carpc472
I arrived around 6:00 pm on a weekday and the restaurant was full, but I was glad I made a reservation. Today I visited Imahan, a renowned sukiyaki restaurant. I had never dined in the restaurant before, only tried their bento delivery from the main store. I ordered the special sukiyaki for 8250 yen and a hot yuzu drink for 660 yen. The meal included sukiyaki, rice (free refills), soup, and pickles, totaling around 9800 yen with service charge included. The hot yuzu drink arrived first, warming me up from the inside with its perfect sourness. The sukiyaki arrived in about 5 minutes with ingredients like beef, grilled tofu, chrysanthemum greens, leeks, wheat gluten, white konjac, carrots, shiitake mushrooms, turnips, and sweet potatoes. The sukiyaki was prepared in the Kanto style, simmered in a sauce made of soy sauce, sugar, and mirin. The beef slices were beautifully marbled and delicious, melting in my mouth and spreading a sweet flavor. The skilled chef cooked the meat in the sauce first to bring out the pure meaty flavor. The sukiyaki was exquisite, and I couldn't help but exclaim "delicious." After that, I added the sauce and dashi broth to continue enjoying the meal at my own pace. The simmered beef retained its rich flavor from the sauce and dashi broth, making each bite even more flavorful. Despite being a high-end dish, the simple seasoning of soy sauce, sugar, mirin, and dashi made it a familiar and comforting taste that paired well with rice. The turnips were in season and incredibly sweet, showcasing the power of seasonal ingredients. The chrysanthemum greens had a strong aroma and a slightly bitter taste, serving as a perfect side dish. The grilled tofu was best enjoyed with the broth, adding depth to its mild flavor. The leeks provided a crunchy texture and a sweet taste after being simmered, complementing the dish perfectly. The wheat gluten, shiitake mushrooms, carrots, white konjac, and sweet potatoes were all essential components of sukiyaki, completing the dish. To finish the meal, I mixed the remaining sauce with an egg to create a rice bowl reminiscent of oyakodon. The combination of the rich beef and vegetable broth, encapsulated by the egg, created an explosion of flavor that was truly exceptional. The cozy atmosphere and attentive service were exceptional, making the whole dining experience enjoyable. Despite the renowned status of Imahan, the entire meal was served in just 40 minutes, showcasing their efficiency and quality. Overall, my experience at this prestigious sukiyaki restaurant was truly outstanding.