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Japanese Finest Dining – ZENKICHI in Berlin

Japanese Finest Dining – ZENKICHI in Berlin June 22, 2015Berlin, Restaurants & Bars0 Comments

ZENKICHI

Modern Japanese Brasserie

Zenkichi’s mission is to take its guests on a journey to Tokyo — as if they are invited to a night out with Tokyoites.

This is the newest and best restaurant in Berlin when it comes to the finest Japanese food. Its doors were opened just 2 months ago, and this place is already the place to be. When in Berlin it is a must!

This place is hidden in an office building in Berlin Mitte and takes you to another dimension. You enter and walk down the staircase to the basement. Once you are in, you forget where you came from and let yourself enjoy this warm and cozy bamboo world. It feels like if you’ve just traveled to this place and you are no longer in Berlin.

It’s like walking through a labyrinth or secret place…

Opened in November 2006 by a homesick Tokyo-native, Zenkichi is a modern Japanese brasserie with an authentic dining experience of popular Tokyo establishments.

Zenkichi invites you to explore Japanese cuisine, beyond sushi and yakitori. Their specialty is Tokyo-style seasonal small plates, for sharing and pairing with sake.

The most emphasis is placed on the Omakase (chef’s tasting menu), which changes every 5 weeks to showcase the best domestic and imported fish and vegetables of the season. Small plate a la carte menu is also available and changes every 3 months.

SAKE
They are passionate about sake, and they serve only the best.
At Zenkichi, they are specialized in Junmai (pure-rice), all-natural premium sakes made exclusively with rice, water and koji (rice yeast), completely free of additives. You will taste the difference!

Zenkichi offers extensive selection of premium sake from many regions of Japan – from popular, seasonal, to rare and limited production bottles.

The servers receive regular training and will not recommend anything they have not tasted themselves.

INTERIOR CONCEPT
Majority of the seating takes a style of intimate semi-private booth table popular in Tokyo. Most diners in Japan prefer quiet hide-away feel to festive see-and-be-seen scenes, as this relaxing setting enables them to concentrate on the food, sake, and their dining companions.

Whilst many of their booth tables are for twosomes and small groups, larger groups of up to 15 guests can be accommodated at one table.

The Michelin Guide of 2014 said about the Brasserie in New York: “This exceptional Japanese brasserie in Williamsburg bears an utterly unique setting. Each booth is sequestered by bamboo shades, while dark wood and minimal lighting further elevate the sense of intimacy. Zenkichi’s omakase is a big draw, but items may also be ordered à la carte and highlight house-made tofu drizzled with chilled dashi.”

We tasted the Omakase 8-course chef’s tasting menu: 65 euro per guest (min. 2 guests) , the Sake and all the Cocktails they had in the menu (I know, big times ;).

The service and food are impeccable, and the cocktails are a must!

Omakase has it all ! The ingredients are all extremely fresh.

My absolute favorites were the Saikyo Black Cod, the Oyster with the Tuna Sashimi dressed with wasabi stem soy sauce, the organic beef tataki, the Hirame tempura and the frozen black Sesame mousse.

The cocktails are extremely tasty and unique; we were impressed by all of them. They are not too light, not too strong with notes of lychee, ginger or cucumber. My favorite: The Cucumber Lady!