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If you’re not familiar with edamame, gyoza and golden money bags, a whole world of Eastern delights awaits you at Sakana.
Utterly divine
For the uninitiated, we’ve compiled a guide to what we think are the best dishes on the menu.
All you have to do, is enjoy…
Bento Box
Lacquered bento boxes are the Japanese answer to Tupperware but these lunchboxes are a darn sight more glamorous. Different compartments contain all manner of goodies. All bento boxes contain jasmine rice, edamame, salmon or vegetable hosomaki rolls and wakame salad as well as spicy kimchi, soy, wasabi and pickled ginger for seasoning. Then choose the main element yourself from options like chicken katsu curry and tempura sea bass. We recommend the black bean beef skewers with their moreish chargrilled taste. It’s a veritable treasure trove of delights.
The bento boxes are only available on the lunch menu which is served from midday till 5pm.
Everything else we ordered was from the scrummy à la carte menu. Here's our pick of the tastiest starters:
Salt and Pepper Chilli Chicken Wings
Proving there's more to Sakana than sushi (delectable though it is), these chicken wings are moist and succulent, marinated in a blend of five-spice, garlic, chilli and shallots. The crisp skin provides a perfect contrast to the tender chicken whilst the accompanying diced pepper salad adds a burst of freshness.
Thai Chicken Penang Spring Rolls
These delicate and crisp delights are hand-rolled with minced chicken, penang curry and lime leaves which add a vibrant lift. The chilli plum dipping sauce goes perfectly with its blend of heat and sweetness.
Sakana Sharing Platter
If you truly can't decide, the Sakana Sharing Platter for two is the ideal choice. Tuck in to all manner of goodies like golden moneybags - crisp wontons of vegetables and shitake mushrooms, Thai fish cakes, chicken yakitori and kataifi king prawns – sweet and juicy seafood wrapped in crisp angel's hair. All served with a refreshing apple and cashew salad.
Read on to see what else we recommend:
Uramaki Sushi
We couldn't visit Sakana without enjoying some of their fine sushi. It's a work of art and it tastes just as beautiful. The dragon roll was like something from a Chinese New Year parade, snaking sinuously across the plate. The mix of tempura prawn, cucumber, avocado and salmon nigiri was an unusual combination but a heavenly one.
The soft shell crab and mango uramaki was a clean, refreshing and utterly tropical sensation. Each mouthful was different: soft, sweet, crunchy. No wonder it's one of the most popular dishes on the menu – we can concur with that.
Vermicelli and Seafood Salad
It may be a salad but that doesn't mean it doesn't have a kick. Within a shell of crisp lettuce leaves, you'll find glass noodles and all the treasures of the ocean – huge king prawns, scallops and squid, all tossed in chillies, coriander and lime. Utterly divine.
To find out more about Sakana's offers, click here.
What to Order | Sakana from Manchester Confidential on Vimeo.
