Kansai Food Page
Wada/
Sannomiya south:
Japanese
₯078-262-8055
€Data
More than just good
food, Wada delivers
an entertaining
dining experience.
The black-and-red,
mirror-and-plexi-
glass decor is remi-
niscent of an up-
scale hotel lobby:
there's a giant-
screen TV showing
food being prepared,
a large ikebana
arrangement on a
marble pedestal, an
elaborate crystal
chandelier and a
gleaming chrome wine
cellar - and that's
just the entrance.
The kitchen staff
are decked out in
snappy red uniforms,
while the waiters
wear tasteful black
outfits suitable for
a private club.
Service is fast and
very professional -
all the more impres-
sive since we visit-
ed on opening week-
end.
The food menu is
full of pleasant
surprises - innova-
tive flavor combina-
tions, unexpected
but well-tuned in-
gredients, and dra-
matic presentation.
On a recent visit
the 7-course "Grand
Mint" prix-fixe menu
(Y2625) started with
an unusual, almost
dessert-like combi-
nation of ama-ebi
(shrimp) mousse and
gingko-nut sesame
tofu, served in a
pretty cut-glass
egg. Next up was a
nicely textured
Hiroshima-style
shinjo seafood dump-
ling in a tasty
broth with matsutake
mushrooms floating
around. The deep-
fried course fea-
tured an intriguing
and successful com-
bination of soft
turnips wrapped in
pork and fried
tempura-style, along
with seasonal vege-
tables and a tart
mustard sauce.
The award for most
entertaining presen-
tation went to the
wine-stewed Kobe
beef cheeks with a
contrasting black-
sesame sauce. This
came in a huge
earthenware bowl
that was about ten
times bigger than it
needed to be, deco-
rated by the chef
with a calligraphic
pattern of mustard
lines and flower
petals. The rice
course (seasonal
mushroom rice) con-
tinued the earthen-
ware theme, and the
accompanying pickles
were absolutely
first rate - always
a good sign.
An alternative op-
tion is the "Mint
Castle" lunch
(Y1890), with five
"micro" dishes
perched on the rungs
of a spiral plexi-
glas tower; there's
also a "Presiden-
tial" lunch (Y5040)
if you really want
to splurge. The
evening menu is
oriented more to-
wards couples than
lone shoppers - the
prix-fixe dinners,
which range from
Y3675-10,500, are
served to two or
more people, while
the a la carte menu
veers off into
expensive-land.
Wines start in the
surprisingly modest
Y2500 range (Calter-
ra from Chile), and
the sake list in-
cludes some inter-
esting, offbeat
choices including a
couple of good yama-
hai selections.
₯Photo
₯Google Map
₯Map for AU phones
₯Map for DoCoMo
₯Nearest restau-
rants
₯Nearest cafes/
bars
Kumoidori 7-1-1,
M-int Kobe 8F. [next
to JR Sannomiya,
south side]
Open 11am-3, 5-
10pm (LO) daily.
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