JPN: Kaza Bana (風花)

Super sweet chestnuts on claypot rice!

How fitting it was, coming to the restaurant during winter, as kaza bana can be translated as 'flurry of snow'. Located on the 10th floor of Seibu Department Store which is just a stone's throw away from Asahikawa station, it serves a selection of kamameshi (Japanese claypot rice).

Kaza Bana Kamameshi Set ¥1,260 (~S$15.40)

"The set meal with the name of the restaurant must be the special one!" I thought. Accompanying the claypot rice were chawanmushi (Japanese egg custard), clear soup, salad, pickled cabbages and a beverage of choice. Pika's advice: Instead of a beverage, you can have a cup of green tea or vanilla ice cream!

Kaza Bana Kamameshi (Set Menu)

Taste: 8.5/10

Having the distinctive burnt smell as a result of cooking in claypot, the rice was full of ingredients. The chestnuts were truly sweet; they were probably the sweetest chestnuts I've ever had so far. While the prawn and the scallop were succulent, the mushrooms and the minced meat could be juicier.

Assorted Items (Set Menu)

Chawanmushi - Taste: 8/10

Clear Soup - Taste: 7.5/10

Salad - Taste: 8/10

Pickled Cabbages - Taste: 7.5/10

The velvety chawanmushi was well-met with the crisp salad. The clear soup and pickled cabbages were average.

Hot Cocoa (Set Menu)

Taste: 8/10

The hot, mildly sweet cocoa was heart-warming. It wasn't only thick, but also creamy with the addition of whipped cream on top.

Uni Kamameshi Set ¥1,470 (~S$18.00)

Taste: 8/10

The uni (lit. sea urchin) claypot rice came with chawanmushi and pickled cabbages. The tang of the sea was present in the soft sea creature rich in vitamins and minerals, which is also considered to be an aphrodisiac. However, I've eaten others which were sweeter elsewhere.

Mini Toko ¥260 (~S$3.15)

Taste: 8/10

Initially I had no idea what it was, but I decided to order it for fun. Served in a small bowl was glass noodle topped with shredded seaweed. Drenched in light soy sauce and mixed with wasabi (Japanese horseradish), it was delightfully slippery and chewy.

Melon's Rating

Taste: 8/10

Ambience: 8.5/10

Service: 8/10

Overall: 8/10

While the sofa seat was pretty comfortable, I found that the table was a bit too low. Nevertheless, I savoured my lunch while enjoying the view of Asahikawa city covered with snow.

Kaza Bana

(風花)

8 Miyashita Dori

B-10F, Seibu Department Store

Asahikawa

Japan

(Opening hours unknown - Anyone knows?)

*Prices quoted are nett prices.

Have a nice meal,

Cliff(y)