Japanese-Korean fusion at The Melting Pot

The Melting Pot

Cuisine: Korean-Japanese Fusion

Address: 75 Elizabeth St, Tauranga

Phone: 07-571 0970

Website

Drinks: not licensed, bubble teas, smoothies etc 

Reservations: probably not required

Next to the Escape Room on Elizabeth Street is a small Asian restaurant that I'd never set foot in. It's had a few names, I think, and for some reason the exterior look put me off. In retrospect I don't know why since it is immediately obvious from the interior and food that they are doing something both authentic and delicious. Cohen suggested we try the place as I felt like ramen and he'd had a coffee there and liked it. I'm glad he did.

 

There are video screens showing the food and the sort of randomly-arrayed bizarre pop culture items that seem to be a feature of such joints, where the fare runs from donburi to curry, udon, ramen, Korean-style fried chicken and more. They also do omurise, which is katsu or tempura with rice and a sort of omelette/scrambled egg. I haven't seen it around here before. 

 

The service is so welcoming and friendly you almost feel part of the family. And for those that regard it as a mark of quality I should note that most of the customers I saw were Japanese and Korean.  

• Edamame                             $5.90
• Pork Dumpling                    $7.90
  
• Chicken Katsu Donburi     $15.90
• Teriyaki Beef Ramen          $13.90

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

OK. The edamame were edamame. Nice snack. The dumplings were good - nothing unusual but just fine. However, both the ramen and donburi were well above the ordinary. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I always wince when I see instant noodles in ramen, and then I have to remind myself what I know from spending time in various Asian countries - people there generally have no issue with eating instant noodles and I'm a bit of a food snob. Anyway, the ramen had instant noodles - they weren't overcooked but just right and the soup and meat were outstanding, a lovely level of spice (which they'd warned me about) and with a fried egg and other goodies lurking. It wasn't the prettiest ramen but it was damned tasty.

 

The donburi was the same. Nowhere near pretty but Cohen reported that the chicken katsu was excellent (and BIG) and again had a fried egg, this time with some salad. It seems to me that this is very much the "fast food" version of this food, using the ramen and don as a base for various toppings as opposed to Chidori down the road which is far more traditional in its ramen toppings and approach. But both are delicious. 

 

We left The Melting Pot very happy and I will certainly be eating there a lot more in the future. With Korean Fried Chicken currently so fashionable I certainly want to try their fried chicken. And they do make a bit of a thing about their desserts which sounds intriguing. I'm rather sorry I waited so long...

Some truly bizarre pop culture on display!

 

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