しぇるふ
This is a high-end Chinese restaurant located in Kitashinchi Station. They offer Chinese lunch only on weekdays and if you splurge on the 3500 yen course, you'll get fish, meat, and mapo tofu to fill you up completely.
■■■ Restaurant ■■■
Since they are closed on weekdays, I decided to try their weekday lunch that I normally wouldn't be able to go to. I visited this Chinese restaurant in Kitashinchi on a weekend. The kitchen is surrounded by a counter with 10 seats in an L shape. There are also several table seats in the back. The customers are mostly couples and groups of women. Many reservations were made, and it was full just before 12 o'clock. The staff are attentive and accommodating, making the dining experience pleasant. However, some people might be concerned as they don't wear hats, apart from masks.
■■■ Menu ■■■
They offer three lunch options: 1500 yen, 3500 yen, and 6800 yen. The 1500 yen option includes appetizers, soup, a choice of shrimp chili or kung pao chicken, rice, and dessert. I initially planned to order this, but the chef recommended the 3500 yen course, saying, "With the 3500 yen course, you can have mapo tofu, and it also comes with shark fin soup and fish, which is definitely worth it!" And just like that, I ended up ordering the 3500 yen course. The chef is not only skilled but also a great businessman.
■■■ Food ■■■
▼ 3500 yen (May 23, 5th year of Reiwa)
The full-course Chinese menu includes appetizers, shark fin soup, dim sum, seafood, meat, mapo tofu with rice, and dessert. It was a very satisfying lunch course.
Appetizers:
- The octopus and trefoil are simmered in a sweet and rich sauce.
- The century egg has a firm texture but with minimal unique aroma.
- The tomato plum wine jelly is refreshing.
- The isaki (I think that's what it is) has a delicious Chinese spice flavor.
- The steamed chicken is gently seasoned with green onions.
- The new burdock and bracken have a unique taste.
The shark fin soup from Kesenuma: It contains plenty of firm shark fin and enoki mushrooms. It has a light taste, but the initial aroma and umami are excellent.
Homemade daikon mochi: It is soft and sticky, with a crispy surface. It tastes even better with the shrimp miso.
Sujiala: White fish simmered in a sauce. Originally, it seems to be a large fish. The broth has a Japanese-style flavor, but it's unique to serve it with coriander.
Okinawan pork sweet and sour pork: It is crispy and fragrant, with a unique crispy texture inside. I'm not a fan of sweet and sour pork, but I can feel the high level of skill in this dish. The sauce has a hint of star anise, making it easy to eat.
Mapo tofu: Of course, it's a Chinese-style mapo tofu, with a slightly bitter black type. It has a refreshing and elegant aftertaste with a hint of Sichuan peppercorns. It's quite delicious! You can have seconds of rice, so I easily had two servings (laughs).
Homemade almond jelly: It is not elastic and is more like a pudding. This month, it comes with a mango sauce, which pairs well with the acidity and aroma of the sauce and almond jelly.
■■■ Conclusion ■■■
Although it may not have a lot of uniqueness, the taste of the ingredients and sauces was quite delicious. This Chinese restaurant in Kitashinchi would cost a fortune if you went at night. However, I was able to enjoy it at a very affordable lunch price and left satisfied. Thank you for the meal.