Izakaya Kashiwa — Restaurant in Jakarta

Had the pleasure of dining at Izakaya Kashiwa, a charming Japanese restaurant that quickly won me over with its delectable menu and cozy atmosphere. Nestled in a bustling corner of the city, this hidden gem proved to be a delightful discovery for any lover of Japanese cuisine.

From the moment I stepped inside Izakaya Kashiwa, I was greeted by the warm and inviting ambiance. The traditional decor, complete with wooden furnishings and paper lanterns, created an authentic and immersive dining experience. The friendly staff, dressed in traditional attire, were quick to offer their assistance and guide me through the menu.

Now, let's talk about the star of the show—the gyoza. Izakaya Kashiwa truly excels in creating some of the most mouthwatering gyoza I have ever tasted. Each dumpling was perfectly pan-fried to achieve a golden and crispy exterior, while the inside remained juicy and bursting with flavor. The fillings, whether it was the classic pork or vegetable, were expertly seasoned, creating a harmonious blend of textures and tastes.

In addition to the gyoza, Izakaya Kashiwa also impressed me with their selection of mushroom dishes. From the earthy and aromatic grilled shiitake mushrooms to the delicate enoki mushrooms simmered in a flavorful broth, each dish showcased the natural umami flavors of the mushrooms. It was a true celebration of this beloved ingredient and a delight for any mushroom enthusiast.

Another standout dish at Izakaya Kashiwa was their Okonomiyaki, a savory Japanese pancake that can be customized with various toppings. The chefs at this restaurant mastered the art of creating a crispy exterior while maintaining a soft and flavorful interior. The combination of the tender pancake, savory sauce, and generous toppings created a symphony of flavors that left me craving for more.

To complement the fantastic food, Izakaya Kashiwa offers a good selection of beers, including both local and imported varieties. Whether you prefer a refreshing lager or a robust craft brew, their knowledgeable staff can recommend the perfect pairing to enhance your dining experience. The attention to detail and commitment to authenticity extend beyond the cuisine, making the entire dining experience even...

Despite the name getting around so often, I get to try this place on a Saturday night with a group of friends. Situated in Blok M 'Little Tokyo' area, alongbthe same street where Golden Boutique Hotel Melawai is, you need to pay attention to the signage. If you see wooden stairs heading upstairs, you're on the right way. It was packed with youngsters crowd that night with a 45 wait list to finally get to my name. Interior was nice with mostly wooden elements and warm lighting and japanese lanterns on one side. I wonder how do those young crowd get to know this place, and more importantly, what makes this place so special.

The menu was extensive, and it didn't have descriptions on each dishes, so I need to google on the dishes that looked appetizing to me. I ordered Maguro Katsu wich practically Tuna Katsu and Syake Chahan that is Salmon Fried Rice. Tuna Katsu aka Maguro Katsu was nice, and I was glad that it wasn't being fishy nor smelly whatsoever. Katsu came in a nice portion, not a satisfying portion, but enough. And it came with a sauce that I guess some kind of Teriyaki sauce, and the sauce escalated the taste of the fish katsu quite dramatically. As for the Salmon Fried Rice, it came in a personal portion, approximately one small bowl which is enough for me. Otherwise I can always explore anothe dish to fill me up. Back to the Salmon Fried Rice, is was a great taste came from such a simple package. Fried rice lightly seasoned with also some egg and shredded salmon. A friend of mine ordered Chicken Nanban that looked good I probably order it on my next visit. And oh, I tried a gyoza that my friend ordered. The taste was great, with supposedly minced chicken, shrimp, and green onions although the dish came in small portion and the pocket being only being decently filled.

To wrap up, this place is not a fancy Japanese restaurant you might expect, but rather a humble Japanese diner that again, not giving you exclusive and top notch experience. It tries to replicate that humble japanese casual dining vibe

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I know this hidden gem from my colleagues, they said that Kashiwa's Chicken Nanban is sooo gewwdd and I proved it! THIS PLACE IS GREAT. This is the food version of Daiso. The price of almost all of their food is 29.800 IDR. I came here yesterday with 4 friends, we didn't reserve spot before so we must wait because it was quite packed of people. After about 5-7 minutes waiting, the waiter call us and our table was ready.

We ordered Chicken Nanban (my colleagues recommendation), Chicken Karage with Spicy Mayo (someone leave a note on the wall near the entrance, I saw it when we're waiting. The writer says thank you to the chef for the chicken karage with spicy mayo, it is beyond acceptable. So we decided to order it, we believe that it must be very delicious), Okonomiyaki, Oden with raddish, salmon ball, and idk it's like fish cake but not fish cake, Potato salad, Gyu-something-salad (i forgot the name), and Kashiwa roll. Hot ocha is only IDR 6.500, but no refill. The service was quite fast and everything was suuuppeerrr gooodd, none of them disappointed us. Chicken nanban is soooo goooddd, we even add 1 more portion. If I must chose between Chicken Nanban and Chicken Karage, I would go with Chicken Nanban. Chicken nanban is like katsu dish, but they use chicken thigh so it's very juicy (while karage uses chicken breast which maybe it's a bit dry). Then they add a special mayo and salad, when you combine it....SO GEWD. But Chicken karage is a must too, because it's only 29.800 for 1 and the portion is quite big. Their okonomiyaki is filled with octopus, only octopus, ther's no choices of filling here. But it taste goood, crispy on the side, soft on inside. I also love the gyu-something-salad, maybe it's because I love the dressing. They use roasted sesame for the dressing sauce. At the end, we ordered Negima from their yakitory section, and it also taste good. Our tummy were satisfied ~

WILL ABSOLUTELY BACK HERE TO TRY ANOTHER MENU. THANK...