Hello friends, especially foodies!
Have you ever craved a particular dish so much that you just had to go out and get it? Well, that was exactly what happened to me last Saturday! Wkwkwk. 馃槅
I was craving sukiyaki and tempura, so my husband and I decided to visit Sushi Tei at Puri Indah Mall, the nearest Sushi Tei restaurant to us.
I was looking forward to enjoying some warm, comforting sukiyaki and crispy tempura. But how was the food? Did it satisfy our cravings? Let's find out!
A Crowded Afternoon at Sushi Tei
When we arrived, the restaurant was already crowded. There were customers sitting all around us, chatting while enjoying their meals.
Honestly, it felt like we were watching a movie in a cinema with Dolby surround sound. WKWKWK! 馃槀 Everyone's conversations seemed to come from every direction.
If you prefer a quiet dining experience, a busy afternoon like this might not be your favorite.
But the restaurant had plenty of menu choices, from sushi and sashimi to rice bowls, tempura, noodles, and hot-pot dishes.
With so many options available, there was certainly something for different kinds of Japanese food lovers.
What We Ordered
After looking through the menu, we settled on several dishes.
Since I had been craving sukiyaki and tempura, those two were definitely on our list!
1. Sukiyaki: The Star of the Meal
Finally, the dish I had been craving! The sukiyaki came with beef, tofu, mushrooms, noodles, and other ingredients in a hot broth.
But what I loved most was the broth itself. It tasted amazing! It had a dominant sweet flavor balanced with a savory, umami taste. The combination made the broth rich and comforting, and it was exactly what I wanted that afternoon.
Even my husband approved of it! Wkwkwk. 鉂わ笍
For me, the broth was the highlight of our meal. Sometimes, a dish doesn't need to be complicated to make you happy. It just needs to taste right, especially when it satisfies a craving you've had all day.
2. Tempura Moriawase: Delicious, but We Wanted More!
Of course, I couldn't visit Sushi Tei without ordering tempura when I was already craving it!
We ordered Tempura Moriwase, which included shrimp and assorted vegetables coated in batter and fried until golden.
We both enjoyed it, but there was one small problem: the portion felt a little too small! Wkwkwk. 馃槀
My husband especially loved the shrimp, while I enjoyed all the varieties. I love that combination of a crispy coating on the outside and soft, tender ingredients inside. It's such a satisfying texture!
I wished they had served a little more because tempura was one of the dishes I had specifically wanted that day. It was delicious, but I wouldn't have complained if there had been a few extra pieces on the plate!
3. Tori Gyoza: Simple but Satisfying
The gyoza was another dish we really liked. The dumplings were browned on one side, and the filling had a satisfying savory flavor.
Sometimes, simple dishes can be just as enjoyable as the more elaborate ones. For us, the gyoza was a good addition to the meal, and it definitely earned a place on our list of dishes to order again.
4. Chicken Katsu Ju: Just Okay
We also ordered Chicken Katsu Ju, a Japanese rice bowl served with chicken cutlet and egg.
Unfortunately, this one was just okay for us. I usually enjoy crispy fried chicken, but the chicken wasn't as crispy as I would have liked because it was served with egg underneath.
The egg and sauce combination made the chicken softer, so it didn't have the crispiness I was hoping for. It wasn't bad, but compared with the sukiyaki and gyoza, it wasn't particularly memorable.
5. Sushi: Nothing Special This Time
Here's a little irony: we went to Sushi Tei, but the sushi wasn't the star of our meal. Wkwkwk! 馃槀
We ordered the Cheesecake Salmon Roll, but to be honest, it was just okay. There wasn't anything particularly special about it that stood out in my memory.
Of course, this was only our experience with the sushi we ordered that afternoon. The restaurant has a large menu, so there are plenty of other items we haven't tried.
Still, I found it funny that the dish I remembered most fondly was the sukiyaki rather than the sushi. Sometimes, the dish that surprises you the most isn't necessarily the one you expected!
A Little Bonus: Free-Flow Hot Ocha
One more thing I enjoyed was the free-flow hot ocha! 馃嵉
I love having hot tea with a meal, so being able to refill it was a lovely bonus. It was especially nice to sip warm tea while enjoying our food.
It's a small detail, but sometimes little things like this make a dining experience more enjoyable.
How Much Did We Spend?
Now, let's talk about the bill!
Here's the breakdown from our receipt:
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Sukiyaki | Rp91,000 |
| Tempura Moriawase | Rp71,000 |
| Chicken Katsu Ju | Rp63,000 |
| Tori Gyoza | Rp45,000 |
| Cheesecake Salmon Roll | Rp52,000 |
| Ocha | Rp14,000 |
| Hot Ocha 脳 2 | Rp20,000 |
| Subtotal | Rp371,000 |
| Service charge | Rp27,825 |
| PB1 tax | Rp39,883 |
| Total | Rp438,708 |
Our total bill was Rp438,708, including service charge and tax.
It wasn't exactly a cheap afternoon meal, but we got to enjoy several different dishes together. If I visited again, I'd definitely want the sukiyaki, Tempura Moriawase, and gyoza. These three dishes were the ones we enjoyed most and would happily order again!
Our Verdict
Overall, our afternoon at Sushi Tei was a mixed but enjoyable experience.
The sukiyaki was the clear winner, especially because of its delicious sweet and savory broth. My husband approved, too! The tempura satisfied my craving, even though I wished the portion were bigger, and my husband particularly enjoyed the shrimp. The gyoza was another favorite.
The chicken katsu and sushi, on the other hand, were just okay. They weren't disappointing enough to ruin the meal, but they didn't leave a particularly strong impression either.
The restaurant was also quite crowded, so it wasn't the quietest place to enjoy an afternoon meal. Remember the Dolby surround-sound experience? Wkwkwk! 馃槀
Would we return? Yes! Next time, our plan is already made: sukiyaki, Tempura Moriawase, and gyoza. We know what we like, and there's no harm in repeating our favorites while leaving room to explore other dishes on another visit.
After all, a good food trip isn't always about loving every single dish. Sometimes, it's about finding a few favorites that make the whole trip worthwhile.
And for me, that afternoon, it was the amazing sukiyaki broth, crispy tempura, and savory gyoza. 鉂わ笍
Thanks for reading my article! If you enjoyed my article, please upvote, reblog, follow me, and stay tuned for more CRAFT things from me!
All of the pictures were taken with a Samsung A52 5G Android phone.
A bit about the author
Devy Leona
She works in a bank but is interested in CRAFT (CRaft, Art, Food and Travel). To pursue her art passion, she does cross-stitch, embroidery, hand sewing, crafts, crochet, and also draws. Find her work at https://de-creartique.redbubble.com and https://decreartique.threadless.com/designs. Also find her cute collectible pixel cat pictures here: https://opensea.io/collection/pixelcryptocat.