HANABILi is Shanghai's Newest Amazing & Affordable Japanese Spot
There’s a delightful new Japanese restaurant in Shanghai, near Jing’An temple, serving simple Japanese classics of grilled meats and veggies, Japanese rice bowls and lots of seafood. Before you start worrying about the price, don’t! The food is amazing and affordable.
First, let’s talk more about the name.
The Concept
HANABILi is a combination of two words. The first one Hanabi means ‘firework’ in Japanese, which is what you are suppose to feel in your mouth while eating their cuisine. Li means ‘carp’ in Chinese which brings luck in Asian culture. So in a roundabout way the name means ‘lucky firework’,.
The restaurant, is designed in a sober Japanese style stretching through two floors. The first has a lounge bar plus a lovely balcony, the second is more guarded and intimate. The ambiance is based in their warm coloring of cream and black, with wood grained furniture and copper accents.
This restaurant is owned by a modern Chinese couple, who have lived in Japan for years. This restaurant is literally its owner’s baby. They brought from Japan the food, rare whiskey & sake, and even a bartender. They designed the venue; put their own piece of art on the wall. Everything is delicate and cozy. Why did they open HANABILi? Their goal was to bring a down to earth Japanese restaurant that is approachable, delicious and affordable for the masses.
The Food
You can find sashimi, grills, sushi rolls as in every Japanese restaurant, however, this is not the point of HANABILi. Shanghai has enough high-end, super expensive Japanese restaurants. Here are unpretentious Japanese recipes which correspond more to everyday consumption, in a gorgeous environment.
Japanese curry rice RMB 58
We were honestly astonished by their lunch deal. For RMB 58 you can get a Japanese curry, plus a salad, miso soup, pickles and cold sliders. The main is a delicious curry rice made of carrot, beef and ginger with an egg on top. It’s great comfort food that will fill you up for the entire day. In Shanghai it’s easy to find expensive or super cheap places, but it can be a bit tricky when it comes to lunch. Few people want to spend more than RMB 100 for a mid-day mean and ordering food from Chinese local store can get a bit redundant.
Here is good example, a lunch deal we’d recommend as being well worth the money.
Sunrise Beef Rice Bowl RMB128
Another option if you are a meat enthusiast. Same sushi rice base, topped with M5 Australian tenderloin, mixed with fried onions and a poached yellow egg. The meat melts into your mouth and perfectly matches with the rice and the egg. Nothing too complex here, but a perfect combination of hearty and savory.
Pot Boil Living conch RMB48
Speaking of Japanese specialties you may never have heard of, here is the living conch. The seafood is cut and boiled before being place back into its shell. The dish has a surprising presentation which includes fire. Might be too fancy for a quick lunch but it’s delicious, and a perfect way to impress a date!
Sea urchins with spring egg RMB38
have you ever tried urchins before? It’s difficult to describe it in just a few words, but in this dish it is semisolid with a smooth texture between a partly boiled egg and foie gras. The flavor is mildly nutty with a slight sweetness similar to raw scallops but definitely not fishy. For RMB 38 it s a bargain to try.
The Drinks
We should take a minute to focus on one of our favorite parts: their cozy lounge bar. There are a few signature cocktails available, ranked on the menu from lighter to heavier (an idea many venues should copy). It’s a great way to ensure you don’t get one that’s too strong… or weak.
Shiso Mojito RMB75
Refreshing drink made with Shiso, Sake and ginger beer. It’s taste falls somewhere between a mojito and a Moscow mule. Definitely refreshing and light, and just the kind of cocktails you can have while waiting for your food on a Friday night!
Cuteness RMB85
This coffee liquor drink falls into the much welcomed category of winter trend. The whisky base is a departure from the standard vodka and coffee mix, however, the hazelnut and the marshmallow balance these two with sweet, nutty and milky touches. Again, a light level of alcohol.
What do we recommend you? Grab one of their lunches, curry or Sunrise Beef, and set up with a friend or date at their second floor table. It’s a cozy hidden gem, perfect for escaping Shanghai’s busy life for a bit.
HANABIli
Address: No. 254 Yuyuan Road
Tel: 021-62100211
Hours: 11: 30-2: 00 (Fri-Sat);11: 30-1: 00 (Sun-Thur)
Price: RMB 140 per person
How did you enjoy HANABlli? Tell us about it!