Okaeri Japanese Café and Pastry

I have been eager to blog about this café, but for several reasons, I have to delay until today. Anyways, I had just realised that this blog has reached more than 100 views! YAY! Well, in the beginning, I've always wondered if there is anyone who would actually read this blog---you know crappy mobile-phone camera pictures, review in bad English, and who the hell would read this blog when I told no one that I was blogging?

Okay, enough ranting. It seems that lately, I am ranting more often than usual. Maybe it's the hormone. Back to business now! In this review, I would talk about Okaeri-specialized in Japanese food and patisserie.

Nope, sorry, I've totally forgotten the name. BUT the seaweed smelled so good! God I swear I could go back to this restaurant every week if only all of my companions agreed to do so.

Okay, I promise when I go back, I will ask the waiter/waitress/manager the name of the food posted in this post. They were all soooo good! Really, really good! My most favourite menu here is the sashimi.

Salmon skin - very thick and crunchy! Not too oily (I love!)

This is the champion among all. The freshest salmon belly sashimi I've ever had in Medan! The owner of this place is a GENIUS. Do you see the ice under the sashimi? That is what I called genius! The ice will make the sashimi remained cold and fresh. Have you ever order sashimi and when the sashimi arrived at your table, you did not like because they tasted warm in your mouth and somehow made you wondered if the sashimi were not fresh? That was me! And, the ice will cool the sashimi and hence, when you eat, you will feel that "Oh! The sashimi is so fresh!"

The only picture of the cake I could take. Oh well! This is my most favourite cake among all. The cheesecake was good, but remember, Japanese Cheesecake is not as thick as New York Cheesecake. If you are fond of NY Cheesecake, I doubt that you will enjoy Japanese Cheesecake because the texture is not thick and I think they use less cheese while making Japanese Cheesecake.

The good services that I've experienced were beyond words, and I truly admire the manager for being able to manage every employees. It is not an easy thing to do. All of the servers were friendly, even though some of them might need more training regarding the product knowledge. But since this restaurant was still new when I visited here months ago, I think it is forgivable! Even the chef and the manager were so kind towards me. The chef, himself, personally gave me a plate of fresh salmon salad (out of the blue + free of charge + not in the menu). I don't know if any other customers received the same treatment, but that simple gesture really put a big smile on my face.

Out of my curiosity, I decided to google about this restaurant and stumble upon a bad review with a few nasty comments. People always tell me that I am too picky and hard to please, but it is good to know that there were people out there who were more picky and harder to please other than me :P

Okaeri Japanese Café & Pastry

Jln. Kartini No.:26

Tel.: +62 61 4531598
Medan - North Sumatra - Indonesia

Tonkokatsu by Ma Maison

I often passed Tonkokatsu by Ma Maison (or simply known as Tonkokatsu Ma Maison) whenever I went to Mandarin Gallery, but I've never tried eating there before. Even when I think of having breakfast/ lunch/ dinner at Mandarin Gallery, I will either go to Wild Honey or Ippudo. Mostly Ippudo (confession). You know typical Medan lang (read: people from Medan), if you visit Mandarin Gallery, you should eat at Ippudo.

But, after several persuasions from my companions, I finally agreed to try this well-known katsu. After I tried, I swear to you all, this is indeed one of the BEST katsu I've ever had! I was in awe...surprised, amazed, wondered...whatever you called it!

If you look closely to the pictures, you could see that the bowl of rice were consist of brown rice and white rice. I was reluctant to order whole brown rice because I was afraid that the rice would be sticky and dry (like what I've experienced before, but not at this restaurant), but this one was good!'

The only two pictures I could took :( there were supposed to be a lot more, but thanks to the hungry mouths, they were all gone as soon as they were served and before I could took the pictures.

There were also cheese inside the katsu. Additional point for this restaurant. This restaurant was usually crowded...I was quite lucky when I visited there. It was around 6:30 pm but I only need to wait for about 2 minutes. But after 7 pm, you have to queue for at least 30 minutes. So, I advised you to come here before 7 pm.

Oh, have I mentioned that you can add as many rice and as many salad as you want for free? Yes, they were free-of-charge!

Tonkatsu by Ma Maison

333A Orchard Road

#02-35/36 Mandarin Gallery

Tel.: +65 67334541

Mon to Fri: 11am–3pm, 5pm–10pm

Sat, Sun, and PH: 11am–10pm

Itcho Sushi

Itadakimass!

As a huge lover of Japanese food, I feel more than happy whenever I find out that there is another upcoming Japanese food restaurant in Medan. One of which I would like to review about is Itcho Sushi. Whenever I came here, I would always choose to sit at the sushi bar. It has this "Japan" aura. Japanese sushi bar usually have lower ceiling. It gives you the feeling of secure, safe, and comfortable. Itcho Sushi has this kind of sushi bar.

Oh, from what I heard from a Korean friend, they also served several Korean dishes  because the owner of this restaurant is a Korean. But mainly simple dishes such as: kimchi and gimbap (with various fillings).

Salmon Belly Sashimi

Salmon Sashimi

The sashimis are my favourite. Especially  salmon belly sashimi. The sashimi was fresh and look at the thick fats! Very, very, yummy!

Salmon Mentai Sushi

Tobikko Sushi

Generous amount of eggs all over the sushi.....this kind of generosity is rare!

Salmon Maki

Crazy Chicken Roll

Tamgo Kani Maki

Something I took from the sushi bar....not recommended. The tamago and maki were both tasteless. I regret taking this food away. I should have just left it on the sushi bar.

The dish above...I have totally forgotten the name but the taste was soooooooo good! I am not kidding nor am I lying to you. You should try it!

The service was quick. It took less than 15 minutes for me to wait for all of the food. That's a brownie point for them. Honestly, I believed this restaurant really took recommendations and feedback from their customers seriously. A few months ago, I angrily left this restaurant because one of the servers made me angry. I told the server that the tobikko on the tobikko sushi that I ordered was stale. I expected her to bring my food for the chef to taste. But instead of doing so, she told me (with stubborn face) that there was no way the food would be stale and I was too picky. I was like, "what the hell? How could you know if the food is stale or not when you haven't tried at all? I was too picky?? Fuck you! I am leaving and I will never ever come back here again!" That was exactly what I told myself (I did not angrily blurt out everything, nor did I swear around, okay!) I was so angry but the captain hurriedly apologized and told me that they will be more careful not to serve stale food to customers next time. So, I kind of let it go.

A few weeks later, I came back and that particular servers served me again. This time, she was very differently. She served me nicely + politely. [[ Nope, there is no way she was so nice because she has spit on my food. I saw the cook prepared my food and then the servers directly served me the dish. So, it is safe! (Thank God!) ]] I was surprise! How could she change from stubborn into friendly in less than 3 months?

Not only her, but all of the other servers (new or old) seems to becoming more friendly. Full of smiles and talked softly + quietly. Previously, they talked like girls who were fighting over one branded handbag which price has been reduced about 90%. Loud, rude, and noisy. It must be either they have received a proper training or they have received warning from their boss. Either one, I don't care! I was really satisfied with the changes!

Itcho Sushi

Jln. Haji Zainul Arifin No.:7 

#3F-B31/35 Sun Plaza

Tel.: +62 61 4501112

Medan - North Sumatra - Indonesia

Mon to Sun: 11am-10pm