The Natural Goodness Of Tofu At Ukai...

A beautiful example of a traditional Japanese setting

Just a stone throw away from Tokyo's iconic tower lies a sprawling Japanese garden where you can wine and dine in tranquility, away from the hustle and bustle of Tokyo city life. The dining area at Tofuya Ukai consists of several tatami rooms overlooking a lush landscape which includes a Koi pond, cobblestone walkways and Kimono clad waitresses gliding by gracefully. No visit to Tokyo is complete without a trip to this green sanctuary where one can experience Japanese Kaiseki in a breath-taking setting.

For lunch, there are two set menus for you to take your pick. We had the Matsu menu and first to make its entry was deep fried tofu with miso sauce and scallions. It was exquisitely presented in a red lacquer box and the tofu were fried to perfection with a resultant delightfully crispy skin. This was my favourite dish as the tofu had been basted with the sweet miso sauce during grilling to fill your mouth with a lingering sweetness.

Age-tofu with miso sauce that leaves you clamouring for more...

Next up was an assortment of sashimi freshly served on a bed of ice. This was followed by a dish which included a squid and mochi combo whose taste enchanted me so much that opps, no pics as a result;) This was followed by a simmered dish of succulent beef and then it was time for the specialty of Tofuya Ukai, the humble tofu to make its entry. The anticipation was high as the waitress brought in a ceramic claypot where huge chunks of smooth silken tofu laid serenely in a savoury soy milk and dashi stock and started simmering them over a low flame. We were each served a chunk and some of our initial enthusiasm dissipated. Even the tofu lover amongst us had to admit this was just too much to stomach. It was simply tofu at its blandest and purest form. For the sake of my complexion, I managed to wolf it all down;) It was no mean feat given that half of my lunch companions did not manage to finish it.

The natural goodness of tofu...

Next came the rice dish with seasonal vegetables. It was beautifully presented in a wooden box with miso soup as an accompaniment. A dessert of red bean paste followed suit. And last but not least, a nice brew of green tea to round up the meal.

For Tofuya Ukai, lunch is probably a better option as daylight allows you to admire and bask in your surroundings. It also comes with the added advantage that lunch prices are halved that for dinner^^But do make your booking early as the lunch slots are usually booked out months in advance.

Tofuya Ukai
Address: 4-4-13 Shiba-Koen, Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan
Telephone: 03-3436-1028
Michelin: *