A menu at an Izakaya in Japan is usually relatively simple, Japanese Pub food. As this was the style of dining Atsushi and I were trying to replicate, our first menu was much more limited.
In Japan most Restaurants “specialize” ie a Sushiya specializes in sashimi, sushi and related seafood dishes, an Okonomiyaki shop specializes in a vast variety of large fritters that patrons mostly cook at tables on their own hot plates, Ramen shops, mainly noodle dishes, etc etc.
The population in New Zealand, or at least Palmerston North, is not large enough to support a specialized Restaurant, so we have tried to provide a range of Japanese favourites.
Sashimi was not on the original menu, but added after repeated requests. Slowly over the years, dishes have been added until now we feel there is a good range that suits most palates.
Our “foodies” come here for the sashimi, beef or tuna tataki, sushi, our fresh shiitake
mushroom dishes and our Zashiki, special 8 course menu.
Good sashimi fish is not easy to source in Palmerston North. We are able to get a regular supply of lovely Big Eye Tuna which is flown in from Fiji and our local wholesaler is able to provide some of the other fish for our menu, such as Salmon, Kingfish, Squid and Sole.
The Beef and Tuna Tataki are both very popular, with diners often pre-ordering a couple of dishes when they make their reservations as plate numbers are limited.
Tataki, is a block of fish or meat that is first seasoned, all surfaces seared, then quickly cooled. After a settling process, the block is thinly sliced and presented on a plate with salad and dipping sauces.
It is fascinating watching our regulars’ palates develop. When first dining here they usually
stick to the “safe” foods like Karaage (Japanese version of KFC), Teriyaki, (slightly sweetened soy based sauce which coats panfried chicken, salmon, white fish, scallops, prawns or tofu), Kushiyaki, sauce coated flame-grilled meat skewers, Battered Prawns, Gyoza (ground Pork and vegetable dumplings) and our cooked Beef dishes (Yakiniku or Saikoro).
Each time they come they try a new dish, gradually developing a taste for more adventurous dishes.
Our customers also really enjoy the sharing style of dining. General rule of thumb is that most can eat about two dishes. A group of 4 would usually end up ordering about 8 different dishes, leaving here happily having experienced 8 different tastes and types of food. How often to you go to an entrée/main style of Restaurant and either get sick of the taste part way through your meal or regret your choice once you have seen someone else’s dish? It doesn’t happen here.
At Yatai, we pride ourselves on serving our food as fresh as possible, with a smile on the side.