Mom doesn't like Japanese fried foods (tempura, tonkatsu, karaage etc.) so we are kicking off this trip with a shabu shabu dinner tonight.
Since we are doing damage to our wallets in Omotesando (表参道) this afternoon, I thought we should simply enjoy our shabu-shabu dinner at Shabu Yamawarau (しゃぶしゃぶ 山笑ふ), located just a couple of blocks from Omotesando's most trendy shopping streets.
Shabu Yamawarau is known for supplying high-quality Yamagata beef (山形牛) which is renowned for its delicate texture and rich, sweet marbling.
This guy hasn't had the chance to catch up with his game all day so it's time to get busy.
All this happening while I got my soy and sesame sauce ready.
We had a choice between four starters, a Japanese oden platter, a tomato salad, steamed egg custard and crab soybean tofu. Most of us went with the latter.
I wanted more vegetables tonight so I went with this tomato salad featuring a chilled tomato topped with some finely chopped onion.
Like any shabu shabu meal, each of us was given a plate of mixed vegetables.
Staying with the theme of healthy eating, I decided to skip fattier cuts of beef tonight. Instead, I chose the prized Matsusaka beef (松阪牛) (200g), one of Japan's "Top Three wagyu" (日本三大和牛), alongside Kobe Beef (神戸牛) and Ōmi Beef (近江牛). The one I ordered was the lean version.
The clear broth was almost ready!
This was incredibly tender, even in the leaner part. It had a pleasant resistance without being tough, offering a satisfying bite.
I stole a slice of Yamagata beef from Jelloman and thought it was a lot softer in texture compared to Matsusaka beef and really less flavorful.
Dessert was a mix of almond tofu and jelly served with an assortment of fresh fruits.
When we discussed about the quality of food tonight, mom immediately pointed to the fact that some ingredients weren't up to par compared to our previous meals. She specifically mentioned tonight's lotus root, comparing it to the one from our tempura lunch, and noted that it was much too powdery. I have to agree with her. For 9,000 yen per head, I expected much better quality.
Another point we discussed while leaving the restaurant was Yakiniku Yamawarau, the sister restaurant of Shabu Yamawarau located just a floor down. Can we fit it into our busy schedule?
Food Rating: 6/10
Price: ￥￥￥￥
Address: 2/F, 4-9-4 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 150-0001, Japan
Closest Metro Station: Omotesando
Tel: +81 3-5592-6521
Opening Hours: 11:00am - 3:45pm, 5:30pm - 10:00pm daily
Post a Comment
Please tell us what you think