3.5 stars.
For those who just want a simple, comforting Asian meal with no frills, Shami is not the place to go. But...for those who want a special Asian fusion dining experience, Shami is it. This place has gotten enough hype from various local newspaper/magazines, so make a reservation (online) to secure your table.
It was indeed the hype that lured us to Shami. The decor of this place is modern and edgier (e.g. wall made of sheet metal with written Japanese letters or graffiti-esque sketches on the wall) than most Asian restaurants in Munich yet elegant (e.g. dimly-lit ceiling lamps made of bamboo). The service was professional but sometimes slow (nothing unexpected given how busy the restaurant was).
While we did come here for the whole dining experience, the food and drinks were what mattered most to us. The Asian-inspired cocktails were interesting and tasty (can't go wrong with trying any of them). We went for the full course dinner: Seafood rolls and chili sepia for the appetizers, ginger roast duck and bun bo for the main courses, and chocolate truffle/cream dish (forgot the name of it) for dessert. The food somewhat disappointed us as nothing of the dishes were so out of the ordinary. The appetizers were decent and tasty, but the main courses were a disappointment. The duck was too salty, and I have had better bun bo's (e.g. the beef was a bit too tough for my taste) in Munich. The dessert was just ok.
Perhaps we expected more from what we have read but given the prices and the hype, we walked out somewhat discontent. Don't get me wrong; it is probably still fun to go there, have some cocktails and enjoy some small dishes there. But I do like my Asian food without all the frills. read more