Unagi Launch

Food truck sensation, Unagi, launched their new Altrincham restaurant in October 2023, and we were invited down ahead of public opening to sample the delights on offer. 

Firstly, the venue itself is a stunner.  Huge glass frontage which really draws attention from roadside, with a tall triangular arched ceiling completing the look.  It’s a fabulous venue and is sure to make any occasion feel special.

We were gratefully given carte blanch on what to order, so went with a few Unagi classics along with some personal favourites.

The Crispy Squid small plate was superb.  Cooked perfectly, which is notoriously temperamental to achieve with squid, coated in crispy batter and seasoned to perfection with a dash of Togarashi, paired up with some sweet chilli sauce for that perfect dipping experience. 

Bang Bang Chicken was as delicious as it sounds.  Tender chicken coated in golden batter, then tossed in a rich, spicy crimson sauce.  Bang Bang indeed.  This was a real crowd pleaser.

Salmon sashimi was simple, pure, and high quality.  With nowhere to hide in such a stripped back dish, everything needs to be perfect.  The salmon was fantastic quality, super fresh, and the whole thing was presented amazingly well.  Arguably the most photogenic dish of the evening. 

Soft Shell Crab Urakami was prepared freshly in front of us, masterfully.   Lovingly prepared rice laid on a sushi rolling mat, then filled with crab, rolled, and topped with sliced avo, topped with flying fish eggs!  As tasty as it as intricate.

Next up was everybody’s favourite Japanese dish; Chicken Katsu Curry.  This was rungs above the usual high street offerings.  Perfectly panko’ed chicken breast, cooked until still juicy, served with fragrant rice and a side pot of splendid curry sauce.

And we just couldn’t visit a Japanese restaurant without sampling their ramen, In this case a kara-age chicken rendition.  The noodles were wonderful, with the ideal amount of bite, bathed in a fantastic broth; the heart and soul of any great ramen. A soft boiled egg, as is only proper, and a sheet of nori completed the delicious garnishes.  Superb.

We realised mid-meal that we’d ordered chicken as the protein in pretty much every dish!  It was merely an excuse to return and order a variety of other things, which we fully intend on doing!