Review - Japanese Restaurant "Hana Chaya" (Dinner)

Let's move onto the food and cuisine review of Hida Hotel Plaza in Takayama Hida.

We had Japanese dinner on our first night. We were presented with a menu: 8 courses, with rice, miso soup and drinks. Each dish was introduced to us in Japanese by a lady dressed in kimono.

Review: Japanese Restaurant "Hana Chaya" (Dinner)

For starter, we had appetizers, sashimi and somen. (Auto correct keeps saying 'women'…no!!!!)

Somen are thin white Japanese noodles. In our set, it is served cold with jelly and vegetables in a vinegar sauce. I have to say, the appetizers are too salty and the sashimi from the supermarket tastes better…



We then proceed to the miso grilled salmon. Hmmm… a bit dry?



For the main course, we had steamed Hida beef.

Hida Beef (飛驒牛) is from a black haired Japanese cattle breed raised in Gifu prefecture for at least 14 months. It has a unique marble patterned appearance.



The beef is gradually steamed in a wooden box. I have to say the Hida beef tasted blant. Not that kind of "melt in your mouth" delicious beef that I was expecting for.



Tempura with green tea flavored salt. Crispy, not too greasy.



Steamed Hida pork with egg plant, along with rice, miso soup, pickles and a mystery dish.



Yes, this is the mystery dish. Green tea jelly, finely sliced cucumber, shredded turnip, red ginseng, pickled ginger, tofu and edible flowers all mixed together. I was skeptical about the combination of these ingredients.

But after one bite… O.M.G.

I want the recipe for this "mystery dish". It levitated the whole Japanese cruise experience!



For dessert, there is traditional Japanese sweets (wagashi): daifuku and summer orange sweet (natukannton).

I have always wanted to try natukannton. It is one of the representative wagashi that I missed in Kyoto. It is a summer dessert. To make natukannton, the orange pulp is hollowed out carefully while keeping the orange intact. The pulp is then mixed with gelatin and injected back into the orange. The natukannton that you see in this picture is made with this method.

The aroma of the citrus peel taste good together with sweetness of the orange.



I'm also very pleased with the daifuku. It has strawberry ice-cream filling.



Overall, I think the "mystery dish" and Japanese sweets were outstanding in terms of value! It is also worth taking your family to try exotic Japanese dishes in this friendly atmosphere.


Rating: 4/5