Natalie
An old friend has been obsessed with a certain restaurant recently and keeps inviting me to go. So, I decided to join them for a lunch gathering in the spring sunshine with a total of 4 people. The friend had already made a reservation, but somehow two glamorous ladies also joined, making it a group of 4. It seems like my friendly friend is being smoothly manipulated (≧▽≦). The cozy restaurant had a neat layout with tables of different sizes, exuding a fresh vibe and warmth of wood. Each table had a diatomaceous earth stove for charcoal grilling. Hmm, so we're going to grill the meat here. In my mind, grilling on a dome-shaped iron plate is usually associated with Genghis Khan, not just regular "yakiniku" (grilled meat). The lunch menu was straightforward with only 2 options:
- 1,000 yen
- 1,500 yen (1.5 servings of meat)
Both options came with rice, soup (miso soup that day), and side dishes. The main plate had pink lamb meat with a special green onion sauce. The conclusion was that the lamb meat was incredibly delicious. I had never had a good experience with lamb meat in the past 2-3 times I tried it, but my perception has completely changed! First, I tried it with just salt and pepper, without any sauce. There was absolutely no gamey taste. Blindfolded, many people might mistake it for a part of beef. Then, I tried it with the special green onion sauce. Oh, this was delicious as well (゚Д゚) The combination of sesame oil, white sesame, and green onions elevated the lamb meat to the next level. A regular at the restaurant suggested adding "wasabi mountain" for a different flavor experience. The slight spiciness paired well with the meat. It cost an extra 100 yen. The restaurant's specialty dish was lamb chops, which required a pre-order and had a fluctuating price. But the prepared friend had already made a reservation for it.
- Lamb chops: 1,100 yen (price varies)
The staff grilled it carefully. It's better to cook it well, even slightly burnt, for optimal flavor. It had various spices including salt and pepper. I prefer my meat well-done, so I grilled both sides thoroughly. It was incredibly delicious (゚Д゚) The juicy umami flavor oozed out, which was irresistible. I regretted not having any alcohol to pair with it. The restaurant was already full, indicating its rising popularity. Looking at the drink menu, I was shocked by the prices:
- Draft beer (Premium Malts) 500ml: 390 yen
- Draft beer (small): 280 yen
This volume at such prices was very reasonable. I must come back for dinner. And the salt Genghis Khan for one person was only 790 yen♪ As a sweet tooth, I was intrigued by the dessert:
- Grilled banana (with ice cream): 300 yen
As my friend mentioned, the Genghis Khan was delicious. I will definitely come back. The tasty rice and miso soup also left a good impression. Rice is important for us Japanese ❣️ Thank you for the meal.
