We had the option of grabbing lunch at Huis Ten Bosch (豪斯登堡), but my adventurous side got the better of me, and we ultimately decided to spend our noon hours in Daito (大塔), a quaint little community just north of Sasebo (佐世堡).
MK Restaurant is a Japanese family dining chain I first encountered during my previous travels to Bangkok. For the longest time, I thought it was a Thailand-based Japanese-themed spot, but during my research for this Kyushu trip, I was pleasantly surprised to discover that its roots actually lie in Japan.
There wasn't much to see in Daito except a variety of shopping malls near Daito JR Station, and that’s where we were headed.
Just a stone’s throw from the station, MK Restaurant specializes in shabu shabu and sukiyaki, making it a perfect choice since both little nugget and mom are big fans of hotpot meals.
Their all-you-can-eat shabu shabu features different price tiers based on the quality of meat. Without hesitation, we went straight with the most expensive selection: prized Miyazaki beef (宮崎牛) (adult: 6,269 yen, child: 1,539 yen).
We started by choosing from seven broth options, ranging from a soothing soy milk broth to the ever-popular light kombu dashi. It wasn't easy to agree on one broth so we ended up settling on two instead.
Clear broth (dashi) and sukiyaki.
The set came with a standard vegetable platter.
But of course, the star of the meal was the Miyazaki beef fillet which came in two parts: thigh and rib. There were other meat including pork and chicken available but we didn't have the time to sample them all. Instead, we solely focused on our Miyazaki beef!
Thigh — Nicely marbled and full of flavors. A great choice for anyone looking for a tender and juicy beef experience.
Rib — Lean and meaty. Ideal for those who enjoy a bit of chew, with rich flavors that made the extra effort worthwhile.
Octopus and shrimp ball — Some seafood? 😂😂
Like most family restaurants in Japan, all ordering was done through a tablet attached to the table, with menus available in several languages to make things easier for travelers.
While this meal wasn't the usual fancy Christmas lunch we’ve enjoyed in the past, it turned out to be a hit with everyone. It was a refreshing change of pace from the wood-fired grill and skewers we’d had a ton of during the trip. Most importantly, little nugget and mom were happy campers as we prepared to set foot in the Dutch-inspired theme park.
Food Rating: 5.6/10
Price: ￥￥￥
Address: 18-16 Daitocho, Sasebo, Nagasaki, 857-1161, Japan
Tel: +81 (0)956-26-1411
Opening Hours: 11:00am - 11:00pm (Mon - Fri), 10:30am - 11:00pm (Sat - Sun)
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