kuroda
Located directly connected to Nankai Namba Station, and just a short walk from Namba Station on various lines, this restaurant is located on the 7th floor of the Namba Dining Maison in Takashimaya Osaka. It was past 3 pm and I hadn't eaten anything since morning for a health check-up at a nearby clinic. After the examination was over, I finally thought about having a meal... and ended up coming to the restaurant area, only to find that most of the restaurants were closed at this time. Moreover, I was so hungry that my appetite was starting to disappear. At that moment, I saw the word "congee" on the menu displayed in front of this restaurant, and I couldn't help but enter.
This restaurant was founded in Hong Kong in 1991. Initially, it was a traditional Chinese dessert shop offering items like sweet soup and rice balls, but later expanded to include dim sum, noodles, and light meals. It now has branches in Taipei and Kaohsiung in Taiwan, as well as Shanghai in China. In Japan, it is operated by the subsidiary of Takashimaya, ART Corporation, and has chains in Tokyo, Yokohama, Nagoya, Kyoto, and Osaka.
The interior of the restaurant has less than 50 table seats lined up. Being a department store restaurant, it exudes a chic and luxurious atmosphere, although the spacing between seats is somewhat narrow. As soon as I was seated, a pot of Chinese tea was served, which was a nice touch. The congee menu includes dishes like "Five-Ingredient Congee" (¥1,150) as the flagship, "Century Egg and Pork Congee," "Shiitake Mushroom and Chicken Congee" (¥930 each), "Scallop Congee," and "Shrimp and Ginger Congee" (¥1,150 each). I ordered the "Five-Ingredient Congee" and the "Recommended Set" which comes with dim sum and dessert (¥1,500). For dessert, I chose the "Mango Almond," "Tapioca Coconut Milk," and "Lychee," opting for the "Tapioca Coconut Milk."
After a short wait, the dim sum steamer and the congee arrived. When the lid of the steamer was lifted, there were steamed dumplings and green-colored shumai inside. The dumplings had a chewy skin wrapped around them, with the shrimp inside being firm. The shumai was steamed with a rich aroma of green onions. Both tasted great with vinegar and mustard. The congee was a smooth type with almost no graininess, with you tiao in the center and peanuts scattered around the edges. When I took a spoonful, the flavor of chicken broth gently spread, and the sweetness of the rice could be felt. It was incredibly smooth and gentle. Despite its somewhat plain appearance, there were plenty of ingredients such as shrimp, scallops, and chicken submerged in the congee, providing a satisfying texture. The crispy you tiao gradually softened, creating a pleasant texture change. The crunchy peanuts also added a nice accent. Finally, the dessert "Tapioca Coconut Milk" was served. The gentle sweetness of coconut milk and the chewy texture of tapioca were delightful. I felt satisfied and my stomach felt refreshed. Soon after, I secretly bought some 551 pork buns at the department store's basement food section.