Summer Lotus Japanese Cuisine restaurant claims to perfectly integrate traditional Japanese cuisine with international fusion dining. Located upstairs from the cake and chocolate shop Aux Délices, which is next to The Orchard and opposite Red Brick Art Museum. The restaurant has been promoting their take-out service recently, so I thought I would give it a go. The take-out menu is quite extensive, and includes sushi, deep fried meat and fish dishes, roasted meat and fish dishes, stir fried vegetables, udon, rice dishes, and soups.
Butterfly Roll (RMB 75) brings together tempura shrimp, crab sticks, avocado, eel, and sweet sauce. The shrimp was wonderfully fresh, although the tempura batter could have been crispier, and it sat alongside sweet crab and creamy mayonnaise. Wrapped with nori and then rice, and topped with avocado, eel and a lovely sweet sauce. The sprinkling of toasted sesame seeds added nice texture. The eight generous pieces of roll were served with pickled ginger, soy, and a wasabi that packs one heck of a punch.
Way to Life Roll (RMB 86) has tempura shrimp alongside strips of cucumber. All wrapped in nori, very good sushi rice, and topped with spicy salmon, and a slice of avocado. The spicy sauce drizzled on top was very tasty. The avocado could have been a little riper, but overall I was impressed with the quality and freshness of the ingredients used. Chicken Teriyaki Don (RMB 49) was a generous portion of tender strips of chicken. The sweet and sticky sauce was full of flavor and perfectly seasoned. The accompanying rice dish was too big, in proportion to the chicken, but the rice was perfectly cooked and nicely garnished. The miso soup was fresh with just a hint of spice coming through.
Presentation of each of these dishes was very good indeed, considering they were for take-out. The prices are reasonable, and you can ring and order ahead, so your food is ready when you are. The restaurant was busy with lunchtime diners, and service was very efficient. I was served tea whilst I waited in their comfy lounge area. The restrooms are impeccably clean, western style and with soap, paper, towels, and even hand cream. So if you want sushi to go, this is a great restaurant to choose.
Summer Lotus Japanese Cuisine
Open Mon-Sun 10am-2pm, 5-10pm. Closed Wednesdays.
Building 5, Shunbai Road, Hegezhuang Village, Cuigezhuang Township, Chaoyang District (188 0116 1155, 139 1061 6283, 138 1015 2804)
beijingkids Shunyi Correspondent Sally Wilson moved to Beijing in 2010 from the UK with her husband and son. Her daughter was born here in 2011 and both her kids keep her happily busy. In her spare time, Sally loves to stroll through Beijing’s hutongs and parks. She is a (most of the time) keen runner and loves reading: books, magazines, news, and celeb websites – anything really. Sally is also a bit of a foodie and loves trying out new restaurants.
Photos: Sally Wilson
