Kabuto Yakiniku Japanese only opened this year, and it
was after receiving some very positive reviews that the Dining Out team made
the trip to the upper end of South Pattaya Road (between the previous Duck
Square and Soi Ko Pai).
I
have to admit two things about Japanese food. Firstly, as any regular reader
knows, I love Wasabi, the pungent green addition to Sushi that creeps up
behind you and punches you in the back of the nose. Secondly, I am totally
in awe of Japanese menus that have so many items with such tongue twisting
names as Gunkan, Ishi Yaki Bibinba or Jo Karubi (which is actually
tenderloin of beef sliced ready for the BBQ).
Kabuto Yakiniku’s managing director Sakda Rojanaporn
has realized the problems for non-Japanese and the vast majority of the 220
item menu items are shown photographically. Thank you Sakda San!
The
venue is a spectacular Japanese architectural masterpiece. Clean straight
lines abound and the wall decor feature Japanese minimalism; however, the
rest rooms with the rain coming down the feature wall with its travellers
palms is breathtaking. Around the perimeter of the central sala are koi
ponds, with teeming fish that will eagerly come to the surface if they think
there is food in the offing. Around the ponds there is a covered veranda
featuring wood decking and more tables and benches which will become a
Japanese beer garden in the near future.
Set into the tabletops in the sala are BBQ grilles which
have a partial vacuum extraction system to keep smoke and odours to a
minimum. There is also a foot-well under each table, so those less limber
than SE Asians can sit easily. The long bench tables have movable bamboo fan
dividers to separate the different groups of diners to also afford an air of
privacy.
Getting further into the menu, it begins with a section
called Yakiniku with various BBQ meats and vegetables ranging between B.
100-400 and the Ebi salted prawns.
Rice and noodles has the aforementioned Ishi Yaki Bibinba
(B. 200) which comes in a hot platter and you mix the ingredients yourself.
There are 10 Japanese soups (B. 50-100) and these are followed by Salads (B.
80-200) and then Sushi’s generally around B. 70-80 and Maki’s 10 baht
cheaper.
The Japanese names continue, with Temaki’s,
Teppanyaki’s (with chicken, pork, beef and salmon styles between B.
150-250). Yes there are desserts, which as far as I could see were Thai
style.
The wine list is minimal, but almost every bottle is
under B. 1000. To go really Japanese there is sake and choices in Shoju
grain alcohol.
We tried a variety of the BBQ items at Sakda’s
insistence, and enjoyed every one, but special mention has to be made of the
salmon in miso soup (B. 250). This comes with its own candle burner under a
fluted paper container which has the soup with the salmon being gently
poached along with assorted vegetables, imparting a delightful flavour to
the smooth soup.
The ebi salted prawns for the BBQ are split lengthways
and were almost rock lobster in size. Apart from the fact that I found it
difficult to extract the meat from the shell with just small Japanese
chopsticks, the flavour was sensational.
It is a total Japanese experience, all masterfully
carried through by the delightful service girls, who will put your shoes
away carefully in the shoe drawer under your table and present you with
Japanese scuffs if you want to go to the toilet.
The ability to order BBQ items and a la carte is good,
and the staff (and the captain speaks good English) are there to guide you
in your choices and advise as to which sauce should go with each dish.
As long as you don’t go mad with the imported first
grade Japanese Kobe beef, it can be a surprisingly cheap night out. Very
highly recommended.
Kabuto Yakiniku Japanese Restaurant, 385/11 M 10, South Pattaya Road,
South Pattaya, telephone 038 488 160, www.kabuto.co.th. Off street private
secure parking. Open seven days from 4 p.m. until midnight.
