Restaurant of the Month

When it comes to world cuisine Koh Samui really has it licked. The choice of restaurants here is dazzling. Top class chefs from every corner of the globe have found their way to this paradise island and are delighting our taste buds with their own particular brands of culinary magic. This month we decided it was time to visit the corner of Samui that boasts the tastes and atmosphere of Japan.

Japanese food is as refined as any of the great cuisines of the world, but alongside the elegant fare is the humble bowl of rice and the heritage of simple country cooking. The traditional Japanese diet is no doubt one of the healthiest in the world and thanks to Hagi Japanese Restaurant at the Central Samui Beach Resort, tofu, miso, sushi, green tea, and soba are now familiar to residents and visitors to Koh Samui alike. Hagi boasts an extensive a-la-carte menu which is complimented by fresh seasonal ingredients. A lot of attention has been paid to both décor and the food. The restaurant indoors features a number of paintings that set the mood for your meal and the outdoor seating is an eastern paradise set around a pools full of fish with the sound of the tropical island waves in the background.

Hagi is reached by a beautiful tropical walk through the immaculately kept resort gardens. Leaving the hustle and bustle of Chaweng behind you, this is certainly the place to indulge your senses. The extremely friendly staff are on hand at all times to attend your every need and ensure you receive the kind of hospitality the Central Samui Beach Resort and all of its restaurants is renowned for. The Hagi team are highly trained in Japanese etiquette and dress and have extensive knowledge of the menu enabling even the least experienced Japanese diner to experience all that Japan has to offer.

As a relative newcomer to Japanese food and certainly no expert on Sushi, I was delighted with the easy to read extensive menu that offers full explanations of the dishes as well as pictures of the dishes so you know just what to expect. Having perused the menu over a glass of traditional Japanese sake I decided to take the plunge and order a mixed plate of Sushi. Our Sashimi (raw seafood) and Nigiri Sushi (sliced over rice cube). The large dish offered a colourful combination of the freshest Shake (salmon), Hamachi (yellow Tail), Hokkakai (sure clam) Tako (octopus) and Kanikamaboko (crab meat fish cake). The dish was beautifully presented with salads and noodles as well as a bowl of soy sauce to which you add your taste preference of wasabi to achieve the level of spice that you enjoy.

If you are not a sushi lover you may choose to dine on Shiru Mono (soup), you can choose from Osuuimono (clear soup) Wakeame Sui Mono (clear soup with seaweed) Miso Shiru (lightly flavoured soy bean soup) or Ton Jiru (porkin Miso Soup). Other appetizers include Hiya Yakko (clot bean curd) Seafood Sunomono (picked seafood), Yasai salad (fresh vegetable with Japanese dressing, Seafood salad, Edamame and Hiyashi Wakame. Hagi offer a beautiful selection of Nimono (hot pot) including Yaki Mono (cooked in salt or Teriyaki sauce as well as Donburi . Agemono (deep fried) which includes Tempura, Furai, Tonkatsu, Sakana Furai and Age dashi tofu. The rice and noodle menu is equally as tempting.

After thoroughly enjoying our appetisers it was time to really indulge in the stunningly prepared and presented Teppan Yaki (grilled). The menu includes Pork, Chicken, Scallop, Tiger Prawn, Salmon fish in hot dish, Mixed seafood, Mixed Vegetables, Asparagus, Imported beef and my new personal favourite Enoki Mushroom. We chose a mixture of the Enoki Mushrooms, Tiger Prawns, Asparagus, Imported beef and Chicken. The meat is so tender you leave your knife redundant! These dishes literally melt in the mouth. The dishes are served with a trio of sauces that perfectly compliment the Teppan Yaki. Teppan Yaki is cooked for the delight of the diners in the restaurant, the chef proudly shows his skills in the finest Japanese fair and it is a feast for your eyes as well as your taste buds.

Having spent a delightful evening feasting on this expertly prepared and presented Japanese feast and being amazed by all Japanese, I really had no room for dessert, for those of you with a larger appetite or sensible enough to leave some room for a sweet you can choose from Samui tropical fruits in season, Oshiruko (hot red bean) Matcha Ice cream, Age Ice Cream or Yaki Ice cream (fried pineapple cooking in butter with Ice Cream). If the desserts are even half as good as the appetisers and the main course I am absolutely sure you will not be disappointed.

In summary, Hagi is a superb restaurant that caters for both the experienced Japanese diner as well as for newcomers to this exacting and mouth-watering cuisine. I highly recommend and evening here and at any one of The Central Samui Beach Resort's other delightful restaurants. For bookings cal 0 7723 0500 ext. 4950.