Kawachi
Teppan Shikisai - Kitashinchi - @Osaka City, Kita-ku, Dojima
Located about an 8-minute walk from Kitashinchi Station on the JR and Tozai Line in Osaka. Near the monument commemorating the start of beer production and sales by Shibuya Shozo, a Osaka merchant, in Dojima in 1872, known as the "birthplace of domestic beer". Kitashinchi is an area surrounded by Dojima River, National Route 2, Midosuji, and Yotsubashi-suji, with about 2,500 food and beverage establishments competing in an area about 3.2 times the size of the Tokyo Dome. It used to be known as the "high-end social hub of the west" compared to Ginza in Tokyo, but recently, high-end stores have started offering reasonable lunches and more casual drinking spots have increased, making it more accessible even for people like me. Opened on February 26, 2018, Teppan Shikisai is one of those casual restaurants with the concept of "creative teppan dishes combining individuality and sensibility".
I was invited by the cute sake-loving friend I went on a daytime drinking tour with in the deep area of Kyobashi, and we decided to go together. The restaurant has 3 tables for 4 people, a counter with 4 seats, and 2 private rooms for 4-6 people. The two of us sat at a table. In addition to the menu booklet, the daily recommendations are also written on the kitchen blackboard.
We ordered the Teppan Skewer and Flour Course (Sea) for 2,700 yen each, along with a glass of The Premium Malt for 600 yen. The menu had so many options that we decided to ask the staff for recommendations and ended up choosing a course. The course grades are named Land < Sea < Sky, to evoke colors from Japan's four seasons and land.
The Colorful Salad was a delightful mix of various vegetables with a berry sauce dressing. The Teppan Skewer platter consisted of 7 skewers, each with a unique twist and served with a delicious cheese fondue. The attention to detail in each skewer and the rich flavor of the cheese fondue made it a truly enjoyable dish.
We also tried the Okonomi Maki, where you can choose between "yaki" (grilled) or "maki" (rolled) style okonomiyaki. It was essentially okonomiyaki rolled up, and it was a tasty and unique dish.
Overall, the food was creative, delicious, and presented beautifully. The combination of flavors and textures in each dish was impressive, making our dining experience enjoyable and memorable.