I had an appointment in Shinjuku, and after mulling over what to eat, I booked a table at Mizutaki Genkai. Mizutaki is a regional dish from Kyushu that I had only heard about and never actually tried.

The front entrance

It is on the 14th floor, in the restaurant floors of Takashimaya. Not hard to find.

Appetizers

I ordered the lunch course, so all sorts of things come out. Everything tastes good.

Tofu

Every dish was refined. Even the tofu is no ordinary tofu, it is really delicious. Up until last week I had been eating American style, two portions at a time, so coming back to these modest Japanese-style servings did feel a little strange, I have to admit..

Tea

They use a proper cup, too.

Mizutaki

In Korean terms it is something like dak-gomtang. The main event here is the rich chicken broth, simmered slowly for hours. The chicken itself is not bad either, but it was a bit awkward to eat.

Pour the broth into a cup

Then add green onion and steamed garlic paste.

The refinement of the flavor is remarkable. I feel bad even comparing it to Korean dak-hanmari.

Rice porridge

Since the broth is so good, the porridge was delicious too. They do every dish really well.

Dessert

What I had that day was a lunch course of about 4,000 yen per person, and considering what you get, it is not exactly a great-value place. But if you have a business gathering in the middle of Shinjuku, or on a cold winter day like these, few restaurants would suit the occasion better. A lovely experience, with a chicken broth that warms you right down to the heart.

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