Maido

Maido is one of my favourite Japanese restaurants in Christchurch.  I have had several nice meals here.  The menu consisted of several entree size dishes designed for sharing, great for having a little bit of everything.

This place is popular both with Japanese/Asians and locals.  This time when we turned up at 6.30pm on a Friday evening, we managed to get the last table, as all the other tables were reserved for group dinners.

The restaurant has a cosy Japanese atmosphere, with friendly Japnese waitress writing down orders in Japanese!

I usually order the green tea for drinks.  It is particularly good on a cold wintery night and warms the whole body.  The green tea is lightly fragrant and come in a traditonal Japanese tea pot with special tea cups.  Once the tea ran out, the waitress would come back and renew the pot.  The tea goes very well with the meal, but warm sake would also be a good option for those wanting alcohol with their meal.



Agedashi Tofu



The Agedashi tofu are lightly coated and deep fried tofu pieces in a warm mildly sweet broth, topped with spring onions and bonito flakes.  This is one of my favourites as it really warms up the stomach and the tofu pieces are soft and full of favours.



Takoyaki (Octopus Balls)



Takoyaki are grilled octups balls topped with special sauce, Japanese mayonnaise, and bonito flakes.  The octopus inside each balls are chopped up into small pieces, so safe for those who don't like the look of the octopus tentacles.  The sweet sauce and Japanese mayonnaise complete the dish.



Grilled Rice Balls



The grilled rice balls are infused with sweet soy sauce and lightly grilled.  The flavour is consistent throughout the whole rice ball.  It is a great dish on its own but can also be a great accompaniment to the rest of the meal.



Salmon nigiri



Sashimi Assortment



The sashimi here is usually fresh with a good quality.  They usually come out artfully displayed.  The accompanied salad is also refreshing.  Great for seafood lovers.



Karaage Chicken



For those who love deep fried food, this is a nice dish.  Chicken pieces lightly coated in batter then deep fried and covered with salt and pepper.  The only mild disappointment was that they did not include the Japanese mayonnaise that other restaurants often include with this dish.  However, it was still nice on its own.  We did not have their tempura during this visit, but I have had them previously, and they would also be good option for a deep fried dish.



Yakitori Assortment



Yakitori are grilled skewers of marinated meat and vegitables.  This assortment dish included chicken mince balls, chicken pieces, chicken wing, portobello mushroom, and eggplants.  The skewers were brushed with teriyaki sauce while being grilled, so each pieces are moist and full of flavour.  The dish also came with a small bottle of japanese spices with a hint of chilly, for people who wanted a bit of extra flavour.



View from inside the restaurant



It was yet another great night at Maido.  I just like the variety of quality dishes you get to have and the cozy atmosphere.  Services here is impeccable.  The cost of the meal is also reasonable, and came to $70 for 3 people.  It's a good choice for friends to catch up and share delicious food.

Update:  Unfortunately Maido had closed following the Christchurch earthquakes.

Maido

16/22 New Regent Street

Christchurch

(03) 366 6008