Stylish Dim Sum at SENSE

IMG_2725This restaurant with magnificent views perched on the 37th floor of the Mandarin Oriental Hotel is not the usual hustle and bustle dim sum joint. Here dim sum is feasted upon in style. I loved the cool, modern design of Sense. every single detail of their cosy dining room was exquisite.

IMG_2709On Sundays, Sense has a dim sum set menu and it is very wise to book ahead as they are always full. I booked a day before and only managed to snag some counter seats which weren’t all that bad. We had a fabulous view of the Tokyo Sky tree.

IMG_2735The set menu Sense prepares for Sunday brunch is quite extensive and includes an all you can dim sum section so allow at least 2,5 hours to finish the whole course.

The starter is a chinese style fresh vegetable salad.

IMG_2713Followed by seven kinds of Japanese dumplings.

PicMonkey CollageAnd the healthy soup of the day.

IMG_2724After which you can pick whatever dim sum you want from their main menu. Knock yourself out.

PicMonkey Collage2A small bowl of rice or porridge is the last course before dessert.

IMG_2739There are a couple of choices for dessert. I decided on the fried rice ball covered with sesame seeds and my husband went for the mango pudding.

PicMonkey Collage3The whole set will cost you about 5.500 yen which is not cheap and if you are expecting an authentic Hong Kong dim sum experience you might be disappointed. However, I did find the food to be quite delicious. It may not be authentic but it was very good, throw in the cosy restaurant and the lovely view, I say it’s definitely worth it.

Price : $$$

SENSE. 
2-1-1 Nihonbashi Muromachi, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 103-8328, Japan
+81 (3) 3270 8800 

A sunday brunch, chinese style at Toh-ka-lin

The interior

It’s not easy finding a good, authentic Chinese restaurant in Tokyo. After awhile, you just decide to let go of the authentic part and just settle for what’s good. Toh-ka-lin, a cozy Chinese restaurant on the second floor of the Okura Hotel I find to be one of those places. Simple, good Chinese food. It’s not the kind of chinese food you’d get in Hong kong, but it’s not too bad either.

They have an a la carte menu and about 4 sets of brunch menus to choose from starting at about 6000 yen per person. We chose one of the course menus that cost 8400 yen and here is what we had :

First course : Assorted chilled appetizers

Second course : Shark Fin and Crabmeat Soup

Third course : Crispy chicken, Cantonese Style

Fourth Course : sautéed Scallop with green asparagus

Fifth course : sautéed beef with Oyster sauce

Sixth course : Hot pot of braised prawn in barbecue sauce

Seventh course : Mixed fried rice

Dessert : Almond jelly with coconut rice dumpling

From all the dishes we were served today, the beef and the fried rice were the best. We also tried some of their  yam-cha (dim-sum) which were also very good.

The restaurants also has some private rooms and cute semi-private tables hidden behind sheer curtains. This is definitely a good place to feast on some Chinese food in Tokyo.

TOH KA LIN 

  • Address: Hotel Okura Main Bldg. 2F, 2-10-4 Tora-no-mon, Minato-ku, Tokyo, 105-0001
  • Phone: 03/3505-6068