Just a few days ago my family and I returned from holiday to Japan. From November 17 to 25, we traveled to Tokyo, Odawara, Kyoto, until finally flying home from Osaka. While there, almost every day we tried different culinary delights ranging from breakfast menu, lunch, snacks and dinner: warm ramen on a cold night, bento on the train, fresh sushi in the corner of a small town, to the matcha dessert that appears everywhere. As soon as I landed in Jakarta, my body had returned to Indonesia, but my tongue was still left behind in Japan. I really haven’t been able to move on from the taste of the food.
Morning in Jakarta, Missing the Taste of Japan
The next morning in Jakarta, I woke up with one thought: “What breakfast can make you feel like you’re still in Japan?” Because there was a need in the Tebet area, I immediately thought of Kota Kasablanka Mall. There is a restaurant there that I often pass by but rarely stop by: Ikkudo Ichi. The name and logo alone remind you of small ramen shops in Tokyo.
Apparently, after I checked, the branch Ikkudo Ichi It is indeed widely spread in various malls and areas in Jakarta. So if you miss it breakfast menu Japanese style, just choose the nearest branch. This time, the choice fell on the branch in Kota Kasablanka as our “holiday extension”. I’m getting better too
Ambiance: Feels like entering a ramen shop in Japan
As soon as you enter, the atmosphere immediately feels very Japanese, starting from the front appearance and the interior which is very Japanese. The dominance of wooden interiors, warm lights that are not too bright, several Japanese writing ornaments on the walls, and the aroma of ramen soup that is immediately welcomed from the open kitchen area.
At several tables you could see people busy slurping ramen with chopsticks, the sound of spoons and bowls gently clashing, very similar to the atmosphere of the ramen shop in Tokyo that we visited yesterday.
The waiter greeted us in a friendly and alert manner, gave us a menu and explained several choices. For me, it’s the small details such as greetings, how to serve tea, and the timeliness of serving food that makes the Japanese ambience feel stronger.
We chose to sit at a table facing the inside of the restaurant. From there I could see the kitchen and ramen bar activities. The hot steam from the sauce, the sound of the frying pan sautéing the toppings, all provide entertainment while waiting for your order to arrive.
Dining Menu at Ikkudo Ichi
Because we are still in “missing Japan” mode, my wife and I decided to order some of the favorite menus that we often encounter during the holidays. Honestly, while in Japan I ate a breakfast menu like this almost every day, so going back to tasting a menu like this makes me really happy.
Tori Katsu
This is my main order. A plate of warm rice with chicken fillet pieces fried in breadcrumbs until golden. The texture is crunchy on the outside, but the meat is still soft and juicy.
On a plate, tori katsu is served with a savory-sweet sauce, a sprinkle of sesame seeds and accompanying vegetables. The first bite immediately reminded me of the katsu-katsu set we had in Kyoto – simple, but addictive. I was touched in my chest, it felt good, I didn’t have to wait long, I also told my wife that the food here was delicious, you know. Greeted with a smile, he finally tried my choice of menu. Hmm yes delicious! my wife said.
Tori Aka Ramen
My wife chose the ramen menu that she saw on social media when looking for the most sought after menu at Ikkudo Ichi, you can check the video here. Really, just watching the video will make you want to have breakfast here.
As the hot steam rose from the bowl, the aroma really reminded us of the little ramen shop on the corner of a Kyoto street that we discovered by accident that time. The difference is, this time we ate it in the middle of a Jakarta mall.
Sushi
It doesn’t feel complete if you go to a Japanese restaurant without ordering sushi. We ordered a sushi roll filled with a combination of cucumber, avocado and crab stick.
The sushi rice is fluffy, not too dense, and the nori still tastes fresh, not mushy. Served with shoyu, wasabi and pickled ginger on the side. One piece after another, it was like bringing back memories of eating sushi at Tokyo Station while waiting for the train.
Matcha Ice Cream as Dessert
After the main course, we chose the simplest but most typical Japanese dessert: matcha ice cream. Soft green color, served in a beautiful glass bowl.
The taste is not too sweet, there is a light bitterness typical of matcha which makes it taste “mature” and fresh. This is the type of dessert that makes your mouth immediately “reset” after eating savory food.
Warm Green Tea
For drinks, I chose warm green tea. It’s simple, but this is actually one of the things I miss most about Japan: almost every meal, there is warm green tea to accompany it.
At Ikkudo Ichi, green tea is served warm, light, and perfect for balancing the quite heavy katsu and ramen. While sipping tea, I felt like I was sitting in a restaurant in Osaka, not in Jakarta.
Ikkudo Ichi: Remedy for Missing Japanese Culinary Breakfast Menu
After eating, my wife and I looked at each other and almost laughed to ourselves. It feels like I’ve just “stolen the start” on another holiday, even though I’m already back to my routine in Jakarta.
What makes this experience enjoyable, besides its fairly authentic taste, is the fact that There are apparently many branches of Ikkudo Ichi. This means that when you miss ramen, katsu, or just want to sit in a Japanese restaurant atmosphere without having to buy a plane ticket, there is always a branch you can go to.
For me, the Japanese culinary themed breakfast at Ikkudo Ichi Kota Kasablanka is a kind of smooth bridge between holiday memories and everyday life. The body may be back to work, but through one bowl of ramen, a plate of tori katsu, a few pieces of sushi, and a scoop of matcha ice cream, the heart can still go on “vacation” for a while.
And it seems, as long as the longing is still there, I won’t mind stopping by again often.