We all know the wonders of sashimi and tataki’s, but what about Japanese food without all the formalities? If you're looking for the looks and tastes of a real home-style Japanese meal, Nuha No Mori located in the Seochon district would be a great choice. Mind you, walking to the restaurant from the nearest subway station or bus stop, there is a short hike up the hill — but the food you taste here will certainly make it all worth the journey.
Suitable for its home-style concept, the restaurant is quite small. It's adorned with cute little novelty items hung above and placed around the tables, and brightly lit with natural sunlight coming in from its many windows. While waiting in line, you will be handed a menu which only two options: 'A' with a set menu and 'B' which, incorporating fresh seasonal ingredients, changes every month. The first option is a set with the Miyazaki style chicken which is a fried chicken breast. It resembles a chicken katsu, but without being covered with bread crumbs, its crust remains very light and crispy. Soy sauce is drizzled on top of a juicy piece of chicken breast. It's mainly sweet with a subtle surprise of vinegar, which is quite refreshing. The small side dishes are provided but, unfortunately, don’t add a whole lot to the main dish because the flavor of the soy sauce is quite overpowering. The veggies that came with the main dish seemed more like garnish than anything.The rice, however, is quite special, with a texture and a subtle scent corn and Hijiki which is delightful. If you feel like you need more rice, don’t hesitate to ask — it will only cost you 1,000 won. As for dessert, a very small portion of yogurt and apple slices is provided. A healthy dish, but it's basically what you can imagine (if you do need something sweet, you might opt for some Japanese milk caramels sold at the cashier, before heading out).
All menu items that are prepared here, as the restaurant claims, fall below the 500-calorie line. So, if you're looking for a light meal that is also satisfying to your taste palates, Nuha No Mori would be a good choice.
Menu B for March is ‘Salmon Potato Grill’.