Social media savvies most likely have seen a picture of cute-looking pandas on a plate of curry, or intriguing churros with chocolate inside a syringe. Those two dishes belong to Itadakimasu, one of the hottest restaurants in Pantai Indah Kapuk area. They look extremely cute that we can’t help but hopping on a car and visiting the restaurant as soon as possible. After all, what could go wrong when pandas are involved? A lot of things, apparently.

THE NITTY GRITTY DETAILS

“Itadakimasu” is what the Japanese people say every time before eating. Whether it is breakfast, lunch, or dinner, it can be considered rude not saying it beforehand. Having said that, it is no surprise that Itadakimasu restaurant serves modern Japanese cuisine in a cute café setting. The whole room is painted in colourful paintings and cute bears, which more or less has become Itadakimasu’s mascot.

By the time the clock strikes twelve, lots of hungry people quickly fill up the restaurant. The level of instagenicity (ha!) of Itadakimasu is certainly proven by the number of smartphones and pocket cameras and SLRs that seem to be visible on every table. Including ours.

Bears. Bears everywhere.

This might seem silly, but the ceiling is totally cute! It actually looks like a traditional Japanese sliding doors, don’t you think? Or tatami. Wait. It kinda does look more like tatami.

THE FOOD

Lemon Tea (IDR 18k)

Does everyone agree that A&W —the fast food chain— has the funniest and quirkiest tasting Iced Lemon Tea in the whole world? It’s not necessarily bad; it’s simply different. This Iced Lemon Tea reminds us of A&W’s. If you like A&W’s, you’ll like this one. If you don’t, you probably won’t like this as well.

Strawberry Yakult (IDR 24k)

Oh boy. From the moment this beverage is laid in front of our eyes, we have doubts about it. Problema numero uno: it looks pink. Strawberries are not pink; they are red. This drink begs the question where is the pink colour coming from. Most probably syrup, or food colouring. We don’t think it is not a good option either way. The taste is also a tad too sweet and artificial for our liking.

Lychee Yakult (IDR 24k)

Strawberry Yakult and Lychee Yakult are practically sisters with different hair colour. Hope that makes sense.

Dynamite (IDR 32k)

Dynamite is a bunch of mushrooms —shitake, shimeji, and enoki— and salmon cubes, dressed in spicy mayo sauce. We find this dish to be pretty decent, though it weirdly makes us think of a different menu, something like… deep fried mushrooms with spicy mayo sauce. Mushrooms are naturally chewy in texture, and throwing three types of mushroom in a dish emphasise this characteristic.

Starving Panda (IDR 48k)

This is hands down one of the cutest dishes we’ve ever seen. Five cute panda rice sushi are fighting to reach the chicken katsu first! Or perhaps the falling panda faints because he’s too hungry. Based on its shape, we’re expecting the rice to be vinegar-infused sushi rice, but it’s actually normal white rice. The chicken katsu and the curry are okay, neither bad nor that good. Just okay.

Salmon Mentai Aburi Roll (Jumbo size IDR 75k)

Salmon Mentai Aburi Roll consists of half broiled salmon with cheesy fish roe and crab stick mayonnaise. One look at the plate, and everyone who has ever eaten sushi before would notice the problem: the cuts are too big and uneven. Sushi is supposed to be eaten in one bite, and this sushi roll is definitely more than a mouthful. We would also like to point out that the sushi rice tastes like plain white rice, similar to the panda sushi in Starving Panda. 

THE VERDICT

Itadakimasu is indeed Instagenic and a very cute place to hang out. However, if food is your main priority, we have doubts that you will be pleased —based on our experience. While we’re willing to cut some slack based on the theory of everyone has bad days and maybe they are understaffed because it is Lebaran holiday, we’re not sure whether those two reasons are enough to give it another go. Maybe. Maybe not. We’ll see. 

Itadakimasu

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Address: Ruko Elang Laut Blok D No.57, Pantai Indah Kapuk, Jakarta 14470

Phone: 08196003232

Opening Hours:

Weekday 11:00 AM - 10:00 PM
Weekend 11:00 AM - 11:00 PM