The western world has pubs and the Japanese have the izakaya, a place where customers can sit down for drinks and enjoying food to accompany the drinking session.
Yoshi Izakaya, however, appears to be the elevated version of the traditional izakaya; focusing on its food, exquisitely designed featuring different style of seating: at the bar, on the tatami or at regular dining table.
Yoshi Izakaya has been the gate for ‘Jakartans’ to the distinctive flavors of Japanese cuisine that people usually find in Tokyo. Beautifully arranged food arrives at the table, tantalizing the senses and making all the subtle yet significant difference.
The highly skilled and knowledgeable staff in the restaurant’s kitchen brigade is headed by a warm and friendly Japanese Chef, Tomoaki Ito, who will fondly explain to curious customers about anything related to his cooking.
Zensai/Cold Appetizers
The appetizer menu features options of Japanese spinach salad, beef dish and chilled tofu, among others. The Horenso Ohitashi is a version of spinach salad, which is made of boiled Horenso spinach, soya sauce and dried bonito flakes.
Carnivores might love the Gyu Tataki. Flavorful and tasty, the meat for this dish is traditionally seared, marinated and thinly sliced, served with citrus and soy dipping sauce.
InClover team tried the one which is most unique to Yoshi Izakaya, that is, the Yoshi Goma Tofu. It’s interesting to know that there are dishes in Japan that look and have texture like tofu, but are not made of soya milk, one of which is the goma tofu. The sesame tofu is a vegan dish made with ground sesame paste, water and kuzu powder. The Yoshi Goma Tofu, in terms of flavor, is delicately sweet, with intense sesame flavor, creamy and rich. It looks simple, but it proves that it’s full of surprises and should not be underestimated.
Teppanyaki for Main Course
The Teppanyaki dishes at Yoshi Izakaya are offered in two options: the “Beef Course” and “Seafood Course”. Each course comes with appetizers consisting of salad, mixed mushrooms, steamed or fried rice, miso soup, pickles and dessert.
Premium beef is used for this dish and the options are the Japanese Wagyu Beef Sirloin, Australian Wagyu Beef, or Australian beef. As for seafood, the options are Lobster, or the Jumbo Prawn, or Scallop, or Salmon.
Sake and soy-glazed beef cuts, eaten with a steaming bowl of rice, is comforting and satisfying even for the most discerning palates.
Sweet Treats
Yoshi Izakaya has a list of dessert that can delight every taste bud. The Dorayaki A La Mode is a Japanese pancake served with choices of ice cream such as vanilla, macha or ogura. The Dorayaki Banana a La Mode is a Japanese pancake served with pan fried banana with honey and choices of ice cream.
InClover team tried the delightfully subtle dessert named Kuzukiri, which is made of chilled steamed arrowroot noodles served with Black Gum Syrup made of brown sugar and condiments consisting sweetened red bean paste and soya bean flour, a dessert that definitely gave a nice ending to the meal. Yoshi Izakaya opens daily. Lunch hours start from 11:30 AM to 02:30 PM and dinner start from 06:00 PM to 10:30 PM.
Yoshi Izakaya
Gran Melia Jakarta
Jl. H.R. Rasuna Said, South Jakarta
T: +62 21 5268080
melia.com
