After two years the popular ekiben express lunch offer at MASU by Nic Watt is having a makeover. Ekiben are a specific type of bento boxed meal sold on trains and at train stations in Japan and Taiwan and which comprise a convenient, healthy and tasty express meal. Many train stations in Japan have become famous for their especially tasty ekiben made from local food specialties.
The central Auckland restaurant located in SKYCITY’s Federal Street is updating its premium ekiben express lunch menu. Now all items arrive at the table at the same time – perfect for those who want to dine and depart within a lunch break, to have a quick lunch meeting or for a catch up with friends. There are three choices on offer at $45, $55 and $65 per person with the menu available 12 noon to 3pm Monday to Friday.
Continuing MASU’s theme of contemporary Japanese fare, chef restaurateur Nic Watt and his team have designed the three new ekiben variations of the traditional Japanese bento box offering. Now they are reconstructed and presented as an elegant and well thought iteration of the traditional offering.
The three options are:
Option 1 ($45pp)
tendon – assorted seafood & vegetable tempura on rice, tendon sauce
wakame salada – wakame and cucumber salad, sesame, rice vinegar dressing
miso shiru – white miso, aburage, wakame
Option 2 ($55pp)
sansho karaage – sansho fried chicken, pineapple and gochujang sauce
chasoba – king crab, green tea noodles, warm chasoba sauce
kimuchi daikon – daikon kimchi
gohan – steamed rice with MASU seasoning
Option 3 ($65pp)
sa-roin sute-ki – wakanui sirloin, black pepper miso
maguro pirikara – spicy tuna, cucumber, jalapeno mayonnaise
nasu tsukemono – pickled eggplant salad
miso shiru – white miso, aburage, wakame
gohan – steamed rice with MASU seasoning
Available now, bookings recommended by phoning reservations (09) 363 6278. Online bookings can be made at www.masu.co.nz.
