ノアマンクロウ
This time, the restaurant is "Wagyu Yakiniku Gokan" located in Osaka's Kita-Shinchi area. This is a well-established yakiniku restaurant with 50 years of history that recently relocated and opened in Kita-Shinchi last October. The restaurant is just a short walk from Kita-Shinchi Station, located along the Torii-Suji Line on the 2nd floor of the J Pride Building. It was around 6 pm when I arrived. The restaurant has a clean and cozy atmosphere, fitting for a night out in Kita-Shinchi, with a touch of casual charm. The friendly owner gives off a vibe of a dapper gentleman from Kansai, which is quite charming. As we enjoyed some drinks and snacked on kimchi and white tripe, the meat arrived shortly after. It was my first time seeing a smokeless roaster. Apparently, there are still few restaurants in Kansai that use this method, which involves slowly cooking the meat using a stainless steel water-cooled grill and natural ceramic far-infrared rays. The owner explained the process and cooked the meat right in front of us. There was no sound and no smoke. I thought, "There's no way it's cooked," but when I flipped it over, it was perfectly cooked. It was a mystery. Similar to the trend of low-temperature cooking, the meat was cooked slowly, resulting in a beautifully pink and shiny texture. It looked delicious. Let's dig in.
Report:
- Kimchi Assortment: A selection of 4 types of kimchi - celery, yam, radish, and Chinese cabbage. Slightly spicy kimchi that pairs well with drinks. The celery kimchi was an interesting twist.
- White Tripe: White tripe that has been carefully prepared until it turns completely white. It has a nice texture and goes well with the special sauce, which adds a good touch of acidity. This white tripe dish was surprisingly delicious and had a unique texture.
- Matsusaka Beef Yukhoe: A luxurious yukhoe made with 100% Matsusaka beef. The sweetness of the meat combined with the slightly sweet and savory sauce and rich egg yolk creates a perfect harmony. It's the kind of yukhoe that you would want to mix with white rice. The richness of the meat in this dish is unparalleled.
- Premium Tongue Wrapped in Salt and Green Onions: Thick slices of premium tongue wrapped in green onions. The tongue, cooked in the smokeless roaster, retains its juiciness, resulting in a fantastic texture. The combination of the juicy meat, chewy texture of the tongue, and the flavor of salt and green onion is indescribable.
- Premium Harami: A thick cut of premium harami that resembles a steak. Cooked slowly, the meat oozes with juiciness with each bite. It has no strong flavor, just pure umami that is elevated to perfection.
- Matsusaka Beef Sukiyaki: Sukiyaki made with beautiful Matsusaka beef. Dip it in plenty of Ran-oh eggs and savor the rich flavor. It's incredibly delicious, with a mouthful of umami, sweetness, and a chewy texture that makes you want to savor every bite.
- Gokan Cold Noodles: Classic light cold noodles. The thin noodles are easy to eat, with a slurpy texture that is very satisfying.
- Choice of Gelato: Choose one from the selection of about 10 gelato flavors. My friend couldn't decide, so the generous owner offered us both. I chose black honey kinako, and it was incredibly delicious. My friend was also very satisfied.
Epilogue:
The quality of the meat was outstanding, and the smokeless roaster really stood out. Since it doesn't produce any smell, it could be a convenient yakiniku restaurant in Kita-Shinchi. There are also private rooms at the back, making it a versatile dining option.