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Muscle Man is a strong, slippery gem of an eatery
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A new mall in Xintiandi is an unlikely venue for this gem of a restaurant, tucked among some of the new food concepts at the basement level.
Consisting of a long counter and half a dozen tables lined up along the wall, Muscle Man is a small, bright and sleek place, with a minimalist design concept. It seems the eatery sees no need to bother with fancy furniture or decorative flair. All that matters is the delicious eel dishes, a focal point everything else here revolves around.
Don’t let the name fool you, “man” indicates eel here. Eel’s Chinese pronunciation sounds exactly like English word “man.”
Though the concept is inspired by the traditional Japanese eel restaurant, where eel is handled with expertise, the eatery has developed new, innovative ways of eating eel. For example, the fried eel draws inspiration from England’s favorite takeaway dish, fish and chips, while the eel tataki replaces the commonly used raw beef or tuna fish with the extremely tender eel meat.
The meat of the eel has a distinctive and beautifully clean flavor and it makes easy eating. Muscle Man collaborates with an eel supplier in the south of China who usually exports eels to Japanese market. They strictly choose eels, which are under a year old and each one weighs about 250g in order to present the best flavor and texture as possible.
Grilled eel, the most traditional kind, is particularly delicious. It has no fishy aroma whatsoever but instead having a meaty quality. The eel sauce is home made using complicated methods and ingredients, including: soy, sugar, rice wine, eel bones and head. Grilled eel is prized not only for its flavor but also for its legendary stamina-giving properties.
The Unagi Don (signature grilled eel rice set) is a must-order here at Muscle Man, a true delicacy. The velvety soft eel is sauced, grilled while the eel juices and rice meld together as a magical combination. It comes with small dishes and soup.
The grilled eel over fried rice and grilled eel with half cooked egg over rice are other options for those who prefer more flavorsome rice combination. However, the eel is still a standout choice, enhanced with the rice adding a delightful texture.
Muscle Man offers other delicious snacks based on strong Japanese cooking methods with plenty of character. You will be spoilt for choice at this tiny restaurant. And even if the alcoholic drinks menu falls short in choices, it makes up for heartily in personality and high quality. You can find some of the best Japanese sake, such as the top-level Junmaidaiginjo Omachi, using traditional techniques “Yamahai-shikomi” hand crafted method. The rich experience of brewers allow the last drop of flavor and depth to be blended into the sake for this luxurious and elegant bottle.
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