タケマシュラン
"Saeki Hotel" is a Chinese restaurant that opened in 2019 and quickly became difficult to book. It is located in a residential area about 10 minutes' walk from Meguro Station towards Ebisu. It is my favorite Chinese restaurant, and when it comes to Chinese cuisine, I feel like I don't need anything else if I have this restaurant. The kitchen is always sparkling clean. Restaurants with tidy kitchens are usually delicious. It is not an easy task to maintain this level of cleanliness while serving more than 10 guests single-handedly. I toasted with Hong Kong craft beer as usual. After that, I had one bottle of white wine and one bottle of red wine, which means I drank quite a bit. I usually don't like pairing wine with Japanese or Chinese cuisine, but strangely, it fits perfectly with the dishes at this restaurant. The chef started seasoning with a flurry of movements once the guests were seated. This live action in the restaurant is irresistible. Hotel-style Chinese restaurants are often expensive, but their appetizers are often pre-made. That's why this restaurant is truly amazing. Crispy lotus roots with complex, dried meat flavors. It's a great appetizer to go with drinks. Freshly fried spring rolls. They are so hot that they could burn your tongue. They are filled with plenty of mushrooms and are incredibly juicy. I enjoyed them with a big bite and they were delicious. Turnip and Chinese cabbage soup. It has a complex taste that you wouldn't expect from such simple ingredients, and it is indescribably delicious. Oh, there are also oysters in it. I wonder how oyster extract alone can make the taste so rich. Azuki snapper. It's a fish that I'm not very familiar with, but it is wonderfully juicy with a chewy texture. It goes well with the crispy green onions, and there is no ambiguity about the sauce. They also serve rice, which is completely different from the typical Koshihikari rice. It has just the right amount of moisture and a crispy texture. The aroma is also strong and suggestive, gently embracing the sauce. Stir-fried garlic cabbage. It's a very simple dish, but it has a refreshing and pleasant finish, making it a delightful palate cleanser. Tofu dish made with ham yui and dried shrimp. Ham yui is salted and fermented fish, similar to anchovies, and it provides a salty taste and umami. It has a complicated and addictive taste. It's a taste that you wouldn't be able to enjoy if you were just living a normal life in Japan. I had pork belly as a burger. The greasy pork fat is well-seasoned. It's a fun dish to grab and munch on, with plenty of vegetables sandwiched together. Sliced Kumano local chicken. The whole chicken that was hanging from the ceiling when I entered the restaurant was splashed with oil in the wok to finish it with a crunchy texture. It has a straightforward taste that doesn't try to be peculiar. Pickled fried rice. The soup, tofu dish, and this fried rice all have complex and profound flavors. How can such a simple dish be so delicious? I also had dan dan noodles because I had some room in my stomach. The soup looks delicious with its swirling motion, and it tastes as good as it looks. It would definitely be a big hit if they opened a specialty shop for the fried rice and dan dan noodles. Finished off with pumpkin coconut pudding and Shaoxing wine-flavored ice cream. Thank you for the delicious meal. After eating all that and drinking quite a bit, the bill came out to 20,000 yen per person. My chakras were wide open throughout, and everything felt natural without forcing anything. The clientele is also well-managed, making it a place where gentlemen and ladies gather. It's a restaurant that goes beyond personal preferences and is necessary for me.