Looking for a meal to satisfy our epic lunchtime cravings, we headed to Sho Cho at the Souk Qaryat Al Beri. Situated in the ultra trendy shopping area between the bridges, the décor at this Japanese restaurant is at once cool and calming; bright whites and minimal. Fluorescent jellyfish floated lazily in the porthole wall art as we looked at the menu.
There are a large variety of mouth-watering appetisers to be had, but we only had eyes for the soft shell crab spring roll. Served piping hot these crispy rolls were stuffed with mushrooms and hunks of crab for an altogether amazing combination. Paired with a smoky wasabi mayo dipping sauce, we found ourselves fighting our dining partners to snap up the last one.
Onto our mains and we ordered another table favourite. The rock shrimp tempura dressed with creamy chilli and garlic sauce certainly impressed. The enormous mountain of crunchy, crispy shrimps served atop a bed of lemony lettuce was a treat for our tastebuds. The spicy flavours have the perfect kick to keep us coming back for more. With more than plenty to go around, we didn’t mind sharing. And for our good behaviour, we were rewarded with a taste of our guests’ beef teriyaki. The melt-in-your-mouth meat was full of flavour and utterly delightful.
Filled to the brim, we intended to give dessert a miss but ended up sampling scoops of ginger ice cream, green apple and passion fruit sorbet. Fresh, zingy
and fruity, this trio of treats left our palate refreshed.
The quality of food and calibre of service made this meal truly memorable. Expect great things when you visit.
Details
What: Sho Cho
Where: Souk Qaryat Al Beri, Bain Al Jessrain
Prices: Appetisers from AED 20 to AED 65, mains from AED 50 to AED 110, and desserts from AED 35 to AED 65
We say: Japanese cuisine done right
Contact: 02 558 1670
