We're told Chef Yoshinori Mizutani's showmanship of tuna carving is something of a spectacle and while we didn't have the chance to see it for ourselves, we got the next best thing -- Yataii's new menu that has been crafted by him. The contemporary Japanese restaurant at Shangri-La is a treat for anyone who enjoys Japanese food and wants to treat themselves to all the sushi, tempura, and ramen there is. We behaved and ordered Salmon Carpaccio and Flamed Sushi Nigiri to kick things off. The salmon carpaccio with the lemon dressing is something we'd order again and recommend too. It's the tart flavours that work for us.
While we waited for our nigiri, we decided to order a Tori Karaage. More than the sushi, our test to check if a Japanese restaurant is good is ordering a karaage. The chicken arrived promptly and well, it definitely ticked off all the boxes -- crispy, juicy, and steaming hot! Since you're sitting on the 18th floor, you can't help but look out of the window and see the cityscape. If you're wondering, yes, Yataii makes for a great spot for date nights. Before we got lost, the Flamed Sushi Nigiri arrived at the table with a bit of dramatics in the form of smoke and a beautiful presentation. Featuring eel, salmon, and tuna, it's the eel that enjoyed the most. We skipped past the ramen, even though the sound of the Miso Pork Ramen had us dreaming, and ordered a portion of Buta Yaki and Yakimeshi Pan-Fried Rice which were duly polished off.
From the new menu, the Lobster Tempura and Lobster Teppanyaki are the signatures that we are coming back for. Oh, and we are told the Grilled Miso Seabass is also not to be missed. And we never miss anything miso.
Plus, since we didn't have space, we'll also try out Dorayaki, a fluffy Japanese pancake filled with Azuki red bean jam.
