Hyperlocal Tokyo

A powerhouse Shanghai restaurant with a track record of winning Bronze awards on Tabelog, being named among the Top 100 Restaurants, and consistently receiving Michelin recognition. This is a place where you can savor the exceptional cuisine of Chef Minami. This is "Mimosa," a renowned Chinese restaurant in Minami-Aoyama, whose review I had been drafting for over six years. Chef Junro Minami honed his skills for six and a half years at "Chefs," a famous Chinese restaurant in Shinjuku, under the tutelage of Hidetoshi Nishioka, who was also at "Chefs" at the time. He then opened "Mimosa" at the age of 32. When I visited six and a half years ago, it had only been open for a year, but since then, it has become a regular recipient of the Bronze Award on Tabelog and has been selected for the Top 100 Chinese Restaurants numerous times. It was first awarded one Michelin star in 2018 and received the honor for five consecutive years until 2022. At the time, I could order à la carte, so I chose my favorite dishes. Spring rolls, shumai, Chinese gluten stuffed with meat soup, asparagus and bamboo shoots stir-fried with fragrant spices, egg and tomato stir-fried with fragrant wind, clams and snow vegetable noodles, and for dessert, almond tofu. Although it wasn't a Michelin-starred restaurant back then, I remember it as a very delicious, reasonably priced, and easy-to-use establishment. It has since continued to earn Michelin stars, and while it unfortunately lost its star in 2023, I believe it will soon regain its Michelin status. Back then, the bill with drinks came to just over 10,000 yen. Now, with a course menu and an average customer price of around 30,000 yen, I'd like to revisit and try the course menu.

A Chinese restaurant located in Omotesando. I was invited to visit and this was my first time since the renovation. A friend who is a regular customer reserved a counter seat for me. We started with a toast of Tsingtao Premium Beer! My friend requested that I absolutely try the smoked egg and tomato stir-fry when I came here, and it was a simple dish but addictive! Even though I had the dry dan dan noodles for my final dish, they made me a fried rice and noodles for those who weren't full, and I was completely satisfied. * Appetizer Platter - Shrimp and edamame marinated in Shaoxing wine - Abalone - Quail egg preserved in fermented bean curd - Chicken with koji - Chrysanthemum with pine nuts - Fried cod - Jellyfish * Oyster spring rolls * Flounder * Shark fin with Shanghai crab * Smoked egg and tomato stir-fry * Lion's Head * Shanghai crab dry dan dan noodles * Fried rice * Noodles * Dumplings

Tucked away in a narrow alley off Aoyama-dori, mimosa is a hidden gem. Here, you can savor the innovative Shanghai cuisine of Chef Minami, formerly of the renowned Nevel Chinois. Watching Chef Minami prepare your meal from your table while enjoying a beer is a truly special experience. Each dish is meticulously crafted, a feast for the eyes, nose, and palate. The flavors are refined yet bold, leaving a lasting impression on many. Even those who dislike cilantro or star anise will find something to enjoy. As we left, Chef Minami graciously escorted us to the bottom of the stairs. His thoughtfulness is truly appreciated.

I made a reservation and visited this restaurant after being recommended by a friend who is a real foodie. Every dish was meticulously prepared and absolutely delicious! ✨ The timing of each dish was perfect, and the staff was incredibly attentive. The atmosphere was very comfortable. A conversation with the chef on my way out revealed his kind personality and dedication to his craft. It's truly evident that a chef's personality shines through in their food. I will definitely be back when I'm in Tokyo. Just writing this review makes me crave those juicy, plump shrimp 🦐 again! I highly recommend you give this place a try.