| Tofuya Ukai | |
|---|---|
 Tofuya Ukai at night in 2016. | |
 | |
| Restaurant information | |
| Established | 2005 |
| Owner(s) | Ukai group |
| Head chef | Takeshi Kikuchi[1] |
| Food type | Japanese,tofu |
| Street address | 4-4-13 Shiba-koen, Minato-ku, Tokyo |
| City | Minato, Tokyo |
| Postal/ZIP Code | 105-0011 |
| Country | Japan |
| Coordinates | 35°39′26.74″N 139°44′43.38″E / 35.6574278°N 139.7453833°E 35.65742835048912, 139.74538535296645 |
| Reservations | Required |
| Website | www |
Tofuya Ukai is a luxury tofu restaurant in Minato, Tokyo, located near Tokyo Tower. It is part of the Ukai group chain of restaurants.
Building and ambience
[edit]The restaurant is inspired from the Edo period and includes a traditional Japanese garden with Japanese maple trees (Momiji), a waterfall and a carp pond.[2] Tofuya Ukai occupies the premises of a 200-year-old former sake brewery transplanted from Yonezawa, Yamagata Prefecture, and still keeps the sake brewing vats.[3] Waitresses wear hakamas and guests seat on tatamis.[4] The restaurant has 55 private rooms furnished in traditional zashiki-style with tatami mats, screens and windows with translucent paper, and leg wells under the table called horigotatsu.[5]
According to architect Makoto Yamaguchi, Tofuya Ukai has Tokyo Tower as its shakkei, which means borrowed scenery or neighboring textures.[6]
Tofuya Ukai is a high-end restaurant, priced accordingly. On 19 April 2017 Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden and Japan's Princess Hisako of Takamado had dinner in the restaurant.[7]
Food
[edit]Dishes are served in the refined kaiseki stye, full course traditional Japanese cuisine. Fresh tofu is delivered daily from its own workshop in the Okutama mountains, made from Hokkaido beans.[8] Ukai offers a variety of seasonal tasting menus, including meat-based and vegetarian courses.[5] The signature dish is warm tofu served in a dashi-seasoned soy milk.[9]
Reception
[edit]According to Condé Nast Traveler, Tofuya Ukai is: "A shrine to all things tofu, often rendered in ways you never imagined. A lunch here is delicious but lengthy—be prepared to spend at least three hours. The location—a traditional house with private tatami-floored rooms overlooking a carp pond—is as beautiful as the food".[10] According to Butterfield & Robinson's The Slow Road Luxury Travel Blog, Tofuya Ukai is among Tokyo's best restaurants.[11] The Lonely Planet guide describes Tofuya Ukai as "One of Tokyo's most gracious restaurants".[12]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ Yue, Ma (2019-07-12). "Explorative spirit is the secret to Japanese cuisine". Shine News. Archived from the original on 2024-08-12. Retrieved 2024-08-12.
- ^ Peters, Joe (2012-09-23). "Tofuya Ukai - Minato, Tokyo". JapanTravel. Archived from the original on 2024-08-14. Retrieved 2024-08-14.
- ^ Swinnerton, Robbie (2007-06-15). "Tofuya Ukai: Below the Tower a Garden of Edo". The Japan Times. Archived from the original on 2024-08-11. Retrieved 2024-08-11.
- ^ Péchiodat, Fany; Péchiodat, Amandine; Bancerek, Iwonka (2019). Mathé, Clémence (ed.). Soul of Tokyo (in Spanish). Translated by Peyrelongue, Patricia. Jonglez. p. 49. ISBN 978-2-36195-322-5.
- ^ a b Betts, Nano (2017-12-22). "Tofuya Ukai: A Dining Oasis Underneath Tokyo Tower". Savvy Tokyo. Archived from the original on 2024-08-12. Retrieved 2024-08-12.
- ^ Yamaguchi, Makoto; Kumon, Kentaro (27 October 2021). "Duo's Journey: Tokyo Shiba Tofuya Ukai". Shakkei: Neighbouring Textures. Archived from the original on 2024-08-16. Retrieved 2024-08-16.
- ^ "Princess Victoria attended a dinner at Tofuya Ukai Restaurant". Newmyroyals. 2017-04-19. Archived from the original on 2024-08-16. Retrieved 2024-08-16.
- ^ Miles, Jade (2020-03-28). "Refined Kaiseki and Stunning Gardens at Tofuya Ukai". Japan Journeys. Archived from the original on 2023-02-03. Retrieved 2024-08-11.
- ^ Che, Jennifer (2018-09-05). "Tokyo Shiba Tofuya Ukai - Tofu Kaiseki at the foot of Tokyo Tower". Tiny Urban Kitchen. Archived from the original on 2024-08-14. Retrieved 2024-08-14.
- ^ "Tofuya Ukai". Condé Nast Traveler. Archived from the original on 2024-08-11. Retrieved 2024-08-11.
- ^ Kako, Orsolya (2013-12-03). "Insider's Guide: 6 of Tokyo's Best Restaurants". The Slow Road Luxury Travel Blog. Archived from the original on 2024-08-11. Retrieved 2024-08-11.
- ^ Milner, Rebecca; O'Malley, Thomas; Richmond, Simon (2019). Lonely Planet's Best of Tokyo (3rd ed.). Lonely Planet. p. 138. ISBN 9781787015494.