What I Got: Omurice, Green Tea Hot Cakes, Fruit Sandwich

Price: $$-$$$

Location: NYC

Review:

Hi-Collar is a Japanese cafe by day, restaurant and bar by night.  It is welcoming and cozy inside with both a dining room and bar seating (the bar is very large with lots of table space and full size chairs).  All the dishes are crafted with the best flavor and quality.  Make sure to get a reservation in advance because it is very popular!

Omurice – The omurice includes a Japanese-style omelet with tomato sauce over tomato rice with ground chicken.  This was the first omurice I’ve ever had.  I always expected it to be delicious, but it was even more incredible than I ever could have imagined!  The omelet is fluffy and light with a rich, gooey interior that melts into the rice as you cut it open.  The tomato sauce is similar to ketchup but much fresher and purer.  I am usually not a fan of ketchup, but I really enjoyed the tomato sauce with this dish.  It perfectly compliments the omelet.   The rice had an amazing flavor that blended beautifully with the egg.  The chicken gives the rice a salty, umami flavor while the tomato cuts through the rich chicken with its subtly sweet and bright flavor.  This omurice has the perfect balance and blend of flavors.  It is a wonderfully satisfying meal!

Green Tea Hot Cakes – The Green Tea Hot Cakes include green tea flavored japanese-style pancakes with red bean, chestnut compote, green tea ice cream, whipped cream, and green tea crème anglaise.  These pancakes are heavenly.  They are fluffy and light with the perfect moist interior and slightly crisp exterior.  The subtle sweet, earthy matcha flavor makes them extra delicious and the toppings bring them to the next level.  The creamy, more intensely flavored green tea ice cream is a cool contrast to the warm pancakes while bringing out the green tea flavor.  The sweet chestnuts lend their delicate nutty, earthy flavor and satisfying soft texture.  The red bean is sweet, earthy, and smooth.  I enjoyed it alongside the pancakes and ice cream.  Red bean and green tea are one of my favorite flavor combinations.  And of course, you can never go wrong with whipped cream drizzled with green tea crème anglaise.  This was one of my favorite green tea flavored dishes of all time!  The gorgeous texture of the pancakes and delicious toppings make it a very special treat.  

Fruit Sandwich – The fruit sandwich includes seasonal fruits with whipped cream between two slices of milk bread.  This is a very simple but wonderfully delicious dessert.  When I got it, it came with strawberries and bananas.  The strawberries are sweet and juicy while the bananas are perfectly ripe and sweet.  The whipped cream is light, creamy, and luxurious with the perfect amount of sweetness.  The fruit and cream come together on the fluffy, soft milk bread.  The bread is so fresh and tender it melts in your mouth alongside the fruit and cream.  It is the perfect light and delicious dessert.  If you love fruit, whipped cream, and bread, you’ll absolutely love it!