monster kakigori in chinatown was one of those spots that immediately made me want to order far…read moremore food than any one person reasonably should. from the moment i saw it, there was a steady energy to the place. there were about six people working behind the counter, all moving efficiently between taking orders, preparing desserts, and serving customers. despite the constant activity, nothing felt rushed, and it was nice to see the restaurant consistently busy throughout my visit.
as soon as i looked over the menu, i ran into a familiar problem: i wanted to try everything. between the omurice, shaved ice creations, matcha tiramisu and matcha drinks, narrowing down my choices felt almost impossible. thankfully, the server was patient and genuinely helpful. after a bit of back and forth, he helped me settle on the hayashi omurice and a mini diy kakigori, which turned out to be exactly the right amount of food. guess it was just as well, that they didn't have the stuffed toast, 'cause i would have wanted that too.
the hayashi omurice arrived looking every bit as comforting as i had hoped. it was placed in a tray in front of me and ceremoniously sliced to reveal a bright golden runny egg. the omelette was impressively thick and fluffy, made with what seemed like four to five eggs, draped over a mound of rice and topped with a rich demi glace sauce. cutting into it revealed that soft, custardy interior that makes a good omurice so satisfying. the sauce added a deep savoury flavour with just enough sweetness to balance everything out. it was filling without being overly heavy and felt like the kind of dish that delivers exactly what you want on a comfort food craving.
for dessert, i went with the mini diy kakigori, which was probably the most entertaining item on the menu. it came with a collection of toppings and sauces that let me customize the way i wanted. my setup included pudding, fresh strawberries, yuzu jam, and matcha sauce. the pudding added a creamy richness, the strawberries brought freshness and a little acidity, the yuzu jam contributed bright citrus notes, and the matcha sauce added a pleasant earthy bitterness that tied everything together.
the diy aspect was fun because every bite could be a little different, but it also came with one unavoidable consequence: making a mess. no matter how carefully i tried to assemble each spoonful, shaved ice seemed determined to escape onto the tray and table. honestly, that felt like part of the experience. there is something charming about a dessert that requires a little effort and encourages you to play with your food.
what stood out most was the atmosphere. even with customers constantly coming and going, the staff remained friendly and attentive. the restaurant had a lively, welcoming feel. between the comforting omurice, the interactive shaved ice, and the warm service, i left understanding why the place stays so busy. if anything, the experience only confirmed that i'll have to come back another time to tackle the rest of the menu, and hopefully finally get a chance to try their matcha and stuffed toast.
