Japanese cuisine respects the original flavour of the ingredients. Mirai lives up to this reputation, combining creative cooking techniques and perfect  presentation in a warm environment. Hoàng Linh reports.

Japanese cuisine has always been attractive to me, maybe because its culinary style respects the original flavour of the ingredients. During the cooking process, the chef attempts to balance the natural sweetness of the ingredients with creativity and diversity in cooking technique and presentation.

Although I know a lot of Japanese restaurants in Hà Nội, I still like to try new ones. So when I spotted a Japanese restaurant by the name of Mirai while passing a corner of Quang Trung Street, I decided to try it right away.

As in many other Japanese restaurants, the design is simple. The large dining table, in black and red tones to match the other furniture, evokes warmth, cleanliness and friendliness. The staff is courteous and very dedicated; each order is served quickly.

The menu is full of typical Japanese choices; however, the style has been modified to fit Vietnamese preferences. As I try my appetisers – crab egg and seaweed salad and salted Japanese octopus with mustard – all my senses are awakened. I find the salad sweet and sour, with fatty sauce and delicious crab egg that instantly cools and relaxes my palate. This dish is perfect for those who love cabbage and fresh seaweed. Although the ingredients are not uncommon, the chef’s deft preparation results in a well-balanced dish.

If the salad provides a cool start to the meal, it is balanced by the kick of the salted octopus. With just one bite, I was conquered by the spicy taste of the mustard. Roll the diced octopus in dried seaweed with a slice of turnip before dipping into a mix of Japanese soy sauce and mustard, and you too will be overcome by the delicious spice.