which was one of the first areas of Shanghai I quickly became acquainted with. Great nightlife options from the high-energy live music venue Brown Sugar to all the restaurants that line the street. Haiku’s newest project is a Southeast Asian Crab Restaurant that is truly a labor of love, drawing inspiration from the top crab recipes all across the world and although the restaurant’s menu will be headlining its crab dishes, they will also feature a very select range of Southeast Asian tapas, seafood and desserts. I’m really not wanting to spill too many secrets, but this project gives me butterflies just thinking about it and I can’t wait to be the first in line on opening day!

And of course a trip wouldn’t be complete without a tasting of the new project’s specialty…

Crab by Haiku in Shanghai’s Newest Project in Xintiandi

LDS Shanghai Spot: Kappo Yu Japanese Restaurant

Last week, I ventured down to Shanghai for two days to check out a couple of Alan Wong’s newest projects with the Hatsune Restaurant Group (more on this soon!) and as with all trips with Alan, there were plenty of seriously good eats! Probably one of the biggest foodies I know, Alan is always on the hunt to find the best of the best and this time around, he introduced me to one of the best Japanese meals of my life.  Just as good as the Michelin-star restaurants he treated me to in Tokyo, Kappo Yu Japanese Restaurant is a masterpiece.

Food this good shouldn’t even be considered “food” any more. It becomes so much more and as you make your way through each of the 10+ courses, you are being taken along for an unforgettable experience. Each dish a work of art, delicately and thoughtfully pieced together. A fusion of flavors that become better together than they were separated. This is premium Japanese cuisine at its best and it was truly an honor just to be their guest for one dinner.

For my Beijing readers who are Japanese foodies, Kappo Yu is a must-add to your restaurant list during your next visit.

LumDimSum Snapshots of the Kappo Yu Experience:  

While Kappo Yu reminds me so much of the mind-blowing meals I had in Tokyo, it isn’t entirely traditional.  There are contemporary touches seen in atmosphere, drink list and menu, which you can even see traces of molecular gastronomy with seasonal Japanese ingredients. The best way to experience Kappo Yu is sitting around their curved, scarlet red sushi counter in front of Sushi Oyama’s owner Takeo Oyama.

The menu is my favorite part about Kappo Yu because it’s Kaiseki-style (not up to you at all) featuring 10 stand-out dishes that changes daily and with the seasons.  The Kaiseki set is RMB 690 per person. Menus come in Japanese, Chinese and English and I was entirely impressed to find that the waitresses are converse in all three languages. Wow.

Kappo Yu’s Daily Winter Menu:

Now that you’ve read the menu, here’s what the words translate into.  Like I said, each dish was a thing of beauty, a special experience, a real work of art.

Each dish was first class, but highlights of the meal were the Beetroot Mousse with Sea Urchin, the Red Tuna Nigiri Sushi, and the Hokkaido King Crab Shabu Shabu Main Course.

LumDimSum Snapshots of Kappo Yu’s 10-Course Dinner:

Steamed Chawanmushi with Spring Cabbage and Scallop / Grilled Red Grouper with Bamboo Shoots

Seasonal Assortment of Sashimi and Nigiri sushi

Grilled Eel served as substitution for raw fish (for our pregnant foodie) / Beetroot Mousse with Sea Urchin

Seasonal Assorted Tempura – Crab Claw & Greens

Tomato Compote with Cherry Blossom / Stewed Abalone with Winter Melon and Wakame

2 Mains: Kagoshima Beef Shabu Shabu & Hokkaido King Crab Shabu Shabu

Shabu Shabu Set / 3rd Main: Teppanyaki Prawn

Choice of 2 out of 3 Temaki Sushi (Hand Rolls): Salmon & Mentaiko

Homemade Desserts: Trio of Desserts (Pomelo Ice Cream, Strawberry Mousse and Pungent Green Tea) & Red Bean Cup

Beautiful, hand-crafted ceramic dishware

A very happy Yohei Terada

Review of Kappo Yu: Near Huaihai Zhonglu, 33 Wuxing Lu , 吴兴路33号, 6466-7855

Best Part:

• The food!  Normally you need the take into account the service and atmosphere of a restaurant to factor in the entire dining experience at a venue, but the 10-course kaiseki seasonal menu is an experience in and of itself. 
• What makes Kappo Yu exceptional is all in the details. Everything is thought through with such precision and this level of perfection is exactly what brings Kappo Yu up to the superior standards of fine dining establishments in Japan.   
• Each of the 10 dishes was truly first class, highlights included the Beetroot Mousse with Sea Urchin, fresh seafood and especially the Hokkaido King Crab Shabu Shabu.   
• I love that their seasonal menu even changes daily. (I know this because Alan dined at Kappo Yu twice in one week.) 
• Waitstaff was trilingual in Japanese, Chinese and English. So impressive. Menus also come in each of these languages.

Comments:

• With this level of fine-dining, it doesn’t come cheap, but RMB 690 per 10-course Kaiseki set for such an experience is entirely worth it in my opinion. 
• Pace yourself – you gotta get through all 10 courses so don’t rush through it and take the time to savor each course 
• Reservations are only taken from 3-6PM and they are only open for dinner from 6PM-10:30PM with a very limited bar seating (max about 10-11 seats). They are not open on Sundays. 

Rating: (on a scale of 1 to 10 with 10 being best)

• Food: 10
• Atmosphere: 8
• Service: 9
• Overall Experience: 9

A Very Merry Kagen Christmas Charity Party for BICCO

Charity Christmas Dinner at Kagen (photography courtesy of Nora Tejada)

On Saturday, December 10, Kagen Japanese Restaurant hosted a Christmas Charity Dinner to benefit the Disabled Chinese Orphans of BICCO (Beijing International Committee of Chinese Orphans) and with about 130 generous patrons in attendance, we somehow managed to reach our goal of raising over RMB 200,000!  That is an insanely high number because that means each person donated on average RMB 1,500!

Originally, the deal was set that for each ticket sold, RMB 500 would be donated directly to BICCO (which was already really generous of Kagen Restaurant), but in the end, owner Alan Wong generously donated ALL ticket sales to BICCO, meaning that the entire ticket sales (RMB 600 each) went to the children of BICCO.

In addition to ticket sales, we also managed to sell a butt-load of raffle tickets (raising RMB 9,400) and many silent auction prizes went for higher than it’s actual value (raising RMB 31,757).

Combining ticket prices, raffle tickets and silent auction prizes together with many personal donations to our cause, we were able to exceed our goal of more than RMB 200,000 and now Amy Zima and her team of dedicated volunteers are looking to expand their rehabilitation program to at least two other orphanages in China!

A BIG thank you to all our generous sponsors:

• The Wine Republic (who helped supply the 100+wines to bring out the Christmas spirit of giving)

• Heineken Beer for sponsoring 200 bottles of Sol Beer (also helped bring out spirit of giving)

• Ryan Cardwell & Ivy Academy for their Generous sponsorship and partnership in hosting this event

• Acoustic musician David Mitchell for donating both his talent and time to our event

• Photographer Nora Tejada for helping us to capture this unforgettable event

• Beijing Kids for their Media Sponsorship

• Event Volunteers: Ingrid Van Nijverseel, Stephanie Giambruno, Katja Schick, Stephanie Butler, Dannan Hodge, Luce, Christina Lieffring, Romulo Martinez, Kelly Charles, Oumou Barry

• Alan Wong and his Kagen Restaurant (for donating the entire restaurant space and sponsoring the 10-dish meal for everyone that night!)

• Silent Auction Sponsors: 

• A Food Affaire
• Alona Pilates
• Antonia Sampson
• April’s Adornments
• Bodhi Spa
• Chef Too
• Counting Sheep
• Elisabeth Koch Millinery
• Frontiers Chinese School
• GungHo! Pizza
• Hummingbird Therapeutic Spa Retreat
• The Hutong
• Ivy Academy
• Le Spa
• Little Gold Book
• LMC Boutique Clothing
• Oumou Jewelry
• Papabubble Candy
• Punjabi Indian Restaurant
• Ritz Carlton
• Scarlett (Hotel G)
• SinoScuba
• Starfish Wine & Seafood Restaurant
• Two Guys and a Pie
• Wondermilk
• Yoga Yard

Snapshots of the BICCO Charity Dinner Silent Auction Tables:

(Photos courtesy of Nora Tejada)

Snapshots of Christmas Charity Fun at Kagen:

(Photos courtesy of Nora Tejada)

Thank you to everyone who generously donated and contributed to our Christmas Charity Event for BICCO. We are in awe of everyone’s generosity and effort towards such a wonderful and dedicated organization!  Excited for some big improvements in 2012!

Kagen Restaurant Details:

• Located below the Original Hatsune on Guanghua Lu
• B1/F, Bldg C, Heqiao Dasha, 8 Guanghua Donglu, Chaoyang District
• 朝阳区光华东路8号和乔大厦C座地下1层
• Tel: 6583-6830

Welcome Winter with Obentos’ Winter Specials

In addition to a few new maki sushi rolls, udon vegetable/beef noodle soup and Japanese vegetable/beef curry rice options, Obentos 本之味 Japanese restaurant in Central Park is also introducing a few winter specials I am very excited to try.

Order me a Pumpkin Tofu Salad with Soy Ginger Dressing (RMB 48) together with a hot ginger lemon tea (RMB 24) and I’ll be ready to brave the winter cold.

Good news for those who would prefer their food delivered to their door: Obentos has expanded their delivery menu to the greater Sanlitun area and beyond.

Obentos New Delivery Zone:

Click Link for Previous LDS Review of Obentos:

Bento Pushers: Obentos Japanese is in Business!

Obentos Contact Details:

• Address: Just west of The Place Cafe in Central Park, Unit 106-107, Bldg 9, Central Park, 6 Chaoyangmenwai Dajie, Chaoyang District, 朝阳区朝阳门外大街新城国际9号楼106-107室

• Tel: 6597 0085, 6597 0223

Kagen & Summergate Wine Dinner: Wine Geeks Unite!

Bento Pushers: Obentos Japanese is in Business!

Since before it even opened its doors, I have had my eyes set on new, healthy Japanese cafe Obentos 本之味. I was fortunate enough to have been invited to a pre-opening tasting of their healthy, high-quality salads and bento boxes.

It’s only been a few weeks since it first opened its doors in the first week of September and having just dined at Obentos 3 times in one week, it’s safe to say I am officially hooked on this little spot in Central Park.  And I’m not the only one.  Every time I go, there’s a fight for tables and seats.  People are waiting in line just for more Obentos, we all can’t get enough!  This is one of the few places I could eat at every single day and never get sick of it or feel guilty about it!  It’s clean, healthy and there’s enough variety to keep customers coming back for more.

Obentos’ salads are a little pricier than my previous favorite salad selections at Live Well Cafe and Jungbo Juice (previously known as Jambo Juice), but they are definitely worth the extra RMB 15-30. With their large salads ranging from RMB 40-70, you can choose from their 10 different options.  My personal favorites are their Firecracker Beef Salad with Spicy Jalapeno Ponzu Dressing (RMB 60) and their Seared Sashimi Tuna Nicoise Salad (RMB 70).

Obentos’ Outstanding Salads:

Large Fresh Tofu Salad with Sesame Dressing (RMB 48):

Mixed greens, cucumber, red & yellow cherry tomatoes, ohitashi, julianne carrot, sushi ginger, sunflower seeds, bonito flakes, white & black sesame seeds

Seared Sashimi Tuna Nicoise Salad with Miso Mustard Dressing (RMB 70):

Mixed greens, cucumber, red & yellow cherry tomatoes, red onion, long beans, Julianne red radish, soft boiled egg, white & black sesame seeds, oven roasted pumpkin seeds

Zen Chicken Salad with Ponzu Dressing (RMB 50):

Mixed greens, cucumber, red & yellow cherry tomatoes, julianne red radish, daikon shoots, julianne carrot, avocado, oven roasted pumpkin seeds

Firecracker Beef Salad with Spicy Jalapeno Ponzu Dressing (RMB 60):

Mixed Greens, Cucumber, red & yellow cherry tomatoes, julianne daikon, julianne carrot, red pickled ginger, daikon shoots, white & black sesame seeds

If you don’t think a salad is substantial enough for a meal, you can always try one of their bento boxes.  With 10 different selections ranging from RMB 46-78, each bento box comes with 3 different side dishes (like wasabi potato mash, braised root vegetables, kinpira lotus root & egg), and choice of steamed white rice, Obentos flavoured rice or their cleansing coleslaw salad (their flavoured rice is the best choice, followed by their cleansing coleslaw).  I highly recommend their Steamed Chicken Bento Box with Ginger Sesame Dip (RMB 56) which is both low in fat and calories.

Obentos Bento Boxes:

Braised Ginger Soy Pork (RMB 46) / Beef Sukiyaki (RMB 56)

Seared Sashimi Tuna (RMB 78) / Teriyaki Salmon (RMB 60)

Steamed Chicken (RMB 56)

Desserts:

Green Tea Panna Cotta (RMB 20) / Chocolate Tofu (RMB 20)  

Review of Obentos 本之味: Just west of The Place Cafe in Central Park, Unit 106-107, Bldg 9, Central Park, 6 Chaoyangmenwai Dajie, Chaoyang District, 朝阳区朝阳门外大街新城国际9号楼106-107室; Tel: 6597 0085, 6597 0223

Best Part:

• Super healthy, high-quality Japanese salads and bento boxes
• Popular lunch destination in Central Park
• Delivery  to CBD area starts just after October National Holiday!
• Obentos is so healthy, they even have healthy desserts!  Try their chocolate tofu or green tea panna cotta (RMB 20)
• Newly opened, Obentos is super clean and I love their design and take-away packaging. 

Comments:

• Lunchtime Special!  All large salads and bento boxes include a free miso soup or soft drink.
• It’s quick, casual so customers order at the counter and are given a number to receive their meal
• Customers can help themselves to complimentary hot tea and ice water. 
• Cashier always forgets to remind customers to take their own soft drinks/beer from the fridge (rather than bringing to customers)
• Lunch hours are super busy, so expect to wait for a table to open up unless you arrive before or after lunch rush (noon-1:00PM)

Rating: (on a scale of 1 to 10 with 10 being best)

• Food: 8
• Atmosphere: 7
• Service: 7
• Overall Experience: 8

SakeMANZO: New Restaurant Grand Opening Party

Already in soft-opening stages, the NEW SakeManzo (moved from its original location north or Solana Shopping Mall) has moved to the Tuanjiehu Neighborhood and they are hosting a grand opening party with (surprise surprise)…a massive Sake Party!

For this celebration, they will be featuring a sake competition where they will be showcasing over 40 different types of fine sake for all to taste and give points to.  After each sake has been voted on, they will determine the best sake of the year.  A sake brewer who they call “Toji” will also be attending the evenings festivities and will be available to discuss sake with all who are interested!

Sake aside, Manzo will also have a “tuna cutting show” and a buffet of Manzo’s dishes together with free flow beer and soft drinks.

Pre-sale tickets are only RMB 150 per person so don’t miss this chance and RSVP your spot now! Event Details and map below.

SakeMANZO Launch Party Event Details:

• Date: Friday, September 23
• Time: Doors open at 6PM, party starts 19:00-23:00
• Location: NEW sakeMANZO
• Address: Tuanjiehu Beisitiao, Chaoyang district. (  same place as ”味之厨“ at the google map)
• Ticket Price: Pre-sale ticket  RMB150, (RMB100 for VIP card holders); At door: RMB200 (RMB150 for VIP card holders)
• RSVP: 13522633130 (Okuyama)

Healthy Japanese Obentos is NOW Open in Central Park!

Beijing’s dining scene is getting bigger and better by the day.  Most recently, I had the best pulled pork sandwich of my life at Home Plate BBQ and now that Nathan’s Famous just opened their newest branch at Dongzhimen Raffles City, I’m eating their chili cheese dogs, Phillycheese steak sandwiches and onion rings on a daily basis.  Don’t get me wrong, this food is all fantastic, but eating this every day can take it’s toll.

In an effort to be healthier, I’ve recently been trying to eat more salads and lighter meals. On the prowl for a greater variety of high-quality, healthy cuisine, I’ve been eagerly waiting in anticipation for OBENTOS 本之味to finally open it’s doors in Central Park.

Located on the left side of The Place Cafe in Central Park, Obentos is a new, healthy and simple Japanese food concept centered on fresh salads, quality bento boxes and simple maki rolls. They officially opened their doors to public yesterday, September 15 and the place looks fantastic!  Simple, clean and pretty, I love their look and I love their Bento Box and take-away packaging!

Some dishes I’m extremely excited to try:

• Obentos Salad (RMB 28/48 for small/large size): Mixed greens, cucumber, red and yellow cherry tomatoes, julianne carrot, apple, Asian pear, daikon shoots, avocado, white and black sesame seeds and oven roasted pumpkin seeds with citrus ginger dressing.
• Fresh Tofu Salad (RMB 25/48 for small/large size): Mixed greens, cucumber, red and yellow cherry tomatoes, Ohitashi, julianne carrot, sushi ginger, sunflower seeds, bonito flakes, white and black sesame seeds with sesame dressing
• Beef Sukiyaki Classic Bento Box (RMB 56): Comes with choice of rice/salad, Sesame Ohitashi & egg, wasabi potato mash and mixed vegetables.
• Seared Sashimi Tuna Gourmet Bento Box (RMB 78): comes with choice of rice/salad, Kinpira lotus root & egg, miso ginger shiitake mushroom and braised root vegetables.
• Obentos Special Onigiri Rice Balls (RMB 15)
• Chocolate Tofu  and Green Tea Panna Cotta Desserts (RMB 20 each)

*Lunch bonus: All bento boxes and large salads include a complimentary miso soup and soft drink.

For all those close to the Central Park CBD area, Obentos starts delivery on Monday, September 19.

LumDimSum Snapshots of OBENTOS:

Stay tuned for a full restaurant review of OBENTOS coming soon!

Rah Rah for Ramen: Japanese Ramen Noodle Pavilion

This autumn season, Wang Jing is been hosting a Japanese Ramen Noodle Pavilion.  Started on the last weekend of July, this pavilion will run through November/December (kept hearing different end dates from different sources). Open daily from 11AM-10PM, everyone is treated to a mini fair featuring a variety of vendors selling Japanese specialties from snacks like tako yaki and okonomiyaki to several ramen vendors and of course a Japanese Asahi Beer stand!

We rummaged our way through on a rainy night and tried both tako yaki and of course giant bowls of Japanese ramen which left all of us in very satisfied food comas.

Similar to many Chinese food courts, the Japanese Ramen Pavilion requires all purchases be made through a card, which can be purchased at the front gate before you enter the wonderful world of Japanese ramen.

Japanese Ramen Pavilion Purchase Card

LumDimSum Snapshot Tour of the Japanese Ramen Noodle Pavilion:

Other Japanese Food & Beverage Stalls:

Japanese Okonomiyaki

Japanese Tako Yaki Balls

We couldn’t resist the urge to snack on some Japanese Tako Yaki (squid balls), but of course we saved our stomachs for the main attraction: Japanese Ramen!  I confidently say that it really won’t matter which ramen stand you choose to try as they should all be exceptional, but if you would like to follow in my footsteps, here’s where we ended up.

Standard bowl of Japanese Ramen was RMB 55, order of 5 gyoza potstickers was RMB 10 and did you know eating a boiled egg is supposed to prepare you palette for Japanese ramen? Bowl of boiled eggs were complimentary!  (see LDS Snapshots below)

Here’s where we picked to grub on Ramen:

As happy as I was to be a part of this Japanese Ramen Fair, knowing that a portion of all proceeds will go to the victims of Japan’s tsunami, but I must not get your hopes too high.

Although the ramen was superior to most Japanese ramen options in Beijing (with the exception of Invincible Ramen, click here for LDS Review and Details), it still does not compare to the ramen found on the streets of Tokyo where the broth is three times thicker, more rich in flavor and leaving you 2 kilos heavier.

In any case, this is as close as you’re going to get to satisfying your Japanese ramen cravings so grab a couple friends, head to Wang Jing and indulge in ramen heaven.

Japanese Ramen Noodle Pavilion 日本拉面街

Event Details:

• Date: Running from July 28, 2011 – Mid-December 2011
• Time: 11AM-10PM
• Location: 望京国際商業中心 (中英广场）
• Address:  北京朝陽区望京街9号
• Website: http://ribenlamian.com

Setting the Record Straight: Haru Teppanyaki & Sushi Bar

I’d like to set the record straight – Haru Teppanyaki & Sushi Bar is absolutely not affiliated with the Hatsune Restaurant Group in any way, shape or form.  There have been a few rumors spreading that Haru was telling its customers that their restaurant is associated with Hatsune and I would like take this opportunity to dispel all false rumors and make it crystal clear: these two restaurants are not related AT ALL.

That being said, these rumors instigated my curiosity to come and check out this Haru Teppanyaki & Sushi Bar and see just how similar it really compares to my beloved Hatsune.  I hear their original restaurant out in Shunyi is excellent, but for convenience sake, I opted instead to venture to their recently opened second branch located just north of Sanlitun Village to an area rather unexplored by me – Sanlitun Village North. There, I went up the third floor of the West Building 西楼 and walked into Haru without a reservation during what I presume to be peak dining time - 8:30PM on a Friday night.

Enclosed in glass, the restaurant is very sleek and modern and I was warmly welcomed in Japanese by three staff.  Not having made a reservation, I was told the wait would only be a few minutes as they were clearing up a table that just left.  With a few minutes to spare, I began to explore and snap, snap away.

Other than a completely empty sushi bar with not even one sushi chef, the restaurant is mostly filled out with 6 private teppanyaki rooms ranging from rooms for two up to rooms for 12 pax.

Is it primarily just a teppanyaki restaurant? Confused, I asked for their menu and the first half is entirely filled with sushi options from sushi rolls (all named after people I presume) and then followed by both a la carte and set teppanyaki meal options.

Not wanting to sit at the deserted sushi bar, I opted for a two person private room where we ordered a few items off their sushi menu and a teppanyaki set to share.  Without a photo menu, I ordered based on my dining experiences at Hatsune and Kagen Teppanyaki.

Haru’s Sushi Roll Menu (offering 25 different rolls)

Trying to pick a roll off their sushi menu, I wasn’t quite sure what to order since there were no photos and there were 25 different rolls to choose from with more than half with basically the same three ingredients- tempura shrimp, snow crab and avocado. Most rolls ranged from RMB 60 (vegetarian roll options) to RMB 92 with the exception of their Toro roll, priced at RMB 185.

After much avail, I finally just randomly ordered the Kevin Roll (RMB 72) with avocado, cucumber and crab meat topped with a rainbow of assorted seafood: shrimp, salmon, tuna, and flounder.  The roll was nicely presented, very clean and neat, but without any sauces or many ingredients for that matter, it didn’t impress me.

*Reader, take note – I openly admit to being a total sushi snob. As the #1 fan of Hatsune’s sushi rolls, I tend to be overly critical when it comes to Japanese food, and especially when it comes to sushi rolls.

That being said, I was more than excited to discover their Nigiri Cucumber Rolls.  With each roll priced around RMB 30, I ordered their Uni and Salmon Roe (RMB 30), Sweet Shrimp (RMB 30) and their Foie Gras Roll (RMB 30). The cucumber wrap is beautiful and these fresh tasting mini rolls were all winners.

Haru’s AMAZING Cucumber Nigiri Rolls (HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!)

Thinking another two orders of Teppanyaki sets would be over-the-top, we decided to share one set between the two of us.  They had a range of steaks and seafood options and I wanted both so we ordered their Filet Mignon and Ocean Scallops Grilled with Garlic Butter Sauce Set (RMB 305).

Similar to Kagen Teppanyaki’s set dinner menus, each set includes appetizers, Miso Soup, Salad, Sashimi and teppanyaki shrimp, vegetables, fried rice and fruit for dessert.

Small Appetizer Platter

Salad & Sashimi

With the portions being a little smaller than expected, we still had room for more and decided to give it to more dessert! Teppanyaki banana is quite possibly one of the best inventions ever created so I ordered each of us an order at RMB 18 for one.

Bananas Simmering in buttery Sweetness…

Haru Dessert: Melon Slices, Taro Crepe Balls and our additional Teppanyaki Bananas!

Overall:

Haru is obviously much more of a teppanyaki restaurant than it is a sushi bar so rumors of Haru being related to Hatsune seem to be a stretch. If anything, Haru is more similar to Kagen Teppanyaki as both restaurants feature elegant private rooms and both a la carte and set teppanyaki menus.

For the past 3 years in a row, I’ve celebrated my birthday in Kagen Teppanyaki so that just goes to show much I love the restaurant.  I know many of you may consider my opinion to be biased or swayed in Kagen’s favor, but I can confidently say that the portions are bigger and prices are lower at Kagen Teppanyaki and I also prefer the decor of Kagen over Haru.  But Haru does win points for offering both teppanyaki and sushi rolls together in one place.

Verdict:

Haru’s Teppanyaki is  a million times better than Taiyro Teppanyaki (it’s Sanlitun competitor for Japanese Teppanyaki), but still pales in comparison to Kagen Teppanyaki.

Review of Haru Teppanyaki & Sushi Bar 铁板烧餐厅: 30, Bldg N4, Sanlitun Village North, 11 Sanlitun Rd, 三里屯路11号院N4楼30号商铺 Tel: 6415-2112

Best Part:

• High-Quality Japanese teppanyaki and sushi
• Sleek, elegant design of space featuring 6 different private rooms ranging in size from 2 pax to 12 pax.
• Teppanyaki Business Set Lunch priced between RMB 85-RMB 225.

• They offer an extensive wine list and a range of sake and cocktail drinks.
• Two branches: One in Shunyi as well!  Address here: 902 Pinnacle Plaza, Jingshun Lu, 京顺路荣祥广场902. Tel: 8046-5112

Comments:

• Haru’s quality ingredients and sleek, modern decor wins hands-down over the ever-popular Tairyo Teppanyaki (in Sanlitun Village), but pales in comparison to both Hatsune’s legendary sushi rolls and Kagen Teppanyaki’s teppanyaki sets.
• Pricer than Kagen teppanyaki, a dinner for two (excluding alcohol) will be RMB 300-350 per person.
• Service was polite and very professional.

Rating: (On a scale of 1 to 10 with 10 being best)

• Food: 7
• Atmosphere: 7
• Service: 8
• Overall Experience: 7

LumDimSummary: Hatsune’s 10 Year B-Day Shenanigans

OK People – here you finally have it (drum roll):  Hatsune’s 10 Year Birthday Bash Party Pictures!

Please forgive the delay (logistical difficulties in the apprehension from various photo takers) but now, just about a week later, you can once again re-live our monumental birthday celebration.

After a night of free flow sushi rolls, sake and dangerously delicious cocktails, memories are blurry across the board so I’ve listed a breakdown of the night’s shenanigans.

From the killer Japanese Taiko drummers to Hatsune’s First Wasabi Challenge to the insanely fun sumo action and all the outrageously brilliant Japanese costumes that turned up, here are snapshots throughout the night.

LumDimSum Snapshots of Hatsune 10 Year Sumo Fun:

Japanese Taiko Drummers:

Yummy Sushi & Sake For All:

Sushi Sake King, Alan Wong, Toasts to 10 Glorious Years:

Hatsune’s Wasabi Challenge with 12 Brave Contestants:

Just minutes later, one man prevails as the Wasabi Challenge Winner:

(Can you feel the wasabi pain?? Urgh, it hurts just to think about it!)

Hatsune’s Sushi Sake Addicts Caught In the Act:

And One of My Favorite Costumes of the Evening:

Mr. Tom Pattinson Presenting a Splitting Image of

Hiro Nakamura from the hit TV Series ‘Heroes’

And Last but Certainly Not Least -

HATSUNE SUMO FUN:

****THANK YOU****

to everyone who has been a part of the Hatsune Dream!!

For the full database of Hatsune’s 10 Year Anniversary party photos, click here for LumDimSum’s Facebook Page Group.

＊Note：China Viewers will need a VPN to access FB page

SUMO TIME: Hatsune’s 10 Year Party + Costume Ideas

I think it’s safe to say that everyone is fascinated by sumo wrestling.  Essentially, sumo fighters are massive, monster Japanese men tackling each other wearing giant diapers…which is pretty awesome if you ask me.

As much as I would love to get professional sumo wrestlers to perform their swift moves at Hatsune’s 10 Year Anniversary Party, I have to settle for the next best thing: ordering both blow-up and cushion sumo suits for us to battle/bounce off of one another!  Not quite as cool as the real deal, but should still be brilliant fun.

This Thursday, August 4, Hatsune will be hosting a monumental 10 year birthday party in its Sanlitun Village branch and we welcome all sushi friends and fans to join us!  We will be providing plenty of sushi, sake, cocktails and cake and throughout the night, DJ Patrick Yu will be in high-demand playing his much loved old skool tracks and Hatsune will be hosting plenty of fun activities including sumo wrestling and a deadly wasabi challenge for brave souls who dare to try for their chance to win a Hatsune voucher for RMB 1,000!  If you or any of your friends are interested in participating in Hatsune’s Wasabi Challenge, we will have a sign-up at the door.

Now, Hatsune has got the sushi, sake, DJ, sumo suits and wasabi covered so all we ask is that everyone gets in the spirit by dressing up – anything goes as long as it’s Japanese!

For creative inspiration, I have put together a visual list of costume ideas for you to consider:

The Obvious Costume Ideas (Traditional Japanese Kimono & Geisha Face):

If you’re feeling lazy, a last resort is to just throw on a robe and stick some chopsticks in your hair – easy peasey!

Another Easy Option- Just wear black and be a Ninja:

You could be a little more “modern” and dress up as a Japanese School Girl:

Step it up a notch and be one of Gwen’s Harajuku Girls:

Japanese Anime is pretty “out-there” too:

If you choose to do Japanese Anime, at least get the blue Elvis hair like this guy.

Kill Bill’s Crazy 88′s (a notch up from both standard ninja and Japanese School Girl because they are “crazy”):

Some Very Random Costume Ideas (still holding onto our Japanese theme – I found some pretty wacky stuff on the internet):

And one of my favorites: A Giant Pikachu!

The ultimate costume in my opinion:  A SUMO Wrestler aka you show up wearing nothing but a giant diaper:

To get you in the “Hatsune party mood”, here are some more inspirational sumo maneuvers I plan to master and display in full force this Thursday, August 4:

1.  SUMO Neck Chop:

2.  SUMO Leap Frog:

3. SUMO Double Cartwheel:

In case you happened to miss my very amateur try at poetry, here’s all you will need to know regarding Hatsune’s 10 Year Party summed up into a few stanzas:

On Thursday, the fourth of August,
Hatsune will be anything but modest.

As we get ready to celebrate our 10 Year Anniversary,
We invite all our dear sushi friends, fans and even our adversaries
To join in a celebration of epic proportions
Where sushi, sake and cocktails will be generously apportioned.

All we ask is from you is to get in the spirit of dressing in Japanese theme
Anything goes as long as it’s extreme.
From samurai swords, kimono robes and geisha white faces
To Gwen’s Harajuku girls and anime hair, we can cover all the bases.

DJ Patrick Yu will be back on the attack,
Playing some killer old school tracks.
We will have sumo suits for all to battle and take revenge
And we dare you to sign up for our deadly wasabi challenge!

After 10 years of sake insanity and serious sushi gluttony,
We want to thank you for all the many precious memories!
Here’s to you, to 10 Sensational Years and for being a part of the dream!
With Love, The Hatsune Team

Save-the-Date: Hatsune’s 10 Year Anniversary Party

Mark Your Calendars & Save the Date:

On Thursday, August 4,

Hatsune will be celebrating its 10 Year Anniversary

and we would love nothing more than to celebrate it with all our sushi family, friends and fans!

*To get you all in the spirit, I devoted hours of my life into writing this poem,
which I hope you will at least find amusing.

Don’t forget to come dressed in our “anything goes as long as it’s Japanese” theme.

Pre-sale tickets are on sale NOW at Hatsune Sanlitun so get on it!

Hope to see all you sushi fanatics and party animals THURSDAY, AUGUST 4 at Hatsune Sanlitun!!

(If you haven’t done so already, don’t forget to submit your sushi roll creations for Hatsune’s Sushi Roll Contest and try for your chance to win an RMB 1,000 voucher to dine at any Hatsune restaurant! Deadline is Sunday, July 24).

LumDimSummary: Sake Samurai Dinner Party

Over the weekend, Hatsune hosted a “Sake Samurai” Dinner Party featuring an 8-dish tasting menu and 4 different types of sake.

With Alan Wong aka Sake Samurai Master himself introducing each sake, diners were introduced to the world of Japanese sake learning the traditional Japanese art of brewing sake from rice and water along with how to smell and taste the subtle differences in the flavors of each.

While the first three sakes served are available in the Hatsune restaurants, Alan brought along the final sake from his personal collection (meaning the best of the best) – the Kubota Manjyu Junmai Daiginjo from Japan!

Hatsune’s 8-Dish Tasting Menu

Edamame

Calamari

Hiyayakko Tofu

Sakekawa Salad

Sushi Trio

Little Red Roll

Squid & Shiso Tempura w/ Vegetable Tempura

Teppanyaki Fried Rice

Sake Summary:

1. Morita Nigori Sake- Milky in color and consistency, this nigori sake is still pretty smooth, and slightly sweet. Rolling around the mouth you can taste the grittiness from the unfiltered rice particles.

2. Komeshizuku Junmai- This sake has a strong flavor on the palate, and is considered by Alan to be “a banana and pear fruit bomb”.  Extremely refreshing. Each rice grain is polished down to 60% of the original size, which almost qualifies it as a Junmai Ginjo.

3. Shotoku “Bamboo leaf” Genshu Junmai Ginjo- Ginjo is the stamp of quality, as the expensive sake rice is milled down to less than 60% of the original, leaving only the starchy center. The result is a smooth but also complex sake, with the same fruitiness as the junmai. This was much heavier on the palate as well, with a slight caramel flavor on initial tasting.

4. Kubota Manjyu Junmai Daiginjo- The final sake Alan brought back from Japan. This sake is milled down to about 35% of the original rice grain, and produces the smoothest, most complex flavor. All the the complexity of the junmai ginjo remains, but this sake is noticeably smoother than the previous one.

LumDimSum Snapshots of Hatsune’s Sake Samurais:

**Save the Date:

For more Hatsune fun, mark your calendars for Hatsune’s 10 Year Anniversary Party!

For those who weren’t here to attend our 9 Year Anniversary, here’s what you missed out on - LumDimSummary: Hatsune’s 9 Year Birthday Bash

Date is set for Thursday, 4 August 2011!! Details to come soon…get excited!!