Usagi — Restaurant in Munich

Not really a recommendation. We stumbled upon this place a while ago, but it was jam-packed and we couldn't get a table. We then reserved one and I was initially really excited to finally be able to try their food. As a frequent traveller to Japan, I think that izakaya culture really fits well with Munich beer culture, so the hopes were high.

The first disappointment was the seating – as a party of 4, we were told upon arrival that we would be joined by two strangers on a larger table. This isn't something totally unknown in Bavaria (see beer gardens, where you often sit at a large table with strangers), but I wish that restaurants in Munich would just stop applying this custom also to venues where you actually have to reserve a table. It kind of ruins every aspect of having a little private time-out with friends after work. So, one star deducted for the seating arrangements.

Usagi loses another star for being incredibly loud. It's a small place, there is no loud music, but we ended up having to shout the whole evening to understand each other. Not a really relaxing venue.

The food… well, there goes the third star. As I wrote, I was initially really excited when I had a look at their menu. Even though the beer selection is tiny compared to the cocktails, and I'm more of a beer gal, everone quickly found a good drink to start with. We ordered some starters (named tapasu, which I guess is supposed to be a pun on Katagana, haha) and then moved on to "main" dishes. To be fair, the Horenso gomae was good – I've had far worse in Munich, and the Kimchi also was fine. The size of the Nasu dengaku style was a joke for the price, but it was tasty and not overly blackened. If you look for authentic Gyouza, Usagi is not the place to go. The menu features chicken meat and vegetable filling, but foregoes the original pork filling, which was a bummer. Beer and Gyouza make such a great pair…

Judging from the prices, we assumed that some dishes were larger. We were disappointed. The Unagi don (named Unagi bowl for some reason, maybe to tap into the recent Poké bowl craze) was served with a small amount of rice on a shallow plate that made it hard to eat it with chopsticks. The chicken wings are really small – you'll get a handfull of tiny wings (really only the wings) and some kind of freeze dried vegetable. The point where I almost fell off my chair was when the Takoyaki arrived. Seriously, 3 balls for 7,50€? The Ramen was okay, but we were told upon ordering that there is usally only one broth, and today it was Miso only, and no Tonkotsu.

The desserts are the usual suspects (sesame ice cream), and mochi. The ice cream was fine, but the mochi reminded me more of the tang yuan style rice balls that you can buy in asian supermarkets. And alas, there were half frozen. Meh.

All in all, we walked out with a hefty bill, and some of us still hungry. We probably won't return. There is room for a lot of improvement and Usagi did not live up to the hype,...

It was like entering a new amazing dimension in a city like Munich where everyone is always so rude. It was really a magic experience. Me and my gf had not planned to go there, but given that everything planned was failing yesterday, we decided to be spontaneous and enter in the first place which was giving good vibes. We saw the review before entering and we said "4.2" stars is ok, let's see. We entered and the atmosphere was so cool that we were literally without words. It was with the same vibes of an Irish pub, but everything in Japan theme, but was not only the theme of the place... Was the all lore! The employees were really experts of Japan culture (or if not, they were really good in acting it, therefore, not being Japan, it was mind blowing) and were so gentle, trying to speak in our language and explaining to us everything available for us. Finally we decided to have ramen and arrived the chef telling us he was able to do only 2 types of ramen with the available ingredients (it was late for dinner in Germany being already 22:00). We decided to have both and then the magic started! He started the dance to prepare it for us, and he really put his heart in it, he really put so much effort, being so elegant and paying attention to every detail! They were really nice, kind, food was amazing and they were also really available for every request, answering always with a smile! I give 5 stars because I can not give 100 stars! Will never forget this place and the experience is able...

Had very nice expectations on this Izakaya bar, but left kind of disappointed.

We ordered Edamame, Karage, Nasu Dengaku, Gyozas, Takoyaki, The daily Hamachi dish, the Pork Belly, and the cheesecake.

The service was a bit caotic. The edamame came quite late in the meal, and the first dish showing was the chicken karage. Would have expected to have a more natural and sense ful order to serve things.

The Hamachi dish, was very disappointing. The mandarins clove were bigger than the 5 tiny piece of fish underneath. Completely out of balance and no sense at all. Either rise the price of the dish and serve a proper dish of Hamachi, or don’t do it. Feels you are laughing at your client with the dish you served.

We order the pork belly in the middle of the meal. The waiter forgot about it and had to wait quite long and remind him. Finally, The pork belly came cold, glazed only on one side, with some sugar on concentrated at the top caramelised by a torch, but not evenly. No magic at all. So sad, a dish that could easily be the highlight, makes the way out to the table like that.

The rest was good. Best was the cheesecake, that says also a lot.

I hope it helps the chef to open the eyes en re-think the food that arrives to the tables on busy Saturdays. Is really a pitty, because the concept and the idea behind the dishes are amazing, but…. Wrong execution killed the magic , at least this time..

Will give a second chance. Hoping during the...