Café Zoo – Always a line
Being a big fan of food videos and travel, I quickly learned that when in Asia, if there is a queue or a food line, it means the food is very, very good! In Japan, the same can often be said; if something is on offer, new or limited-time. But in general, the rule of thumb is that if there is a line of people, there is something yummy or good value at the end of it.
On my journeys to Yakiniku, I would often see Café Zoo next door and every single time, without fail, I would always see a line. Sometimes the place would have a long line formed before it had even opened, and on holidays, the line would be even longer. After asking a colleague, I was able to deduce that the place sold hamburger steaks, Japanese curry and chicken. They also said that it was the most popular place near my apartment, but controversially, they suggested a different place that they preferred over Café Zoo.
Some time passed, and I ended up out late looking for food and noted that Café Zoos’ permanent line was somewhat smaller than usual. I decided it was now or never and joined it. I wanted to see what the fuss was all about. The queue very quickly picked back up again and resumed its usual length, so I must have gotten a lucky break. Orders are made via the usual ticket machines in the entrance. Prepare some cash on hand to ensure things go more smoothly. I opted to try the Cutlet curry and opted for a set as it came with a side salad.
The owner was very friendly, and I was seated quickly. The place was buzzing, the vibe is cosy, and the wooden décor makes it feel like a cabin. The smell was amazing, and the food was coming out served on sizzling hot plates, making me want to come back at some point to try the hamburger steak. There was a cute service robot too, doing some rounds and serving dishes to diners.
My food arrived promptly, and I was met with the lightest, crispiest batter on my cutlet. The curry had a good flavour, and the salad was generous. But the star of the dish I ordered was the batter. It reminded me of tempura, but it was a little thicker. The cutlet was very juicy, and together with the subtle batter flavour, each bite of chicken was juicy and flavourful. I could understand why people wanted to eat here; not only was the food good and the service very friendly, but the price was very good too. As much as I am a lover of Yakiniku, the price is usually high and opting for a cheaper meal next door at Café Zoo line permitting made sense to me.
Around my apartment, there are some good eats to be found after a walk. My current favourites are the Malatang place, my usual Yakiniku place and now Café Zoo. I most likely won’t eat there too much as the lines are usually lengthy, and Café Zoos tables are limited. But on the off chance a line isn’t too long, I would not be against going back to try the hamburger steak. I had a great time pondering my Golden week options whilst I enjoyed a fantastic meal.
