Gonpachi (Tokyo)
The famous battle scene in Kill Bill is one that is not forgotten easily. Yes, Uma Thurman swanning around in her yellow jumpsuit being all scary with her big samurai sword is tres impressive, but the set also leaves it’s mark. Quentin Tarantino must have been similarly moved when he visited Gonpachi, an Edo style theme restaurant near Roppongo Hills in Tokyo. So impressed in fact, he copied it to make “The House of the Blue Leaves” set for his movie.
First up was a very impressive looking entree - fried shrimp dumpling. Yes, amongst all those crispy fronds of fried noodle was a soft ground ball of delicious seasoned shrimp meat. It looked a treat, and yes, was just a little difficult to eat (I thought I was going to poke an eye out, or end up with bits shoved up my nose!).
Three little appetisers/pickles arrived next. To the left was kinpira, thin strips of braised burdock root and carrot, seasoned with soy, sake, mirin and sesame oil. In the middle was one of my favourites, a braised hijike seaweed salad. And lastly, a seaweed jelly, which tasted like you had swallowed a mouthful of sea water. It was studded with chunks of crisp cucumber and silky seaweed slivers.
The grilled miso glazed black cod was as delicious as it looked. Served simply alongside a mound of grated daikon, the skin of the cod was caramalised and sticky, made earthy and sweet by the miso marinade.
Next was one of their house specialities - kushi, or skewers. In this instance cherry tomatoes had been wrapped in the thinnest slice of home made bacon and thrown on the grill. I can not begin to describe how fantastic the little skewers were. The tomato was practically liquid on the inside, and barely held together by the bacon/tomato skin. So when you popped it in your mouth, it literally exploded in your mouth, flooding it with sweet tomatoey juice. But that’s not all - you still get to crunch your way through the salty bacon (…and we all know how good that is).
This next skewer was not part of the lunch set, but how could we not try some toro, the fatty belly of the blue fin tuna. This was so incredibly amazing - caramalised on the outside, and fattily rare on the inside.
Tsukune, or chicken meatballs seasoned with salt, was again another sweet/salty combination. The chicken had been ground to a paste, and then re-moulded around the skewers and grilled. The sweet sticky soy was just the icing on the cake (so to speak), making for a finger licking experience.
The next dish was also one of their specialities, ‘Inako Seiro’ soba, served cold with a dipping sauce, wasabi and sliced green onions. The noodles are apparently made daily using Japanese buckwheat ground in stone mortars. It was served in a zaru, which is a Japanese draining basket made from bamboo, and the noodles were wonderful and firm to the tooth. Afterwards we were given a teapot of the hot soba cooking liquor, which we could mix with the remainder of the dipping sauce to drink like a soup. I must admit to not having much appreciation for soba prior to my visit to Japan, but I am now a convert.
For dessert we had a choice of black sesame ice cream with two baby mochi sprinkled with nutty kinako or vanilla bean ice cream with some little cubes of jelly. Both choices were wonderfully good, but for me the black sesame won hands down.
The service was wonderfully professional, and I found it quite amusing to see the wait staff running around the Edo themed restaurants with PDA’s and walkie talkies (somewhat discordant with the surroundings). The toilets were also very nice, and the walk up the stairs to get to them, provides a nice overhead view of the entire place. Gonpachi is highly recommended and great value, so don your yellow jumpsuits or Kato masks and dive right in!
Written by mellie on
November 24th, 2007 | Tags: Japan | Category: Uncategorized
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November 24th, 2007 at 12:44 am
It’s great to see you back in blogtown! Though many of the dishes are presented beautifully, I am absolutely floored by the tomato-bacon skewers. Lead this vegetarian not into temptation….
November 24th, 2007 at 10:54 am
Welcome back Mellie & EG!
Now that was a luscious post. I’m a big fan of Kill Bill for the all the crazy Kung Fu movie references, and quite separately, of Soba - after having shared my home with Japanese girls over the years.
Cindy - my mind was boggling over those tomatoes too. They say that it is bacon that most often is the culprit that turns Vegetarians into ominvores….ghrrr!
Thinking of that Toro too - oooh…dribbling now…oops…think I’ll share with Mr Stickyfingers a big strawberry parfait to take my mind off it.
November 24th, 2007 at 10:33 pm
Yay, Tummy Rumbles is back!!!
And may I say, your first post did not disappoint - that cod and those skewers look absolutely sensational. Gorgeous photography, as per usual. Hopefully you will be treating us to more Japanese posts as well as getting back into the Melbourne groove?
Welcome back, mellie and EG!
November 25th, 2007 at 5:37 am
Woo-hoo! First holiday post! About time, you slackers!
Food looks divine, can’t wait to see and read more.
November 25th, 2007 at 7:25 am
Welcome back!!!!
And it sounds soooo yummy!! I bet you had a fantastic time, from the sounds and images of it…
November 25th, 2007 at 7:27 am
Welcome back. I seem to recall visiting this place when I was last in Tokyo. Your photos are as good as ever. Keep posting!
November 26th, 2007 at 1:44 am
welcome back - we’ve missed you!!!
November 26th, 2007 at 2:20 am
geez i was starting to be worried sick - glad you are back!looking forward to more posts.. penny f
November 26th, 2007 at 12:12 pm
Hey Cindy - uh huh, if I was vege, I think I would crack over bacon. That is the one thing I can be compromised on
Hi stickyfingers - thanks for the welcome back! I’m glad to be home! So, did strawberry parfait help? Keep your eyes peeled for my next post - Kit Kats!
Hey Claire (aka. mutemonkey) - thanks for the welcome too
Yes, we are back on the blogging scene again, and I have a Japanese Melbourne one up my sleeve shortly, although I really should diversify, huh? 
G’day anna - yeah, I know I am a HUGE slacker. Back for two weeks and nary a post! I guess life/work kind of got in the way. Grr…I hate it when it does that!
Hey anthony - yes, we had an absolutely fabulous time, and can’t wait to get back there! I hope I don’t bore everyone with my Japan posts over the next little while
Hiya ken - so did you enjoy Gonpachi? And rest assured, I’ll keep posting.
Hi johanna - thanks! And I’ve missed being here. Ahh…it feels like pulling on a pair of much loved comfy socks posting comments back here
Hey penny f - never fear, we’re a-okay and only a few kilo’s heavier
We must catch up for some brews soon! Will be in contact shortly…
November 28th, 2007 at 12:31 am
Glad you guys are back! That caramelized tuna belly looked totally amazing!
November 30th, 2007 at 11:56 pm
Thanks hungry hamster! Yes, the tuna belly was seriously melt in the mouth good. Oooh…I can actually still taste it!
August 7th, 2008 at 10:42 pm
Thanks for articles, I have searched blog same this since long time