Nana’s Green Tea, Shanghai
Green Tea, with China origins, has been cultivated extensively by the Japanese. In fact, Japanese green tea is simply referred as Japanese tea. Green tea is used for desserts, cooking, and just tea. At Nana’s Green Tea, several of their dishes and desserts feature this universal ingredient.
As we were walking around the Metro City mall, in Xujiahui District, Nana’s Green Tea caught our eye. The restaurant with soft lighting posts, semi-private tables, and crowded. There was even a line for people to get tables and for take out. With Japanese lettering, I was distinctly in the mood for ramen on this cold rainy day.
After a short 10 minute wait, we finally got our seats. After perusing the extensive menu and dessert menu, I leaned toward the ramen, while Miss A was gazing at the dessert on the nearby table. With suggestions from the waitress, I got the tomato ramen, while Miss A ordered the eel rice. We also shared hot pot of green tea and side of tamago. Strangely, in some causal restaurants in China, they require you to pay right after ordering. I think they are afraid of people skipping payment.
Our entrees both arrived at once, and at that instant, I knew I had chosen wisely. The tomato broth, almost like a tomato puree soup, was rich and flavorful. The pork slices were tender and savory – contrasting the soup base. I know my counterpart liked the soup as well. Miss A’s eel rice was pretty good, except for the rice. Rice is something the Japanese usually do quite well. But in this case, the rice seemed to be cooked only partially, which affected the texture and the whole order itself. The tamago, the egg side dish, was nice. At sushi restaurants, it is usually served cold. Yet at Nana’s, it is served hot – which was nice.
Green Tea, as I indicated before, is a specialty at Nana’s. They use it extensively in the desserts. We also got the Macha soft ice cream with Azuki paste with syrup. The large green ice cream was perfectly semi sweet. The azuki paste, sort of a soupy mixture with azuki, sort of a sweet red bean paste, blended flavors and textures. I think this dessert more than made up for the disappointing eel rice.
What to Order: tomato ramen, Macha soft ice cream with azuji paste with syrup What not to Order: eel rice – unless they fixed the rice
Rating 2 Pigs Price Range 1 $/¥/NT
Links City Weekend City Weekend Fatty Kat Lost Ate Minor Rakuten
