WHAT IT IS
Was the struggle to reach Akakara Japanese Hot Pot restaurant worth it, I asked myself as I arrived, hot, late, and flustered after a forty-five minute journey in rush-hour traffic (certainly an oxymoron) up Kabar Aye Pagoda Road.
ATMOSPHERE
As I left the fumes and noise of frustrated commuters behind me I was pleasantly surprised to be warmly greeted by staff that seemed to be working in the coldest restaurant in the world, as the air conditioning cranked so high up. Seated at a spacious table near the window, I observed the carnage occurring on the roads outside as I shivered over my menu. It wasn’t long before the temperature balanced itself as the room filled up with numerous pots of simmering soup, each expelling their steamy aromas into the cold air.
RECOMMENDATIONS
After a cursory investigation of the menu, and being no expert at this, it seemed only right to go for the main draw, which is the hot pot. I took the beginners route and chose a ready-made selection of meats, seafood and vegetables, at a very reasonable price of 9,800 Ks, as opposed to hand picking ingredients from the vast selection on offer. From a choice of three soup bases I selected the Akakara Soup, and after some discussion with several waiters it was unanimously that I would best appreciate a spice level of 3 out of the 10 that was on offer, clearly there were some doubts as to my propensity for heat.
A section of seafood, meats and vegetables were presented at the table prior to the pot reaching the required temperature for cooking. All looked fresh and of high quality. Due to the efficient induction hob we were away in a good start in no time, though it did mean that some of the excitement and romance of a good old-fashioned blue flame went missing.
The smartly dressed staff worked the room efficiently, tending to the different pots bubbling away. I required a little more supervision in understanding the protocol involved, and was reassured that patience is a virtue, after I had sneaked one too many peaks under the lid to inspect its progress. To be honest I was only doing it to get a whiff of the fabulous pungent spicy soup aroma.
A glance behind the curtain into the kitchen, showed a vision of brand spanking new equipment, cleanliness and hygiene, a wonderful sight that would put any nervous diner at ease.
The meal was excellent, tasty, wholesome and very filling. The theatre of the service, and audience the participation of hotpot makes it always a fun way to eat. The menu extends far beyond the hot pot offering, and includes noodle dishes, tempura and teriyaki. They do a very reasonably priced selection of lunch sets that if you happened to live or work nearby, would definitely be worth a punt.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Overall it was a lovely meal, and yes it was worth all the effort to get to. Perhaps the only criticism I could make (other than the fact that that the toilets are a twenty minute walk away) was the difficulties I had communicating with the staff, but then that says a lot more about my linguistic skills than it does about the staff. Judging by the clientele that arrived during our stay – a mixture of Japanese and Myanmar, young and old, families and work colleagues – it has a good following, and is absolutely the kind of place you could bring a gang of pals and get stuck into a big pot of bubbling high quality, well priced and tasty food.
Address: 300 Kabaraye Pagoda Road, Ga Mone Pwint Shopping Mall, Myangone Township, Yangon
Phone: 01653653 Ext. 8080
Opening Hours: 10:00 AM – 9:00 PM
