loveits
"I love hot pots! Among them, I love sukiyaki so much that it competes for the top two spots!" With a friend who shared this sentiment, we went to Toriyaki and Chicken Dish Saitadou in Takadanobaba in search of delicious sukiyaki. Saitadou uses carefully selected ingredients from producers all over Japan to offer a menu centered around yakitori and sukiyaki. What surprised me was that even with the same chicken meat, they change the origin of the chicken meat depending on the dish! Many restaurants boast about using a specific type of chicken, but the fact that they change the chicken meat according to the menu shows their dedication. First, I was delighted by the drinks! As a non-alcohol drinker who prefers non-sweet beverages, I usually opt for oolong tea, but at Saitadou, they had fruit juice made by producers from various regions in Japan. These are called "serious juices" and can be ordered as sours or sodas (soft drinks). I chose the Okinawan "Angel's Shikuwasa" with soda. This drink, made by mixing 100% shikuwasa juice with carbonated water, was not sweet at all, allowing the natural taste of shikuwasa to shine through. It was refreshing and paired well with the meal! My friend chose the "Miracle Yuzu," made with yuzu from Asao, Kochi Prefecture, and natural sugar. The "serious juice" brand is apparently only available in restaurants, and some flavors are sold out for two to three years in advance. I should have tried the "Miracle Lemon," sold out for three years in advance (laughs). The appetizer was chicken meatballs and simmered daikon, carrots. We ordered the "Saitadou Seasonal Salad" as a salad. The salad consisted of lettuce, carrots, onions, bell peppers, and chicken ham with a homemade dressing. The dressing was so delicious that I said, "I would definitely buy this if it were sold!" The dressing is served separately to prevent the vegetables from wilting when dressed. This attention to detail shows their commitment to deliciousness. One menu item that caught my eye and made me curious was the "Ostrich Yukke." I couldn't help but ask, "Is it that ostrich?" The answer was yes, it was that ostrich. Ostrich meat is low in fat, low in calories, high in protein, and high in iron, making it a healthy lean meat. It has no odor and is similar to beef but lighter. I might really like this. It's a menu I want to order every time I visit Saitadou. Ostrich was also available as tataki, not just yukke. We ordered the popular specialty dish "Jidori Iwaban Tataki." It uses Awaodori chicken from Tokushima Prefecture. The chicken meat cooked on the heated stone slab consisted of two types: thigh meat and breast meat, allowing you to enjoy the different textures and flavors. The meat cooked on the stone slab and served with homemade vinegar soy sauce. After trying it, I preferred the thigh meat, while my friend preferred the breast meat. It's nice that we can enjoy both flavors. The menu, which gives the impression of no deception, allowed us to savor the deliciousness of the meat. And finally, the eagerly awaited "Sukiyaki Hot Pot." The pot brought to the table contained a collagen soup that was wobbly. The visual was so unique that it looked like sake lees when photographed. When heated, it quickly melted into a thick white chicken broth. The ingredients included vegetables, chicken meat with seared skin, and chicken meatballs. We first tasted the chicken meat, then the meatballs, and finally the vegetables. When the set was brought to us, the staff explained it to us, but they noticed when we started and asked, "Shall I put it in?" They were so kind... The "Sukiyaki Hot Pot" at Saitadou is all about the delicious soup! The chicken-based broth was slightly under-seasoned, but it was complemented well by yuzu pepper! Of course, as it simmers, the soup alone becomes quite tasty. We didn't have the energy to have ramen or porridge as a finisher, but my friend ordered the "Water...