Yukie Ryoutei 雪江料亭

Tucked in a peaceful residential area, this unpretentious Japanese eatery features iron-pot rice, a specialty of Northeastern Japan, which serves 2-3 people and takes 20-30 minutes to prepare. Order it right after you arrive, and you’ll have time to go through the diverse menu (in Japanese and Chinese) that features everything from salad, sashimi and sushi to skewers to soups and hot pots. The yam mash decorated with chunks of fresh tuna and seaweed strip is a bit slippery, but like the signature eel, comes to life when placed on a bite of rice. When the iron pot rice finally arrives, the waitress stirs it up and serves the rice, shiny and brown and speckled with soft chicken breast and aromatic mushroom, into bowls table side. Balance your meal with skewers of roasted gingko and beef tongue, as well as stir-fried five vegetables consisting of wood ear, mushroom, leeks, cabbage and bean sprouts, which have a mild though of sake.