The Place
Through Jiangzi Japanese Cuisine’s large front windows, a colorful collage of Japanese artwork, advertisements and posters are clearly visible on the restaurant’s large and open ground floor. Walking past, it looks like a cool spot to dine, and the poster-covered walls remind me almost immediately of a less-quirky version of celebrated Vancouver sushi shop The Eatery.
As an unrepentant fan of raw seafood – and a Vancouverite nostalgia-hungry for Eatery-esque vibes – it was inevitable that I would at some point find myself dining at Jiangzi.
Image via Matthew Bossons/That's
Located in Haizhu’s Zhongchuanhui Creative Park (which is also home to Diaoxi Haichan, the Japanese eatery that lets you fish for your dinner from their giant indoor boat), Jiangzi is nearest to Shayuan Metro Station and a short stroll from Taigucang Wharf. To the best of our knowledge, this restaurant is the second Jiangzi Japanese Cuisine in Guangzhou, with the first location operating near Beijing Lu.
(Note: Jiangzi Japanese Cuisine does have a mezzanine area, although it was not open when I visited).
The Food
Image via Matthew Bossons/That's
Browsing the menu here is done on a metal tablet that weighs enough it to easily double as a weapon in the event a sake-fueled brawl breaks out.
Standard Japanese fare abounds: sashimi, nigiri, tempura and ramen, although rolls are strangely absent from the menu.
Image via Matthew Bossons/That's
The salmon nigiri (RMB17/two pieces) and salmon and tuna sashimi (RMB39 per order) arrive quickly, and the cuts of fish all taste fresh with a silky mouthfeel.
The spicy ramen noodles, while not bad, do leave something to be desired, particularly when compared to the heavenly pork and kimchi ramen served next door at Diaoxi Haichan. The subtle spice is pleasant, but the portion of protein seems meager considering the dish’s RMB45 pricetag.
Image via Matthew Bossons/That's
Faring better than the ramen is the braised salmon rice bowl (RMB39), which comes with a drizzle of soy sauce in a scalding hot bowl (you’ve been warned). Prepared with the same fresh salmon utilized in the sashimi, this tasty rice dish also boasts tobiko, seaweed, cucumber and corn, and reminds us of Kigo Poke’s Hawaiian salmon poke bowl, only served hot and without avocado.
Image via Matthew Bossons/That's
The mixed tempura (RMB46), normally one of my favorites, is hampered at Jiangzi by an excess of grease and heavy application of batter.
Image via Matthew Bossons/That's
In my humble opinion, the culinary centerpiece at Jiangzi is the sashimi. While it is difficult to say with certainty how fresh seafood really is in Guangzhou, the quality of raw seafood here leads me to believe the chefs have a hot hookup on daily seafood shipments from the Land of the Rising Sun.
The Vibe
With vibrant, poster-covered walls, Jiangzi Japanese Cuisine is a funky and undeniably fun spot to dine. Staff are friendly and upbeat, and on my recent visit the restaurant’s open dining area was full of patrons happily chatting away over tea and tuna.
Price: RMB100-150 per person
Who’s going: funkalicious fish lovers
Good for: fresh seafood, rad ambiance, fun dates
Nearest metro: Shayuan (Exit B), 10 minutes
Open daily, noon-11pm; see listing for Jiangzi Japanese Cuisine.
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